Chapter 1011 Sanguine Bride's Rest
It was an odd request from Calidora, prohibiting him from using energy.
He had no idea where she intended to lead him, and he didn't feel comfortable taking down all of his defenses just because Calidora said so. But again, he couldn't forget the surprising comfort she offered to him willingly when he was ensnared in the clutches of his nightmare earlier.
Despite his jumbled mind earlier, he could hear Calidora's soothing voice.
Added to her harmless air, he decided to comply.
Rex and Calidora started their hike on the small hill, located not that far from the castle.
Glancing to his sides he could see that the surroundings were clearly seen, there were hardly any trees around, only a grassland landscape that stretched to the horizon. No doubt that it was a very beautiful sight in the night.
Like a painting of old age, the scenery was breathtaking.
A carpet of reddish grass, the vast expanse of a star-studded sky, and the glowing moon.
Each of them compliments the other to create this otherworldly sight.
Inhaling the invigorating night breeze, his legs moved on their own as he ascended the small hill, trailing closely behind Calidora. Both were following a rugged path flanked by the famous blood bunyas, their crimson leaves radiating an ethereal red glow.
Judging from the place, Rex suspects that this place is a sacred place for Vampires.
One that could be enjoyed by those with royal bloodlines.
Due to the ethereal glow from the leaves, the road was not as dark as it was supposed to be.
When was the last time I took a stroll normally like this?
Under the oddity of the situation, taking a nonchalant stroll through the night, he wondered the last time he took a refreshing stroll like this. He only remembered that the only time he somewhat felt this rejuvenated was when he bathed under the moonlight on the rooftop of the Ochyra University.
It felt like a long time ago as everything became hectic starting from that moment.
However, that reminisce didn't last long.
Rex, alongside his troubled mind, quickly thought of the Executor and what he was doing.
He's probably marching onward to the Symposium right now.
"Stop thinking about your problems"
Out of nowhere, Calidora's musings without a backward glance, jolted Rex from his thoughts as he lifted his gaze, beholding her back. Currently, she was adorned in a regal black dress paired with a sweeping cape featuring ivory fur-lined edges, draping down only one side of her body.
An outfit that gives her an air of nightly elegance.
Just as her words sank into Rex's head, she glanced backward with a meaningful smile.
"Tonight, your only focus should be on me or the scenery" She added.
Her words contain a haunting enchantment that somehow was able to melt a part of Rex.
Even the sight of her eyes was somewhat capable of freezing his body.
Soon enough, unknowingly, the two reached the top.
It took slightly over twenty minutes to reach the peak of the modest hill—a journey that could have been traversed in a mere second with the use of their powers. However, Rex harbored no regrets about eschewing their abilities, savoring the novel sensation of the climb.
A nice and foreign sensation that he has long forgotten.
Rex observed the peak and noticed the abundance of blood bunyas surrounding the place.
Positioned at the heart of this supernatural spectacle was a fountain or pond containing red-hued liquid, likely blood. Strangely enough, the aroma wafting through the air bore a sweet fragrance, even sweeter than mangoes.
Coming out of the pond was also a steaming red energy, adding a mysterious feeling to it.
Standing in the center of the pond was an intricate and regal coffin.
Judging from its appearance alone, the coffin must be crafted with the rarest black materials to glisten and exude an overbearing aura. Its surface is adorned with intricate blood-crimson rubies and raven-black sapphires, forming the likeness of a winged bat.
It was an emblem of immortal sovereignty.
Additionally, the coffin was hugged by a statue of a woman from the back.
One look at the coffin will expose its macabre elegance, showing that it belongs to a deity.
"Sanguine Bride's Rest is the name of the place" Calidora suddenly explained, educating Rex on the place they were in right now. "It's the place made by my Origin himself, a monument that he made for his wife after her death and the utter vanquishment of her corpse"
Rex was quite surprised, not expecting this to be a monument of death.
Even for Supernaturals like the Vampires, the death of a loved one still hurts severely.
As Rex understood that the Vampire Origin was the architect behind this enchanting locale, he couldn't help but recognize the profound love he must harbor for his wife to craft such a magnificent monument using his own hands when he had others to do it for him.
With this newfound insight into this place's history, Rex looked around with a new light.
Every inch of the surroundings must be made and sculpted with love.
Despite it doesn't concern him directly, the tone that Calidora spoke with made him listen.
She was saying this with such serenity and respect.
No matter how hectic she might've acted, she still refers to her Origin with respect.
Pointing at the pon filled with crimson liquid, she continued, "Legend has it that partaking from the sacred pond bestows not only good fortune in life but also paves clear the way to greater power. Consequently, each time a Vampire visited this place, they would drink from its mystic waters"
Listening attentively, Rex shifted his eyes to the pond.
Even though he doesn't have an Origin, if it's the tradition here to do that, he will respect it.
"Can I drink from it too? I'm a Werewolf" Rex inquired lightly.
Upon hearing this, Calidora cast a smile at him, "Why do you think I brought you here?"
"Valentina, the unfated spouse of the Vampire Origin, is known to be peaceful. She was the driving force behind persuading the Vampire Origin to make peace with other Supernatural races. Valentina doesn't discriminate against other races, so the Vampire Origin wouldn't mind if you drink from the pond" She explained as clearly as possible.
