Chapter 89: Conversation in the dark

"What are you doing?" Zyro's voice broke the silence.

The torches that serve as light were barely burning, as the fuel supporting its flame was nearing its end.

In the dim room, Scarlet halted before him. She was stunned for a moment, then pierced him with her crimson gaze. Her eyes were like luminous rubies, looking down at him exerting a lethal beauty.

He could notice the restrained hunger within her. Her lust for blood she's preventing herself from showing.

In an even tone, she responds devoid of humor.

"Don't think I haven't noticed?" Zyro raised an eyebrow, while she continued.

"You're in a pretty bad state, am I right? That wound on the neck of yours, it had been bleeding all day because of all the strain you put on your body. You're losing too much blood... Zyro. You might die."

She's not wrong about that. As the owner of his body, of course his aware of his declining condition. He had become stronger, but that didn't mean he could win battles unscratched. In fact, it's already a miracle Zyro manages to take on vampires with the rank of an Alpha and three Beta alone, without a Mark of his own. At the expense of one serious injury. The wound on his neck was delivered by a short spear while under a suicidal locked of a dying man. It's quite deep, but nothing dangerous. What made it problematic though was where it was inflicted - the neck. Extensive bleeding can be prevented by wrapping pressure to lessen blood flow where the wound is at. Preventing excessive blood loss until it healed. However, the same method can't be used on neck injury. Because it's located below, close to his collarbone. Furthermore, the neck is where air flowed through, if he wrapped a tight cloth around it, not only will it hinder blood from flowing, but his breathing too. Added, restraining blood from going into his head is exceptionally dangerous.

With that out of the question, Zyro could only control his breathing to lower his heart rate. The slower his heart beats, the slower his blood is pumped. Unfortunately, such feats are impossible yesterday. They rush through the forest urgently, which requires the full force of Zyro's body, as the second main combatant of their group of three. Due to the constant strain, his blood circulation rushed and so did the bleeding through his fresh wound.

His already lost so much blood. The many mantels hiding his armor beneath were mostly dyed black now, and the bleeding still has not stopped. Zyro is cautious enough to let his blood stain his garments instead of letting it drip a crimson trail for the assassins to trace.

Still, the problem remains. His blood loss reaches a dangerous degree. Earlier, he consolted Aizra whether he survived or not.

According to his metal AI calculation after considering every variable - Injury severity, blood rate, his improved body anatomy and so on. Aizra concludes that his 36.9% likely to live.

No wonder Scarlet was worried. Pert, too. Actually. It's just that, the fact remains. They had no medicine, nor knew of ways to heal Zyro injury.

His been preventing them from noticing his pain intentionally for a reason. After all, his not completely hopeless. Depter is always willing to heal him if push comes to shove.

Having just woken up from his slumber by a stunning damsel, he yawned lazily.

"I'll be fine, I think."

Scarlet looks at him straight in the eye with all seriousness. Seeing his dirty black garment visibly pained her heart. Because the inky dye that stained his clothes was blood. The blood he spilled because he followed her and believed in her. If Zyro hadn't fought back then, and ran away, she would have lost her life. Even if she somehow prevailed against eight assassins, she would be aimlessly wandering in the wilderness again.

He bleeds for her... Only to fail. Yet remained by her side even though his free to go. Away from the threat of assassins.

Truth be told, Scarlet didn't regard them much when she met these two slaves. However, after going through thick and thin with them. The princess view has changed. People's real colors are revealed in tough times, and these two slaves proved their loyalty. They didn't abandon her even though they could, and shared her burden. Meeting such companions is quite rare. She's really fortunate.

She sat beside him, then said softly.

"Simply thinking you will be fine won't magically save you."

She glanced at him in the corner of her eyes.

"I've been wondering since I saw you fight... How come your strength feels so wrong? I mean, you're clearly a skilled warrior with rich battle experience. If not, you wouldn't have remained so deadly calm in battle. Honestly, that cold composure of yours scares me a bit. Judging from your appearance, our age is not much apart. So I could tell that, that chilling look on your face when killing isn't something, someone as young should possess."

