Zain's words hung in the air for a while as silence reigned.
“Correct.” The young male smirked as he affirmed the words.
He allowed the realization and the gripping fear that followed to take hold of the camp before he continued.
“Vampires. That we are. Our meal. That you are.” A flick of his index finger was all it took for the carnage to begin.
More than ten figures blurred forward, their vampiric speed put to use.
The camp immediately descended into chaos.
The warriors and the more experienced servants were completely composed but the same could not be said for the maids and the majority of the servants.
“Blood sucking demons!” A beautiful young maid screamed out as she chose the flight response, immediately crashing into a prepped warrior.
The sound of blade slicing through flesh came right after. The young warrior had managed to swoop the maid into his left arm. Then, in the same fluid motion, delivered a wide swing forward with his battle axe.
His pale blood sucking attacker staggered backwards, a huge gash in his chest. Unrelenting, the young warrior delivered another slash, this time aimed at the head.
Unfortunately, despite the warrior’s highly attuned attacking skills and top level reflex, the vampire was just faster.
The young warrior could barely track the vampire’s movement as he ducked under the attack and shot forward with his fangs in full display.
A thud.
The warrior fell to his butt, the maid frozen stuff in his left arm. He heaved a heavy sign as he stared upwards at his assailant.
The vampire was pinned to the spot, with multiple, almost intangible, spears stabbed into him from the back.
The Power Holder. He thought to himself in relief.
With the little time bought, he took a look at his surroundings.
In that small moment, most of the camp had already been destroyed.
Most of the damage, though, could be attributed to the the Power Holder. He was the starting point of the trail of destruction.
The mist powers used by the Power Holder likely possess a great amount of pressure.
The young warrior did not care much for the camp itself though, but for the people inside. And they were apparently singlehandedly saved by the Power Holder.
Most, at least.
About two to three servants were lying dead near their pinned down vampire assailant.
“Monsters.” The young warrior spat out. He let the scared stiff maid go as he sprung up to his feet and attacked. Both hands on his axe as he went for a beheading, the only way a normal person like he could kill an immortal demon.
His axe did not land as he felt himself get dragged backwards against his will.
From the peripheral of his vision, he saw the spot he stood just a moment ago get blown up by a red streak.
No, it isn't just me. His mind went numb as he tried his best to track his surroundings mid air. He saw about five red streaks fly past.
Landing on his butt again, the young warrior could only be grateful to be alive.
He looked around to see that a couple more people were dead.
He could barely make out what had just happened till a voice brought him out of his thoughts.
The voice one he has only heard a couple times but has come to hate.
The leading young vampire’s voice.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“I think an introduction is proper, seeing as there is strong meat amongst you.”
The young warrior looked over to see the vampire smiling ear to ear. The vampire’s whole demeanor had taken a turn, he no longer looked or felt young.
He felt ancient, very so.
The flowing blood coating his body only made the feeling more prominent.
“I am Thomas Moroa.” He started the introduction. “If the blood is not an indication enough, I am of the Bloodborn. Well, to be specific, the leader of the blood order.”
A beat of silence.
“You are of the top turned of the Blood branch of the vampires. Am I correct?” The Withering Flower Knight spoke up from beside the unharmed but definitely fazed High Lady.
“Yes, human Knight. Yes you are.” Thomas answered with a clear proud smile.
“I see. And what exactly is your aim here?” The Withering Knight continued with his questions.
“Simple, I want that disgusting thing dead.” Thomas pointed at the High Lady.
His gesture gathered up a strict reaction from both the warriors and the Knight, but seeing the Lady still okay, they relented.
“For a vampire that is not even an Ancient, you sure think of yourself special.”
The Withering Flower clenched his gauntlets, as his armor’s engraved Power became active.
A sonorous sound spread through the air as the engravings of small blades appeared all over the full black armor.
“Otherwise, you would not stand here with so much vain confidence asking for the life of the one I am to protect.”
His voice reverberated through the Little valley as his presence gained more weight.
