“Patriarch you should see this man’s memories. I believe we’ll be greeting visitors soon.”

I had just finished ordering my “workers” to clean and burry the mess. However, now this incompetent haze who refuses to call me by my name decided to increase my workload. All to say, I was tired. Bloodshed had never been my thing. “It’s okay, you can just tell me.”

“I still think it’s better you see it directly. But if you insist the important info, is the following. This messenger was sent here to see whether or not you were following the laws ordering us to leave the teaching of magic in the churches’ hands. Of course, since I quarantined the city, we haven’t received any information on both this matter and the previous one. But since we killed them, they’ll think us rebels.

There were too many things wrong with that statement. I didn’t think him incompetent since the city didn’t disintegrate under his grasp; however, he had committed multiple egregious mistakes. “You’re telling me that the information on how to train people’s magic powers were handed to us you refused it?”

“We don’t ne—”

“And how did you not get any information from those who came her—”

“It’s not all bad news.”

“Then tell me the good,” I ordered.

“The one who leads these expeditions, a prince of the kingdom, seems to be tempted by power. He’s been trying to erode the churches’ grasp on his followers’ minds and the kingdom. However, he’s only in charge of one army. There are three and the other two are stationed with the orders not to engage in battle unless it be a defensive one. As such although his men have more experience, he lacks in manpower to take power. But—”

“You’re telling me I can tempt him with the promise of vampirism. That’s true. If I backed him, we could perhaps take over the kingdom.”

“There’s one issue.” The haze twisted. Although a gaze, sometimes his body seemed to store a great deal of tension. Enough I could see him explode. “He was born before mana came into this world. To my knowledge we can’t turn him into a vampire.”

I scratched my head. “And the generals of the two other armies.”

“They’re older and follow the church.”

“When do you think he’ll arrive?”

“At the time of the messenger’s departure he was stationed near Venice. The time it takes to get ready for a campaign and march here, it might take him two to three months.”

“And you think he’d make a good ally.”

“He’s experienced and a good general. He’s already fought four uprisings and won five sieges. He is talented. If we were to make him king of this land, we would have a strong foothold to expand.”

“I understand. I sat down in a rocking chair. Since he might decline our offer prepare a fighting force. Although incompetent we can have everyone fight. Worse come to pass we’ll escape and start over somewhere else. Perhaps a small village this time.”

“What will you do?” asked Dandellion.

“If we can enchant mana into weapons, I don’t see why this can’t be done to humans. Bring me five healthy subjects. Place them in a room. I’ll start tomorrow.”

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The haze relaxed and left to attend to his duties. I, on the other hand, descended into the dungeons.

I approached a ghoul and sat next to it. These creatures used to be magic-less humans. I looked down to the various magical plants. But if they can supply magic sap to these new plants, wouldn’t that mean that they were now magical entities? Maybe I couldn’t turn him into a human, but a half-ghoul half human could be doable. It should be enough for such a power-hungry man. As long as he accepts, he shouldn’t be able to decline my orders. I just needed to create something related to me with an intact sanity and appearance.

I started by filling a one four-litre jug with ghoul blood. In separate containers I harvested all the different plants found in the dungeon. I’d need more than five test subjects.

#

The next week, I entered the ninth room. The man was in his mid thirties. A bit older than the prince but it shouldn’t be enough to be a noticeable difference when it came to the effect of the transformation. Next to him I had an old man, perhaps in his late sixties. His arms were crippled, and cataracts blinded him.

His eyes were glazed over. “Lay down.” I ordered. He lay flat on the floor. I propped up his head and opened his mouth. Only thirty years old and he had already lost his four front teeth and a few others. The Middle Ages were a brutal time. Thankfully, the newer humans weren’t as weak and the basic hygiene etiquette set in place by Dandellion like throwing and burning excrement in a hole far from the city or using it as fertilizer, and mandatory quarantine for the sick helped a lot.

I poured in three drops of the concoction. It was composed of two parts ghoul blood one part ghoul vine sap, one part water, one drop of my blood. The man’s eyes turned red for a second and a puff of red smoke left his mouth. I quickly poured in more of my blood. He drank it and the red in his eyes which had started to fade became crimson. His canines grew into fangs. Blood leaked from his gums, and I put the old man in his hands. He plunged his teeth in his neck and drained him dry.

He proceeded to fall asleep like a baby. It reminded me of Amara. I wanted to see how she had grown; however, this wasn’t the right time. I wouldn’t be able to escape from danger with a child and I could sense through our blood link that she was doing well. Her heartbeat resonated with mine. Hers was slow, peaceful. She was sleeping. A long and peaceful sleep unique to vampires. She was a vampire queen, her growth into even a teen would take more than a few decades. After all, how long was her first sleep? A month. How long would her lifespan be? At least a millennium. I had time.

#

I was resting on a bed. My back hurt. Although I could cure this with a thought, having a sore back was a pleasant feeling after a month’s worth of work. Having a fresh and prim body with an exhausted brain wasn’t right. I could probably also alter my brain to never be tired; however, that was a boundary I wasn’t willing to cross.

“Patriarch.” The haze appeared out a crack in the floorboards. “The prince’s army has arrived.”

I guess it was time to act the part of a demon.

#

Prince Philip, son of King Laurence of Italy.

I arrived at the doorsteps of the city of Lausanne. We hadn’t encountered a single bit of resistance on our way here. I knew something was off, however, now I knew for certain.

Atop the city walls a young boy from distant lands, no older than ten stood in front of an army of thousands. The men ranged from young boys to old cripples. Although I couldn’t see their eyes, they looked lifeless. Perhaps because of their stiffness, their inability to move, squirm, and feel nervous in front an army of thousands. That’s when the boy disappeared, and a bat flew towards me. It was magic. The men around me loosened their strings. Arrows flew, however, just as they were about to pierce him, he disappeared and reappeared when they passed him. We repeated the action twice again, and twice he dodged the volleys. I readied my sword and shield. However, once he reached ten steps from me the bat landed and transformed into Alexander and then the boy.

It was a devil. A naked boy no older than ten stood in front of me. His eyes were red, and his chest did not rise. He was amongst those who led the beasts. At that he took on a human appearance. He was no doubt one of the leaders or even the leader amongst leaders.

“Wha…” I stumbled over my words. “Leav—”

“Do you wish for immortality?” I couldn’t hold up my arms. The words resonated in my skull and pulled at my heart. I looked to my entourage. They still had their swords raised high. I was the only one to hear his ethereal voice. He knew I was the leader. “Do you wish for immortality?” I finally registered his words.

Those heavy ethereal words.