The veil of thorns is torn. I made my way through the fog as fast as I could, not trusting my instincts. For a moment, I didn't see anything, I didn't hear anything, but I didn't slow down. Eventually, the mist cleared and I found myself in a clearing. Wheat and wildflowers are covered in a vivid mat on which a giant turtle rests. She was taller than me, even though her legs were spread to the side. A man leans against a marked shell in a relaxed posture with a relaxed smile on his face. He was young again, lean, and wore clothes that would never match.

I stopped in the middle, even more surprised. The sun was shining on my skin. Sun. Not the relentless flame that scared me from hiding and scared, the real, honest, July sun. I looked up and saw a blue sky, and raised my hand to cover the dazzling golden orb.

"This is my gift to you, and I apologize for not keeping in touch with you."

I'm crying. Thirty years. Thirty long years, and now I will preserve and cherish this memory, unaffected by change.

"Thorns and hungry daughter, if I can, I'll let you tan. Unfortunately, we have schedules. My friend can't let me stay here for too long. ”

"Why are you here?" You are ......"

"Dead. Yes. ”

The guilt immediately made me bow my head.

"Your Body ......"

"I was fished out of the river by my son two minutes after I fell into the water and had a decent funeral. Of course, I won't come alone, and I won't let a crocodile eat my most beautiful features. How could I let this happen? Don't you know? I can ......."

“…… See the future. Of course. ”

I smiled happily. I was right that I didn't attack Anatoly, and now I have no reason to regret it.

I'm going to kill him anyway, though.

"What do you mean by pretender?"

The turtle snorted, Nashoba's smile vanished, and his expression became serious.

"I'm afraid we don't have time. You can see this story elsewhere. I'm here because I'm going to tell you about your dreams. future. ”

"I've only had one drink since Marquard."

"It doesn't matter how often it happens, what matters is that the possibility exists. You have a seed of potential that will not be awakened when you are mortal, and vampires' ability to develop this skill is very limited. But this is a loophole, so to speak. As a devourer, you can absorb the essence of prophets and prophets and use it to develop yourself. You're going to need it. ”

"Can I force dreaming?" I think I've done it before. I witnessed the battle of Black Harbor with my own eyes. ”

"That's the perception of the moment, it's an event that happened less than a mile away, and you're deeply involved in it. Other visions will be more difficult. As a general rule, you want to rely on secular means because they are more reliable. The best thing you can do is keep an open mind and go with the flow when it catches you. Don't fall into the trap of counting on them. It is not in your nature to be a prophet, but let fate give you a helping hand to get you on the right path. ”

"Why do I need it?"

Nashoba smiled sadly.

"The world is changing faster than ever before, and it will be faster. The conflict, which has lasted for thousands of years, will soon come to fruition. Yes, I'm referring to the competition between these two, and yes, there's more. Unless you and a few others step up to complete this task, the Earth will die in less than two centuries. ”

"Wait, less than two centuries?!" Really?"

Nashoba grew taller, and his eyes sparkled like stars. His voice sounded like the choir singers singing in unison.

"Darkness, ashes, and thin air."

This moment comes and goes quickly.

"This is what I see, thorns and hungry daughters. It's my burden. I'll pass it on to you now. It won't come right away, and it won't come anytime soon, but make no mistake. The end is at hand, unless someone stops it. ”

I took a step back and picked a tulip. Its petals are red and silky.

"You forget that I am weak. My Majesty has slain a lord without much effort, and his mother may have relieved me with just a gesture. Can I really make a difference? Can the world be saved?"

"Maybe."

He looked.

"My time is up. Remember what I said. Build on your strengths, be prepared, and rise to the challenge when the time comes. ”

"Good. One last thing?"

Nashoba put his hand on my shoulder. The touch is soft and intimate, and it conveys more emotion than a book.

"No, we can't meet again. I don't know where you'll be going then, but that's not where I'm going. I'm sorry. ”

The turtle blew again. The world around me was getting darker.

"Goodbye, my friend. Good luck. ”

The fog is back. I went back to my garden. I decided to take a stroll along the garden, among the hidden paths and statues. I try to forget what I'm sure happened. I refuse to think about it.

He said "maybe" to lie.

No, he could be wrong.

Possible.

When I woke up, I saw a lacquered wood ceiling. Jime

a's hut.

