Berlayon's concert hall was the most famous music center in the old world, situated in a small protrusion in the southern part of the city, surrounded by a beautiful garden. This circular building, made entirely of white stone, housed a grand auditorium with perfect acoustics. Troubadours performed around the clock, uninterrupted even by war.
The Duke himself was the kingdom's largest patron of troubadours and singers. A fine connoisseur of poetry and protector of music, his greatest pleasure in times of peace was to listen to the troubadours and singers in the concert hall. He particularly appreciated songs about elopement, infidelity, and scandal, generously rewarding the performers. Rumors spread throughout the duchy that the Duke longed for unfaithful love, a notion both hoped and feared to be untrue by the local nobility.
In the bustling concert hall, many nobles watched the performance on stage. The Duke's family and knights gathered on a high garden platform, enthralled by the opera.
Theodoric, rugged and grizzled, his sideburns white, loudly cheered the performance. On stage, the troubadour sang of a countess's elopement with a duke's illegitimate son, a bold and scandalous tale that secretly alarmed many noble knights. Yet seeing the Duke's delight, they dared not comment, merely offering polite smiles.
Behind the white stone railing, Theodoric's granddaughter Fiona said to the young knight Matthew Bard, "Matthew, you're lucky to witness such a performance upon your arrival in Berlayon."
"Indeed, all thanks to Miss Fiona's grace," replied Matthew, adeptly flattering her. The young knight stood respectfully behind Fiona like a servant.
Fiona, pleased with herself, thought, "Even a legendary knight like Matthew is so respectful before me." She then offered, "After the concert, if I'm in good spirits, I might introduce you to my grandfather."
"Ah, wonderful!" Matthew beamed, bowing even lower.
Before the troubadour's song ended, a guard hurried to Duke Theodoric: "Your Grace, Princess Mogiana has arrived."
Theodoric's smile froze, his expression turning stern. "Where is she now?"
"She's on her way here, should arrive in two minutes," the attendant whispered.
Nodding, Theodoric sent him away, knowing Mogiana's purpose. He alerted his knights to prepare for the Lake Witch's arrival: "Attention, Princess Mogiana has arrived."
On the garden platform, the nobles stood ready to welcome Mogiana.
Mogiana, with a rune sword at her waist and a potion chalice in hand, entered with a strong, confident stride, unlike her usual magical floating. Her beauty and stern aura captivated the nobles, who greeted her respectfully.
Ignoring them, Mogiana whispered urgently to the Duke, clearly disapproving of the explicit and indulgent songs in the hall, eager to leave.
"I understand, Princess," Theodoric quickly assured her. "Berlayon, recently war-torn, will soon send the overdue taxes to the Cathedral of Karkason."
Mogiana nodded, her mission in the Duchy of Berlayon seemingly complete. She glanced at the illuminated concert hall and its singing troubadour, then prepared to leave.
Just then, a bloodied attendant burst in, clutching his chest, a gaping hole in his armor revealing bone and viscera: "Your... Your Grace."
Panic ensued among the nobles, women screamed, lifting their skirts; knights drew swords: "What happened?"
"Vampires! Count Vampire's army, hordes of ghouls, zombies, and blood beasts are attacking the city!" the attendant collapsed, bleeding profusely, and warned, "They're heading this way, Your Grace!"
Theodoric and Mogiana's expressions shifted drastically. Theodoric rushed to the platform's edge.
The city cried in agony, houses ablaze. Ghouls, zombies, and blood beasts rampaged through the streets. Though few in number, the powerless citizens were easily slaughtered, their cries echoing throughout the city.
Darkness reigned as swarms of blood bats flew over, leaving only carnage and bloodshed.
As the duchy's capital, Berlayon had the most guards and knights. The knights, reacting quickly to the vampire's surprise attack, were a match for the bats but outmatched against fully armed knights.
"Bring me my battle-axe!" Theodoric roared, watching his domain under siege. "I shall meet the enemy myself!"
Before he could act, a severed head rolled down the garden platform.
A monstrous creature, at least four meters tall with dark red skin, muscular forelimbs, sharp claws, and long brown manes, appeared. With a swipe of its claws, it sliced three guards, blood staining the steps.
It was a Bloodthirsty Batwolf, one of the two legendary beasts a vampire could summon!
The noblewomen's screams echoed as the beast leaped into the crowd, heading straight for Mogiana.
