16th of September, 2027


    Rei was sitting on a chair, looking at Arshawain''s body lying on the bed ever since Olecumbra laid him down on it. His eyes reflected a feeling.. neither pity nor guilt, what Rei felt was more inline with anger and frustration.


    "Just how long are you going to lie to your wife.. You may have fooled her and her sensitive disciple but you can''t lie to me, Arshawain," Rei spoke spitefully.


    Just then, the lifeless body of Arshawain suddenly moved and he sat back up normally. His movements were smooth for someone who had been in a coma for a while now.


    "My intentions were not to lie, Lord Rei.. I didn''t want to hold her back.. not for now," Arshawain spoke ominously, before he cracked his knuckles.


    Rei sighed upon hearing Arshawain''s ominous statement before standing up and walking to the window which overlooked the Northern Forests, the remnant energy of his spars with Abraxas had not disappeared completely. "It''s the perfect weather for what you want, Arshawain," Rei spoke as he opened the window.


    "Lady Alice did tell me what you want.. Her prophecies are precise.. so precise that they are scary." Rei spoke as he turned to look at Arshawain, who was now standing on his feet.


    "So, will you give me what I want, Lord Rei?" Arshawain asked, before his lips curled up into a smile when Rei nodded.


    "You should think fast if you want it," Rei spoke before he disappeared in front of Arshawain and in that instant, he was behind Arshawain and swiped him off his legs before a kick sent him flying through the window he opened a few moments ago.


    Then in that very instant, Rei jumped out of the window, catching Arshawain mid-air before taking their spar away from Alice''s mansion.


    __________


    At the same time,


    Alice was having a hard time dealing with Iliana and Ellen, both of whom have been crying. Though Ellen didn''t refuse her breakfast, Iliana did. She hadn''t eaten anything since Elaira left and hadn''t even slept. She refused to even go to the bed, choosing to stay on the floor no matter how much Alice urges her to.


    Her mental state was even worse as she hadn''t spoken a word since she repeated the word again and again.


    "Useless.. Useless.. Useless.." Iliana muttered over and over again.


    Her condition was affecting Ellen as well, as the little kitten hadn''t played with any of the toys that Alice gave her, which seemed to be affecting Alice too.


    ''What can I do to stop her from griefing.. I have tried everything..'' Alice thought to herself as she had tried every method in the book to console her. But no matter what she told Iliana, it fell on deaf ears.


    "Iliana.. Wake up! They will come back and when they will, I don''t want them to think that their master was treating their soon-to-be spouse harshly.." Alice tried to converse with Iliana again but to no avail. Iliana refused to reply and continued muttering.


    Alice waited for a minute before she got up, fed up and frustrated. There was an ache in her heart which she needed to let out soon.


    But right as Alice was about to leave Iliana alone for a minute, she spoke up. "Is.. is there anyway that will make me useful to them?" Iliana asked as tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting her lap and dress.


    "I wish to help them... I have only ever relied on them for everything up until now. They saved me whenever I was in danger.. And I am unable to help them with anything. I-" But before Iliana could speak any further, Alice covered her mouth and hugged her.


    "Child, you are not useless.. You helped them when no one else would. I have seen it all and I have heard most of it.. You are not useless so stop telling yourself that!" Alice wanted to shout but she couldn''t raise her voice at Iliana. No matter how much she wanted to scold the little child in her arms she couldn''t.


    And just then, Iliana hugged her back, her arms wrapped around Alice''s back like a child that had woken up from their worst nightmare.


    "B-but.. I have nothing to live for but them.. I might never see them again.. I might.. I might lose them because I''m.. useless," Iliana spoke while whimpering, holding onto Alice for comfort as her tears fell on Alice''s dress.


    The feeling of hopelessness and the feeling that ''she is useless'' were what she felt the night her family and her caretaker died. And she felt that her current situation was no better than that night. Even though she might have grown up, she wasn''t strong enough to shoulder the burdens that Abel and Eluya were carrying on their shoulder.