I thought there was Spartan furniture on board. Instead, each vampire's room is covered with chocolate-colored wooden planks that are varnished and polished, as well as an assortment of chairs, tables, and cabinets. There were no windows, we were on the ground floor, behind several levels of reinforced doors. With these precautions and the protection of the guards, it will take a great deal of effort to eliminate this gang.

To kill us, it is necessary to catch up with us, board our ship, and wrestle with well-trained and well-equipped guards. Then, they need to run because these people have been instructed to sink us if the battle looks like it's going to be lost. The invaders must dive into the water, find the sunken sarcophagus in the shipwreck, and then blow it up before nightfall. A daunting prospect.

Despite all the measures, the safest defense of the ship remains its anonymity. Steamboats carry goods and people who have been carefully inspected. By all accounts, this ship was no different from the other ships that sailed on this great river. Really, we were well taken care of. Luxury is just an added bonus.

I sat up and looked around. Gimena's reinforced coffin was placed next to the bed, and she herself was reading a book, already dressed. I only sleep in moderate pajamas.

"Good evening, sister," I said.

The poor woman frowned, her hands curled over her book, her paws clutching the cover. Her lips curled into a line.

"That's enough," I added with a smile, "I told you it was okay." ”

"I still disagree. I should be here. ”

I stood up, shook my head, and gave up the argument.

"Do we have any plans for today?"

"Nope. At our current rate, it will take another day to reach our destination. I think I can tell you right now that we're going to New Orleans. ”

I stopped.

"Don't worry, I told you it has nothing to do with you."

"What you did. Since I don't have anything to do, I'd like to know if you'd be willing to answer a few questions......"

"Naturally. We can start here and go out at nightfall. If I liked to be locked up like this, I would have been a nun a long time ago. ”

I made the most of the opportunity to learn more about my world, or what my world would be like if I could finally stop procrastinating.

There are about 120 vampires on the continent, which is a very low number for such a large territory. Half of them renounced their allegiance, while the others were autonomous branches of the existing clans, bound by the rules laid down by the Speaker Constantine.

The man is an interesting figure in his own right. Jimena described him as a genius mage who was proficient in several courses, a rarity among our kind of people. As an ancestor of his own bloodline, he was a master when he first woke up and immediately gained access to a singular amount of essence.

This, combined with his personal bodyguard, allowed him to enforce the rules agreed upon by the European clans. Jime

A reveals that for them, establishing the New World as a neutral place where clans can make money peacefully, rather than crossing the oceans and investing a lot of resources to conquer their ancestors, only to be in their homeland privileged by rivals who take advantage of their weaknesses.

As for the strength of his bloodline, no one knows exactly what it is, and he has not yet produced a single offspring. All she knew was that he didn't like bureaucracy and politics, and preferred to study it, which might explain how Anatoly got the killing order out of his mouth. Despite the glaring flaws in his leadership, the Agreement remains an exemplary framework. Under their light rules, the tribes had a margin of freedom for expansion and covert maneuver, while large-scale conflicts were severely limited.

I'm amazed, such a bastard ... Such a person may make good laws but fail to enforce them, until I remember that the gap between being good at theory and just being good at theory is an abyss.

Gimena went on to explain that the Cadiz, Ikan, Lancaster, and Roland clans had their own territories, while the other clans had not yet arrived. There are less than ten nobles and ladies, which is also very few. When prompted, she told me that the difference between them and the master rank was the ability known as the Great Acre. Obviously, it guides our essence with an expression of pure power that breaks the rules of reality. Each ability has a different expression, reflecting the personality and skills of its wielder.

On top of that, lords can usually use soul weapons, which I know are the crystallized essence of vampires, given form by artisans. There are only a dozen such craftsmen in the world, and they are untouchable. No vampire would dare to touch them, and even in times of war, they can travel around without fear. I told Jimena that I saw Suarez using his powers.

"I know," she replied with a smile, "and he told me everything." His strength makes some of his blows unstoppable. By the way, there was a Lord Roland, whose strength made him invincible for a short time. What will happen if they clash in battle, this is a bet. ”

"I bet the world is going to fall apart."

"Stupid woman," she scoffed, "so how can you win money on this bet?"

I went on to learn more about Masters. Now I can manipulate my essence and I can do things I never thought possible.

