Flying back to the Airbase, Bahamut was nonstop in her cuddling. The little dragon was all over the Knight General, going up and down his chest and in and out of his pockets.
“Paul, don’t you think it's weird that they have a teleporter there?”
“Now that you mention it… Why was that there? And in a big room too.”
Treala was conscious but she needed time to rest, her head resting on John’s lap as the Blackhawk flown by skeletons quietly flew to the Airbase.
“I think they’re going to be using that for teleportation. Maybe that’s how they’ve managed to take over the world so many times now.”
“Maybe, is Treala gonna wake up? I’m sure an Elf like her is as old as time.”
“Yea, when we get back. Let’s chat with her.”
“Right and it's so weird that we went to a freaking chasm. Feels like there’s something about how they’re performing their operations that we don’t know about.”
Even after flying for ten minutes, Bahamut was still rubbing her face all over Paul. He couldn’t be anymore happier to be wearing his Knight armor seeing how much her spiky back was scratching the chestplate.
“Ahahahaha, you really like me that much?”
“Yes, I love Master.”
He picks up the little dragon and starts rubbing the cheeks of its armored face and then its chin. One of the Rangers smiles at seeing his General interact with the little creature.
“Your pet there sir reminds me of my own cat. Used to act like that whenever I returned from work.”
“You have a cat?”
“Yes sir, an orange tabby cat. Little thing would be all over me like Bahamut over there.”
“Funnily enough, Bahamut acts like a Cat and sometimes like a Dog… Are lizards supposed to be like this?”
“I think, but seeing how she’s like this gives me the idea that Dragons have some inherent thing with our more friendlier pets.”
“I think so, though I think it's a plus that she can speak. If only I could hear what my cat is thinking.”
“Also, how's the deployment here?”
“General John has been taking care of us so far sir.”
John perks up a bit.
“Of course, I might as well give you guys as much experience as I can, before the main invasion occurs and all hell breaks loose.”
“We’re just setting up buffer zones right sir?”
“That’s the plan, but the massive bottlenecks in the logistics and tactical pauses aren’t helping us.”
“And sir, what’s with the lack of air cover? Yesterday, we were requesting for CAS but no one came.”
“Oh, because as much as we want to say we have the airspace contested, it really moves from yes we do to yes we don’t.”
“But are we getting reinforced sir?”
“We’ll see, with General Paul here and his ABCT, we should be able to at least keep guard of our rear outposts, not including the villages and towns filled with hybrids. That’s a whole other can of worms we have to address.”
The Blackhawk arrives at the busy airbase, though most of it has been cleaned, there were still some carcasses of the Sand drakes left on the roofs and hard to reach areas. The tarmac was as busy as always, and when the two Generals and their Rangers left the chopper, it got another order to fly. The mindless skeletons do their duty and take off once again.
Paul and John remove their Death Knight armors and go back to normal uniforms. Paul still wore a spare BDU as his ASU was not fitted for the hot desert sun. Already, the two get into work mode. Staying in their tents for multiple hours as his ABCT arrives in C-17 Globemasters and C-5M Super Galaxies. Unloading the Main Battle Tanks and delivering players. It has already been a day and he has received a notice that the two Vampires have safely been delivered to their country. Soon, his Officers came and introduced themselves to him and a young Colonel and familiar face visited him in the tent.
“Colonel Jason Veers signing in!”
“Good, sit down and help me with this entire thing. Get the Officers to also come here and have them stare at that whiteboard.”
“Sir yes sir!”
The young man runs downstairs and calls the other NCOs and COs. They salute to the General and start looking at the maps and information they have on hand.
"Huh, I got a report from that war with the self replicating robots."
"Yea? What about it?"
"It seems that the corruption of a Mana Core has something to do with the forces of Vitas. It could be that someone or something made contact with it that changed the structure of the entire thing."
"But weren't the Mana Cores of the two other Guilds compromised, hence why they were unable to put up a fight against the Bots?"
"See that's the weird part. It seems that the Saint can cleanse it... so that means..."
"She was there to clean it up and we got in the middle of it?”
"That or that Vampire lady I fought had something to do with it. Same lady that helped the Saint awaken Elizabeth."
"Hmmmm... well, if the Eggheads can only give you a theory, then the Saint knows somewhat more than we do."
"Could it be… the rumors of the Saints or Heroes having foresight given to them by the Gods is true?"
"Maybe, we did see evidence that the Heroes back then were from America and Japan…”
"Just how close is our world to this place? That even in its history, we left marks on it?”
"Or how much of this is scripted? Paul, if what you say is true. Then we cannot do anything that can change our fates, you know?"
"I know but... we know so little, even with our technology. Something is missing in all this. But one thing is clear to me, and that is our role."
"Our role?"
"Yep, and it's to be the igniter and the sacrificial lamb."
“Jesus, what have you been smoking? Fairy dust?”
“Is Fairy Dust a thing in this world?”
