Chapter 176: Relocation

Excerpt from the book “Energies of the world” By Rosalie

Having talked about the nuances of mana, it’s time we look into the sub-variants of natural energy. I know all this back and forth is quite jarring. Still, you need a fundamental understanding of the energies before talking about variants, radicals, and other complex concepts.

Natural energy is one of the most straightforward and most complex energies. It’s effortless to produce, view, and manipulate; yet comes in many flavors. For example, a strong oak would not have the same energy as a sickly oak. Both have natural power, but in this case, the healthy oak would produce it in more abundance and in purity.

But that’s just the quantity and quality; how about a bed of flowers compared to that same oak. Natural energy is made up of several simple types of energy. Vitality is the most prolific of them. Oak has a lot more vitality than a bed of flowers, so the flower’s natural energy will have less vitality and more of the other components of natural energy. These components could be anything from ideas with power, like attraction, expressed in attracting pollinators, or light energy.

The takeaway is that natural energy is not just “one thing,” but a combination of many things. You need the right type for the right job if you want the best results.

I’ve started dreaming about walls. With the items being auto crafted, a builder’s wand in hand, it still took a week just to get a hollow fence built. It looks fantastic but will require a significant amount of filling in. At least a wall worthy of capital has been erected. Got to wait on my auto farms to produce more materials, though.

Stepping away and seeing the purple and grey wall, as grand as it is, I feel it’s insufficient. You want to make people feel like attacking your city is pointless. So, I increased its size again, another 20 blocks taller. Now 50 blocks tall, it really looks insane.

I hope to make a forcefield that covers the city in the future, but for now, it functions. And the idea of building a forcefield that large scares me.

Heading home, I quickly get the forcefield blueprint blocks being mass-produced. Better to do it in advance, after all.

With that being mass-produced, I think visiting the vampires is long overdue. Even though it’s still day, being later afternoon, I slip into my vampiric body. Feelings it’s far too addictive strength coursing through me. Cassie immediately teased me for looking like a “lamp man,” with that significant symbol on my head.

Even with said symbol allowing me to enjoy the sunlight, I still felt all sorts of lethargic just being awake during daylight hours. The urge to nap was unreal. Thankfully, Cassie would pinch me whenever I went to doze off.

Once some darkness had fallen, I felt significantly better. Equipping my gear, I teleport to the vampire’s hideout. The once-grand hall of stone has become a derelict sight of destruction. Crumbling stone walls and signs of blood on every surface. My hope for everything to be OK was dashed. With slow, measured steps, I begin to walk towards the bedroom area. Or morgue, depending on your sense of humor.

Each step grew heavier as more destruction came into my view, and I grew closer to the area where the vampires slept. Hoping they would be alright, but I knew I was convincing myself.

As I passed that destroyed door, I spotted several coffins, but not all of them. It gave me some hope. Right in the middle of the bedroom, a small mushroom forest has appeared. The coffins that were once there are long since gone.

Carefully steeling myself, I approach the closest coffin. Opening it gently. Seeing a very frail young woman inside, almost a corpse with how pale and thin she was. Her eyes snapped open, the façade of a corpse crumbling away in seconds. She looks at me in panic before her face takes on a strange calmness.

In a broken voice, she speaks. “Your back.” Said with the brightest smile her tight lips could muster. She rises slowly from the coffin.

Stepping back, I ask her, “what happened?”

Having already sat up in the coffin, she looks at me then looks down. A long look on her face. “Why are we starved? Or destroyed? I can answer the first, not the second. The war made the entire city active, with little places to hide. Hunting got harder, even though we took little. We also didn’t want to. Those we took from were tired, unable to work, and at risk of being fired. Being jobless during a war is very bad.

Some of us fled to different cities; I don’t know what happened to them. We lost more when the world split; it’s how we lost Helt. Whisked away like he was never there. We all panicked and rushed to our coffins.”

Leaning back, bringing my hand to my chin. Aching in my heart for their hardship. “I am sorry that happened.”

We waited for the rest to naturally awaken. All in varying degrees of starving. Prompting me to visit the well-defenced town, I avoid and abduct a dozen or so people to feed them. Thankfully I don’t feel as bad doing these things while in a vampiric body. After feeding the 7 remaining vampires, I fed the victims a golden apple and sent them on their way.

Higor was still there, the new de facto leader due to being an ‘elder’ of the group. One of the few able to make new vampires and being one of the first people turned. I only recognized some of the vampires, their population having bloomed before taking a significant hit.

After a meal, they, with supernatural speed, returned to peak condition. Body filling out, skin regaining that white luster, eyes regaining that predatory grace. It made me happy, knowing that they were feeling better.

