The red flames that had scattered in the chamber remained on their spot and didn't move or vanish. Rudy threw a flame at Nyxia, but it vanished as soon as it illuminated her face.
He tried it a few times until Nyxia finally spoke.
"Stop that!"
"What's all this?" Rudy asked while pointing his hands and gazing around. "New setup?
"Why did you call me?" Nyxia asked without replying to Rudy's question.
"Did you… summon me here?"
"...obviously not. I am not powerful enough to summon the Lord… at least… not anymore…"
"But I am here, though? So… what's going on?"
"This is not real."
"Great. Another illusion of yours?"
"Not quite right. This is a dream."
"Now I am more confused. I was washing dishes in my house, so how did I end up in a dream… where we are conversing? Also, what is this place?"
Rudy asked again with the same expression.
"You should know better. You are the one who is dreaming."
Rudy pondered for a few seconds and asked, "Did I fall asleep when I closed my eyes after calling your name?"
"Indeed."
"So you are in my dream. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"And… you are here because I was missing you?"
"Because you called my name. I know when you called my name. I can hear that."
"..."
"Of course, only if it's a sincere call. I am sure you have experienced something similar where you just know something when you have no idea regarding it."
"Oh, I know that feeling. I just thought it was one of my powers which I hadn't discovered yet."
"That's not wrong."
"Hmm~" Rudy hummed in amusement. "So, in a way, it is I who summoned you here in my dream?"
"True."
"So, care to explain why you are sitting on the throne while I am standing here?"
Rudy raised his brow.
"Your dream, your control."
"I tried brightening this place, but it didn't work."
"Because I don't want it to work."
"But you just said my dream, my control."
"I did. But since I am here, this is my dream also."
SNAP!
Nyxia snapped, and a throne emerged in front of Rudy.
"This is your first time in a dream, so you are confused. Don't worry, it's nothing fancy. And just like my vampire ability— Absolute illusion, this is also one of the abilities I have mastered over thousands of years."
Rudy sat on the throne and rubbed his finger on the handrest, feeling a bit wet. Seemingly, the throne was made from ice.
"Can I see your face?" Rudy asked calmly.
"I would prefer not. You are a special person to me, and I want you to see the real me instead of my version of a dream or illusion."
"Where is the real you?"
"Busy… somewhere. Looking for answers and solutions."
"For my problems?" Rudy guessed.
"..." Nyxia didn't say anything in response.
"I had no idea you were in this together. If you already knew everything, why did you tell me sooner?"
"Saying that I knew 'everything' would be an overstatement. I only knew what you had told me. You were very secretive and never answered my questions. You simply ordered me to do things, and I couldn't even deny it."
"Why is that?"
"I hate to say this, but the kid Rudy is more powerful than the current you."
"Well… I had guessed that already. He had years of experience, while I am considerably new compared to him."
"I wouldn't say that. You have achieved so much already. You can do anything. What's left for you to learn?"
"Many things, I assume."
"..." After a moment of silence, Nyxia asked, "Why did you call me?"
'Should I tell her? What if she thinks that I only miss her when I have no other options left? I already got the answer to my question. I wanted to know where she was… as long as she is fine… I am content.'
"When will you be back?"
"I am not sure. Why do you ask?"
"I… am planning to marry the girls in the vampire world. I thought I should let you know. If you are interested, you can join the marriage spree."
"Hmm~ When is it?"
"Any time. I wanted to ask Rias if she was ready. I might have to ask for Virgil's permission to host the wedding at the palace. Not that he would turn me down knowing I am the Lord," he chuckled.
"The marriage is not possible for the next two weeks."
"Why is that?"
"There is a Lunar eclipse in the vampire world."
"Moon eclipse? How does that work? On earth, it's because of the sun, but you don't have the sun in the vampire world. Oh wait, you do have three moons. Which moon is eclipsing which one?"
"The red moon, which is the true moon of the vampire world, will eclipse the white moon. And the blue moon will eclipse the red moon."
"I see."
"..."
"And… why is that not a good time to… you know…"
"Well, we vampires gain power from the moon. The red moon, to be precise. So when it's eclipsed, all the vampires are weak. Like, totally weak. They won't even get out of their houses, even when someone is dying in front of their front door.
Usually, the strong vampire is strong, and the weak are weak. But during the eclipse, everyone is on the same level. A weak one can kill the strong one on that day. So the killers and criminals go on a killing spree on that day.
Not even the guards, soldiers, knights, royal knights, or elites want to be out on that day. The royal vampires are kept in absolute security, managed by their personal knights and maids.
They can't trust anyone that day. Even the royal family members are after each other's heads to remove the thorn from their path. But the most endangered person during the eclipse is…"
"...the vampire monarch…" Rudy completed Nyxia's sentence.
"Indeed."
