Me and Eirene were leaving the mansion for the first time since we found ourselves stranded there against both our wills. It was night right now, as was required for us to leave the house, otherwise I don't think even our ashes would be found.
This weakness that we got from copulating with Romanian vampires was very annoying. Even though their powers such as Mist Manipulation, Bat Manipulation, and their unique ability to create Undeads were "good".
Though, I personally hate the method and outcome of their fake necromancy. The undead they create are very weak and not to mention that its power is decided by the one they bit to create an undead. The only thing good was the ability of the undead to spread the disease quickly.
Anyway, we were currently headed for somewhere... I never asked Eirene where exactly.
"Uhh, Eirene? Where exactly are we headed? I have ever been to the underworld, you know." I asked.
While asking, I looked towards her, and she was wearing a traditional Mesopotamian dress made of fine linen, with intricate embroidery and beads that caught the light of the street lamps.
Father used to talk about these kinds of clothes a lot, always going on about how beautiful my grandmother looked in them. I have to admit they do look good.
But my annoyance was kind of getting in the way of truly appreciating the beauty. The reason for my annoyance?
I too was forced to wear a traditional Sumerian male attire— a kilt-like garment called a kaunakes, made from wool, and a cloak draped over my shoulders.
Ugh, while comfortable, this wasn't my style, but wearing these was a good thing to do as we were going to meet Demons who were hard traditionalists and liked these kinds of showings.
Especially my Grandmother figure. The woman we were headed to meet. I have personally never met her, and only know about her from second hand accounts by father.
I will see her today I guess.
"We need to go to the Railway station here," Eirene smiled at my question and spoke. "As you have been taught, interdimensional travel via teleportation is forbidden unless you have permission from the territory you're visiting,"
"For permission, you need to visit it through the Train System first, where you would be registered and in-turn get acceptance to teleport to that territory in the other dimension. So we need to take a train from the Underworld Railway System to travel. It's always situated in a secret portion of the Railway Station only accessible to supernatural senses."
She finished her explanation, and I nodded to indicate my understanding, but one thing was slightly bugging me.
"Haven't you been to the Underworld multiple times? You should have the permission?"
"Yes, you're correct, Sethos. I can teleport to the Kur but since you're with me, I need to get you registered too."
"That makes sense, but why aren't we teleporting to the Railway Station directly?" I tilted my head slightly and asked curiously.
Her smile widened and I felt a faint sense of dread looking at the mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Why! Don't tell me you don't want to take a night walk with me anymore?! Oh, my dear Sethos has completely forgotten me, whatever am I supposed to do!" She faked a scandalous look that garnered the attention of passers-by, and prompted them to laugh at us.
"Eirene!" I whined and she broke her facade and fell into a giggling streak. I sighed at her antics and decided that not talking would be better. She looked like she had enough fun for now, so she was fine with the comfortable silence that followed.
As we walked through the streets, I found the blend of ancient and modern very striking.
The old looking cobblestone paths were illuminated by ornate clay lamps that lined the streets, their design reminding me of the oil lamps that my father had a collection of.
High-rise buildings loomed overhead, their sleek glass and steel frames adorned with Sumerian decorations.
The streets were narrow, but the local folks managed to do with what they had. Even when it seemed like there would be a lot of traffic, the streets somehow managed to clear up.
The marketplace was bustling even at this hour, with vendors selling everything from books, traditional pottery and textiles to vegetables and fruits.
The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and freshly baked bread. Everyone was happily bargaining with each other for the cheapest prices. Despite all of this hinting at the city being more of a village, it had all the facilities that one would find in a modern city.
I couldn't help but marvel at the contrast between this vibrant, bustling city and the quiet, rustic life of the Moldovan village where I had spent most of my life.
There, the nights were silent except for the occasional howl of a wolf or the rustle of leaves in the wind. The only time when the nights weren't dead, was festival time. Here, the situation was the exact opposite, the city was alive with activity even when night had taken over.