“No, but they do have some of the wackiest drugs I’ve seen. Schon actually exports the majority of the illegal drugs humans use.”
“Like?”
“This very bad stuff is called Stoner. Supposed to be, its a curse that makes you dream of your wildest desires, feeding off of your emotion as it turns you into a literal fucking rock.”
“What the fuck…”
“Yea, and get this, the Demon races modified the curse so that you could only have the dreams right?”
“Right?”
“And what happens now is that people get addicted to this stuff, thing is. It's still a curse, like, poor fools who OD themselves literally turn into a rock.”
Meanwhile in the background, Bahamut has accumulated some crumbled pieces of paper and has turned it into a nest on top of a steel cabinet as right above the dragon was the second floor Inverter and Treala is eating some pudding given to her by one of the soldiers.
“But Paul, how many do you think will stay?”
“Psshhh… million? Five? Ten?”
“Yea, I have my speculation around that ballpark too…”
John crumbles his paper and tries to blindshot it on the trash bin behind him. It hits on top of the cabinet, right on top of Bahamut’s horn. Embedding itself on her head. Looking up, the little dragon is confused as to what just happened.
“Man, it's hot. Even with an Inverter the temperature feels like it wants to cook me till I’m roasted chicken.”
“Hey now, I’ll be stationed here while you’ll be going up North to meet up with hot vampire women. You don’t have to rub it in.”
“Oh c’mon, if you ever get a chance to have a vacation. Come, Alana from what I heard is stupidly rich and has a Manor and all that, even a Vineyard.”
“Tsssssskkkk… I wanna go there… but nope. I’ll be here traumatizing myself, I hope my kids will be able to look me in the eyes the same after this ordeal is finished.”
“Hey, you have yourself a petite blonde Elven girl. It ain’t that bad.”
Treala notices Bahamut on top of the cabinet, unable to remove the crumbled paper from her horn as it was on the tip, the Elven girl jumps lightly, trying to grab the Dragon but Bahamut was panicking more and more, rolling deeper into the cabinet roof. Treala jumps higher, nearly catching the dragon. Instead, she shifts the cabinet, making it fall on her but an officer who was with Veers, looking into the map, catches it as two more help him lift it up. The nest made out of crumbled paper by Bahamut falls on her head.
“Yea… hey guys, calm down back there. Got a lot of work to do.”
“And you know, Alana and Elizabeth, as hot as they look, have some serious problems. I think immortality fucked their brains or something.”
“Dude, since when has there been a normal Vampire anywhere or anything? Heck, if you find it hard to find a normal person. What more with someone who lived for hundreds of years.”
“You have a good point, my good man.”
“Look, I believe that people default to being Good, like when they were born. Kids are very good things, they pat you and hug you and love your attention. But I think it's when they get introduced with something bad did the Evil or not so good side of people show.”
“Didn’t you say people are default to being good?”
“Yea but that’s the thing though. That’s just a default setting we are born with. Doesn’t mean it can’t change through time, and Vampires… yea. I am pretty sure their moral compasses are completely wrecked from living that long.”
Behind the two, Treala is bowing and thanking the three Officers who saved her from getting flattened by the heavy cabinet. One of them unlocks one of the drawers and gets some files while Bahamut crawls out from underneath it with the crumbled paper gone. The dragon flies around Treala’s head and then starts picking up the papers and rebuilding her nest.
“Also, I got this wild ass poster back then, when I was adventuring.”
“What’s it about?”
“It's the Holy See, one of their High Priestess went missing from the Theocracy of Anthony. She looks like an absolute hottie. Wait, lemme get it.”
“Jesus John, we got paperwork to do. Do you not want my men here?”
“Oh man but you gotta see her. It's a pretty good drawing, heck I think it's even printed with magic of sorts seeing how good it's made.”
“Just tell me what she looks like. No need to go away, look at how much stuff we have to fill out.”
“Okay, but man. Her name is Aria Noloss, one of the High Priestesses of the Holy See. Rumors said she woke up one day, all hysterical and ran away.” he cracks his fingers “She is One hundred and eighty three Dessels. In our metric system, that’s Centimeters. Long black hair, tied up in a ponytail and a hot mommy on all fronts.”
“More mommy than Elizabeth?”
“Of course not, Elizabeth is basically the Peak of Ara Ara, ya know? Undefeated, basically Anime levels of Waifuness. But she has that teenage mom going on.”
“You really need to meet your wife.”
“I would if she was keen on joining me in Dark World but noooo… she’d rather stay watching Lifestyle Channels in our living room and tell me to fix the sink. LIKE, WOMAN, I’VE BEEN TRYING FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS NOW!”
“Seems pretty normal.”
John then puts his hand up his chin.
“Now that I think about it… she looks familiar…”
His train of thought is cut as Paul smacks the top of his head with a rolled paper.
“Get back to work, you can be horny later.”
“Geez, alright alright.”
