The dark night sky was illuminated by moonlight. The city's bustle, though present, was quieter as the world slumbered... everyone except for Nox.
At five in the morning, before dawn had even broken, the young master was awake and ready to suffer. Zayne stood beside him as they descended the residential building in the glass elevator. Nox's eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a tousled mess, and dark circles sagged under his eyes. He looked to be on the brink of collapse. Zayne, meanwhile, looked refreshed. His caramel skin glowed with vitality, and his signature smile never wavered. Both were dressed in tight-fitting black sportswear designed for maximum breathability.
'...I regret this decision already,' Nox groaned, his mind drifting back to fifteen minutes ago.
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Nox had been lying peacefully on his massive bed with Meimei at his side. He was enjoying one of the best rests he'd had in a long time. It was at that exact moment of tranquility that Zayne kicked open the door with a thunderous bang.
Nox's eyes snapped open, looking ready to commit murder. Meimei, who had grown used to these intrusions, simply twitched an ear and continued sleeping.
"Young Master! It is time to awaken!" Zayne, full of vigor, held a frying pan in his left hand and a ladle in his right, clanging them together like a madman.
Nox hurled a pillow at him, but Zayne swiftly dodged, striking a flamboyant dancer's pose. This infuriated Nox to no end.
"...Are you looking to die, you Dark Elf bastard?!" He looked like a provoked beast ready to pounce.
"Young Master, today we begin your training on the fifteenth day of the month of Aetherbreeze. Let's get going!"
Nox flipped him off and yanked the sheets over his head. Then, he heard a dark, sinister chuckle.
"If you don't wake up, I'll have no choice but to take... drastic measures."
A shiver raced down Nox's spine. His eyes snapped open. He sat up only to find a black tracksuit with gleaming silver trimmings thrust into his face.
"We're going for a run today. Put this on and meet me at the elevator in ten minutes," Zayne commanded before sweeping out of the room. Nox stared at the tracksuit, his soul weeping.
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Back in the present, Nox was slumped against the glass wall of the elevator like a pile of jelly.
*Ding!*
The doors slid open. "...So, what exactly are we doing?" Nox wheezed as they exited the building.
"For your morning routine, we will walk in the nearby park for ten minutes, jog for twenty, and finish with a five-kilometer run."
Nox groaned. Zayne glanced at him and continued, "When we return to the penthouse, you'll eat a nutrient-rich breakfast. In the afternoon, you will perform simple exercises for at least an hour and eat a balanced portion of clean food. In the evening, we repeat the morning routine. We will do this for a full month to build your endurance. After that, you should be able to use the gym equipment without breaking any bones."
Nox felt like crying. He glanced back at the building, but Zayne planted a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Let's begin this morning's routine, shall we?"
Nox gulped hard.
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Meanwhile, far from Nicah, a lush evergreen forest stood in eerie, serene silence. Deep within this natural fortress sat a massive Eastern-style palace complex consisting of six palaces and twelve courts. Red lacquer pillars carved with intricate dragons supported the massive structures. Ponds overflowing with lotuses and lilies adorned each courtyard, surrounded by magnificent, blooming gardens. Imposing stone lions guarded the gates of the architectural masterpiece.
Servants moved like ghosts, their footsteps making no sound on the marble. In a luxurious chamber within the Northern palace, a massive bed—large enough for seven people to sleep comfortably—hovered above the floor. Its heavy golden quilts and shimmering curtains caught the light.
Gallows lay there, sleeping soundly, until a flash of white light filled the room. He woke instantly to find a woman with snow-white skin sitting on the edge of his bed. She gazed at him with amusement in her piercing, golden "phoenix" eyes. Her blood-red hair cascaded like a waterfall to her ankles, contrasting sharply with her white sleeping robes. On her fingers were golden nail guards, sharp as talons. A single mole sat beneath her right eye—a striking resemblance to Gallows.
"...What are you doing here, Vespera?" Gallows' dazed expression immediately shifted to one of annoyance.
Vespera clicked her tongue and folded her arms. "You haven't seen your big sister in three years, and instead of joy, you look like you're facing an enemy. Tsk. Ungrateful."
Gallows rolled his eyes and sat up. "Yue," he called out.
From the shadows, a figure emerged. She wore a form-fitting black turtleneck, trousers, and knee-length platform boots under a long, light-brown trench coat. A golden brooch of a coiled dragon with yellow gemstone eyes shimmered on her lapel. Her fox-like black eyes remained fixed on the floor in submission.
"You called, Master?"
"My sister must be famished. Get us something light and secure the area."
Yue bowed and vanished. Vespera smiled, migrating to a lounge chair to rest. "Shall we talk about the prophecy now?"
Gallows gazed at her intensely, but Vespera simply closed her eyes. "Tomorrow. I'm tired."
Gallows narrowed his eyes and spoke in a solemn voice, "It seems the disaster foretold in the holy book, the Hagia Graith, has begun."
Instantly, the weariness in Vespera's eyes vanished, her gaze locking onto his with burning intensity.
"What?"