    ''Should I do it for her.. I haven''t done it in six millennia..'' Alice thought to herself while Iliana clung to her like a child. Alice was conflicted if she should do it or not.


    Knowing Iliana, she wouldn''t refuse it if Alice gave her the chance but would that chance be worth risking her life. Iliana was a True Natural Human, the rarest affinity in humans. She was someone who survived the worst part of life and lived. Her experiences changed her as a person and her soul was no less of a gem.


    She was a pure spirit, content with her relationship with Abel and Eluya, but now that the world was about to them from her, she was at her weakest once again. She was desperate and would risk her life for even the smallest of chances to help them.


    That is why Abel and Eluya brought Iliana here.


    ''They know this child too well..'' Alice thought to herself, biting her lips and contemplating if she should give Iliana a chance.


    __________


    Arshawain was laying on the ground, gripping his stomach as he vomited on himself. ''I did not expect it to be this bad.'' He thought to himself before he was sent flying into a tree after a kick from Rei.


    "You wanted to be my disciple, don''t you? For now you haven''t done anything praise worthy.. Just because you are a Sensory-based Natural Human, I won''t take you in," Rei spoke calmly as he walked towards Arshawain, who was on the ground. Just then, he felt something from Arshawain, a family feeling that he hadn''t felt in over two millennia. He was similar to someone he knew a long time ago.


    "Forgive me.. It seems I underestimated your resolve," Rei spoke as he held out his hands and the Sword of Faith flew at him.


    "Show me your resolve, Arshawain.. or should I say, Descendant of the 2nd Hero of the Dark Ages," Rei spoke, looking at Arshawain with a bitter smile.


    ''I did not expect to see you here again, my friend.'' Rei thought to himself as he looked at the spirit behind Arshawain as he stood up. A familiar face helping his descendant stand up, with the three of them shedding a tear each.


    "I want to protect my wife.. I WILL NOT LOSE HER AGAIN!" Arshawain shouted as he stood in an offensive stance as if he was holding a sword.


    ''I am sorry, Rei.. I was blinded by greed. I hope you forgive me and.. bring justice to me and my friends, who were wronged by ####.'' The spirit behind Arshawain spoke, before it disappeared forming a blade in his hands. It was a blade materialising in Arshawain''s hand, a Sword made out of Longing. Longing to protect someone he loves and the wishes of the dead to bid farewell to a friend.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "To think I would live to see this day.." Rei mumbled, shedding a tear for his friend who had long departed. Though he was the first one to drive his blade in his back, Rei never hated him. He understood why they would do it, and why they would think of his existence as a threat to theirs, even though they didn''t know his true identity.


    ''Farewell, my friend,'' Rei mumbled before his blade clashed with Arshawain''s, causing sparks to flow out in masses.


    __________


    "Iliana... Will you become my blood daughter?" Alice asked Iliana with a serious look on her face. She had contemplated it a thousand times over before she made the offer and she saw multiple timelines leading to this decision, but not a single one of these premonitions told her the outcome.


    "Will it.. allow me to help.. Abel and Eluya?" Iliana asked, as the tears halted. She looked up at Alice as her damp cheeks and lips showed happiness, as if she had obtained the solution to her problem.


    "That depends on how you use the solution.. I can only provide it but there is no guarantee that it will be helpful," Alice clarified but she knew that Iliana had made up her mind and no matter what she further told Iliana, her decision would not change.


    "I accept.. Please, tell me how I can do it.. I will do whatever it takes," Iliana spoke as desperation was clear as day in her words.


    "I.. will need to prepare for the ritual. I haven''t performed it in a few millennia," Alice spoke, unsure of if she could do it again. But the smile on Iliana''s face, that appeared because the offer existed, was more than enough reason for her to try.


    "Please.. Go prepare for the ritual. I will get ready too," Iliana said as she stood up and went to the bathroom in a hurry. She wanted to get ready as fast as possible and in this hurry, she even ignored Ellen''s desperate cries to get her attention.


    "Am I.. doing something wrong?" Alice asked herself as Iliana disappeared in the bathroom. Her promise raised Iliana''s spirit but was it really something that would help Iliana or will it lead to her demise? Alice did not know the answer to that question as the future was cloudy.


