The Master of House Thornbrick III

As he prepared to commence, a soft interruption crept up to him. "Excuse me, Oga," a voice interjected, "but where might Yanis be? For I have yet to lay my eyes upon him," spoke Berta.

Nuu nodded in agreement, equally curious about his retainer's whereabouts.

"At present, Yanis finds himself on board the vessel, wholly engrossed in the task of modifying the Runes," Oga replied with a tone of knowing. "The flight, as it were, had been subject to a bit of turbulence."

Berta grumbled with palpable disappointment, "Yanis remains unchanged as ever. His old friend is out here, and he's tinkering with a beast core. I'm glad to hear his rigid persona remains unaltered."

"It can't be helped. That's just Yanis for you. Oh, and I forgot to ask, Oga, how much did the airship cost?" inquired Nuu, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, without Yanis' upgrade, the ship costs around 72 million ducats…You should have seen their faces when I only desired the ship without any upgrade…they thought I was a madman."

Oga chuckled before continuing, "Thanks to Yanis," he continued, "we have saved over a hundred million ducats.

And if we were to resell it now, it could easily fetch close to three hundred million ducats." He paused and turned to Nylah, "Don't you think this is a remarkable opportunity, my dear Nylah?" he inquired.

Nylah's smile brightened; anything related to making money would cause her lips to blossom. In fact, when Oga mentioned that he was purchasing an Airship along with a Sky Waiver, she had initially thought he was jesting, as those were quite expensive.

However, upon learning that he could purchase them at a discount because of his connections, her eyes widened with anticipation.

The possibilities of profit were endless, and Nylah could hardly contain her excitement.

Nylah was taken aback when she discovered that the man with lustrous blonde locks, who lurked in the shadows to serve the twins, was none other than an Inscription Grandmaster.

Her astonishment stemmed from the fact that Yanis, with his penchant for fleeting visits to the mansion before embarking on resource gathering or some other adventure, rarely crossed paths with anyone without the presence of the twins.

Furthermore, his disdain for mortals made any form of interaction with him a rarity.

"My, how his talent has blossomed," marveled Berta. "I remember when he could only tinker with trinkets and fortify our base with a feeble barrier."

However, alongside her admiration for Yanis, Berta couldn't shake the feeling of worthlessness, to the point she despised herself for not tagging along when the opportunity was available.

"What have I been doing with my life?" she murmured to herself.

Nuu placed a comforting hand on her back, assuring her, "You have me now." At that moment, that simple gesture meant more to Berta than Nuu could ever know.

She began to see Nuu in a new light, and her fondness for him grew stronger.

Nuu extended his hand and presented the pouch they had previously discussed. Its mouth parted to reveal a jagged roll of teeth, exposing a fortune beyond measure.

The three ladies were startled and quickly retreated, while the brothers erupted into a chorus of laughter.

Oga explained, "Think of it as a spatial chest, with a hundred cubic meters of space, enough to fill up a barn. "

Priscilla's curiosity was piqued, and she crawled back to inspect the peculiar item, followed by the others.

Gasps filled the air, and even Berta was taken aback.

Berta's expression was one of shock, though she was a seasoned Practitioner. It was a rare sight to see a Flesh Pouch in the possession of mortals, unless, of course, one was a Young Master hailing from a highly esteemed clan.

The Holding Pouch, akin to Nuu's, was a more familiar sight than a Flesh Pouch

"Does such a thing truly exist?" inquired Priscilla

"Beyond this valley lies a world of wonder," Oga replied, his voice imbued with a sense of adventure that sparked a glimmer of hope in Priscilla's eyes.

She had spent her entire life confined to these towering mountains, and the prospect of exploring uncharted territory filled her with excitement.

Nylah, too, was transported back to the week she had spent with Oga, reliving the thrill of being chased by human-faced birds, stumbling upon a three meters Mudskin Toad or when they were almost devoured by a spatial rift.

But above all else, it was the experience of dining on a nimbus cloud, with the sprawling expanse of land below, that left an indelible mark on her soul.

As her thought drifted, Nuu presented a black crystalline card and a box.

Berta couldn't help but inquire about its contents. But Oga, simply replied, "Our future." Berta was left with more questions than answers.

"It's better you didn't know, just look forward to the end result," said Nuu

Nuu had more surprises in store. He produced an extra pouch given to him by Amon and handed it to Oga, who in turn gave it to Nylah. "She will handle all financial aspects of House Thornbrick, so the pouch should stay with her," he said.

