But the thrill of the high speed chase didn’t last long. I began to hear some weird… knocking sounds? and then I began to smell hot metal, and then I began to feel hot metal. The orcs were hot on my tail and I mean that rather literally. Unfortunately I had been leaving a stream of smoke behind me as I made my escape. My boilers must have ran dry and I didn’t think I had much time to decide if I wanted to try to enter my workshop before it was too late, and I didn’t really have anything to lose; Save for the Hellsing Steed Mk. II.

  So I chose quickly and drawing my family hammer from its ring form, I struck my failing contraption’s onboard anvil, opening a portal to Sanctuary. As I entered there was an explosion, and I was thrown into my royal workshop. Thankfully Luseal protected me from the brunt of the explosion, so I was practically unharmed. When I turned around to check the archway containing the portal back to my portable workshop, it was gone. I guess the orcs that had been pursuing me would get their hands on some interesting scrap components. Mission accomplished?

  Once I managed to settle my nerves, I travelled back to my [home forge] and re-established the two way connection between there and Sanctuary. I also delivered the bad news regarding the fate of my previous steed to my engineers. They were not upset at all and very pleased to hear how well it had performed in the field. Plus they loved to hear about possible areas in which they could improve upon. They even had good news for me involving the research on the blue crystal structures. I was able to recreate the process that had led to their original formation in the first place by using the right types of sand and sufficient quantities of energy, more specifically heat or thermal energy. This was significant because the guys down in research & development, Hellsing Corp; R&D, had found many uses for this material; Glass.

  Although the glass was of varying quality and colour, dependent on a frustrating number of variables. We were able to make incredible use of the material. Crystal vials were found on most delves into the royal dungeons and magic decanters existed but until now; There was no real, non-magical, cheap, abundant, clear, solid material like this glass substance. Furthermore, once we began to integrate the glass into our primary workshop, Hellsing Corp. Headquarters; A.K.A. [H.Q.] it also improved Sanctuary once again.

  This time the field was covered in a hexagonal-grid of glass panes. The day/night & weather seemed linked to H.Q. but the glass trapped the heat from the day and shielded the crops from harsh weather. We adopted the technique in the outside world and it caught on rapidly. Paired with the steam powered innovations popping up across half the known world; Denisea was changing and probably of greater value, life was getting better for people.

  I took some time to place a few orders with the trader’s guild, acquiring exotic seeds for Sanctuary and began to hone my agricultural skills. Cultivating the earth was a very cleansing experience, good for the body and mind. I grew herbs, medicine, spices, grains, fruits and vegetables. We even began planting different trees, and the more we cultivated the broader the region that we could access within Sanctuary.

  I made use of my down time by studying the component that I had salvaged from the strange orc king’s crystal prison. It possessed strange and powerful properties, it seemed to contain lightning, and when handled incorrectly it would produce powerful and painful jolts. Well I would imagine it would be painful for anyone foolish enough to handle the device carelessly. I eventually got fed up with the confounding nature of the device, and consulted one of my top dwarven engineers, Gee I think?. I handed the device off to his care (within Sanctuary of course), and appointed several specialists within my employ to his command.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  While not working my fields, I took the time to perform my soul communication rituals so that I could converse with my symbiote, Luseal, and on occasion, I would unsheathe my blade and consult Lilith. On one such occasion she informed me that she could feel the soul of the orc within the barrier when I struck the transparent substance. She described a “slow trickle” of soul essence, spread thinly among the smart orcs, barely able to guide their actions. She commonly insisted that I unsheathe my blade more often, and keep an open spirit link with her at all times. But Luseal would always protect my essence and my mind from Lilith’s temptation.

  During the following months I continued to probe the guilds for information regarding the whereabouts of the necromancer, and continued to work the green houses and gardens of Sanctuary. Hellsing Corp R&D was making progress with the strange component I had stolen from the orcs, and had established several new techniques and theories. It was clear to them that the device was some sort of energy source. But we were dealing with energy in a different form, and with a simple thin piece of metal, connected to just the right points; That energy was converted to heat. It took a lot of trial and error, strips of metal that were too thin would melt under the intense heat. I had a few ideas bouncing around in my head already but I left it to the boys in the lab to flesh out the preparations for now.

  Eventually I grew curious of what Lilith really wanted from me, now that she was seemingly at my mercy. So I decided to have a discussion without Luseal’s supervision. I activated my most powerful mental barriers as passively and discreetly as possible and slowly withdrew my katana from its protective housing. Immediately I felt a surge of energy burst toward my very being. I was enveloped by a hot, vibrating essence. I did my best to resist it without alerting Luseal. I had my symbiote ready incase something went wrong, but Lilith didn’t know that, so I let her continue her assault on my astral form. It never felt like I was losing any kind of life force, so I pushed back against her projected form. That’s when I saw her face, a devilish grin that could stop your heart. I was completely paralysed and at her mercy, or so she thought. I called upon my symbiote for help but I never got a response. Suddenly I could start to feel her drawing my energy, not my stamina or vitality, but my very life-force, my soul energy. The more energy I lost the more vivid her visage became. I began to feel weak and my body started to tremble. I quickly attempted to drop the mental and spiritual barriers separating me from Luseal but when I reached out for her presence, I couldn’t feel her. I couldn’t feel anything. I was in pure terror and fading fast, I fell to one knee and began to slump over when I heard a loud gasp followed by, whimpering?... Lilith stood over me laughing “Is that all you have boy? Hardly worth the wait.” She yawned, mockingly. Next she proclaimed “I don’t much like the flavour of fear, nor do I have a taste for death.” She leaned in whispering “How fortunate for both of us that part of you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.”. Then she gave me a kiss and reassured me saying “See sweetheart, I wouldn't hurt you… Too badly” then gave me a sly wink.

  Finally she explained the type of energy she prefers to gather and collect. Healthy souls can generate more of this energy than simply consuming the soul and allowing the spark to escape. She requested that I modify the magical enchantments on my sheathe to allow the option of communication with her, and she claimed that she would teach me how to harness, utilise, and exchange this new energy with others.

  Lilith’s image slowly slipped away, and I could again feel Luseal and my symbiote’s presence. I left my katana out of its sheath for the next few days until I could modify the enchantments preventing Lilith from interacting with the world around her while inserted within it. Almost amusingly Luseal and Lilith would sometimes bicker among themselves. I’d say in a real confrontation it was pretty clear that Luseal was the defensive champion, but Lilith was able to manifest with more “weight” if you will, since feeding on my power. Part of the whole deal, and to guarantee my own safety was decided by my symbiote and Luseal. The only choice was to dominate Lilith's will, and ensure she was unable to, and hopefully unwilling to, or at least un-motivated to paralyse me, or harm me in any meaningful way. I guess Lilith saw this as her best chance at any level of lasting freedom, because she consented to the ritual.