Chapter 76 (74. Oraya) Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
As Raihn lies dying beside her, Oraya holds the vial of Alarus’s blood toward the sky and silently prays to Nyaxia. The goddess appears, furious at the desecration of her husband’s remains. She kills Simon by ripping the pendant from his chest and then demands an explanation. Oraya offers the vial as a return of what belongs to Nyaxia, but asks for a Coriatis bond in exchange. Nyaxia refuses, saying such a bond would erase the ancient Hiaj–Rishan rivalry she wishes to preserve. When Oraya begs for any way to save Raihn, Nyaxia hints that a Coriatis bond could still save him—but that she cannot be the one to give it. After Nyaxia vanishes, Oraya, driven by desperate hope, summons Acaeja, the goddess her mother served. Acaeja answers.
Key Events
- Nyaxia appears in response to Oraya’s plea, radiating fury.
- Nyaxia kills Simon in one brutal motion, taking the cursed pendant.
- Oraya offers the vial of Alarus’s blood as a gesture of respect.
- Oraya requests a Coriatis bond to save Raihn; Nyaxia rejects the request.
- Nyaxia explains that the bond would unite the Hiaj and Rishan lines, ending the conflict she prefers to continue.
- Nyaxia leaves after saying a Coriatis bond could save Raihn but she cannot grant it.
- Oraya, refusing to accept Raihn’s death, summons Acaeja, who appears.
Character Development
Oraya fully abandons her earlier pursuit of power for its own sake. She offers her father’s greatest weapon—the vial of Alarus’s blood—not for a kingdom, but for a bond that would save Raihn. Her prayer to Nyaxia is vulnerable, and when denied, she does not give up; she pivots to Acaeja, showing resourcefulness and a willingness to seek help outside the Hiaj tradition.
Nyaxia is portrayed as both inhuman and deeply wounded. Her grief over her husband Alarus remains raw after two thousand years. Her refusal to allow a Coriatis bond reveals a petty, manipulative side: she prefers her vampire children to remain divided so they compete for her favor.
Raihn is unconscious throughout, but his impending death motivates every action Oraya takes. His vulnerability underscores the stakes of the chapter.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Love vs. Power: Oraya chooses to sacrifice her father’s legacy (the blood) for love, directly contrasting her earlier ambitions.
- Grief and Stagnation: Nyaxia’s grief has frozen her. She tells Oraya to “treasure that flower” of dead love, revealing her own refusal to let go.
- Divine Indifference and Favoritism: Nyaxia admits she enjoys the Hiaj–Rishan conflict; the gods are not neutral but active in perpetuating strife.
- Blood and Legacy: The vial of Alarus’s blood symbolizes both power and connection. Oraya’s Heir Mark pulses when Nyaxia mentions the ancient roles, tying identity to bloodlines.
- Agency and Desperation: Oraya refuses to accept a passive fate, first pleading with Nyaxia, then defiantly calling on a different goddess.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is the turning point where Oraya definitively rejects Nyaxia’s worldview. Nyaxia’s refusal forces Oraya to look beyond the goddess she was raised to worship and instead embrace the goddess of her mortal mother, Acaeja. The chapter sets up the final act: Raihn’s life hangs in the balance, and Oraya must negotiate with a new divine power. It also solidifies Nyaxia as an antagonist whose own grief makes her cruel.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Nyaxia refuse to grant Oraya a Coriatis bond?
Nyaxia states that the bond would unite the Hiaj and Rishan bloodlines, erasing the two-thousand-year-old conflict she deliberately created and maintains. She enjoys the competition and sees no benefit in ending it.
2. How does Oraya’s request for a Coriatis bond mark a change in her priorities?
Earlier in the story, Oraya wanted the bond to gain power and be worthy of Vincent. Now she wants it solely to save Raihn’s life—putting love and sacrifice above personal ambition and her father’s legacy.
3. What does Nyaxia’s line “Treasure that flower” reveal about her character?
It shows that Nyaxia has convinced herself that preserving a perfect, dead love is preferable to risking the pain of a living one. Her advice is born from her own unhealed grief over Alarus’s death, and it exposes her emotional stagnation.