In a dimly lit room, five figures were present. The walls were smooth, giving no indication of texture, yet the air carried a distinct chill. No windows graced the space, leaving the source of the dim light a mystery. It came from a small, red, glowing orb hanging in the center of the ceiling—though the light seemed unnecessary for the figures seated within.
A large, circular stone table dominated the room's center, surrounded by six tall, black chairs. As the figures settled into their seats, the echo of shoes clicking against the cold, polished floor filled the air. Five of the chairs were now occupied, one remaining empty.
They all wore black cloaks, their hoods lowered to reveal pale faces that seemed almost ethereal in the faint light. Silence stretched, an unspoken tension growing, until one figure shifted.
The man with a scar running down his left cheek and long red hair folded his arms. "I assume each of you knows why I called this meeting." His voice was low, carrying the weight of authority without raising its volume. His piercing eyes swept across the room.
The other four nodded, though one did so reluctantly. A boy—no older than seventeen—kept his gaze downcast, his long black hair falling over his face. His hands trembled slightly, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his brow. If one looked closely, fear was etched into every line of his face, betraying his anxiety.
Vaelric, the red-haired man, clicked his tongue. "Then why are you all silent? If I speak too much, you'll start complaining that I'm acting like a leader." His eyes narrowed as they rested on the trembling boy, and a deep sigh escaped him. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaling the weight of unspoken frustration.
"I've told you countless times, Sylas," he muttered, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable edge. "If you don't adapt quickly, we'll have no choice but to ki—"
"Enough," a booming voice cut through the air, halting his words.
The voice belonged to a man with short, graying hair and a long, well-kept beard. His small, nearly hidden eyes remained fixed on Vaelric. As he stroked his beard slowly, his calm demeanor seemed to contrast with the tension swirling in the room.
"Give him more time, Vaelric," Darius said, his tone measured but firm. "He'll adjust in due course."
Vaelric's jaw tightened, and he folded his arms across his chest, glaring at the Darius. "Fine, Darius. But let's not waste time with this. We have more pressing matters to discuss."
He turned his sharp gaze back to Sylas. "Listen carefully. Speak up if you have anything to say. Understood?"
Sylas nodded quickly, his trembling intensifying, as if the very air around him weighed heavily on his shoulders.
"Still, you ought to show him some respect." A third voice, this one smooth and tinged with amusement, broke the silence.
The speaker was a bald man with intricate tattoos that spiralled across his scalp. A mischievous smile danced on his lips as he leaned forward, clearly enjoying the tension in the room.
Vaelric's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What are you implying, Serak?"
Serak chuckled, his grin widening. "Only that despite his inexperience, that shouldn't be a reason to disrespect him. You shouldn't forget that."
Before Vaelric could respond, another voice, soft but carrying an unmistakable authority, interrupted.
The fourth and final figure in the room was a woman, her beauty ethereal and cold. Her long, flowing blue hair framed her delicate features, and her crimson eyes, just like that of the others in the room, held a mysterious allure. She remained poised, her hands resting lightly on the table in front of her.
Liora's eyes met Vaelric's, unwavering and calm. "He may be young, and yes, inexperienced, but….." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "He is still one of us. A Progenitor."
Vaelric clenched his jaw but said nothing. He knew she was right.
"You're right, Liora," he finally muttered, regaining his composure. "But that aside, we have an urgent matter."
Serak chuckled again, his voice rich with amusement. "You mean the fact that we sensed another Progenitor? You make it sound like a catastrophe."
Darius shook his head, his brow furrowing. "This is not something to take lightly, Serak. We didn't just sense them. We know there's another Progenitor out there."
"And what do we plan to do about it?" Liora asked, her tone calm but sharp.
Vaelric rested his hands on the table, his fingers tapping lightly against the it. "It's strange, even alarming, that a new Progenitor has appeared without warning. We don't know their allegiance, whether they've gathered any followers, or worse, if they stand against us."
Serak's eyes glinted as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Simple. I suggest we find him, or rather, I'll find him, and ki~"
"Sometimes I wonder if you think before talking," Vaelric interrupted him.
The air crackled with energy as Serak's body erupted with a dark red Aura. The tattoos on his head glowed menacingly, pulsating with a dangerous energy that made the room tremble.
Serak's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Perhaps you've forgotten why I'm called Duskvale.
In response, Vaelric's Aura exploded with equal ferocity, his eyes burning with intensity. "And you, Serak, have clearly forgotten why they call me Blackmoor. You should think carefully before acting on impulse."
The room groaned under the weight of their power, the oppressive force making the air thick and suffocating. While Darius and Liora seemed unaffected, Sylas wasn't as fortunate.
"Ahh… I'm going to die...!" Sylas gasped, curling up in his chair, his body trembling violently as he clutched his head.
Darius let out a long-suffering sigh, shaking his head. "Can we have just one meeting without a spectacle?"
Liora crossed her arms, a faint smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I doubt it."
After what felt like an eternity, the room slowly returned to normal. The oppressive Auras dissipated, though Vaelric and Serak continued to exchange heated glares.
Liora spoke first, breaking the silence. "We need that Progenitor on our side, especially with the looming threat."
Darius nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. This new Progenitor could tip the balance in our favor, but we have to act quickly."
Vaelric sighed, his voice lowering in frustration. "But we don't even know where they—"
"I can find them," Serak interrupted, his tone unyielding. "And I will."
Vaelric shot him a sharp look but ultimately relented. "Fine. But who's going to approach them?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. Slowly, each of the Progenitors turned their gaze toward Sylas, who had been trying to shrink into his seat unnoticed.
Liora sighed softly, closing her eyes. "Sylas, this task falls to you."
Sylas's eyes widened in horror. He shook his head frantically. "No... no, I can't... I'm not ready."
Darius placed a reassuring hand on Sylas's shoulder. "Calm yourself. We wouldn't ask if we didn't believe in your potential."
Vaelric's frown deepened. "You must—"
Liora silenced him with a sharp look. "You know the threat to this Kingdom, to all of our kind," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "With this new Progenitor's help, we can defend our people and stand united against what's coming."
Sylas swallowed hard, his trembling slowing as he absorbed her words. "I understand, but… I've only been a Progenitor for three days. I don't have the strength or the experience to—"
"You can," Liora interrupted, her eyes locking with his. "Because you are Special. You possess something no other Progenitor in history has had."
Vaelric's lips curled into a grin. "That's why only you can do this."
"I, Seraphine Bloodrose, pledge full submission to Arin Vale."
In that same moment, a notification appeared before Arin.
[You have gained a new ally: Seraphine Bloodrose, the Second Princess of the Vampires.]
Arin's lips curled into a triumphant smile. "Perfect."
"Though, this might cause some problems for you," Seraphine suddenly said.
Arin frowned, tilting his head. "What kind of problems?"
Seraphine hesitated, though she eventually spoke. "The King will know….. and."
".....Things will get worse..."
Hey guys!! I had some issues before, but I've finally settled them, so updates will be regular as usual.
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