Chapter 60: The Final Battle
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Vladstin watched the sunrise by the ruined wall, expression unreadable.
Leron opened the door, very perturbed and unable to sleep. His complexion had grown even paler and his eyes were deeper and blacker than before.
"They're coming." He said. "Are you ready to die by the hands of your own people?"
"You're not going to stop them?"
"Their plan is quite impenetrable. Asver is a good inventor, your people should have valued him more." Vladstin stood up and clicked his fingers to a servant corpse, possibly the body of his old maid, Madam Felitia. "This is the last rations Sangfroid had given me. Take it and tell him to change course and find someplace where the Ilvedians won't obliterate you with their machine. You can ride on the wolves, they'll take you to him."
Leron's heart froze. Is he saying what he thinks he's saying?
"You want me to escape....?" Leron gripped Vladstin's shoulders. "W-Why? Did you regain your feelings—"
"No. I'm the same heartless monster as before. And so are you. But you have more chance of changing than I am. Perhaps you really were starting to regrow that part of 'brain'." Vladstin shook his hand off expressionlessly.
"What about your revenge? You're saving me, so surely that must count as something!"
"This is by no means of saving you. You're still going to turn into a dead vampire eventually. So I already exalted my revenge. " Vladstin zoomed farther from the room. "My goal isn't to save. My goal is to be the catalyst of a possible historical legend, something bigger than all of us. Sangfroid must not be seen by the Ilvedians trying to help the monster they plan to kill."
"You and Sangfroid will hide in the woods for a while. Then, when you turn, he will have to kill you all the same, and return to his people. He will reclaim his birthright as king through the amulet." Vladstin said, like he had foreseen these events in a vision many times before.
"He'll rebuild a new kingdom in these parts, maybe no longer named Ilvedia. The whole territory of my kingdom and yours and these woods will belong to him. Through his rule and what was left of Asver's machines and blueprints, he may even unite the Thirteen Kingdoms into one empire. And then there will be no more feuding kingdoms nor monsters born from that feud because an honest-to-goodness hunter will rule them all." Vladstin prophesized. "I've read many books about rulership and war. I know that this is possible."
Leron felt that this is an unreasonable fantasy because he's forgetting one thing.
"Sangfroid has never had ambitions to be a ruler that powerful. It's not part of his character."
Vladstin denied any counterarguments to his vision. "Yes, yes. He may not. But his people do. And his loyalty to the people is strong, he always does what he believes will be the best for them. We are the only hindrance to this possible future. Once we are gone, the people will reclaim Sangfroid, beg for him to be their new king. And he will have no choice but to serve them for the rest of his life."
"That is not a good future for Sangfroid or anyone!"
Vladstin chuckled. "Of course it's not good. It's GREAT."
He whistled to call his wolves, who howled when they heard his call. "Let's make a wager. If you tell Sangfroid about my grand vision, and he still stubbornly insisted to rescue me, then so be it. I will not keep you from returning, and all three of us will die from the machine. But if he doesn't, you should kill yourself and convince him to return to the Ilvedians with your head and the Amulet of the Dracon, becoming the new king for 'your sake and all that yadda yadda yadda'."
Vladstin offered his hand to shake. "Do we have a deal?"
In the end, Leron does not like both options given to him. As the wolves came: big, fuzzy creatures with lolling tongues waiting patiently for him with beady eyes, he begrudgingly shook Vladstin's hand. "Deal."
He would have to lie again, but this time, it was to save Vladstin.
-------------------
"So that was what he said. Will you help him?"
Sangfroid was busily roasting his lunch of wild deer that he cut up into rations to save for the next few days. But seeing that Leron was here along with the wolves, he doesn't have much days left.
"Vladstin's plan is not foolproof." Sangfroid sliced the best meat for Leron and placed it on the cleanest plate he have. "He's putting himself in too much danger. Can't he just use his speed to escape the survivors' trap right now?"
"He was worried for them both." Leron kept spewing the white lies as easily as he breathed. "We do not have the same unnatural speed as him even with the wolves and the survivors might move to chase after us since they consider us both traitors."
"Is that what he said?"
"Yes."
