CHPT 524: Vampiric Elder’s Might, Red Queens Blight…

"[As someone who used to face off against Vampires regularly, this gets my anxiety up and out of control. They're an egotistical bunch… and when they aren't they become interested. To a dehumanizing degree. As in they want to steal you and lock you up in a cell where you can be studied. So, good on you for pairing up with your fellow Alpha.]" Arne commented as everyone formed up on the royal purple carpet that doubled as a training mat.

Sylvia refereed to it as fencing, but they were just sparring— fighting. He wasn't given a training weapon or some magical guarding tool. Like everyone else, he had his own personal weapons brandished. The jagged bladed shortspears gifted from Ursula. The animal furs tied to the ends of the weapons danced against his forearms as the winds blew in from outside. He didn't know if it was real as he studied the sun outside through his borrowed knights helm. It clanged against the pauldron on his left shoulder as he gazed at Maris.

She was aware. Lucid. Focused. Facing two Dark Elves.

He attempted to object, but both Maris and Sylvia metaphorically pushed him aside. She'd learn a lesson, and if it went to far, he'd end up teaching one.

Deaths Ambience was so loud it shook the windows.

There was pure power inside the throne room.

Exactly what Maris was looking for.

"Let's see what you can do, Red Queen." Sylvia snapped but the sounds of a bell ringing fell on their ears and chaos spun.

***

FWOOSH

Maris executed a (Slash) in perfect harmony with (Sharp Arts) amplifying the cutting power of her blades only to run straight through electrical smoke.

She skidded to a halt with her vision hazy and shaken as the twin elements solidified into the Dark Elven women. They wore little more than black hooded cloaks and baggy trousers.

"You're slow." One of them commented before playfully flicking a streak of orange lightning at her feet.

SHSZZZCK!

Maris danced and flipped to evade the the sparks, making her way closer until she could swing at the face of her assailant.

Once again, they erupted into the elements and swirled around the shape of her sword.

"How are you doing that? Where are the bats?"

"The same way you humans have your elements, we have ours. Sometimes it's smoke, sometimes it's fire, water… it depends on your first feed and surroundings. Vampires blend in."

"And what about the surroundings? How is the Elder Ability determined? How long until I have one?" Maris was as thirsty for knowledge as a Vampire was for blood.

The elements swirled, "Like we said. Feeding. It's everything. Blood is more important than ever in this age, child. It's full of new magics from the food you eat. The air you breathe. The Class you are Reborn as. It makes every man woman and monsters blood like puzzle pieces to create the visage of your Elder Ability."

The two Dark Elves combined in their elemental form. Making a black storm cloud that bubbled with orange lightning.

"How long?" Maris continued to evade.

"Haven't you asked Rupont? I'm sure you'd like the answer considering he's the only non Elder with an Elder Ability.

"What—"

SZHZHCK!

The storm chased Maris across the battlegrounds. Interrupting her shocked learnings. She slid under grappling WereWolves, flipped over leaping Lupines and fought off other Vampires. Each group she passed caused the area to change. One moment they were in the castle. Then they were on a cliff…. A frozen lake at dusk. A village of Goblins.

"No Goblins…" Maris faced the storm cloud, manipulating the moisture within with her back to the stairs where Rupont and Sylvia watched.

"Ahhhh HELP!" The Dark Elves screamed as they attempted to reform as Maris contorted and twisted them into an amalgamated Vampric abomination of busted limbs and bulging eyeballs.

"She's not bad, huh?" Rupont cooed. "Also, don't spill my beans, woman."

"No.. she's terrible." Sylvia ignored his other comment.

THUD!

A foot smashed into Maris' back, sending her rolling through six combatants before skidding to a stop on her face.

Instead of getting carpet burn she had a mouth full of sand. So much for illusions.

[50% Health Remaining.]

"Maris, you good?" Claude and Ursula yelled in unison.

"I'm fine." Maris turned and looked to find one of the Dark Elves standing at the foot of the stairs.

The storm cloud wasn't real.

"Vampires blend I—"

SHCK!

She flung her sword backwards and stabbed the other invisible Vampire through the leg. What a gamble.

She burst into clouds and flew off. Maris manipulated the blood into a dozen spikes on her blade and shot them at the other Dark Elf.

"ARCH!" She lunged at the blood spikes and swallowed them before picking up Maris and slamming her onto her back.

BOOM!

Maris wrapped her legs around the Vampire and spit in her eyes. Her saliva turned to spikes as they dug into the Vampires eyes and temporarily blinded her. Maris then sucked in all the air she could and screamed.

The stunned Dark Elf sluggishly flipped and stumbled backward.

Maris hopped to her feet to find the other. To her left, right, the ci—

A blur of orange flew across her face, knocking off a portion her armor. Another, another…. Again…

FWSH!!!! FWSH FWSH!

Maris dropped down to a knee after the last electrical strike. The lashes on her skin didn't hurt, but they reminded her of her old scars. The village. The weakness. Why would she be reminded on a mission for more power. The power she'd wanted since the beginning?

"That's enough." Claude, Ursula and Cassidy stood in front of her. Frosty, Loba and Diamondback guarded her backside. Shadows swirled at her feet. In their darkness she could see the eyes and fangs of wolves. Was it so much to ask for such power. Maybe. But then again that wasn't how you got it. You didn't ask. Claude didn't. Ursula didn't.

Maris stood up.

Rupont watched her.

"You made your point….. you don't believe she's a Red Queen." Claude said.

Sylvia shrugged, "Oh I don't know if it's that. I just think mythical tales can be just that. Tales. Overblown legends. Wouldn't you agree, Final Lupine?"

"I don't really give a damn as long as you don't try to kill my friend to prove a point."

"Very well." Sylvia shrugged.

"Let me keep going."

Claude pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "What the fu— Please don't listen to her…. She's having a mental thing."

Sylvia watched them with amusement.

Claude and Ursula turned to Maris.

"What are you doing? You don't need to fight them. We did this so you could meet the other covens. So you know your options." Claude explained.

"Yea what's the goal here, girl?" Ursula whispered.

"We can hear you, young ones." Rupont sang.

Ursula held up the middle finger.

"Well what if they don't believe in me. What they have important lessons to make us stronger. I need to show them I can hold myself up. I can do that. I need to fight….. I feel close to something."

"What?" Ursula's eyebrows twisted.

She faced Claude. "You ever feel like your about to learn something before it happens. Not premonition but something else. Its not magic. It makes sense."

Claude was suddenly taken back to the days before unlocking Partial Embrace, when his body shifted and transformed seamlessly. Back to the days when he was first learning Natural Vision. In his dreams he could see the world in the same way.

Maybe Maris was feeling something similar. Who was he to interrupt that. She needed all the advantages she could get. The same way he did. They were the same in that regard.

"Alright fuck it. Let's go a while longer."

"So the young Queen wants to try to keep up with the Vampires."

"My name is Maris and I'm not a Queen. I'm a swordsman."