15.1

“On your left!”

The vampire reinforcements arrived in a flash.

“There’s one coming on your right!”

First, he and Aurelius lept in to the approaching swarm of vampire soldiers, slashing and striking with all of their strength as they thinned down the vampire’s numbers.

Unlike John, Aurelius could not use magic, but his physical ability made up for it. For each slash and thrust, John landed on a vampire enemy. Aurelius was able to maim four.

With them fighting in an enclosed space, the enemy’s numbers were actually advantageous to the two of them.

Since John and Aurelius were only two people, they had perfectly adequate space to move their bodies without fear of colliding with the other, while the vampires would easily fumble and knock against each other.

While Aurelius would force his way through the ranks of vampires that came for them, John would let his blade sing as he danced through his enemies, synchronizing with his wolfkin friend to eliminate their threat.

That was not just all.

With his first successful cast of [Illuminate] earlier, he had been using it in quick precise flashes as to blind and disorient the vampires, to where John could swear he saw the white light he created melted away a few of the vampire’s faces—but he was unsure as he had no time to stop and observe.

If he had not been certain his encounter with Elijah Harvest was real, his use of [Illuminate] now solidified it.

Still, if these monsters were vampires, unlike Sargent Sakrut or Umer, the vampire guard, they were far from being a threat. Their movements were slower than John’s, their strikes were weak, their aim was off, and even when he or Aurelius had taken them down, they barely made a noise.

These are the lowest of the low…why would— Did they send untrained grunts to test us?

If he were Captain Rabugburburbra or whatever he was called, he would send the strongest person at his disposal to deal with outsiders. A swift, decisive attack to end an enemy was the most logical solution.

“John…this doesn’t feel right.” Aurelius, who noticed the same thing as him, spoke as he slammed two vampire soldiers into the walls, severing their bodies with his left scimitar. “And I don’t mean how little blood these guys have, I mean, I…”

“I know. I noticed it too.”

So far, in their one-sided battle against the overwhelming number of vampires, John had not used [Heal] on himself or on Aurelius a single time. It was as though the vampire soldiers were all sent in their direction, as though to waste John and Aurelius’ energy.

“Stick close, save your breath. I think they are whittling us down…so we’ll lose our stamina.”

Immediately, John and Aurelius backed up against one another, leaving no open space in between them as they changed from full offensive to defensive formation.

John slashed yet another vampire that leaped in front of him. All he did was land a simple cut against the vampire’s neck.

It all seems too easy...

John watched as the vampire soldier he slashed fall to the ground like a lifeless ragdoll.

“Aurelius… Did any of them try to drain your blood like that Umer vampire did?”

Aurelius shook his head, “No. What about you?”

“Not here too.”

The two of them remained silent as they cut down the various vampires that jumped in their way. They don’t seem to be golems or dolls, but them not speaking or making any sound was unusual....

“Ah…” Aurelius let out a small voice. “That’s all of them.”

“[Heal].” John cast his magic on the both of them, making sure their bodies were in top condition before pointing to the metal doors, “That’s the only exit we have…”

Understanding what John was implying, Aurelius nodded his head, and they both moved to the metal doors, exiting the underground dungeon.

It led them to a banquet hall…

Or how what was left of it after everyone abandoned it at the first news of an intrusion in the Vampire’s den.

In the room where John and Aurelius stepped foot into, a pungent smell mixed with smoke fumes and oxidized wine alike assaulted both their noses.

“I knew I heard noises but what the hell are the vampires doing here…” John said, covering his lower face.

In front of them were broken furniture, shredded carpets, shattered glass, splattered food, and… John squinted his eyes when he saw a pile of brown, gooey dirt-like substance smeared on some walls.

“Oh, what the fuck!? Is that fecal matter!?” John involuntarily placed a hand on his forehead, scrunched his face in disgust, “Aurelius, can you locate where the exit is with your hearing? I’ll die from the smell before the vampires get us.”

…

“Aurelius?” John spoke as he turned his head back to where his wolfkin friend was, only to see that his friend had vanished.

Tap-tap.

A finger found its way on John right shoulder’s, prompting him to turn his body towards the direction, “Listen, this isn’t the time to…” John’s voice faded when he saw the tall figure who stood behind him, on slumped on the figure’s arm, was an unconscious Aurelius.

