Althea, a MoonShadow Elf and once the number one ranked member of Emperor Dysyxsix’s Order, had been missing since before the Vampire War. The fact that she had returned and was elected Shogo of Sidra intrigued Maeve enough to witness it herself. Accompanied by Orpheus and Azral, who had just emerged from the kitchen holding a peculiar sandwich, they made their way out of the castle and into the remnants of what was once the City of Highbluff. Despite some efforts, the inner workings remained barren ground from when the Emperor’s castle was teleported into the city center. Makeshift homes dotted the landscape, but the capital city still resembled more of a refugee camp than a thriving metropolis.
A weighty responsibility rested on Ayce's group; rebuilding Sidra without the assistance of the Ymir Dwarves would span decades. Even with the return of the Adventurers, the shortage of labor loomed large. Those who survived the war with the Vampires were scattered across the island, searching for Dungeons to ensure none of them had or would break open. Maeve had divided them into three groups, each under the command of Benny, Oiwa, or Sukki, and their reports were expected soon.
Orpheus couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath. "I knew it was bad, but this… all Taurus's doing?"
Maeve turned to him, eyebrows raised. "How did you miss all of this? Did you Shadow Step directly into my chambers from your ship?"
"Ship?" Orpheus chuckled. "Maeve, I’m a Vampire; we don't sail, we fly."
Returning her gaze to the surroundings, Maeve observed the Lycans and Humans working together, slowly constructing a new structure near the Castle doors. "To answer your question about Maller, yes and no."
"Pardon?" Orpheus inquired.
Maeve maintained her focus on the ongoing construction. "Taurus Maller was a problem, but the Vampire Gods were worse; he merely caught them off guard when he killed them."
Vampire Gods were unfamiliar territory for Orpheus, who had been around for a very, very long time. While absent during the Battle of Four Armies, he knew of the events and Taurus's rebellion against Humans and the entire island.
Vampires weren't a hive mind, but a powerful Vampire could influence others. They were all connected to the original source, Taurus. Those with a stronger connection, like Orpheus, were interlinked to every Vampire. The revelation of Vampire Gods felt like an entire section of their history was missing.
"Do these Vampire Gods have names?" Orpheus queried as he and Maeve continued forward, followed by Azral, Aladdin, Greed, and Autumn. Aladdin and Azral walked in silence, stealing glances at the camps and ongoing labor. Greed and Autumn lingered behind, discussing when they might take their turn for Dungeon Patrols.
"They called themselves Zus, Sol, and Luna," Maeve stated, halting in front of a small group of Sidrians. Orpheus hung on her words as Maeve conversed with her people. "How is everything going, Kohsin?" she inquired.
Kohsin, one of the remaining Lycans, stood holding a large stack of wood on his shoulder. The Vampire Tree had ravaged the Sidra population, particularly the Lycans. Once numerous, their packs now faced extinction.
Kohsin's old gray fur bore the signs of hard labor, matted and dirty. Deep scars adorned his chest, and his left eye, permanently closed from an old burn, added to his battle-worn appearance. His right eye, though not blind, sported a burst pupil, giving it a distinct brown hue. When he spoke, the gaps in his back teeth and the chipped fangs revealed the toll of time and battles. "We just got some more MoonShadow Elves and Humans moved in on the East side. I think we should have enough wood and stone left over to at least start building a stable."
Maeve nodded with a smile. "That’s good to hear. If you have enough to start, let me know; I can send Autumn and Greed out with Azral to track down some horses. Then we can…" Maeve paused abruptly as Kohsin collapsed, dropping the stack of lumber. "Kohsin!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. Orpheus and the others gathered around. "Are you…" Maeve halted, shaking her head. "What’s ha…" Once more, she stopped, gazing up at the shattered moon fragments forming a ring around the planet. "It’s the moon." She turned to Greed. "Please, take him to the Uthol Elves, quickly." Greed moved forward, but Orpheus intercepted.
Kneeling beside Kohsin, Orpheus lifted him up. "Where?"
"West Side, it’s the only stone structure in that area," Maeve replied.
