Chapter 585: Heading to the Vampire Realms.
The carriage crossed the main road leading to the border of the Vampire Kingdom, advancing over dark stones polished by use and by the constant rain of that region. The sky above them had a grayish tone, even during the day, as if the light were filtered through an ancient mist before touching the earth. Dense forests surrounded the road on both sides, composed of tall trees, black trunks, and deep red leaves that seemed to keep the shine of blood beneath their surface.
Kael sat on one side of the carriage, with one arm resting on the window and an expression of profound suffering at the slowness of the transport. Sylphie sat beside him, observing the landscape with attentive and curious eyes, her white hair falling over her shoulders as she followed every detail of the outside world. Irelia and Amelia occupied the opposite bench, both much more comfortable with the trip than he seemed to be.
"Just for the record," Kael muttered, looking at the road ahead, "we could have teleported."
Sylphie did not take her eyes off the window.
"I know."
"Directly to the Ainsworth mansion, then to the neutral point, then to wherever the Queen of the Vampires decided to receive us."
"I know."
"It would take a few seconds."
Sylphie finally looked at him.
"Kael, I spent more than a hundred years inside Yggdrasil’s Central Realm. I want to enjoy this world. I want to see roads, borders, cities, forests, and even uncomfortable carriages."
Kael looked at the padded seat beneath him.
"This carriage is not uncomfortable."
"Then stop complaining."
He narrowed his eyes.
"That was cruel."
"It was educational."
Irelia let out a low laugh from the other side of the carriage. She maintained her elegant posture, with her hands resting on her lap, but there was clear amusement in her gaze. Amelia, in turn, held a small folding map with markings made in violet ink, calmly following the route.
"I agree with Sylphie," Irelia said. "You have been using teleportation for everything lately."
"Because teleportation is efficient."
"It is also impersonal."
"Efficiency does not need to be emotionally intimate."
Sylphie raised an eyebrow.
"You turned travel into a technical argument."
"Because I am right."
Amelia folded part of the map and spoke without raising her voice much.
"Besides, the portals have been strange lately. Reports from transit mages mention deviations, instability in the intermediate layers, and small delays in spatial alignment. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to avoid long-distance teleportation without need."
Kael went quiet for a second.
Then slowly turned his face toward the window.
Sylphie noticed.
"Kael."
"Yes?"
"Do you know something?"
"No."
Irelia tilted her head.
"That answer came too quickly."
Amelia lowered the map.
"And without sarcasm."
Kael kept his gaze on the forest.
"Portals become strange sometimes."
Sylphie stared at him for a few more seconds, then narrowed her eyes.
"Does this have something to do with you?"
Kael did not answer immediately.
Inside his head, the image of Nidhogg tearing through the structure of Yggdrasil’s Original Realm with enough force to disturb entire layers of reality appeared in a rather inconvenient way. There was also the smaller detail that he himself had crossed a primordial dimension using Elion’s runes, unstable mana, Chaos fire, and the help of a dragoness who treated cosmic roots like snacks. Perhaps that had left the world a little sensitive.
Just a little.
"Maybe," he said.
Amelia closed her eyes.
Irelia sighed.
Sylphie kept looking at him.
"Kael."
"It was a tiny mess."
"A tiny mess?" Irelia repeated.
"Small."
Amelia slowly opened her eyes.
"We are talking about dimensional instability in teleportation routes recognized by three kingdoms."
"Relatively small."
Sylphie covered her face with one hand, but Kael noticed the smile hidden there. She was trying to look scolding, but amusement escaped in the shoulders that trembled slightly.
"You went out to get me and messed up the world’s portals."
"I was motivated."
"That is not a justification."
"It is an explanation."
Irelia rested her elbow against the side of the carriage.
"I am beginning to understand why Yggdrasil drank."
Kael pointed at her.
"Do not use Yggdrasil as a moral example."
"After what you did to her Realm, perhaps I will."
"Technically, she started it."
Amelia murmured:
"That sentence must appear in half of your diplomatic incidents."
The conversation continued in that tone for some time, passing between teasing, small comments about the landscape, and Amelia’s explanations about the basic customs of the vampiric court. She spoke about the importance of not accepting wine before the formal greeting, about how ancient clans used seating positions to establish hierarchy, and about the fact that compliments among vampires were rarely only compliments. Kael listened attentively, though Sylphie noticed that he paid attention mainly when Amelia mentioned possible traps.
The border appeared shortly after.
There was no ordinary wall separating vampiric territory from the neighboring domains. Instead, great black pillars rose along the road, each one marked with red runes that pulsed slowly. Between them, a thin mist hovered like a veil, cold enough to fog the carriage windows. Beyond the mist, the road descended into a wide valley, where distant towers cut against the horizon and flocks of ravens circled above the forests.