Vampire, how—

The vampire immediately closed their distance until that John and he were practically an inch away from each other’s faces. The vampire’s eyes became full painted in full red as he peered into John’s dark iris in a mystifying glance.

“Share my gaze, child. You too, shall fall into a deep slumber like your friend. [Conscious Wane].”

On instinct, John swung his mythril sword at the vampire’s head, fully intending to sever the monster for what he did to Aurelius. The moment John’s sword flew in the air and collided with the vampire’s neck, the image of the vampire with Aurelius in his arms abated right in front of him.

“What? Where is…” John tried to speak but his body suddenly became heavy, his muscles could no longer support his current weight and he fell to the ground. “[H-Heal]…”

That magic… That’s...ancient magic.

Ancient magic, unlike what most in the empire would believe, was never lost. Rather, it was replaced by the modern day tier magic and phased out due to how difficult it was to successfully cast a spell from ancient magic.

John had his fair share of understanding of ancient magic back when he was in A’vetheas in search of a hint to increase his mana pool. Though Elves and other higher races could cast it with practice, the actual application of ancient magic was almost naught due to how impractical it was.

In theory, ancient magic took decades for one to learn, and centuries to master. Compared to the simpler spells like [Fireball] or [Wind Gust] that only required at most two weeks to learn, and a few months to master, ancient magic is obsolete in the peaceful era that John was born into.

That is not to say ancient magic was useless.

In fact, if one had the patience and time to master it, ancient magic are the higher tiered spells achievable by an individual. However, the amount of effort put into mastering ancient magic is still better off used in mastering a slew of spells that aren’t as proficient as ancient magic. The utility of those simple spells alone can already surpass a well mastered ancient magic user.

If one had a vast mana pool, however, ancient magic would prove to be a very powerful tool.

“Gah…” John wheezed on the ground, crawling towards his fallen weapon as his strength slowly regained from the vampire’s spell thanks to [Heal]. “My sword…”

“How are you immune to— Hmm?” the vampire said on alert as he placed a hand on one of his ears. “Captain Rabugra? Is something the matter?” the vampire nodded his head a few times and muttered in agreement to Captain Rabugra that was on the opposite end of the [Message] spell.

[Heal], [Heal], [Heal]. I need to move. Aurelius needs me to…

“Gah!!!” John grit his teeth when a large boot stomped on his spine, causing him to lose his grip on his weapon once more. “Fuck!!!”

“Is that so?” ignoring John underneath his boot, the vampire continued to speak to Captain Rabugra. “The beastkin is a simple matter, but this one is persistent. He is able to dispel my magic. I doubt we should—” the vampire immediately stopped, nodded his head a few more times. “Yes sir, understood. It is as you wish.”

Once he removed his hand from his ear and ended [Message], the vampire tossed Aurelius’ body and bent his body downwards before grabbing at John’s hair.

“It saddens me to say your life is prolonged for a brief moment. You may thank Captain Rabugra by putting up a good show for him later on.”

“Who...is…”

“Sorry, mind if you speak louder? I can’t hear you over my boot on your back,” the vampire drilled his heavy boots harder against John’s back with his emotionless expression. “Squirm like the maggot you are, human.”

“I said!!!” John spoke with a loud vigor, spooking the vampire.

Using this opportunity, John with his revitalized strength, grabbed his sword and sent its edge towards the vampire behind him.

Splat!

“Who the fuck does he think he is? This dumbass captain of yours!?” John rolled across the ground, jumped to his feet as he watched a torrent of blood flowed from the gap he made on the vampire’s throat.

As John adjusted his weapon in preparation to charge at the vampire, the vampire disappeared from his field of view.

And reappeared in front of him with a palm planted on John’s skull.

“!!!”

Wham!!!

The vampire slammed John towards the wall with an overwhelming force, shattering the rear of John’s skull as his grip was still on John, nails digging into his flesh.

[Heal]...

“You imbecile, just because you negated [Conscious Wane], you think you’re some hero…” the vampire then raised his head and looked at John with a pair of crimson eyes. “You’ll learn soon enough that there are forces in this world much, much, much stronger than you are.”

You don’t have to tell me twice…

With the sword in his right arm, John sent his weapon at the vampire’s ribcage, tore through it and pierced the monster exactly where his heart was supposed to be.

Ack!

The vampire coughed a mouthful of blood at John.