After an hour, the two were finished with their work, the Officers finalized and agreed to call in the entire ABCT to help in defending the base and captured regions. The command will be given to a young and up Colonel Jason Veers and on the main day of the invasion, two more BCTs will help while General John will be bringing almost all of his aircraft to the various Airbases scattered through the vast desert region of Schon. In the Afternoon, Paul drags the little Dragon outside as her shiny black scales have turned brown from the accumulation of dust and sand.
“Where is it?”
“Do you even have Soap and my favorite Sponge Master?”
“No. I don’t. But you gotta enjoy what we have.”
“Awwww…”
Behind one of the Canteen Tents was a metal sink. The other soldiers were also there, saluting as the General arrived.
“Men.”
“Sir.”
“Uhhhh… what’s the policy with the Soap usage here?”
“Feel free sir, We have towels, blankets, brushes, and Sponges.”
“Alright.”
He sets down Bahamut, looking around the metal tub used by the players to wash their hands. Paul then goes inside the Canteen, everyone who was in the middle of eating their dinner quickly stands up and salutes to him. Many with their mouths full of food.
“At ease men.”
Everyone sits down, all quiet and with straight backs. Eating properly and chewing their food in an orderly manner.
“Can I uhhh… borrow this metal chair?”
With no one protesting, he takes the empty metal chair on the corner of the tent and brings it back outside. Placing it right in front of the sink, he rolls up his sleeves and beret, placing it underneath the epaulets. He then takes the sponge and puts on a bit of detergent on it and squeezes it. Letting some bubble pop out.
“Ready?”
Bahamut straightens her body. Prepared to get cleaned.
“Alrighty.”
He starts scrubbing the little dragon. Immediately, the clean cold water from the tap turns brown as it enters the strainer. Bahamut’s tail was wagging, getting tickled by the sponge as it cleans her scales.
“Man, just what were you doing when I was gone?”
“I defeated the Demon General and rescued Ingraine.”
“EH?! You killed the Demon General? Already?”
“Yes Master.”
“Geez, I feel like I am literally bringing an end game boss with me. I am pretty sure that wasn’t supposed to happen this early.”
“I had no choice. He did ask for it.”
“Well. The old man must’ve been happy he died like a man.”
“Yes he did. For someone of the Demons, he had honor.”
The little dragon then spreads her right wing, letting the General clean every nook and cranny.
“You really have a lot of spikes. Your back is literally filled with it. So annoying to clean, gotta get the detergent and soap right into all that nooks.”
“Right there Master, ohhhh… ah… ah…”
Hearing the little dragon's mature motherly voice moan made the General blush. Her voice was so soft it seemed like something inappropriate was happening.
“Tone it down a bit will ya’? I don’t wanna get weird stares.”
“But Master… ah… you know how to get my spots.”
“PFFFFFTTT…. Don’t say it like that!”
“More Master, please. More, underneath… right there.”
“Okay, at this point. You're just trolling me.”
In retaliation, Paul starts rubbing right below her chin. Tickling the dragon.
“BWAHAHAHAHA!”
“Yea! Take that!”
Inside the tent, the soldiers who were laughing and secretly drinking booze couldn’t help but become silent as the sound of their General having some fun with his companion echoes inside. Bahamut’s soft motherly voice also caught them off guard, as the moan seemed so amorously innocent.
“Phew, okay. Time to get the soap.”
Taking the soap, he exchanges it for the sponge and starts with her belly. His hand supported the top of the Dragons head. Letting it rest on his palm.
“Heh heh heh, those two Vampires must be seething with jealousy right now.”
“I can hear you, you know?”
“Also Master, do you like women with long blonde hair?”
“Huh? What makes you say that?”
“You seem to be very attracted to Elizabeth’s hair style.”
“Oh, no. It just reminds me of something. Side swept bangs and all, she is pretty ideal.”
“If hypothetically… I was to ever retain my human form once again. Would you prefer me to have blonde hair?”
“What? God no. Didn’t you have silky long black hair? I saved some photos of you when you were in your final health bar and in human form.”
“But-”
“But what? I’d never want you to be something you're not.”
Hearing him say that, Bahamut’s wings swing open, throwing bubbles and water at his white shirt. “BWEH! BAHAMUT!”
“Oops…”
“AH C’MON!”
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Behind one of the tents, John and Treala are watching the two in secret. Giggling and laughing at them.
“Bahamut, what the heck was that?”
“I-i apologize Master. But I seriously think the Vampires did something to you.”
“Wha-what? No. Geez, all I wanted to say is that you look good the way you are. Heck, your human form looks more Vampiric than actual Vampires! Wahahaha! And what’s wrong with how you look? I still remember when me and the boys joined the Siege. You looked extremely pretty and beautiful. Magnificent even when you swing that sword of yours, though of course. I got wrecked afterwards. Tsk tsk tsk, and here I was bringing my rarest Potions.”
“Then, I shall work hard if the day comes. I shall show you my womanly side too!”
