"Though vampires are half-human, they are also half-demons. They could live with normal food like humans but they also love to drink human blood. Furthermore, the more someone drinks human blood the faster would be their advancement in strength.

"So tell me who would be able to resist such a tempting thing? They think humans are nothing but a portion of delicious food, the source of wetting their throats." Barret explained, his eyes shining with unbearable hatred towards vampires.

Kadyn took a deep breath and asked. "So does that mean those vampires are here just drinking blood?"

"It's possible," Barret said. "However, mostly, they would choose to target weaker cities or villages for this kind of thing. Why would they do such a thing inside the Orddono, the capital of the Shado Empire?"

"Maybe they are bored of drinking weaker human's blood," Dion replied, but after speaking he realised how stupid his reasoning sounded so he shut his mouth immediately, and he felt as if his face was burning. What an embarrassment. He thought.

But on the contrary to his expectation, Barret nodded in agreement. "That's also possible," he paused for a moment and went on. "But in my opinion, they had a deeper purpose this time. Or why would they send a vampire who is powerful enough to kill Rank 2 mage, Enwyld? She is possibly Rank 3. Are they trying to attack someone as strong as Rank 3? Maybe a Royal Palace?"

He abruptly stood up as soon as such a thought appeared in his head. "That's it! They are definitely here to attack the Royal Palace, or why would they send a Rank 3 vampire mage?" he took a deep breath and sat down again, but now, his face had turned completely dark. No matter what, he was a human and a member of the Magic Association. Every king and the emperor of the ten kingdoms was an elder of the association, so how could he remain calm after learning such shocking news?

"If vampires are such a huge threat and enemies of humans then why won't humans gather together and uproot them completely?" Hot Rod asked. Though he was also a Rank 1 mage and artisan, he wasn't as knowledgeable as Barret as no one told him about these things before, he didn't have much knowledge about vampires.

Barret shook his head at his query. "Do you think it's possible to gather humans together? Everyone has their own agendas, their own aim, and their own ambitions, no one want to follow others, even they were able to gather, it won't last much longer, just like the last time when all the races gathered to fight with Blood Tribe but as soon as the calamity passed the alliance was shattered, and never again was formed.

"Not only that, we even fight with each other like hungry wolves. Even in the Magic Association Alliance, a low-grade power in this vast world, one could find so many rotten eggs who think just about themselves."

He again fell silent and then looked at everyone. "Furthermore, we have no idea where vampires live, their hiding place. We just know that it is called Nightshade, and that's it. No one wants to waste energy and time and manpower to find out their whereabouts. So tell me is it possible to gather humans together?"

Everyone was silent for a moment before Kadyn asked. "So when do you think they would attack the Royal Palace?" he dropped the subject as there was another most pressing matter in front of them.

Barret looked at him and sighed. "It might have already been too late. The vampires work in the darkness of night, I'm sure they will try to finish whatever they come to do before dawn."

"Then why are you still sitting here?" Kadyn stood up abruptly. He was shocked after hearing Barret's explanation.

"It's useless," Barret shook his head. "Furthermore, we don't even have a Rank 2 mage. How are we supposed to confront the Rank 3 vampire? We would be slaughtered just as easily as chickens, we won't even have a chance to fight back in front of such a powerful mage."

"At least, we can warn the guards and rescue a few people if we are already too late. I won't mind if I fail but I want to try." Kadyn insisted. He thought about Slyff and that princess and his heart almost came to his throat. He knew Slyff loved her most in this world, now he injured himself for the sake of his so-called mission, it was Kadyn's duty to protect his loved ones. Or how would he be able to face him in the future, the guilt, he didn't want to carry it inside his heart for the rest of his life.

Barret looked at him and sighed. "Alright, let's go. However, no matter what happens don't try to fight with them — if they have come to destroy the Royal Palace and the people inside it, they all must be Spell Casters."

Kadyn nodded, he was not stupid enough to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. However, if he could save some innocent lives he would not escape from his responsibility.

"Boom!"

A thunderous boom reverberated in the entire Orddono Capital. Kadyn exchanged glances with everyone and a serious expression appeared on his face. "Such a powerful aura," Barret muttered. "It must belong to a Rank 3 mage. The king must be fighting that Rank 3 vampire mage!" as he said he hurried out of the shop.

Kadyn, however, turned to look towards his people and said. "Only Hot Rod and Khrom will follow me. You all should remain inside. No one would step outside the shop no matter what happens. Am I clear?"

"Be careful," Elora said, "don't try to be a hero if the situation isn't in your favour."

"I know I know," Kadyn rolled his eyes at her. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Khrom and Rayna exchanging glances, there was hesitation on their faces. But in the end, no one spoke, and Khrom started to walk towards the exit.

"Be-be careful," a slightly nervous voice came from behind him. Khrom stiffened and gazed back at the beautiful lady. Rayna flushed red when she saw his gaze on her. "I-I mean, all of you, be careful."

Kadyn grinned but had no time to comment on such matters and said to his two companions. "Let's go."

The group dashed out of the shop and rushed towards the Royal Palace. Kadyn peered in the distance but there was nothing other than darkness and booming sounds of battle and cries of panic. Barret was waiting for them outside and when Kadyn and two others arrived he joined them and went directly towards the source of the noise. None of them spoke anything.

As they neared the palace they heard the heart-wrenching screams of soldiers and servants and everyone else coming in their direction — and when the palace appeared in their view, Kadyn's heart shook.

The fire was burning furiously here and there, while dark shadows were dancing from here to there, slaughtering anyone who came in their path. They were vampires, and no, it wasn't four or five shadows as Slyff had described. There were hundreds of them. Hundreds of Rank 1 vampire mages. It was enough to numb anyone's heart. In terror.

Did they hide the army somewhere and only now they revealed it? Kadyn pondered in shock. He looked at the slaughtering shadows and his hurt trembled in fear, and he had an urge to escape and run away from this damned place. However, he suppressed that feeling inside his heart and continued to dash deeper into the palace.

The screams sounded and helpless screeches reverberated and bodies littered on the ground, covered in blood, lifeless. Some had their guts and entrails coming out of their stomachs and while others were looking with wide terror-filled eyes in front of them. But all of them were dead, without a shred of life.

Kadyn felt disgusted when an unpleasant smell wafted his senses but he didn't stop and ran inside the palace. He wanted to search for the princess. He would not let anything happen to the loved ones of his people. His eyes turned cold and a firm look appeared. At this moment a claw appeared out of nowhere, reaching to his throat.

——

"You need to go, princess!" Cecilia said with a tearful face.

"No, I'm not leaving you no matter what!" Nefia said to the girl with a firm face. "I would never abandon you!"

"Why-why do you insist on staying here!" Cecilia could not help but become a little emotional. "I'm not a good person. You should stay away from me!"

"If you aren't a good person then there won't be anyone good in this world." Nefia had no intention to leave her friend, no matter what.

"No, I'm a bad person," Cecilia fell on her knees when she couldn't change Nefia's heart and decided to tell her the truth. She lifted her beautiful innocent looking face and peered at her and said. "They are here for me."

"What?" Nefia was taken aback by her words and asked in confusion.

"The vampires," Cecilia said, her voice becoming firm. "They are here for me. I'm the reason they are killing those innocent people. I'm the reason for everything that is happening! So leave! Get away from me!" the tears rolled out of her eyes uncontrollably. The secret that she had been hiding all this time, was revealed. Would Nefia still love her and treat her like a sister as she always did? Her heart was filled with pain, but what could she do?