Three months had passed since Ezra's coronation, and the transition from fugitive to ruler had been both swift and absolute.
Every day was like a new test and was filled with new responsibilities, from governance to trade, to diplomacy, and ensuring that his territory flourished.
One of the more surprising aspects of his new life had been the cultural differences within the Monarchy.
Unlike the Society, where human blood was forbidden completely and punishable by death, the Monarchy had established a legal and regulated human blood trade.
Licensed winemakers collected human blood under strict conditions, fernting it into a delicacy that was enjoyed by vampires across the territory. It was a controlled economy, one that made sure humans were never hunted for sport, or anything.
At first, Ezra had been skeptical. The idea of drinking human blood as wine felt disturbingly indulgent, even by vampire standards.
But curiosity had eventually won out, and he had taken his first sip in private.
The taste had been undeniably rich, just like other high quality blood. And that was the problem.
Yes, human blood was like a unique flavor but it was just like every other blood.
While many vampires savored it as a luxury, Ezra found the experience underwhelming.
Was it his Eternal side that dulled the effect? Or had he simply expected sothing more?
It wasn't so special addictive concoction like he'd expected. But even with that, he could understand why the Society had banned it.
The problem wasn't drinking human blood. It was drinking directly from the source.
Even in Monarchy lands, that was forbidden.
In the end, he had co to accept its place within Monarchy culture, but it was not sothing he indulged in often.
In his short reign, he had kept a regular correspondence with Akiko, the woman calling in to check in sotis.
But of all the ssages he had received in the past three months, the one that had truly surprised him had co from Adam.
His only living ancestor.
The Eternal who had pointed him to the direction of the Ascension Well and first hinted at his connection to the Progenitor.
Ezra leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the polished surface of his desk as he recalled their first eting back in First City.
If anyone had answers to so of the questions in Ezra's mind, it had to be Adam.
Adam's ssage had been in the form of a letter and it had been simple.
I'll be coming. Be ready.
No date. No specifics. Just the certainty that, at so point, Adam would arrive.
Ezra sat at his desk, thinking about what the future held. A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Co in." He called.
The door swung open, and Red stepped in first, followed closely by Olivia who was at this point, heavily pregnant, and Gen, her translucent form floating just behind them.
Olivia lowered herself carefully into a chair across from him, exhaling softly as she adjusted her posture. "It's ti, Ezra."
Ezra nodded, taking a deep breath. After months, it was ti to see if his eyes were finally healed.
He reached up and slowly undid the knot behind his head.
For months, the blindfold had been his shield, his connection to the outside world limited to what his Aura could perceive. Now, he let it fall.
He blinked as light blood and the details of the world surged back to him in vivid color.
In front of him, Olivia's eyes were filled with warmth and relief, Red watched him with curiosity, and Gen hovered slightly above the floor, studying him with a big smirk.
Ezra exhaled, feeling oddly exposed. Without his Aura actively perceiving every detail around him, he felt vulnerable in a way he hadn't in months.
"Well?" Gen grinned, folding her arms. "Can you see ?"
Ezra chuckled, adjusting to the way she flickered between transparency and solidity. "I can."
Olivia let out a soft laugh. "Good. I was starting to think you'd be stuck looking like the male version of the statue of justice forever."
Ezra smiled, but then his expression grew serious. "Now that I can see, it's ti to focus on sothing else." He turned to Gen. "Your body."
Gen arched a brow. "About ti. I was starting to think you enjoyed having float around like so tragic spirit."
Ezra leaned forward, his hands folding together. "I've been using my Aura to experint with the weave and with my eyes back, it should go even faster."
"It's delicate work, but I think I can do it. I estimate at most, a year before I can craft sothing stable for you."
"What if you lose your eyes again?" gen asked.
"It;s a risk I'm willing to take. And the weave is our only option."
"I can't just create a body out of nothing. It has to be woven into reality, a process that requires threading vitality, mory, and essence together into sothing tangible."
"If I rush it, I risk making sothing that can't hold a soul for long."
Gen tilted her head. "Well, I already trust you."
"And you made the right choice." Ezra said. "From burning my eyes out back at Faewall, I've already seen the fragnts of what makes up existence itself."
"I've manipulated them on a large scale. It is ti for small scale work. And that ans patience."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence.
Olivia rubbed her stomach absentmindedly, her thoughts clearly elsewhere and Red studied Ezra carefully, while Gen simply watched him.
Finally, Gen sighed. "If you're going to do this, you need to be careful. If you push too far, it's possible that you could lose your sight forever."
Ezra nodded. "I know. That's why I have a year. I won't make mistakes."
Gen hovered closer. "Well, whatever happens, I appreciate it. Even if I end up haunting you forever."
Ezra chuckled. "I think I'd prefer that over you disappearing entirely."
The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics and the matter was put behind them.
Ezra had a plan, but execution was another matter. He had a year to make it work, and failure wasn't an option.
As ti passed, Ezra reveled in the feeling of peace.
For the first ti in months, he saw the people closest to him, not through his Aura, but truly, with his own eyes.
And that alone was enough to remind him why he was fighting so hard.
For his family.
For his unborn child.
For the future.
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