“You don’t have to. But if one day, we do find a way. Go for whatever that makes you happy, because what makes you happy, makes me happy.”
After a sigh, Paul smiles without even noticing it. Bahamut on the other hand dunks her head into the accumulated water in the sink.
After cleaning Bahamut, he had a conference call to General Elmer and Escobar, the quick meeting ended with that they’ll be helping the assault from the South and will be very busy. Halving the main force of Eldwood into two. Two Generals on the East, being John and Paul, while another two on the South. Elmer and Escobar. The remaining ones will be aiding in the invasion of Meridian, the Southernmost continent of the planet. With everything set, he packs his leather briefcase and wears his proper uniform again, leaving the borrowed BDUs at his tent. With Bahamut inside his jacket pocket, sleeping, he puts on his cap and leaves this room for the last time.
Notifying the Command Tent one last time, he then gets a radio call as he notified the UN Airport outside of the Kingdom of Rose Cramoisie that he’ll soon be departing to them. The staff inside the Command Tent accepts its request and the reporting Officer on the flatscreen TV is immediately shoved off by two beautiful Vampires. The excited Vampire Queen happily jumps and comes close to the camera. Making her pretty blonde face take up the entire screen.
“Yooohooo! Paul! My Lord! Over here!”
He looked around the tent and could see everyone was looking at him awkwardly. He sighs and pinches the middle of his nose in embarrassment.
“Y-yes. Hello Elizabeth. We’re hearing you fine. It’s like nearing One in the evening.”
“Oh! Sorry. It's still Morning here.”
“The continent of Schon is very big. So of course we’d be in different timelines. What is it? How are things there?”
Alana on the back could be seen curiously looking at the Camera and the entire set up they have on the tent. She even accidentally steps foot on the UN Officer on the floor. Her sharp heels hitting the back of his Kevlar vest.
“Alana is also here!”
“Yes, I can see that. Please Elizabeth, wear your mask. What if someone sees you?”
“Pffft… as if. The Officer here told me this tent is restricted for authorized personnel only! And they speak great Romanz!”
The Countess then butts on the screen.
“Paul! M’Lord! I’m really excited for you to see my Manor! Shall I prepare a feast?”
“Yes! I’m looking forward to it! If you can, save me one of those famed wines of your family!”
“Also! Where do you want me to put your pants and undergarments? The room I gave you has many drawers!”
“LEAVE IT.”
The Officer, back on his feet, also butts in.
“I’M REALLY SORRY GENERAL PAUL!”
“It's fine Captain.”
“I’LL.. UHH…” He tries to shove them off the view but the two Vampires weren’t even being moved an inch. They continually talk as if he’s not even there.
“Girls, I’m just as excited as you two are. I’ll be there alright?”
Bahamut, who was tired from sleeping, appears out of the jacket’s inner pocket. Her head visibly seen
“Dost two bloodsuckers please’th calm down? Thou art is in sleep.”
Below the screen, the UN Officer gestures to shut down the stream and one of the Staff in the tent sees this and stops the Livestream. Sighing, he then walks to the tarmac with Bahamut walking out of his jacket and to his shoulder.
“Ugh. Those two are such childrens.”
“Give them some slack Bahamut. They’ve been living for god knows how long.”
“Have thou forgotten? I’ve lived longer as a Dragon God. I was there when the first books were written and when the first man walked the world before it became Dark.”
“Heh, that reminds me of a meme. Thank you for helping out with that Sandworm, you’ve been a big help.”
“It is my duty. Not only as your watcher but also as your humble companion and pet. Though, it would be nice if you were to not get into trouble, you can’t seem to stop it. Hence, why I worry when you leave.”
“Maybe not a pet. Eternal companion? Maybe.”
“When did you get so smooth Master? I don’t remember thou having the skill to even snare another human female’s attention.”
“URK- That’s one harsh way to put Bahamut. You really don’t pull your punches don’t ya’?”
“I believe always telling the truth will lead one to bettering themself.”
“Yea, that’s true.”
Paul looks behind and waves at John and Treala.
“Take care! I’ll see you guys around!”
“Ahahahaha! Keep it cool Paul! Have a safe trip and get that medal of yours back!”
“Yea, Hassan will kill me if he finds out!”
The two buddies board a C-130J Hercules with their Carriage strapped down and ready to be airdropped if needed. With its Landing lights on. The rugged aircraft moves to the Runway and takes off. Its destination, the small airport south of the Vampire Kingdom. Inside the cargo hold, the two converses as the plane flies through the dark, cold night of the desert.
“What’s with those two, Master? They seem to be very excited.”
“Eh, well. I think it’s because I’ve shown them all I have and capable off. I think they want to use this as an opportunity to show off what they have and impress me in return.”
“Ugh. For being the most powerful species of humanoids next to Dragonkins, they sure have an affectionate relationship with a mortal like you.”
