Ve

Instead of making me wait, the two sentries of ET bowed skillfully and lifted the curtain of the command tent. I found Isaac sitting at his desk busy taking notes, and he stood up as soon as I entered.

"Ariana from Nelari, another great performance. It's a pleasure to see you at work. ”

"You see?"

"Definitely! I never thought I'd witness something like this. You tore apart their ranks and slaughtered their officer corps in an instant! It's amazing to wave that head. ”

"Human Resource Management".

"Don't be embarrassed. Your actions have crushed our enemies, and this is exactly what we need. Intimidation and awe, not politeness and subtle threats. Use the right tools where appropriate. I knew you were the best person for the job. Now, I have a request, but I can tell that you do have something to say. Please let me know. ”

"I know we're going to talk about the terms tomorrow?"

"Definitely. Strand and his opponent, Colonel Ingram, will officially meet. ”

"I want to make sure we have the same goals and bottom line."

"Absolutely. Coincidentally, the question I was about to ask was relevant. You see, I can't participate in tomorrow's negotiations. ”

"What?!"

“Ve

ET estimates that if no agreement is reached, there is a good chance that they will bomb us on the way back from our delegation. I think it's silly, but I'm already pushing it when I'm here. Much better. I did mention before that we were forbidden to fight. I will be reprimanded when I return. In any case, while I'm away, the leadership of the vampire faction falls to you. ”

Well, I'm here to make sure we get the Brotherhood out of the Old World and see how important I am, I didn't expect to get such a quick answer.

"You want me to be our chief negotiator?"

"I suggest you let Strand and Ingram do it themselves. We don't care about prisoners and other conditions. Otherwise, why not? You destroyed their facilities last year, bought us time, and rallied the auxiliaries that brought us victory tonight. I think you're a full-fledged partner in this effort, and what we care about is the key to Villa being under the custodial of the consortium. ”

He frowned, a hint of concern.

"We do agree with the last part, right?"

"I'm not interested in being the guardian of an artifact of sorcery, Isaac. Don't lose it this time. ”

He laughs.

"Look at us, talking about that thing, like it's a bunch of keys. In any case, you and Loth will be rewarded handsomely for your service. Just as every crime against us has been recorded, we at Rosenthal will never forget those who helped us in our time of need. You've received a handsome bonus, and we'll deposit 500 francs into your account once the keys are safely shipped to Geneva. ”

"I don't even know how much it was."

Isaac leaned forward, as if to tell an interesting gossip.

"Enough money to buy a mansion in the best part of Savannah......"

"I know what you're doing."

"I hope so. Have you considered my suggestion?"

"Hmm...... Yes. Tell me, can you really protect me from being a grand thief? Where's the Lancaster?"

"Absolutely. As our informant here, you won't be a scoundrel, but an agent from a third-party organization under agreement. Until you are granted House status as a free agent, you will be protected by us. Only knights will be allowed to track you down unless you have committed some felony, they will not go, I must say, I can't imagine you committing a felony. In the future, if you stay with us too long, it will be difficult for Lancaster to prove that you are a dangerous person. ”

"Good. I would like to have a written agreement between us that clearly states our terms. ”

"Of course!" Of course, yes. If agreed, we drafted it on the way back to Savannah. ”

"It is. I also wonder if the beach is still under surveillance?"

"Rest assured, I've sent men all over the coast. Without the knowledge of our cavalry detachment, they could not land the search party. If you don't mind, I'd like to discuss with you the details of tomorrow's test. I have prepared a list of conditions that represent our bottom line......"

Over the next few hours, Isaac briefed me on the practice of negotiating and what terms were acceptable. One thing is certain, the dominant forces are leaving the land.

The first time I set foot in the village of Black Harbour. Both armies have largely left the place, and the inhabitants have been in hiding. Now there are rumors of peace everywhere, and they leave the house and watch us pass by curiously.

