At my words, even Stevin frowned slightly. But the one whose face truly darkened was my all-time favorite Priestess, the Judas herself, Enna.

  She was a good soul, one indoctrinated by religion who saw anything she didn’t quite figure out as an absolute evil or as an all-too-perfect divine. I was neither. And that, somehow, made her more confused.

  I understood her pain of losing her party members, I understood her fears, and I forgave her for her remarks. But she created unnecessary trouble. When I saved her, trusted her, when I offered her the least I had to give, when I forgave her for things I never forgave people back on Earth, she chose to still doubt, to still lack the trust, to still try and ruin me. And I understood why.

  What if I really were a great evil? Then she would do a good deed to the world she knew by bringing me to the people who could ‘Vanquish’ me.

  What if I really were some divine fool? Then she would do a good deed to the same world she loved and lived in by bringing me to the place where I could be venerated.

  But I was as much of either of them as I was a Vampire. Not at all. So yes, I understood her, but I could not overlook her doings. We were not compatible.

  I was an atheist, and even now, after I knew Gods existed in one way or the other, my faith in fuckall did not change too much. But she was avidly faithful to her religion. To her Gods. And that made it impossible to see eye to eye.

  One example of that was how Enna looked at little Arthur. She was disgusted, grimacing at the boy’s smile as if it were the greatest sin incarnated. But he was just a boy.

  She did not even care about his conception, nor the pain and trauma that event could have brought to Melsa. All she cared about was that the boy was conceived and born out of wedlock. A slaver and its slave. Yet she still blamed the woman.

  A slaver and its slave. Yet she still blamed the innocent boy.

  And perhaps for this world, this was fine. Perhaps she was right in her ways. But not in my eyes. I could’ve passed her as an extremist. Like the weird aunt who spends too much time on social media and has awful takes. An acquaintance you tried to talk sense into, only to be ignored. But her acts, over and over and over again, added up.

  She was no longer welcome in my home.

  “This is Relia,” I spoke, trying to ease the tension in the room while I reached out and grabbed the Pixie in my pocket. “And this is…”

  “...” the Pixie tried to wiggle her way out, but ceased the moment she saw I didn’t know her name. For a moment, she only blinked at me. “Are you serious?”

  “Have you ever mentioned it?” I frowned, trying to squeeze my brain. “I don’t remember it.”

  “It is Faye! FAYE!” she yelled.

  “Is it?”

  “Yes!”

  Classic name. Almost disappointing.

  “And this is Faye,” I continued, turning to my companions. “Relia and Faye will be going with you, with Relia taking care of you until I return.”

  “B-But, Your Grace,” Silvien muttered. “What if…”

  “Don’t worry,” I shook my head. “Relia is not the type of Vampire you have to worry about. At night, she will be learning the layout of the castle and where things are. So get comfortable, try not to ruin my home, and from tomorrow, she should be able to help you.”

  “Your Grace,” Enna began speaking, her orange eyes steady against my own. “Send me as well, I know a bit of the Castle and could help the others get used to it.”

  “No, Enna. You are not going,” I shook my head.

  “Do you want me here, then?” she asked, smiling.

  “No. Frankly, I do not. Go back to your High Temples and your Templars and old Priests. Your task as an Adventurer is done. Stevin is here, and you have gotten your rewards. Now you are free to do whatever you please.”

  “W-Why?” she stuttered. “Your Grace, I…”

  She stopped talking when she saw me, shook my head, “You have saddened me greatly, Enna. I have offered you all I could, and you have offered me a spout of knowledge and hardship in return, refusing to trust me. I am not angry with you. I enjoyed our time traveling together. I just know we can no longer work together. That is all.”

  [The Fractures Widen.]

  [The Future has Changed.]

  [The Custodians Cannot Intervene.]

  [The Most High Intervened.]

  [Future Brought Back onto Its Course.]

  [The Fractures Widen.]

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  I crumbled to the ground, my knees buckling under some invisible weight. I felt every inch of skin, flesh, and bone in my body. I could feel the blood being pushed around my body. I felt the most alive I ever felt in my life, and I wanted to die to get rid of it.

  Bile rushed to my throat, but I managed to hold it back.

  ‘What is happening?’

  [It will Pass, Elio.]

  [Endure.]

  And just as Relia rushed and touched me, trying to see what was wrong, it was gone. All of it. I felt better than I felt even before.

  “...ur Grace?” Relia asked, my hearing returning to me.

  “I’m fine,” I muttered, pushing myself back to my feet with a groan. “I’m-”

  “Your Grace,” Enna interrupted.

  When I turned to see what she wanted to tell me, she was on her knees, bowing deeply, her forehead touching the ground.

  “Please, forgive me.”

  I frowned. Even this action of hers felt weird. Not because she was on her knees, bowing at me. That was weird, true. But this… this felt unnatural compared to the earlier emotions she had shown, unnatural to the person she was.

