Chapter 78: Bitter taste

Tense silence settled over them. In an instant, the atmosphere between them wasn't friendly anymore. Not like it was from the start. At the beginning of their meeting, both parties were aware of their position. Scarlet was the predator, while Zyro and Pert were prey.

She was indeed a fortunate lady tonight. Because not only did she receive camping supplies, food and water necessary for survival in the wilderness. She even got herself two walking fresh blood suppliers. Food, water and blood were vampire's bodily needs to live, and she found it all in this camp.

So, why should she let them go when she has the strength to restrain them? That's also why Zyro gave his blood without resisting. Once again, their freedom was stolen. But at least their new master was a sight to be hold.

Still, Zyro hates it all. The very idea of being under someone's control sicken him. Then again, what could he do?

Defeating Scarlet wasn't easy, in fact, he had little hopes. Besides, violence was his last resort.

'Calm down'

Zyro suppressed his emotions and thought hard.

The weak obey the strong, but the wise fool the strong. If he could trick the princess into changing her routes to Log Wall, then their goals will aline, leading a steady partnership without need for violence to satisfy each other's desire.

That leads him to question himself. What is Scarlet goal? Zyro recounted his encounters with her to know the princess better. Their first meeting was in the Gricks circular castle, he stumbled upon Scarlet door and forced her to tell him where the evacuating airships are as the fallen knight. Later on, Zyro found posters of her stating her true identity as the princess of Vampires and missing whereabouts.

'Then... Her goal was to head back to the castle.'

In the face of her threatening words, Zyro grinned.

"I didn't expect your highness to be so possessive... Princess Scarlet."

Scarlet unbothered facade crumbled in that moment. Her calm smile disappeared, her crimson eyes suddenly became piercing knives. Looking at Zyro with bloodlust.

"And I didn't expect someone to identify me here." As she said that, a tiny wound opened on her wrist. She stretches her right arm, liquid blood flows from her wrist wound, defying gravity as it grows in length, forming a crimson saber.

She pointed her sword at Zyro, treating him as an enemy.

"Explain."

Zyro could feel the dreadful aura she's emitting. The pressing presence of higher life forms towards inferior creatures. But compared to the gallant Grick he faced in the night of his escape in the Gricks castle. Her's fall short. However, he can't help but feel that he had experience a more powerful pressure. Greater than prince Ron.

Zyro explained himself.

"If you're wondering why I knew your real identity, it's simple. Back when we're still enslaved by the Mine, we're occasionally tasked to delivered goods to the nearby village. One time, me and Pert decided to barter dried meat with an old vampire there who owns a shady store in exchange for blood. It just so happens that there's a poster of you there. Saying the vampire princess is missing with generous rewards for whoever finds her whereabouts."

Scarlet observed him for a moment before sighing in relief but remain on guard.

"I see. So... You want the reward?" Said Scarlet, without ill judgement. Rather, she seems glad and hopeful that they would reply yes.

Which Zyro didn't refuse. After all, money isn't desired for what it is, but for what it can do. Obviously, it can achieve tons of things.

"What if I am?"

Scarlet smiled, then put her weapon away.

"Good then, it save me a lot of trouble of convincing you two to accompany me home. If you want the reward, it's all yours as long as I reach the castle. And I'm even willing to add more if we succeed, that is. You have my word."

The bounty can only be claimed by successfully delivering Scarlet to the vampire's castle. With her highness authority, the reward will surely be given to them. However, that wasn't Zyro's real objective. Forget about the money, he wanted to escape this misty trap and journey to the outside world.

"And you have my word that we will accompany you to death." Zyro lied, there's no way he'll die for others sake.

Furthermore, her intentions were clear. She wanted to bring them along not as bodyguards. But to provide her nutritious blood daily. Traveling as a vampire wasn't easy due to their particular daily needs to live. Food and water were required to support her body nutrients so it can function properly. This package is easy to carry because they have no life. On the other hand, blood are quite difficult. It spoiled fast without magical containers, which she currently has none. Her previous blood sources were tough to deal with, to say the least. So, meeting these two understanding individuals made things smothered.

However, Zyro's interest didn't change. He still intended to get to Log Wall.

Before Scarlet could expressed her gratitude, he beat him to it.

"As you said, you want to head home. Right? Then why don't we take the more quick and efficient way."

She tilted her head.

"What way?"

Zyro pointed at the wooden fortress direction.

"Log Wall... If we head there, we could inform them of your presence. Surely, they won't ignored an important member of the royal family. They can help you return!"