I didn't notice at first, but I was so engrossed in my observations of the beautiful city that we had already reached our destination. I guess our mansion was very close to the station.
The railway station was a grand structure that combined the essence of old and new quite well. Massive stone columns supported the high ceiling, and the walls were adorned with carvings probably depicting scenes from Sumerian mythology.
It would have almost felt like I was in the past, if not for the digital displays and automated ticket booths.
The architect must have been ecstatic while designing this, however the same can't be said for the Engineer.
Poor soul. He probably changed careers after this.
Anyway, Eirene handled the tickets she had booked online. Apparently you can book tickets to the Underworld from the Internet. Makes sense.
As I entered the station, I had to admit that the architect knew what he was doing with the designs. They looked fabulous. But I didn't have enough time to fully appreciate them.
I watched the trains arrive and depart, their steel forms a far cry from the horse-drawn carriages and old diesel engines of my village.
It struck me how wonderful it would be to travel to different places around the world, to experience the diverse cultures and landscapes. I wonder if the heavens of different pantheons would be accepting of a vampire?
I wondered about this question as we entered the secret part of the station that Eirene told me about. There was no difference between the parts, this one just had fewer people.
We didn't have to wait much as our train arrived quite fast. It was an abyss black motor train, and had an insignia engraved on it. I wasn't able to identify what it signifies but the design and its similarities to the sigils outside makes me believe it is related
As we boarded the train bound for the Underworld, we were led to a private cabin by a man who was standing at the door. The cabin that greeted our sights was red in color.
I noticed that the cushioned seats looked very comfortable. To test my observation, I quickly climbed on my seat, and it was indeed as I expected.
Nice.
Eirene giggled at something, and when I turned towards her, she just shook her head and sat opposite to me without saying anything further. It seems she is going to be acting weird the whole journey.
As I was about to ask her when the train will start, an unknown man wearing a black uniform entered our cabin. I immediately got alert, but seeing Eirene not responding, I relaxed. The man extended his arm, and opened his mouth to speak.
"Good day to you two, can you show me your tickets?" he asked, and Eirene handed him the tickets she had been holding onto for quite a while now. He took it, and returned them after a quick examination.
"Are you both registered?" He again asked, his voice still curt and stoic. I looked at Eirene, and she was already prepared to respond to this question.
"I am registered, but the child with me isn't. This is his first time visiting the Underworld."
"Hmm. Okay. Let me confirm your identity first. I would create one for him after that." The guy looked me over and then continued to take out some weird looking thing. It looked like the hilt of a sword. I wonder what that does?
He pointed one face of that 'hilt' at the tickets Eirene had handed over and surprisingly light started to come out of it.
What kind of magic is that? Also why am I not sensing any mana? Is this guy that strong? Why is he doing such a job then? I am so confused…
Anyway, that guy continued to do the same for the other ticket and then nodded.
"Alright, your registration checks out. Now, let's get this guy here an ID," He smiled looking at me. He then let that item fall and it was immediately teleported by a magical circle that appeared at his feet.
Another magical circle appeared over his head and a similar looking 'hilt' fell out from it. The only differences that I could see were the color and size.
"That's a device that would scan your information like facial structure and name, Sethos. It's a procedure to get an ID." Eirene informed me, and the weird guy's lips and eyebrows started to twitch.
"His name is Sethos? He is named after Set?" He asked and his voice and expression radiated the urge to laugh out loud.
"Yes. It's a lovely name, isn't it?" Eirene smiled humorously too. Tsk, it's not my fault my father decided to name me after the guy that used to be our Patron God. I don't really mind anyway. Sethos sounds cool.
He laughed a little and smiled at me. After some minor questions about my age, name and such stuff, he pressed his finger on the device and something begane to come out. He handed it over to me and I was amazed at what it was.
It was a shiny piece of paper that had my photo on it. It also had some words written on it, but they were written in some foreign language. Thanks to whomever who thought about putting the translated version on it.
