Despite the gruesome sight of Elara tearing into Rythe's flesh, Elysar found himself oddly fascinated by her, 'This should be a level of beauty that is rare even for most noble girls of this world...', Elysar found her also on par with his mother's beauty, way above his two maids.
Her beauty was not a gentle one. It was fierce, violent, almost predatory. Yet, it was undeniably magnetic. Her high cheekbones, the sharp angle of her jawline, the fullness of her lips - all were touched with a wild, untamed beauty that was as arresting as it was terrifying. Her purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, its waves framing her face and falling past her waist.
And then there was her body. The cut of Rythe's blade had torn through her clothes, revealing the curvature of her chest. Yet, rather than blush with embarrassment or attempt to cover herself, she seemed completely unaffected. It was as though the exposure of her body was the least of her concerns.
Elysar watched as steam began to rise from her wounds, a testament to her regenerative abilities. He'd heard of vampires' renowned healing skills, but seeing it firsthand was another thing entirely. Even as she feasted on Rythe's flesh, her wounds started to close, the skin knitting itself back together with a speed that was nothing short of miraculous.
But more than that, he found himself intrigued also by her strength, her ferocity, and her determination to survive. It was an attitude he could respect, find interesting, and admire.
'This regeneration... this mana capacity... She would make an exceptional subordinate no doubt about it... But how to sway her peacefully, that's the question...' Elysar mused, his mind abuzz with strategies. He wanted to earn her allegiance through persuasion rather than coercion; he believed that the more willingly someone follows, the more reliable they become.
After all, someone with such a fierce desire to survive, as she exhibited, would likely weigh their options carefully. Once she understood his status, he was confident that she would see the benefits of aligning herself with him and the dangers of crossing someone of his caliber.
The ten remaining Knight Vanguard-level underworld mercenaries, realizing their captain's downfall, hastily broke the formation of their magical array and charged forward in a final attempt to take control of the situation. Their faces under their masks were full of determination and desperation, their eyes filled with a fierce resolve. However, they were met with an unexpected counter.
From the shadows, a formidable force surged forward. Leading the charge was a man of imposing stature. This was Garrick Stoneheart, known throughout the land as the "Terraformer Knight." His sword, like an extension of his will, danced in his hands, its blade gleaming with the combined elements of earth and wind.
Garrick's first attack sent a wave of earthen constructs toward the mercenaries. The ground beneath them morphed and shifted, the stone spikes rising to meet their charge. This was his Stone Gale technique at work, reshaping the battlefield in an instant, forcing the enemy to adapt to an ever-changing terrain.
The second wave of his attack was a silent onslaught of wind-infused slashes. They were swift, almost invisible, slicing through the air with devastating accuracy. Each stroke of his sword sent gusts of slicing winds, cutting through the ranks of the mercenaries with the precision of a skilled surgeon.
Behind Garrick, his squad of twenty elite bodyguards followed his lead. Each of them, a Knight Vanguard in their own right, fell into a seamless formation, their actions mirroring the precision and harmony of their leader. They moved as one, their attacks coordinated and efficient, leaving no room for the mercenaries to regain their footing.
Caught off-guard and outnumbered, the mercenaries fell one by one, their desperate charge meeting a brutal end under the combined might of Garrick and his men. The battlefield, once a standoff, was now a scene of utter domination.
As Elara continued to feast upon Rythe's remains, she momentarily paused, her blood-streaked mouth hanging open in a display of shock and awe. The scene unfolding before her was a spectacle she could hardly comprehend. The rapid and ruthless dispatch of the mercenaries, coupled with the awe-inspiring might of the man who seemed to command earth and wind, painted a picture of a force she had sorely underestimated.
Her astonishment intensified when she witnessed the strongest among the victorious warriors reporting to Elysar with a display of deference, 'Impossible... Who is he?', The thought echoed through her mind, reverberating with a blend of dread and fascination. 'I'm cornered... There's no chance of escape even after my recovery. I'm entirely at this man's mercy.'
The Knight Captain was undoubtedly a formidable adversary, probably matching her in power. Coupled with the squad of twenty Knight Guards, escape seemed like a fleeting dream, especially in her current state. 'I have no choice but to go along with his intentions, whatever they are, at least for the time being until I find a means of escape...', She concluded, her face glistening with perspiration that only enhanced her captivating allure in Elysar's eyes. Her plan was clear, but the situation was anything but.
