As evening descended upon the Luciferis mansion, the grand dining hall gleamed with regal splendor. Its obsidian walls bore intricately carved demonic motifs that seemed to writhe with life, casting eerie shadows as the green light from the sky outside shone through the windows. The long, polished dining table stretched the length of the hall, its surface reflecting the warm, flickering glow of infernal torches that lined the walls.
The air was thick with a sense of anticipation, a symphony of whispered conversations, and the clinking of silverware that underscored the imminent feast. Maids moved gracefully among the guests, attending to their needs with hushed efficiency, subtly adding to the grandeur of the scene.
At the head of the immense table sat Ignarius Luciferis, his presence commanding and regal. His dark eyes surveyed the room, his aura a fusion of power and authority. To Ignarius's right was his wife, Serapha Luciferis, her delicate elegance a stark contrast to her husband's imposing presence. Her purple eyes held a quiet wisdom, and her ethereal beauty was accentuated by her flowing white hair and the graceful curve of her horns.
"Father, mother, I am surprised you made it," Ignarius spoke, his gaze fixed on the people seated across from him at the opposite end of the table, a figure whose stature and build differed from Ignarius's.
Nephrek Luciferis, Ignarius's father, possessed a bulkier, muscular frame. His crimson skin seemed to radiate a fiery intensity, and his eyes gleamed with an energy that mirrored the flames of Hell. Beside Nephrek sat Zephyria Luciferis, his wife and Ignarius's mother. Her lean, elegant form exuded a quiet strength, and her gaze held a depth that hinted at a multitude of experiences.
Nephrek's gaze met Ignarius's as he spoke, his hand absentmindedly swirling the red glass of Cursed Bloodwine in his grasp. "Of course, son, how could we miss our youngest grandson's final dinner?" Nephrek's cold, deep voice echoed throughout the vast dining room, his words carrying an undertone of disapproval.
Zephyria, by Nephrek's side, soothingly patted his hand. "Now, now, honey. I am sure our dear Ignarius has a good reason for sending Vaelion on his realmwalk early," she said gently, her gaze soft as her eyes met Nephrek's.
Nephrek let out a sigh at her words but did not speak further.
"Right, Ignarius?" Zephyria asked, her demeanor changing as her voice took a colder tone, her eyes squinting as they met Ignarius's.
Ignarius seemed unaffected by her intimidation as he let out a light breath and shook his head slightly. He was about to speak, but before the words could come out, Vaelion, who occupied a seat at the center of the table next to his fiancée, Celestria, spoke first.
"I asked Father to send me on my realmwalk early," Vaelion said calmly, setting down his silverware as he did so.
Vaelion knew that he had to get his grandfather to accept his request to leave early for his realmwalk because, even if his father was the current head of the family, his grandfather was still the strongest and held the most sway among the family.
Nephrek scrunched his brows at his grandson's sudden words, his piercing gaze fixed on Vaelion. "Oh? Did your pride finally get the better of you, boy? You are not ready, and you know it," Nephrek's deep voice echoed into Vaelion's ears, his words carrying a patronizing yet slightly truthful tone.
Vaelion took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner rage, his gaze briefly shifting to his sister at his side, feeling her warm, gentle embrace on the side of his leg. Her eyes looked at him softly before he exhaled, her soothing actions taming the turmoil within.
"Maybe. But I feel like I am ready," Vaelion said resolutely, his calm voice reaching all those present in the quiet room as his gaze met his stern grandfather's.
Nephrek did not speak further and merely huffed at Vaelion's words. Though it seemed that his wife wanted to salvage the situation as she spoke, "Oh, dear, if he believes in himself, who are we to doubt him?" Zephyria said, her words gentle as her gaze met her husband's.
Nephrek scratched his head in irritation before he begrudgingly groaned out, "Fine. Break the tradition, I don't care," he said irritably before taking a large swig of his wine.
A small, amused smile formed on Vaelion's face at his grandfather's antics; he had always been like that, very stern and truthful.
Zephyria let out a light sigh at her husband's attitude before turning her gaze toward Noctarion and his wife, Evelyn, who sat across from Vaelion and Celestria. Noctarion casually continued eating his Inferno-Grilled Steak as he watched the scenes unfold, seemingly entertained. Meanwhile, Evelyn calmly sipped her wine.
"Still no great-grandchildren?" Zephyria asked, her smooth voice slightly teasing.
Noctarion stopped eating at his grandmother's question, his gaze shifting to his wife beside him, who looked back at him without saying anything, continuing to swish her wine in her glass.
Noctarion turned his gaze back to Zephyria, slightly shaking his head. "No, grandmother, I'm afraid not," he said, sounding slightly disappointed.
Zephyria gave a slight nod. "I see. Well, it did take a while for us to finally have your father..." Her mind seemed to reminisce for a moment before she muttered, "Ah, those were a few good millennia," in an almost blissful tone. Her husband beside her gave an idle chuckle at her words.
Ignarius quickly spoke up before she could delve into more details about how 'good' those years were. "Mother, father, will you be staying for Vaelion's departure tomorrow?" he asked curiously.
"Yes, we will be there," Nephrek spoke up before Zephyria could respond. Nephrek continued, "How could we not oversee our grandson's departure?"
Ignarius nodded at his father's words. "I see," he said neutrally.
Several moments passed as the Luciferis family continued to dine together, eating and drinking some of the finest dishes that Hell had to offer while chatting amongst themselves. Before long, the dinner came to an end, and the family began to dismiss themselves from the dining hall.
And soon, the night sky shifted from its pallid, sickly green hue to a dark, abyssal black. The air throughout Hell changed from a biting cold to thick and suffocating, heavy with a sense of hopelessness, alerting all who lived in Hell that a new Cycle of Torment had begun.
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