70. The Right Time.

Chapter 70: The Right Time

Two Years Later

Nyx reclined quietly on a worn-out couch, her appearance noticeably frail and disheveled as she nursed with care, the small child nestled in her arms.

Her complexion, once radiant and as flawless as fresh cream, had now lost its luster.

The glow that used to define her beauty was gradually fading, and she fully understood why.

It was the price she paid for motherhood.

Every woman who became a mother had to give up something meaningful—whether it was sleep, time, or in Nyx’s case, her beauty. That was what her new role had taken.

“Amaya has been feeding well lately, hasn't she?” Mother Veer inquired gently, extending her hands to carry the small pup from Nyx’s sweaty arms.

Nyx passed her child to the older woman with a soft, reassuring smile and a subtle nod in agreement.

The little girl had grown noticeably—her cheeks were full, her limbs plump, and she bore an unmistakable resemblance to her father, whose identity remained a secret known only to Nyx.

“My sweet Amaya!” Vtrisha exclaimed joyfully, rushing toward them. She was the child’s absolute favorite, and she too had blossomed over the past two years. At least now, she could comfortably hold a baby without fumbling .

Amaya's face lit up with delight as Vtrisha approached, her mouth stretching into a grin that revealed the single tooth in her lower gum. The toddler raised her arms eagerly toward her.

“My goodness! That baby never lets anyone carry her except them,” Liora laughed heartily as she observed from a distance.

She was prepping vegetables for the evening meal and arranging the firewood to start the cooking.

Vtrisha gave Liora a quick, playful wink while gently scooping Amaya into her embrace.

Nyx, on the other hand, looked incredibly worn-out.

Her once healthy figure was now alarmingly thin, and her face pale and drained from continuous breastfeeding and sleepless nights.

Childbirth had changed her entire life.

Immediately after delivering her baby, Nyx had slipped into a coma for several days. When she finally regained consciousness, she found herself buried in the exhausting routine of caring for an infant. She hadn’t had a break since and the child was on the journey of turning two.

Motherhood demanded more than she had ever expected—and no one could truly understand those sacrifices until they became a mother themselves.

Vtrisha glanced sideways at Nyx, her face subtly darkening with concern. Nyx was now staring into space, avoiding all eye contact.

Beads of sweat trickled from her forehead. Her eyes looked dull and lifeless as though they would close permanently at any moment. Her wrists were gaunt, with her veins bulging visibly beneath her thin skin. It was clear—she hadn’t eaten properly in days.

“Aunty Nyx,” Vtrisha called, wearing a kind, gentle smile.

She felt she needed to smile in order to bring up what she was about to say.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Nyx responded, her voice soft but clearly fatigued.

“Would you like to share some of my meal for dinner?” Vtrisha offered, her tone warm and thoughtful.

“Why?” Nyx asked lightly.

“I noticed you've not been eating much lately. Is there a reason why?” Vtrisha asked again, this time tilting her head slightly, trying not to sound too intrusive.

“Oh, that! Don’t worry, I’ll be okay,” Nyx responded with a tired grin that reached her eyes. The smile lines etched into her cheeks were dried remnants of tears that had likely been shed in silence.

Vtrisha knew instantly that she was lying. Nyx had indeed lost her appetite, but that wasn't all—something deeper was clearly troubling her.

“All right then. But if you don't eat tonight, we’ll have no choice but to punish Mommy, right?” Vtrisha said, turning her attention to the little girl in her arms.

Amaya gave her a wide, innocent smile, and Vtrisha couldn’t help but laugh softly in return.

***********

Two full years had passed, and Annatoria was still far from understanding the truth about herself—the fact that she was a descendant of the moon goddess.

Manga had tried countless times to reveal the truth to her, to make her see beyond the ordinary, but she kept brushing him off, dismissing his words as nonsense.

It almost felt like she was intentionally avoiding the reality of who she truly was.

Manga had grown weary of trying, but during that time, he had also made significant progress on his own. He had discovered his right-hand man—Ryder. Together, they had formed a bond and were tirelessly working on their grand plan to reclaim what rightfully belonged to Manga.