Orpheus, utilizing his Vampire vision, scanned the west, his gaze reaching as far as the stone building. He glanced to the side where the sun cast a shadow, and in an instant, he vanished into it.
Approaching Maeve, Aladdin rested his hand on her shoulder. "We knew this would happen; without the moon, they will return to their human forms." He turned to Azral, his expression reflecting sorrow and displeasure. "Azral. Were you born into this world, or were you turned?"
"Born, sir."
Aladdin nodded. "That’s what I thought. You should head to the Elves as well."
Azral made no inquiries; he simply nodded and proceeded west toward the Uthol Elves and the medical building. Everyone observed, waiting until he was out of earshot. Aladdin turned to Greed and Autumn. "One of you go with him, whoever has the strongest healing spell among you two."
"Aladdin, what’s happening?" Maeve inquired.
Aladdin's face turned pale, a manifestation of his sickness at the impending fate, for he knew what was about to unfold for every Lycan across not just Sidra, but all of Arrithia.
"What happened to Kohsin will happen to all originals, but those born from the Lycans will endure the most painful process. Death will call them, and it will feel like the better solution than the torture they will endure. I can promise you that many will answer his call."
Maeve found herself at a loss for words. What could she possibly say in a situation they all anticipated but never expected to unfold so swiftly? The impending fate of the pure bloods weighed heavily on their minds. Greed and Autumn exchanged a knowing glance, and with a nod from Greed, he sprinted toward the medical building, leaving Maeve, Aladdin, and Autumn in a tense silence.
Breaking the quietude, Autumn voiced the collective concern, "What now? We need help."
Deep in thought, Maeve responded, "I know. We just have to trust that Shiroe and the others can persuade the Dwarves to join us."
Aladdin added a touch of optimism, "Where there is gold, you will find Dwarves."
Acknowledging the truth in his statement but expressing her reservations, Maeve let out a resigned sigh, "While I believe you and understand that, the group we sent to do it... Let’s just say their track record isn’t the best for getting things done by themselves."
Althea, a MoonShadow Elf and once the number one ranked member of Emperor Dysyxsix’s Order, had been missing since before the Vampire War. The fact that she had returned and was elected Shogo of Sidra intrigued Maeve enough to witness it herself. Accompanied by Orpheus and Azral, who had just emerged from the kitchen holding a peculiar sandwich, they made their way out of the castle and into the remnants of what was once the City of Highbluff. Despite some efforts, the inner workings remained barren ground from when the Emperor’s castle was teleported into the city center. Makeshift homes dotted the landscape, but the capital city still resembled more of a refugee camp than a thriving metropolis.
A weighty responsibility rested on Ayce's group; rebuilding Sidra without the assistance of the Ymir Dwarves would span decades. Even with the return of the Adventurers, the shortage of labor loomed large. Those who survived the war with the Vampires were scattered across the island, searching for Dungeons to ensure none of them had or would break open. Maeve had divided them into three groups, each under the command of Benny, Oiwa, or Sukki, and their reports were expected soon.
Orpheus couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath. "I knew it was bad, but this… all Taurus's doing?"
Maeve turned to him, eyebrows raised. "How did you miss all of this? Did you Shadow Step directly into my chambers from your ship?"
"Ship?" Orpheus chuckled. "Maeve, I’m a Vampire; we don't sail, we fly."
Returning her gaze to the surroundings, Maeve observed the Lycans and Humans working together, slowly constructing a new structure near the Castle doors. "To answer your question about Maller, yes and no."
"Pardon?" Orpheus inquired.
Maeve maintained her focus on the ongoing construction. "Taurus Maller was a problem, but the Vampire Gods were worse; he merely caught them off guard when he killed them."
Vampire Gods were unfamiliar territory for Orpheus, who had been around for a very, very long time. While absent during the Battle of Four Armies, he knew of the events and Taurus's rebellion against Humans and the entire island.
Vampires weren't a hive mind, but a powerful Vampire could influence others. They were all connected to the original source, Taurus. Those with a stronger connection, like Orpheus, were interlinked to every Vampire. The revelation of Vampire Gods felt like an entire section of their history was missing.