It's no different from Clarkson Bay. The houses are wooden and purely functional. The only decorations are glass ornaments or small ornaments hanging on the wall, which add some personality to this dull place. The residents had tanned faces and were mostly dressed modestly. Colors are rare. The same goes for young people. I suspect that most of them are seafarers who have left their children, sisters and parents at home. The crowd gathered was surprisingly quiet. The presence of uniformed men is most likely the reason for their nervousness.

At least no one threw stones.

The delegation consisted of Strand and a squad of ten, Vine and two guards, Langdon and Colvert, and Okeli, the war leader of an indigenous tribe, Dalton and me. Each of us represents a faction on our side, and there are two mages here as an extra layer of security.

Loth stayed behind to work with the artillery, while Merritt was tasked with protecting Isaac's camp from possible infiltration. She also complained loudly.

One of Strand's men looked back in horror. It seems that the rumors have begun to spread. When our eyes met, he shuddered, turned around, and made a cross. His companion snorted contemptuously, so my nature was not yet widely recognized.

We quickly arrived at the rickety pier in the village. The delegation of the Superior Party chose to imitate us, with a squad of soldiers in front and the Pioneer and his tower mage in the back. The officer in charge was a short man in a puff wig with a look of anger and arrogance. He took a deep breath and then ordered his team to move forward.

The Herald was a pleasant surprise to me. He didn't look as angry as I thought he was, on the contrary, he was sad. His brown eyes were dulled by exhaustion, although he wore a perfectly cut dark green suit that could be worn at Queen Elizabeth's court. He showed me the faintest smile, the one that gracefully smiled in defeat.

"Here you are, vampire."

Ingram angrily turned to his accusations. The dominant ones seem to be divided, which is not surprising given the outcome of their campaign.

"You let me talk to you first, and then I'll let you negotiate as you please. The man retorted calmly

The Herald took the time to study me. My companions were visibly annoyed, although they wisely decided to remain silent.

"Such a beautiful mask with such a dangerous thing. No one could have imagined...... But ......"

"Are you here to make an arbitrary statement?"

"No, I want to say goodbye. Tell me, how is Belinda?"

"She died well."

I was amazed that he regretted those words so much. I always thought the two of them were accomplices, but it seems that their relationship is deeper.

"I see."

"I noticed you left Master Ta behind."

"I did. I know people like you don't break your word. As you defeat us with your powers, we are forced to dance around you with trickery and skill. A timeless game, if you will. Tell me, vampire, do you know the keys to Villa?"

This illogical conclusion surprised me, although I tried not to show it. What game is he playing? Even his allies were worried about him. He should have known it was too late.

"If you want to bargain, know ......"

"No, I'm not. We all know this is the end. Only...... Pamper me, huh?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dalton frowning, sensing his nervousness. I agree, it looks like he's doing, but his pain, his grief, isn't fake. I am convinced of this.

"It doesn't belong here."

The Herald nodded, as if I were a student and he was a professor. This strange situation is starting to affect me. I just want to get this over quickly. I want him and his kind to leave the land and never return. I'm not interested in the wit contest after the war, especially with him.

"Yes, I think you saw the drawings of the box, but you haven't read the scholarly works on it. I did it. I found the same thing in all of them," he preached, "to cooperate, to speak, to accept, to embrace." Same words, same semantic domains. That's when I understood. A key is more than just a stave. It... Alive. It's like your mysterious eye in the sky. ”

"What!?"

"Yes. The next step is obvious. If it is conscious, if it is eager to share, then it wants to be discovered. ”

No. No, no, no, no, Ali, go! I wanted to kill him, but I shouldn't. We are under the banner of a truce!

And then it was too late.

From the groove of his vest, the Harbinger took out a curved blue nail that could not have been stuffed in, and it swallowed me. Like the Watchman, it was appealing, but this time I could feel the fear inside. This is the key to Villa, he found it first.

