Arin closed his eyes and opened them as he let out a chuckle. "Ahh, it's your win, then."
In that instant, Liora's aura dissipated as she stared at Arin. "I thought you would still try to fight back."
Arin smiled. "Like I once read somewhere, a true warrior should know when to stop."
"Only someone who's alive can fight another day," he added as he stared at Liora, a cold purple glint flashing in his eyes. "Don't you think so?"
Liora squinted her eyes. 'That purple glint... Why does it give me chills? There's something strange about this boy.'
Liora lowered her head. "It was a good duel. We can meet the other Progenitors now."
Arin nodded his head as he motioned for her to lead the way, but she wasn't moving.
"Huh? Is there a problem?" he asked, slightly confused.
"We'll be able to go there without walking," Liora said.
Arin folded his arms. "And where exactly is the place we're going to?"
Liora walked forward while bringing out a vial that contained a red liquid inside. "The Castle."
"T... The Castle..." Seraphine murmured.
"All the Progenitors decided to discuss this issue with the King," Liora continued. "So, instead of only we, the Progenitors, meeting in our hall, we've decided to meet with the King in the Castle."
"I see..." Arin muttered.
Liora poured the liquid on the floor, and it instantly formed a pattern, with an X glowing in the middle.
"Immediately after stepping on the pattern, we'll arrive in the throne room," Liora said.
Arin nodded his head as he watched Liora step on it. He walked toward the pattern and also stepped on it.
"You'll also have to give some explanation about Princess Seraphine," Liora whispered before both of them disappeared from the room.
Inside a throne room, six figures were present. Two of them were seated on the thrones in the room.
One of them was a man with short black hair and a short black beard. With his attire and the rings he was wearing, one would know that he was of high status—but not just any high status. The crown rested on his head as he adjusted his sitting position on the throne, radiating a sense of authority.
He was the King of the Vampires.
Beside him, seated on the second throne, was a lady with long black hair. Her red eyes held the same intensity as that of her husband's, the King.
A crown was also on her head, further emphasizing her position as the Queen of the Vampires.
The other four figures were seated on chairs placed at the right and left sides of the throne room, though two more vacant chairs remained.
Sylas, his expression filled with fear as usual, looked around nervously. The other three Progenitors just folded their arms in silence. They had already greeted the King, so there was nothing left to talk about until two certain people arrived.
Suddenly, a large red glowing circle with patterns inside it appeared in the middle of the throne room, followed by the appearance of two figures before the circle disappeared.
Serak chuckled as he closed his eyes. "You sure took your time, Liora."
Liora ignored him and instead faced the King and the Queen before lowering her head. "Greetings, My King and Queen."
The King, whose name was Thalos, also lowered his head. "Greetings, Progenitor Liora."
Mirael, the Queen, also lowered her head. "Greetings, Progenitor Liora."
Arin had his usual indifferent expression on his face, his hands in his pockets. 'Why do I feel weird?'
"Ahh... Fa... Father," Seraphine murmured, her voice shaky.
'Wait a bit, Seraphine,' Arin said telepathically. 'It's not yet time.'
"Understood, Master," Seraphine said.
"What do you think you're doing?" Vaelric questioned, a frown on his face. "I believe you saw what Liora did. Don't you think it's reasona—"
Before Vaelric could finish talking, Arin suddenly shot him a look as, once again, without him knowing, a purple glint flashed in his eyes.
Vaelric instantly squinted his eyes. 'W... What was that?'
'Progenitors must respect Progenitors,' Arin thought. 'I'll hold this fact and use it to my advantage here. If I let myself get scared, it might not end well for me, so instead, I'll use this fact to increase my confidence.'
Arin smirked as he stared at Vaelric. "Please come again... I didn't quite get what you said."
Vaelric widened his eyes in anger as he glared at Arin.
Meanwhile, Serak just chuckled again. "He sure is a confident one."
Darius stroked his beard as he turned to look at Vaelric. "Calm down, Vaelric. He has never come here before. You don't expect him to suddenly know everything."
"Exactly," Liora said. "So bear with him."
The Queen just watched, her expression unreadable, while Thalos stood up, his eyes fixated on Arin.
Suddenly, he lowered his head. "You are welcome to the Vampire Kingdom, Progenitor."
"My name is Thalos Bloodrose," he added.
The Queen also lowered her head. "And my name is Mirael Bloodrose."
Arin raised a brow. 'What Seraphine said is indeed true. Progenitors get their respect even from the King and Queen.'
Arin then lowered his head before speaking. "My name is Arin."
His introduction was short, but no one said anything about it.
As soon as the Queen raised her head, she instantly spoke, her eyes softening. "I wish to see my daughter..."
Arin closed his eyes as he let out a sigh. 'Well, it's not like they don't already know.'
'Seraphine, come out.'
Instantly, Seraphine appeared in front of Arin. Without wasting time, she dashed toward her parents, teary-eyed.
"My daughter," Thalos whispered as he and Mirael hugged Seraphine tightly.
"I'm sorry, Father, Mother," Seraphine said as she hugged her parents tightly.
Serak smiled as he stared at Arin. "So you, uhm... Should I say killed the princess, huh?"
Arin, with his hands still in his pockets, stared at Serak. "Don't say what you don't know."
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry," Serak said in a playful tone as he waved his hands.
"Quit acting like a child, Serak," Darius said.
Meanwhile, Arin was staring at Vaelric with furrowed brows. 'The look in that guy's eyes... I don't like it.'