“That’s some pretty big words. Let me remind you Bahamut, you’re also affectionate to me and we’ve been together far longer.” He makes an Evil smile, his head facing the little Dragon on top of his shoulder.
“We-well… it’s so that you won’t kill yourself or get lonely.”
“Heh. I remember those days, just the two of us on horseback and adventuring when Eldwood doesn’t need us.”
“Yep. I still remember that one time we stumbled upon a dark Dungeon surrounded by grapevines and many problems were encountered.”
“HAHAHAHAH! Oh yea, that one was hard wasn’t it? I still remember those cheesy trap placements. Damn makers want us to suffer.”
The plane rattles a bit, bouncing the carriage and the extra cargo of Rations and Munitions. They both just ignored it and the irritating sound of the four propellers as the plane reached cruising altitude.
“Stork to Gandle, Thank you. Changing frequencies now.”
“Roger Stork, remember to find the airport KAKR. Your destination is exactly four thousand five hundred kilometers away. We have no radio contacts over the vast majority of the continent, so if anything happens. Be sure to contact the nearest base or personnel you can find. Maintain a Three-Zero-Zero heading. Wind is a Zero-One-Zero, Five Knots.”
“Don’t worry Gandle, we’ve been flying blind and without radar from ATC since the first months. This ain’t anything new. Maintain Three-Zero-Zero heading. Wind Zero-One-Zero, Five Knots. over.”
“Affirm Stork. Safe flight and fair winds.”
“Thank you. Stay safe down there too Gandle.”
The two Pilots then stretch themselves in the Cockpit. Preparing for a long long flight while the Loadmaster steps down from his seat to check the cargo’s straps. He could see on the rear right of the aircraft was the General, having a fun chat with the little Dragon. Hours later, back at the desert, Desson the Crafty Dwarf is running to his Mule while talking to the Sword Saint.
“Beth! You're right! They’ll be flying straight to the Vampire Kingdom! I did the pathing, they’re flying straight to the immortals!”
“Alright, go back to the Magic Circle and get here.”
“Of course!”
“Stay safe Desson.”
On a thick forest, the Sword Saint lays down a giant magic circle, on the various points was small Mana rocks with her Holy Bow of Gabriel in the middle. Slowly the Sun rises and she faces to the right. A silhouette of a C-130J Super Hercules is seen, flying low as a pack of Dragons start their Morning routine.
“Oh Holy Gods, I- Elizabeth Graine of Breznick, Sword Saint of Dark World ask thou for a blessing, a blessing of great Mana to wound a Knight that works for the Reaper. BOW OF GABRIEL!”
The shining golden arrow flies to the C-130J. Alerting the Cockpit of an oncoming object.
“DODGE! DODGE!” The two Pilots violently shift the yolk to yaw the aircraft to the right and avoid it. In the heat of the moment, the loadmaster jumps to the cargo hold and screams “BRACE! ONCOMING!”. Hearing this, Paul materializes his armor as the Arrow rips through the front of the plane, flying straight to his chest and striking him. The Loadmaster was nothing but a plume of red smoke and another arrow strikes the wing, sending it on a graveyard spiral.
“NO! NOOOO! POWER! FUCK! RENNY, GET THE GENERAL OUT! WE AREN’T GONNA MAKE IT!”
“ROGER!”
The Co Pilot stumbles out of the cockpit and sees the General slumped down and Bahamut panicking at the sight of the wounded Officer as he bled. He gathers his thoughts and picks him up, putting him on a parachute. Opening the rear ramp, he pulls his chute cord. Sending him out of the aircraft, he then releases the carriage and just like that, the aircraft disappears into the mountains, flying into the tall trees. A gigantic explosion then followed as the munitions and fuel it was carrying ignited, killing the last two crew of the aircraft and a massive tower of fire started. Paul managed to materialize his armor but due to his wound, the landing made the pain worse.
His senses are heightened, feeling and hearing everything. Looking around, he sees Bahamut on the ground, visibly breathing but not waking up. The noise of cracking branches to his front alerts him. Though bleeding heavily and in great pain, he unsheathes his Arming Sword. The blade is visibly in deep need of resharpening but nonetheless he knows it's still just as lethal. A giant Red Dragon then lands. Crushing the tall trees like its nothing and sending debris everywhere as its wings create a powerful downwash. It was so strong the Dark Knight is forced to grab Bahamut and shelter the little thing from getting swept away.
Just like that, it disappears and out of nowhere, an armored Horse with a Silver Knight wearing a helmet that has a long red feather hops on top of a destroyed wing that’s embedded on the soil. Without thinking twice, he swings at the man which he parries while on horseback. Turning around to face Paul, the strange Knight. Before looking at him, he faces behind and cuts an arrow. Lowering his Demonic Sword, he sees an old acquaintance. The Prince of Keyneth, the Elven player ElvenBroThomas12. His long black hair being swept by the strong wind from afar.
“I think you’re supposed to be facing me Knight.”
