Night made its appearance without any incident besides the long drone of listening to carriage wheels turning. With the night came the return of Aldrin’s strength as he felt the weakness of the day recede gradually. With a gleeful smile, he rubbed his hands together when he felt the changes to his stats as well as the new skills imprinting the basic knowledge of how to use them.

Excitement bloomed within him, thinking about how to test and use his new powers at his disposal. While he was reluctant to use it on those that just lost their homes and livelihoods, he would have to hold back since it wasn’t their fault about what happened. However, a small kernel of guilt wormed its way into his heart once he thought about Lor-Vold and his hand at its destruction. Ultimately, it was the Queen that doomed the city in the end, but that would not appease his guilt. Only by uncovering the reasons as to why the Queen had been ordering experiments on Undead would resolve some of his feelings on the matter.

Considering that he fully accepted being an Undead and a higher tier of Undead at that he would have to be careful going forward when interacting with the living. At least until he stepped foot on the Forbidden Continent, then who knows what he would find. Although he at least had a way to get answers that came in the form of Evie, who he hoped would still be helpful in the coming times. Jared and Pierre were already becoming his closest allies with all that’s going on and he made himself a promise to make sure that he would repay all they have done for him.

Eventually, the carriage was pulled over to give the horses a break and let everyone stretch out any stiffness from the ride. Aldrin was grateful that his body no longer had the normal aches and pains that accompanied those around him as he saw Pierre helping Jared stretch out his hamstring that he complained was beginning to cramp up from sitting too long. He had to chuckle at the sight of those two when Jared yelped from the way Pierre attempted to pull his leg close to his head.

The two brothers, Cannor and Eddock were busy collecting firewood while Evie was pulling out food rations from her inventory, prepping them to be cooked once the fire roared to life.

“It’s too bad we don’t have someone who knows any fire magic,” Eddock grumbled as he dumped another set of dead wood into the pile, side eyeing his brother.

“I told you to become a Mage and specialize in pyromantics but no. You just had to pick a Rogue starter class,” Cannor replied, earning a flat stare from Eddock.

Aldrin briefly watched them bicker back and forth between them. It was oddly comforting to see something normal after all he had been through so far. Ignoring them, he went to check on their horses that eyed him warily as he approached.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he gently tried to soothe them.

Both horses jerked away from him at first as he took another small step towards them. He held out his hands in an attempt to calm them, but that only set them more on edge as they began braying and rearing up. Attempting to soothe them again using Charming Gaze this time helped ease them as his mind subsumed theirs.

“Hopefully soon I won’t have to do that to you both,” he patted them along their flank.

System Notice!

Do you wish to convert the horses into Vampiric Horses?

New Unique Skill Unlocked:

Conversion

Level 1: Convert any animal you mentally dominate into enhanced versions

“That’s interesting,” Aldrin mumbled to himself as he opted no since he was unsure of what exactly that would entail.

Not a moment later, Eddock got the fire flickering to life as everyone began to sit around the circle, feeling the warmth against their skin. It was another benefit Aldrin felt that he would no longer take for granted. He understood he lost a lot, but also gained a lot in return. All that was left was getting used to the changes and appreciating them for what they were. He could somewhat control his thirst now and he could also somewhat control his Vampiric side as he adjusted to it. And now, with recently releasing his internal conflict, he felt a weight lifted off his chest and shoulders.

“The stars are bright and moons are shining all their glory upon you, my Vyncari,” Evie spoke to him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Perhaps now is the time for answers while we have the time?” She prodded, garnering everyone’s attention to the two of them.

“What exactly are Vampires? I mean, I know what they are but why do some treat them with respect rather than fear?” Aldrin began, “I met a Fae who had an inkling of what I was and then a Dark Elf treated me like one of their Exalted when he checked on me after the explosion at the inn.”

“During the Progenitor Wars, Vampires were both seen as guardians and envoys between the living and the dead since they were capable of walking both worlds,” Evie began. “A terrifying force to be up against as the blood of their foes only fueled them to greater heights.”

“After the Wars they were supposed to be destroyed as they were considered weapons of war by some nations. However, their creator stepped in before they were hunted down to extinction. Their creator, one of the Gods of Balance, Vearis, took everything that was to be hunted down and sequestered them on the Forbidden Continent by breaking the lands away from this continent.”

“In doing so, Vearis was labeled to be a Fallen God and thus pushed into becoming one of the Gods of the Dark and aptly named the Condemned Progenitor, Sire of the Extinct.”

“The Wars started up again but it was more like a purge as the nations that banded together at the time wanted to erase anything of their past to give them a fresh start for a better future,” Evie took a breath, “or at least that is how my clan remembers it and has told for generations. My clan leaders should be able to tell us more once we get to them.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“When we set sail to the continent, we will be in new territory with things thought long extinct on the rest of the continents.” She warned.

“Finally! An adventure!” Jared chimed in, trying to lift the mood, earning a few cracked smiles.

Evie smiled at Jared before continuing, “Each race has a progenitor, some that lived longer than others and eventually those progenitors are the ruling class and monarchies that run the nations that populate the world these days.”