Sangfroid sighed. "Then he doesn't have much belief in our capabilities, really. Even if he entrusted us with this plan.
He rubbed his forehead and knitted his eyebrows. "I do not like this plan. There are too many uncertainties here and both of you would likely be at risk. Vladstin as a decoy and you sneaking from the people's view to get to that place... The chances are slim. "
"So you really don't believe that saving Vladstin and not hurting the Ilvedians is possible?" Leron frowned.
"Yes, Your Highness."
If Sangfroid thinks that his plan is fruitless, Leron would have to give up and do his end of the deal. He would have to reveal what Vladstin really wanted, and the great future in store for him. And there would be no more hope---
"But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't join the plan. I will do it."
Leron's eyes lit up as he stared at Sangfroid's resolute purple one.
"All my plans were impossible from the start. Finding the Hermit, convincing Vladstin.... But look, I managed to convince Vladstin to care for his life and join me in turning him into human, right? He even made such a convoluted plan so all three of us will break through and appeal to the Ilvedians. So we have hope."
Leron put away the guilty feeling for claiming that it was Vladstin who thought of the plan and not him, because he cannot kill the hope in Sangfroid's eyes.
"I am worried, but I always put my trust in you, Your Highness." Sangfroid gently placed his hand on top of Leron's. "If you believe in this plan, then so will I. Even if you don't fully know what you're doing or you have doubts, I don't need explanations to do what you order me to."
He bent one knee to the ground. "I am your most loyal servant and..... friend. So it is both my duty and honor to serve you. Even if it's for the sake of someone else."
Sangfroid looked up to him meaningfully and Leron's heart clenched. He knows.
He knows everything.
Leron doesn't know how to react since no one had ever seen through his lies. His true emotions....
"Thank you, Sangfroid...." Was all he can say to cover up his shakiness from this vague yet somehow crystal clear confession.
What Sangfroid really meant behind those words is:
I know who it is you love. It is not me, but I will still follow your every command because my love for you is so strong that it doesn't have to be reciprocated beyond the boundaries of being a servant or a friend. I will help you save him.
Leron could only choke out sobs and kneel down to hug Sangfroid. "I'm sorry.... Thank you...."
"Don't say that, Your Highness. If it's you, there's no need to say sorry or thank you. Being by your side is enough."
Just don't leave me again, and that's enough.
--------------------
"In position!"
Lillian yelled to the people as they approach 100 meters from the ruins of the Crescentian Palace.
The survivors had been divided into eight sides. Each had ten people pushing a heavy contraption on wheels that was tilted 45° upwards to the sky. It looked like a dragon head with its mouth opened, and they settled down to their places around the castle.
"Does everyone remember the pattern of when to shoot their binds?"
They all shouted in sync. "NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, EAST, NORTH, NORTHEAST, WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH!"
"Good! Begin!"
Vladztin calmly sat on his throne as he heard the loud explosions of something continuously going off around him. Soon, large ropes sprang from the mouths of these dragon heads from all directions, as if to bind the palace itself. The material is strange and the texture is not similar to any cloth or usual twine for roes.
The binding works in a way where the people from the opposite side of the rope will tie the end to the body of their own rope shooting machine. For example, North will shoot out and South will receive it, West to East, and so on. Sometimes these would interlap above the Palace, sometimes around it, effectively wrapping it up.
Vladstin flicked the one nearest to him which was 3 feet thick.
"So this is the famous Ilvedian Enchanted Knot." Vladstin observed like he was merely intrigued. "I remember the ugly dirt color when I was reborn tied with it by my hands and feet. Took me several months to break free from it. What a nifty trick."
Lillian continued shouting orders. "Turn!"
The people pushed the platform where the dragon head shooting enchanted ropes are in a counterclockwise manner.
The ruined Palace that was already scorched badly shook and crumbled from being tied by these thick ropes. The goal was to make the Palace crumble so that the Vampire Lord will be distracted by this damage to his lair before the actual attack happens.
The vampire corpses didn't know what's going on and the plates in their hand rattled yet they did not react. They merely waited for Vladstin to control them or give orders.
Vladstin disinterestedly slashed at one of the thick ropes, but it failed and somehow only made it pull tighter, making the walls crack and close to collapse.
