I woke up, blinking away the dots that pervaded my vision. The dim light filtering through the heavy curtains. The bed beneath me felt different than my own, and the scent of the room was unfamiliar.
This wasn't my home. The unfamiliarity gnawed at my senses. The scent of aged wood was unsettling, and the weight of the unfamiliar surroundings pressed down on me. Where am I? Panic began to rise in my chest, my mind racing through possible explanations.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed. My movements were sharp, restless energy coursing through me as I scanned the room.
The walls were made out of black wood rather than the cold stone in my bedroom. They were adorned with old paintings, and a large fireplace dominated one wall, the embers within it were still glowing faintly.
This was definitely not my home.
Just as I was getting more restless, I heard a cry come from the balcony. My head snapped towards the sound.
My eyes landed on a majestic griffin perched near the balcony, its golden feathers shimmered in the dim light, blending seamlessly into its deep crimson fur. The beast's eyes, sharp and intelligent, bore into me with familiarity.
"Sekhem…" I breathed, the name almost a prayer on my lips.
Just as I was recovering from my shock, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.
She was strikingly beautiful, with long, raven-black hair cascading down her back, and eyes the colour of a stormy sea. Her presence was a mixture of warmth and authority.
She was one of my father's mistresses, a woman who had always shown me kindness, acting more like a mother than anyone else in my life.
Standing behind her were two imposing figures clad in dark armor, their faces hidden behind visors. They were Undead, most probably created by my father.
My thoughts raced. Why would my father bring me to this hidden base? What had happened to the manor? Why were there two Undead here?
All of them were placed aside as her presence calmed some of my worries. I stood up, a hint of relief mixing with my confusion.
"Eirene," I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's going on? Why am I here?"
Eirene closed the door behind her and walked towards me, her expression was serious. "Sethos, you've been brought here for your safety. Something... terrible has happened."
Her words surprised me. What could she be talking about? I hadn't noticed before but her eyes were a bit swollen and looked a bit wet.
I felt a surge of anger and frustration surge within me. "What do you mean, 'something terrible'? Tell me what's going on!" My voice was sharp, demanding answers.
Eirene sighed, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "There was an attack on the manor. Your father had used his Hypnotic powers to make you unconscious and sent you here to protect you from the enemies who seemed hellbent on 'purifying' your father."
I froze at the look in Eirene's eyes, as something deeper than concern, a sadness that sent chills through me, appeared in them. She took a deep breath, seeming to brace herself for what she was about to say.
"Your father... Amenhet... he died in battle."
After these words were uttered, there was a long silence.
The words didn't make sense at first. My father, fallen? He was the strongest being I knew, a force of nature. What does she mean he is dead?!
The disbelief must have shown on my face because Eirene continued, her voice softer.
"It was a battle with the church. A renowned exorcist, Griselda Quarta. She's known for her strength and skill. He fought bravely, but..."
I felt a surge of anger, a white-hot fury that set my blood boiling. My hands trembled as the reality of Eirene's words sank in. How could my father, the strongest man I knew, be dead? It felt like the ground beneath me had shattered, leaving me grasping for something, anything to hold onto.
"What are you saying, Eirene? He can't be dead! He wouldn't just fall like that!"
She reached out, trying to place a comforting hand on my arm, but I jerked away. The anger I was feeling right now wasn't really true anger, but was a mask for the fear, the sense of loss that I refused to acknowledge. My father was a being capable of raising the dead, commanding legions of Undead, raising storms and so much more.
How could he fall to a mere human?!
"No. I refuse to believe it. He's out there, somewhere. This is just a trick, a ploy! I am sure he is just outside. Hey father! This is not funny, you can come out now!"
Eirene's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I know it's hard to accept, Sethos. But you have to understand, your father faced an opponent unlike any other. Griselda Quarta is an exorcist, someone who is trained to fight beings like us."
Her voice was cracking and her sobs were making it harder for her to speak. With every word she spoke my rage kept inflating.
That day, a name was etched deep into my soul.
"Your father didn't die without putting up any resistance, he took out everyone else that came with that wretched woman. If the other information is to be believed, even that woman is heavily injured. He fought to protect you, to make sure that you survive."
I turned away, fists clenched, trying to process the information. My father, dead. The thought was too painful, too absurd.
"Why didn't he take me with him? We could have fought together!"
Eirene's voice broke as she spoke. "He wanted to ensure your safety. You are the future of the House of Apetnakht, its last member. He believed in you, Sethos."
The weight of her words settled over me like a suffocating blanket. My father had sacrificed himself for me. The light seemed to dim around the room. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"And now what? Am I supposed to hide here while they celebrate his death? While they think they've won?" My voice was raw with emotion.