Awakening Nylah, from her daydream.

As Nylah grappled with the complexities of the pouch, she realized that the only problem was the monthly feeding.

As a mere mortal, she couldn't pay the price like the twins. Instead, she would have to follow in the footsteps of the non-bloodlines.

Every month, she would have to feed the Pouch around thirty Aether Crystals to keep its internal space intact, in case Oga and Nuu weren't around.

Truth be told, it would have been a wiser decision to bestow upon Nylah the Holding Pouch. It is a tool that is far simpler to operate, even for those who lack expertise in the field.

Regrettably, the extensive wealth that they had amassed could not be accommodated by the pouch. Alas, Nuu had already presented it to Berta as a gesture of kindness.

As Oga turned his gaze towards the box, he unbuttoned his dress shirt, only to witness an inexplicable occurrence. In a swift moment, the box was enveloped by a toad-like tongue.

At this moment, not a single thing could faze these women. Just as Nuu had surprised them, Oga too possessed a Flesh Pouch.

Puzzled and perplexed, Oga queried Nuu, "Did he not pay for the content?"

"He did, but his level of interest was not as high as I anticipated," replied Nuu.

"Ah, with this and Jard, the Count's plight has been resolved," Oga exclaimed, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. Nuu, nodding in agreement, added to the sentiment. "Indeed, we may even acquire a fortune."

The ladies were baffled by their secretive behavior but understood it was not their place to inquire further.

"As I was discussing earlier, concerning House Thornbrick, our lineage stretches back to the dawn of the Khan Dynasty. Our abode is nestled within the Broken Star Field, renowned for its Ferocious and often Desolate creatures.

Our predicament is somewhat distinct, and you shall understand it better once you set your eyes on it.

However, keep this in mind: there exist three other houses akin to ours, and we generally keep to ourselves to avoid confrontation," Oga paused, studying the reactions of his audience.

Berta interjected, aghast, "Desolate Beast? You cannot be serious!" During her years of banditry, the worst they faced was Ferocious Monsters.

Meanwhile, Nylah looked on in a daze. This was her first time hearing of such a thing. After all, these beasts never made it past the border defense.

Maybe once in a while, a flying type came overhead, but the orcs, hobgoblins, and other ferocious monsters were kept at bay. Nylah couldn't fathom what a Desolate Beast was and their true devastation.

'Those human face creatures were also Desolate Beast?' Her thought spirals as the conversation continues without her.

"Priscilla, have you heard of them?" asked Nuu, the only one who remained calm out of the three ladies.

"Priscilla knows," She replied. "Desolate Beasts are just those big, strong creatures with high intelligence and magic power. My aunt shared some tales about them during her travels."

"You're not wrong," said Oga. "But you missed a key aspect. Those with the title Desolate can control a beast tide and tend to create colonies."

Priscilla's eyes glinted with excitement instead of the fear that one would expect upon hearing such news. The barrage of questions flung their way prevented Oga from moving on to the next inquiry for some time. Finally, she spoke up, "Oga, you stated there are three other households, shouldn't we know their names?" The air hung heavy with anticipation as the group waited for his response.

"Well, I only know one of the three names," Oga replied, his tone measured. "The House of Jarbrog. They are a family of Sun Giants.

As for the last two households, I know little of them. The House of Jarborg could be considered our allies and neighbors, but our relationship with the other household is shaky."

The ladies made a mental note, "One more question," said Priscilla "Aren't you also giants?" Priscilla inquire

"..."

"While we may share certain traits with the illustrious giant race, the manner in which we draw upon our source of energy is vastly different.

Have you ever pondered the origin of giants' names, and why they bear the mark of the elemental? Allow me to enlighten you.

Their power derives from an ancient entity known as the Star Bearer, much like the Dwarves and Elves.

However, as for Nephilim, we are uniquely special. The blood that courses through our veins hails from seven distinct branches of angelic beings, who once mingled with humanity.

Each of these Celestial entities possesses varying degrees of strength, and depending on the lineage one hails from, our future prospects are determined through the flame upon our back."

Nuu nodded in agreement, "But my dear husband, I do not see any flames, and shouldn't angels have wings?" Berta playfully poked Nuu's side.

"You dare mock your husband," Nuu said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Wait until tonight, I shall have you upon your knees." He reached out, his hands gently caressing Berta's behind.

"Humph, why put on pretense, you beast," Berta laughed, the sound ringing out like music.