This structure is wrong. It shouldn't be here. So much depth, so many curves, infinitely extending inward and outward. Is there an end? I felt that deeper meaning was calling my consciousness with the sirens of knowledge, power, and whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to......

The man lifted it. He shouldn't. The keys don't belong here. The man still held it up, and with a primal scream of pain, the world shattered.

The impossible chemical bonds bend upwards and downwards, but most of them are outward. They followed a shockwave that swept through the village, screaming everywhere they went. Their cries speak of pure pain, an indescribably powerful and intimate pain. I'll scream too. The touches of power tugged at my essence and could not find anything, but the tug-of-war in which they followed the bond of Dalton into my soul for my essence was terrifying.

Pain, white heat, dizziness.

Let me die, please.

Then, as at the beginning, the sharp tendrils retracted. Dalton, under my protection, stood in front of the Master Key. He took the pistol out of its sheath and shot the man in the heart.

The Herald took a painful breath, and the shock wave stopped, reversed.

Around us and deep inside the house, men, women, and children all fell to the ground and stopped moving. The deepest blue filaments emerged from the magical object and pierced into the Harbinger's body. He was held high in the air by the vitality and strength of his heart.

I can't move. The pain took away my control. No! I'm going to fight, I'm going to do it. I have to help my vassals. I had to help Dalton. One finger. Move one finger. Come on!

The terrible wound in the chest of my enemy healed before my eyes. Faster than anything I've ever seen, and faster than anything I know is possible. This is a silver bullet with inscriptions......

Dalton raised the second gun very calmly. He doesn't care about the end of the world around us.

He pulled the trigger.

The Herald's forehead exploded, and he fell to the ground like an eagle. Gotta snatch the treasure out of his hands! Action must be taken!

I want him to run. Princes are not supposed to protect their mistresses, but I can't. I watched feebly as the gaping hole in the Herald's head closed on its own, the lost brain matter replaced by a glittering blue light. The influx of power is simply too great.

"Nope. Flee. ”

He couldn't hear me. Dalton rushed to the man on the ground, trying to snatch the key. As he approached, the thing spoke. The nerve-wracking sound pierced my ears, as if a god was cursing creation. Dalton grabbed his ears and fell forward. The monster raised a hand.

No.

I did the only thing I could think of. I took a deep breath and screamed.

“Oathb

eake

!”

The Herald's eyes now glow with an otherworldly blue light. Under the influence of some kind of magic, he was lifted high, blue bolts extending from his feet to the ground. Thunderous discharges dug deep gullies in the crowded fireplaces on the shore. The screams of crawling on the ground echoed around everyone. When he speaks, his voice is reflected by another voice, which is much lower.

"I don't care, vampire. I am mortal and have no obligation to ............"

Yes! His face was angry first, then painful. The ocean of power around him fades away. It's still there, but he can't control it anymore. He's a magical presence now!

"You whore! You think you're smart. ”

He laughed again. Gone are the urbane gentlemen. Looking back at me, the thing is no longer human. It bent forward and picked up something from the dying colonel beside him.

Oh no. No! Damn it, Ariana, get out of here!

As thou hast taken mine, so I will take thee

He calmly pointed at the camera.

I finally pushed myself off the ground.

He pulled the trigger.

I was familiar with the sound, the sound of metal hitting flesh.

Dalton doesn't cry. He screamed in pain and grabbed his chest.

No. It's impossible. This simply didn't happen. It's a nightmare. Some kind of prophetic dream. This can't be true. The people around us stood up, screaming, shouting, like a choir of the damned.

I ignored the gurgling of us fleeing into the forest. I climbed to Dalton. I can still save him. I could feel the connection between us. He didn't die. Protection of the subject state.

I regained myself, picked him up, kicked and shoved the screaming crowd in an attempt to make him bleed, trying to reclaim the essence stolen from them to stop the maddening pain. I raced past Vinet, Strand, Langdon, Colvert, all the people who had been here. I'm going to Lotus. He's a doctor who knows magic. He can save him. Sure.