Eirene shook her head. "No, Sethos. You are to train, to become stronger. Your father left instructions for your training, knowing this day might come. We have resources here, knowledge and power that you need to master."
Her words echoed in the room, as I glanced around absentmindedly.
The realization hit me like a hammer blow. My father had fallen, but his legacy, our legacy, lived on in me. I couldn't afford to waste time grieving.
I met Eirene's gaze, my resolve hardening. "Fine. I'll train. I'll become stronger. But when the time comes, I will find Griselda Quarta, and I will make her pay."
Eirene nodded, a mixture of sorrow and pride in her eyes. "Your father would be proud of you, Sethos. But remember, you need to prepare for the future. Amenhet was- No, He is sure that you would complete his research on Reincarnation. You need to prove that his trust wasn't misplaced."
As she said that, she took out a piece of paper from a yellow magic circle. Her mentioning his research sparked hope in my heart.
Yeah! He had been researching this for more than a century now. If he believes in me, I can definitely complete that and then bring him back.
I didn't let my hopes get too high. I was smart, but my father was the smartest. I would try my best to fulfil his wishes, but I wasn't too sure about how long that would take.
But no matter, even if it takes my whole lifetime, I will complete it.
I looked around the room, taking in the significance of my new surroundings. This place, though unfamiliar, was definitely filled with things I would need to grow stronger and complete my ridiculous dream. I turned back to Eirene, a fierce resolve in my eyes.
"I'll do it. I'll become the strongest, and I'll resurrect our family."
Eirene smiled, a hint of pride in her tired eyes. "I have no doubt you will, Sethos."
She slowly walked towards my bed and sat down on it. Eirene then opened her mouth.
"Your father left you a final message," she said softly. She then handed me a folded piece of paper.
With trembling hands, I opened it, my heart pounding. The words were simple, but they carried the weight of a thousand promises.
"Hey, Son.
I know I am guilty for making you live with the guilt of my death over your head, but remember son, it isn't your fault. If you want to blame something, blame our curse of always losing our loved ones.
I have left the Lord's Ring to you, and you should know what that means, Sethos. You're the Lord of the House now, just like you always wished!
Live long son, don't fixate yourself on avenging me or completing my research. Enjoy your life, and become strong. When you're strong enough, revive me along with the entire family, so we can finally have a family reunion.
Don't worry Sethos, I will always be with you.
Your Father and the Former Lord of Apetnakht,
Amenhet Apetnakht."
I clutched the letter to my chest, a tear slipping down my cheek. "I won't let you down, father," I whispered into the darkness. "I promise."
The weight of his words pressed down on me, a mixture of pride and sorrow swelling within my chest. How could I enjoy my life without him? The memories of his stern yet loving guidance, his unwavering belief in me, all surged to the forefront of my mind, hitting me with an intensity of a jet.
I remembered the nights we spent in the library, his deep voice narrating tales of our family, the way his eyes would light up when he spoke of our legacy, or how he always told me about his love. He always believed I could surpass him, that I could achieve what he couldn't. But now, the thought of living without him felt like a gaping void in my heart.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. This was no time for weakness. My father's trust in me was my strength. I had to be the leader he believed in, the protector of our house. The letter crumpled slightly in my grip as I resolved to channel my grief into determination.
She hugged me close, and patted my back. "It's okay to cry, Sethos," she murmured gently.
"Let it out. Holding it in won't make you better. Do you remember what we told you when you lashed out at Lisa while in your berserk state? Showing your emotions makes you stronger than hiding them ever could."
I stiffened at her words, but the sincerity in her voice and the warmth of her embrace began to melt my icy resolve. I felt the tears well up, burning behind my eyes.
"Go on," she whispered, her hand gently rubbing my back. "It's alright. Let yourself grieve. You don't have to be strong all the time. Not with me at least."
And with that, the floodgates opened. The tears flowed freely, and I clung to Eirene as sobs wracked my body. She held me, offering silent support as I mourned the loss of my father, the weight of my future pressing down on me.
For a few precious moments, I allowed myself to be vulnerable, knowing that in this place, it was safe to do so.
Finally, the storm of emotions subsided, leaving me feeling drained but strangely lighter. Eirene pulled back slightly, her eyes soft with understanding. "See? You're still strong. And you'll only keep getting stronger. We'll face this together."
I nodded, wiping my eyes. "Thank you, Eirene. For everything."
She smiled. "Anytime, Sethos. Anytime." With that she stood up from the bed.
"I am going downstairs now, Sethos. Call for me, if you need anything. Maintaining this mansion alone is quite hard, you know." She tried to make me smile but it didn't work. I just stared at her with a forced smile. She smiled back at me with empathy, then turned around and left.
