During the oppressive rule of the Firestian Empire, when they dominated over half the continent, the Véverikkus were conceived in the heart of their tyrannical capital. One of the nine Firestian leaders embarked on a sinister quest to breed the perfect slaves, ones whose sole purpose was to quench a devil's thirst for blood.

Three centuries of careful breeding gave rise to a people he named Vévirukka, the "flowers of blood." Their pale skin, as delicate as parchment, offered little resistance to a devil's bite, while their eyes and hair spanned a spectrum from brown to the most coveted maroon shades, believed to reflect their divine taste.

Yet, the experiment yielded unforeseen consequences. The mere scent of a Vévirukka could send a devil into madness, and once their blood touched a devil's lips, addiction soon followed. This insatiable craving led to an alarming death toll among the enslaved. Eventually, it was decided that the Vévirukka were reserved exclusively for only the highest-ranking of devils, those who had proven themselves capable of controlling their hunger.

The Empire's brutal dominion met its end when ten provinces banned together and rebelled against the oppressive rule of the nine brothers. In the ensuing negotiations, King Adhémar of the newly formed kingdom of Lynoës stunned all present with his demand. Rather than ask for wealth or land, he demanded the liberation of the Vévirukka, asserting that they shared the same blood as all of them and should no longer be subject to Fireste's dominion.

Thus, the Vévirukka were set free, establishing their own haven in the land of Cinnaber. Renowned for their pacifist ways and remarkable healing abilities, the Vévirukka aid all who cross their borders free of cost, regardless of their past or standing.

~ The History and Peoples of Magic by Sir Rainaldus Gale

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Standing at the window of his office, Warchief couldn't prevent himself from repeatedly playing his conversation with Lidea inside of his head. Thinking of what he should have said, or what he should have done. He didn't regret his actions even if the outcome hadn't been what he had hoped for. After all, he wouldn't have known unless he tried. Still, the pain in Lidea's eyes haunted him. Somehow he had forgotten how wary she was when she arrived. Betrayed by all who should have supported her, and having lost all who did. He should have known better, but per usual he had forgotten to consider anyone else's feelings while going off on his own plans.

She hadn't been as angry as he would have expected her to be. Crystal would have shouted at him and ignored him for days until she felt like he had learned his lesson, but not Lidea. She glossed over his secrecy too easily, listening to his reasoning and dissecting it with a cold countenance. Although she acted as if it hadn't mattered, he could feel the distance between them.

After she had fainted, she had even refused to let him accompany her home despite how unsteady she was on her feet. He hadn't wanted to force her acceptance but had watched her walk home from the window, ready to spur into action if he needed to. Even after she had entered her home, he hadn't moved. Still staring at where he had seen her disappear. Guilt gnawing his bones.

"Dammit."

Below, the shelter was starting to come alive, making him aware of just how much time had passed.

It made no sense for him to keep moping like this and being upset didn't erase what he had done.

I will make it up to her.

Making his way to the door, his eyes caught the offending letter still lying on the floor. He wanted nothing more than to burn it until there was nothing left, but he knew better. If they could find a strong magician, there was a small chance that they could use a tracking spell to locate the dragon riders. It was doubtful considering no one had been able to find their new location but he couldn't let go of the hope. Knowing that without Cullyun's help, magic would be eradicated in Lynoës and over time, most of Asmeon.

With a frustrated sigh, he left his office and made his way down the stairs. Remembering the question that had brought Lidea to him, he started going to the infirmary. His priority was finding a way to get Crystal her supplies but he would need the demoness's help to accomplish such a thing.

Passing the exercise field, he noticed some of the resistance soldiers training and paused to watch. Neither he nor Lidea, as far as he was aware, had ordered them to resume training. Perhaps the events of the day prior had finally made them realize the situation they were in. Seeing them spar with such determination, made it hard to believe that they were the same motley crew he had gotten to know through the last year.

As some of them noticed his presence, he waved in quick acknowledgment before continuing on his way. He made a mental note of having to thank and praise them for their work later that day.

Following the sole road, he crossed paths with several of the civilians now housed in the shelter and nodded at them in greeting, only to be met with silence. He didn't take offense, knowing that they must be reeling from the day before.

Entering the infirmary, the severity of the situation stunned him. The large building was crammed with people lying on either beds or blankets on the ground. Several figures walked between the beds, bringing water or helping patients with anything they could. Crystal herself moved from bed to bed, not noticing his arrival as she was too busy giving aid. Without asking he moved to join her.

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"What can I do?"

Only now did she note his presence, looking up from her patient briefly before continuing her work. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, something he had only seen a handful of times during all the years they had known each other.

She needs more help.

"Nothing. I'm guessing Lidea sent you? Just wait in my room and I will be there as soon as I finish my round."

Warchief wanted to protest but one look at her face told him that he shouldn't if he didn't have a dead wish.

"Alright."

