Golden Lifeblood

Seeing my surprise at his words, Ludwig changed the subject. "Besides the Werebeasts, we Faes also have the ability to heal ourselves," he tried to divert the topic. "However, our healing process isn't as rapid as that of the Werebeasts. Additionally, we cannot heal others like healer witches can unless we are Water Faes."

His explanation made me ponder. "How were you able to heal me if you're not a Water Fae?" I began to connect some dots. "And if Wind Faes are the only ones who can fly, how is it that Liam can effortlessly do so? As far as I remember, he's a combination of Fire and Water Fae, not Wind."

Ludwig's smile held a hint of melancholy as he spoke, a gesture that had become somewhat common for him. "It's one of the advantages of having blue blood. We possess the ability to fly and also to heal others."

A long and heavy silence enveloped us before I mustered the courage to voice my confusion. "But... how? How did you acquire those scars if Fire Faes are immune to burns? And even if you were burned, you mentioned that you could heal rapidly. So, how did the scars come about? Was it due to the actions of another Fire Fae? But…"

I trailed off, uncertain if it was appropriate to ask such a direct question. Yet, the puzzle of his scars was too perplexing to ignore. Despite being a Fire Fae, Ludwig bore unmistakable burn scars.

Expecting silence or evasion, I was surprised when Ludwig chose to answer after a thoughtful pause. "In Quailsham, there exist sorceries capable of bending reality itself, making the impossible possible." Ludwig gently touched the scar on his cheek, his expression darkening momentarily. "Amelia delved into dark magic and made a pact that cost her soul. She used this newfound power to exact vengeance: she murdered my father, cursed Hiyasmin, and then subjected me to the agonizing flames of dark magic." The bitterness and anger in his voice were palpable as he recounted the harrowing events.

I hesitated to speak hastily, knowing that recounting the painful past was still a raw wound for Ludwig. Despite my reservations, a surge of empathy drove me closer to him. With trembling hands, I reached out and gently touched his marred face. He gasped momentarily, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture. I couldn't be certain if my actions brought him any solace, but offering comfort to Ludwig was my intention, no matter how futile it seemed. He had endured so much, a fact that had been hidden from me until now. I wanted him to realize, if only for that fleeting moment, that he wasn't alone in facing his troubles.

Emotions I couldn't quite identify swirled in his eyes as we held each other's gaze. It felt like an eternity passed before I allowed myself to smile softly and step back, returning to my previous seat. An unspoken understanding hung between us, and it took a considerable stretch of time before either of us dared to break the silence with words. 

"Can you provide information about the portals?" I whispered hesitantly, feeling as though it shouldn't be asked. Yet, I was surprised when Ludwig responded.

"I'm sorry, Louise," he began, and I could sense his genuine concern. "But I don't know much about the portals, the Transcendence, because I have never seen one in my entire life. Despite being a Fae, I was not given the chance to guard any of them. To put it simply, no one alive has even had that chance. I just knew that all were destroyed during The Great Realm's Rift. And when one portal unexpectedly appeared, I was already banished, living outside the kingdom. When I returned to Fortunalia, new portals were almost being created, but before they could become operational, they self-destructed for some unclear reason. However, we believed it was for the best. If there were no portals, your world would forever be at peace."

Ludwig seemed to sense my saddened reaction to his answer, but then he spoke again reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll ask Liam once he returns for more details."

His words brightened my mood, and my face lit up. "Liam has seen one?"

Ludwig nodded. "Yes, when he was young, before his parents died."

We fell silent once again, as we had done countless times before, gazing at the sky, the stars, the moon, and beyond. 

After some time passed, I couldn't help but ask, "I wonder why the Great Realm's Rift happened? What were they fighting for? Is it also the same in our world? Gold, glory, power?"

Ludwig's response was straightforward. "The war happened simply because there was a group of creatures who craved immortality."

"Really?"

Ludwig nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Here in Quailsham, due to the unpolluted air and natural magic, we can live up to 200 years, more than double the lifespan of normal humans in your world. It's not due to enchantment but rather the magic of Quailsham, known as the Essence. This means that if a normal human without any Essence were to live here, there's a strong possibility they would also enjoy an extended lifespan due to our magic. However, there were beings known as the Dreadspawns who desired eternal life."

As Ludwig's words sank in, I found myself blinking repeatedly, trying to fully grasp the implications of what he had explained.

"The war occurred because their methods of attaining immortality were unjustified," Ludwig stated firmly, seriousness resonating in his voice. "They were consuming the blood and essence of other creatures to gain their strength and lifespan. In your world, they are known as Vampires."

"Vampires?" I exclaimed in surprise. "There are Vampires here?"

"The Green Demon allied with them without the permission of the other demon families, which escalated the war, making it bloodier and spanning centuries, claiming countless lives, mostly innocent ones. The Golden Lifeblood, the founders of the Regalis dedicated to fighting evil and maintaining order, opposed the Dreadspawns and initiated the conflict. They were witches with literal gold running in their veins. The conflict intensified when the Aetherius allied with the Dreadspawns and attempted to breach into the human world. The result was catastrophic. All perished, including the Dreadspawns, Golden Lifeblood, and Green Demons allied with them. Only a few from Aetherius and Regalis survived that brutal battle."