The Bored Immortal

"Before you say anything, let me just add that if this is about trying to force me to marry someone you chose for me, forget about it. Even if my life depended on it, I wouldn't do it," Nyissa said with firm determination in her eyes.

Maura's expression didn't change as she subtly smiled, "You have indeed grown stronger in every way from the last time I saw you. You are no longer someone who will bend your knees to even the elders of our clan. Good. And to address your worries, no…I really don't want you to marry anyone you don't want to."

"What?" Nyissa was baffled by her words since that was the last thing she expected her to say.

"Don't try to fool me. Sage Han came to my clan and caused a ruckus right before my fiance and even threatened him. He said that I already have a fiance and that my mother would be expecting complete obedience from me. He added that if I didn't obey, not only my fiance but my clan would be paying the price as well," Nyissa said in a strained voice. She knew if it wasn't for Viktor bluffing, Sage Han might have tried to set an example.

Maura squinted her eyes as she asked in a displeased voice, "Is that what really happened? Sage Han was brazen enough to threaten you? I never ordered him to force you to do anything. I will definitely have him questioned since he doesn't have any right to even insult you in any way, especially since you carry my blood too."

Nyissa looked at her doubtfully, wondering why Maura was acting so oblivious, as if she really had no idea what Sage Han said and did, "You don't have to pretend with me, mother. Just own up to what you did. Haven't you already done enough all these years?"

Maura sighed as she lowered her gaze, "I know how angry you are at me, Nyissa, and you have every right to be. But since you want me to own up to the truth, let me tell you the truth for leaving you."

Nyissa unconsciously clenched the ends of her robes as her expression stiffened.

"You know I first met your father at a gathering for mages from Earth. Almost all the clans in our world were present there, even small clans like the one your father came from. I was very young at that time, and despite it being my first gathering, I had never been so bored seeing those seniors talking about nonsense and laughing over it. But the reason I was very frustrated at that time was that I knew my parents brought me there to find me a potential groom…to marry me off and produce the next heir. They kept on pushing various geniuses from only upper-class clans onto me to make me choose one and get it over with."

Nyissa thought she would never want to spend too much time before her mother. But hearing her unfold her own past with a nostalgic look, she couldn't help but listen keenly.

Maura continued with her head resting on her fingertips, "But I only felt it so unfair since I wasn't in the mental state to marry someone and settle down, especially not one of those men who only saw me as a child-rearing object. No men from those clans respected or recognized me for who I was or even cared about what I wanted. And that was when I met your father, who saved me by pretending to be a bigshot using his spectacular skills and pulled me away from those men. He did then reveal who he really was and apologized for trying to pretend before me. He was about to leave for good when I latched on to him since I saw something in his heart that I never saw in any other man. And that night, something good happened which led to you being born to us," As Maura said this, a pleasant smile hung on her lips, and she added, "Maybe it was just an impulsive decision, or maybe I wanted to rebel against my parents. But I never regretted what happened that day."

Nyissa shook her head as she said, "No…This doesn't make sense. You talk as if…you really wanted me and still do, but you have only hated me during my entire childhood…for being weak."

Maura's expression became slightly painful as she said, "You were never weak, my daughter. You are special…more than you realize. See…you are more than 900 years old, and yet you still look so youthful. But look at me. I am 1100 years old, but I am already nearing the end of my lifespan. The bloodline you possess is special, and I knew that if you grew up among my people, you would never be happy for the rest of your life because of how bright you shine."

"What are you talking about, mother? How do you being bad to me have anything to do with me being happy? I was never happy in the first place. You are the only one who made me unhappy. I only loved you even after how harsh you were to me. Even after you were gone, I was still working hard for you without me realizing it, subconsciously thinking that it was my fault you left. I realized too late how pathetic I was for being like that," Nyissa said as she felt her eyes becoming hot, thinking that she shouldn't have unnecessarily wasted time talking about the past with her mother.

"I know I have wronged you, my daughter. But I was purposefully harsh on you because you meant so much to me…more than my own life. I know this sounds strange, but it must be obvious to you that my clan was angry at me for marrying your father. They offered me an ultimatum. It was either that I come back, or they will destroy your father's clan and take you away as well. To them, my marriage to your father was a huge black mark on my clan's reputation. The High Elders were furious, and I knew they would never bluff. And if I were to come back, they demanded that I act as if I had broken all ties with you and your father. This is why I had to leave you, Nyissa," Maura said with wet eyes as she took a sip of her tea to clear her throat.