Chapter 177: Untouched

Excerpt from the book “The final hunt of the nightwalkers” By Fang

Learned tracking from a young age, pa was a hunter, ma, an even better hunter. Had me on the trail the moment I could step. Walking the trees, learning the way to walk. Feet became hard as stone, which has benefited me to this day. Destroyed my shoes; no big issue, let me just walk on nature’s shoes.

Was perfect for the caves; the damned place was infested with the bloodsucking beasts. After we eliminated them, we found letters that gave us information about hunting the progenitor, a vampire called Mossegar.

He was our ultimate target, the oldest, most knowledgeable. We knew his death would mark the end of this crimson plague.

It was right here in this damned cave that started a 5 year-long journey that eliminated vampires from this stony earth. And also allowed me to write this story. A story of death, destruction, and extinction. It is a sad tale that sees many disappear from the annals of history simply because they were on the wrong side of this war.

But I am grateful, for few lived to tell the tale, much less write a relic such as this.

The day of anxiety meant the night was rough. Waking like the dead that roams the ground beneath my island. Feeling both sufficiently rested and lethargic was unpleasant, and no amount of sleeping in helped. With a deep sigh, I accepted my fate, leaving my bed. Finding it relatively early and Cassie still asleep, I take the chance to whip up some waffles with caramel syrup.

The waffles were easy; I slowly melted sugar in a dry pan with no water for the caramel syrup. Until the edges started to turn golden before tilting the pan and mixing by lifting the side of the saucepan and letting it drip over its self. Once it was a consistent golden color, I poured boiling water inside to stabilize it as a liquid. Mixing it quickly. Being left with sticky caramel syrup.

Brought to the bed on a tray, she awakes to find the sweet smell of caramel and waffles. And a small pot of strawberries in case she gets over-sugared.

She shoots me a look before her face sighing in defeat. Eating breakfast in silence. By her side, I enjoy some waffles too. Complimenting my own cooking mentally, of course.

With the meal complete, I spent some companionable time silently by Cassie’s side. Eventually having to leave it to do maintenance on my island. Got to keep it looking nice and clean.

After cleaning up any loose debris, replacing any spent items, and just checking my island, I ponder what needs doing. I never did make that magic mirror, did I? Guess I could do that, but I’m feeling lazy.

Might as well, I suppose. Have all the ingredients, after all.

Quickly setting up the magic circle, prepping the ingredients, and checking my altar. Spawning the demon before starting the ritual. Watching in amazement as the glass rises, the golden bar meting and creating a golden frame around it. Chains of light reach out and grasp the demon, who is flaying in the hopes of escape. Its struggles, pointless, as a moment later, it gets sucked in. Creating a slight ripple on the surface and a wet “plop.”

It then just fell on the floor, looking like an ordinary mirror.

Picking it up, I admire it. Being careful not to touch the reflective glass. Speaking out, “mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all.”

A wave ran across the mirror as a face pressed against it, making it appear as if the mirror was liquid mercury. The face spoke with a strained snarl. A dry and cracked voice, “No one has stood before me; you are the fairest in all the land.”

A smile cracks my face, “comfy in there, is it?”

The face growls, compelled to speak the truth, “it is horrible and bland in here.”

“You should thank me. Before you were trapped, you were a mindless demon.” I say in retort.

“That may be true, but being mindless is better than being trapped in here.”

Rolling my eyes, “fine, what can I do to make it more comfortable.”

I watched his face go to ask to be let out before the magic forced some honesty out of him. “Some lava to bathe in, some blocks to build with. A magma cube to play with.”

“Done, done, and done.” Hopping away and quickly grabbing the stuff for him. The magma cube is the most difficult, as I couldn’t find one for a while for some reason. Once found, it was scooped into a bucket and chucked into the mirror.

Once done, I create a small sealed room, placing the mirror inside. With my own blood sample stored away, I use another person’s blood, Jengals. Gently placing the blood against the mirror.

A gentle golden light glows through the blood sample before the light blinds me with a flash. Opening my eyes a moment later, I find my body a replica of Jengal’s. I can now take on the form of anyone’s blood I have. A gimmick, really. But a hell of a useful one. Quickly switching back, using my own blood. Happy that the function remains from the original game.

Never managed to get the glitch to work that gave you staff permissions, but it was bound by rather stringent requirements.

With that done, let us go visit the witches. Teleporting to their hallowed town. Appearing, I find It strangely unchanged by the scramble, as I’ve taken to calling it. A circle around the city divides it from scrambled biomes. The town is untouched within.

Entering, I find many guards, more than expected. And they seem to actually be guarding the city instead of playing eye spy. Watching me wearily. Thankfully one of the guards I’ve met before, allowing me to pass unencumbered.

Knowing the best source of information that won’t cost me an organ, I head towards the inn I stayed at previously. Finding that same textbook vampire-looking man behind the counter. Eyes glimmering silver under the gentle light of Glowstone. He doesn’t seem to have changed much, quickly locking eyes with me and smiling with that devilish grin.

“Why hello, Aeternum, what might bring you back into my humble abode,” he says with an exaggerated bow.

“Just wondering how the city is intact after the scramble.” Walking up and sitting in front of the bar.

“The scramble? Ah, yes, the whole mess with this fragile plane of existence. The neighboring witches blessed us with a shield. Lasted but a moment, but it worked. Must have cost a diamond or two because they looked agitated afterward.”