Kael became quieter when he saw that.
The last time he had crossed that kingdom, he had not been received with courtesy. He had found hostile patrols, soldiers driven mad by distorted orders, and small detachments willing to die before listening to any explanation. He remembered the smell of blood in the snow, the bodies falling on the road, and the exhausting sensation of having to kill entire groups just to continue advancing.
Sylphie felt the change in him and touched his hand.
"Are you all right?"
"I am."
"That answer is still bad."
Kael looked at her and smiled faintly.
"I am remembering the last time I came here."
Irelia and Amelia fell silent.
Sylphie intertwined her fingers with his.
"This time is different."
Kael turned his gaze outside again.
"I hope so."
The carriage crossed the pillars.
For a few seconds, the mist covered everything around them. The sound of the wheels seemed distant, muffled, as if the road had been swallowed by a corridor between worlds. Then the mist opened, revealing the vampiric road in all its somber grandeur.
And, a few minutes later, the carriage stopped.
The coachman pulled the reins carefully, and the horses let out an uneasy sound. Ahead, a small fleet of Vampires blocked the road. It was not an army, but it was not an ordinary patrol either. There were knights mounted on black creatures similar to horses, soldiers in dark armor and red cloaks, as well as two smaller carriages positioned at the sides as support.
Kael released a sigh.
"Of course."
Sylphie tightened her hand around his.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No need."
"I am going anyway."
"I imagined."
Kael opened the carriage door and stepped down first. The air outside was cold, carrying a faint metallic scent that seemed to be part of the soil itself. Sylphie came right behind him, followed by Irelia and Amelia. The three remained close, observing the vampiric formation with caution.
Kael took a few steps forward.
For an instant, the memory of his last visit almost overlapped with the present. He expected shouts. Threats. Weapons being raised. Orders to attack. His body was already ready to react before his mind even decided.
But none of that happened.
As soon as the Vampires recognized who had descended from the carriage, all of them knelt.
The movement was quick, precise, and absolute. Spears were lowered. Heads bowed. Even the black mounts bent one of their front legs, as if they had been trained to offer reverence. The entire road, which one second before had seemed blocked by an interception force, transformed into a formal reception.
"We greet the King of Witches."
The voices echoed together, deep and respectful.
Kael stood still.
Sylphie blinked.
Irelia raised her eyebrows with a slightly impressed expression.
Amelia observed in silence, analyzing every detail of the formation.
Kael looked at the kneeling vampires.
Then at the carriage.
Then at Sylphie.
"This is new."
Sylphie smiled discreetly.
"You are becoming famous."
"I do not like that."
"I know."
"You are enjoying it."
"A little."
At the front of the troop, a woman rose before the others. She was tall, with a firm presence and impeccable military posture. Her purple hair fell to near her shoulders, partially tied behind her head so it would not get in the way in combat. Her red eyes were attentive and sharp, with the contained gleam of someone used to observing before acting. She wore light armor, black with dark red details, shaped for mobility, with plates protecting her chest, shoulders, and forearms. A long sword rested at her waist, but her hands remained away from the hilt.
She walked to a respectful distance and knelt before him, lowering her head.
"Your Majesty Kael Scarlet, King of Witches. My name is Violet."
Kael observed her in silence.
The woman raised her face, maintaining her formal posture.
"I am the Royal Commander of Queen Liza Valtheris. I was sent to escort you safely to the meeting place."
The road remained silent around them.
Kael noticed that none of the Vampires dared raise their gaze before his answer. It was still strange. The last time, the vampires had received him with blades, fangs, and execution orders. Now, they bowed as if he were a political figure no one could afford to offend.
He took a deep breath.
"Rise."
Violet rose first. The others obeyed soon after, in perfect discipline.
Kael looked at her.
"I hope this escort is not an elegant way of surrounding us."
Violet did not seem offended.
"If it were, Your Majesty, it would be an attempt far inferior to your record."
Sylphie slowly turned her face toward Kael.
Irelia smiled.
Amelia seemed to approve of the answer.
Kael stared at Violet for a few seconds.
Then let out a short laugh.
"You are direct."
"I was instructed not to waste your time."
"By Liza?"
"By Queen Liza, yes."
Kael nodded faintly.
"Then lead the way, Commander Violet."
Violet placed a hand over her chest in a formal salute.
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
While the vampiric formation began reorganizing around the carriage, Sylphie approached Kael and murmured low enough for only him to hear.
"She is beautiful too."
Kael closed his eyes for an instant.
"Do not start."
"Purple hair, red eyes, light armor, competent posture."
"Are you cataloging?"
"I am protecting my interests."
Kael looked at her.
"Sylphie."
She smiled with absolute innocence.
"I am just enjoying this world."
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