As she left the room, I was left alone with my thoughts, the weight of my father's death heavy on my shoulders. The anger, the pain, it all fueled the fire within me. I would become the warrior he believed I could be. I would honor his memory, and when the time came, I would ensure that the House of Apetnakht rose from the ashes, stronger and more feared than ever.
But for now, I had to train. To master the power within me, to understand the ancient knowledge my father had left behind. This was my path, my destiny. And I would walk it, no matter the cost.
_____________________________________________________
I am currently standing in a dark room, the heavy scent of wood and incense familiar and comforting. It's been a few days since I have found myself in our mansion in Greece. I have recovered a bit, but my emotions still haven't calmed down. I was having bursts of anger over small things, like how I started yelling at Sekhem for dirtying my bed sheets with his hair after he tried to comfort me.
Like the gentle and old beast he was, he didn't take my words to heart and had understood that I didn't mean anything I said to him. Shamefully, I started crying while he continued to comfort me, he then wrapped himself around me. I slept every night after that in his presence, as he was someone who understood my pain too.
Ignoring all that, I was currently doing a ritual.
I moved to the center of the room and focused on drawing out my power. Slowly, my mana flew out of my body and created a magic circle that was made up of hieroglyphs that represented change, reformation and above all, Death. I felt the latent power infused within them.
Thankfully, I no longer needed to draw the hieroglyphs myself; my mastery over magic had evolved beyond. I still remember my father drilling the knowledge of the Egyptian runic system in my brain. Ugh… Those were easy to learn but very hard to use for complex rituals. Anyway, this isn't the time to rant about why I love/hate them.
With a focused gaze, I summoned sand, manipulating it to delicately remove organs from the mummified corpse before me, leaving the heart untouched. I could use Flesh Manipulation magic, but apparently it's 'cheating' and I should instead train my control over sand.
Marking the heart with runes of control, I felt the energies flow through my fingertips, connecting me to the entire vessel system of the undead. I continued the process by planting a runic symbol representing Mana on the heart.
As the ritual circle shimmered with dark light, I chanted certain incantations in Coptic. The chamber was filled with a quiet silence, as the corpse began to stir.
How it all worked was a beautiful thing. The rune of control granted the user limited control over beings with low will power, and as corpses didn't have any will, they could be easily controlled by this rune.
The Mana rune was responsible for taking in the ambient mana from the surroundings and converting it into usable mana. The restriction was how inefficient it was, but that could be overcome by using materials to enhance the conversion process.
Fortunately, I was just trying to create a Mummified Corpse and they didn't require that much mana to operate.
With a final surge of mana, I completed the ritual, watching as the mummified servant stood before me, eyes glowing with a faint light. I can feel a connection form with it. The Undead creatures aren't weak either, but the only big restriction was my own mind and its capabilities. I can only control a limited number of them at a time, because they weren't sentient and manually controlling them took a bit of focus on my part.
Of course, as I grow stronger, I can summon spirits and have them possess the corpses. I just need to become more powerful and have higher willpower to subdue those scheming rascals.
Just as I was starting to get lost in plans for the future, I felt someone approach the door to the chamber.
Eirene entered quietly, her presence grounding me as she observed the ritual's success with a mixture of pride and happiness. "You've made progress, Sethos," she remarked softly, her eyes reflecting the weight of recent events. There was an underlying sadness in her eyes that she couldn't quite hide.
I nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and sorrow. "Thank you, Eirene. I just hope I can progress even faster."
She smiled wearily at me. "Don't rush so much Sethos, we have an eternity to prepare if we remain in hiding."
"That's the problem Eirene, I don't think I want to remain cooped up in the mansion for that long. I am sure conflict would help me progress faster. Not to forget that the outside world has a lot of opportunities." I responded, determined to follow through with my plan.
She sighed fondly, resigning. She knew that I was as stubborn as my father. There was no way she was changing my mind. The chances of that happening were lower than that of Dracula being a woman.
"It's good that I am here to make sure you don't end up being reckless. It wouldn't do any good, if you get out of the coffin, and end up out into the sun. Also, you should start testing a different ritual or power now. Fifty Mummified Corpses are enough for practice."
She looked around at the room and her eyebrows twitched at the many undead bodies staring at her with their bright but hollow eye sockets.
She chuckled lightly, trying to ease the somber mood. "Hey, on the bright side, with all these Mummified Corpses, I won't have to clean this mansion alone anymore. "
A small smile tugged at my lips. "True. Controlling them like that would be good practice, but... where exactly did these corpses come from?"
Eirene winked. "Oh, you know, the usual. A little grave robbing, some ancient burial sites... nothing too scandalous. We have a very efficient supply chain."
