Chapter 108: Blood above and below

“Staying for dinner?” Jengal’s mother asks.

“Sure, what are you cooking up?”

“Roast chicken with veg and thickened white stock.”

“Sounds good; I look forward to it.”

She nods in acceptance. Disappearing back into the kitchen.

Jengal gives me a warning. “Be careful, mothers’ dinners… are packed with salt. Nearly gave my uncle a heart attack.”

“Good to know. It is the best flavor enhancer, after all.”

“I love salt; shame it hurts your heart.” He adds.

“Agreed.”

We enjoy each other's company for a short while more. The room is quickly taken over by the fragrant roast chicken roasting away. The smell wetting both our appetites. A look of impatience coming over us.

It takes far too long before the dinner arrives. Seated at the dining table, we dig in with vigor. Enjoying the chicken. I find it’s covered in tons of garlic and salt. I love garlic and salt, win, win.

“It’s good,” I say between bites.

“Thank you.” His mother replies.

Finishing the meal in polite silence. I return to talking with Jengal.

“The clay soldiers’ arena is really taking off.”

“How so?” I ask.

“Rumors started to spread. After people played it and loved it. Now, it’s one of the top 3 reasons to visit the town.”

“What’s the other two?”

“Great local areas. The lake, several forests, and some other nearby biomes. Lots of beautiful natural wonders. And several options for travel here. Need a carriage? This town has some of the best in a 5-town radius.”

“Interesting. What natural wonders?”

“Some nice-looking natural areas, a waterfall, a naturally floating mountain. All that I can think of off the top of my head.”

“Cool stuff.”

“I like the mountain.”

“Why haven’t I heard or seen them?”

“Well, you live in this town. People generally don’t tell locals. They assume you already know.”

“I will put it on my visit when bored list.”

“A wise choice.”

“Nights here, I best get going.”

“Okay, safe journeys, Aeternum.”

“Thank you.”

I suddenly hear a voice from the hallway. “Have a good night.”

“Thanks,” I reply to Jengals mother.

Leaving, I take a detour before teleporting home. Flying up to the wall, I see the guards at their night posts. Ready and waiting for the assault of monsters.

I watch as they begin assaulting the wall. A little bored, I drop down with a sword and ax. Using my practiced skills, I massacre the monsters. Shrugging off arrows and creeper explosions easily. Once I tire of physical combat, I return to the wall. Shooting fire spells at the army of monsters.

Gazing at the red moon. Only a shred of white remaining. I forgot the blood moon is coming. Any day now. Approaching a guard, who all watch me wearily.

“Hey, guys.” Waving. “When’s the blood moon?”

“ 2 days, the sky eyes guys say.” A guard at the back shouts.

Another guard shouts, “Astrologists, you twat muffin.” Which got a round of laughter.

A final guard speaks. “Your lucky cap ant here. Otherwise, you’d be cleaning the toilets… again.”

“He ant here, though, Mans sucking on some wine.”

A round of argument ensues about the captain’s curios work ethic. Even between the banterous argument, they continue to fire arrows. Every shot lands middle torso or headshot; some of these men are very skilled. And woman, I see two women. Definitely a minority, but at least they can become guards.

Leaving the jolly men to their work. I head home, mind distracted. If the blood moon is coming, I have to delay my dragon-slaying quest. I suppose I can still make the trip and store the location. Okay, I will do that. While mentally planning my trip, I arrive home.

Slipping into my nightwear, namely my vampire clone. I get started on my harebrained travel plan. Once I settle into the body, I quickly top up on blood. Feeling the thirst gone, I begin.

Arriving at my main town. I activate the highest power of speed boost I can. It’s something crazy like speed 10. I begin zooming along the roads at terrifying speeds. Following the route, I realize I must be going at least 5 times the speed of my flight. Maybe faster, I can’t tell.

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The speed didn’t come without cost. After what I would estimate an hour. The thirst became too strong. Marking my location, I teleport to my feeding ground. Drinking a couple sleeping victims to refill. Returning to my mark, I continue the journey. Flying across the landscape as a barely visible blur.

I repeat this process several times. At one point, seeing another vampire on the prowl.

“Hey, how are you?” I ask the sneaking vampire.

They jumped out of their skin in fright.

Turning to me, “He… hello.” They stutter out.

It’s one of the women Helt turned, Hessa.

“How are you finding your hunts?”

“I don’t like hunting.” She said in sorrow.

“Don’t like the idea of feeding off humans?”

“How did you know?” Curiosity in her tone.

“I’ve been a vampire a little while. Anyway, it’s all over your face.”

She seems a little embarrassed at that.

I quickly add. “Tried feeding off animals?”

“You were right. Horrible taste nearly vomited.”

“Look, I always leave a gift if I drink from someone. A sort of thanks for taking something without asking. You could also get a partner, someone who gives their blood willingly in exchange for something.”

Nodding at my reply. “I… I like that idea.”

“Anyway, I’ve got dinner to hunt. Happy hunting.” I say before turning away.

I suddenly hear, “Wait.”

Turning back around, she speaks. “You were hunting here earlier, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you need so much blood?”

“Blood fuels are powers. I am using my powers a lot, so I require a lot of blood.”

