Chapter 55:Serapynhe the frozen Empress The war's end

Ah…

I woke up startled, heart pounding.

Damn it — a nightmare that ends in death.

My back was burning. I felt something cold… filthy… dried blood.

— Ugh… — I tried to get up, but my body betrayed me.

My legs ached. Every muscle seemed to burn. I looked around — still in the cabin. I was lying in a makeshift nest of dry leaves, moss, and branches — clearly assembled in a hurry. The lingering smoke in the air revealed a recently extinguished fireplace.

— Tsk… — I forced my arms to lift myself, but a crack from my waist made me give up.

I took a deep breath.

The sound that came out was guttural. Hoarse. My lungs seemed to have forgotten how to work.

— What the hell… — I murmured, irritated. — What a stupid dream.

The images were scattered: a woman, wolves, purple flames… A cross? An iron cross? And that suffocating feeling…

— Oh my God, I forgot I can't pray. — I chuckled dryly.

With effort, I turned my body. I fell to the side like a sack of bones.

It took me a while to understand what that reflection on the stone wall was. A thin, fragile shadow… horrible.

My skin was pale, covered in purplish bruises, like I'd been beaten to the bone.

My legs bore cuts; muscles burned in several places. My ribs were visible, even under a thin layer of blood-stained bandages.

My hands… were cracked. My nails? Partially gone. My eyes were sunken, the sclera veined with red. I looked… dead.

But I was still breathing.

It was like I had crawled out of hell.

My head felt as heavy as my soul.

I closed my eyes for a second.

That's when I felt it — a presence.

A chill ran through my body. Instinct made me open my eyes and look toward the cabin entrance.

Soft steps. Almost imperceptible.

Then, a woman entered.

The atmosphere shifted.

There was something about her… divine and threatening.

Her skin was porcelain white, her long black hair shimmered with violet undertones, glowing even under the dim light of the cabin. Her eyes were sharp — a deep violet that examined me as if she already knew everything.

She wore a red blouse that covered her torso, adorned with chain-like details wrapping around her chest and ending at the collar. She also wore tight black pants that emphasized her perfect figure.

Her long, voluminous hair fell over her back and partially to the front, almost like a fringe — strikingly beautiful.

She also wore a black and red armored plate over her abdomen, and a beautiful blue flower tattoo adorned her shoulder.

She was like an older version of Flávia — much more mature and terrifyingly beautiful — but that wasn't all. She looked like the kind of person who would sit elegantly atop corpses.

Fear, confusion, trembling — all of it surged inside me as I noticed the others around us.

Everyone was kneeling, as if death itself had entered the room in a graceful form.

— Bold of you. Since you're my daughter's husband, I won't kill you for looking at my body like that.

— But… you will train with me. And no matter how much you beg… I won't stop. — she said, releasing my hand and grabbing my neck.

Mother…

A cry echoed from afar. It was Flávia, running in frantically like a scared child:

— Bruno, she's not going to train you!

— Let go of his neck, he's injured!

— What are you doing here?

— Let him go, come on!

— What are you here for?

She asked like a frightened kitten.

When Flávia finished, the woman turned to her. Her eyes gleamed with a mystical purple light, as if they could unravel every secret in the world. When her gaze met Flávia's, a wave of eternal frost seemed to fall over the room.

— Flávia — she said slowly, her voice full of tenderness.

— When I heard a colossal beast horde was heading toward your territory, I came immediately. Since… my beloved daughter didn't think to inform me — she finished, letting go of my neck and walking toward Flávia.

Then, her voice turned icy:

— If you knew a stampede of that size was coming… why didn't you tell me?

She grabbed Flávia by the back of her collar, like a cat.

Flávia looked up at her, breathing deeply before answering:

— Because… I thought I should handle it myself. With my strength… and that of my subordinates.

The woman stared at her in silence for a few seconds… then let her go.

