Chapter 246: Noctic’s Hallow


    ‘The attack from Serene sure came as a surprise,’ now flying towards the castle, Staxius thought about what had transpired, ‘-no harm was done, I got valuable information about ying vampires. Just as I suspected, they are very much immortal. A slice from my ws didn’t do much. If a fight is to break out, I doubt overpowering them will be enough. How do you kill the one who is unkible, the same could be said about me – how does one kill me? Two options jump into mind, first, the method Gallienne used, to remove the immortality then strike. A tedious process considering she lost her eye to cast it. The second is a weapon that could bypass the powers, I’ve no clue on how vampire yers fought back then. A little thing tells me that a de infused with special mana is needed.’


    “What are you thinking about?” a few meters away from the destination, Adete popped up right behind.


    “I’m looking for a way to kill vampires, any ideas?” he asked for getting an answer out of her was thest thing in mind.


    “Orenmir should be fine,” she said without much thought.


    “Excuse you?” the trip stopped momentarily, she gave a peculiar answer.


    “ying vampires for humans is hard, not for another nightwalker. Considering you have a unique Blood-Arts, the de of the blood queen isn’t just a name, but a real thing. It has a special enchantment that allows for immortal and undead to be in. In case of a fight, you’ll be just fine,” she exined without much care.


    “How did humans fight though?” the flight resumed,


    .....


    “Oh, they used mana to enter contracts with demons – from there on, the demons gave them power. Not much, though it did allow them to fight on somewhat stable ground,” despite recalling nothing from her prior life, Adete had information about how the war happened. Information concerning vampires, a living library.


    “It’s a given that a former vampire yer would be the strongest swordsman in the continent,” theynded.


    “Yeah, Raulf with the help of Josiah and Tempest yed an important role during the fight against nightwalkers. I’d seriously refrain from speaking their name when we head for Noctis’s hallow.”


    “Wee back majesty,” guards bowed the moment hended. A nod of his own, Staxius headed inside. Aurora and Balthazar currently sat in the dining hall with X. Meal courtesy of her majesty since they would depart on a somewhat hard trip.


    “King Staxius,” Balthazar spoke for the meal had ended a few minutes prior.


    “A pleasure to see you,” he returned a smile and approached X, “-I assume that preparations have been made?” the question directed at both.


    “Yes, you’re free to go,” she gave a gentle smile, “-do be careful,” on that, a maid rushed.


    “The u-uprising in the s-south has g-gotten out of control,” she said for the message came from Niroz, “-the general request thy council,” desperate and panting, the task assigned waspleted.


    “Excuse me, everyone,” she stood.


    “Do take care, majesty,” Staxius said to which she stopped and held out her hand.


    “You too,” she said with genuine care, *muah,* a kiss on her handter, she left with the face of one ready to fight the entire world.


    “Lord Balthazar,” now alone, Staxius focused onto the grandfather and heir, “-has everything been sorted on thy side?”


    “Yes, majesty,” he stood, “-Run shall be joining us shortly,” they headed for the yard next to the entrance. A yard filled with delicate flowers and trees with a fountain in the middle. One could say it was but a garden, however, as people in the castle referred to it as a yard – the name stuck.


    “Lord Balthazar, Aurora,” Run came from the left side, “-everything is in ce for the session,” he said with a smile. Apparent was it that the man had waited for this day.


    “I shall open the portal granted to us by her majesty,” a silver adorned ruby ring summoned a gateway. Tis was Balthazar’s doing, each allied race had the same ring which linked to theirnd or town. It functioned the same way as scrolls with a crucial difference. The use of the item was unlimited, ‘-I never thought of that,’ the mere sight triggered an inspiration. ‘It exins why the mages here used Staff and wands as opposed to themselves. The assumption that it was but a mere catalyst to amplify one’s strength was baseless. To have the ability to cast a spell infinitely, mages didn’t need to use that much mana.’


    “Majesty,” kicked out the spur of inspiration, a familiar voice spoke, an aura unlike another approached.


    “It can’t be,” Balthazar’s eyes’ narrowed, the already wrinkled forehead had a few more added. A visible sense of agitation and anguish, the crimson eye lit.


    “Have you made thy decision?” Staxius asked impervious to the other vampires’ expression and change in demeanor.


    “Uh-hm,” she nodded in agreement.


    “No trouble since I won,” a simple line that made no sense to any onlookers.


    “Yes,” she knew what he implied. Subtle as he was, only she noticed his hand tapping gently at a sword. A threat that if she made any move to try and hurt him or Aurora, instant death. The fear settled in, without a weapon and with her best move – a single blow sufficed to bring thedy crashing down. A disy of power that none could dare to contest.


    “Do pardon my curiosity,” Run asked with a not so inviting tone, “-what is she doing here?”


    “Serene could jeopardize the whole session,” Balthazar added.


    “Not to mention that she’s known to drink blood from her kind without much remorse,” said Aurora in turn.