Mogiana drew her rune sword, realizing her opponent's superior strength indicated a high-ranking or near-demigod necromancer. Facing imminent danger, she raised her sword, but the Batwolf's claw was faster. A golden shield from Mogiana's diamond-studded golden belt blocked the attack, but she was thrown against a pillar, both collapsing.
The concert halted; chaos reigned. The knights, battle-hardened, engaged the Batwolf: "Protect Princess Mogiana! Protect the Duke!"
Theodoric, axe in hand, struck the Batwolf, wounding its right arm: "Servants! Escort Princess Mogiana and the ladies to safety. Leave this to me!"
Matthew Bard drew his sword, shielding Fiona: "Miss Fiona, we must flee!"
Terrified, Fiona's legs felt leaden. Stammering, she asked, "But where?"
"Towards the library, it's guarded and safe!" Matthew pointed.
"Alright!" Fiona ran towards the library with Matthew. En route, they encountered ghouls and vampire women. Matthew faced them, urging, "Run, Miss Fiona! I'll hold them off!"
"You better!" Fiona yelled, then fled in the opposite direction.
Chaos reigned in the city, engulfed in flames and smoke.
Berlayon Castle, being the ducal capital, housed numerous knights, men-at-arms, and infantry. The undead, after wreaking havoc, were ultimately annihilated. Theodoric personally beheaded the Batwolf, its defeat inevitable against the knights and the Duke himself. Mogiana, slightly disheveled, used magic to incinerate the undead, advising Theodoric to purify the tainted land with blessed salt. Deep in thought, she departed that night.
This night was known as the "Night of Blood."
Few knew that the next day, Berlayon's library was missing an ancient tome: Nagash's Fourth Volume.
Matthew Bard also vanished; Fiona didn't wait for his return, nor was his body found.
...
At four in the morning, in the Duchy of Winfort, Brittany, Baron Ryan's castle.
In the master bedroom, Dark Elf Olica lay in Ryan's arms, her face flushed and tired, sleeping soundly on his chest.
Ever since Veronica's arrival, Olica and Veronica took turns accompanying Ryan. With Veronica busy building her wizard's tower, Olica spent more time with Ryan.
Ryan, however, awoke to a psychic message. After dressing, he stepped onto the balcony, stretching: "Why am I always summoned at night?"
"Seems something significant is happening in this world," he muttered. Recently, his domain had been peaceful, with residents preparing for the Winter Festival. As Baron, apart from equipping his men with crossbows and training serfs in pike formations, he had little else to do.
Suddenly, Ryan screamed, pulled into a psychic vortex. Moments later, he found himself in a cave in the Charlon Forest, north of Jean Baron's domain. Four golden-armored imperial guards vigilantly surveyed the area.
At the cave's center was a black device holding a screaming redhead, its dark metal and cables apparently suppressing his soul and body.
The Emperor awaited Ryan's arrival. Impatient, he had teleported Ryan there.
Angron was present, looking at his father, then Ryan, perplexedly: "Father, why summon me for Magnus's purification? Just having Ryan should suffice."
The Emperor's majestic demeanor softened with a smile: "As I said, I need your help, Angron."
"What do you need from our brother, Father?" Ryan inquired, noticing another arrival.
The Arch-Magos of the Mechanicum, Cawl, also present, nodded to Ryan: "Greetings, Primarch."
"Hello, Arch-Magos," Ryan replied, then asked the Emperor about the power axe he'd mentioned before.
The Emperor dismissed it, cautious of his enemies, having made a deal with the Laughing God for his discreet visit. "Angron's weapon is your concern," he said, gesturing dismissively.
Angron's resigned look suggested he expected this bias. He sat aside, ignoring his father.
"Let's begin," the Emperor declared, starting Magnus's purification with Ryan.
However, minutes into the process, Magnus's eyes snapped open, roaring defiance at his father.
"Father, Magnus's psychic consciousness is awakening!" Ryan felt a powerful psychic blast, bleeding from his nose and mouth.
"Angron, sedate Magnus!" commanded the Emperor, reacting to Magnus's resistance.
"Got it," Angron grabbed a hammer, hitting Magnus's forehead with a thud, knocking him out, his psychic consciousness slipping back into slumber.
"Continue," the Emperor commanded, resuming the purification.
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