“Tch, little meat relying on instruments is to preach to me about strength?” Thomas snickered. “I will kill you with my bare hands, blood powers not needed.”
Thomas combed his hair backwards with his hands as he dissolved his blood coating.
“Kill the others. Especially that Power Holder, two to him. One of you goes for the objective, the last should prioritize the spear thrower. I don't like the fact he saved someone from my blood shot.” He said to the other distinct vampires before he shot forward towards Withering Flower.
The young warrior watched as the Withering Flower shot forward from his spot near the High Lady to engage the vampire, leaving the lone High Warrior as her guard.
Looking over to the nicely dressed Power Holder, he could feel his fury from his meters away.
Two of the leading vampires had their eyes trained on the Power Holder.
The two vampires were pleasing sight to say the least, a female and a male. Both extremely good looking, and dressed in extravagant revealing clothes not belonging to the era.
The perfect match. The young warrior concluded after looking at the contrast between Power Jonah and the blood suckers.
It was at that moment.
“Hey.”
He looked up to see the person who had called out to him.
“Oh, thank you.” He took the offered hand to rise up to his feet. “Thank you for saving me earlier too.”
The one talking to him was none other than the mysterious squire who had not just saved him earlier but also practically prevented a perfect ambush on them.
“My name is Jentra, sir.” Following normal Knight-to-warrior etiquette, he addressed him as his superior. “Yours? Sir?”
“Zain.” Zain replied. “I am to go on a minor killing spree, protect her for me.” He said as he pointed at his far left.
Following his direction, his gaze landed on the other squire in the camp, the female one. She was presently helping the injured and fear paralysed escape, or at least relocating them to a better position.
“Sir, I would definitely like to follow your instructions, especially since you are my savior and all. But, my commands were…” Jentra started before he was abruptly cut off.
“I can see through magic.” Zain said simply.
Jentra stood still for a while.
He tried to come up with an argument but stopped when he saw the seriousness in Zain’s rather lifeless eyes.
“If she dies. I will kill you.” Zain stated without any emotion.
Before Jentra could process more of the situation at hand, he felt Zain's palm on his shoulder.
He had never felt so fragile as Zain grabbed him with one hand and threw him towards the female squire, away from the gigantic blood blade that landed in his spot a second later.
‘Who the fuck is he?’
The question resounded in the airborne Jentra’s head as he stared at the distant figure of Zain.
Just as he felt his flight coming to an end, his body attained the perfect angle that provided him with an answer to his question.
The gold neckwear. Its shattered pieces are still lying around Zain's neck.
“I see.” The answer became obvious but all the more concerning. “A Restricted.”
(Chapter End.)
Character Cards:
Zain(Restricted):
Name: Zain Mercury.
Species: Human.
Age: Nineteen (19)
Affiliation: Royal Throne - King Gracial.
Status: – (Restricted).
Talent: Sword Mastery (Master), Combat Mastery (Master) —
Ability(s): Superhuman Body (Super) —
Strength Evaluation: Superior (Super).
Power Jonah:
Name: Jonah Tron.
Species: Human.
Age: Twenty-six (26).
Affiliation: Royal Throne - Court Of Power.
Status: Power Holder.
Talent: Jewelry Making (Master), Spear Mastery (Master), Assassination Art (Efficient), Conversation Art (Efficient), Social Interaction (Master).
Ability(s):
Mist Power (Super): Manipulate and use the element of Mist.
Power Connection - (Full): Connection to the Powers.
Superhuman Body (Weak).
Strength Evaluation: Ascendant (Weak).
World Building Note:
Among the kingdoms of the continent, the Amna Kingdom is whispered to make the most frequent use of restrictions placed upon its own citizens.
Unlike Power Holders, whose authority is openly sanctioned, there exist individuals whose strength is deemed dangerous enough to warrant suppression rather than elevation.
These figures are rarely documented, seldom acknowledged, and almost never discussed openly.
When golden restraints are seen, it is often assumed the bearer has already crossed a line no one speaks of.
