Chương 106: Time passed by unnoticed
At daybreak, the entourage was prepared to depart. Octavius could not help but seek out Luciana, who was already boarding the carriage with Nemesis, accompanied by her maids. Erebus paid one final visit to Lucifer, bedridden and half-blind.
"I will ensure your efforts are commended to the Tzar," Erebus promised.
Lucifer responded only with a faint groan.
Luciana inquired if she should also pay her respects, but Erebus declined, informing her that it was to be a brief farewell. He did not wish her to witness the grim sight he had created, nor did he want her to fear him.
Shortly after, Erebus joined the group, mounting his beast, which snorted furiously. Octavius and Cornelius were already unsettled by the presence of such creatures openly used in Wahrheit. Their journey proceeded slowly, accommodating Luciana's pace.
They passed through the Embercrow territory and made a brief stop at Lowell, a small village in the east, to replenish supplies and fuel their garrons.
They set up camp in the meadows, taking nearly another full day to cross before they approached the outskirts of the Central Capital. As they neared the city, the roads became busier, filled with carriages and carts pulled by a variety of creatures, all waiting for entry.
The entourage found itself in line alongside the carriages of nobles and knights. Some knights murmured amongst themselves, casting sidelong glances at Erebus. While some snickered, others pretended not to notice him—reactions to which he had long grown accustomed.
His men, however, exchanged curses under their breath, though a sharp look from Erebus quickly reminded them to maintain discipline.
Upon verifying their passage, they entered through the West Gate of the Central Capital. The city was teeming with demons and a myriad of other beings, living up to its reputation as one of the grandest locations in the realms.
Luciana marveled at the absence of towering buildings; the city was well-planned and strictly governed. Guards patrolled the wide, clean streets, and she noted that there were no slums within the Central Capital. The joy and laughter she witnessed shifted her perspective on the dark world of demons.
One peculiar aspect, however, was the dimmed sunlight. Jafar had once explained to her about the invisible veil that blocked most of the sun's rays, an adjustment made for the benefit of the high-ranking nobles—primarily vampires and werewolves—who held the greatest authority in Wahrheit. Lower-class beings such as Banshees and Revenants also inhabited the city, though they were more closely associated with Shifters. The most feared among them were soul-sucking creatures, known to drain both demons and humans and steal their forms.
The entourage paraded through the streets until they reached the residential district of the high-ranking nobility. The journey took half a day, with frequent breaks at Luciana's request, as the journey had begun to wear on her.
At last, they arrived at a familiar estate. The head maid greeted them at the entrance, and Erebus dismounted, handing the reins of his garron to Ciaran.
"Whoa boy! Easy!" Ciaran whispered to Nightmare.
"Erebus! My lifelong friend," called a voice. Callum greeted him warmly, his arms wide open.
The two embraced, leaving Erebus' men astonished. They had not expected him to display such affection.
"Did he always have friends?" they wondered, dumbfounded.
The men introduced themselves to Callum, paying their respects as they learned of his superior military rank. Erebus then assisted Luciana out of the carriage, Nemesis hopping down behind her. Mina, concerned, urged him to be cautious, but Callum was visibly charmed by Luciana's grace and beauty.
"This is my wife, Lianna, and my firstborn son, Nemesis," Erebus introduced them proudly. They had planned on using another name for Luciana instead of using her own name which they feared could cause a threat.
Callum, overjoyed to meet them, immediately summoned his servants and ushered them inside. "I must apologize that my wife cannot greet you in person—she has been confined to bed rest," Callum explained.
"I recall you mentioning that your wife was near her time," Erebus said.
Luciana was surprised that he was more talkative with Callum than he normally was.
"Indeed! I finally became a father, and I won't let you off so easily for missing the celebration." Callum threw himself at Erebus in excitement.
"Don't jump on me," Erebus replied, pushing him away.
Turning to Luciana and Nemesis, Callum continued, "My lady, if you wish, I can escort you to my wife's room. Erebus mentioned you are expecting your second child. But if you need rest we've already made preparations, so may retire however you want. The servants will attend to your needs. So please don't hesitate to let them know."
Luciana smiled. "It would be a pleasure to meet her, if it wouldn't be a bother. Thankyou for your kind consideration."
"Not at all! Calypso will be delighted by your company. She is rather shy and finds it difficult to engage with other ladies," Callum said, his voice filled with concern. "And the little lord here can meet his new brother, as Erebus is my lifelong brother."
As they made their way, Callum regaled them with stories of his youth with Erebus. "You're making me sound old," Erebus scowled.
"Nonsense! I know you're still in your prime," Callum teased, radiating a positivity which she found rare among demons.
Upon reaching Calypso's chamber, the door opened, and Callum invited them inside. Calypso greeted them hastily, a newborn in her arms.
"He's even smaller than Nemesis," Erebus remarked, leaving them speechless.
-"That's because Nemesis wasn't a new born when we took him in." She sighed.
"No need to boast," Callum chuckled. "Come, let us go to the lounge. The chef has prepared all of your favorites." He pulled Erebus away, leaving Luciana and Calypso in an awkward silence.
"Mama! Look, it's small," Nemesis tugged at Luciana's sleeve, pointing at the baby.
"Nemesis! That's not how we address someone. I apologize for his rudeness," Luciana said, embarrassed.
"No need to worry," Calypso replied, smiling warmly. "You may take a closer look at him."
As Nemesis shyly peered at the sleeping infant, Luciana commented, "He's adorable."
"Isn't he? Callum insists he looks like me, but I see more of my husband in him," Calypso said with pride.
Suddenly, she realized her manners. "Oh, where are my manners? Please, make yourself comfortable! Rum, bring refreshments for the lady."
The maid hurried off to fulfill the request.
"I never thought I'd have the honor of meeting you, my lady. Callum has often spoken of his time with Lord Stygian, and when I learned he was married, I was eager to meet you."
"The honor is mine," Luciana responded with a graceful smile, causing Calypso to blush in admiration.
"My husband is not usually one for socializing, so I was surprised to learn that he had a friend with whom he was so at ease. He was eager to reach here, wasting no time,"Luciana remarked, and the two women conversed easily sharing their opinions on various topics, with the passage of time gone unnoticed.
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