I ran and ran, past the children whose eyes had been gouged out, and the adults tried to rip their throats with their own fingers. The one who smells the scent follows with a fury of despair. I don't have time. Loth is in the fortress.

"Mistress".

It's good that he's alive, and if I hurry, I'll be able to catch up.

"Mistress, please."

Loth is a miracle worker.

"Please stop."

No, I can't, I have to continue, I have to listen.

I stopped and jumped to the top of the town's church.

I gently placed him on the wooden roof. His face was so pale, and his forehead was drenched with sweat. His familiar amber eyes were now feverish and blurry.

"You'll be fine."

The moment I said it, I realized how stupid it was. He didn't answer, but his face became gentle and full of sympathy, and I didn't care about sympathy. Fucking sympathy, I want him to be with me.

"Please."

"Nope. No, you can't. You rest now, and Loth will save you. He will. He's a very, very good surgeon. ”

"Please."

"Don't leave me alone, Dalton. Please don't leave me alone. I don't want to be alone anymore. Please. ”

"I can't."

"No... Stay a little longer and I'll figure it out......"

"It's not."

There was so much blood on the rafters of this damn church. Fucking useless shit, God.

"It hurts."

"No, shhh, rest, rest, let's go. Don't leave. Don't leave. Please. ”

"Send me away."

No

o

o

o。 No. I... I have to listen.

duties.

With each step of the struggle, I slowly bent over and I gently held his head. I don't want to, but I have to. For him. He asked. The ultimate freedom to choose how to go. I have to respect it.

I can't stop. He was in great pain.

I gently bit his neck.

This punch knocked me unconscious. I don't understand. It's just an honest question. How could he act like such a heretic? I wanted to remind him of the love we had to spread, but he struck again. He had an angry look on his face.

I stopped and tried to argue.

"Daddy, I'm ......"

The next punch almost knocked me out. He wanted to kill me. I'm hurt. I lashed out.

The father cowered, clutching his liver. I made a hammer with both fists and knocked him out. He's crazy!

When I looked up, my family only showed fear and disgust.

"My child, you must repent."

Repentance? Didn't you see it with your own eyes? It's not fair, it's so unfair. They're all crazy! Hypocrite...... I ran back to my room and grabbed a backpack. I left home.

The man with the crow feathers was both charming and vicious. He was the one I was warned to watch out for. Tools of the Devil.

"Do you know how to shoot?"

"Yes."

"So, you're in."

I want to see with my own eyes that this punishment, what they call a sinful life.

She killed Big Bert with a single punch and didn't look back. It's so beautiful, my Angel of Death. Everyone else is running. They are fools. Our end has come, and this is our last chance to show our courage. She walked towards me, her hands covered in blood. Her nostrils are open and look human, but it's not. She stopped. Will she keep her word?

A monster who keeps his word.

I want to see it.

All harm. I think they're here to kill me. I failed my new companions and failed to bring them weapons. The believer opens the door and pulls out a knife. I wish I could be stronger.

He fell to his death, his bones cracked, and his neck twisted. Here she is. She's coming for me. Here she comes. Give me.

Eight fangs pierced my skin. I trembled with joy, and then there was something. I could feel her. I could get a glimpse of her emotions. She accepted me and threw herself into it. I was chosen. It was the best day of my life.

Garden. The twilight sun dyed everything a pale red. She's sleeping. I could feel her somewhere below me. She was even dreaming.

Loth checked the target and was satisfied. There were three concentric circles on it, only the middle one was torn to pieces by the repeated impacts of the wolf slayer's crossbow. The rest is clean.

"You're all set."

I won't let her down. I'm strong now. I can help both of us, pay off the debt. She and Loth would be proud. I'm part of this family, a weird family, but it feels good. I know who I am, what I'm going to do, and who I'm fighting for.

