Chapter 93: 93:Can’t Be Passive
Reigns finally returned to his usual sombre self after Linda left.
Although the apartment had once again become quiet and peaceful, he had to admit that the conversation had been quite fun in its own way. It had managed to distract him from everything weighing on his mind, if only for a short while.
Now that things had settled down again, he picked up the papers Linda had left behind and stared at them in silence. Leaning back in his chair, he carefully considered everything written on it.
"What do you think about this, Nyx?"
"Join it!"
Reigns immediately raised his brows in shock as he stared at her. The answer had come far too quickly for someone who was supposedly offering thoughtful advice.
"Aren’t you a bit too eager?"
Nyx smiled slightly before clapping her hands together and leaning forward in her seat, speaking with complete confidence.
"The true benefit of being with the Federation is that you can remain neutral. There isn’t a huge social hierarchy there because your level determines your standing, unlike those families where status is the primary factor and bloodlines and potential matter far more than actual capability."
She paused briefly, thinking how best to explain it before continuing.
"So there’s very little chance of you getting bullied or oppressed there. Getting looked down upon is an entirely different matter, though. People will always judge others, regardless of where they go."
Reigns didn’t immediately agree and simply stared at the papers again.
"Let me give it some thought."
Saying that, he lowered his head and gulped down the noodles with a loud slurp. The warm flavor immediately spread through his mouth.
Damn.
It’s so tasty.
’She is really a homemaker... the true epitome of a wife.’
"Yes... yes, Darling... You should think about this carefully."
Reigns wiped his lips before asking the question that had been lingering in his mind ever since the discussion began.
"Aren’t you a Veydrin? A first-grade family too?"
"Haven’t you sent any invitations?"
Nyx pressed her lips together in a soft smile before shaking her head.
"We Veydrins don’t engage in all that. We have our own members and methods. Anyone wanting to join must pass the trial. We don’t care about their levels or tiers because grit and zeal matter more to us than their current strength."
"As long as they can pass the trial, they can join."
Reigns blinked several times while thinking about the trial and tried to imagine what kind of test a family like the Veydrins would create.
’If there’s such a thing, the trial probably isn’t based on fighting.’
"What about me?"
"Huh? Why would you need an invitation?" Nyxara asked with a delicate frown, tilting her head slightly.
"I mean... I am somewhat good... right?"
"Of course you are, Darling. But why do you need an invitation when you’re already part of the Veydrins?"
Reigns opened his mouth to respond but suddenly did not know what to say. The unexpected statement had completely caught him off guard.
"Ohhh! I totally forgot about it. Thank God I remembered now!"
Nyx suddenly rummaged through her storage ring before pulling out a small locket and proudly handing it over.
"Mom sent it for you!"
"Your mom?"
"No. Yours?"
"..."
’Why is she sending things to you instead of me? What’s wrong with them?’
Once was a coincidence.
Twice...
Reigns genuinely felt there was something wrong with this family because the more he thought about it, the stranger everything became.
They were wealthy, yet they were living alone in this dilapidated apartment.
Moreover, they seemed more connected to Nyx than to their own son, which honestly made no sense no matter how much he thought about it.
It was weird.
Reigns accepted the locket and examined it carefully, turning it around between his fingers.
It was a simple golden chain with a red ruby attached to it. An intricate symbol had been carved into the gemstone with incredible precision.
Reigns immediately activated Insight.
[Echo of Heart: Tier ???]
A question mark instantly appeared in his eyes.
There wasn’t even any sort of description attached to it.
’Is this some ridiculously high-quality stuff?’
"What does it do?"
"I don’t know!" Nyxara shrugged casually while spreading her hands.
"But knowing Mom, I am sure it’s very... very useful."
"It might be a protection charm or something."
"I see..."
Reigns slowly nodded before asking another question that had been bothering him.
"Do you know where my parents are?"
"Darling, they’re in charge of clearing the zones. And with the number of zones and monstrosities appearing lately, the Federation never has enough hands. That’s why the top elites are always busy."
"What?!"
Reigns nearly jumped from his seat after hearing that, staring at her in disbelief.
"Why is the Federation short on staff when they have a great number of potential Awakeners every year? Don’t the families lend a hand?"
Nyxara immediately clenched her fist, a scowl appearing on her face.
"If only they would."
"Those bastards..."
"They absorb a large portion of the newly Awakened every year, leaving only the leftovers for the Federation, and those numbers are far too few and inadequate to clear all the zones properly."
Her expression darkened further as obvious frustration filled her eyes.
"On top of that, they don’t even help properly by sending aid. They just maintain the required numbers by sending weak scapegoats and call that support."
Reigns slowly started reconsidering his decision regarding the Federation because the more he learned about the situation, the more complicated everything seemed.
"But don’t worry..."
Nyxara’s expression softened immediately, and a small smile returned to her face.
"I will be with you. After all, the Veydrins fully support the Federation, and we always send our people to help."
"That’s great..."
"Great indeed...’
Reigns slowly got up from his seat, carrying the dishes toward the kitchen while thinking about everything he had learned today.
But just as he took a step forward, his foot suddenly struck one of the wooden table’s legs.
THUD!
His body instantly tilted forward, and the dishes in his hands almost slipped away.
Before he could even react, Nyxara moved.
With incredible speed, she caught the dishes before they could fall, then wrapped an arm around Reigns’ waist to steady him while effortlessly pulling him back upright.
"Darling, are you alright?"
"..."
Reigns froze completely.
His mind went blank for a moment as he stared silently at the situation.
’The hell...’
’What’s this?’
’Reverse rizz...’
He continued staring, trying to process what had just happened because something about this situation felt fundamentally wrong.
Shouldn’t he be standing in her position?
Shouldn’t he be the one catching her?
Shouldn’t he be the one saving her from falling?
For some reason, the roles felt completely reversed.
That made the whole thing even more embarrassing.
Reigns was about to pull away when Nyx suddenly placed the dishes down and looked at him with a creepy smile.
Instantly alerted, he screamed.
"Wait... I am not rea—"
Before he could finish, Nyx sneaked and forcefully kissed him.
’Ahh! It feels so good...’
Provoked, Reigns decided to retaliate.
Grabbing her waist, he pulled her tighter and kissed her back.
’I ain’t losing this battle.’
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