Looking behind, the Silver Knight has removed his helmet. Revealing his short red hair and handsomely flamboyant face. His light gray coloured eyes pierce Paul. Feeling his hostile intent.
“Sorry, I was busy blocking a cheap shot from a sharp eared motherfucker.” He vomits blood, it seeps through the holes of his helmet.
“Looks like Lady Beth did a good number on you.”
“Yea… f-fuck you… and her.”
“Well, I was just tasked to see how bad it was. Looks like it didn’t kill you.”
To his right, a deep and mature manly voice is heard. Looking at its direction, a middle aged Blonde man adorned in a bulky Red and Gold armor with a big red cape appears.
“Let us depart.”
“Of course.”
The man's voice was commanding, and his wisdom carried through every word. In contrast, the Silver Knight sounded like someone who has been taught about noble manners and how they spoke. They then turned around, leaving him be with the unconscious Bahamut on his hand.
“HEY! F-FIGHT! -BLEUGH- ME! M-MOTHER! FU-FUCKERS!” Command to his left hand disappears, making him drop his Sword. Just as fast did his feet give out, forcing him to crawl his way to a tree. Making it support his back while he slowly bleeds out. Looking around, the trio had disappeared and he couldn’t feel their presence. Now confident, he teleports a health potion. He hastily removes his helmet and drinks it. Though it calmed his pain, the tip of the Arrow was still there and it's Divine curse running amok his body.
“Fuck- the potion just made it reset to zero…”
Feeling tired, he falls asleep. Dropping the empty bottle while his right hand still cradles Bahamut’s small body. Blood was still leaking from his mouth. His white teeth are all in red from vomiting so much of his red cells.
A thousand or so kilometers away, Alana is in the Capital of Rose Cramoisie, Ville De La Nuit. Her return was met with a crowd of Nobles all pleased by her safe return, her parents were also there. Hugging their daughter warmly. The Vampire Queen on the other hand had to hide in her Mansion in the Region of Du Sang. Inside a massive Castle with sharp pointy roofs was the Great Council. After getting interviewed and questioned for two long hours, she exits her seat victorious. Having successfully hid her adventures with a human and the awakening of the Vampire Queen.
“Ugh, I wanna go back.” She makes a deep sigh in the hallway, adorned by a red carpet and the walls and floor made out of Marble with walls lined with porcelain. The servants of the Castle bow as they pass her, looking down with respect.
“Well, if it ain’t Lady Minuit.” The crass but soft voice of a young man takes her attention. Looking up, an extremely attractive and well built Vampire man in a Sky Blue Knight shirt and trousers happily smiles at her.
“Oh, Sir Don. How may I be of service to you?”
“No need to be so formal with me. We’ve been together since we were children.”
“Of course, but we are in public, I must address you as such.”
“Where were you? The entire Kingdom was so worried when your ship returned full of holes and heavily damaged.”
“I was busy minding my own business..”
“Is that so? Well. I’d be happy to throw a party for your return. I’m sure the other Nobles of the High Society would love to dine with you tonight.”
She slowly starts peeling away, taking small steps to the hallway which leads to the Castle’s exit.
“I apologize Sir Don. But I must go. I have duties to attend to.”
She bows and heads off her way. Running off the exit and revealing the beautiful Capital of the Vampires. Everything had an air of luxury to it and the buildings were all properly aligned and not one was too high than the other, letting the Park and Government buildings stand out. The roofs were leveled, everyone was wearing proper outfits. Majority of it comes from the Regency Era, where the elegance of Nobles was at its height. Planes from the United Nations fly over the Kingdom, delivering supplies to their small airfield while the Diplomats arrive, bowing as they pass her.
Excitedly, the tall beauty walks through the busy streets. Going to a nearby Perfume Shop where her Coachman lay in wait. After buying an expensive product, she rides her ornate carriage pulled by four horses adorned in luxurious cloth with her family sealed sewn into it. The next few hours were quiet. Passing the time, she looks out the window to see the beautiful landscape of the rural part of the Kingdom. From a beautiful Sunflower field to a bountiful forest, everything and everyone in the city seemed like it was personally carved by God to look as good as possible. Reaching her Manor, she could see Elizabeth outside, playing with a stray cat while her Maids and Servants watched from afar. Whispering amongst themselves of the mysteriously magnificent blonde woman.
The Gothic Mansion had a hundred or so rooms and was filled to the brim with all sorts of luxuries and expensive furniture. Arriving, the thick metal gates swing open as the powerful servants open it with great ease. They then lined up, bowing and greeting the Countess as she exited her carriage. A Butler then appears from nowhere and closes the carriage door.
“Lady Minuit. Welcome back, how was the meeting with the Council?”
“Boring and tiring. They weren’t even interested in the human-vampire diplomats, only if they knew who they’re undermining.”
“Then, would you be interested in a bath? Or shall the servants prepare a meal?”
“A Bath would you. I’ll first visit the human villages. I’ve heard complaints that they’ve been roaming far from their respective territories without permission.”
