Luca's expression sobered instantly. He shifted her a little higher in his lap so he could see her face clearly.

"I'm listening."

Nyx took a slow breath.

"I've already contacted all the other clans, just like you suggested" She began. "I informed them of the passing of the Matriarchs. I read out the letters of evidence in full—every detail, every proof that what happened was real."

"I explained everything that occurred...and confirmed the deaths."

Luca's brow furrowed with concern.

"And...how did they react?"

Nyx's expression turned somber.

"They were devastated, of course. Many refused to believe it at first. They couldn't accept that their Matriarchs were truly gone."

"But once the evidence was presented. The letters, the timelines, the missing presence, they had no choice but to accept it."

"Funeral rites have already begun in several clans. They're mourning. Deeply."

She paused.

"But despite everything...they're holding strong. Resilient. That much was clear."

Luca exhaled slowly, relief visible on his face.

"That's...good. That's really good. I was worried they'd fracture completely."

Nyx's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone shifting.

"As for you…" She continued carefully. "I also mentioned you. I told them that the Goddess had summoned a Hero to help us...and that the Hero was a human."

Luca tensed faintly.

"And?"

"Reactions were...mixed. Very mixed. All over the place."

He swallowed.

"Mixed in a good way...or mixed in a bad way?"

Nyx hesitated, then sighed.

"Mostly bad."

"Goddamn it." Luca groaned, tipping his head back against the chair. "I really don't want to go through this headache again—trying to convince everyone I'm not the enemy just because I'm human."

Nyx's fingers found his, squeezing gently.

"They were initially glad to hear a Hero had been summoned at all. Hope flickered in many of them. But the moment they learned the hero was human…"

She grimaced.

"Shock. Bafflement. Outright anger. Many outright refused to believe it."

"They accused you of being a spy sent by the humans, or some kind of trick. They said the Goddess had failed them, abandoned them by sending a human instead of one of their own."

"Half the clans are refusing to accept you at all purely because of your race."

Luca rubbed a hand over his face, muttering under his breath.

"Some are skeptical." Nyx continued. "Unsure what to feel. They're waiting, watching. Others...they simply don't care."

"As long as you never set foot in their territory, they're content to pretend you don't exist."

She looked up at him apologetically.

"Overall...they don't have any fond feelings toward you. There are lingering doubts everywhere. Suspicion. Resentment. It's not the best picture painted of you right now."

For a moment, silence stretched between them—only the soft night sounds and the distant chirp of night creatures.

Then Luca let out a long, tired breath before chuckling at his situation

"I figured. Doesn't make it any less annoying, though."

Nyx turned slightly in his arms, resting her cheek against his chest.

"You'll win them over." She whispered. "Eventually. The same way you won me over tonight."

She smiled faintly—sleepy, content.

"One step at a time, Hero....One step at a time."

"Yeah..." Luca murmured softly against her hair. "...One step at a time."

But before he could finish the thought, Nyx's eyes suddenly lit up like twin stars catching moonlight.

She twisted slightly in his arms, turning to look up at him with bright, excited energy.

"Wait—Hero." She said quickly. "What if...What if you used that space ability of yours? The portals?"

Luca blinked. "Portals?"

"Yes!" She sat up a little straighter in his lap, hands resting on his chest. "Every single village has a temple dedicated to the goddesses above. The same kind of sacred ground you appeared on when you first came to ours."

"So, what I'm trying to ask is if you can create multiple portals at the same time? One in every village temple, all connected?"

Luca tilted his head, brows furrowing in thought.

"I...haven't tried anything on that scale yet." He admitted. "The ability is still new to me. I'm learning its limits. It takes a lot of mental focus and stamina to open even one stable portal."

"Multiple at once...that would be a massive strain."

He paused, considering.

"But...if you give me some time—maybe a week to build up the control—I think I could manage it."

"Why?...What are you thinking?"

Nyx's smile turned almost mischievous, but the excitement in her eyes was pure strategy.

"If you can open portals in every village temple, all linked to ours...then every clan leader, every elder, every important figure could step through at the exact same time. They could all come here—without ever having to let you into their territory."

She leaned closer, voice dropping with conviction.

"At first I thought of telling you to travel to each village individually, convince them one by one. But right now none of them want a human hero stepping foot on their soil."

"They'd turn you away at the border."

"But if we frame this as a grand, continent-wide moment of mourning and unity for the lost matriarchs and if I tempt them with the personal belongings, the sacred relics, the final letters of their mothers and grandmothers...they will come."

"They won't be able to resist."

She spread her hands as if already seeing it.

"You'll stand in the center of our temple, and they'll all see you at once. You can address every single one of them together."

"Give them your assurances. Show them who you really are. One speech. One moment."

"And maybe, just maybe you can change their minds all at the same time."

Luca stared at her.

Then slowly, a wide, admiring grin spread across his face.

"That's...actually a brilliant idea, Nyx. A damn good idea!"

He leaned down and pressed a firm, grateful kiss to her forehead.

"Lisa really wasn't joking when she said you were the smartest in the room."

"You're exaggerating. Even a child could come up with something like that."