"He's struggling!" Lillian said triumphantly. "Keep turning!"
"Why isn't he abandoning the Palace?" A confused Huntsman said.
Vicar Garien was happy to explain. "The Vampire Lords were compared to a tree, were they not? And a tree, dead or alive, has its roots in one place. Therefore, he can't leave nor cut ties with the place where he was born, lived, and died. Not for too long."
"Ah, so that's why he chose to go back and forth in this Palace all the time and make it his lair! He was tied to it?"
"That was only a theory," Lillian said, helping the other's push. "But it was our only chance. And luckily, it happened to be correct. "
Zenon joined in, face grim. "Then Vladstin may have anticipated this all along. He himself is aware of this weakness."
"Whether he was aware or not doesn't matter." Rothfir mounted his horse along with several others and whistled. "On to the next phase!"
They carry with them a smaller version of the Dragon Heads. They carried it to the side with both hands like small cannon and went inside the crumbling Crescentian Palace. Then they separate to eight different sides, ready to ambush Vladstin.
On the topmost floor, the one with no roof. Vladstin stood up from his throne and spread his arms like a bird about to soar to the sky. He merely watched the dark skies full of frantic crows migrating to the west. Elenore perched on his shoulder, and he whispered to it.
"Go. Join your kind before you turn to ashes upon my death."
Elenore flew just in time as the 8 Huntsmen led by Rothfir arrived. Vladstin did not move and closed his eyes with a smile. This baffled the Huntsmen and made them cautious about surrounding him.
But Vladstin showed no signs of trying to escape.
"This is the end for you, vampire." Rothfir told him with gritted teeth. "May you repay the lives you have taken in hell."
"I would not ask for anything else." Vladstin smiled.
Rothfir shouted with pure anger. "Kill him now!"
The Huntsmen shot the ropes around Vladstin using the pattern that was used for the Palace and they moved very quickly to bind him, the ropes coiling around his whole torso and legs. Vladstin merely laughed, like it was the most blissful moment in his life.
The Enchanted Knot really was magical, every slight movement would cause it to tighten and dig through your skin. And if you were completely wrapped in it.....
It may even result in a thousand cuts.
But a thousand cuts wasn't enough. The dirt-colored ropes soon turned maroon from all the blood that Vladstin had ingested bleeding out from his body, but that isn't enough to kill him. There is one final step.
The tree must be cut off. They only tied him from the neck down. Someone handed an ax to Rothfir.
"There are two ways to kill a vampire. A stab in the heart or beheading." Rothfir said. "It is a very rare occasion to behead a vampire. This is my first time, but don't worry, I'll make sure to do it in one clean strike."
"Take all the time you need to practice." Vladstin managed to mock even in his final moments with bloodstained teeth. "I'm not going anywhere.
"Grrrrrahhhhh!!!!!"
Vladstin patiently waited for the ax to slice his head off......
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Vladstin watched the sunrise by the ruined wall, expression unreadable.
Leron opened the door, very perturbed and unable to sleep. His complexion had grown even paler and his eyes were deeper and blacker than before.
"They're coming." He said. "Are you ready to die by the hands of your own people?"
"You're not going to stop them?"
"Their plan is quite impenetrable. Asver is a good inventor, your people should have valued him more." Vladstin stood up and clicked his fingers to a servant corpse, possibly the body of his old maid, Madam Felitia. "This is the last rations Sangfroid had given me. Take it and tell him to change course and find someplace where the Ilvedians won't obliterate you with their machine. You can ride on the wolves, they'll take you to him."
Leron's heart froze. Is he saying what he thinks he's saying?
"You want me to escape....?" Leron gripped Vladstin's shoulders. "W-Why? Did you regain your feelings—"
"No. I'm the same heartless monster as before. And so are you. But you have more chance of changing than I am. Perhaps you really were starting to regrow that part of 'brain'." Vladstin shook his hand off expressionlessly.
"What about your revenge? You're saving me, so surely that must count as something!"
"This is by no means of saving you. You're still going to turn into a dead vampire eventually. So I already exalted my revenge. " Vladstin zoomed farther from the room. "My goal isn't to save. My goal is to be the catalyst of a possible historical legend, something bigger than all of us. Sangfroid must not be seen by the Ilvedians trying to help the monster they plan to kill."