Realizing their plight, I opted to move them into my new city. Admittedly, they were delighted knowing I built it from the ground up. Being a fellow vampire and everything. Or so I assume they thought.

On my way out, “I will be back soon. Just got to prepare a place for you guys to live.”

Waving the now smiling faces off, feeling a weight off my shoulders.

Returning to my city, I tunneled deep underground, right under the central part of the city. Creating a massive hollow cavity. So grand that it, in fact, could be called a city. Several hundreds of blocks across, 60 blocks high ceiling, and room for expansion. I even hollowed out a framework for them to dig out to expand it.

On the roof, I placed inverted sky blocks since they were unlikely to have seen the sun in a long time, and it’s an excellent way to enjoy sunlight without, you know, dying. Found it out when I teleported to a base in Minecraft, finding the sky blocks and panicking as a vampire. A short story shorter, I didn’t die.

With that, I also tunneled a hollow cavity above the cavern, placing forcefield blocks, running them across the space as a barrier to stop tunneling. Powering them with a small thermoelectric generator self-enclosed with shield blocks. Got to love efficient and renewable energy.

I also created a hall in the center of the cavity, a grand stone hall of obsidian and compressed cobblestone. Inside, several pillars containing two-way teleporters to each of the towns I have access to. This included the city I’ve just built. Of course, each teleporter is well hidden with camouflage blocks in a sneaky location unlikely to be disturbed. That’s just common sense.

With that all done, I just add a chest with access to all the building materials. The same as my above-ground residents.

I also left a teleporter in the old base, allowing access to the old home. Just in case someone returns.

They all started to stream into the new home, with complete trust in me. Relief on their face, not having to figure out what they are gonna do. Responsibility is a burden that sends you grey, after all.

I felt kinda guilty, as every time someone teleported in, they panicked because of the open sky, dawn cresting over, bringing sunlight. It caused me to barrel over laughing every time. It sounded like someone who watched too many vampire movies, recoiling back in hissing. Complaining about the light and everything.

After the initial shock and explaining it was safe, they all looked at the light with smiles. Some crying, others jumping for joy. Helt seemed unaffected by the happy situation, just rolling his eyes.

It was strange, heartwarming. Watching people who thought they could never enjoy the sun again suddenly can. It is not warm like the sun, but it still gives the same sensation. It got even better. As the sun continued to climb, we found it was a beautiful clear day.

Once the awe of the sun was over, I gave them instructions on how to use the teleporters and on the building supplies I have supplied. Allowing them to disappear off and make their houses.

Returning to the teleportation point, I give each a security door that requires a keycard to open. Using reinforced glass to enclose each into a small bubble. I also create a small enclosed, shielded area that allows me and Helt to access it only. Helt is also able to change settings and add people. Inside, I keep the security cards that would enable people to access the teleporters.

Finding Helt, I whisk him away to the temple structure.

“Hey, Helt. Each teleporter has some security measures now. You need this card to open the door, like so.” Taking out a card and giving a demonstration. “They are kept inside that bubble which only you can access. You can add other people, but for now, it’s you and me who can open it.” Handing him 7 cards. “There’s 1 for each of the vampires here; you can’t have them starving after all.”

Helt just nods dumbly, watching me and the demonstrations. Accepting the cards with a quiet “thank you.” Before heading off and handing them out.

It was kind of annoying he was silent, as I had mentally prepared an answer to every question he might have, but he just accepted them and left. He’s much quieter than he used to be.

With that all done and sorted, I head home. Switching into a human form to enjoy some dinner. Gonna need to grab a bite to eat in the vampiric form at some point, but no rush. Preparing myself a light salad with some olive oil croutons. Wandering with my salad in hand until I found Cassie. Head in a book as always.

Without a word, I sit down next to her. Enjoy my meal, then take out my own book and read with her. Hand on her leg as I read the book. Once we both set our reading material down, I say hello.

“Cassie,” I say with a smile.

She rolls her eyes, “yes, Aeternum.”

“Whatcha reading?”

“Romance.”

“You in a bad mood with me,” I enquire, feeling she is pretty short with me.

She rubs her browns and glares at me, “I’m fine.”

“And pigs fly, what’s up?”

Crossing her arms, stiffening her back, “I am fine.” She says, sounding out each word.

“OK, if you feel like you want to tell me anything, you have my number,” I say before heading off to find something to do while I am bored.

Ending up aimlessly wandering my island, anxiety bitting at my chest. Mumbling, “I don’t get women.” But I actually know what’s up. I haven’t spent any time with her recently, no cuddles, no random dates, no affection, I’ve been too busy. She is more than likely very pissed off with my neglect, rightly so.

Sitting on the edge of my island, I admire the bustling town. Giving my a shred of peace from the anxiety at my back.