“I see, thank you.”

“Your most welcome, treasured guest. Please, have a drink on the house.” He says, placing a crimson liquid on the counter. Didn’t even see him pour it.

Smelling it, It smells of garlic. I give him a side-eye, “suspect me of being a bloodsucker?”

He just smiles with his pearly white teeth.

It wasn’t long before I left, having ignored the drink, whatever it might be.

Time to find those witches, I wonder how they stave a dimensional collision of such magnitude. Heading towards there herb store they use, it will be easier than storming their house. Well-known guest or not.

A familiar face operates the counter, Andira. With a smile, I nod to her, “hello Andira, long time no see.”

Taking on a shocked expression, “Aeternum, is that you?” She asks, stepping around the counter adorned with herbs in glass jars.

“Who else would it be,” I chuckle.

“How are you here?” She asks, suddenly realizing the unlikeliness of being able to return to this city.

“Does it matter?” Shrugging my shoulders.

Pausing a moment, “I guess. Not? Let me tell the Coven you have visited.”

“Alright, I will admire your herb collection.” Watching her disappear into the back room. I am in the middle of admiring a purple herb I am unfamiliar with, some kind of moss when she returns to the room.

“I have informed them of your arrival; someone should arrive shortly.”

“Thank you, although you didn’t need to, I could have just gone to the coven myself.”

“Unwise, it’s in defense mode due to the new threats from elementals and new creatures.”

“As if I fear your witchcraft, I’ve got enough defenses in place.”

She just half scoffs half laughs at my comment. “Yeah, yeah, still best not to be under fire from several witches.”

Moments later, the door behind me opens with a slight ‘whoosh.’ A young teenage girl walks through in a frilly flower dress, the unnamed mayor.

Turning around, “why, hello there.”

“Hello, Aeternum.” She says in that squeaky sing-song voice.

Bringing my hand to my chin, “I never did catch your name.”

Giggling slightly, “names have power after all. Why would I tell you?”

“Errm, common courtesy?” Rolling my eyes.

“Still not happening.” She says, walking up and jumping onto the counter, dangling her legs off the edge. “What brings you here anyway?”

“Just a check-up, well, it was until I spotted how intact the town was. How did you pull that off?”

“Yeah, I’m not telling you that.” She says with a glare.

“Appreciate your honest,” I say with a chuckle. “How are you and your coven?”

“Good, good.”

“How’s the town, you know, because of all the happenings of the world.”

“We would have weathered the war well, we have the infrastructure to be independent, we are fine. The town is ancient, and it will remain.”

“Confident.” I nod with a smile. Better confident than in a panic. “Magic definitely has given you a decisive advantage.”

“The blood of this empire runs blue.” She says with a seductive smile, looking at me with oscillating pupils before blinking them away. “Magic started this empire; it subsists of it. Even those white caped priests use a variant of magic. The kingdom is full of fools who shy away from our legacy. We didn’t, and so we came out on top.”

Bringing a hand to my face in thought, “a strong opinion. Not one I disagree with either. Magic is powerful, and you need either superior technology, which we are far from, or fine spells. Which we have a significant advantage in.”

“Very true. No doubt you have powerful magic at your disposal. You have already demonstrated such.”

Rolling my eyes, “flatterer, what are you after.”

She clutches her chest, “how rude; I wouldn’t manipulate you like that.”

“You would absolutely do that.” Glaring at her.

She huffs in amusement, “fine, we are short on some supplies. And as far as we can tell, you never seem to run out.”

“You have only met me and spoke with me a handful of times; what gives you that impression?”

“You literally wear the armor of unknown origin and teleport on the drop of a rock.” She says, bending at the waist and chuckling.

“Okay, what materials and what will you do in exchange.” Crossing my arms.

She pulled out a list, a literal list, from her velvet coat pocket. The short lass unrolled it like a shopping list that dropped down to her knees. She clearly felt my eyes on her, quickly stuffing that one away and pulling out a slightly less insane list.

“We would like 5 stacks of all mundane materials like gold and iron, 5 stacks of ender pearls, 10 stacks of obsidian, a stack of each nether ore, a pile of draconium. Do you dabble in the arts of thaumaturgy?”

“What the hell you gonna use to pay for all this without even considering thaumaturgy?” Staring at her in disbelief. It’s not hard for me to procure these materials, but this is the level of towns to suppliers.

She smiles, “we gathered a few unknown artifacts that we thought might interest you.”

Causing me to raise my eyebrow. “We both know that if these artifacts are, in fact, valuable, you will be losing out. Why?”

For the first time, her bubbly smile drops, and she takes on a long and tired expression. “We are working towards self-sufficiency. The constant attacks are taking their toll, and progress is… slow. We will continue to move forward, but these resources will accelerate efforts. We can use the metals for tools, materials for crafting. Get more mines and farms and really start getting everything running.”

“I see; well, I can offer you something that you might not have anticipated. I’ve actually opened my own town. I can create a teleportation link between your town and mine.”

Her eyes open wide, and she steps forward, “you opened a town without royal family approval? Don’t you fear they will tear it down?”

Step up to her and bringing myself to eye level. “I have no fear about the royal family. Let me assure you they won’t be able to touch a stone on the wall of my city.”

She smiles, “Good. Now, let’s go see those artifacts and iron out the details of the trade.”