The sun on the horizon had just revealed a red glow, and the air was still filled with damp moisture, and the old man had woken up from the crows of chickens. About two-thirds of the water was poured into the old tin iron pot and placed on the mud-covered stove, and the golden sparks shot from the flint to the fire, but it still failed to ignite the velvet underneath.

"In this unfortunate wet season, it's so troublesome to even make a fire, I hope the midday sun is blazing enough to dry the firewood and grass......" The old man complained about the dampness while lighting a fire, and sweat beaded slightly on his wrinkled forehead.

Finally, when the fire was ready, the old man threw some beans and barley into the pot, and a little bit of vegetable root, and then stirred it and waited quietly for it to boil.

"John, John. The old man shouted.

"Yes Mom, I'm here. A man in his mid-thirties responded.

"Good boy, let Lena and the children come over for dinner, and when you are done, you can go to work. ”

"Okay mom. ”

A family of five sat around a shabby wooden table, each with a wooden bowl in front of them, with the man holding the most food — comparatively, of course. This kind of porridge, which can be counted clearly, is only barely enough for any adult man. If you really want to have a good meal, you have to wait until every Christmas Eve, when the village church gives out bread to everyone - it's not coarse black bread, it's filled with eggs and sugar!

After drinking the porridge in the bowl, the man kissed his wife's face and touched the heads of the two children, and then picked up the axe and said goodbye to the old man: "Goodbye Mom, I may come back early today, if I am lucky." ”

"Trust God, John, and you will have a good harvest. The old man made a cross on his chest, "If you can, remember to go to town and bring some kerosene, we are running out of oil for the lamp." ”

The man nodded, stuck the axe into his belt, and headed for the forest.

Lena finished her breakfast, packed up the man and her bowl, and then said goodbye to the old man and the children, and went out. She worked as a domestic servant in the landlord's house to support the family.

No matter how poor life may be, children are always carefree, and for them, eating is more of a ritual than a necessity for survival.

"Alright, all right, boys, hurry up and finish the meal. The old man urged, and she had moved out of the old spinning wheel. She had been spinning this cloth for several days, and if she had worked hard today, she might have been able to finish it.

"But grandma, I want to hear stories. The boy played with the porridge in the bowl with a spoon and said half-coquettishly, half-pleadingly.

"Listen to the story, listen to the story. The girl clapped her little hands and smiled happily.

"Well, I can't help it. The old man sighed, and slowly shook the spinning wheel, and the wood spinning wheel creaked as if humming a monotonous song, "Then tell a story, but if you haven't finished eating by the time the story is finished, John will come back and beat your ass." ”

Looking at the serious faces of the two little guys, the old man smiled helplessly and said: "It is said that a long, long time ago, there was a very big rain in the world, and that rain did not know how long, and it caused a huge disaster. Many poor creatures died in that rain, and only a few survived eventually. Of the species that eventually survived, the number of humans became smaller and smaller, because we had no fangs or claws, and it was difficult to fight against the beasts that survived. Humanity is constantly attacked by those beasts, and many people die in the mouths of hungry beasts. I don't know what day it was, some of the people who were attacked by wild beasts were on the verge of dying from their injuries, and their strong desire to live prompted them to pray to God, but sadly, God did not answer their prayers. Man is a selfish creature who thinks he has been forsaken by God, so they turn to Satan and pray for life......"

"Did Satan answer them?" the boy asked, looking curious.

Yes, Satan answered them, and Satan did give them life, but beyond that life, Satan also gave them a thirst for blood. Those people were born from the dead, gaining magical powers, but also thirsting for blood, at first they only sucked the blood of wild beasts, but over time, the blood of beasts could no longer satisfy their desires. So, on a dark night, they stepped through the bottom line and tasted human blood. ”

Speaking of this, the two children shivered in unison.

"Not only do they suck human blood, but they also like to suck the blood of children, especially those who don't like to eat, so hurry up and finish your meal, or they will come and suck your blood!" said the old man, scaring with his teeth and claws......

Europe, France.

Night is falling.

Men and women shrouded in cloaks enter through the main entrance of the castle under the graceful attendants, who follow the footsteps of the attendants silently as they follow the footsteps of the attendants through the main entrance of the castle, lined with dozens of torches for lighting.

Passing through the pine-carved gates, an air of glitz and decadence hits the face: a thick carpet of firefox is laid on the polished marble floor, and twenty-seven brocade banners embroidered with ornate gold trim hang symmetrically on the walls around it, each with a slightly different pattern, some of which is a curled dragon, some of which is a serpent, and some of which are a rising flame...... In the center, and on the largest pennant, a scepter is embroidered.