"You can make an egg, although I strongly disagree. Not only will this be offensive, but it will also weaken you for a long time. The older you get, the more concentrated your essence becomes. The stronger the essence, the less time you will have to recover from giving birth to someone. ”

"How the hell is this done?"

"Once you've made your choice, you can let your instincts guide you, at least that's what I've been told. You concentrate your essence in a few drops of blood, which your offspring must drink for three nights in a row. The process is very unpleasant, although it has some advantages, such as allowing the recipient to survive diseases and wounds from which most people would die. ”

I trembled. Pain, cold, thirst. I pushed the memory away.

"I'm sorry."

"It's nothing," I forced myself. Becoming a master doesn't erase all the scars. Even my cold mind still trembled at the thought of those nights.

"Well, yes, anyway, once the process starts, it will end with a drone or a corpse. Or rarely, I want to be a newbie. Ah, it's getting dark, let's go up the gangway, sister!"

We held hands like best friends and enjoyed the summer evenings. I did the same with Constanza when I was a human. She's a grandmother now. I can even take a look at her, if we're passing by... No. I won't. As long as Anatoly is there.

We had a great time, standing on the bow of the boat, looking out at the shore, looking at the silent villages and budding farms, whispering about the newly spawned fish and the few new fish that had recently come ashore until something distracted us. Two gentlemen walked up behind us, whispered a discussion about who should be courted to whom, and then politely accosted us. Jimina and I smiled.

"Good evening, ladies. It's a pleasure to meet good company. Do you like the view? The first person asked, a mild-mannered man with a russet beard and a top hat.

"We need fresh air; My friend is a little uncomfortable," I replied mischievously.

"Yes, I feel dizzy and I don't want to fall on top of my friend."

I coughed into my elbow to hide my surprise. I spent a long time in brothels and became familiar with that particular expression. Be careful, don't tease Ximena. She's playing tricks.

"Maybe you should sit down if I may," added the second man, who had a broad chest, impressive sideburns, and an old-fashioned suit.

"I apologize if I crossed the line," he continued, "I'm a doctor." It's part of the job. ”

"Oh, don't worry," I added, "she's healthy." ”

"My GP said I could live forever," Jime

A said expressionlessly.

"You two seem to be very close. Oh, where is my politeness? I'm F

a

cis Levi

e, my doctor friend is F

ede

ick Schuyle

。 Nice to meet you. ”

"It's our pleasure. I'm Ariana and my friend is Shimena. ”

"I don't know what the last name is? Francis asked with a smile, indicating that he did not feel blamed.

"Now," I replied.

"You two have a good relationship," Frederick said.

"We are ......," I replied.

"It's like sisters!" Jime

A added.

We joked for a few minutes, two friends asked us questions, and we avoided them with a mysterious look until Francis trembled exaggeratedly.

"It's a little cold, aren't you cold?" Francis asked with convincing concern.

"Since you mentioned it, there is a bit of wind at the front of the ship. Come on, Ariana, we don't want to get tuberculosis. ”

"The thought of this gives me a chill."

From the beginning of the conversation, we've been battling puns. I'll admit Jime

A won. The witty Frenchman Victor Hugo said: "Puns are farts in the head, shame in my heart fights with pleasure."

"Hey, how about we go to the cabin and continue talking?" We had a bottle of ......"

"Francis! Frederick shouted in shock, "This is completely inappropriate. ”

"We don't mind, we're sure you won't do anything unpleasant," Jimena replied. I nodded in agreement. Frederick looked a little flustered and perhaps a little indignant, although he was polite and didn't object. Let's go down together.

Half an hour later, we had a good meal and let the two of them rest comfortably, with an empty bottle on the table and extremely vague memories. Aisha was waiting for us outside. Dressed in casual clothes, she wore a brightly colored, Middle Eastern-inspired dress with a heavy shawl that covered her lower face. Sometimes it changes enough to show undamaged skin. Whatever the reason for her to hide herself, it was not disfigurement. She bowed gracefully and greeted Ximena.

"Knight, Anatoly asks you to go to the command room. There has been some progress. Don't be afraid, I'll be with you. ”

It's an elegant way to get her moving and let her be my watchdog. I appreciate your politeness. Shimena frowned, but she couldn't disobey the direct call. At least, not without reason.