“Ah ha ha ha…” instead of a fearful and weakened expression, the vampire smile grew larger. “What a naive, child. Don’t you know vampires like me have regeneration powers? What did you expect to happen when you stab my heart?”

John’s eyes widened. All he could do was squirm at the vampire who had him pinned against the wall with just a palm.

He knew it was futile against such monsters. Just like how futile it was for him to fight the three men that very night, because if he doesn’t…

John caught a glimpse of Aurelius, whose body was knocked out cold in a distance away from him.

I can’t fall.

He had a duty.

A duty to keep Aurelius safe from harm.

He was the one that brought Aurelius into this mess. John would not let what happened to the Harvests happen to his beastkin friend right there. If he had to, if he really had to—

“Very well, very well…since you chose to be difficult. I’ll accommodate you.”

Before he knew it, the vampire sent a blow so strong into John’s abdomen that John’s back gave a loud crack. Then, a backhanded fist came flying in his jaw, instantly dislocating John’s mouth, spewing thick blood from him.

I can’t see—

John cast [Heal] in time to numb the pain that was shooting across his body, he could feel his jaw recovering from the vampire’s brutality, but before [Heal] fully registered in his body, another fist came flying in his face, knocking his conscious out.

Thud.

John’s body slumped to the floor like the bodies of vampires that he and Aurelius had slain in the dungeon, putting an end to his resistance.

The trees of Reperane Woods whistled as a group of five traveled west, grazing at the group of travelers basking them in the soft glow of the setting sun. Their pace had been slowing down as dusk approached, for even the group of traveling elves knew better than to disturb the dark beasts that dwelled in Reperane Woods.

One elf paused in her tracks. Her eyes shifted in the distance as the cold, lonely breeze brushed her back, disheveling her silky golden hair as her turquoise eyes became moist.

The girl stood in that position until one of her companions finally noticed her unusual behavior and walked up to her.

“What’s caught your interest, Raina?” the voice was gentle, yet understanding.

Raina blinked, whisking away the moisture that had built up in her eyes. “C-Coraine? I…” she tried to hold her gaze at her tutor’s face but shifted back to where she stared at moments ago. “Something feels off. I...”

Though she knew Raina was not looking, Coraine Elente nodded her head and listened.

Raina continued, “It’s much different from when I lost him, I just… Something is amiss, or something is trying to tell me something...”

“I understand, Princess.” Coraine lowered her head at Raina before turning behind her at the other three elves. “Protheus, let us make camp here!”

Protheus, the man with the gallant stride, immediately turned to answer his wife with a brilliant smile and a thumbs up before he relayed orders to the remaining two.

When the three other elves moved to set up their equipment and cast warding magic for the night, Coraine raised her hand to the closest tree around them and silently cast a spell.

No sooner, one of the roots of the tree surfaced, rose to a height of 50 centimeters before altering its shape into one of a horizontal bench.

Sitting on the bench she made, Coraine gestured Raina to follow suit.

“When we speak of promises, as elves, as Higher Races, the compulsion to follow through one until it is fulfilled is undoubtedly strong. You understand that, yes?”

“Mhmm,” Raina nodded.

Promises among Higher Races were much rarer, and much less practiced in modern times when war have become a thing of the past. The act of giving one’s promise was akin to swearing one’s allegiance, one that bounded them to their very being.

Which was why when someone of a Higher Race broke their promise or was far from completing it, overwhelming guilt and unease would pester at the depths of their minds until said promise were fulfilled. Hence, the reason for the hesitance of the elves giving away their promises to even their very own kind, for these promises were akin to sacred oaths.

Still, shattered promises still occurred among Higher Races.

It was not an uncommon occurrence, but like anything in the world, what is said to be sacred is most often defiled.

“So Raina, what would happen if you amplify that uneasy emotion by tenth— no, a hundredth fold? Can you imagine how such a sensation could drive an individual insane?”

Of course, Coraine was talking about the Higher Races like the elves. She and Raina clearly knew the Lower Races did not have such notions in their hearts, nor were plagued by the promised bond between two individuals.

“Yes.”

Coraine looked up to the leaf covered dark sky, then looked towards Protheus who had just finished setting up the fire for their camps. A gentle smile crawled on Coraine’s mature face as she watched the gallant elf move about in the distance.

“They say there are many types of love. Some are bound by strength, some are bound by blood, some are bound by fate, but for what I think, we are bound by oaths. Oaths so powerful that it can seemingly consume one.”