The men and women who entered the hall stood under different brocade flags, and although there were not many people coming, the hall still seemed empty. Everyone's eyes hidden under the cloak converged on the brocade flag embroidered with the scepter, the silver-haired old man in a gorgeous red robe and holding a scepter studded with seven-colored gemstones.

Although the old man looked very old, judging from his gestures, his body was still very strong, especially his face, revealing a ruddy and energetic age that did not match his age.

"Children, on behalf of the thirteen members of the Senate, I welcome you. The old man struck the ground three times with the scepter in his hand, "Now the coronation ceremony begins." ”

Two young men stood in front of the old man on one knee and one on the right.

"The light of the moon gives us life, this body is eternal night, this life is eternity, we are noble people of the night, and you, my dear Tovel and Roncaith, will continue the legend of the night. The silver-haired old man in a red robe stretched out his hands to the two of them.

“Yes ,my lord.” The two pressed their right hands on their chests and bowed their heads in response.

The old man reverently stretched out his scepter and tapped it on the right shoulder of each of the two young men, signifying that they had been recognized. From today, they will become new lords and carve out their own clans......

After doing all this, the two young men stood up from the ground, and then took the glass handed by the old man, the liquid in the cup was scarlet and viscous. The two looked at each other, then clinked glasses: "For the eternal night." ”

Drink it all.

The ceremony ended, but the dance began.

Taking off their inky black robes, everyone revealed their exquisite and luxurious dresses. Gentlemen gracefully took women's hands and danced to soft music in the middle of the large hall......

"What a boring indulgence. The silver-haired man stared coldly at the dancing crowd in the arena and sipped the bright red liquid from the goblet with an expressionless face.

"Isn't Count Vlad going to dance? The gorgeously dressed beautiful woman said with an inexplicable smile, but her eyes looked at each other with some curiosity.

"It's Mistress Chromia, and I'm surprised that someone as big as you would be in attendance at the coronation. "And it seems to me that you, who didn't go to the dance, seem to be more lonely than I am." ”

Vlad was right, as the only female prince of the Seventeen Clans of Vampires, Chromia really shouldn't deign to this kind of ritual. It's just the coronation of two viscounts, and it can't bother the prince's arrival.

"What an indifferent answer, Vlad. Can't I give the new nobility the care I deserve?"

The corners of Vlad's mouth showed an imperceptible cold arc.

"Of course, my lord, after all, the elders have only given them titles, and if they want to truly exercise this power, they must have the permission of the princes. The expression on his face was still cold, but Vlad's tone revealed respect for the prince, and perhaps it was his expressionless face that made this respect all the more real.

"So, as King of Romania, you are willing to share with us the gift of the night. ”

"Stars and moon, my lord. ”

Chromia smiled charmingly, the support of an earl was undoubtedly more valuable than two new viscounts, which could be said to be a surprise. Perhaps, when the ceremony was over, she should contact the other princes to discuss the formation of the council.

Thinking of this, she gracefully raised her right hand with silk gloves: "Don't you invite me to do a dance, Vladqing?"

"It's my pleasure, my lord. But with all due respect, I don't agree with your self-denial behavior, and it would be very distressing for Lord Solla to be angry with me because of it. ”

The Solla in Vlad's mouth is a handsome and powerful king of werewolves that Chromia met when she participated in the "First Battle" many years ago. Attracted to it, Solla pursued him for decades, and in the words of Lady Clomaia: "No matter how well the castle is defended, Lord Solla always delivers letters of courtship to her master's table". Even Crimea doesn't seem to appreciate it.

Sure enough, Chromia put down the hand of invitation: "In that case, then Vladqing, please enjoy this beautiful night." Viscount Tovel and Viscount Rongaita should still have some doubts about the territory, so I will take my leave. ”

"Yes, please, sir. ”

Watching Chromia leave, Vlad drank the liquid from the cup, and then slammed the cup upside down on the table: "Even if it's a prince, it's just a woman. I will wait and see what form the checks and balances between the prince and the elders will be broken, and when the fire is kindled, people will forget about the starry sky and wonder where it will end."

Vlad picked up his black robe, but instead of putting it on, he walked straight past the men and women who were intoxicated by the music...... He walked out of the stately castle and did not return to the carriage he had prepared, but walked towards the top of the hill.

As the night faded, and the dark sky was already slightly blue, he stood at the top of the mountain in the morning breeze, watching the sun rise little by little in the east. The golden light gradually covered everything on the ground, and Vlad opened his hands and bathed his whole body in the most feared sunlight of the vampire as if in a hug......