"You'll be with Anatoly." I reminded her. Realizing that she would be watching my pain closely, she relented and gave her colleague one last warning look.

When the petite woman grabbed my hand, I almost jumped up and grabbed her face. Her eyes were wide open, conveying a sense of urgency.

"Quick, I'm running out of time. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I beg you. Please follow me!"

Then she dragged me through an alley and down the stairs below deck. We passed a group of patrolling guards, who gave us a quick glance, ignored us, and came to a smoking room, which was thankfully empty at such a late hour. She slammed the door shut, then locked it.

The stench of cold cigars is everywhere, although the leather sofas and warm tones are pleasant. She turned to me and bowed deeply, much to my surprise.

"Forgive me. We're running out of time. ”

Her tone was stiff, her voice was lower than I remembered, and a little rough.

"I must give you two gifts."

"But why..."

"There's no time left. I am Aisha of Amareta. I'll help you. Keeping you on track. Now for the first gift. ”

She pulled out a sharp silver knife. Ambush. Homicide. I shushed and stepped back, still unsure. Aisha didn't even look at me. She inserted the tip of the knife into her arm and cut along the artery. Before I could react, she lowered her head again and showed me the bleeding wound.

What is she... Supplicants. Vampires can... She's certainly a supplicant. Blood is offered to the audience. He drank the sacrifice. Don't let it get ruined.

I bent over and licked my wounds, all caution left behind. Power overwhelmed me and dragged me into the water.

We meditate together, under the guidance of Amareta. She never stops, but we come and go because we need to, because we are sent on a mission or to recover. She needs us to help her focus, and she needs us to change the world and influence it carefully to achieve better results. Once, it used to be for our own development and strength, and others were cursed. Now, it's about survival.

The world is like this, a complex network of information that scales horizontally.

The world could be, and will be, a huge pattern of data that expands outward and upwards to infinity. Instantaneous into seconds, instantaneous into minutes. The flow is so dense and complex that we can only perceive it through colors and changing shades. For us, following it is as impossible as predicting a pattern in a roaring campfire. For her, it's the waves she sails, and we're her helpers.

It's beautiful. We can be lost forever in a myriad of futures that exist, prosper, and die as potential becomes certainty and certainty becomes reality. She reprimands some of us for being clumsy and letting others go, disappearing forever. Is it a punishment or a reward? The more time passed, the more suspicious I became.

The tapestry is shrinking. Infinite time and space are approaching us. This is not a sign of the end of the world, but of our demise. Something, or someone is clipping our wings. Week after week, month after month, our future is getting narrower and deader.

For several hours now, I have been following my mother on a special mission. She straightened her hair while I tried my best to help her focus. Suddenly, a pair of bright green eyes turned to me, and my attention was shattered.

"Go west, across the sea. Look for the offspring of the Devourer. Let her follow us. ”

I gasped and opened my eyes. I sat in the amphitheater in the center of our temple. On the rafters, the other owners sit behind their patron saints, in the middle of which is an open coffin. A prone form lies on the ground, surrounded by fresh lilies. Her bony face was calm, at least that's what I thought. As I watched, there was a small drop of blood on the edge of her hooked nose, the color of a midnight pearl. I walked briskly out of the room.

I stepped back.

"Wow. That's too ...... Abstracted. ”

I couldn't put my feelings into better words. I don't have that feeling like hers. The thought of being able to use it as naturally as it was natural makes me feel uneasy. I don't have time to think about it further. The little knight fell in my arms.

Beggars.

"Speak."

Aisha gasped through her shawl and grabbed my shoulders with her hands. It will take some time for her to recover. When she does, she stands up respectfully as if nothing had happened.

"I will teach you how to control and develop your vision. I will defend you in the final judgment and set you free. In return, I ask you to do me a favor. ”

"Tell".

"I need you to stop my death, which will happen in the evening in two days."

Yes.

It's surprising.

"I can't promise to save you. I can guarantee that I will do my best to do so. ”

I'm not going to make a false promise like I did to the red-haired woman at the Doge's House.

"That's enough," she said. She silently walked over to a couch and slumped gracefully on it like a cat. Outside, three drunks try to open the door, then give up. We waited in silence until their laughter faded into the background.

