The morning sun cast a pale light over the scene of the chaos. The forest clearing near the kingdom gates was filled with vampire guards and medical personnel, tending to the aftermath of the battle with the crazed vampire.
The metallic scent of blood and the faint, acrid smell of burnt foliage lingered.
One of the vampire guards named Darius, lay on the ground while his limbs were being carefully reattached by a team of medics. His face was pale and strained, but his eyes were sharp with the memory of the horrific encounter.
"Can you recount what happened, Darius?" asked Captain Rigor, a vampire guard of higher authority and graying hair.
Darius winced as the medics worked on his torn limbs. "It was like nothing I've ever faced before, Captain. This vampire... he was unhinged. We couldn't even tell who he was. He moved so fast, and his strength was... Similar to a vampire Lord. His regeneration speed took us by surprise and rendered most of our attacks useless before he ripped my arms off."
Captain Rigor's brow furrowed. "And you have no idea who it was? No distinguishing features?"
Darius shook his head. "He was wearing a dark cloak. We couldn't see his face. But the bloodlust... it was overwhelming."
Nearby, another guard named Leon was examining the ground where the battle had taken place. Leon was younger, with a lean build and sandy hair. His eyes were a striking shade of green, and he was known for his keen senses. He knelt beside a patch of blood-stained earth with an expression of intense curiosity.
He touched the blood with his fingers, bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply. A look of surprise crossed his face. "This blood... it smells human," he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.
Leon hesitated for a moment, then licked the blood from his fingers. Instantly, his eyes widened, and he almost dropped to his knees as a wave of pleasure and power surged through him.
His essence stirred, almost like it had been given a sudden boost in strength.
"Captain," Leon called out as his voice trembled with excitement. "You need to see this."
Captain Rigor approached with narrowing eyes as he saw Leon's reaction. "What is it, Leon?"
Leon looked up. "This blood... it's human, but it tastes incredible. Far better than any human blood I've ever had. And... it gave me a boost in strength. Just a little, but I felt it."
Captain Rigor's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
Leon nodded. "Positive."
'A vampire whose blood tastes better than that of humans? Not only that, with the possibility of giving one an essence boost?'
"Whoever this vampire is, we need to find him," Captain Rigor stated while mobilizing guards.
"Keep the properties of his blood a secret and get me a sample," he said to Leon who nodded and got straight to work.
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...
Back at the palace, a different kind of commotion was unfolding. In the grand throne room, the vampire emperor, Alaric Rigorial sat on his throne.
His long dark hair, chiseled jaw, and eyes that glowed with a deep purple and a scarlet line in his irises all bore indescribable royalty. Although Edmund didn't have the emperor's hair, he most certainly bore his other facial charms.
The vampire emperor's presence commanded respect and fear in equal measure.
Around him, the room was filled with guards and advisors, all watching in awe as a blazing flame illuminated one of the throne room walls.
The flame danced and flickered, casting an eerie light over the room. Slowly, it began to take shape, forming a pictorial description that all present recognized.
One of the emperor's advisors, a slender man with sharp features named Lucius, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, it appears that one of your offspring has awakened their essence," he voiced in reverence.
The guards and attendants in the room exchanged awed whispers. Their eyes were wide with amazement and disbelief. The pictural description on the wall depicted a regal figure, surrounded by a halo of light and darkness, signifying the awakening of a powerful essence.
The emperor's eyes narrowed. "Lucien, Aragon, and Raidin have all unlocked their essences long ago... are you trying to say... Edmund?" he voiced with a deep, commanding growl.
"We don't know, Your Majesty," Lucius replied. "But the phenomenon is unmistakable. The flame is a sign that their essence has been fully awakened."
Alaric leaned back on his throne as his eyes fixed on the blazing image. "Summon Edmund."
As the guards moved to carry out the emperor's orders, whispers filled the room. The awakening of a royal essence was a significant event and this particular one had been even more phenomenal than the previous ones...
"Red, black and white? It was truly as he said..." The emperor whispered to himself as they dispersed.
