Chapter 141: Training Dummy
Nox woke up. The room was quiet, and the air was still. He could feel his own power humming faintly in the walls, the floor, the ceiling. This room was his Territory, a small, safe space in a world that was not. For the first time, he had slept deeply, without dreams. He felt rested.
He got to his feet and stretched, his muscles coiling with a clean, efficient power. The deep, bone-aching exhaustion from the dungeon was completely gone, a testament to the passive regeneration of his new sanctuary. He opened the door and stepped out. The Sanctuary of the Silver Moon was already active, with Sun Elves moving along the living walkways, their movements quiet.
’Okay, time to face the next boss fight,’ he thought, ’breakfast with the psycho family.’
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The dining hall was filled with a tense silence. Vexia sat at the head of the long, wooden table, using a small knife to cut a piece of fruit with far too much precision. Elisa was to her right, tearing into a large piece of roasted meat. She kept looking at Nox. Serian sat beside Nox, attempting to make conversation about the weather. Mela was at the far end of the table, stabbing a piece of bread with her fork.
Elisa finally slammed her heavy mug down on the table, and the loud noise made Mela jump. "So, human. You think you’re pretty tough, huh? You beat up a few skeletons, a big dumb wolf in that lich’s trial. Impressive."
Nox swallowed the bite of fish he was chewing. "It was a decent warm-up."
Elisa grinned. "A warm-up? Good. Then you won’t mind a real warm-up with me after we eat. A little spar, just to test your strength."
Vexia did not look up from her fruit. "Elisa, do not assault our guests. It is unseemly."
"I’m not assaulting him, I’m welcoming him to the family! A friendly little scrap is how we say hello."
"I’m not interested." Nox took another bite of his food. "I have better things to do."
"Oh, really? Like what? Brooding in your room all day?" Elisa leaned forward, her elbows on the table. "Or are you scared? Are you afraid you can’t handle a real fight without your little elf helpers?"