To be clear, Manga never considered himself a villain. He simply retaliated against those who had caused him pain. His actions, in his eyes, were merely responses to the cruelty he endured.

Now, however, he was fully prepared to begin again—with clarity and purpose.

His biggest goal was revenge—not just for his pride but for the crown that had been unjustly snatched from him. He wanted to recover his identity, his throne, and his voice that had been silenced by enemies.

“Find out what Loreen has been up to. She’s the first one on our list,” Manga instructed coldly, his voice laced with icy determination as he spoke to Ryder.

Ryder still found it difficult to adjust to the newer version of Manga. This version was more open, warmer even—he addressed him like a brother, not a subordinate.

Though Manga had prohibited him from bowing or calling him "boss", Ryder couldn't bring himself to use his real name, Ervary. He still revered Manga too much.

Despite his past misgivings about Manga’s ruthless behavior as the rogue leader, Ryder had never truly despised him. The only thing he disliked was the excessive coldness and commanding tone Manga used to have.

“What should we eat for lunch?” Manga asked casually, a broad smile softening his hardened features.

There was only one thing that continued to torment Manga: his scar. Seeing his reflection made him recoil. It was a bitter reminder of his suffering, and each glimpse only added fuel to his inner fire.

Each time he stood before the mirror, he felt a violent urge to avenge himself. And the name that always escaped his lips?

“That bastard Corrion,” he would mutter with a clenched jaw.

“I’m sorry I ran…” Ryder suddenly said, crashing into Manga with emotion. He wrapped his arms tightly around him.

Manga responded with a soft smirk tugging at one side of his lips. He wasn’t the kind of man to indulge in emotional displays, but this one he allowed.

He wasn’t physically intimidating compared to others, but mentally and emotionally, he was one of the strongest there could be.

“Come on, man,” Manga chuckled lightly, trying to break the heavy mood.

They held each other briefly before pulling away.

“I heard she moved back to Regensburg, bo—”

“That woman! She has absolutely no shame!” Manga spat bitterly, his tone calm but his insides seething with rage.

“I really hope she gets what she deserves.”

“She’s going to pay—I'll make sure of it,” he added, exhaling slowly as though trying to contain a firestorm brewing within him. “She humiliated me.”

Ryder swallowed nervously and avoided looking him in the eye. He knew Manga wasn’t just making empty threats. If he said he would do something, even if it took him years, he would make sure it got done.

“Keep watching her while I continue tracking Radolf,” Manga instructed, pointing at Radolf’s name scrawled boldly on a dusty whiteboard.

“I’ll handle Annatoria myself. I’ll make sure she joins my side. Then Candace, Radolf, and Corrion… all of them will taste my vengeance,” he said, his tone scattered and venomous.

“But… is she truly—?”

“What? Are you questioning me now? Will you doubt Garcia too?” Manga asked sharply, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Unbelievable.”

Even Manga had doubted it at first. But when he saw the clear signs described in the ancient prophecy, he knew the truth.

Annatoria was the chosen one—the descendant of the moon goddess. She was destined to become immensely powerful.

The prophecy had said:

“She shall be banished and cast away from that which she cherishes with all her life and she shall rise above those who once mocked her. Her name shall be heard across nations.

When she rises, she shall reduce you to nothing and bring you back to those of your kind. When you meet her, she’s the descendant who, with her support, shall help you reclaim what was yours. Your fate is connected to hers.”

Garcia, the one who delivered the prophecy, had treated Manga like a son. He was the only one who believed in him when everyone else had abandoned him to die.

Manga’s eyes grew misty as he remembered Garcia—he had been the father figure he never truly had. A savior.

Ryder, on the other hand, looked on, completely puzzled. He couldn’t tell if Manga’s sorrowful smile was caused by memories, guilt, or something else entirely.

“I’ll begin my surveillance of the Ember Wolves Pack,” Manga declared after clearing his throat.

“You’ll head over to Regensburg. Find Loreen. Track her every move. Feed me updates without missing a single detail,” he added, pausing to draw in a deep breath.

“And stay safe, Ry,” he finished, gently patting Ryder on the back as they moved out