Chapter 16: First Knight

(Silver's POV)

"Calm down, man. I was just checking if Emily was alright," he said in a vexing manner, a sinister smile on his face.

I was struggling to hold my anger in.

"With a spear pointed at her!" I yelled, clenching my fists.

If I had been just a second late, Emily would have been... I don't even want to think about it. I need to see how dangerous he is.

I decided to use [Ei].

Race: Vampire

Age: 17

Magion Amount: 5,000

Threat Level: ???

Skills: ???

"Hey, come on, man! No need to use Ei. Don't you trust me?" he said as he stood up from the ground, dusting himself off.

"Answer the question!" I growled, my voice threatening.

"What if I don't?" he replied playfully, clearly enjoying himself.

"Then be ready to lose your life." I said, calm and emotionless as I summoned my Bloodless Weapon.

I immediately used Accelerate to charge at him, swiping my sword and aiming for his neck.

He blocked using his spear, but it didn't matter—I sliced clean through his weapon. However, I stopped my blade just in time; it only barely grazed his neck.

I still wasn't prepared to kill him. I needed to think calmly. If I killed him now, I wouldn't get answers as to why he wanted to harm Emily.

"H-Hey, please spare me! I'll tell you everything, please!" Kent pleaded, his face full of fear.

I lowered my weapon, deciding to take this opportunity to find out more about the Fallen and their plans.

"Just kidding," Kent said in a joyful tone, all traces of fear gone.

He summoned his spear in his left hand and swiftly hurled it toward Emily.

I didn't think. I used Accelerate and threw myself between the spear and Emily, the weapon piercing through my chest.

"Hahaha! Trusting me was a stupid move, Silver!" Kent yelled, laughing uncontrollably.

I struggled to stand up, ignoring the spear embedded in my chest. The only thought in my mind was to kill Kent before I passed out. If I didn't, he would kill both Emily and me.

"Ugh... Kent, you..." I mumbled, struggling to speak and gasping for breath. My vision blurred. Summoning my Bloodless Weapon, I swayed back and forth, barely able to stand upright.

I collapsed to the ground again. Breathing was agonizing, and my entire body felt weak.

"So, the poison has finally kicked in. That took longer than expected," Kent said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He approached me, dismissing and resummoning his Bloodless Weapon.

[Sound Control]

I let out a deafening screech. Kent dropped his weapon, clutching his ears and stumbling back. Seizing the moment, I mustered the last of my strength, roaring as I used Accelerate to pierce through Kent's stomach.

We crashed through the infirmary's broken window, tumbling toward the ground. I drove my blade deeper as he desperately tried to remove it.

We hit the ground with a brutal thud, my sword pinning Kent to the earth. His lifeless corpse lay next to me.

"Emily... is she..."

***

[Skill: Regeneration: Low >>> Mid]

[Skill: Copy >>> Perfect Copy]

[Skill: Immunity, Copied]

[Skill: Poisoner, Copied]

I lost consciousness after seeing my skills evolve.

***

I don't know how long I had been asleep, but when I woke up, I saw Emily sitting on a chair next to my bed, her head resting on it as she slept. She was holding my hand.

I was so relieved she was safe. But what was she doing?

I felt her sending magion through my hand into my body.

"Emily... Emily!" I softly called out.

She slowly raised her head, rubbing her eyes. As soon as she saw me, her face lit up.

"My King... I was so worried," she said, jumping toward me and hugging me.

I had never seen Emily this worried. Was it because my life was tied to hers?

"Emily... I'm fine. Sorry I worried you," I said gently, wrapping my arms around her.

After a while, she let go and sat back in her chair. I took the moment to look around the room, wondering where I was.

The room was completely white, with only a bed and nothing else. The stark color made it feel emptier than it already was. I glanced back at Emily, noticing a slightly concerned expression on her face.

"Emily, where are we?" I asked, my tone more serious.

She hesitated, nervously fiddling with her fingers.

"T-This is... Scarlet Detention Center," she said in a nervous tone.

"Yes, and?" I asked, confused.

"W-Well..." She struggled to get her words out.

Why was she so nervous? It was the first time I had seen her like this. It was almost... cute. But still, why?

"Emily, why are you so nervous?" I asked gently.

"My King, you have been sentenced to detention for one year... for killing a Vampire," she finally replied.

"What?! How could they just... Do they even know why I did it?" I exclaimed.

"Yes, they know to some extent, because of the poison they found in your body," she said calmly.

"And yet they still decided to lock me up—for a whole year?!" I shouted, slamming my fist onto the bed, teeth clenched in frustration.

"There's a chance you won't have to stay here," Emily said, trying to soothe me as she held my clenched fist with both hands. "A hearing will take place in a few days to decide your final sentence."

"I can't believe this," I sighed.

I noticed Emily seemed as though she wanted to say something serious.

"My King... Thank you so much for saving me again," she said as she knelt on one knee like a knight.

Emily proceeded to kiss the finger she had once bitten. The flower ring began to glow.

"My King, I swear my undying loyalty to you. Even in death, I shall follow you," she said with a calm but resolute tone.

This was the knight ceremony. The Blood Pact has three tiers: Subject, Knight, and Queen. When a Subject becomes a Knight, they must obey any and every order from their Monarch. Emily had truly chosen to serve me for eternity.

"Emily... I didn't save you to be repaid," I said, looking down at her.

"I know," she immediately replied, her eyes resolute.

"Emily, there's no turning back after this. Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes!" she answered confidently.

"Alright. I, your Monarch, appoint you, Emily Bloodsworth, as my first Knight," I said before lifting her hair and kissing her forehead.

This action sent my magion directly to her brain, sealing the pact. It would only work if she was willing.

"How do you feel?" I asked after stepping back.

"I feel fine," she said.

The ritual could fail if she hadn't fully accepted me as her Monarch.

The door suddenly opened.

"Visiting time is over. Come out," a guard said in a deep, commanding voice.

Emily stood up. "I'll visit again, Silver," she said softly with a gentle smile before leaving.

The door shut with a click. I fell back onto the bed, arms spread out. Staring at the ceiling, I sighed deeply. Emily's absence made the room feel even emptier and the silence was deafening, I could hear myself breathing.

"Oh... I almost forgot. I gained new skills. Let's see what they are," I muttered.

***

Race: Vampire

Age: 16

Magion Amount: 10,000/15,000

Stats:

Strength: 22

Speed: 20

Reflexes: 15

Skills:

Race Skills: [Sei]; [Ei]; [Regeneration: Mid]; [Night Vision]; [Accumulation]

Accumulated Skills: [Accelerate]; [Copy]; [Sound Control]

Created Skills: [Compress]

Copied Skills: [God's Sense]; [Immunity]; [Poisoner]

Magic:

Element: [???: Locked]; [???: Locked]; [Water]

Spells: None