    But she had given her words to Iliana now so backing down was not possible without breaking Iliana''s heart beyond repair.


    __________


    Later that day,


    Iliana was in her usual clothes with a smile that looked out of place. There were dark circles under her eyes and overall, the air around her was gloomy.


    She held Ellen in her arms, patting her head and showering her with love while Alice was preparing the ritual to ascend her blood in her garden.


    "Ellen.. Don''t be worried, okay? Mama Iliana will be back soon," Iliana told the sleepy Ellen before she gently put her down on the grass and patting her one last time before walking towards Alice.


    "Lady 4th.. What can I do to help you?" Iliana asked, still wearing that misplaced eerie smile.


    "The preparations have all but been done, child.. Just wait a few more minutes.." Alice said calmly as she had finished drawing a circle on the ground with her blood.


    The pattern she drew was an ascension circle. It was different from the method she used to make the first Vampires during the dawn of civilization. This circle was meant for her to choose her blood successor but it remained in her attic until today.


    "Child.. before you step inside and start the final steps. There are a few rules you need to know, the rules that my kind follows without fail. Infringing these cardinal laws would make you an ''Uncouth''.." Alice spoke as she used a dagger to stab her arms, rupturing her arteries to collect fresh blood in a goblet.


    "The hands that steal should be ripped, the tongue that lies should be severed, the body that lusts should be burned, and, he who kills unnecessarily should be killed." Alice recited the cardinal law to Iliana.


    "I will follow the law to my grave," Iliana promised as she held her wrist to her chest.


    Alice took a deep breath before she handed the goblet of her blood to Iliana. "Step inside the circle.." Alice spoke and it was at this point when the premonitions stopped. There was no telling what would happen now.


    "Yes, Lady 4th.." Iliana replied as she accepted the goblet and stepped inside the circle.


    As she entered, the blood pattern began to morph and right as she reached the centre, it began to glow. Iliana smiled, thinking that it was a good sign.


    But Alice was confused. ''Strange, is this what is really supposed to happen?'' She thought to herself, wanting to stop the ritual here but seeing Iliana''s smile made her reconsider her own intuitions.


    "Iliana.. No matter what happens, don''t lose yourself," Alice warned Iliana and just as Iliana nodded, Alice relayed further instruction. "Take one sip out of the goblet and accept my blood."


    Iliana nodded before she took a sip out of the goblet without hesitation. And right as she took the sip, the glowing circle began to shrink as it got closer and closer to Iliana. Even the remaining blood in the goblet began to rise out and began seeping in Iliana''s body.


    For a moment, it seemed as if everything was going well but then suddenly, Iliana dropped the goblet and began writhing in the pain, Alice''s blood started to tear Iliana''s body and the ascension circle restricted Iliana''s movements.


    But before Alice could do anything to stop the ritual, three voices began shouting at Alice in her head.


    "What in the roots are you doing, Alice?! Why is there such a weird energy coming from your mansion?" The First Progenitor spoke out as he felt something ominous.


    "I.. I was doing the blood ascension ritual and the blood seems to be reacting to her." Alice spoke out as Iliana was shouting in pain, unable to move as the blood was acting like rope, restraining her.


    "Were you using the latest version of the Ascension Circle?" The Second Progenitor asked.


    "There were more additions?!" Alice shouted at the voices in her head.


    "Don''t blame us. Anyways, it''s an easy fix. You need another blood as a mediator to neutralize the reaction happening to that girl.." The Third Progenitor spoke calmly but he also turned anxious when Alice spoke out.


    "That girl is a True Natural Human.. What kind of blood would act as a mediator?" Alice asked in a loud anxious voice while Iliana cried in pain, as her skin began to shed off her body.


    "That would be an issue... Do you have any type of blood which can act as a moderator? Maybe use the blood of your Proxy disciple?" The First Progenitor said, hoping that Alice had some of his blood as a reserve.


