Vampyria’s name spread through the crowd in whispers of disbelief. Nosferatu was a one-thousand-year-old First-Generation Vampire that had haunted Emvita for 300 years before its sudden disappearance in 50 PA.
It was an entity that only knew bloodshed. But it was done in accordance with a long set of rules and an iron fist that unified all vampiric families across Emivta. They were bound to a long list of rules and cardinal sins during Nosferatu’s reign.
As a result, the vampires between 250 BA and 50 PA operated on an honor-based system. Humans could not be hunted on a whim. Since then, the Vampires did not care if the blood they received came from an orphan or a pregnant woman.
Blood was all the same when it came down to it.
Indeed. Nosferatu was infamous for the sin of kin slaying. More vampires had fallen to Vampyria than the number of humans she had preyed upon. Entire catacombs were dedicated to tens of thousands of Vampires who had betrayed her decree.
Entire sewers and nearby rivers ran red for weeks on end.
Historians theorized that the appearance of the Honored Ones had driven Nosferatu away. Others were convinced that Nosferatu had long since perished. But nothing could have prepared the 59 Kingdoms to see a living legend in the flesh.
How did they know this was Nosferatu and not an imposter?
This was because of [Royal Blood – Gaze] – a power of Nosferatu that invoked insurmountable fear into whoever gazed into its many eyes along its bloody wings. Fools who had the displeasure of meeting Nosferatu would know instinctively what sort of beast she was.
And yet, this same beast stood idly to greet Mary and her entourage of her 12 most trusted people. Amongst them, there was only one person she trusted with her life. That was of course, Yanarin.
But she doubted if even her Advisor would step in to save her life if Nosferatu were to bare her fangs. The beast in question did not even spare them a gaze.
“Unbelievable. A living Phenom of Contempt is conversing with a Healer with such tenderness.” Mary grated her teeth, but her years of political wars with her neighboring Kingdoms gave her the expert ability to hide her disdain.
Approximately 999 Phenoms of Contempt called Emvita home. These beasts were why Emvita was considered to be as dangerous as Brandar despite its nightly swarms of Impuritas.
The 999 Phenoms of Contempt included Corrupted and phenomena that could only be described as rumors, myths or legends. One example that was well known was the 426th Phenom: ‘Rosenrot’. Another was the 403rd; Ozma’, or the recent up and coming 333rd; ‘Red’, who was as likely to be the pseudonym of a powerful vampire.
And to think they had the 329th Phenom of Contempt in the palm of their hands.
* * *
They entered a magnificent hall.
It was separated by exactly 15 transparent walls, allowing up to 4 kingdoms to reside in one of these mesmerizing instances at once. They were placed to limit chatter and sound, although there were other ways to do this. Not only that, but Nosferatu’s existence ensured that no one would utter a word even if they were all couped up together.
Their instance contained the members of the Chlam Empire, the Larin Empire, the Kingdom of Slimia, and the Stormweaver Continuity.
More gold than Mary had ever seen in her lifetime painted the walls. A red carpet spanned in every direction, giving it a regal feel as crystal chandeliers sparkled from above.
“Fairies? Magic of the Fairies? In what world... do the Ateliers even have that luxury?” A well-known Court Mage of the Stormweaver Continuity shuddered in disbelief. “It was not like this the last time we were summoned. Have the Ateliers always been in close contact with the denizens of Spirtas?”
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“Evidently so.” Another answered.
Fairies were magical beings with an immense mana capacity. As a result, Fairies were often used as mana tanks for mages, or have items carved out of the body of a Fairy to retain high-tiered magic.
But they were rare. So incredibly rare in fact that their forms were not truly known. The sparkles of light above were all they could see. Mary, however, was able to see orbs of incandescent light floating around the hall.
“Is this their way of showcasing their reach?” She could not help but ask. “Spiritas is also under their dominion? Impossible. The Nexus could not have accumulated so much power in mere months.”
It pained her to see their success boldly displayed before her. She wished she could rip it all down and destroy the statues that sat in the alcoves along the hall. But she valued her life over her pride.
Still, it did not stop her from drawing blood from her tongue.
I need something to drink. They must have refreshments here. Ah. There it is. Right beside that lowly thing.