“Of course.”
The Butler then disappears and her Servants disperse. The Vampire Queen removes her mask and approaches her.
“If only he was here to see this.”
“When will he arrive?”
“The soldiers at the airfield told us it should either be today or tomorrow. Do your duty, let’s make sure he gets a proper greeting.”
The Coachman drives the carriage to the back of the Mansion while her Butler returns leading an all white horse with an ornate scabbard and outdoor pouches on its Saddle.
“Miss Elizabeth, I must go and perform my duties now.”
“Of course Lady Alana. I’m sure Paul would be happy to know of your achievements as a Countess of the Minuit House.”
She bows and smiles revealing her two fangs. Riding the horse to a nearby Legion Outpost, the Knights there rush to formation to greet Alana. Kneeling in one feet and their heads down. Looking at the men, she realizes that one of the Sergeants is missing.
“Where is the man that is supposed to be leading your squad?”
“He went ahead for a patrol of the forest M’Lady.”
Suspicious, she closes her eyes and using her hearing, a palpitating beat deep in the forest is found. Without thinking twice, she dismounts her horse and runs to its direction. A mile away, the Sergeant Knight has pinned down a teenage human. Licking her navel and touching her breasts.
“Hmmmm… thanks for the meal.”
Before he could bite her neck, the Knights arm is severed. Blood sprinkling the green forest with red. His arm drops to the ground as he screams from the sheer pain. He violently turns around, tainting the Countess with his blood as she looks at him with a deathly stare. The red dress she wore hid most of the blood but her white skin is in contrast to its color. Wailing on the ground, she approaches him and holds him up by the neck. Choking the man.
“Who hath told thee to taint our food?”
“I-I-I apologize Lady Minuit!”
She looks down on the attractive village girl. Her face splattered with blood.
“Why hath thee wandered afar?”
“Missus! The Knights take us women to the forest and and…!”
She starts choking the Knight harder while bleeding from his severed arm.
“Knight, There’s a place for this and a place for your duty. Report yourself to your Commanding Officer. I know your family, and I know they’re love for Knighthood. Do such things again in my Domain, and I shall make sure they’ll also pay for your uncontrollable lust for blood and flesh.”
Looking at the girl, she drops the nearly dead Knight.
“Return to your Village, do not make me repeat myself mortal. I have enough problems as it is.”
She scurries off, running for her life. Alana on the other hand pinches the middle of her nose, visibly annoyed by the performance of the Knights. She then returns to the Outpost, dragging the bleeding body of the Sergeant and immediately requests for a spare Dress and some clean cloth. An hour later, the Knights return with her extra dress and the Regional Knight Commander which immediately bows and apologizes to her.
“I APOLOGIZE LADY MINUIT! I’LL BE SURE TO TEACH HIM WELL!”
“May I remind you Knight Commander that this Village has our best and sweetest blood in the Kingdom hence why I assigned Knights to be guarding it. Make sure this doesn’t happen again, it is hard enough to find humans with Noble lineage in the slave market, I’ll forced to make a report to the Knight Academy that their students are worse than daily grunts in chainmail. Tsk.”
“OF COURSE.” He bows hard in great shame to his Knights performance.
She goes into the Officer’s tent and changes clothes. The one given to her is an old dress she had that’s all white. She hops back to her horse and follows the path to the Village. The children were astonished to see the magnificently beautiful woman, the people could see her status, with beauty beyond perfection, it was inhuman. She stops at the large house which the village Chief uses. The elder comes out, bowing and greeting the Lady.
“I’ve heard you’ve saved one of our youngsters, I thank you Lady Minuit.”
“No need. I’ve come to ask about the recent problems with the other villages. Why are you humans wandering so far? There is a reason why we do not allow Vampires to merely waltz into your houses.”
“Well…” he looks around, seeing that people are gathering in front of his yard. “Lady, shall I invite you inside?”
“Of course. I prefer being inside anyways.”
He prepares Tea as she sits on the family table. Sat on the Patriarch's chair as she looks at the old man's family, the teenage man was absolutely infatuated by her beauty. The Elder then seats down near her. Giving her a stained cup with his best pattern of a flower. Taking a sip, she breathes a heavy sigh of relief from the already busy day.
“You’ve changed Madame. Finally met a man?”
She stops midway, choking on Tea.
“I’ve… I’ve had.”
“Would it be Sir Percival? Or did Lord Don finally win you over?”
“Nay. Those two couldn’t snare a woman if it meant saving their behind. They think acting nice can get me, but I prefer good men.”
The old man's eyes widen, he smiles at her and starts brushing his long graying beard.
“I can see, even the Blood Countess has the heart of a maiden…”
“E-excuse me?! What jest is this?”
“Hahahaha, I apologize. I’ve never met another woman who reacted so purely to love like you have.”
“I admit I don’t have a lot of experience in this field, but I had not come here to chat. But to ask you of the recent problems.”
