Note to the reader: *.......* means he's saying that in his head.

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The Soup Nazi

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Chapter 22

I continued making the scarf as I thought over everything. I always do my best thinking when I'm making something. So far the gods have offered me a fairly good life in this world, but I feel a strong sense of guilt regarding the girls they've picked. I have the most free will out of everyone involved in this plan since the girls were basically brainwashed. There's nothing I can do about that so I might as well move on.

They've given me a second chance at life, but who's to say they weren't the ones who took my first one away. I mean for some reason I don't remember dying; however, that could just be because of trauma from death. I was being a little hotheaded earlier when I jumped to the conclusion that I should kill them, but it would be in my best interest to find out if they can be killed.

A little after I started on the scarf I manifested my wings to practice with. I used them to hover in place while making the scarf. My mood had improved so I felt a lot better. I was about half way done when I heard foot steps coming from the other side of the door.

*Isn't it the middle of the night?*

I had a bad feeling so I set the half scarf down, made my wings disappear and stood next to the door. It started to open so I hid behind it. A cloaked man entered the room holding a dagger. He was defiantly a threat so I put my left hand over his mouth and grabbed the wrist holding the dagger and shoved it into his throat. He flailed around for a few seconds before going limp. I gently put his body on the ground. His equipment made a slight clinking sound, but it wasn't very loud.

Becket:"So who are you?"

I searched through his clothes, but he didn't have anything on him except a dagger. It was in good condition so I took it. This person might not have been alone so I wanted to be ready. I walked over to Aria and shook her.

Becket:"Hey wake up."

She was mumbling in her sleep.

Becket:"Come on already."

I glanced over at the door and my blood went cold. The body was gone. I spun around and held the dagger up expecting an attack. The room was quiet which worried me.

*Damn. Was he still alive?*

Something caught my attention on the ceiling so I looked up. A pair of red eyes stared back at me.

Becket:"You!"

My muscles tensed up and the man leapt at me.

Becket:"Confirma!"

I dodged just enough to let him pass by me. As he passed by I grabbed his hood and pulled him back. His body was flung into the wall causing it to crack.

Aria:"What's happening!"

Aria popped up with crazy hair and half closed eyes.

Becket:"We've got an intruder!"

Her eyes opened wide as she looked at the cloaked man.

Aria:"Thats a vampire!"

Becket:"Vampire! So should I pierce his heart?"

Aria looked at me.

Aria:"Your nose is bleeding!"

I wiped my left arm across my nose and saw the blood on my sleeve.

Becket:"Shit."

I had used some of the knowledge I got from Esyn. It sort of came to me in the moment. When I threw him into the wall I used neutral mana to strengthen my muscles, but apparently I overworked myself already.

*She said it was like an out of shape muscle, but damn it's going to take a lot more practice than I thought.*

The vampire had one broke arm and leg which twisted and bent back into place which was quite a sight.

Becket:"Thats freaky."

I rushed forward aiming for his heart; however, he blocked with his left arm. I stabbed through it and a little into his chest. He went for my throat so I jumped back leaving the dagger to pin his arm to his chest. I needed the extra strength since I lost my weapon so I activated it again.

Becket:"Confirma!"

I immediately coughed up blood, but dashed forwards anyway. I smashed his head into the wall sending the two of us through it. I released him and grabbed the dagger before leaping back again. There was a cloud of dirt floating in the air and all I could see was the vampires figure as he stood back up. His eyes became visible then he jumped towards me again this time in a fit of rage.

Aria:"Implevit pallium inimi conlidam venti! Ventus Laminis!"

Wind rushed by me and collided with the vampire sending several pieces flying in all directions. I turned around and saw Aria with her hand thrust out in front of her.

Becket:"Was that magic!"

She smiled.

Aria:"I told you when we first met that I knew a little wind magic." (She did say it.)

Becket:"You're actually pretty strong."

Aria:"My magics never been this powerful."

She touched the necklace she was wearing.

Aria:"Maybe this thing does more than increase size?"

Becket:"Well thanks for that."

I walked over to the vampires chest and tour out his heart. His skin was moving so I assume it was trying to heal, but that stopped when I took the heart.

Becket:"Time for a snack."

I took a big bite of it.

Becket:"Hm. Not bad. Actually it's quite good."

It suddenly felt like my spin snapped.

*Shit!*

I fell over sideways.

Aria:"Becket!"

Aria rushed over to me as I wiggled around in pain.

*Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!*

The pain started to ease until I could barely feel it anymore. I stopped moving and just laid on the floor then let out a breath of relief.

Becket:"Ok I'm good."

Aria:"Your eyes flashed red for a minute!"

Becket:"Really? Sounds like something good."

Since I didn't have my title stone anymore I couldn't check what I got so it was pushed into my check later mental file. I jumped up and stretched a little.

Becket:"You know I feel pretty good now."

I looked over at Aria and saw her trying to taking a bite out of the vampire heart so I slapped it out of her hand.

Aria:"What are you doing!"

Becket:"That's what I should be saying."

Aria:"You said it was good so I wanted to try it."

Becket:"No heart for you!"

Aria puffed out her cheeks to pout.

Becket:"Ok so it was a vampire. Why was he here?"

Aria:"Maybe he was lost."

Becket:"I doubt it."

***************Aelisia POV*************

My eyes shot open in the middle of the night.

Aelisia:"So Gideon's back, and he brought some guests."

He split up with his guests and moved together with a single person.

*Did that idiot get caught by the vampires?*

I threw my blanket to the side exposing my naked body. Sleeping without clothes just feels more comfortable. I got out of my bed and put on my usual black clothes. My sword was strapped to my hip and I left my room. A few of the guests split off and headed towards the royal bedrooms. Gideon was the greatest threat, but he was going in the opposite direction so I prioritized protecting the royal family.