A rabbit-eared woman wearing a white two-piece suit stood at the end of a banquet table, which was topped with mouth-watering dishes and refreshments.
Their eyes remained closed as their ears stood up like daggers. Complimenting the pristine suit was a blue tie, dark blue trousers and a white mantle that was reminiscent of the robes that Healers wore.
But they were clearly not a Healer. Only humans can acquire Healing magic. The strangest part about her apparel was a pocket watch that hung from their breast pocket. The button that held the mantle around their neck also carried the symbol of a clock.
An artefact? A Gift? To display such a treasure on a lowly thing is an insult to us. They’re saying that they have the resources to beatify their weakest.
Mary stared at the pocket watch, marveling at its craftmanship. White, black and blue made up the colors of the watch. It should have been a mundane item due to these colors. Yet not even her most precious gemstone compared to even a single hand of that clock.
“Is it wrong for me to assume that you are a servant?” Mary greeted the Rabbit Demi-Human. Now that they were close, she realized that this person did not have a bad face.
In fact, she was staggeringly beautiful. Bunny Demi-Humans tended to have physical qualities that made them appear juvenile. But the one present was the most mature-appearing Bunny-woman she had ever laid her eyes upon.
Is she not going to answer?
“You must not have heard me.”
The Bunny didn’t respond. She gave Mary a passing glance before sealing her eyes shut as if she was no more than an insignificant bug. It wasn’t far from what her true thoughts were.
“I was under the impression that the servants of the Nexus are well trained.” Mary slighted as she reached for a silver cup containing a cherry drink. “Alcohol should be a standard. I suppose the Nexus wouldn’t want their captives to be drunk. Drink this.”
“As you wish.”
Mary gave the glass to one of her Dutchess to drink. It was standard in case it contained poison or was laced with a drug.
“It’s unlikely that the Nexus would resort to tampering with our refreshments.” Yanarin said.
“Are we supposed to trust the food of a power that has openly shown hostility to their guests?” Mary sighed. “… Look at them. The Chlam Empire. The Black Wings are giving them special privileges.”
“They seemed to be familiar with each other. The one named Sana recognized the Warrior Princess.”
“That baboon? Hah. It would be difficult to mistake the scars of an ugly bitch.” Mary laughed.
It was strange as to why the Warrior Princess was wearing a visor. Mary figured that it was because her face was rendered unrecognizable.
“To come searching for a Healer for such a hollow reason…” Mary spat.
“Uck!?” The Dutchess who drank from the cup coughed.
“What’s wrong!?” Another exclaimed.
Suddenly, the woman began to convulse as her eyes widened. After seconds of prolonged trembling, her senses returned, and her face became flustered.
“Amazing…”
“What?”
“The drink. It’s not an ordinary juice. I can feel my vitality increasing!”
Mary snatched the cup and drank a bit for herself. Her reaction was the exact same as the Dutchess. A wave of pleasure seized her in place as she struggled to comprehend the depth of the cherry flavor.
“It… strengthens people? How can a drink of the peasants do what high-grade potions are able to!?”
Inflow Direct was not the only potion maker, but they were the only ones who mass produced Healing, Mana and Painkiller potions. Others such as body-strengthening potions were sold by Kingdoms who possessed a Gift that allowed them to create them or were the result of alchemy.
Of course, it could also be created by using water and an ingredient that gives the desired effect too.
But this was inconceivable. Mary noticed that it had increased her blood flow as well, and her senses had sharpened considerably. She could feel far more than she ever could. A slight breeze was the equivalent of having someone throw a blanket on her.
“All because of this juice? Who…? Yanarin. Our chef is an Elite Chef trained and licensed by the Gastric Rights Association. An elite of the elites. But her food only provides a slight increase in vision.”
Chefs had the unique power to infuse their food with buffs, so to speak. It was believed to be the result of cooking with magic as an ingredient, although this phenomenon was also seen by people who had lackluster magical capabilities.
Whoever created the dishes for the banquet was beyond that of the elite chefs that only the most prestigious Empries or Kingdoms could afford. The flavor profile could only be described as:
“Divine… Who could have…?” Yanarin was also in shock.