Scarlet shook her head.

"That won't do."

"Why?"

Her smiled turned faint, after a moment or two. She said in a crestfallen tone.

"You don't understand. Political life is more difficult could imagine. You see, when one ascend to power, making enemies are inevitable along the way. My father, the king had passed away for quite some time now. His power is gone along with him, but the enemies remains. As an heir of the throne which many nobles greed. There are countless people who desired my life or death... Mostly death. Actually, I was reported missing due to me escaping an assassination attempt. Forcing me to wander here in the wilderness. So, if I were to get in contact with Log Wall's higher-ups. My location will be revealed and another attempt will surely occur amidst the travel. I doubt luck will favor me again."

'So that's how it is.'

Apparently, politics in this world wasn't so different from earth. That said, humans and this world inhabitants weren't so different either. They shared sentimental intelligence and so as greed for power. No one can blame them though, because there's just so many things power could accomplished. If Zyro had the power of a god, then his mission could easily be completed and he could live a peaceful life forever instead of struggling to survive everyday with almost no progress.

But that's just wishful thinking.

On the other hand, the Vampire's throne are no joke. Whoever sat on it is the king of countless vampires ruling over the vast territory. Where their mere word is considered law.

Thus, competition are bound to occur. Normally, Scarlet as the daughter of the former king should rightfully inherit the ruling position as the new queen. However, her current state can't prevent others from erasing her presence and as she vaguely stated. Her father has more enemies than allies to support her. Moreover, If she's removed from the game, then others will gain the right compete for the throne.

Zyro could already imagine just how many want her dead.

No wonder she's been wary of Zyro when he identitified her true identity. She must have thought his one of those aiming for her life.

Now, he understood how Scarlet get here. She survived an assassination attempt and is currently on the run. The quantity and wide network of her pursuers probably prevented her from seeking help in any stronghold despite her status. In contrast, it's her glorious standing that constantly exposes her identity wherever she go.

Zyro suddenly felt the urge to facepalm.

It wasn't everyday he meet a stunning young lady in the wilderness, and a princess at that!

'But why does it have to be a hot potato?'

As if the Gricks rage wasn't enough. With her alongside him, he literally just made an enemy of the vampire's big shots.

Shaking his head in dejection, Zyro decided to escape from her when an opportunity come. She's old enough to handle her own, anyway.

However, before that. His going to confirm something crucial to his plan on leaving Foggy Ring.

Scarlet must be thinking his dumb, and still can't understand her explanation. Might as well act like it.

He stubbornly pressed on.

"Then we could request for an Airship from Log Wall to immediately transport to your castle."

Scarlet sighed, not letting her temper get the best of her.

"You didn't know, do you? Airships are only exclusive to us high ranking Vampire's and Gricks. No matter how wealthy Log Wall are, the tyrannical laws of the Gricks forbid other than us to possess or manufacture airships to avoid illegal migration."

The camp was suddenly envelope in an eerie silence. Perhaps what she said was merely an insignificant knowledge. But that sentence alone had crushed a hearth.

Zyro quietly cursed under his breath.

'You're kidding me... There's no airship in Log Wall?!'

He only wanted to confirm whether Log Wall really has an Airship inside. Truthfully speaking, he had high hopes for it to be positive. But as it turns out, there's none.

Scarlet had no reason to lie either.

As slaves, their knowledge was extremely limited unlike the princess.

As his gloomy silence stretch longer. Zyro voiced before she noticed their unnatural reaction.

Pert was barely holding it in, staying still as a statue robbed out of emotions as he wore a fake smile.

"I understand... Then we'll follow your lead."

He then expresses their tiredness, and need of rest in a unsuspecting manner.

With the hunters gone, they're free to sleep on the tents. Scarlet was still sitting outside as they rested.

Laying in the tent, Zyro blankly stared at the darkness above him. Suddenly, he heard subtle sound from the tent beside him where Pert are supposed to be sleeping.

It seemed the young Aster were still awake.

Probably still bothered by it all.

Drawing an accurate map wasn't easy, leaving the Mine wasn't easy, surviving the journey through the wilderness wasn't easy. But they managed to do so, all for the sake of reaching Log Wall.

But fate played a cruel trick on them. For the path they work so hard to tride are destined to fail. It's a dead end. The taste of failure were never sweet, it's hard to swallow.

After a while, Zyro mumbled for Pert to hear. His voice was full of unwavering conviction.

"Change of plans, Scarlet is our only way now."