It only took me a few minutes to exterminate all the vampires except one that went to Beckets room and a few others that seemed to be killed by guards. Gideon and that one vampire he was with seemed to accomplish their objective because they were already headed back to the main gate. Gideon probably informed the vampire he was with that all the others were dead. His sensing skill is on par with my own, but when it comes to fighting he always loses.

I was able to catch up with them a few meters away from the front gate.

Aelisia:"Where're you going Gideon?"

Him and the vampire stopped then turned around. When I saw the vampires face I knew what who he was.

Aelisia:"Hey you're Hesseliuses kid aren't you. Now why is the vampire kings son attacking human royalty? You trying to start a war?"

Gideon:"Mother. I started to worry you weren't going to catch up to us."

Gideon drew his sword.

Gideon:"Go on Bram. I'll hold her off."

Bram was a pure vampire and son of the current vampire king. He holds a tremendous amount of power both politically and physically.

Bram:"Very well."

I noticed what Bram was holding.

Aelisia:"So you came for an artifact. The blood of the gods huh."

The blood of the gods wasn't actually blood and was only called that. It was actually a blue liquid that held amazing restorative properties. The liquid was kept in a clear urn looking container. It was one of the artifacts that could be used up so it has only been used once. After years of studying it a way to recreate it has still not been found. Leathery wings erupted from Bram's back before he flew off into the night.

*Well I guess he's gone.*

I drew my sword and pointed it at Gideon.

Aelisia:"I'm disappointed in you."

Gideon:"What else is new."

He lunged at me so I side stepped and drove my knee into his stomach sending him flying back. There was a rather significant difference between a Warlord and Grandmaster Knight. Gideon swung his arm to clear the dust cloud around him caused by his collision with a wall.

I was going easy on him since I didn't want to kill him. He hasn't been turned into a vampire so he could return to normal. Some pure vampires have a type of mind magic which allows them to control people with weaker wills. If Gideon was struggling with anything mentally when he confronted the vampires they could have taken advantage of his stressed mind.

Aelisia:"You're too confident brat."

I dashed forward and sliced his sword in half then circled around and tripped him. He has good defense, but wasn't nearly as fast or as experienced as me. So far he has been able to brace himself before taking each of my hits so that's worth praise after all I was going at my top speed.

Aelisia:"Not bad, but it'll take you at least another twenty years of constant training before you're at my current level."

I said current level because I'm not as strong as a Warlord anymore. Warlords are absolute monsters and I use to be more powerful, but old age deteriorates skills.

Gideon:"You're not even human are you!"

Aelisia:"Of course I am. You're just angry because of how weak you are."

Gideon jumped up at me and swung his fist with full force. I parried it and back handed him back to the ground.

Aelisia:"What did I teach you? Try and calm down before attacking."

Gideon pulled his face out of the dirt and looked up at Aelisia. He took a meditative position and inhaled deeply then release it. He slowly stood up and took a fighting stance.

Aelisia:"Good you've calmed down."

I hadn't really been using it so I sheathed my sword and took the same stance. Gideon narrowed his eyes then dashed forward with twice the speed as he had before. His punches were precise and his kicks held a lot of power, but he wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I punched him in the chest and felt a few ribs crack as he slid backwards.

Gideon:"There's no point in wearing armor against you. All it does is slow me down."

Gideon threw off his green armor and stretched a little. He now only had on the tight black outfit worn under armor. The battle continued, but only Gideon took any damage and his fatigue started to grow.

Gideon:"Hu..hu..hu..hu.."

He was panting and losing massive amounts of sweat. His arms were beginning to droop as his energy faded.

Gideon:"Hu..I guess I'm..hu..still not strong enough."

Aelisia:"Maybe someday."

He fell to his knees and looked down.

Gideon:"I can't fight any longer."

Suddenly his head jumped back up and he looked around.

Gideon:"Huh? How did I get here?"

*It must have finally worn off. About time.*

Gideon:"Mother?"

Aelisia:"You need more practice."

Gideon:"Huh?"

I punched him in the face and this time knocked him out. I looked into the night sky in the direction Bram went.

Alisisa:"Should I chase him?"

There wasn't really much reason to worry since what he got wasn't the real blood of the gods. Since it's an item that can be used up its kept separate from the other artifacts in a more secure location. What he took was ginji juice which was put there as a decoy. It tastes ok, but has no healing properties.

Aelisia:"He's gonna be pissed when he finds out."

Two of the knights ran out toward me.

Knight 1:"The royal vault has been broken into!"

They stopped a few feet away from me.

Aelisia:"I know, but don't worry it doesn't seem like they got anything important. Request assistance from the church. Tell them the palace may be attacked again so we need to borrow some mages."

Knight 1:"Yes!"

Aelisia:"And you get a group of knights to help you carry all the corpses out to the courtyard. Burn all the bodies including the dead knights. I don't want to take the chance one of them was infected."

Knight 2:"Yes!"

They scurried off to do their jobs.

Aelisia:"This palace has had too many incidents lately. We're gonna need some new knights."

We still had the best of this kingdoms knights, but our forces have dwindled. With the king sending knights to assist Felix, Becket killing a whole lot and this vampire attack we've lost a large number of our top forces. We've still got the soldiers in our army, but they aren't nearly as skilled as a true knight. The soldiers have the smallest amount of training needed.

Aelisia:"I just hope we don't suffer any attacks from outside of the kingdom."

I noticed everyone's presence inside the palace was now awake. The fighting must have woken them.

Aelisia:"Oh yeah. I guess I better go tell them the attack is over."

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