  “Stop it, Enna,” I spoke, too confused about what happened earlier to focus on her. “That is enough.”

  “Please…” she begged, her voice cracking.

  Was this woman really weeping? For what? And why does everyone else look at me as if I were at fault??? Hello?

  “Enna,” I said.

  But no reply came; her cries only kept on coming, forehead glued to the floor.

  “Enna!” I raised my voice.

  Nothing again. I swear, I get a sense of Deja Vu being ignored at my most stressful times.

  “Fine, fine, Fine!” I sighed. “We will talk about this later. Now get up, be an adult, and let me handle the other matters.”

  And just like that, she listened. No weird look, no complaint, nothing. She just got up, wiped her tears, and moved away from the others, standing near Stevin.

  I could only sigh, turning my head to Relia.

  “You remind me of how I treated my former husbands,” she smiled. “You make all the Vampires proud.”

  Of course I do. Seems that all the Vampires are some deranged, toxic individuals. But guess what, I AM NOT A VAMPIRE!

  “Will you be fine?” I asked instead, “Without eating for a few days?”

  “Of course,” she nodded with the same smile still present. “I got my fill.”

  “Faye, be good, listen to Relia, and help her if need be, understood?” I asked.

  But Faye sighed, “From one cage to another. Yay…”

  I drew close to her, whispering, “When I return, I will give you an entire forest to yourself.”

  “Nothing will touch your Castle or your Guests, sir, uh, Your Majesty!” She saluted, a wide grin on her lips.

  “Then,” I said with a sigh, turning to the others. “Silvien, Melsa, Arther, little Arthur, and Airina, it is time for you to get to safety.”

  “But Your Grace,” Airina jumped to her feet. “What about your agreement with my father-”

  “I need you there, Airina,” I interrupted, raising my hand. “Please.”

  She stood still for a moment, studying my face, but with a reassuring nod, she took a step forward. And so did the others.

  “I, Elio Welchia, Seed of the Reigncraft, Ruler of Calcan Castle, Ignore the boundaries of Space, Law of Transference. Destination: Calcan Castle.”

  Twelve spikes jutted from the floor, passing through the wood and almost impaling the ceiling above as the spikes sprouted from every angle, creating an opening through them akin to a doorway.

  When they stopped, Ephe spoke.

  [A drop of Elio’s Blood is Required.]

  So I turned, wiped the dry blood from the corner of Relia’s mouth, and wiped it against the spikes.

  The entire structure turned crimson for a moment, then out of nowhere, slowly at first, but picking up speed right after, a veil made of pure red liquid fell across the doorway.

  [The Law of Transference is Ready.]

  “Well then,” I said, turning to the shocked crowd behind me. “Time to go.”

  And as if on a casual stroll, Relia, with Faye sitting on her shoulder, nodded as they passed by me, walking through the doorway, vanishing as if stepping out of existence.

  Silvien was next to approach me, her cat-like yellow eyes meeting mine.

  “Thank you.”

  I only smiled, nodding at her with a gentle expression. One as gentle as the soul of that woman was.

  But just as she walked through the doorway, I felt a person crashing onto me, softness pressing hard against my chest.

  “...Thank you, Your Grace. How many times does this make?” Melsa asked, hugging me tightly.

  “It doesn’t matter,” I replied with a reassuring smile. “Go. Your son should find the Castle entertaining enough.”

  She smiled at me, letting go and grabbing her son’s hand, before heading toward the portal.

  “BYE BYE,” Little Arthur yelled, waving at me with a priceless smile before the doorway consumed them, bringing me face to face with Arther.

  “Your Grace,” he bowed. “If you’ll have me, I…”

  “Arther,” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “We can talk about all that when I return. Now go, your future wife is waiting. Make sure not to break too many beds, ey?”

  He chuckled at me, but bowed again, before walking through the portal, leaving me face-to-face with the freaky elven lady.

  “Airina,” I nodded. “Take care of them, and take care of yourself.”

  “But why?” she asked. “I will go, but tell me why.”

  “Your aunt is the Guild Master, and you are the daughter of the chief of a whole tribe. We cannot have you create too many issues, now, can we?” I asked, smiling. “Not to mention, I need someone they know and trust there with them.”

  She blinked at me, her blue eyes meeting mine.

  “Perhaps father was right,” she grinned, her perverse smile returning to her. “I ought to take you as a husband, regardless of how… ugly your powers are.”

  “Rude,” I sighed, pushing her through the doorway before casually muttering. “Close it, Ephe.”

  [Understood.]

  And as the rivers of crimson ceased to flow, as the spikes crumbled behind me, and as I turned to the only two people left in the room, I couldn’t help but sigh.

  [Optional Directive ‘Take all the Beastfolk to Safety’ Followed - Registered.]

  [Reign Index Increased: 0.45% → 0.47%]

  The beastfolk were now safe. That Directive was finally done.

  But that also meant one thing.

  “Us three again.”

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