The Book

"Irina?"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You know about the Nerum clan?"

"This…" She hesitated and couldn't look at the Duke in the eye. "I…"

"Irina talk, what is this about?"

"The… the Nerum clan…"

She couldn't remember, her thoughts were clouded, and her head had a piercing pain whenever she tried but that name was her clan's and she would never forget it. However, she couldn't make her mouth said a word.

"The Nerum was an ancient clan from before the empires and kingdoms established in this continent."

The voice of the little dragon child interrupted their little talk. The Duke looked impressed as he didn't feel the moment Blaze entered the room. However, the little kid had been there long ago but kept concealed his presence while his golden eyes looked around, observing every detail of the woman resting on the bed. His aura was not that of a little child, after all his eyes hid the memory and wisdom of the Golden Dragon family.

"Do you know anything about them, child?"

"Yes, of course, I am from the Nerum clan too."

"What?!"

The Queen was astonished, however, the Duke and Irina looked at him deeply. Irina knew about him but never questioned his origins. Somehow, she couldn't bring out the topic, as if something prevented her from asking.

"You… you drink human blood."

"Yes, and other types of blood and meat and vegetables, we are not monsters. We only drink enough to make us healthy not to kill or inflict damage." He sighed… "Well, except if we are provoked or our life is in danger of course. After all, blood can make us stronger."

He answered nonchalantly as if it was a common question, he didn't mean to be disrespectful but there were more pressing issues on their hands. He kept looking at Lucia deeply considering something on his mind. Then he took a ring with a blood-red gem from his pocket and stared at it while lost in thought. His fingers played with it while he kept walking slowly to the bed.

Miriam wanted to ask more and she was about to when the child turned to look at them as if sensing their increasing curiosity.

"I don't know a lot about the former clan, but my family told me stories, ancient legends forgotten long ago. The people from the Nerum clan were created from the alliance between the most powerful warriors of the countries. They were chosen from the great clans of the creatures that rule the world at that time: the humans, the dragons, and the witches."

He looked at Lucia with inquiring eyes and put the ring in her slender fingers with gentleness. He always showed her the utmost respect, only to her.

"What is that?"

The Duke examined the ring that shined in Lucia's slender white hands.

"Something to help her recover faster, don't worry."

However, the Duke didn't like it that her beautiful fingers were adorned with someone else ring.

"What is this thing about them waking up? What is going on?"

The Queen was curious but afraid of the words of the child. She didn't know if this group of people were dangerous for the kingdom as Master Killian said. She needed to be sure, as she had the feeling that something big was coming.

"I don't know about the old clan waking up, but I am sure they are not monsters. We are not monsters. My parents told me before ascending that they were warriors against an ancient and powerful evil that was sealed long ago. And if it manages to escape…"

Blaze hesitated before saying the next words, he was told to wait for the right moment and help the descendants in the fight but…

"It would be terrible… we will need to prepare for a long battle."

The silence was deafening. Only the slow breaths of Lucia could be heard in the room.

The Duke semblance turned gloomy and his voice was colder and rough. "Is that what Master Killian told you, Miriam?"

"No, not at all, but he said that the Crotia Kingdom may know something about them, I will send some knights there."

"No, I will go there after Lucia wakes up."

"Lion you cannot go, you are healing and she needs to stay here."

"I am fine and I am not going to separate from her, Miriam."

"Sighs... I am not sure, I can let you risk your life."

He looked at her and a tint of red color shined in his eyes.

"Your eyes! You… your eyes."

"It is the power she gave me Miriam."

"That… How is that possible? What is that?"

"The curse," Irina said looking at Lucia. "The power of the curse from the Nerum clan."

"Irina?"

"My Miss is from the Nerum clan too."

Everyone turned to look at her, but she was immersed in her thoughts. Blaze already knew and the Duke was able to deduce it. However, the Queen was left with her mouth wide open.

"How?"

"My mistress biological mother told me, but… I can't remember it well." She frowned with pain written in her eyes. She tried to remember Lucia's mother, her name, a part of her face but she couldn't, something was preventing her and only causing her pain, she could only recall fragments of faraway memories, she didn't know if they were real.

Little Blaze held her hand gently to wake her up from her painful daze.

"Irina?" He looked concerned.

She glanced at Blaze with confusion and a frown on her forehead when suddenly something came to her memories. "… I remember… there is something on the book."

From her bag, she took out the ancient book she got from the library and skimmed through the old pages. She carried it with her at all times as it was her most valuable possession, after all, the little kid had paid with a scale.

The name on the tattered cover was written in golden letters and it said 'The Light City', the yellow pages seemed about to turn to dust with every turn. Irina's delicate hands opened the book to a marked page that was folded in the corner. She had read that passage many times that she remembered it well.

"This… This is an ancient book from the old world, I got it from the antique library. However, the story of the Nerum clan was omitted purposely here, just a small reference was made… it says that they were the chosen ones to kill the beast. I don't understand what they call the beast, but they were clearly afraid of it. Then the alliance chose the ones that will be granted a huge power, but a price must be paid. They will have to live with a curse and the sin for eternity… To drink blood from their brothers, to never see the sun and feel its warmth, to be hunted by the shadows and never rest in peace… they will live as mighty warriors but never to be remembered as heroes."

The four of them turned to look at Lucia with different feelings in their hearts. Irina was letting out silent tears that she wiped with her arm.

Suddenly the silence was disturbed by the King and some knights entering the room abruptly. They looked injured and scared, their foreheads were dripping with sweat and some scratches adorned their faces, even the King's.

"Darling!" Miriam reached for his husband seriously concerned by his injuries. "What happened?

"Master Killian escaped, someone helped him…"

"How could that be?"

"I don't know, even I and several knights couldn't contain him. The thing that helped him was…" His lips hesitated and his eyes were trembling remembering what happened a few hours ago. "It was too powerful. I've never felt anything like that before. Many of my guards fainted."

"What is it darling? Who was?"

"It was… I don't know. It didn't look human. I just remember a pair of bright red eyes and the whole wing turned cold and dark. It was dreadful…"