Just before Rex could form a reply, she stepped forward, "But first..."
With a light wave of her hand, her blood energy swirled in front of her with elegance.
In a span of a minute, the blood energy formed a musical instrument.
A beautiful red harp made of blood, bigger than her body.
Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she took a deep breath before opening her eyes again.
Manifesting a seat for herself by the pond, her alabaster fingers, adorned with a crimson glow reached out to the strings before delicately graced all of them with one stroke. At that moment, the instrument crafted of blood magic came to life with pleasing melodies.
Even Rex couldn't help but praise the melodies that she produced.
He had never been moved by a series of musical notes this deeply in his entire life.
As Calidora's fingers plucked each string, her face remained serene, playing ancient notes to pay her tribute to Valentina. Her eyes closed in deep concentration, and the entire hill's peak resonated with a mesmerizing harmony.
Under the melody, the air shimmered, giving a sense of mystical link to all who listened.
It had been quite some time since he had known Calidora.
Despite their initial encounter being that of enemies, as Rex was fueled with his desire to seek vengeance on all Werewolves and make him detest Supernaturals too, their relationship could somewhat progress to something peaceful.
But throughout their relationship, Rex knows little to none about Calidora.
He never asked her.
Moreover, she also never has the intention to tell him about anything.
Nevertheless, right now, Rex saw a glimpse of Calidora that he had never seen before.
Certainly, as the Vampire Princess for fifteen years and counting and hailing from a noble lineage, Calidora, with grace befitting her position, has cultivated a myriad of skills beyond the battlefield.
Among them is her mastery of the harp, a testament to her proficiency in noble arts.
Every melody she produced was nigh-perfect.
Rex witnessed every pluck of her fingers create a swirl of vibrant blood energy around her.
It was akin as if she had the spotlight of the whole world.
A Princess, with raven-black hair, delicate and perfect form, possessing a powerful air, able to master noble arts, and a beautiful face... Calidora has everything. Had this been the first time I'd seen her, resisting any admiration might have been quite a challenging feat as her presence encapsulates an allure that is difficult to overlook.
While he was praising Calidora inside, the blood energy was sucked into the coffin.
Under the influence, the coffin seemed to come to life.
Swish...
Rex could see that the crimson hue encompassing the entire coffin was becoming thicker, and the statue hugging the coffin had its eyes glowing red. It wouldn't surprise him if the statue suddenly came to life like a gargoyle.
After about five minutes of beautiful play, the coffin trembled a bit.
It then died down once again, returning to its serenity as Calidora played the finale.
???~
Letting the melodies of the finale resonate in the air for a brief moment, she then eventually opens her eyes gently. She looked at the coffin briefly before she waved her hand again, dispersing the harp alongside her seat.
Her attention then was pulled to the back when she heard Rex clapping at her performance.
"I never knew you were skilled at music," Rex said in pleasant surprise.
Calidora flicked her hair over her shoulder pridefully with her chin slightly raised up when she heard his comment, "I'm of the royal family, of course, playing music is a necessity. What's with the look? Are you mesmerized by me?"
"I think the answer is clear enough" Rex replied nonchalantly.
Just then, Calidora gestured with her finger before she went over to the mystical pond.
Now that she had already paid a tribute to entertain the monument of Valentina, the two of them can drink from the pond and gain its blessing. It was the tradition that every Vampire that came here would also need to pay their tribute.
A sign of respect to Valentina and the Vampire Origin.
Rex was quite uncertain about this as drinking blood was not what he used to do.
Sure, he has savored blood before when he was in his Werewolf form and usually during his berserk state when he was mad enough to eat others. But the aftertaste of blood was never felt good for him, probably due to his disapproval mind.
It doesn't taste bad in his Werewolf form, but his human form has different tastebuds.
Due to that, he tries to avoid having blood in his mouth.
But since this is a sacred place for Calidora, he decided to follow her lead.
For her, making an exception is not that bad.
Rex took a scoop from the sacred pon with both hands and hesitant drank the entire thing.
Upon the mystical water touching his tastebuds, Rex's eyes widened as it was not what he initially thought it would taste like. If Calidora said that this is some kind of refreshment, then he would actually believe it.
It's robust and revitalizing, it's... good.
<Obtained the blessing of the Vampire Origin!>
<The user's luck has been increased>
After drinking from the pond, the two went to the side and sat beside each other.
Before them was the view from the top of the small hill.
Only silence enveloped the two of them.
In a tranquil ambiance, the duo's gazes alternating between the vast distance and the mesmerizing star-lit heavens—a spectacle that retained its beauty despite the upheavals caused by the world's awakening.
The void cracks in the sky serve as another magical decoration to the sight above.
Once in a while, thinking nothing but the moment is nice.
Rex savors the taste of serenity.
He rarely does this anymore, with so much responsibilities on his back
Soon, the serenity was broken.
Calidora was the one to break the silence between them as she reminisced the past, "I always go here when I needed time for myself, not because its beautiful scenery, but because I am always cramped inside the castle, restricted by my parents"
"I never thought that you'd be sitting here with me, and I'm glad you did" She added.
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