“That’s, that’s , that’s such an envious job.” Elizabeth said with an ecstatic expression, her legs squirming.
“Why wouldn’t our mothers enlist us for that kind of job? I am so envious.” young women and men expressed their envy.
While some people started to gaze at Sera’s body lustfully.
The hall is filled with more envious gazes than lust.
Theudas said “By the way, the first breeding sow was the sister of the matriarchs, Ravenna’s grandmother.
“Second breeding sow was my mother, who is your grandmother. She is currently on a sensual journey through the kingdom with the ambition to taste all kinds of people.
“My sister, your aunt, is the current breeding sow.”
“Mothers, why don't you enlist me for this job?” Requested Elizabeth anxiously.
“You keep quiet for a while,” Elizabeth’s mother glared.
“Harumph,” Elizabeth pouted.
“And you, please don’t tease your daughter like that. She has other things to do. She can take up the role after she completes her main duties if she wants,” one of Elizabeth’s mothers reprimanded, Theudas.
Theudas chuckled.
“I refuse,” Sera stated, looking back at the matriarchs, instantly gaining everyone's attention.
“What?”
“Why would she?”
“That Seraphina, why would she refuse such an amazing offer?”
“Is she in her right mind?”
The hall erupted into an even louder buzz than before.
“Why?” Delilah inquired.
“I don’t feel like it,” Sera replied nonchalantly, as a matter of fact.
“Haa,” Salome, seated to Hecate’s left, shook her head and sighed. “Seraphina, do not reject your blood. It never ends well.”
The hall fell into confusion as most of them didn’t understand what the matriarch meant.
“Father, what does she mean?” Elizabeth asked.
“You should know how the members of our bloodline are. You can look at yourself for comparison. We are obscene, obsessive, and perhaps slightly insane,” Theudas explained.
“Understand that our behavior and way of life are abnormal and disdainful to most people.
“The more obscene and forbidden things are, the more we desire them. The more taboo it is, the more we crave it. Most will feel disgusted by us. Maybe they are the normal ones. But within our bloodline, they are the outliers. This is who we are.”
Elizabeth nodded.
“There are two drawbacks to our bloodline. One is that we are all nymphomaniacs who cannot control our urges.” Theudas continued.
“Sometimes, a few members are born who do not like our way of life. They don't mingle with the rest and often marry normal humans or other races, leading ordinary lives. But their children might be similar to us, causing troubles.
“For instance, the children might turn incestuous or, unable to control their lust, start seducing everyone around them. You can imagine many other possibilities. It’s like an abnormal child born into a normal household.
“Some, unable to cope, take extreme measures. In the worst-case scenario, they end up dead, either by suicide or killed by priests. Even if they try to extract our secrets, thanks to contracts, we can prevent any information from leaking.
“Ultimately, our clan's drawback is a blessing for the abnormal and a curse for the normal.”
Elizabeth stood contemplating, “Are they suggesting that Sera is like them?”
Theudas nodded.
"Please do not worry, Matriarch," Sera replied with a smile. "I am not rejecting my lineage. In fact, it is very much to my liking. My blood is a part of me, and I am proud to belong to the Hive.”
“Is that so?” Salome smiled, observing the sincerity in Sera’s words.
“Then, Seraphina, why don't you find someone to marry?” Circe, who sat on the right end, suggested.
“I don't feel like it,” Sera shook her head.
Sera’s mothers’ expressions furrowed.
“What does she mean by ‘she doesn't feel like it’?”
“She refused the initiation ceremony, doesn’t want to be a sow, and doesn’t want to marry. Does she even want to live?”
“To begin with, why are a child’s matters being discussed in this assembly where the hive’s important discussions take place? Even if she is Ravenna’s child, why are the Matriarchs giving such treatment to Seraphina?” Many people were puzzled.
The crowd again exploded in murmurs.
Theudas, who had been nonchalant, turned solemn after hearing Sera’s reply.
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Elizabeth inquired, “Father, why is everyone saying that Sera is courting death?”
“Our demonic bloodline faces two drawbacks. Do you know what our other drawback is?” Theudas asked.
Elizabeth pondered for sometime but couldn’t come to a conclusion, “I don’t know. I don’t think I have experienced anything like a drawback before, other than being a nymphomaniac.”
“That’s because, we rarely experience it due to our first drawback. Due to our mania for carnal pleasures, almost everyone would not pass a day without involving themselves in lust. Only after careful observation do we find the peculiarities.
“Our other drawback is that we can’t live without Sex.”
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“Huh?” Elizabeth is confused.
“To be more precise, we can’t sustain ourselves if we don’t have sex.
“Whenever we indulge ourselves in carnal activities, we siphon life force and mana from the other party.