“For the Giants, our progenitor was an Elemental Giant that split their power between the four clans you see today. The Fire Giants, Frost Giants, Mountain Giants, and the Cloud Giants.”

“Then do you have a progenitor?” Pierre asked.

“Every few centuries the clans gather, bringing their most promising kin among them to partake in the Trial of Elements that grant the Progenitor’s Class making them the head ruler over all Giants and right now our ruler is a Cloud Giant,” Evie answered.

“However, some families within the clans remember their old allegiances,” Evie eyed Aldrin.

“Not to be too forward, but which kind of Giant are you?” Cannor interrupted.

Evie turned to the skinny man with an easygoing smile, “I am a Mountain Giant.”

Cannor nodded in understanding.

“So then what makes me different?” Aldrin asked.

“It’s simple. There never has been a Vampire Progenitor before so it’s a new avenue to explore,” Evie smiled as she began stoking the fire.

“I only know that some of the Elves, Scalekin, Giants, Beast-Blood, Orcs, and Humans in the most remote parts of the world fought with the Vampires during the wars. At least those that were on this plane of existence,” she smirked.

System Notice!

Mystery gained:

You have uncovered the beginnings of the Progenitor Wars that have been lost to history!

Speak with leaders of:

Dark Elves

Moon Elves

Wood Elves

Jungle Scalekin

Sea Scalekin

Mountain Beast-Blood

Woodland Beast-Blood

All Giant Races

Hizotul Orcs

Exiled Humans

Vampire Houses

“You got a new Quest?” Pierre asked when he noticed Aldrin’s unfocused stare.

“A mystery for my Profession actually,” Aldrin answered.

“My first one to be exact,” he beamed.

“There will be more mysteries to unravel the deeper we go as I too am interested in where this ends,” Evie said.

“But Aldrin,” she firmly added, “being a Vampire was and is considered being the highest honor among those that still follow the ways of Vearis. The families of those that chose to walk the path between life and death were well taken care of. Oftentimes Vampires were picked from the same familial line based on the merits their ancestor achieved.”

“Should you continue to walk along the path of the Vampire, it will be filled with strife but also with the greatest accomplishments. I’m not saying it’s easy by any means, especially with how your first meeting with your sister went, but it will get easier.” She affirmed.

“Any other questions?”

Aldrin thought for a moment, “Why are there Vampires that lose their mind?”

“They lose their meaning to live. That is what separates the Ferals from Vampires like yourself. They chase eternal life, power, and control not knowing if that’s all that consumes then that’s all they become,” Evie said.

“As long as you keep giving yourself meaning to care about those around you, that is what makes a Vampire. To keep yourself grounded and away from the unquenchable thirst that drives you to consume life. It is a slippery slope to walk and not for the faint of heart and weak of mind. The ones that reside on the Forbidden Continent are what Vampires are meant to be. Guardians between life and death.”

Quest Update:

Embrace Vampirism: You have given a tidbit in the philosophy of what it means to be a Vampire, a guardian between two planes. Keep moving to make your own philosophy of being a Vampire and you shall never falter in your convictions. The world is your playground and your prison.

Aldrin read the prompt, taking in everything that Evie had laid on his lap. Once again he was thrust into figuring out for himself what it means to be a Vampire in this world.

“Now who is hungry?” Evie asked as she took out the rations she was preparing earlier and set them over the fire.

The rest of the time the group conversed as they ate in silence minus Aldrin who simply enjoyed the atmosphere of being around people who weren’t afraid of his nature.

Meanwhile…

“Torvina, update,” a shadowed figure coalesced into being in front of the pink eyed Fae that was currently hiding from pursuers.

“Now? I’m a bit busy with the other mission you gave me!” she hissed as she dodged an incoming bolt of earth shaped like a spike.

“Is he well?” The figure pressed.

“Yes, he is on his way as we speak,” she said as she conjured an illusion of a troll hoping to throw off her pursuers as she made a run for it and raced through the Elven treehouses.

“Make contact with him again. It is imperative he gets to us now with the threat of another world war. That is all,” The figure dispersed into shadows.

“A simple thank you would be nice every now and then,” she seethed at the retreating wisps of shadows.

Her illusion had worked well enough to give the Wood Elves pause as she took out a bright, glowing orb. She threw it on the ground letting it smash into little pieces, releasing the energy contained within. The energy then seeped into the ground opening up a hole for her to jump through.

In an instant the hole spit her back out on the outskirts of the golden capital of Dremetica as its high ivory towers capped with golden points jutted towards the sky. The palace itself sat above the rest of the city in its own tier, overlooking the quietness while its walls dared any to take it. Those very same walls had visible runes glowing at even spaces that held enchantments that even her Fae eyes had trouble comprehending. After all, it was considered to be one of the greatest feats of Human and Elven engineering.

“If only they knew what was about to be unleashed across the sea when the time came. Their walls can only save them from so much.” Torvina grumbled making her way to sneak back into the city.

Knowing she had to prepare for an imminent departure now that the events have been set in motion thanks to the ones she worked for she headed to her business. She would need to clean out all her accounts and sell anything that could not be packed. A part of her hated having to destroy everything she worked for but in the line of business she dealt, it was inevitable. Luckily when the time came she would be able to restart with a better footing than she originally had.