Chapter 37: THE GAME BEGINS
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Chapter 37: The Game Begins
The dim light of dawn barely pierced through the thick fog that hung over the vampire territory. Rio stood at the highest point of the castle, gazing down at the courtyard below, where false preparations to move the Bloodstone Core were underway. Guards moved in precise patterns, following Retina's illusions to create the perfect deception.
"Everything looks in place," Retina said softly, standing beside him, her hands still glowing faintly from the magical weave she had cast.
"Good," Rio murmured, his eyes scanning the movements with sharp focus. "Now, we wait."
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Tension in the Air
Iris paced near the edge of the terrace, her beast instincts on high alert. "Something doesn't feel right," she muttered, her ears twitching. "The air… it's too still."
Rio's brow furrowed. He felt it too. A storm is brewing.
"Retina, maintain the illusion," Rio instructed calmly. "We can't let them sense anything's off."
Retina nodded, her magic reinforcing the mirage that masked the empty carriage being loaded with fake relics. To any observer, it looked as though the Bloodstone Core was about to be transported.
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A Step Too Close
Suddenly, Iris froze. Her beast vision flared as her eyes narrowed toward a distant shadow moving along the far wall.
"Rio," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "we have company."
Rio didn't react outwardly, but his hand instinctively moved toward his sword. "How many?"
"Two… no, four." Iris's eyes sharpened. "They're cloaked in shadow magic. Trying to remain unseen."
Rio's lips curled into a smirk. "They're making their move faster than I expected."
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Laying the Trap
"Retina, prepare to reinforce the barrier. We'll let them think they're slipping through undetected," Rio whispered.
"Understood." Retina's hands glowed softly as she weaved a faint barrier, thin enough not to be detected but strong enough to contain anything that tried to breach it.
"Let them get close," Rio murmured, his grip tightening around his sword. "Once they step inside… we strike."
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The Intruders Reveal Themselves
Minutes passed like hours. The tension thickened in the air.
Then… a subtle ripple in the barrier.
"They're in," Iris whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Rio's eyes gleamed with cold determination. "Now."
With a swift motion, Rio drew his sword, the blade humming with raw energy. "Shadow Bind!"
Black tendrils erupted from the ground, ensnaring the intruders before they could react.
"Wha—?!" One of the cloaked figures struggled against the binding shadows.
"Got you," Rio said coolly, stepping toward them.
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Interrogating the Shadows
As the illusion faded, Rio's eyes locked onto the intruders—two vampires and two shadow mages. Their faces were hidden by masks, but their aura reeked of betrayal.
"Who sent you?" Rio's voice was cold, his sword hovering dangerously close to one of the intruders' necks.
"We… we answer to no one," one of the vampires hissed, trying to maintain his composure.
"Wrong answer." Rio's blade pressed closer, the sharp edge drawing a thin line of blood.
"Wait!" one of the mages gasped, fear evident in his voice. "We were ordered… by someone within the court!"
"Names," Rio demanded, his patience wearing thin.
The mage hesitated, but one look at Rio's eyes, and he knew there was no escape. "Lord Valen… and Lady Selira," he whispered, his voice trembling.
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A Dangerous Truth
Rio's expression hardened. "High-ranking nobles…" he murmured. "So, the conspiracy runs deeper than I thought."
"Retina," Rio said softly, his tone carrying a quiet command.
"On it." Retina's magic flared, creating a memory seal on the intruders, ensuring they couldn't recall what had transpired here once they were released.
"Let them go," Rio said, surprising both Retina and Iris.
"What?" Iris's eyes narrowed. "We're letting them walk away?"
"They'll lead us straight to the others," Rio said, his gaze cold and calculating. "We'll follow… and when the time is right, we'll strike."
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A New Game Begins
As the intruders vanished into the night, Rio's eyes gleamed with quiet determination.
"The real game starts now," he murmured, his mind already ten steps ahead. "And I intend to win."
Retina's eyes met his, filled with unspoken trust. "We're with you, Rio. Until the end."
"Then let's finish this," Rio said softly, his eyes fixed on the horizon where danger awaited.
The shadows stirred… and the game had begun.
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To Be Continued…