Chapter 177 179: Adopting Ruva

Words : 1681 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

The portal flares once more, a ripple of light bursting outward before collapsing in on itself like a dying breath. And just like that, the carriage is gone. No grand procession. No royal guard. Just Alix, Gander, and Ruva stepping through the veil of magic—emerging into silence. The air is damp. Cold stone surrounds them. They're back in the hidden treasury chamber beneath the Ordeya Kingdom. The light here is dim, fed only by faintly glowing veins of mana running along the walls—ancient circuits from a time even the oldest tomes forgot. Dust clings to the air like a warning. The space smells of rusted metal, oil, and stone that's never seen sun. Ruva clutches Alix's cloak tightly, glancing around. "It's so dark in here." Alix then uses a short-range teleportation item. They emerge at the outskirts of the Ordeya Kingdom, concealed in the deep forest shadow. Moonlight filters between the tall, ancient trees, and the cool night air brushes past them. Ruva blinks up at the open sky. "We're... outside?" Alix scanning the area. "Yeah, and now we head home." He raises his hand, summoning the carriage once more. With a glint of mana, the miniature form appears in his palm and expands into its full, crescent-shaped majesty. The door opens with a soft hiss. They climb aboard. Hours pass in peaceful flight. The carriage hums quietly as it floats high above the forests and hills. Ruva sits glued to the wide, curved window, her face practically pressed against the glass. Then she sees it. "...Whoa." Far in the distance, glowing softly in the pre-dawn darkness, the capital city appears—his capital. Floating islands rise like silent sentinels above the city, each one dotted with towers, bridges, and faintly glowing crystals. Thin waterfalls cascade from their edges, vanishing into shimmering mist before touching the ground. Lights twinkle across the cityscape like scattered stars, and the city itself stretches so far, Ruva can't see where it ends. "It's so big..." she whispers. "I... I can't even tell where it stops. It's like... like the whole world's down there." Alix leans beside her. "It's called Noctaris City. My pride, the capital city of my kingdom." She looks up at him slowly. "It looks like the land of the gods." Alix gives a quiet laugh. "That's good that you like it." Ruva's eyes stay wide, her hands flat on the glass. "There's... people like me there? Beastkin? Monsters?" He nods. "All kinds. You won't have to hide anymore." Her voice is small. "It's beautiful..." Gander, arms folded near the door, finally speaks. "You should see it when the sun rises. The crystal towers glow like fire." "I want to see everything," Ruva says immediately, tail flicking behind her. "All of it. Every street, every bridge, even the weird floating rocks!" "You will," Alix says. "This place is yours now, too." She turns, eyes sparkling. "Really?" "Really." The carriage begins its slow descent, passing through drifting layers of cloud as the city comes into clearer view. Bridges curve between towers like silver threads, gardens bloom even in the air, and far below, citizens begin to stir—beastkin, goblins, golems, and more, all living without fear. Ruva doesn't say a word. Her world is changing with every heartbeat. And for once, she doesn't feel afraid. She feels... home. "Big Brother," she says quietly, not looking away from the window. "Yeah?" "...Thank you." Alix smiles, his hand resting gently on her head. The carriage glides toward the palace's highest landing platform. The sky is beginning to brighten with the first blush of dawn, painting the towers in pale gold and rose. Cool morning wind brushes against the carriage as it slows, coming to a gentle halt. The doors hiss open. Waiting at the landing, standing straight-backed and poised with her hands clasped in front of her, is Draya. Her long silver hair is pulled into a high braid, and her tall bunny-like ears twitch ever so slightly as the door opens. Her deep crimson uniform is crisp, her demeanor unreadably calm. But her eyes brighten when she sees him. "Your Majesty," Draya says, bowing with practiced grace. "Welcome back." Alix steps down first, his cloak rustling lightly in the morning air. Gander follows, quiet and watchful. Then comes Ruva—eyes wide, ears perked, tail swaying nervously behind her as she peeks out from behind Alix. Draya's gaze briefly flicks to Ruva, assessing with quiet curiosity. Alix gestures for the girl to step forward. "Draya," he says, voice steady, "this is Ruva." The bunny maid nods once, polite but formal. "A guest, Your Majesty?" Alix places a hand gently on Ruva's shoulder. "No. From today onward... she's family. I'm adopting her as my little sister." There's a pause. Ruva shifts, fidgeting a little under the sudden weight of attention. Her ears lower slightly. Then, to her surprise, Draya bows again—lower this time. "I