Tessa was certain that the footsteps she heard weren't those of Beasts. Her gaze darted to Arin, who was already looking in the direction of the sound.
"They're finally here..." he muttered, his tone calm but laced with anticipation.
Tessa's grip tightened on her sword as the footsteps drew closer. She squinted, bracing herself for whatever was coming.
Five figures suddenly leaped into the clearing where Tessa and Arin stood.
The ground shattered beneath their feet as they landed with a force that sent dust billowing into the air.
The dust cloud enveloped them, obscuring Tessa's vision. "Damn it..." she hissed, gritting her teeth in frustration. But as quickly as it had formed, the dust began to settle.
'Those aren't Beasts...' she realized, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make out the figures through the dissipating haze.
As the dust finally cleared, Tessa's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, her body trembling as she stared at the five figures.
"W-what... what are they...?" she stammered, unable to tear her gaze away.
It was something she hadn't expected to encounter—at least not so soon.
In Veloria, there were many threats, most of which had been dealt with. Beasts, though dangerous, weren't considered a true threat—more a persistent problem. They were formidable but defeatable, and even served a purpose, providing resources like food, weapons, and income.
But there was another, far greater threat in Veloria. One that had yet to be fully dealt with. One that inspired fear greater than any Beast ever could.
No one knew where they came from or what their true purpose was. They had simply appeared one day, leaving a trail of blood and terror in their wake. Though they had been pushed back in a brutal war, they hadn't been eradicated. For the past two years, they'd been lying low, and a fragile peace had begun to take root.
"V...Vampires?" Tessa's voice trembled as her grip on her sword loosened. She fought to keep her balance, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the creatures before her.
She had never been this close to a Vampire before. 'Is this... how it feels?' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. Even without looking directly at them, she could feel their cold, predatory aura.
Suddenly, she gritted her teeth, as the memories that Arin showed her of Alex killing her parents, flashed in her head. 'No!' she screamed inwardly, clenching her teeth. 'I'm not weak! I won't tremble !'
With renewed resolve, Tessa tightened her grip on her sword, lifting her head to face the figures in front of her.
Four of the Vampires were male, each with black, unkempt hair, pale skin, and pointed ears. Their fangs gleamed menacingly, and their claw-like fingernails and toenails added to their sinister appearance.
Their limbs were thin, bones visible under their skin, but their speed was undeniably terrifying. Saliva dripped from their mouths as they growled softly, their glowing red eyes filled with hunger and madness. Tattered clothes clung to their bodies, barely covering them.
The fifth Vampire was a woman, different from the others in both appearance and demeanor.
Her long, black hair was surprisingly neat, and her glowing red eyes, while just as sharp, lacked the crazed look of her companions. Instead, they were calculating, scanning her surroundings with a predator's keen gaze.
She was well-proportioned, her figure more human-like despite her pale skin. A wide, knowing smile spread across her face, exposing her sharp fangs.
Her black cloak fluttered in the wind as she placed her hands on her hips, her eyes alight with curiosity and excitement.
She wore sturdy black boots that looked both durable and flexible, though her sharp nails poked slightly at their tips.
Overall, she was far more composed than the others, and if not for her fangs, claws, and unnaturally pale skin, she might have passed for human.
"Ahh, you took longer than I expected," Arin said, his voice casual, almost bored.
Tessa glanced at him, confusion and suspicion flickering across her face. "Chaos, what do you mean? Don't tell me..." Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned. "You were expecting them?"
She thought back to their journey here, her mind racing. 'He never really gave me a straight answer about why we came here.' Her frown deepened. 'Does he have some kind of connection with these Vampires? No, that can't be...'
Just then, the four male Vampires crouched, preparing to launch an attack.
But before they could move, the female Vampire raised her hand, halting them. She licked her lips, her smile widening as she kept her gaze fixed on Arin.
"Oh darling, it seems you were expecting me. How sweet!" she purred, her voice sultry, dripping with amusement.
"Huh? Darling?" Tessa's shock deepened, her mind reeling. Vampires were standing right in front of her, and now one of them was calling Chaos "darling"? How absurd could this get?
Arin merely scoffed at her words, his expression indifferent. He knew her well. She was a prominent character in Humanity's Strongest Mage, though she had no idea who he was. Her calling him "darling" was just part of her playful, teasing nature.
Arin smirked, his eyes meeting hers. "Good to see you, Seraphine Bloodrose, Second Princess of the Vampires."
Her eyes widened briefly in surprise before a smirk of her own curved her lips. "Oh? And who might you be?"
Arin suddenly began walking toward her, his cloak billowing with each step. "Chaos..."
In that same moment...
[An Unwritten Event is happening.]
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