Ancestral Lineage-Chapter 182: Grandma Seraphina, The Creator.
A shiver crawled up Ethan’s spine. Not from fear—he didn’t know the meaning of that word—but from something else. Recognition.
The being within the cave wasn’t just stirring. It was acknowledging him.
The weight of its presence pressed against his senses, not in hostility, but in something far more profound. An assessment. A greeting. A silent whisper in the fabric of existence that told him—You are here. I see you.
Ethan took another step forward, the soles of his boots crunching softly against the cave’s crystalline floor. The light from the being’s eyes refracted in the darkness, casting a shimmering glow across the cavern walls, illuminating veins of silver and gold that pulsed like ancient arteries.
He exhaled slowly, watching how the mist shifted, curling toward him as if drawn by something unseen. The energy in the cave was unlike anything he had ever felt before—ancient, deep, and coiled like a sleeping storm waiting for the right moment to unfurl.
’You were waiting for me,’ Ethan thought, his golden eyes narrowing.
The cave gave no response. But the air shifted.
A subtle movement—so slight it could have been imagined—came from within the darkness. The crystalline ram horns tilted, the radiant white eyes blinking once, slow and deliberate.
The ground beneath him pulsed as if the very mountain had taken a breath.
Ethan smirked.
So, you are awake now.
His fingers curled slightly, energy crackling faintly around them as he prepared for whatever would come next.
...
Her name was Seraphina.
Born into one of the most esteemed noble families of the dwarven race, Seraphina was a woman of both fire and grace. Unlike many of her kin, who were content with forging weapons and crafting powerful artifacts, she had always longed for more. Not power for the sake of ruling—no, her ambitions were greater than that. She sought evolution, the ability to transcend the limits of her bloodline and stand beside those who shaped the world rather than merely living in it.
Her red horns, the mark of her noble lineage, were symbols of both her birthright and her burden. The Smith Clan was a name that carried weight, yet it was always her husband, Vlad, who was spoken of in hushed, reverent tones. The Unyielding Patriarch. The Immortal. The Vampire King.
To the world, he was a legend.
To her, he was something far more profound.
He was home.
...
Their marriage was not one born of mere political alliance, though it would have been a wise match even in that regard. No, their union was forged in something far deeper.
Seraphina had met Vlad in the heart of battle, her twin war axes spinning like a raging tempest as she fought against an invading force of monstrous beasts that threatened her homeland. Even then, she had already begun to push beyond the expectations placed upon her as a noblewoman, refusing to be another pretty jewel locked away behind castle walls.
When Vlad arrived on the battlefield, she had expected yet another powerful warrior who would see her as a fragile thing in need of protection.
Instead, he had laughed.
A deep, booming laugh, one that rumbled through her bones and sent a thrill of irritation down her spine.
"A woman like you doesn’t need saving. She needs a battlefield worthy of her."
Those were the first words he ever spoke to her.
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And from that moment, her heart belonged to him.
They fought side by side, two titans in a world that had yet to understand their full potential. And when the war was over, when the fires had turned to embers, Vlad had offered her his hand.
"Stand beside me, Seraphina. Let us forge something greater than either of us alone." Stay updated via novelbuddy
She had taken it without hesitation.
...
Seraphina was not content to be the wife of a powerful man. She had sworn to be his equal.
Through years of relentless training, of blood and sweat, and shattered limits, she rose. She climbed the ranks of power, shattering expectations and redefining what it meant to be dwarven nobility.
The Smith Clan flourished under their reign, their people thriving in an age of prosperity. Their fortress city became a beacon of strength, not just for dwarves but for the unique union of races that found a home under their rule. Vampires, dwarves, beastkin—none were turned away so long as they had the will to carve their place in history.
And then, she bore her first child.
Madeleine.
She looked upon her daughter and saw the fire of her ancestors, the strength of her father, and the unyielding determination of herself.
But Seraphina knew that childbirth was not the end of her journey.
It was only the beginning.
She would not allow herself to stagnate.
She would rise further.
She would evolve.
...
When Seraphina became pregnant with her second child, the feeling was… different.
This was not the same as before.
There was power within her womb, something vast and ancient, something that stirred within her as though the child she carried was not merely her offspring but a catalyst for something greater.
She did not make it to the birth.
The moment the child was brought into the world, a force beyond her understanding pulled her away.
It was not death.
No, it was something far more profound.
