Return of the Mythic Bloodline

Chapter 533: Soulwine

"Dear heavens, why do you say such an ominous thing?" Ume gasped from Nymeria’s words, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.

Nymeria covered the distance between us with quick steps and whimpered, her voice carrying a hint of panic, "We do not have the Soulbinding cup."

"Do you mean this?" I asked, pulling out a small golden cup from the inventory. It had two handles in the shape of a serpent on its either side, with its outer surface having a scale like finishing that caught the light beautifully. At the other two sides of the cup, it had two small spouts at its rim, designed for the exchange of wine during the ceremony.

Nymeria’s eyes widened in surprise from the familiar cup in my hand. Still, she did not let the happiness take over, not yet.

"We do not have Soulwine eith—"

"Are you talking about this?" I asked as I pulled out a long glass bottle from the inventory, its surface gleaming with golden stars like glitters shining in a milky liquid. The wine swirled gently as I held it up.

"S-Soulwine?" Nymeria exclaimed, surprise clear on her face, her voice rising with disbelief. "Where did you get them? Do not tell me you went back to Vyoman to bring them."

"I did not," I chuckled, putting the wine and cup back into the inventory with a casual wave. "Father gave me the cup. The wine is prepared by both our parents. They had it prepared in case we decided to get married on our journey."

I gently placed my hand on her head and whispered, my voice soft and reassuring, "You do not need to worry. We already have the blessings of our parents."

In our Banes culture, the parents of both bride and groom prepare Soulwine, which is exchanged by the couple during the marriage ritual. This wine was the blessing of parents to their children for the happy life ahead, a drink infused with their love. The cup used to exchange the wine was called the Soulbinding cup, which showed the permanent bond between the souls once the couple drank the wine through it.

Nymeria’s lips coiled into a bright smile, her eyes narrowing in delight. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around my back, her face placing on my chest. The warmth of her embrace seeped through my shirt. "Thank you, honey," she murmured, her grip only getting tighter, holding me as if she never wanted to let go.

"Now you do not care about Sister Aisha and Maa looking at us?" I asked in a playful tone, pointing my thumb behind me where Maa and Sister Aisha were peeking through the window of our house, their faces barely hidden behind the curtains.

She immediately retreated with a blushed face, realising that we were being watched.

"Call Celestia, I need her help with the preparation of our dresses," she ordered, tugging her hair behind her ear, her gaze dropping to the ground.

"Why her? I and Ume can help yo—"

"No, the dress is a surprise. You are only allowed to see them on the wedding day."

Ume had only parted her lips to speak when Nymeria shifted her sharp gaze at her. "You are not allowed either."

"Sister Nym..." Ume sulked, her fluffy ears dropping in disappointment, her pink eyes widening with a pleading look.

Nymeria did not let her attack of cuteness defeat her. She stood firm, her resolve unshaken. She took Celestia with her and went inside my room, locking themselves inside with a soft click.

Meanwhile, I and Ume went to the kitchen. The familiar scent of spices and vegetables greeted us as we stepped inside.

"What should I bring first..." My words stopped mid-sentence as I noticed the long face of Ume, her eyes filled with sadness, her usual brightness dimmed.

I moved closer to her, embraced her from behind, and asked, my voice gentle and concerned, "What happened, baby girl?"

"N-nothing," she answered, slightly flinching from the sudden hug, her body stiffening for a moment before relaxing.

"Just say the word. What is bothering you?" I asked in a gentle tone, my lips near her ear.

"When my family was betrayed by the fox clan, I hated everything about them, their beliefs, culture, and tradition," Ume revealed, her low tone filled with sadness and a slight anger. "When you asked me about the marriage culture of the demi-fox and offered me to follow it, I was really happy that you were being so considerate, even though I denied it because of my hatred."

She took a brief sigh as she continued, her voice wavering, "I wanted to follow your culture of Soulwine, but I cannot do it either because m-my parents are..."

Her voice slightly broke. She did not want to cry on such occasions, yet the moisture in her eyes was getting the better of her, threatening to spill over.

"You know the Soulwine is such a mysterious drink," I said in a calm tone, still hugging her from behind. "Its records are as old as the existence of the Banes. It can only be formed by the pure parental love that truly wishes for the happiness of their children. The wine takes the color of something that signifies their children. If even one parent’s love is not genuine, the Soulwine fails to form."

From the inventory, I drew another glass bottle, but it had a different color than before. It was a drink of baby pink color with similar golden star like glitters shimmering inside it, a soft and gentle hue that matched Ume’s essence.

"Th-this is?" Ume asked as she looked at the bottle with a confused expression, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"This was formed by the parental love of Mother and Father. Father poured his love for me... while Mother... she poured her parental love for you."

Her breath caught, her eyes widening further. The tears that had been threatening finally spilled over, but this time, they were accompanied by a trembling, joyous smile. She turned in my arms and buried her face in my chest, her soft sobs a mixture of sorrow and overwhelming gratitude.