    “Good arguments all around,” Serene said with a merciless gaze, “-but she isn’t here to cause trouble,” Staxius interjected, “-Serene will be my guide for the entirety of the trip. If she does try to make a move, I can reassure that a sh of light will be thest thing she sees,” a gentle gaze behind which hid an unquenchable thirst for bloodshed and carnage.


    “As his majesty said, I’m but a guide. Exiled from the Nox’s n, I now serve the royal family of Arda, nothing more nothing less,” her speech settled.


    “If you say so,” grudgingly, Balthazar stepped foot inside.


    “Don’t provoke them,” he whispered, “-I’m d that the invitation was epted. Nheless, don’t do anything that might force me to y you, Serene. I’d hate to lose a fighter to something stupid,” he entered.


    A city divided into two halves, of which the separation was a wall. Three third, of the town, was given to themoners and lesser vampires whilst the remainder was where nobility stayed. Elevated since thend here was ted – it gave them more power for they live at the top whilst the others remained down. The only way inside the noble district was a stairway that came after the wall.


    Two different types of life, the lesser weren’t treated that badly. Considering they had an ounce of vampire blood coursing through their veins, they were given ample freedom. Living conditions weren’t that bad either, small as it may be, the houses were beautiful to look at on the exterior. The people wore formal clothes and felt well-mannered despite being the inferiors. A gloomy atmosphere and grey sky were what one could expect. The seldom sun remained a rare guest – a good thing considering their weakness. Reason being the location; long ago, a barrier was put in ce to stop any sunlight to ever reach down. A secluded refuge for nightwalkers.


    The blessed lived like kings and queens. Money, fresh blood from humans, and much more. Feeding off blood grew from a means of survival to a delicacy. The few who were unlucky humans to have bad-tasting blood were thrown to the lower level. There, they would be kept alive for the sole purpose of their blood. Drained, day after day as if cattle, many died shortly after.


    Four ns remained atop the hierarchy, they ruled over thend. Namely: The Nox’s n, with its leader being Balthazar. Onyx, led by ric Eoin, the Sabbath led by Julia Fawn. Last but not least, Gabrielle Izora of the Lié par le Sang n. Together, these four held power over nightwalkers.


    The Onyx’s n, a group of individuals who craved human blood. Their sole purpose was the search of said delicacy. Short in numbers but influential for many of its members held the title of Viscount and above.


    The Sabbath n, the group in charge of taking care of public order. The guards that serve to destroy and kill any who ventured into their domain. Close allies with Nox’s n, both leaders were intimately tied till a few decades ago.


    Lié par le Sang, which tranted into tied by blood, is the only recognized n from the lower ss. As a member of the Ardanian’s council, thedy represents the lower ss as a bnce to Balthazar who represented the nobility.


    The Nox’s n were a powerhouse, even if the three other ns could one day join together and fight, they’d end up being destroyed without mercy. Reason being, Balthazar and his special guard unit – vampires with both the blood of a vampire and demon. Monsters that once unleashed could ruin a whole city in mere days. Even so, never has ite across the leader’s mind to take over the whole city. Quiet and peaceful with people having a ce to belong – a good way to live considering their numbers. Needless bloodshed was to be avoided. Since vampires had a low chance of conceiving, it’s dishonorable to take one’s life. Having a kid run around the street was rare, and when it happened, none could but smile andugh. From the outside looking into themunity, the only thing one might take out of it is oppression. There were always two sides to the same coin, from the inside looking out – the inhabitants were happy. Tied by blood, noble or not, they had a ce to belong and live. The job of the four ns was to protect its citizen without care for ss. The purity of blood affected how powerful someone could be, thus the discrimination.


    As a whole, the four ns were friendly. Behind shut doors, a few individuals wanted but one thing, the copse of the current hierarchy. A shift in power, the thirst for greater strength and authority. What better way to put those who wished to disturb the peace down to earth than the mighty fighters of Nox. Simplified as a whole, tis was the situation in Noctis’s Hallow.


    “For one who was supposed to be exiled, you sure know a lot,” teleported just shy of the stairway. Staxiusmented after a summary of the area was given.


    “I’m thy guide after all,” they followed Balthazar up north. Good looking mansions with the residents outside walking and chatting. Kids were rare but a few ran around from left to right ying tag.


    “We are here,” said Balthazar once they reached the upper sector of the city. Three separation – a giant roundabout. In the middle, the mansion where the Nox’s n resided. To the right, The Onyx and the left, The Sabbath. A five-minute walk from each other – they were very much far apart.


    “Aurora, go to thy room and get prepared,” the old man ordered.


    “What about us?” Staxius asked.


    “Run will take care of the next Blood-King,” he replied with a smile.


    “This way,” Run said, Serene followed closely. A nostalgic feeling whelmed her mind from each step.


    “I doubt that the session and coronation ceremony will happen on the same day,” Staxius voiced for it seemed that preparations were yet to be done.


    “On the contrary, majesty,” Run led the way inside, “-it’s imperative that both are performed on the same day. The crowning of the Blood-King in front of the other ns to avoid a shift in the hierarchy. Messages have already been sent. The leaders shoulde around soon enough.”