Raina’s eyes grew slightly at Coraine’s comments.

“I have never been one to say all love is equal, nor love is all. Those were simply what idiots who never understood a hint of nuance that what unadulterated love is. To many, it may seem high and mighty of me to think so, but I assure you when you have grown to have seen the world and the insanity that propels it, you would be glad you’ve kept yourself safe from it all.”

“…”

Coraine looked to Raina, she had a soft motherly look on her face, “I have an inkling of what you are feeling now, perhaps I it is similar to yours, perhaps it vastly differs. But understand this Raina, my heart will never waver from my husband nor will he to mine with or without magic. The same could be said the same for you, the act of using an oath that binds your soul to your beloved. Dare I say that is quite a compulsive desire.”

Raina looked away from Coraine, her face gloomy as she spoke, “H-how did you—”

“I figured it out on my own.” Coraine answered as though she expect Raina to question her. “If Protheus was also a human like John Sarvod, I would have also asked him to accept my Soul Oath the moment I fell for him.”

Raina clenched her jaw as she exhaled slowly.

She wanted to scream, not at Coraine but at herself for not upholding the Soul Oath that she and John shared. Instead, the first words that she said to John after the very night he protected her chastity were words rejection and animosity.

She knew she was under the influence of Queen Veissa back then, even so, she hated herself for not having the strength to resist her body from speaking those words. The whole of A’vetheas and their ideas of what a perfect society be damned if she can’t do what was right for the one she loved.

Still, no one thought of what she felt. No one thought of what John felt. After John Sarvod was dismissed from the Elven Tribe, all the elves carried on as though they have erased memories of John.

Like the title of Elven Princess that she was born with, her people only cared for him because of the things he did for them. The moment his usefulness expired, they no longer needed to care.

She knew to them, she was only the ‘Elven Princess’, never Raina Valindra Eridi. If one day she lost her title, she might very well lost her value before her people.

Such a realization made Raina sick. Through John’s banishment, she saw through the soulless existence of the common folk, of the average person that held no forethought with their meaningless existence.

I don’t want to rule over people like them… I don’t want this life…

“I take your silence that my assessment is correct.” Coraine continued, “Regarding the unease you feel at the moment. It relates to the Soul Oath that you share with John.”

Raina’s pointy ears perked at Coraine’s words, “What do you mean?”

“It isn’t the direct effect of Soul Oath per se, but it is what you can call the unexpected gain you got from it.”

“Gain?”

“With Soul Oaths, one is bound to their partner by their soul. So, it makes sense that his emotions overlap yours and yours to his. Though Princess, given your previous attachment towards John, I presume you were the one who initiated the Soul Oath, correct?”

Raina nodded her head.

“As the initiator of Soul Oath, you would be the recipient of your partner’s emotions, though it isn’t prevalent and comes at the most random of times. The snippets of emotional flares you felt are proof of your connection to him, despite the immeasurable distance between you two. His emotions must have overspilt into your heart.”

Raina remained stiff as she watched Coraine explained everything to her.

Inside of the Elven Princess’ mind, it was as though the last piece of a puzzle had finally fallen into place, solidifying the conclusion that she suspected for the longest time.

It was why Raina had sometimes felt unusually giddy when she trained with Lureena and Coraine. It explained why she felt as though she wanted to punch a wall for no reason at times, and most certainly the moments she felt unexplainably tired.

“I...I have been...connected to him, a-all this time?” her voice broke as she spoke, her face was on the verge of breaking into a bright smile, but, she was close enough to breakdown crying on the spot.

Coraine placed a hand on Raina’s back, slowly patting her as the realization settled in the Elven Princess. “Yes. You are connected to John as much as I am to Protheus. Though he might not sense your emotions as like you, I have no doubts those feelings come from him.”

“Hee-hee, ehehehe,” Raina giggled as trickles of tears from her eyes rolled down her cheeks.

It was almost as if she was reunited with John, though not physically.

From now on, every time she felt something unusual in her heart, it would be a sign that John was still alive and kicking.

These feelings that John has, they may be complicated, and even overwhelming to where it would unnerve Raina. However, as long as she could feel them in her heart, she understood that one day, she and John…

I’ll definitely come to you, John. No matter how long it takes, I’ll make sure to be by your side again. I swear it, this life of mine as Raina Valindra Eridi will be for you, and you only.