“If you were to observe your partner who doesn’t belong to our bloodline, you would find that they are more exhausted and drained. That is because we drain them during their moments of ecstasy. That is why our race prefers multiple partners during night activities. And the other party usually doesn’t observe this phenomenon, because of the pleasure. After all, one of our bloodline’s features is that we give extraordinary pleasure to our partners. Which will become addictive and obsessive overtime turning them into our slaves. That is how we manipulate others.”
“When we indulge in carnal activities, even if we don’t mean to, we drain our partners. This drained life force and mana will be eventually replenished by them naturally as long as they are alive. With a deeper reversion of our bloodline, we would be able to gain control over this bloodline ability. Because, at that level, if we don't restrain ourselves, we will suck the other party dry.
“And do note that this ability works very weakly on the members of our race. Because there will be a simultaneous exchange between the partners. Thus we have to rely on other species for this.”
“But father, if this is our bloodline ability, how is that a drawback?”
“That is because the members of our bloodline are unable to generate life force and mana on our own. We are unable to absorb the mana in nature. We have to rely on others for this.
“Due to our usual nymphomania, we constantly replenish our energy reserves. Thus we don't find any deficiencies under normal circumstances. But if we were to drain our mana, this will become more evident.
“After returning, learn about the physiology of our race for better understanding.”
“Okay, I will. But father, what about children of our race? They can’t have sex. So shouldn’t it mean they should die according to this logic?”
“If left alone that is what will happen.
“The women of our race have longer lactation periods. For many years. That is because they feed their children with vitality through their milk as a medium. Thus sustaining their life force.
“But as time goes on, their requirements for vitality increases. When they reach adulthood, they have to indulge themselves in carnal pleasures to feed on.
“The initiation ceremony is a kind of adulthood celebration ritual where they will stop relying on their mother’s milk and start to feed on their prey.
“When the members of our clan don't like multiple partners, they usually marry other species and sustain themselves by only relying on them.
“Similar to us, Vampires are also a race who cannot generate their own life force and mana. They have the ability for blood manipulation. They suck the blood of their prey. With blood as a medium they drain their prey of their life force and mana. While we use other fluids as a medium for absorption.”
“But father, what about special circumstances where the children have to leave their parents' side like when magic awakening?”
“They don’t have any other choice. Their mothers have to accompany them on their journey.
“Although our clan possesses special artifacts known as sustenance rings, which can store and temporarily transfer life force to the wearer, these rings still come with side effects such as headaches and lethargy, especially when their reserves run low.
“Moreover, these rings are not readily available to everyone. Currently these rings are helping the Matriarchs to sustain their lives. They are in limited supply and only dispensed under very special circumstances.”
“I see. So, since Sera is an adult now, her mother’s milk is no longer sufficient. She rejected her initiation ritual, rejected being a breeding sow and also rejected marriage; it means she is rejecting all the options which are vital for her survival.”
Elizabeth brows furrowed as she realized the crux of the matter and looked at Sera.
“But father, why would her mothers nominate her to be a breeding sow? Why would that solve her issues?”
“Do you know that Sera inherited a dead artifact?”
“Yes.”
“When a person awakens their magic, they will have to undergo the process of reversion.”
“Yes”
“One of the steps in this process involves absorption and storage of mana in nature into our bodies. And another step is the expansion of the body's mana storage capacity.
“In our case, when we absorb others' vitality, it is stored within us. Until it is used up we can live normally even if we don’t have sex. Do you understand what I am getting at?” Theudas asked.
“So, through sex we would constantly replenish the mana and life force reserves within us as we are unable to absorb the mana from nature. And this mana is utilized for our reversion process.” Elizabeth tried to understand.
“Yes. And do you know why someone who inherits an artifact is highly sought after?”
“Is it not because they are powerful?”
“Huhu,” Theudas chuckled. “Not all artifacts are powerful.”
“The one who inherits an artifact is highly sought after by many factions, regardless of their compatibility with the faction's magical lineage. That is because artifacts provide numerous advantages, even if the artifact is of a low level.
“You can learn more about it later, but one key advantage is that artifacts aid in the reversion process.
“However, if someone inherits a dead artifact, instead of helping them, the artifact restricts the flow and absorption of mana, thereby blocking the improvement of their mana capacity.
“As to why they do that, you can get the exact details on this matter by reading the books in the library that are related to the reversion process. Although you don’t need it, it will be good for you to gain some knowledge during your free time.”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Sorry, I digressed. Anyway, back to the topic.
“In such cases, most people have no other choice but to live as ordinary beings unless the artifact is disintegrated. But for our race and for the vampire race, it is perilous, as we are unable to generate our own life force and mana. We must rely on others to sustain our lives."