see," Draya says, her voice softening just enough to be noticed. "Then... welcome to the palace, Lady Ruva." Ruva blinks. "L-Lady...?" Draya straightens with a small smile—rare, but genuine. "As His Majesty's sister, you are now of royal standing. It is an honor to meet you." Ruva's tail fluffs up in panic. "W-wait—me?! Royal?! I-I don't know how to be—what do I do?!" Alix chuckles and ruffles her hair gently. "You don't need to do anything." Draya watches the exchange in silence for a moment, then steps forward and kneels in front of Ruva. Her crimson eyes meet the girl's softly. "If you ever need anything," she says, her tone suddenly warmer, "you may ask me directly. I will see to it that you are taken care of—proper meals, clothing, rooms, lessons... anything." Ruva's mouth opens slightly, then slowly closes. She nods, cheeks flushed. "...Okay." Draya rises smoothly, her expression once again composed. "Shall I prepare her chambers, Your Majesty?" "Yes," Alix replies. "Make sure it's near mine." "Of course." "And send word to all my subordinates," he adds. "Let them know I've returned. I'll meet with them tomorrow." Draya bows once more. "It will be done." Draya gently places a hand on Ruva's back and gives her a reassuring nod. "Come, Lady Ruva. Let's get you cleaned up and into something more fitting. I'll show you to your room." Ruva hesitates, glancing at Alix, but he gives her an encouraging smile. "Go on." She nods quickly and follows Draya, still glancing around in wide-eyed awe as they disappear through the towering archways of the palace, her small footsteps echoing lightly on the marble floor. As the sound fades, silence returns to the landing platform. Gander steps forward, folding his arms, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he says nothing. Then— "Your Majesty," he says quietly, "forgive me for questioning you... but may I ask something?" Alix turns to him. "Go ahead." Gander's gaze remains steady. "Why are you so... fond of that child? In the past, you've never shown these kinds of emotions. Not toward anyone." Alix pauses. A breeze brushes past them, tugging at his cloak. He looks out toward the floating city, the horizon now touched with the fire-orange edge of dawn. For a long moment, he doesn't answer. His voice finally breaks the silence—low and distant. "I don't know either." He closes his eyes briefly. And memories come—not of this life, but the one before. Of cold, empty nights. Of a cramped room. Of walking alone in rain-soaked streets after aging out, drifting from job to job, no friends, no family. No one waiting for him. Just silence. Just the glow of a monitor in the dark. "...I just..." Alix begins again, slower this time, "when I found her... something in me told me I had to protect her. Like it wasn't even a choice. Just... instinct." Gander watches him quietly, the faint clink of his gauntlet shifting as he adjusts his stance. "And," Alix adds, glancing away with a faint, almost awkward smirk, "she's cute." The corner of Gander's mouth twitches. Not quite a smile, but something close. Alix exhales through his nose, eyes drifting skyward again—toward the light bleeding into the clouds, toward the floating islands bathed in pale gold. "She reminds me," Alix murmurs, "that this world is real." Gander blinks. "Real?" Alix catches himself. He doesn't elaborate. He doesn't need to. He glances toward the corridor where Ruva disappeared with Draya. His voice is quieter now, thoughtful. "There was a time," he says slowly, "when I didn't care about anything. Didn't even feel much. Everything seemed... distant. Like I was just watching things happen instead of living through them." His gaze narrows slightly, as if searching for something far beyond the horizon. "But now, when I look at her, I feel it. That urgency. That need to act. To keep her safe." He pauses. "And that's enough of a reason for me." Gander lowers his head slightly, accepting the answer. "I understand." The next day, the morning sun climbs higher, bathing the upper spires of Noctaris City in cascading gold. Alix waits at the center platform, hands behind his back, his expression calm but unreadable. Three figures step through. Gorath arrives first—towering and broad-shouldered, his heavy armor etched with battle scars. The giant grins the moment he sees a familiar face. Behind him, Varkas and Vaelith follow—both dressed in streamlined combat gear, weapons at their sides, eyes sharp. Varkas pauses when he spots Gander. Vaelith also stiffens slightly. The two exchange a glance—then offer short bows. "Sir Gander," Varkas says with a nod of respect. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon." Gander offers a polite nod. "It's good to see you both again." Then comes Gorath—laughing. A deep, thunderous sound that echoes through the open space. He stomps forward, grinning from ear to ear.

Chapter 177 179: Adopting Ruva

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