"You and Sangfroid will hide in the woods for a while. Then, when you turn, he will have to kill you all the same, and return to his people. He will reclaim his birthright as king through the amulet." Vladstin said, like he had foreseen these events in a vision many times before.
"He'll rebuild a new kingdom in these parts, maybe no longer named Ilvedia. The whole territory of my kingdom and yours and these woods will belong to him. Through his rule and what was left of Asver's machines and blueprints, he may even unite the Thirteen Kingdoms into one empire. And then there will be no more feuding kingdoms nor monsters born from that feud because an honest-to-goodness hunter will rule them all." Vladstin prophesized. "I've read many books about rulership and war. I know that this is possible."
Leron felt that this is an unreasonable fantasy because he's forgetting one thing.
"Sangfroid has never had ambitions to be a ruler that powerful. It's not part of his character."
Vladstin denied any counterarguments to his vision. "Yes, yes. He may not. But his people do. And his loyalty to the people is strong, he always does what he believes will be the best for them. We are the only hindrance to this possible future. Once we are gone, the people will reclaim Sangfroid, beg for him to be their new king. And he will have no choice but to serve them for the rest of his life."
"That is not a good future for Sangfroid or anyone!"
Vladstin chuckled. "Of course it's not good. It's GREAT."
He whistled to call his wolves, who howled when they heard his call. "Let's make a wager. If you tell Sangfroid about my grand vision, and he still stubbornly insisted to rescue me, then so be it. I will not keep you from returning, and all three of us will die from the machine. But if he doesn't, you should kill yourself and convince him to return to the Ilvedians with your head and the Amulet of the Dracon, becoming the new king for 'your sake and all that yadda yadda yadda'."
Vladstin offered his hand to shake. "Do we have a deal?"
In the end, Leron does not like both options given to him. As the wolves came: big, fuzzy creatures with lolling tongues waiting patiently for him with beady eyes, he begrudgingly shook Vladstin's hand. "Deal."
He would have to lie again, but this time, it was to save Vladstin.
-------------------
"So that was what he said. Will you help him?"
Sangfroid was busily roasting his lunch of wild deer that he cut up into rations to save for the next few days. But seeing that Leron was here along with the wolves, he doesn't have much days left.
"Vladstin's plan is not foolproof." Sangfroid sliced the best meat for Leron and placed it on the cleanest plate he have. "He's putting himself in too much danger. Can't he just use his speed to escape the survivors' trap right now?"
"He was worried for them both." Leron kept spewing the white lies as easily as he breathed. "We do not have the same unnatural speed as him even with the wolves and the survivors might move to chase after us since they consider us both traitors."
"Is that what he said?"
"Yes."
Sangfroid sighed. "Then he doesn't have much belief in our capabilities, really. Even if he entrusted us with this plan.
He rubbed his forehead and knitted his eyebrows. "I do not like this plan. There are too many uncertainties here and both of you would likely be at risk. Vladstin as a decoy and you sneaking from the people's view to get to that place... The chances are slim. "
"So you really don't believe that saving Vladstin and not hurting the Ilvedians is possible?" Leron frowned.
"Yes, Your Highness."
If Sangfroid thinks that his plan is fruitless, Leron would have to give up and do his end of the deal. He would have to reveal what Vladstin really wanted, and the great future in store for him. And there would be no more hope---
"But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't join the plan. I will do it."
Leron's eyes lit up as he stared at Sangfroid's resolute purple one.
"All my plans were impossible from the start. Finding the Hermit, convincing Vladstin.... But look, I managed to convince Vladstin to care for his life and join me in turning him into human, right? He even made such a convoluted plan so all three of us will break through and appeal to the Ilvedians. So we have hope."
Leron put away the guilty feeling for claiming that it was Vladstin who thought of the plan and not him, because he cannot kill the hope in Sangfroid's eyes.
"I am worried, but I always put my trust in you, Your Highness." Sangfroid gently placed his hand on top of Leron's. "If you believe in this plan, then so will I. Even if you don't fully know what you're doing or you have doubts, I don't need explanations to do what you order me to."