“Normally, any other member of our race would be joyful at this suggestion as it is what we mostly desire. Sex is like eating to us, as long as the person indulges in carnal activities daily, they would be able to sustain themselves even if their mana capacity is low.
“The same is true for the vampire race. As long as they regularly suck blood, they can live normally.
“However, since the mana capacity is restricted from improvement, the storage capacity remains small. Consequently, even if they siphon mana and life force from others, they can’t store them in large quantities.”
“As a result, they have to indulge themselves in constant activities of lust to consistently replenish themselves. Do you understand now?” Theudas explained.
“So, Sera’s mothers suggested that she be a breeding sow, so she could actively be involved in sexual pleasures and thus keep herself from dying,” Elizabeth concluded.
“A suggestion which she declined.” Theudas stated.
Elizabeth became more anxious after clearly understanding Sera’s circumstances.
Copyright © [September] [2024] [The Rainy Imp].
The matriarchs fell into silence as all their suggestions were turned down, unsure of what to say next.
Jezebel, the youngest of the sisters, noticed the documents Sera was holding. “Seraphina, do you wish to discuss anything?”
“Yes. I came here today with a proposal.” Sera extended her hand, presenting the documents she had prepared.
Hecate gestured, causing the documents to levitate and float over to the matriarchs. The five old women began to peruse the papers, their expressions shifting to astonishment as they exchanged glances.
“Seraphina, are you serious about what you are proposing?” Hecate asked.
“Yes.”
Seeing the curious gazes of the people in the hall, Delilah instructed, “Seraphina, you may present your proposal to this assembly.”
Noting Sera’s hesitation, she added, “All the people gathered here are currently trustworthy.”
‘That means they might not be so in the future,’ Sera thought, then nodded and began her explanation.
“As everyone knows, our hive has only recently started to rise. We are lacking in many areas, and it will take a long time to gain substantial power and influence.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“If I succeed, the plan I propose will allow us to gain significant power and influence within a short span of five years or even less.”
The crowd began to whisper in disbelief.
“Is such a thing possible?”
‘Being a newly rising clan, all the members are currently of one mind. Although I can't say anything about the future, this is our greatest strength right now. I hope the matriarchs have devised methods to maintain this unity,’ Sera assessed the people in the hall.
“I will spare the details, but roughly my plan follows six phases.
Phase1:
“As you all know, my grandmother is the concubine of Viscount Nightshade. My mother is currently not even a candidate to become the viscountess. But within the next two years, she will use all her means to attain the status of viscountess through any means possible. Then, she must establish a good reputation as a person of morals and righteousness.
Phase2:
“In the meantime, I will infiltrate one of the corrupted noble households to gather evidence of their misdeeds and possibly connect with other merchants and nobles. Using this network of connections, we will infiltrate their households and gather similar evidence against other nobles involved in immoral activities. This way, we can uncover a web of corrupt individuals within a region.
Phase3:
“We will also place our members in other noble households within this region. For example, Baron Rolland is a good candidate for one of our members to marry and take control of his territory.
Phase4:
“In the next phase, Mother Ravenna, with her status as a viscountess, will present the collected evidence to the emperor with the help of Count Adrian, with whom we have good relations. I will prepare the necessary stage and reasonable excuses for this.
Phase5:
“With a decree from the emperor, we will eliminate the corrupt nobles, and we will position our hive members to take over their roles. Therefore, we need to prepare to usurp their authority.”
A barrage of queries came at Sera from the assembly, to which she responded, logically addressing their doubts.
Ravenna, who had remained silent, wore a gentle and proud smile as she watched her daughter. Despite the fact that her daughter just involved her in her plans without her knowledge or consent.
Sera continued her explanation, overwhelming the assembly with her ingenuity.
Hearing the seemingly preposterous and fantasy-like nature of Sera’s proposal, although very logical, the people remained skeptical.
“Will it go so smoothly? Not to mention, the emperor will not allow anyone to simply take a noble position,” someone raised their doubts.
“Well, all of you need not risk anything. Most of the work will be done by my mother and myself. If you find this feasible, you can join in the later stages. Even with the leftover spots, I am sure we won't be able to fill all the gaps created by eliminating the corrupt nobles. We can gain some favor with Count Adrian by offering some of these positions to his clan members in advance. If all goes well, he will be indebted to us.”
A series of arguments and discussions followed, with voices rising and falling as the assembly debated the merits and risks of Sera’s ambitious proposal.
“Which region did you choose for your grand plan?” Jezebel asked with a tease.
Sera replied with a wide smile.
“Raven’s Crest”
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Copyright © [September] [2024] [The Rainy Imp].
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This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.