Her body became heavy, her consciousness slipping as energies far beyond mortal understanding coiled around her very being. She had reached the precipice of something greater than herself.
Her people mourned.
Vlad grieved.
Her name was spoken in reverence, and her sacrifice was honored in the songs of the Smith Clan.
But Seraphina was not gone.
She was merely becoming.
...
Time had no meaning in the abyss of evolution.
She was locked in a place beyond the physical realm, her body breaking and reforging, her very essence reshaped into something beyond dwarven blood, beyond the limits of any mortal race.
And then—a voice.
Not a whisper.
Not a memory.
A presence.
It called to her, pulling her from the endless void.
A weight settled over her chest, the sensation of lungs taking in air after probably eons of nothingness.
Her fingers twitched, the sensation of touch returning as the mist surrounding her body shifted.
Then—light.
Blinding. Piercing.
Her eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was—
A pair of golden eyes.
Intense. Unyielding.
Watching her.
Assessing her.
Waiting.
She inhaled, and the air felt different.
Her body felt different.
The mist around her swirled, shifting like living shadows, reacting to her thoughts.
Seraphina exhaled slowly, her crystalline ram horns catching the light as the world around her came into focus.
She did not know how much time had passed.
She did not know what she had become.
But there was one thing she knew beyond all doubt.
She was awake.
...
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
A soft yet powerful voice resonated from the cave, carrying an unfamiliar yet strangely comforting presence. Ethan could see her now, the mist around her shifting as if alive.
Crazy green hair, crystalline ram horns, glowing white eyes, dark skin, and... furry ears? Her beauty was undeniable—mature yet youthful, otherworldly yet familiar. But there was something more, something deeper that resonated within him, reminding him of a part of himself, of Dri… and—she was short.
A slow grin crept onto his face.
’Hi there, Grandma.’
His tone was soft, tinged with amusement, as if testing the waters of a truth he had already confirmed. It wasn’t hard to piece together after all the questions he had asked earlier. Not to mention her features—almost a carbon copy of his mother’s.
Seraphina’s expression twisted in sheer disbelief. "Grandma? What are you saying? Where am I? Who are you?"
The words left her in a breathless rush, her mind racing faster than she could control.
’Relax, Grandma. You’re safe… but not entirely safe.’
She narrowed her eyes. "You didn’t answer my questions. And how did I become a grandmother? Madeleine is still young, and my baby boy—"
’Are you for real? I’m your first grandchild. Son of your daughter, Madeleine.’
"You can’t be serious."
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair before fully stepping into the cave.
...
Seraphina sat on the cold stone floor, her mind a chaotic mess of fragmented thoughts. A storm of emotions churned within her—confusion, disbelief, more confusion. Too much confusion. She was so lost in thought she couldn’t even process another feeling.
Her clothes were tattered and strangely too big for her, draping over her small frame like robes meant for a giant. It made no sense—she had never been this small before. And to her utter dismay, one such giant entered the cave at that very moment.
The air grew heavy as his presence filled the space.
His golden eyes blazed like twin suns, their light casting long shadows against the cave walls. His horns scraped against the ceiling, sending sparks crackling into the air. His skin—glossy and pale like polished ivory—almost seemed to shimmer under the dim cave light.
Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat.
Her heart pounded violently.
Her instincts screamed at her that she was staring at something beyond comprehension.
"No... no way."
She almost stumbled back, gripping her oversized clothes tightly as she stared at his face. It was too familiar. Too similar to her daughter’s. And—that being.
The one she had seen in her visions.
"You’re real?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. ’Huh? Of course I am. I’m your grandson.’
"...?"
Her mouth opened. Then closed. Then, it opened again.
’You don’t believe me, do you?’ Ethan muttered, kneeling beside her.
Up close, she looked like a twelve-year-old child—small, delicate, yet undeniably mature in presence. Thankfully, the thick mist still clung to her body, concealing her fully. Thank the gods, or else he might have committed a grave sin of witnessing something he definitely shouldn’t.
Thank God for the mist.
"Why aren’t you talking with your mouth?"
’Is that really the first question you ask when you meet your grandson for the first time?’
Seraphina’s brow furrowed. "How can the Ancestor be my grandson?"
’It seems we have a lot of catching up to do.’ Ethan exhaled, leaning back slightly. ’If I may ask… what’s your name?’
"Seraphina."
’I’m Ethan. And yes… I’m both your ancestor and your grandson.’
"...?"
