Xain was taken aback by Lennix's admission. "Listen, despite not having any siblings, I understand that sibling rivalries can be intense, but wanting to kill your own sister?" he asked, his tone filled with disbelief.
The seriousness in Lennix's expression faded as he casually replied, "Yup, I want her out of the picture because of what she's up to." Xain glanced at Zee and Larkin, realizing that they weren't as surprised as he was. It seemed Lennix had already shared this information with them.
Xain remained bewildered by Lennix's revelation. "Can I ask why?" he asked.
Lennix simply nodded in response. "Of course, you can ask," he said. However, rather than offering a direct explanation, he left Xain hanging, prompting Xain's frustration to grow. "Then why don't you just tell me?" Xain demanded, his patience wearing thin.
Lennix raised a hand in a calming gesture before casually elaborating, "Well, it's because she wants to evolve and establish her very own vampire empire, or maybe even conquer the world. You know, typical villainess aspirations." His indifferent tone only served to deepen Xain's bewilderment about the whole situation.
Larkin then interjected, his tone grave and urgent. "Xain, I understand you might not fully grasp how dangerous an evolved vampire can be. But if Lennix's sister evolves, the potential for death and destruction is incalculable. We have to put a stop to her." Xain clutched his thieves garb tightly, well aware of the immense peril an evolved vampire posed. The idea of widespread devastation weighed heavily on his mind, especially considering Ercale's concerns. If it worried Ercale, it had to be an extraordinary threat. Still, the notion of taking a life troubled him deeply.
Lennix, didn't let Xain's inner turmoil go unnoticed. "Hey, why are you acting like you can't kill? Because you nearly killed me," Lennix remarked, a touch of irony in his voice. Xain remained silent, unable to formulate a response. The memory of his near-lethal encounter with Lennix was a reminder of how far he could be pushed in the heat of battle.
Zee offered her support by gently placing her hand on Xain's shoulder. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to," she reassured him with a caring look in her eyes. Xain nodded, appreciating her understanding, and was about to respond when Lennix's voice cut in, injecting an unwelcome dose of reality into the conversation.
"Actually, there's a bit of a problem," Lennix chimed in, drawing the curious attention of both Zee and Larkin. Larkin inquired, "What kind of problem?"
Lennix proceeded to clarify the rationale behind involving Xain. "You see, the reason I asked for your help is because she," he gestured towards Zee, "is an elf, and elves are naturally strong. But he," he nodded towards Xain, "is just as strong, if not stronger than an elf. So, we could really use his help, whereas you," he pointed to Larkin, "aren't really all that useful."
Larkin maintained his composure, not rising to Lennix's apparent provocation, though his irritated expression spoke volumes. Meanwhile, Xain, having carried a lingering question since Lennix had mentioned his desire to kill his sister, finally voiced it.
"Why do you want to stop her?" Xain inquired, his curiosity piqued. Zee and Larkin were equally interested in the answer, having refrained from asking this pressing question during the previous events. All eyes now turned to Lennix, awaiting his response.
Lennix, sensing the expectation in the room, let out a resigned sigh. "I figured you'd eventually ask," he conceded, clearing his throat as if he was preparing to tell a story.
Lennix paused for a moment, propping up his chin with his hand as he considered where to begin his tale. "Let's see... Ah, this is the perfect starting point!" he suddenly exclaimed, launching into his narrative.
"About 148 years ago, when I was a youthful 22-year-old, I belonged to a noble family. We were blessed with such wealth that we could have easily constructed an entire castle!" Xain and the others listened, and it became apparent that Lennix was bragging. However, they chose to remain silent, allowing him to continue.
"So one day, I was walking under the sunny skies, feeling the warmth touch my skin and being sun-touched, and brimming with energy and strength. That's when I overheard two people talking about my family. One person had the audacity to label my mother a 'cowardly cow,' while the other referred to my father as an 'awkward bull.'"
*What are those insults?* Xain and the others thought, but none of them said anything to interrupt Lennix's storytelling.
Lennix, in a dramatic fashion, recounted his story. "So, I obviously got angry and decided to confront them. Defeating them came easily, and in that moment, I realized something... I bloody love fighting. From that point on, I actively sought out conflicts wherever and whenever I could. But being sun-touched, there weren't many who could pose a real threat to me."
Growing impatient, Larkin interjected, "Just get to the part we want to know about!"
Lennix let out a sigh. "Alright, fine. One day, my sister snuck out in the middle of the night for reasons unknown to me. But when she returned, she was no longer human; she had been turned into a vampire."
Larkin speculated, "A vampire turned her, maybe she was charmed?"
Lennix nodded, and continued his story, "Following her transformation, she mercilessly slaughtered our family, leaving me for last. And in that dire moment, I thought I'm going to die."
Zee tried to comfort Lennix, speaking with sympathy in her voice as she said, "I can't imagine what it must have been like. Your own sister murdered your parents and was about to attack you. Anyone in your shoes would have been terrified."
Lennix, however, responded in an unexpected manner. He broke into laughter so hearty that it brought tears to his eyes. Zee and the others exchanged puzzled glances, and she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you laughing?"
After wiping away his tears of amusement, Lennix explained, "You've got it all wrong. I wasn't scared, and I definitely wasn't terrified. I was worried, but not for the reasons you might think. You see, if I had died back then, I wouldn't be able to indulge in what I love the most – fighting. But here's the twist: Whether my sister killed me or not, my time was limited anyway. I'm human, and humans have a fixed lifespan. So, I made her an offer – I asked her to turn me into a vampire, just like herself. I'd become her muscle, and we'd be siblings in unlife, two sun-touched vampires, free to roam the night and day."
As Xain listened to Lennix's puzzling tale, he found himself growing increasingly confused. Before he could inquire further, he sensed something returning, a sense of completeness washed over him, dispelling the emptiness he had been feeling. With a newfound urgency, Xain reached out in his mind and called for Ercale, *Erkie?* The response came swiftly, and it was the first time Ercale had communicated with such urgency, *That vampire poses a far greater threat than I could have ever imagined!*