She accepts my answer. “And what’s that large rune on your head.”

“Wait, what?” I say in confusion. Quickly removing a mirror, I look at my forehead.

A crimson mark; marring my forehead. “No, it didn’t heal!” Looking at the rune, it’s strange. A diamond opens on the right, curving on itself up. Catching at the bottom a little. Like an over curved fishhook. Great, my vampire body has a glowing rune now.

The poor vampire woman is a step away. Startled by my outburst.

“Don’t worry, it’s okay.” Pausing for a moment. “I thought it would heal. It’s special vampire magic.”

She nods slightly. “Okay, I must be on my way.”

“Okay, bye. Safe hunting.”

“Thank you, have a good night.”

Bidding the woman, goodnight. I get back to my hunt. Finishing the cycle, I begin the next. By the time dawn broke, I had made startling progress. I am nearly there, just a few more towns. Continuing through the day, I realize I burn more blood during the day than at night. I also find it far harder to get blood during the day. People far more alert; annoying for us vampires.

It took several cycles to finish the final leg of the journey. But, finally, I arrive. A grand town comes into vision. Walls like mountains with a keep on a hill in the middle; I love the look already.

The place is built like a fortress. Flying into the sky for a better look. I see rings upon rings of walls. A wave of buildings as far as the eye can see; must be a pretty old town. It’s not too far from the capital. Still, a ways away, but I can only assume it was founded far earlier than other towns.

The buildings in the center are mostly stone, turning into the wood around the edge. The architectural styles shift from each ring. Some houses are tall, others wide. Some with pillars and gaudy decorations, others simple and unadorned. A mosh pit of creativity and different builders' ideology. It’s both ugly and beautiful.

Now the question is, how do I find the Dagger family?

I opt to change into a more human body. The giant burning rune is likely a poor choice. Walking through the town, my senses are bombarded. I can smell food, fecal matter, and many more. The nasal assault makes me wish I was nose blind. My sight is filled with colorful signs and dazzling Redstone-powered lights. My hearing is useless, as all I hear is people selling things, shouting over said noise, and the tons of carriages.

Escaping to a street less populated. The main gate street is positively packed with people and pickpockets. Saying a small thanks to Felix for keeping soul bind and bags of holding. I am not nearly street smart enough to avoid a million hands after my coin.

Now that I am no longer suffocating in people, I can see who the people are. And to my surprise, I see more than just humans. Humans are the majority, but I spot a few hobgoblins, dryads, and many more species I can't identify. Some kind of rock-type people, some reptilian appearing; apparently, it’s a very multicultural town. I didn’t spot any dwarves of elves, but dryads look similar to the latter.

Putting the massive amount of information aside, I have a mission to complete.

Asking one of the passing people.

“Hey, hello. Sorry for disturbing you. I was just… erm looking for the Dagger family.” Which got me quickly dismissed. Going from person to person, I found them very unhelpful. I found the less human species far more helpful. The rockmen, as I've taken to calling them were great.

“Hey, sorry for disturbing you. I am looking for the Dagger family.”

A rough and gravelly voice replies, “No problem young man; why are you looking for a noble family like that?”

“They told me to visit them for a trade agreement. They gave me the town but not the building location.”

“I see… you must be a valuable person if you're dealing with them. I don’t know where their residence is exactly, but the third ring holds a lot of nobility.”

“Thank you, I appreciate the help.”

“No problem, any time.”

Heading along a major road, I realize the sheer size of this town. Having walked for over an hour, I turn on my wyvern armors speed boost. Breezing through the traffic with some near misses. Eventually, I come to a gate. A slow trickle of people moving through it; I guess this is the entrance to the fourth ring.

The third after that and so forth. Entering the line, I eventually come to the gate. A guard stops me, “Name, 2 silvers entrance fee.”

Paying the silver “Aeternum.”

“Any surnames?”

“No.”

“Continue on.” He says in his robotic voice.

A very expensive entrance fee. But I see why, the place is clearly higher class. Walking through the far less dense streets. Lots of people still, but less packed. Lots of richly-dressed people and middle-class citizens.

As I continue to walk through, I notice far fewer non-human species milling about. Some but far fewer, discrimination? Or, something else?

I use the same tactic to speed towards the third ring. Which got me stopped by a patrolling guard.

“No speeding sir.”

“Sorry, my bad. What's the speed limit?”

He creases his brows. “I don’t… just go at a safe speed. If I hear the crack of the sound barrier, I will be back.”

“Okay officer,” I say before leaving at a fast but safer pace.

Grabbing some kind of roast fish fillet on a stick to eat on the way. Lightly salted with some kind of spice. High-class street food got to love it.

A lot of tailors here for some reason. A lot of shops too, but mostly selling handcrafted armor, weapons, and other dangerous products. Approaching the gate to the third ring, I see a small platoon of guards watching the gate. Expensive armor adorning their bodies; seems I might have some trouble here.

Entering the line, I begin to slowly make my way forward. I overhear the extensive questions they ask unfamiliar faces. Familiar faces are waved by with less than a few words.

Finally, it’s my turn. The guard turns to me. “Sir, please come with me.”

Shit…