Lukas waited with bated breath for the speaker to reveal herself, but he already had a feeling of what he was going to encounter.
"I said, I have a name."
"Yes, I never contradicted that fact."
"… Why aren't you asking me for it—it's quite rude not to ask."
"It's far more rude not to introduce yourself beforehand and to abduct me here in the first place."
"You… you and the others were the first trespassers, that's beyond rude! Downright nasty when we've done nothing to you folks."
"So you say, but there's books and probably other belongings here that doesn't belong to you or to your other winged friends here."
"Family." She said vexed. "Family. They're my family and I do not like the fact that you're being rude to them."
"I don't get why you're being so fussy about rudeness." Lukas scratched the back of his head. "You brought me here for a reason, so let's deal with that."
"You refused to give me an answer—well, you did. But it's…ugh."
Another earth splitting earthquake occurred and Lukas knew that he was dealing with someone huge. Far greater in size than Ursa to say the least and no doubt wider than the Dryad that he encountered.
"Are you shy?" Lukas asked.
"W-what?! What is this shyness you're talking about—your mortal self cannot bare to comprehend my form."
"Oh, so you're immortal." Lukas hummed.
"…I should just vaporize you right now. Yes, I can do that and be done with it, but then your three other friends are going to climb up here and then pester me. Before I know it, there'll be more of you, an army no doubt and they'll turn Ilstad Mountain upside down just to get me."
Lukas wanted to find it offensive that she was speaking her worries without any concern as if he was of no threat at all. That kind of power difference wasn't something that Lukas found himself easy in.
'I'm sure that Serena is stronger than me and is far more familiar with her Vampire powers, she could transform into a bat, but… I've always known that she was reasonable and would not just outright attack me since I'm one of her people. For this one… she might just change her mind willy nilly. I need to act more placating? Yeah, you've got to do that, Lukas—other people's lives are at stake.'
It was easy to get lost and enraptured in that moment, for a new encounter. Like a game. Like a new arc. A new plot. Something unfamiliar and vivid, even if it was being plunged in absolute darkness.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Lukas tried again.
"What now?" she grumbled.
"May I perchance know of your name?" Lukas asked.
A silence occurred in the cave except for what sounded like someone preening. There was a small thud in the ground that was in a pleased way for some reason.
"You may… it makes sense that someone as mortal as you are would be granted the privilege of knowing my identity. You won't live long but you can tell stories—no, you can't tell stories. You're not even supposed to tell your friends if I set you free right now."
Lukas knew that this being did not have any interest in helping based on how she was talking. However, it was also clear to him that she was trying to emulate her kind, or at least present herself in a certain way that might be able to help him get on her side.
"Miss, you still haven't granted me your name."
"Ah yes… Bow down foolish mortal, for I am the great and almighty, the unconquerable and—you're on your knees right?"
"Uh, sure. Let me do just that." Lukas shrugged and got on one knee.
"Perfect. I—ahem, I'm Cerisedel the Unprevailed!"
Lukas blinked and for a moment, he couldn't help but stifle his expression from chuckling. He was suddenly reminded of Viktoria Cadis and the thought made him smile a little.
"What… what is with that reaction?" Cerisedel asked, sounding slightly offended.
"No, no—it is an honor to be of your acquaintance, Cerisedel the Unprevailed, your presence reminds me of someone…" Lukas said, noticed the silence and then quickly amended his statement. "But I am sure that you are unique and unlike any other. Perhaps my feeble mind merely wanted to comprehend you and tried to latch to something that it could understand hence the comparison."
"Hmph… that perhaps explains it. I'll forgive your insolence this once, mortal. You… you are free to offer your name to me, I'll grant you the chance to have your name be forever embedded in the mind of someone who'll last longer than the stars." Cerisedel said in a grand tone.
"I am humbled by this opportunity, my name is Lukas." He introduced himself with a bow, knowing that he could be seen by her and not the other way around.
Now that he was starting to listen to her more, she also reminded him a little of Drusilla if the old Vampire was maybe centuries younger and tried to appear greater than her actual status.
It wasn't something entirely bad, as long as Lukas got his way in the end. He had to get his way—other people needed to be saved and if this was the ally that he needed to befriend, then he would do his best.
"Lukas. Lukas." Cerisedel said the name with a certain thirst of someone who'd finally managed to encounter another person for the first time.
If Cerisedel was related to the wyverns here, then Lukas understood why she was hungry for attention, they weren't exactly the best companions to be had.
"A fine name for a strange-kin like you." Cerisedel continued.
Lukas' brows raised at the description and he pointed at himself. "I'm a Vampire, Cerisedel the Unprevailed."
"Cerise is fine—I mean, I know what you are. You do not need to fool me. You are strange, and I have seen Vampires before. You appear like them, but you're still different all the same."
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