He bent one knee to the ground. "I am your most loyal servant and..... friend. So it is both my duty and honor to serve you. Even if it's for the sake of someone else."
Sangfroid looked up to him meaningfully and Leron's heart clenched. He knows.
He knows everything.
Leron doesn't know how to react since no one had ever seen through his lies. His true emotions....
"Thank you, Sangfroid...." Was all he can say to cover up his shakiness from this vague yet somehow crystal clear confession.
What Sangfroid really meant behind those words is:
I know who it is you love. It is not me, but I will still follow your every command because my love for you is so strong that it doesn't have to be reciprocated beyond the boundaries of being a servant or a friend. I will help you save him.
Leron could only choke out sobs and kneel down to hug Sangfroid. "I'm sorry.... Thank you...."
"Don't say that, Your Highness. If it's you, there's no need to say sorry or thank you. Being by your side is enough."
Just don't leave me again, and that's enough.
--------------------
"In position!"
Lillian yelled to the people as they approach 100 meters from the ruins of the Crescentian Palace.
The survivors had been divided into eight sides. Each had ten people pushing a heavy contraption on wheels that was tilted 45° upwards to the sky. It looked like a dragon head with its mouth opened, and they settled down to their places around the castle.
"Does everyone remember the pattern of when to shoot their binds?"
They all shouted in sync. "NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, EAST, NORTH, NORTHEAST, WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH!"
"Good! Begin!"
Vladztin calmly sat on his throne as he heard the loud explosions of something continuously going off around him. Soon, large ropes sprang from the mouths of these dragon heads from all directions, as if to bind the palace itself. The material is strange and the texture is not similar to any cloth or usual twine for roes.
The binding works in a way where the people from the opposite side of the rope will tie the end to the body of their own rope shooting machine. For example, North will shoot out and South will receive it, West to East, and so on. Sometimes these would interlap above the Palace, sometimes around it, effectively wrapping it up.
Vladstin flicked the one nearest to him which was 3 feet thick.
"So this is the famous Ilvedian Enchanted Knot." Vladstin observed like he was merely intrigued. "I remember the ugly dirt color when I was reborn tied with it by my hands and feet. Took me several months to break free from it. What a nifty trick."
Lillian continued shouting orders. "Turn!"
The people pushed the platform where the dragon head shooting enchanted ropes are in a counterclockwise manner.
The ruined Palace that was already scorched badly shook and crumbled from being tied by these thick ropes. The goal was to make the Palace crumble so that the Vampire Lord will be distracted by this damage to his lair before the actual attack happens.
The vampire corpses didn't know what's going on and the plates in their hand rattled yet they did not react. They merely waited for Vladstin to control them or give orders.
Vladstin disinterestedly slashed at one of the thick ropes, but it failed and somehow only made it pull tighter, making the walls crack and close to collapse.
"He's struggling!" Lillian said triumphantly. "Keep turning!"
"Why isn't he abandoning the Palace?" A confused Huntsman said.
Vicar Garien was happy to explain. "The Vampire Lords were compared to a tree, were they not? And a tree, dead or alive, has its roots in one place. Therefore, he can't leave nor cut ties with the place where he was born, lived, and died. Not for too long."
"Ah, so that's why he chose to go back and forth in this Palace all the time and make it his lair! He was tied to it?"
"That was only a theory," Lillian said, helping the other's push. "But it was our only chance. And luckily, it happened to be correct. "
Zenon joined in, face grim. "Then Vladstin may have anticipated this all along. He himself is aware of this weakness."
"Whether he was aware or not doesn't matter." Rothfir mounted his horse along with several others and whistled. "On to the next phase!"
They carry with them a smaller version of the Dragon Heads. They carried it to the side with both hands like small cannon and went inside the crumbling Crescentian Palace. Then they separate to eight different sides, ready to ambush Vladstin.
On the topmost floor, the one with no roof. Vladstin stood up from his throne and spread his arms like a bird about to soar to the sky. He merely watched the dark skies full of frantic crows migrating to the west. Elenore perched on his shoulder, and he whispered to it.