He wasn't sure if she even heard his answer as she had already moved on to the next patient. Gingerly he found his way across the room, making sure not to stumble over any of the patients situated on the floor. Reaching the healer's room, he slipped inside, pulling the door closed behind him. As it clicked into place all sound of the infirmary disappeared and he was shrouded in darkness. It felt as if a heavy blanket was put over him, and a strange magic current in the air caused him to break out in goosebumps. He couldn't help but feel as if some presence didn't want him to be there and when his eyes adjusted, his unease urged him to look for a candle. However, the room contained nothing except for the bed upon which there was a pile of books and scrolls. One of which being her eerie prayer book which he quickly ignored. It was unsurprising that she had no candles, considering Crystal needed even less light than him to see. He wished she did at this moment.

Accepting that there was nothing for him to do but wait, he concentrated on his breathing to try and even out his nervous energy. He couldn't prevent a sigh of relief as Crystal entered. Her presence caused the magic within the room to suddenly dissipate.

"Good that you're here. I already prepared a list for the supplies, I should have enough crystals still to help with the payment..."

"Don't worry about it. At the moment we don't have a way of getting supplies in the first place."

He swiftly interrupted her, causing Crystal to stop in her tracks after grabbing a piece of paper from the mess on her bed. Presumably the shopping list she had mentioned.

"What do you mean there will be no supplies?"

Her words had taken a threatening tone, a clear sign of the fury to come if his answer did not satisfy her. Warchief didn't take it personally, knowing it was caused by a deep concern for her patients. Still, he prepared himself mentally for the angry barrage he was about to receive.

"The king decided to post some friends in front of the entrance. So unless we find another way out, we have no way of getting into the city. But even then, it will be near impossible to find anyone who will barter with us now. Too scared of what the king will do if they get caught."

"How did they figure out that they could block us in?"

Fury simmered in her eyes but against his expectations, she didn't seem to lose her head over it for once.

"I'm not sure they did. Probably they are there to keep an eye on the barrier. However, it is still a problem, especially with the extra mouths we have to feed now."

The demoness cursed in her foreign tongue before falling into a contemplative silence. He guessed she was thinking of the last time they had experienced a similar situation. Locked inside the walls of a fortress in Zehavith, they had seen personally what being starved by an enemy force looked like, and he doubted she was any more eager to experience that again than he was.

"I could try following the river. It must come above ground at some point."

"There are too many wounded. We need you here. Besides, how are you going to prevent the supplies from getting soaked on your way back."

His response caused her to curse again and she clawed at her hair in sheer frustration. At least the following news would help temper her emotions. Even if he dreaded the 'I told you so' that was bound to come.

"There is more. Lidea and I just had a visit from a messenger dragon. It was from the council, I doubt the Hûldral prince even got to see it. They didn't take kindly to us using the royal seal and have informed everyone who received our letter that it should be disregarded as it was fake."

As expected the half demoness's anger diminished as she snorted in her annoyance.

"Not surprising. I told you that it was a long shot at best. So now we have no allies, have grown in numbers, and have no way out of this damn cave. Did you figure out what our next step is going to be?"

"Not yet. Lidea hoped we could send a letter back, but the dragon refused."

Crystal narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head. The tell-tale sign a question was coming.

"What do you mean it refused? Did it actually react to your questions? That is unusual. Normally those arrogant bastards just ignore you. As if you are unworthy to be in their presence."

She was probably right but despite that fact, he still marveled at every dragon he met. There was something majestic about the idea of gliding into the air on a gigantic animal.

"Not when the person talking has dragon rider blood. You know that Lidea's family has a house here."

Crystal didn't immediately react as she digested the information he had given her.

"What did it do? Be precise."

Her response wasn't what he had expected it to be. It would have made sense for her to be surprised, maybe even amazed or to just accept it with a shrug, but there was a startling intensity to her words.

"I honestly don't know. She asked a question and afterward fainted, but she said that it had refused. Why?"

Crystal muttered something as she grabbed a couple of scrolls from the bed. Warchief had predicted she would go off on him for not bringing her here for treatment but instead, the half-demoness stayed eerily silent.

"Crystal? Can you translate please, I don't understand what you are saying."

That seemed to bring her out of her ponderings as she grabbed another book before turning his way.

"My bad, I forgot myself there for a moment. If my memory serves me well, just having rider blood doesn't make dragons react to you. I have to talk to Lidea, but if you speak the truth and it communicated with her, then she is a candidate dragon rider."

His mind stuttered to come around to that being a possibility. Although it shouldn't have. Lynoës had been full of dragon riders before, especially the noble families. Still, it was surprising that Morto had let a family with such obvious ties to magic live. A thought that reminded him.

"But she has no magic?"

"Not all riders do."

It wasn't often that he learned something new and he followed Crystal without thinking as she stepped out of the room. With the books still in her hand she barked orders to her temporary workforces before leaving the infirmary altogether.

"It isn't often that you lose your tongue Warchief."

"I'm just thinking. If she is a candidate rider, then she might be our ticket to speaking to the council directly."

She didn't immediately respond and Warchief could see her thinking before she sighed loudly.

"Even if that is the case. They have been hidden for years, there is no way we will be able to find them. Besides, I doubt that she would leave Lynoës."

"She will to save her country."

Displeasure was written over her face but she didn't retort as she knew him to be right.