0037. A Silent Resolve

As the clock ticked on, Nile found himself wide awake, his conversation with Jennifer still lingering in his mind. Restless, he wandered upstairs and located the room where Veena and Jessica were staying.

Jessica opened the door with a sly grin. She gave him a quick once-over and teased, "No limbs missing? Good. Come on in."

Smiling faintly at her playful jab, Nile stepped inside. His eyes immediately caught Veena's gaze. She looked at him with a calm demeanor but couldn't resist her own teasing remark. "So, is the lady really that beautiful? You must be smitten. But let me warn you—she's far too old for you." She maintained a serious face, though the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.

Normally, Nile would have flushed in embarrassment, but tonight was different. He stood tall, a quiet confidence settling over him. With a small, knowing smile, he replied, "No matter how beautiful she is, Mama, no one compares to you." The words felt natural, as if they came from a newfound place within him. His emotional maturity was becoming more apparent—no longer shy, but sure of who he was and his relationships.

Veena let out a soft giggle, shaking her head. "It seems Frost has passed his sweet tongue to you. Such a cheeky boy," she remarked as Nile settled beside her on the bed.

A moment of silence hung between them before Nile hesitated, his usual playful demeanor fading. "Mama," he began cautiously, "the reason you handed over the authority to make family decisions to me… It's because if you attract attention to yourself, those from my father's side might locate you, right?"

Veena's smile softened, her maternal instincts sensing his worry. "It is, and it isn't," she replied gently. "I do want to avoid that situation, but more importantly, I want to watch my cute boy grow and mature."

Nile sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "Thank you, Mama, for taking care of me and protecting me. But now," he said with a small smile, "you just relax. I'll protect you from now on."

Jessica, who had been sitting on her bed, couldn't resist chiming in. "Such big words from an idiot," she teased.

Usually, Nile would have been flustered or too cautious to retort, but tonight, he turned to her with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Big or small, now it is your responsibility to make sure I grow honorable teacher," he emphasized the last words with exaggerated seriousness, watching Jessica cringe.

"First lesson," she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "Never call me that again. I am not that old."

Nile, feigning confusion, replied with mock solemnity, "Yes, unable teacher."

Jessica's patience snapped, and she lunged toward him, but Nile quickly ducked behind Veena. "No violence during teaching!" he declared, peeking out from behind his mother's shoulder.

Jessica took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down before retreating to her side of the bed. She crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and began meditating, though the faint twitch of her lips betrayed her lingering annoyance.

Seeing her retreat, Nile stepped out from his hiding place. Turning back to Veena, his expression grew thoughtful again. "Mama, I've been meaning to ask you something. How strong are you?"

Veena raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Strong, as in how much strength I can exhibit without drawing attention from… my past?" she asked, her interest piqued.

Nile nodded. "Yes. I've been thinking about something, but I need to know what you're capable of before deciding how to move forward."

Though intrigued by Nile's question, Veena took a moment to seriously consider her response. Even Jessica, initially meditating, opened her eyes and began paying attention, sensing the weight of the conversation. After a few minutes, Veena finally spoke.

"Well, as long as the strength is limited below Level 7, it's of no concern. There are billions of Level 7 powerhouses across the 12 Nations, Seven Kingdoms, and Three Empires. It's only at Level 8 that someone gains a unique standing."

Veena's power was understated but formidable. Her careful choice of words made it clear that she was much stronger than she appeared—yet her strength was not a matter of pride, but of protection. Her calm demeanor hid so much more, and Nile was beginning to understand just how much she had shielded him from.

As Nile processed the implications of her words, his mind raced. He had always known that there was something different about Veena—her strength, her ability to protect them, her mysterious past. Now, the pieces were beginning to fit together. His father's background, his own origins—none of it made sense if Veena was from this nation. It struck him like a lightning bolt. But Nile didn't falter—he made a firm decision to protect her regardless of the truth.

"So Mama really is from some other country, doesn't matter, I won't let anyone hurt her. I'll protect her from her past —no matter where that past is from."

Jessica's eyes widened in shock, unable to hide her reaction to Veena's revelation. Though she had her own assumptions about Veena's strength, hearing it confirmed was another matter altogether. Meanwhile, Veena's surprise came for a completely different reason—she had never expected Nile to infer that she wasn't originally from this nation based solely on her response.

Gathering his thoughts, Nile looked up at Veena with determination. "That settles it," he said firmly. "I have a rough plan for how to move forward from here."

With that, he stood up, ready to leave. "I'll go and call the others so we can discuss the details."

Before he could take a step, Jessica was already on her feet, blocking his way. "You wait here," she said with a sharp look. "I'll call the others." Without waiting for his response, she strode out of the room.

A few minutes later, everyone had gathered in Jessica's room. Veena, Jessica, and Lyra sat on the bed, James leaned back on the sofa, while Arin stood quietly by the door. All eyes were fixed on Nile, who stood in the center of the room.

As they gathered in the room, there was an unspoken weight in the air. Arin exchanged a knowing look with Lyra, both of them recognizing Nile's growth. For the first time, Nile was not just their companion—he was the one leading them forward. They believed in him, and the group could feel it in the air, the trust they were beginning to place in him. This wasn't just a meeting—it was the beginning of a new chapter for them.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as everyone waited for him to speak.