"Go. Join your kind before you turn to ashes upon my death."
Elenore flew just in time as the 8 Huntsmen led by Rothfir arrived. Vladstin did not move and closed his eyes with a smile. This baffled the Huntsmen and made them cautious about surrounding him.
But Vladstin showed no signs of trying to escape.
"This is the end for you, vampire." Rothfir told him with gritted teeth. "May you repay the lives you have taken in hell."
"I would not ask for anything else." Vladstin smiled.
Rothfir shouted with pure anger. "Kill him now!"
The Huntsmen shot the ropes around Vladstin using the pattern that was used for the Palace and they moved very quickly to bind him, the ropes coiling around his whole torso and legs. Vladstin merely laughed, like it was the most blissful moment in his life.
The Enchanted Knot really was magical, every slight movement would cause it to tighten and dig through your skin. And if you were completely wrapped in it.....
It may even result in a thousand cuts.
But a thousand cuts wasn't enough. The dirt-colored ropes soon turned maroon from all the blood that Vladstin had ingested bleeding out from his body, but that isn't enough to kill him. There is one final step.
The tree must be cut off. They only tied him from the neck down. Someone handed an ax to Rothfir.
"There are two ways to kill a vampire. A stab in the heart or beheading." Rothfir said. "It is a very rare occasion to behead a vampire. This is my first time, but don't worry, I'll make sure to do it in one clean strike."
"Take all the time you need to practice." Vladstin managed to mock even in his final moments with bloodstained teeth. "I'm not going anywhere.
"Grrrrrahhhhh!!!!!"
Vladstin patiently waited for the ax to slice his head off......
Vladstin watched the sunrise by the ruined wall, expression unreadable.Leron opened the door, very perturbed and unable to sleep. His complexion had grown even paler and his eyes were deeper and blacker than before."They're coming." He said. "Are you ready to die by the hands of your own people?""You're not going to stop them?""Their plan is quite impenetrable. Asver is a good inventor, your people should have valued him more." Vladstin stood up and clicked his fingers to a servant corpse, possibly the body of his old maid, Madam Felitia. "This is the last rations Sangfroid had given me. Take it and tell him to change course and find someplace where the Ilvedians won't obliterate you with their machine. You can ride on the wolves, they'll take you to him."Leron's heart froze. Is he saying what he thinks he's saying?"You want me to escape....?" Leron gripped Vladstin's shoulders. "W-Why? Did you regain your feelings""No. I'm the same heartless monster as before. And so are you. But you have more chance of changing than I am. Perhaps you really were starting to regrow that part of 'brain'." Vladstin shook his hand off expressionlessly."What about your revenge? You're saving me, so surely that must count as something!""This is by no means of saving you. You're still going to turn into a dead vampire eventually. So I already exalted my revenge. " Vladstin zoomed farther from the room. "My goal isn't to save. My goal is to be the catalyst of a possible historical legend, something bigger than all of us. Sangfroid must not be seen by the Ilvedians trying to help the monster they plan to kill.""You and Sangfroid will hide in the woods for a while. Then, when you turn, he will have to kill you all the same, and return to his people. He will reclaim his birthright as king through the amulet." Vladstin said, like he had foreseen these events in a vision many times before."He'll rebuild a new kingdom in these parts, maybe no longer named Ilvedia. The whole territory of my kingdom and yours and these woods will belong to him. Through his rule and what was left of Asver's machines and blueprints, he may even unite the Thirteen Kingdoms into one empire. And then there will be no more feuding kingdoms nor monsters born from that feud because an honest-to-goodness hunter will rule them all." Vladstin prophesized. "I've read many books about rulership and war. I know that this is possible."Leron felt that this is an unreasonable fantasy because he's forgetting one thing."Sangfroid has never had ambitions to be a ruler that powerful. It's not part of his character."Vladstin denied any counterarguments to his vision. "Yes, yes. He may not. But his people do. And his loyalty to the people is strong, he always does what he believes will be the best for them. We are the only hindrance to this possible future. Once we are gone, the people will reclaim Sangfroid, beg for him to be their new king. And he will have no choice but to serve them for the rest of his life.""That is not a good future for Sangfroid or anyone!"Vladstin chuckled. "Of course it's not good. It's GREAT."He whistled