I couldn't help but laugh, the sound surprising me. It felt good, a momentary reprieve from the heaviness of recent events.
"You always know how to lighten the mood, Eirene."
"It's a talent," she replied with a grin. "Now, remember, strength isn't just about power. It's about resilience, wisdom, and knowing when to ask for help. You're not alone in this, Sethos."
Her words struck a chord within me. I had been so focused on my anger and my need for revenge that I had forgotten the importance of the people around me. Eirene's presence was a reminder that I had allies, that I wasn't facing this journey alone.
"I'll keep that in mind," I replied, my voice steadier than before.
Eirene gave me a reassuring nod before turning to leave. "I'll be downstairs if you need me. Don't hesitate to call."
As the door closed behind her, I looked at my new servant, standing motionless and awaiting orders. This was just the beginning. There was still much to learn, and many more trials to face. But with each step, I felt a little closer to my goal, a little stronger in my resolve.
The room was silent except for the soft crackling of the remaining embers in the fireplace. I took a deep breath, allowing myself a moment of calm before diving back into my studies. The weight of my father's legacy was heavy, but it was a burden I was willing to bear.
As Eirene left to attend to other duties, I stood alone with my newfound servant, a symbol of my growing strength and commitment. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but I was prepared. Each ritual, each servant, brought me closer to fulfilling my father's vision—a vision of reclaiming our honour and restoring the House of Apetnakht to its rightful place.
With the Lord's Ring now in my possession, a reminder of my responsibilities as the new Lord.
_____________________________________________________
[Eirene POV]
Eirene stood at the edge of the training courtyard, her gaze fixed on Sethos as he moved with fluid grace. The air around him crackled with energy, shadows and sand swirling in a deadly dance, responding to his every command. She couldn't help but marvel at his growth. In just two months, he had progressed from the peak of Low-Class to the intermediate stages of Mid-Class. Such rapid advancement was unheard of, bordering on the absurd.
As she watched, Eirene's thoughts drifted to the day Amenhet's death had been confirmed. The news had been a crushing blow, not just to her but to all his loyal undead servants, and especially Sekhem.
She had known Amenhet for decades, and admired his strength and leadership. His loss had left a void that seemed impossible to fill. Yet, in the midst of her grief, she had found herself thrust into a role she had never expected—to guide and protect Sethos, the son who held the future of their house in his hands.
She remembered the early days of Sethos' life, the tender moments when she had cradled him in her arms, feeling a fierce protectiveness she had never known before.
Amenhet had been a constant presence, his pride evident as he watched his son grow. They had often walked together in the garden, Amenhet, herself, Sethos, and Lisa, another mistress of Amenhet. Those were peaceful times, filled with laughter and love, a stark contrast to the chaos that now surrounded them.
Eirene sighed, recalling a particular day when they had strolled through the garden. Amenhet had held Sethos' tiny hand, pointing out the various flowers and plants. She had walked beside them, feeling a sense of contentment that had been rare in their generally boring lives.
It was a memory she cherished, a reminder of what they had lost and what she should always keep in mind.
Her attention snapped back to the present as she noticed Sethos manipulating not just the shadows and sand, but also the mist around him. The sight made her sigh. His control over multiple elements at such a young age was nothing short of extraordinary. Most vampires struggled to master even one element, yet here he was, commanding three.
Eirene couldn't help but feel a mix of fondness and concern. Sethos' rapid growth was both a blessing and a curse. While it meant he would be safer in this dangerous world, it would also draw unwanted attention and expectations towards him, once he decides to go out.
The weight of the House's legacy rested heavily on his shoulders, and she was worried about how that would shape his priorities. She needs to make sure that he always prioritizes his happiness and well-being over getting stronger faster. She knew her… son was very arrogant.
As she watched him practise, she couldn't shake the feeling that Amenhet was watching too. Judging her decisions regarding Sethos.
Eirene sighed, a mix of pride and sorrow filling her heart.
Sethos was extraordinary, a true heir to the House of Apetnakht. She would continue to guide him, to protect him, and to ensure he was ready for the challenges that would surely be heading his way in the future. But for now, she allowed herself a moment of reflection, of remembering the past and thinking of the multitudes of possibilities in which they could have been safer and happier.
As Sethos continued his training, Eirene silently vowed to herself that she would do everything in her power to support him. He was their hope, their future, and she would not let him down. She watched as he bent the mist to his will, the sight both scary and beautiful.
With a deep breath, Eirene turned away, the weight of her responsibilities settling over her once more. There was much to do, and she would face it all with the same determination and strength that had defined their house for centuries. Sethos would lead them into a new era, and she would be there every step of the way, guiding him toward the correct path.