Zyro deep, black eyes like two lightless void gazed at her. His tone even.

"What are you getting on about?"

If she had known what life he lived. She would understand the torments that shaped him into a monster. Or maybe she won't, nor anyone will.

"Pardon my rudeness, it's just that... It doesn't make sense. For someone like you to be weak." She paused, noticing he didn't get offended. She added. "When we're heading here, your endurance seems lacking. You probably bear a relatively high mark, considering your skills and decisiveness. However, your physical performance suggests otherwise. Furthermore, your aura is that of an unmarked being... I don't get it. I'm confused. Or was it just my imagination?"

Needless to say, no matter how highly he climbed in life. Zyro will never receive Mark, including its corresponding boons. Alas, his weakness was revealed in Scarlet's observant eyes when they're under a stressful run towards the Mine. Pert probably noticed it too, but didn't have the audacity to ask him. After all, the Fallen Knight's infamous feats can't be faked.

"It's probably your imagination."

Was Zyro's flat reply.

Scarlet was wise enough to read the underlying meaning of his words - he didn't want to talk about his odd circumstances.

And Zyro was smart enough to understand what she was trying to say - his body is strangely weak, so his health might collapse if he continues bleeding.

She hesitated for a long time, conflicted emotions arguing within her. Eventually, she let out a rare sigh.

"...I know of a way to treat your wound, although, it might not be that effective. It's still better than nothing."

Said Scarlet with a difficult expression.

Meanwhile, Zyro blankly stares at the rocky wall, troubled. Although she's offering an aid, she seems reluctant. As if she's giving something precious to her in order to help Zyro. Which he didn't actually need because he had the sealed sage favor.

'I guess this is the disadvantage of keeping too many secrets.' he thought to himself.

Due to the many secrets he hid, he's faced with misunderstandings one after another. Like Depter, his traveling companions are now worried sick for his health. It felt good tricking the sealed sage, but the same doesn't go for Scarlet.

Looking at the innocent princess forces a smile. Guilt bit his conscience. She's literally giving something precious!

But he can't outright decline her good will, right? Or else he might seem suspicious.

'I'll first know what it is before deciding.'

With that thought in mind, he pretended to be a little happy.

"You do? Tell me then."

She lingered for a moment, before explaining.

"You mentioned before when we first met an ancient practice of vampires. Which is sucking on our prey's neck to directly consume fresh blood. From what I know, my species has done so for ages for the sake of convenience. Even when my kinds entered a decent era, where society is no longer feral. The vampires still continue using this method, history books even stated it has an intimate allure, and is somewhat romantic. Well, it is in our culture. Vampires only discouraged this bold way of consumption in the Goddess era, when all creatures, be it beasts or Devine's learned to coexist. Because bearing our fangs against other species was offending for none-vampires. It got in the way of interspecies unity-"

"Can you just go straight to the point." Zyro cut her explanations, seeing it become longer and longer. She's visibly nervous, subconsciously finding ways to prolong the matter.

Although, Zyro was interested in the so-called Goddess era, a time when every creature actually lived together in harmony, including the monsters he occasionally slayed. Zyro can't imagine such a society. No, it's impossible. How could those rabid beasts fit into society? It's like asking a wild tiger to live like a civilized human.

The princess's graceful composure crumbled. She genuinely flustered like a teenage girl reluctantly saying shameful things.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I got carried away. Um, anyway. As I was saying. Vampires bit to suck blood and... Uh, you know. People are adaptable creatures, when you constantly punch hard things, your knuckles become tougher..."

Taking a deep breath, she continued. Her tone is lower than ever.

"The same goes for us, Vampires. My blood lines are really high, so I'm considered one of the purest Vampires. Because of my species barbaric practices of bearing their fangs for a long time, our body adapted in that aspect too. Which made our bite marks heal faster than normal punctures."

Zyro finally understands why a dignified royal princess like her was so flustered.

'Gods... No.'

Her cheeks burn pink as she bit her lip.

"My saliva... It can cure wounds."

Zyro's body tensed. His inside was screaming.