"Vampiress, don't harbor illusions of deception...", Elysar warned, his tone as firm as it was cold, "Observe the insignia these men bear. They are all under my mother's commerce authority. Show her, gentlemen.", As his men flaunted the emblems of their allegiance, Elysar removed his mask, revealing a face both youthful and ruggedly handsome.
"Valthoren... You're... Elysar Valthoren!", Elara stammered, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and fear. Even for a person like her who experienced winds and rains in life, who was on the brink of going insane from every kind of betrayal and treachery she experienced in the weeks leading up to today, it was very shocking.
If there was one noble household whose reputation was universally known throughout the empire, it was undoubtedly the illustrious Valthoren family, alternatively regarded as the "royal family" or "royal-class family". They were the epitome of noble power within the empire. Never had she envisaged encountering the heir to such a prominent lineage so intimately. Realization dawned on her, dispelling any lingering notions of outwitting this man. It was clear she would have to acquiesce to any demand he might impose.
Elysar's lips curled into a nod of approval upon just witnessing her stunned reaction, "It's beneficial that you comprehend the situation...", He remarked coldly, "You will start by introducing me to your background and your origins. I urge you not to resort to falsehoods; the consequences could be detrimental to your well-being. I saved you from your predicament because I saw a potential subordinate in you. However, should I determine that you are unfit for such a role now, I won't hesitate to eliminate you...", His voice trailed off, the threat hanging in the air like an ominous cloud. He first decided to build some authority.
Elara nodded reluctantly, biting her lower lip in a way that was unintentionally seductive. She began to share her story, slowly and deliberately, with Elysar occasionally interjecting to ask clarifying questions.
Elara was currently seventeen-years old. She was born into a vampire clan that lived clandestinely within the underbelly of society. Trained in combat and assassination techniques from a tender age, she swiftly demonstrated her prowess as a lethal warrior. Her clan, the House of Shadows, was notorious for their proficiency in thievery and infiltration. They thrived in the underworld, undertaking high-stakes heists and collating valuable information for various criminal syndicates.
Elysar leaned back, listening attentively as Elara delved deeper into her past, describing her time with the Night Stalkers, an influential mercenary organization that reigned within the underworld. Embracing an opportunity to capitalize on her lethal skills and escape the stifling control of her clan, she had enlisted with them, quickly making her mark as a potent asset. But her rise to prominence came with a grave cost.
Elara's tenure with the Night Stalkers, however, was abruptly cut short when a mission, to assassinate a powerful underworld boss, spiraled out of control. During an assignment, she and her squad inadvertently injured a powerful noble who appeared to be there doing some kind of illicit transaction with the crime boss.
He was of a Duke-King class family, and she wasn't aware would be there or what his identity was. And that big misstep sent shockwaves through the organization. Fearful of retribution from the noble's influential family, the Night Stalkers made a calculated decision to liquidate her entire squad and betray Elara, using her as a scapegoat to quell the brewing storm.
They even offered her as some kind of a personal sex slave to the young noble. Even if they operated underworld, they were still under the rule of nobles at the end of the day, like anyone else, in the empire, especially by such a high-level noble house. Fortunately, her sharp mind led her to leave the organization as soon as she realized the origins of that guy. But, her subordinates weren't so lucky, they were killed off before she managed to warn them later.
This act of treachery echoed within the clandestine corridors of the underworld, reaching the ears of her vampire clan, the House of Shadows. Notorious for their expertise in thievery and infiltration, they were a well-established clan that had managed to flourish within the underworld's shadows. However, they were not immune to fear, especially when the threat came from more powerful underworld factions such as the Night Stalkers.
With Elara inadvertently finding herself in conflict with the Night Stalkers, her family felt a chilling compulsion to betray her. They had to protect themselves and maintain their precarious position within the underworld hierarchy. The idea of harboring or aiding Elara was too risky; it could invite the Night Stalkers' wrath, leading to the obliteration of their family and the status they had painstakingly acquired.
This betrayal, especially from her parents, devastated Elara. She just stopped for a few days to possibly say goodbyes to them and inform them that she would be away for a long time, but the ambush was already set and even her parents participated and lured her in by telling her that everything was safe inside their vampire hideout inside the capital city.
It added fuel to her burgeoning desire for power and vengeance, spurring her to embrace her darker instincts. The family that should have been her sanctuary abandoned her when she needed them the most, teaching her a harsh lesson about trust and ambition in the unforgiving world of the underworld. It was the moment that even the last semblance of her emotions and moral code were wiped away.