“Ah that, well… it's due to some of the Noble Vampires sneaking into the Villages. We’re not as protected as the Towns on your upper Regions, Lady Minuit. Though you have Knights here, they all came from Noble families. They’d come in at night, and drink the blood of our young maidens. Mostly the attractive ones while our young males are sometimes taken away by a Lady for days or weeks. Some have not returned.”
This sends great anger to her heart. Her eyes were full of murder.
“I’ve only been gone for a few months and they dare walk over my authority…? Going in and out of my domain as if it's a supermarket?”
“Supermarket?”
“It's an establishment from the Outworlders. I shall get going, thank you Elder Grath. I must take my leave.”
“Of course Lady Minuit. It’s always a pleasure to have you here.”
“I assure you I’ll put a stop to this.”
She then gives the Knights on the outpost a lecture and requests for normal foot soldiers to start patrolling the surroundings and give them authority to report the Knights for the smallest of infractions. Doubling the security, she goes back home. The Butler bows and tells her that the food is ready but she just ignores him and continues walking to her Office. Shutting the door, her hand tightens as her anger overflows. The knowledge that other Nobles have been walking in her territory and drinking the blood of the humans she worked so hard to herd.
“UGH! If only I had those Drones Lord Paul uses with his men!”
She sits down on her ornate large red leather chair. The big wooden desk she had was properly organized with paperwork on the right while on the left is letters and requests.
“When he arrives, I must ask him to help me.” She goes into work mode, midway through her papers and visibly annoyed, she starts massaging her forehead with two fingers in frustration as she opens a lockbox containing the medal Paul gave to her and the Queen. After a while of staring at it, Piano is heard coming from her Garden which is behind her office. To a person from our world, it would sound something like Chopin - Nocturnes in E-flat major. Attracted to it, her pointy ears dance to the tune, making her stand up and look out. She could see the Vampire Queen Elizabeth silently playing her Grand Piano inside her Garden Temple.
She exits out of her office, lowering the angled desk for her quill to rest, and goes down to meet the Queen who is enjoying her time leisurely.
“I forgot what it’s like to be human, I remembered why we Vampires still love music. To remind us of our soul's humanity.”
Even though she was in absolute silence, Elizabeth already detected her.
“I didn’t know you could play so well. The history books did state you mastered the Piano and Violin but hearing it personally is on another level as he’d say.”
“Heh, that human male sure did a number on us. Influencing us with the Outworlders' modern words and ways. Though it isn’t a bad thing, so, any news when he’ll arrive? I am already having fleeting moments remembering his face.”
“The soldiers of the United Nations haven't said anything much, only that they might’ve gone through a storm and had to go around. But their craft should arrive by tonight.”
“Good. I’ve been missing his face and smell already.”
She continues to play the Piano with her mask off. Smiling and going with the rhythm she’s creating.
“I forgot that we’ve only been adventuring for a few months. But it had felt like years.”
“I know.”
“So this is what it's like. To… have fun.”
“Yes.” Alana smiles, reminiscing of her adventures.
“Hmph. I see you relate with me. You were bored here weren’t you?”
“I was. As beautiful as this Nation is, the people have become too lenient. We act like the highest of Nobles when behind each other's backs, we’re more monstrous than the humans we call barbaric and lesser than ants.”
“Such is why my Husband and I made our culture like this. To hide the monsters that we truly are. Humans are strange creatures, the Elves deem us Heretics, the Orcs other humanoid subspecies see us as abominations and Demons secretly loathe us.”
“But many still fall to our charms. They hate to admit it, but they’re jealous of our eternal beauty and youth.”
“Not only that… we pose a large threat Lady Alana.” She stops playing the Piano and stands up. Tracing the stone railing of the garden temple.
“Why do you think these visitors from the other world put such a high priority in making friends with us? They know that in a sense, if we unite in our numbers and bring upon them the fangs of the Blood Legions, even their mighty metal beasts won’t be able to hold.”
“I’m still stricken by the range of those missiles they have.”
“University level magic can easily stop those from hitting our most important regions. These humans, they’re smart but have very little insight. Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another.”
“And by Paul’s word. His world has gotten into a level of technological advancement that wisdom is of very little use as their generation is too busy with entertainment and themselves.”
“Do remember Alana.” She enters the garden. Touching the row of crimson roses with the tip of her fingers. “Just like these Carmin Roses. The humans wither away, last long enough and they’ll stop and disappear either by their own folly, or indecisiveness.”
“Their mortality is both their biggest strength and weakness. It also pushes them to innovate faster and farther than anyone else on this planet. With the visitors, we saw that they’re fully capable of.”
“Hence why I hope that monkey, Harold, is capable of seeing this, so far I’m not amused, nay I am disappointed at how they treat them. We’ve become far too lax. Maybe Paul and his friends may teach these Réprobateurs that one must never stop walking forward even when the body they inhabit doesn’t.”
“One can hope, your Majesty.”