I'm going to die. My only regret is the pain it causes. I love you, Ariana, I'm sorry, I have to go first. Life and Memory, Ariana. Live for us and remember. Forgive me......

Bond breakdown. It retreated like an angry snake and returned to its only surviving rope. I'm sure it will kill me on impact. In this moment, I couldn't allow myself to care.

A warm golden glow blocked the feedback. It slowed down. Even so, the pain was so intense that I lost my mind. My paws dug into the thatched roof and tore it open. My throat hurt from screaming. Physical and mental pain tormented my body and mind. A torturous thing. It's endless. I can't cry, I can't even look down.

Slowly, I crawled my hand back down my throat and finally closed it. Just make it stop. Please make it stop.

Live for us.

I can't. It wasn't meant to be. It won't be so fast. That's not true.

Live for us.

No. Yes. No.

Yes.

My arms fell to my side, and I threw myself into the flames, burning my veins and soul.

An eternal time has passed.

Eventually, the burning tide receded. I shivered on the roof. My face was soaked in black blood from my eyes, nose and even ears.

I felt empty. I choked up a little. I gulped in the air, but to no avail.

Dalton lay next to me. I pushed him by the hand to wake him up. He didn't move. I pushed again and again.

"Enough of the jokes. Awaken....... It's not funny at all. ”

I push.

"It's not funny at all."

You have to breathe harder. It doesn't work. Suffocated to death. Too thirsty.

The feedback stopped.

He's dead. I already knew he was dead. I'm just deceiving myself, like I'm a pathetic excuse for failure.

Gotta bring him back. I can't leave him here. His family.

I took his body in my arms and jumped off. There are people around, desperately searching. My sudden arrival touched them. their attacks.

I kicked the one closest to him and placed the body on the steps of the church. Then I turned around, grabbed and took a bite. It's weak, it's weak. There is hardly any essence. It only takes me less than half a second to be fed. It doesn't matter, there are others. In any case, they were condemned. Next is an old woman in an embroidered hat. Next is a little boy with a scar on his nose. Next is an old sailor with smoke stains on his teeth. Next is a young girl wearing a red scarf. Next, next, until there is no one. So thirsty, so tired. My chest hurts. I felt very empty. Above are the cries of war and the sounds of battle. I'm talking about people who can help me.

I picked him up and walked through the winding streets to another crowded intersection. Every time I do this, I find a relatively clean surface and gobble up that meager bonus. Wash and repeat. Although there is nothing to take, it is better than nothing. The longer the time, the greater the resistance. The door of the house was wide open, like a drooping tongue on a corpse. Somewhere it's on fire. There is a smell of blood and offal.

I don't know how long it took, but I went out and moved up the hill. There are more people than ever before. I walk, stop, put down the body, prick, cut, feed, and do it again. On the edge of Isaac's camp, the fighting was most intense. I had to stop completely. Sometimes I had to move to repel them, even though I couldn't afford the energy expenditure anymore. Thirsty, always thirsty. It's always suffocating. I breathe like a marathon runner because it offers an illusory relief. There were many people coming, like mountains. A sea. I'm going to be overwhelmed. I found a tree and climbed it. Put him where he was napping. His head was always falling to the side. I fell. I stood on the edge of the pack like a wolf in a circle. The less dense it is, the easier it is to swallow. I've lost a bunch. Minutes and seconds turned into hours, I still slaughtered them, they still came. They don't have their sanity anymore. The pain drove them all crazy. I was aloof, very organized, and kept doing it because they were in my way, because they were lost.

Nothing was a problem.

They never broke. At some point, I lifted my eyes from the nearest victim and all of them were dead. It took me a full minute to find the tree, recharge it, and walk to the end.