"Do these Vampire Gods have names?" Orpheus queried as he and Maeve continued forward, followed by Azral, Aladdin, Greed, and Autumn. Aladdin and Azral walked in silence, stealing glances at the camps and ongoing labor. Greed and Autumn lingered behind, discussing when they might take their turn for Dungeon Patrols.
"They called themselves Zus, Sol, and Luna," Maeve stated, halting in front of a small group of Sidrians. Orpheus hung on her words as Maeve conversed with her people. "How is everything going, Kohsin?" she inquired.
Kohsin, one of the remaining Lycans, stood holding a large stack of wood on his shoulder. The Vampire Tree had ravaged the Sidra population, particularly the Lycans. Once numerous, their packs now faced extinction.
Kohsin's old gray fur bore the signs of hard labor, matted and dirty. Deep scars adorned his chest, and his left eye, permanently closed from an old burn, added to his battle-worn appearance. His right eye, though not blind, sported a burst pupil, giving it a distinct brown hue. When he spoke, the gaps in his back teeth and the chipped fangs revealed the toll of time and battles. "We just got some more MoonShadow Elves and Humans moved in on the East side. I think we should have enough wood and stone left over to at least start building a stable."
Maeve nodded with a smile. "That’s good to hear. If you have enough to start, let me know; I can send Autumn and Greed out with Azral to track down some horses. Then we can…" Maeve paused abruptly as Kohsin collapsed, dropping the stack of lumber. "Kohsin!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. Orpheus and the others gathered around. "Are you…" Maeve halted, shaking her head. "What’s ha…" Once more, she stopped, gazing up at the shattered moon fragments forming a ring around the planet. "It’s the moon." She turned to Greed. "Please, take him to the Uthol Elves, quickly." Greed moved forward, but Orpheus intercepted.
Kneeling beside Kohsin, Orpheus lifted him up. "Where?"
"West Side, it’s the only stone structure in that area," Maeve replied.
Orpheus, utilizing his Vampire vision, scanned the west, his gaze reaching as far as the stone building. He glanced to the side where the sun cast a shadow, and in an instant, he vanished into it.
Approaching Maeve, Aladdin rested his hand on her shoulder. "We knew this would happen; without the moon, they will return to their human forms." He turned to Azral, his expression reflecting sorrow and displeasure. "Azral. Were you born into this world, or were you turned?"
"Born, sir."
Aladdin nodded. "That’s what I thought. You should head to the Elves as well."
Azral made no inquiries; he simply nodded and proceeded west toward the Uthol Elves and the medical building. Everyone observed, waiting until he was out of earshot. Aladdin turned to Greed and Autumn. "One of you go with him, whoever has the strongest healing spell among you two."
"Aladdin, what’s happening?" Maeve inquired.
Aladdin's face turned pale, a manifestation of his sickness at the impending fate, for he knew what was about to unfold for every Lycan across not just Sidra, but all of Arrithia.
"What happened to Kohsin will happen to all originals, but those born from the Lycans will endure the most painful process. Death will call them, and it will feel like the better solution than the torture they will endure. I can promise you that many will answer his call."
Maeve found herself at a loss for words. What could she possibly say in a situation they all anticipated but never expected to unfold so swiftly? The impending fate of the pure bloods weighed heavily on their minds. Greed and Autumn exchanged a knowing glance, and with a nod from Greed, he sprinted toward the medical building, leaving Maeve, Aladdin, and Autumn in a tense silence.
Breaking the quietude, Autumn voiced the collective concern, "What now? We need help."
Deep in thought, Maeve responded, "I know. We just have to trust that Shiroe and the others can persuade the Dwarves to join us."
Aladdin added a touch of optimism, "Where there is gold, you will find Dwarves."
Acknowledging the truth in his statement but expressing her reservations, Maeve let out a resigned sigh, "While I believe you and understand that, the group we sent to do it... Let’s just say their track record isn’t the best for getting things done by themselves."