"I guess I should tell you more. We were called because we had lost contact with the Lancasters. ”

What's wrong?

"Please, don't laugh so openly," she frowned, "we could be extinct, and that's not to be taken lightly. ”

"I don't agree."

It looked like she wanted to argue, and then thought about it again. I don't care if the Lancasters are vampires or not. They could be talking about unicorns from Atlantis, and I'll throw them all into the nearest volcano if I get the chance. I'd sell Melusin to Gabriel for threepence and a rusty fork, and I wouldn't even eat. Hell, if I were in a room with Moore, Neerari, Semiramis and two pistols, I'd shoot Moore twice.

Aisha continued her briefing, her mood noticeably more gloomy.

"They clashed with a group of primary spellcasters called the White Order. So far, we have ignored the cabal because they are defensive in nature. They primarily track wandering spellcasters, and they are very effective against the Knights of Gabriel. It seems that the Lancaster caused their anger because they ...... Aggressive recruitment practices. ”

"Let me guess. They kidnapped one of their members and converted them?"

"As far as we know, not all members are like this. A popular executor and defender. The Lancastrians thought that the secret society was keeping a low profile, but they banded together and brought the fight to New Orleans. That was a week ago. Since then, we don't know what happened. It is not uncommon for the House of Representatives to fall into darkness in an all-out struggle, but it has never lasted that long. Konstantin let us move in just in case. His caution proved justified. ”

Oh, go to the dark! It's all mysterious and exciting, and the Lancasters may even be dead!

"Could it be that this Secret Society really destroyed the entire cavern?"

"Unlikely, but possibly. Some families are complacent, and many of Mrs. Moore's resources are waste. ”

I frowned.

"Of course, those present are not included," she hastened to add.

She was right. When people say this, I feel bad.

"Please tell me, do you know how you will die?"

"I don't know. I just know it's going to be violent. You appear in the line of my survival, so your contribution is required. ”

"Good. So, there's going to be a fight anyway?"

"It's inevitable, albeit in vague detail."

"Can't you refuse to join?"

She glared at me coldly.

"Will you?"

"Of course not," I replied with a smile. This should be interesting. Let's start with the most obvious.

"Hey, Elsa, is there a way for you to conveniently keep my weapon by your side when things are going to be a mess?"

"I'll see what I can do. At the same time, take this. ”

I stared at her sacrifice.

"That'...... It's a deck of cards. ”

"Yes."

"How to play Texas Hold'em? Playing bragging? Omaha?"

Aisha asked, patting my hand gently.

"It's not a standard deck."

"I can play tarot, don't worry."

"Can you please stop this!" She hissed. "It's a prospect deck. It contains twelve pairs of opposing concepts. For some reason, it's easier to guess what you'll draw. We use this to train our chicks. What is this concept? She said as she drew a random card.

"Ugh. Revenge. ”

"It's not even on the list!"

"How do I know what's on the list!" I booed. I realized that we were already close, grinning. I should have let her teach me. It's part of our agreement and it's good for both of us. I made a commitment.

I stepped back.

"Tell me what to do."

She sniffed contemptuously. I didn't make a good impression. She didn't know either.

"Do you know how to meditate?"

"Yes."

"Try to do that and open yourself up. I'm going to give you a card. Focus on this card, and that's it. When it works, you'll be able to glimpse its details. Tell me these and we'll see if this works. ”

Right. Distance, time, and participation all affect how easy it is for me to see, Nashoba said. This damn thing is right in front of me, it's right now, and I couldn't be more involved in it. It's a piece of cake.

Possible.

"You've glued a wisp of essence to the card."

"Should I stop?"

"Nope. Lockout won't help you read the cards, but it may help you focus. Go on. ”

Card.

This card.

Card.

The world, in all its horizontal glory. Limitless potential for upward and transcendence.

A key. Two options. One comes from instant gratification and the other from maturity. The second option leads to a better path. I need to show my personality. It will require —

"Forgiveness! Oh!"

I collapsed forward. Aisha held me and kept me from falling to the ground. I clutched my head to avoid the start of the dreaded migraine. There's something slimy rolling up my lips.

"Forgiveness is not on the list, although I can see what you see. Come, and let me lead you to your room. You need to rest. ”

I don't know who to forgive, but if it's Melusin, we're all finished.