— Correct answer. If you had called me… I'd have trained you again — she said with ferocity, then turned her gaze back to me.

Her eyes scanned me for a moment.

— Three days — she suddenly declared. — I give you three days to rest… then I'll take you with me for training.

— Wait… what?! — I asked, still shaken.

She looked at me with disdain. Her aura crashed down like an avalanche. She wasn't even trying, but I felt like I'd die if it lasted any longer.

She sat on a makeshift bench, legs elegantly crossed. One hand rested lightly on the bench, tapping a finger, while the other hovered near her face. Her posture seemed casual… but radiated an overwhelming, dangerous beauty. Like she belonged on a throne of ice and blood.

In the deepest part of my soul, I felt it: I'm going to have a lot of problems with this woman.

Terrified, I simply nodded, bowing my head in reluctant submission. She seemed pleased and gradually pulled back her aura.

— Prepare yourself. In three days, I will take you to Auralith Territory — she said, vanishing on the spot.

I turned to Flávia, desperate for answers. She approached hesitantly, guilt in her eyes.

— Uh… sorry, Bruno — she muttered softly.

— When my mother decides something… it's irreversible. And she's probably going to train you in her way.

— Train me…? Your mother…?

— Yes. That was Serapynhe Auralith, my mother — the Empress of War. One of the four vampire empresses of Tenebris.

She seemed proud… but what came next erased all warmth from her voice.

— Bruno, listen closely — she said, serious now.

— My mother isn't just strong. She's cruel and brutal. Don't be fooled by her looks. If you offend her… she'll kill you.

She took a breath.

— No staring. Always be respectful. On her way here, she killed over twenty soldiers… just for looking at her body.

— She's feared by many. Even top-tier beings respect her.

— And since she's decided to train you… she'll dive deep into your powers and this world.

Then Flávia listed it out with grim clarity:

— If she tells you to do something: do it.

— If she speaks: listen.

— Don't look at her with lust.

— Don't contradict her.

— Don't offend her.

She fell silent. And then only two questions echoed in my mind:

— Why me? And… how long?

— Because of your strength and effort. My mother has had many disciples, but what she values most is determination — not talent.

— And the time?

— I don't know… maybe six months, maybe a year. Maybe… several years. Depends on how you perform.

I exhaled, trying to process everything. Questions overflowed in my mind. Develop my powers…? Her surname isn't Syla…? Will I even survive this…?

I swallowed hard and laid down, sighing heavily.

— Bruno — Flávia said suddenly — you'll need potions if you want to recover in three days.

— What do you mean...? I thought my regeneration was decent… I healed several broken ribs in three days.

She gave a faint, sad smile:

— Bruno, a born vampire would've healed in minutes. Look around you...

I glanced across the battlefield. She was right — all the wounded vampires were now standing and laughing.

— But… why?

— Born vampires can regenerate limbs in moments. Warrior-level ones heal instantly. Unless the head is destroyed or the wings are damaged, they recover in minutes.

— But you… your wing… it took days… and that scar?

— The Gargoyle was a mystical demonic beast, with dominion over earth and lightning. And it used black lightning, with abyssal properties. Even then… it only took a few days.

— This is… so confusing — I said, half-laughing.

She gently touched my face, her expression melancholy:

— Unfortunately, you'll learn how this works… the hard way.

— Ahhh… — I sighed, already picturing the hell ahead. — At least we won the war…

I tried to sit up slowly.

— Any known casualties?

She shook her head lightly:

— Your brigade was further back due to its power, so the losses weren't that heavy… But still, about 30% to 40% fell.

— That's a shame...

She simply nodded. Silence settled over us, a kind of melancholic peace.

— So… are we leaving now?

— Not yet. There are still a few hours until sunrise. The alchemists are preparing stronger potions… for you and the poisoned soldiers.

— It's good to be alive — I whispered, kissing the back of her hand before falling into a deep sleep.

— Yes… it is — Flávia said softly, watching me. ?