As the official ceremony finally ended, it marked the beginning of the celebration across all the mbers of the Cult of Darkborne. Food, beverage, ritualistic dances, and even friendly duels among the Chapter masters beca the spectacles for the whole empire to watch.
The guests from other factions also took an initiative to help Kahn’s acquaintances manage their appearances in front of the masses.
"Give three days until I get the hang of my responsibilities. Then we shall discuss further important matters that must be done," spoke Kahn politely instead of forcing small talk.
"I need to talk to him in private," spoke Argos in an authoritative tone.
All the top figures of other factions could only bow respectfully as the vampire king escorted Kahn and his entourage, as the billions of worshippers watched.
BLIP!
In an instant, their figures disappeared, and all of them reappeared in an isolated part of the headquarters.
This place was a quiet monastery with various life-sized statues of the God of Darkness and deities that served him, including Jeoseung Saja.
"Looks like I’m still rembered well in this civilization. The previous empires that served the God of Darkness weren’t so respectful. Most of them didn’t even know about my existence." said the Envoy of Death through his small statue.
The monastery itself was filled with blue, red, and yellow colored trees. The leaves fallen on the ground gave this whole place a scenic appearance as well as a quaint atmosphere.
And at the other end of the monastery was an oak-red and green colored wooden temple, engraved with archaic symbols as well as the insignia of the Cult of Darkborne.
"This temple is forbidden to enter. Even the High Priestess is not allowed to enter these grounds," said Argos.
"Why? What kind of significance does this place have for even barring the High Priestess?" asked Kahn.
"You shall find out soon." said the Vampire King as they finally reached the entrance of the temple.
Step!
Step!
A tall, muscular, and enigmatic figure walked out from the temple, standing firmly at the main entrance.
This was a familiar figure whom Kahn hadn’t t for a month and a half since his first visit to the Abyss Empire.
Behind him is a 3-ter-tall statue of a man with a greatsword in the middle of his hands while posing as a knight.
"So this is where you were. I wondered why you didn’t show up during the ceremony." said Kahn.
"I had pressing matters to attend to myself and also prepare for your visit." said this person in a white and gold suit as his luscious golden hair and a majestic golden beard carried the aura of regality.
This was Lucian Varangis, the right-hand man, well... the right-hand vampire of Argos Belmont.
Where Kahn t Lucian for the first ti... this man, who was a Peak 7th-stage saint himself, was far more elated and expressive than the revenant sovereign himself.
He even hugged Kahn out of pure joy after the vampire king brought Kahn inside the Bran Castle for the first ti.
And during his first visit to this empire, Kahn also learned that Lucian was actually a native citizen of the new Abyss Empire who had chosen to serve the vampire king in the real world.
"I was performing a ritual of my own here. I am the only one who can open the path to the place you must visit first." said the golden-haired, burly vampire.
"This is the place you must enter," spoke Lucian.
Step!
Step!
Kahn and his entourage walked towards the stairs of the temple.
"No one else is allowed to venture further," said Lucian as he looked at the rest of the crew.
"There is also sothing I must tell you beforehand, young lord," he said.
"My na is Lucian Varangis... the last living descendant of Kravel Varangis, the War Deity." spoke the tall vampire saint as his red eyes glead.
"What?!" exclaid Kahn in disbelief.
"You are his descendant? How co you did not tell before?" asked Kahn again.
"It’s because our family hasn’t been ruling the Abyss Empire for over past 700 years.
My great-grandfather was the last one to hold the title of emperor in our bloodline.
My grandfather fell victim to the ploys of his own vassals and ended up dying during a war with another empire as the Commander in Chief of the Imperial Army when we still lived in the real Vantrea." said Lucian as he revealed a bit of his past.
"My father was just a kid back then, and to safeguard his life, he had to permanently disappear from the eyes of his enemies.
They took refuge in the Cult of Darkborne and hid our lineage with the help of the High Priestess of that ti.
I myself was born in this very headquarters and have served the will of God of Darkness for 400 years," explained Lucian about his own origin.
"Wait..." spoke Kahn, and his body froze for a mont.
Kahn instantly rembered what God of Darkness spoke during their conversation...
That none of Kravel’s descendants were currently ruling the Abyss Empire.
Kahn did not notice back then that those words also implied that there were still living descendants of the war deity whose blessings and gifts had served him very well all this ti.
So what Lucian said also made perfect sense.
But so questions also arose in Kahn’s mind at the sa ti.
"Kravel was a human. But you are a vampire. How is that possible?" asked Kahn.
Smile...
Lucian gently smiled as if he expected that question from Kahn.
"My Great Grandfather was obsessed with the notion of extending life and becoming a Peak Saint back in the day.
He deliberately tried to change his species through various ans after becoming a Peak 8th-stage saint in his era, because he concluded that the human body was incapable of doing it on its own.
There are no elves in the Abyss Empire, so he went for the next best choice... the Vampire race." iterated Lucian with a tired tone.
"He married an Eldritch Vampire clan’s heiress to gain their thods to use blood rituals to enhance his rank.
But he still failed in the end. And my grandfather, who was a half vampire, was also forced to marry another Eldritch Vampire before he even beca the crown prince.
After my father, who was 3/4th Eldritch Vampire, hid within the Cult of Darkborne, the people who safeguarded him also enacted the sa fate onto him... believing that it was their only way to have a leader strong enough to reclaim their glory.
And as a result... I was born." explained Lucian how his life was already decided for him.
"However, on his deathbed... my father made promise him that I would not seek revenge, that does not even an anything after 300 years of the fall of our family as the rulers of the Abyss Empire.
He himself was a mber of the Divine Cadre of the Darkborne and wished for to serve the cult and the will of God of Darkness.
So ever since my childhood... I have dedicated my life to the cult. I once served as a leader of a hidden Chapter that protected the chosen ones themselves." spoke Lucian, and he shed light on why he, a vampire, was now the remaining descendant of Kravel, who was supposed to be a human.
The Eldritch Vampire blood had completely taken over his human descent, and one could say that he only had a minute trace of Kravel’s bloodline.
"Wait a minute... does that also an..." spoke Kahn, but was interrupted by Lucian.
"Yes... I was alive back when it all happened. I was only 100 years old but was recomnded to that legion because of my talent." revealed Lucian with a gentle smile.
"There are very few people who know about my existence. As a matter of fact... I am the strongest person in the Cult of Darkborne now, who even fought that madman of an emperor during the Civil War before Lord Argos showed up.
It was that ti when the top echelons of all the factions ca to learn about my existence as well.
But since the whole empire’s eyes were focused on lord Argos... it made it possible for to disappear into obscurity once again." clarified Lucian.
"He speaks truth. After I left to focus on the Belmont Kingdom solely for almost 24 years... it was he who had been protecting the Cult of Darkness.
Neither of the two opposing factions dared to attack the cult after the previous High Priestess died because even they rembered that there was soone who could obliterate their leaders if they took advantage of the situation and tried to cause another civil war.
Lucian has been the deterrent that has protected the cult from the shadows. To this day, only a few Chapter Masters, the Divine Cadre, and Morrigan know his existence.
They also call him..." iterated Argos with a stern countenance.
"The Champion of the God."
Reviews
All reviews (0)