"Alex," Elena muttered softly.
"You took your sweet ti. I waited for two whole days." Alex casually remarked as he ca to stand at arm’s length away from her.
"That..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say but then Alex flashed a smile as he added.
"But it’s good to see that you didn’t let down."
"Did we win?"
"The victory is complete now," Alex remarked before proceeding to scrutinize her current state. "It seems you and Arwen have another thing in common. Perhaps you would wish for a different form to avoid the Will of the World rejection?"
"You sensed it too?"
Alex smirked. "I happen to be one of those it would reject without hesitation should it ever find ."
"Ah..." Though his words were vague, Elena found herself at the precipice of understanding more about Alex’s origin.
"Now co on, we don’t have all day. Decide on an appearance and apply it, this would be the only opportunity you’d get to use Evernight as I believe I am breaking so sort of rule by having all mbers of Constellations utilize it without restraint."
Alex couldn’t help but add the latter part of the sentence as even now, he hadn’t fully recovered from the incident at the capital which was quite intriguing considering his recovery speed was ant to be quite fast.
Nodding in response, Elena proceeded to envision a new appearance, one that took aspects of the woman she once appeared as though with a unique twist.
As black and white light wrapped around her body, Alex nearly stumbled over though he was quick to catch himself to avoid disrupting the process for Elena.
With heavy breathing, he watched as a woman with golden hair, green eyes, and flawless skin erged from the light with a radiant smile playing on her lips.
Managing a weak smile, Alex reached out a hand that Elena eagerly took hold of. "Welco back... Elena."
"Thank you," Elena replied with a beautiful smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Just then, Eternal Night quickly dissipated at which point, Elena moved to support Alex.
"Are you okay?"
Alex nodded. "I’ll be fine."
As she made to take him sowhere to get so rest, she couldn’t help but notice that the rays of the Lightbringer were not as radiant as usual prompting her to raise her head.
Then she noticed it.
Several clouds had gathered at so point, ensuring very little illumination from the celestial body above reached the land below.
At the sa ti, flakes of snow began to slowly fall from above, causing those who noticed them to grow even more frantic as they rushed to their respective houses.
"I hear the Month of Astra is a dangerous month." Alex couldn’t help but remark with a sense of caution as he also noticed the snow.
Elena on the other hand grew emotional as she muttered. "This would be my first winter..."
"Then let’s try to make sure it isn’t your last."
Glancing to et Alex’s warm gaze, Elena nodded, her eyes filled with hope for the future.
With renewed vigor, she added a spring to her step, and together, both continued on their way down the street only for a golden flash to occur after which... they were gone.
***
It was almost midnight all across Eventide with rely 3 minutes left for the month of Boreas to end before the month of Astra otherwise known as the Long Night would begin in earnest.
Standing at the top of the highest peak of the Highlands known simply as Castle Peak, were the 8 Monarchs of the Vampire race, their gazes trained on the sight below.
Several emaciated humans, chained and donning sackcloths were escorted through spirit gates to a depression carved out by the vampires in the Highlands a long ti ago.
Forced to kneel within what appeared to be an incredibly large magic circle with their heads lowered in fear, the humans pleaded to be set free though the Vampires paid little heed to their words, even mocking so as they went about their task.
Just as the last of the human slaves were taken out of the portal, leading to the number gathered being close to a hundred thousand, the old vampire that served as the only reason the Monarchs were able to tolerate one another, arrived, his back no longer as crooked as they rembered.
"Let the ritual begin!" He remarked loudly, his voice echoing across the mountain range.
And just like that, he began to chant in a language even older than any language on Ra’as, suffusing the air with a mystical power that left the Monarchs disoriented and the humans below screaming in terror.
The more he chanted, the more the atmosphere seed to glow with a faint crimson aura reminiscent of blood causing the Count’s voice to grow even louder as he reached the climax.
Then, just as it struck midnight, he exclaid in a loud voice. "Oh Sister Crimson, Mother of the Bloody Night, I implore thee, awaken, accept my sacrifice, and let this world be bathed in the most brilliant light!"
The next mont there was a massive surge of aether in the vicinity as the chained humans quieted down in an incredibly eerie manner only for their bodies to fall thodically, like puppets that had their strings cut.
Within seconds, their bodies lted into a deep dark red ichor that seeped into the magic circle at a rapid rate.
Then the circle suddenly transford, turning into what looked to be a colossal eye of blood.
It almost resembled the Nighteye though without the rings or radiance and with a potent deathly aura that threatened to corrupt all it touched.
But then, that wasn’t all as the colossal eye reflected the Nighteye causing it to slowly turn red almost like it was being dyed with blood.
As the world was bathed in crimson light, the Vampires experienced a manifold increase in power almost reminiscent of the power they were bestowed with during the Dark Ages.
Their bloodlust intensified as well and so with renewed vigor, the eight Monarchs loudly declared, their voice echoing across the entirety of the Eastern Highlands.
"March!"
At their command, hundreds of thousands of Vampires erged from within the mountains with several chants echoing across the landscape leading to the ergence of several spirit portals which they rushed into without hesitation.
Seeing such a beautiful sight, the old count glanced upward as his lips curled to form a satisfied smile, taking in the appearance of the Nighteye as his body began to degrade.
Even as he died, he let out no cries of reluctance.
As far as he was concerned, his work was done.
As of this mont, The Blood Feast had begun.
[End of Volu 2: Pillar of Corporeality]
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