    "No, I don''t keep the blood of my disciples on hand?!" Alice shouted at the voices in her head. Her anxiety was rising every second and fear was etched on her face as she was watching Iliana, who was slowly dying in front of her.


    "If that''s the case.. there is nothing that can be done.." The Second Progenitor said before his voice disappeared.


    "Yes.. This type of reaction is quite rare and cannot be stopped without a mediator blood.." The First Progenitor spoke but there was nothing he could do from this far.


    "You mean there is nothing I can do.." Alice spoke as Iliana''s life seemed to be slipping away from her fingers. Was this the future in store for her? Was this why she couldn''t see further into the future?


    Before Alice could speak further, Rei appeared beside her with Arshawain passed out on his shoulders, whom he quietly laid down on the ground before putting his hand on Alice''s shoulder. "Ask the other Original Vampires if my blood will work as a mediator.." Rei spoke calmly.


    "You two, will Lord Rei''s blood be a good mediator?" Alice asked the two Progenitors still listening to her.


    "If the ''Lord Rei'' you are talking about is Rei Magna, the Son of Faith.. then Yes, it will mediate quite well," The Third Progenitor spoke calmly. "Ask him to drop a few drops of his blood on the girl in front of you."


    "Lord Rei.. Please drop your blood on Iliana?" Alice asked anxiously and without delay, Rei used his sword to cut the palm of his left hand before he splashed some of his blood on Iliana, who was barely alive as almost all of her skin had disappeared, showing the underlying muscles in her body.


    A few moments after Rei''s blood fell on Iliana, the adverse reaction stopped and Rei''s blood along with Alice began covering Iliana''s body, and a few minutes later, Iliana was completely covered in a cocoon like a larvae.


    "Interesting.. I wasn''t expecting that," The First Progenitor spoke out enthusiastically.


    "What?.. What were you expecting?" Alice asked the First Progenitor, angered at his enthusiasm. "That child was about to die and you are enthused?!"


    "Well, I was expecting it to ease her death.. but this was out of my expectations.."


    "YOU DAMN LITTLE—" Alice shouted at the top of her voice but the other two Progenitors had also left her head.


    "Those old bastards were using the child as a test subject?!" Alice stomped the ground causing it to shake violently. Birds from all around the forest began flying as a sign of distress and Alice gritted her teeth as her long pointy canines were growing out of anger.


    But her anger calmed when Rei held her cheeks and spoke. "But it worked, didn''t it? Iliana seems to be safe now.. Her heartbeat is stable," Rei said calmly, which eased some of Alice''s anger.


    "But those bastards used her as an experiment.. using my lapse in knowledge as an excuse to..." Alice spoke out in anger before Rei lightly tapped her cheeks.


    "Calm down, Lady Alice.. You can deal with them later. Oh and by the way, can you heal Arshawain? I think I went a bit too hard on him.." Rei said with a chuckle, diverting Alice''s attention away from the matter of the three Progenitors.


    Alice nodded before she looked at Arshawain and kneeled down to heal him using her True Blood Art.


    "Broken bones and ribs.. No lung punctures. Did you drop him from the sky or something?" Alice asked as she looked at Rei with a serious look on her face.


    "Well.. You could say it was his initiation as my disciple.." Rei giggled with an underlying guilt. "I was expecting more after having sparred with Abraxas."


    "He is healed now.. Take this child back to his room and ask him to not move around," Alice spoke before she stood up and walked up to Iliana''s cocoon with Ellen following her closely behind.


    Rei nodded and left Alice alone with Iliana''s cocoon, taking Arshawain with him.


    "Meow..." Ellen meowed as she rubbed herself against Alice.


    "Don''t worry, child.. She will be fine.." Alice spoke, lifting Ellen in her arms while she looked at Iliana, who was inside the cocoon now.


    The cocoon was changing right in front of Alice''s eyes, from a smooth surface to hard scales and Iliana was trapped inside like a chick in an egg.


    ''Metamorphosis.. I wonder what will happen to her.. Should I consult <u>Mother</u>?'' Alice thought to herself but in the end, she decided not to.