to call his wolves, who howled when they heard his call. "Let's make a wager. If you tell Sangfroid about my grand vision, and he still stubbornly insisted to rescue me, then so be it. I will not keep you from returning, and all three of us will die from the machine. But if he doesn't, you should kill yourself and convince him to return to the Ilvedians with your head and the Amulet of the Dracon, becoming the new king for 'your sake and all that yadda yadda yadda'."Vladstin offered his hand to shake. "Do we have a deal?"In the end, Leron does not like both options given to him. As the wolves came: big, fuzzy creatures with lolling tongues waiting patiently for him with beady eyes, he begrudgingly shook Vladstin's hand. "Deal."He would have to lie again, but this time, it was to save Vladstin.-------------------"So that was what he said. Will you help him?"Sangfroid was busily roasting his lunch of wild deer that he cut up into rations to save for the next few days. But seeing that Leron was here along with the wolves, he doesn't have much days left."Vladstin's plan is not foolproof." Sangfroid sliced the best meat for Leron and placed it on the cleanest plate he have. "He's putting himself in too much danger. Can't he just use his speed to escape the survivors' trap right now?""He was worried for them both." Leron kept spewing the white lies as easily as he breathed. "We do not have the same unnatural speed as him even with the wolves and the survivors might move to chase after us since they consider us both traitors.""Is that what he said?""Yes."Sangfroid sighed. "Then he doesn't have much belief in our capabilities, really. Even if he entrusted us with this plan.He rubbed his forehead and knitted his eyebrows. "I do not like this plan. There are too many uncertainties here and both of you would likely be at risk. Vladstin as a decoy and you sneaking from the people's view to get to that place... The chances are slim. ""So you really don't believe that saving Vladstin and not hurting the Ilvedians is possible?" Leron frowned."Yes, Your Highness."If Sangfroid thinks that his plan is fruitless, Leron would have to give up and do his end of the deal. He would have to reveal what Vladstin really wanted, and the great future in store for him. And there would be no more hope---"But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't join the plan. I will do it."Leron's eyes lit up as he stared at Sangfroid's resolute purple one."All my plans were impossible from the start. Finding the Hermit, convincing Vladstin.... But look, I managed to convince Vladstin to care for his life and join me in turning him into human, right? He even made such a convoluted plan so all three of us will break through and appeal to the Ilvedians. So we have hope."Leron put away the guilty feeling for claiming that it was Vladstin who thought of the plan and not him, because he cannot kill the hope in Sangfroid's eyes."I am worried, but I always put my trust in you, Your Highness." Sangfroid gently placed his hand on top of Leron's. "If you believe in this plan, then so will I. Even if you don't fully know what you're doing or you have doubts, I don't need explanations to do what you order me to."He bent one knee to the ground. "I am your most loyal servant and..... friend. So it is both my duty and honor to serve you. Even if it's for the sake of someone else."Sangfroid looked up to him meaningfully and Leron's heart clenched. He knows.He knows everything.Leron doesn't know how to react since no one had ever seen through his lies. His true emotions...."Thank you, Sangfroid...." Was all he can say to cover up his shakiness from this vague yet somehow crystal clear confession. What Sangfroid really meant behind those words is:I know who it is you love. It is not me, but I will still follow your every command because my love for you is so strong that it doesn't have to be reciprocated beyond the boundaries of being a servant or a friend. I will help you save him.Leron could only choke out sobs and kneel down to hug Sangfroid. "I'm sorry.... Thank you....""Don't say that, Your Highness. If it's you, there's no need to say sorry or thank you. Being by your side is enough."Just don't leave me again, and that's enough.