Nyx rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward.

"Doesn't make it any less clever." He countered, still smiling.

"Fine." She sighed, pleased despite herself. "Since you're agreeing...I'll contact all the clans again tomorrow. I'll make sure this gathering happens without a hitch. But you—"

She poked his chest.

"You'd better prepare a speech. Something powerful. Because words alone might not be enough to convince them...but you have to try."

Luca nodded, expression turning serious.

"I will. I'll do my best."

Then he looked down at her and his gaze changed into something deeper, more intense.

Nyx tilted her head, confused by the sudden shift in his mood.

"What's wrong, Hero?" She asked gently. Then, with a teasing lilt she asked, "Do you want me to suck your cock again? I wouldn't mind. Especially now that I feel so much better after...all of this."

She gestured vaguely at their embrace, the moonlight, the quiet.

But Luca shook his head quickly, a small laugh escaping him.

"No, no, not that. I mean...I wouldn't say no." He added with a playful grin. "But that's not what I'm thinking about right now."

He sobered almost immediately.

"It's just that being this close to you...feeling this comfortable...it makes me feel like I can ask you something without hesitation. Something personal. Awkward."

"Something...most people would struggle to bring up."

Nyx's playful expression faded into quiet curiosity.

"What question would that be?"

Luca met her eyes steadily.

"Do you want me to be direct with it...or indirect?"

She didn't even hesitate.

"Direct." She said firmly. "Always. I prefer straightforwardness. Say exactly what you mean."

He exhaled slowly through his nose, steeling himself.

"There are...certain rumors going around the village. About you. And I want to know the truth."

Nyx's eyes widened—just a fraction—before narrowing again. She already knew but nonetheless she decided to ask.

"What rumors, Hero?" Her voice was calm. Too calm. "There are many. Be specific."

Luca didn't flinch.

"That you're a whore. A devil. A succubus bitch."

"A prostitute who'll spread her legs for anyone who asks."

"That you play with men, indulge in endless nights of pleasure, get passed around from one to the next, used purely as a pleasure toy."

The words hung heavy in the night air and for a second Nyx looked genuinely caught off guard—then she let out a short, dry chuckle.

"I told you to be direct." She said, shaking her head. "But not that direct."

Her smile then faded and her expression turned solemn, almost weary.

She looked away for a moment, toward the moon, before returning her gaze to his.

"What do you think about those rumors, Hero?" She asked quietly. "Do you believe them? Or do you think they're true?"

She braced herself—expecting hesitation, a vague answer, a polite deflection since it was a tricky question to answer without offending someone.

But instead, Luca looked straight into her eyes, unflinching, sincere.

"No." He said simply. "Not really. I don't believe it. Not one bit."

Nyx blinked.

She searched his face—looking for doubt, for judgment, for any trace of the ugly suspicion the rumors carried.

She found none.

Just clear, steady eyes looking back at her with quiet certainty.

The realization hit her harder than she expected.

Even her closest friends, people who had known her for decades had, at one point or another, quietly believed at least some part of the rumours.

They never said it outright, but she'd seen it in the way their gazes sometimes lingered too long, the way their laughter sometimes died too quickly when certain topics came up, the careful distance they kept when men were around.

But Luca...he hadn't even hesitated.

Not one flicker. Not one instant of doubt.

She didn't know what to make of it.

But instead of the warm rush of gratitude she thought she might feel, something sharper rose in her chest—defensive, almost bitter.

She pulled back just enough to look at him properly, eyes narrowing.

"I'm sure there are plenty of rumors about me." She said, voice low and edged. "Plenty of stories about what I've supposedly done. So tell me, Hero—what evidence do you possibly have that proves I'm not exactly what they say I am?"

She shook her head before he could answer, a dry, humorless smile tugging at her lips.

"Don't tell me you're going to say you think of me as some pure, innocent maiden."

"That I've never touched another man in my life."

"That in your head you've built this perfect little image of me—someone virtuous, untouched, someone only you should be allowed to lay hands on."

"That you've put me on some high, unreachable pedestal like I'm a statue instead of a woman."

Her tone grew sharper, almost challenging.

"If that's what you think, then push those thoughts away right now. Because I'm not that woman. I've never been that woman."

But to her surprise, Luca didn't flinch at all at her intense questioning.

He didn't backpedal. He didn't look embarrassed or caught.

Instead he shook his head slowly, expression calm and almost gentle.

"It's not like that." He said quietly.

Nyx's brows lifted.

"No?"

"No." He met her gaze without wavering. "I don't think you're some pure, untouched maiden. I don't have you on a pedestal."

"And I definitely don't expect or want you to be someone who's never known another man's touch."

He paused, letting the words settle.

"I simply have solid evidence—real evidence—that you're nothing like what the rumors claim."

"That's all there is to it. No personal opinions, but pure evidence."

Now she was curious.

Truly curious.

She tilted her head, studying him.

"Then, please tell me."

She said, voice tender now but still guarded.

"What exactly is this 'solid evidence' you have? Solid enough that you're so confident I'm innocent? Untouched? Whatever word you're avoiding?"

"I'd really like to know more about that."

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