"Othrial..." He summoned.
To his left, a figure that did not look entirely human, dissolved into mist and reappeared before the vampire emperor.
They knelt with their head bowed. They were draped in dark, flowing robes with a face obscured by a hood. Dark mist occasionally simmered from their visage.
A pair of glowing eyes peered out from the darkness as the emperor spoke.
"The details of the awakening phenomenon must be forgotten. It must never leave the palace grounds," The vampire emperor commanded.
"Shiiashu... Erikllee vaewun..." A strange tongue was heard from the being.
"Yes. They can recall that it happened but let them forget its details," The emperor clarified.
With this, Othrial dissolved in dark mist and vanished.
Every single official who had witnessed the phenomenon suddenly forgot that the colors that appeared were red, white, and black. The details vanished from their memories leaving only their recollection that one of the emperor's offsprings has awakened their essence.
The reason for the emperor's decision was only known to himself...
"Clarisse, your father may have been right but I'm not putting my son in danger."
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...
Edmund found himself standing in an ethereal garden, unlike any place he had ever seen.
The air was filled with the scent of exotic flowers and the soft sounds of unseen life. The garden was illuminated by a gentle, mythical light that seemed to emanate from the plants themselves, casting a serene glow over everything.
In the center of the garden, a feminine figure knelt before a bed of radiant flowers, watering them with a delicate touch.
Her beauty was beyond description, her face glowing with an inner light that seemed to soften and blur her features, making it impossible to focus on any one detail.
Her hair flowed like liquid gold, and her eyes were pools of infinite depth and mystery.
Edmund approached silently on the soft, moss-covered ground. The figure looked up as he drew near, her eyes meeting his with a warmth that made his heart ache with a strange familiarity.
"You have your mother's eyes," she said softly, her voice like a gentle breeze.
Edmund was taken aback as his eyes blinked curiously. "You knew my mother?"
The figure smiled with a sad, wistful expression. "Yes, we were friends a long time ago."
Edmund's curiosity was piqued. "What was she like? Why does no one ever talk about her?"
The figure's smile faded slightly. "Your mother was a wonderful woman, kind and incredibly powerful. But there are reasons why people avoid speaking of her. Reasons that are best left in the past."
Edmund frowned in frustration. "But why? I don't even remember her properly. She died when I was born, and all I have are vague memories and silence from those who knew her."
The figure looked down at the flowers she was tending, her hands stilling. "Some truths are painful, Edmund. And some are dangerous. But he especially forbids it. It's still too much for him to bear till this day."
Edmund took a step closer as his heart pounded. "Please, tell me what you know. Why won't anyone talk about her? And why does it seem like there's more to her story?"
The figure stood. "I can't answer all your questions, Edmund."
"That is for you to discover, in time. For now, know that your journey won't be an easy one," the figure added.
Edmund felt a mix of emotions. He knew he wasn't the original Edmund but the curiosity burned deep in his heart. He felt it might be a lingering part of the old Edmund.
"Who are you?"
The figure's eyes softened with pity. "My identity is not important."
She stepped closer as her gaze pierced into his. "Congratulations on unlocking your essence. I know the procedures you took, but I will not out you. Be proud of your achievement, but be wary. Things will only get more troublesome from here."
Edmund's mind whirled with questions. "Why do you say that? What do you mean?"
The figure's expression turned somber. "You should have just left your essence locked."
The words struck Edmund like a blow. "What? Why? What do you mean by that?"
The figure sighed with a deep sorrowful look. "Your essence was locked for a reason, Edmund. If you want answers, you must ask your father."
"What does my father have to do with this? Why was my essence locked? Was it deliberate?"
Before he could ask more, the garden around him began to fade. The light dimmed and the colors bled away. The figure's form blurred and dissolved, leaving him standing alone in the encroaching darkness.
"Wait!" Edmund called out as his voice echoed in the void. "I need answers!"
Edmund suddenly awoke. He was back in his room with the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains.
"A dream?"