--------------------"In position!"Lillian yelled to the people as they approach 100 meters from the ruins of the Crescentian Palace.The survivors had been divided into eight sides. Each had ten people pushing a heavy contraption on wheels that was tilted 45 upwards to the sky. It looked like a dragon head with its mouth opened, and they settled down to their places around the castle."Does everyone remember the pattern of when to shoot their binds?"They all shouted in sync. "NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, EAST, NORTH, NORTHEAST, WEST, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH!""Good! Begin!"Vladztin calmly sat on his throne as he heard the loud explosions of something continuously going off around him. Soon, large ropes sprang from the mouths of these dragon heads from all directions, as if to bind the palace itself. The material is strange and the texture is not similar to any cloth or usual twine for roes.The binding works in a way where the people from the opposite side of the rope will tie the end to the body of their own rope shooting machine. For example, North will shoot out and South will receive it, West to East, and so on. Sometimes these would interlap above the Palace, sometimes around it, effectively wrapping it up.Vladstin flicked the one nearest to him which was 3 feet thick."So this is the famous Ilvedian Enchanted Knot." Vladstin observed like he was merely intrigued. "I remember the ugly dirt color when I was reborn tied with it by my hands and feet. Took me several months to break free from it. What a nifty trick."Lillian continued shouting orders. "Turn!"The people pushed the platform where the dragon head shooting enchanted ropes are in a counterclockwise manner.The ruined Palace that was already scorched badly shook and crumbled from being tied by these thick ropes. The goal was to make the Palace crumble so that the Vampire Lord will be distracted by this damage to his lair before the actual attack happens.The vampire corpses didn't know what's going on and the plates in their hand rattled yet they did not react. They merely waited for Vladstin to control them or give orders.Vladstin disinterestedly slashed at one of the thick ropes, but it failed and somehow only made it pull tighter, making the walls crack and close to collapse."He's struggling!" Lillian said triumphantly. "Keep turning!""Why isn't he abandoning the Palace?" A confused Huntsman said.Vicar Garien was happy to explain. "The Vampire Lords were compared to a tree, were they not? And a tree, dead or alive, has its roots in one place. Therefore, he can't leave nor cut ties with the place where he was born, lived, and died. Not for too long.""Ah, so that's why he chose to go back and forth in this Palace all the time and make it his lair! He was tied to it?""That was only a theory," Lillian said, helping the other's push. "But it was our only chance. And luckily, it happened to be correct. "Zenon joined in, face grim. "Then Vladstin may have anticipated this all along. He himself is aware of this weakness.""Whether he was aware or not doesn't matter." Rothfir mounted his horse along with several others and whistled. "On to the next phase!"They carry with them a smaller version of the Dragon Heads. They carried it to the side with both hands like small cannon and went inside the crumbling Crescentian Palace. Then they separate to eight different sides, ready to ambush Vladstin.On the topmost floor, the one with no roof. Vladstin stood up from his throne and spread his arms like a bird about to soar to the sky. He merely watched the dark skies full of frantic crows migrating to the west. Elenore perched on his shoulder, and he whispered to it."Go. Join your kind before you turn to ashes upon my death."Elenore flew just in time as the 8 Huntsmen led by Rothfir arrived. Vladstin did not move and closed his eyes with a smile. This baffled the Huntsmen and made them cautious about surrounding him.But Vladstin showed no signs of trying to escape."This is the end for you, vampire." Rothfir told him with gritted teeth. "May you repay the lives you have taken in hell.""I would not ask for anything else." Vladstin smiled.Rothfir shouted with pure anger. "Kill him now!"The Huntsmen shot the ropes around Vladstin using the pattern that was used for the Palace and they moved very quickly to bind him, the ropes coiling around his whole torso and legs. Vladstin merely laughed, like it was the most blissful moment in his life.The Enchanted Knot really was magical, every slight movement would cause it to tighten and dig through your skin. And if you were completely wrapped in it.....It may even result in a thousand cuts.But a thousand cuts wasn't enough. The dirt-colored ropes soon turned maroon from all the blood that Vladstin had ingested bleeding out from his body, but that isn't enough to kill him. There is one final step.The tree must be cut off. They only tied him from the neck down. Someone handed an ax to Rothfir."There are two ways to kill a vampire. A stab in the heart or beheading." Rothfir said. "It is a very rare occasion to behead a vampire. This is my first time, but don't worry, I'll make sure to do it in one clean strike.""Take all the time you need to practice." Vladstin managed to mock even in his final moments with bloodstained teeth. "I'm not going anywhere."Grrrrrahhhhh!!!!!"Vladstin patiently waited for the ax to slice his head off......