As the two continued to giggle, Oga cleared his throat, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice. His voice interjected with a slight cough, "Ahem, let us stay on topic, shall we?"

He continued, his words carrying a weight of knowledge and wisdom, "Firstly, it is important to note that Nephilim possesses only a single dark wing, adorned with an eternal flame upon their back.

This attribute only becomes apparent once our bloodline surpasses the threshold of eighty percent. At that point, we will be classified as True Blood, and depending on the color of our flame, we could either ascend to become masters or descend into the lowly position of slaves.

In the still of the night, the fire continues to burn, mesmerized by the tale being woven by Oga. "It is crucial," he said, "to understand that if we were ever to cross paths with a Nephilim of higher prestige than ourselves, the consequences could be dire."

His words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows. Yet, despite the gravity of the situation, the chance of such an encounter should be impossible right?

"Is it really that dangerous?" she asked.

"No need to worry," Nuu replied with confidence, "the chance of us crossing paths with one of our kin is unlikely. Besides, as long as we don't make eye contact, we could escape."

Oga nodded in agreement, his mind preoccupied with the nuances of Nephilim culture. Berta, always curious, seized the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic.

"You said the color of flame, so can you explain more?" she asked.

Oga obliged, taking out a tome left behind by his ancestors. He took care to secure the premises before proceeding, confident in his ability to detect any potential eavesdroppers.

Using the Black Curtain would only attract unwanted attention, so he spoke in hushed tones.

"Much like the mortal empires, we too have a nobility ranking," he explained, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of tradition.

"At the bottom of the ladder lies the lowly Reds, deemed fit only for servitude and slavery.

Above them are the Orange, who serve those higher up with humble deference.

The golden, on the other hand, are the equivalent of Viscounts - respected and influential figures who command great power and wealth.

Beyond them lie the Emeralds, who hold the rank of general and lead our armies to victory.

At the very top of our order stand the Whites, the elite few who have achieved the pinnacle of power and prestige.

And finally, there is the Violet Flame - the embodiment of our monarchy and the very symbol of our greatness." His words hung in the air like a fine mist, each syllable charged with the weight of centuries of history and tradition.

The group listened intently, fascinated by the intricacies of Nephilim society. Berta, ever the astute one, pressed further.

"Then wouldn't it be easy to tell if you consider your father's flame? What was it?"

Oga hesitated for a moment as if grappling with a weighty decision. Finally, he spoke.

"Well, it doesn't work like that. Over a long period, our kind procreated with other races, thus making it difficult to say what Eternal Flames will be bestowed. But our late father had a golden flame upon his back."

Priscilla remained silent, taking it all in. Her husband's family was truly interesting. As the night wore on, the group sat in quiet contemplation, each lost in their own thoughts. The tale of the Nephilim, of their flames and their power, lingered long after the fire had burned out. Only to be once more lit.

"Now ladies, I have told you a little about ourselves and the family you'll be joining…. As the Patriarch, it falls upon me to lead our household, while it is your responsibility to uphold our heritage and cultivate a haven for yourselves.

Berta, as Nuu's first wife, you possess the authority to appoint and dismiss those who you deem unworthy, but with reason. I implore you to avoid any petty conflicts within the harem.

Before I bid you farewell for the evening, I express my gratitude for your attentiveness. This concludes my address.

My dear brother, we shall embark for Higraves in three days' time. However, before we set sail, I must make a brief detour to tend to some unfinished business.

At the break of dawn, I shall depart, and it may be two days before we meet again. Rest assured, upon my return, we shall chart our course, so see you later," With that, Oga rose from his seat, and Nylah followed in his footsteps.

"?"

Nylah, with a gentle tug, held tight to Oga's arm. "Goodnight, everyone," she whispered her voice a delicate melody that drifted into the cool evening air.

Oga and Nuu were completely unaware that a stunning woman with alluring curves had overheard their conversation. "What an intriguing story, I wonder how far his sword is pointed?" she mused to herself, "Perhaps I should slip into his bed to find out," the figure giggled mischievously.

Over at the campfire, "I promise another night," Nuu declared.

Priscilla spoke up, "Is it that woman?" she asked, her tone implying that she already knew the answer.

"Who else could it be if it's not her?" added Berta, urging Nuu to leave without hesitation.

With a warm kiss planted on both their lips, Nuu bid farewell and made a detour for the airship. A night of passion lay ahead.