Ve

The soldiers of the et and the warbands of Nashoba built an impregnable fortress on the mountain. A circle of three-person thick corpses surrounded a small earthwork, and they stood side by side in perfect harmony. They were dirty and tired, and there was a pain in their eyes that would never leave them. There was no jubilation to celebrate this victory.

Loth is in the middle. He spotted me, raised the gauntlet, then saw everything and lowered the gauntlet.

I walked up to him, and the men got out of the way and let me pass. I reached out to my friend and opened my mouth, but couldn't say anything.

I don't know what to say. Is there a text? Is there a language on this regrettable rock that can properly transcribe ... This one?

"Come, come, little girl, let me take him away from you...... Let me take care of that. "You ......," he said, sobbing, "have you gone to see Isaac?" Tyr, don't do that again. Let's go together. Come here, girl. Here it comes. ”

Loth won't pull me. He gave me a gentle nudge, and I followed. I walked past the wounded and the crying like children. Some look into the distance and get lost in their nightmares. Merritt stood in the center of the circle of power, unconscious. Blood slowly dripped down her nose. Ve

The second role of ET is to try to bring some order with a sonorous sound that swings every four words.

We entered the command tent. Loth placed him on a low table next to him.

Isaac is here. The ordeal he went through shattered his usually unblemished composure.

"Ariana, Watcher...... I'm sorry. ”

I listen to the lyrics. I understand the meaning behind them, but somehow they don't translate into anything I can use.

"There's no time left. Ariana, you must come with me. ”

I blinked slowly, then began to breathe again. I slowly grabbed the most painful part of my chest. Isaac frowned.

“Why?”

The vampire hesitated for a moment, then realized that I wouldn't move unless he managed to convince me.

"Yes...... About your host. "He's back."

Why is this important?

"I know."

This time, Isaac was visibly surprised.

"What? How?"

"I've dreamed of it."

Never mind. The whole conversation was pointless. Behind me, Loth brought water from a bucket. He was undressing him and washing him. Sometimes, he stopped to wipe a few silent tears.

"What you dreamed of?!" When?"

"The night a few days ago?"

"In the name of Ariana the Watcher, this is ...... No, it could be Nelari himself. Who knew a person was so strong? Still, Ariana, you must not say it. Dreams for the future...... Alas, you can't just say it so casually. ”

Whatever.

"In any case, your master has killed Wolfgang."

"Who?"

"Wolfgang, leader of the Knights of the American Continent."

I still don't understand and I don't care. There must be blood here. So thirsty.

"I just got the news. His disciples have come to you. ”

It doesn't make sense to me.

“Why?”

"I'm not sure, they might think you helped him wake up, or maybe they just thought you were a hooligan. There could be many reasons, but none of them are good. This is Ariana of the Cavaliers. You don't stand a chance at all. We have to run away. I'm going to take you back to Europe. We can protect you, and I owe it to you. ”

“No.”

"None? Are you sure? Why? Is it about the key?"

I trembled. Of course not you, stupid guy. It's not about any poor remnants. I have to take revenge.

"Ariana, please. It's in your nature. I don't know how much it hurts, but you can't stay. The knight will find you. They're going to kill you. ”

“No.”

"Please, Ariana, please, think. You don't want to die. This is not the purpose of vassalization. They are here to anchor us and bring us closer to our living selves. He's here to improve your life, not for you to throw it away!"

"I'll go."

"Listen, the people who have used the keys are almost unstoppable. It takes a God!"

"It doesn't matter. This comes at a cost. Vassals are forbidden. Don't touch them!"

He should not take away what is sacred. He should have left Dalton alive. You can't touch a vassal. A vassal is a bondage, a soul, a living person. They keep us focused and safe. They remind us of the rules and other people, and why we should maintain this balance. They must be inviolable, otherwise the cost is too high for everyone. Now all the dominant party idiots, every single one of these wretched rabble, will never see their home again. No matter what the cost, they won't leave here. There will be retribution. It has to be. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived. No one survived