"Thanks for your efforts, sir. Sethos, thank him too." Eirene thanked that guy, and he seemed happy at the praise.
"Thanks wei- uhh, uncle?" I think he should be an uncle. Pretty hard to tell the ages of people when everyone looks young. Though, seeing how he was still smiling, I probably got it right.
"Thanks for your cooperation too, young man. Anyway, I hope you two have a safe journey to Kur." He bid us farewell. Just as he left, Eirene took the ID away from my resisting yet gentle hands and began to coo over my "cuteness".
Sigh, why am I stuck with her.
______________________________________________________
I had expected the journey to take long, but it turned out to be only a one hour trip. The journey was entirely too peaceful, especially because me and Eirene were in an isolated compartment.
We had spent it mostly reading books, though we did occasionally talk. Most of the time it was me questioning her on what I could find there. I don't know why, but she seemed oddly happy answering my questions.
All this tranguilty was broken just now when an announcement responded through our compartment.
[Announcement: We are about to cross the dimensional barrier. We are about to cross the dimensional barrier.]
Just as this announcement rang, I looked outside the video. What had earlier been just darkness, showed a kaleidoscopic mixture of colors for an instant before switching to showing a view of a desert terrain.
It looked like a never ending river of yellow sand. Despite that, it had an odd sense of calm. I felt especially attracted to it. I felt like the sand and scored winds flowing through were calling out to me.
Before I could sink deeper into this feeling, my mind was snapped out by Eirene. I blinked and suddenly the deserts were replaced by something different.
There were seven gates in front of the train and all of them were blocked by big cylindrical rods that looked like bolts.
As the train approached the first gate, the lights flickered, casting an eerie glow through the cabin. Eirene sat beside me, her eyes calm and focused, while I tried to quell the rising excitement and curiosity within me.
The train slowed, and a figure appeared outside. My knowledge of mesopotamian mythology proved useful as I recognised this figure. It was the God Neti, also known as The Gatekeeper. He had a tall and imposing figure worthy of a deity, and his eyes were so sharp that they looked like they could pierce through me in an instant.
The train stopped momentarily as the bolts were undone, and the gates creaked open, revealing the path ahead. The process repeated at each of the seven gates, each one more ominous and longer than the last.
Then after a short wait we finally arrived at the station in Udire, the capital of Kur. The station was kind of different from what we had seen earlier. Not to mention there were a lot more people here.
All of them seemed extremely busy. All of them were wearing different types of clothes. It was actually quite an unique sight to see. This was my first time seeing so much variety in a single location.
Quickly leaving the station, after Eirene filled out some form and showcased the tickets, we were allowed to leave for the city.
As we left the station, one big difference came to my notice. The contrast with the mortal city we had just left was stark.
Udire was bathed in the golden glow of the sun above, the desert landscape around it stretching endlessly. The buildings here mirrored the buildings I saw earlier in the mortal city.
The big change that I had noticed was the absence of technology. There were no wires, no electric lights. Everything seemed to be replaced by things that worked through Mana. It would really explain why I felt such a large amount of it pulsing through the city.
The warm, dry air enveloped us, which felt strangely… familiar.
Eirene took the lead, and I followed her through the bustling streets of Udire. The inhabitants moved gracefully, their attire was a mix of traditional Mesopotamian robes and modern clothing. Market stalls were filled with magical artifacts, potions, and enchanted goods.
The buildings were mostly made out of sandstone, and that seemed to be particularly pleasing to my eyes. I wonder if this is the effect of my family being deeply connected to deserts. I can't say for sure because father never said anything about this sort of feeling.
We kept walking and our appearance seemed to attract some eyes, however the onlookers continued their business after a glance or two.
Eventually, we reached the House of Lilitu. I couldn't help but be surprised at what kind of place they were living in.
The House of Verdat's place of residence was definitely an imposing structure. It evoked a sense of ancient time within me. It was built with a combination of stone and brick, exuding an aura that made it feel strong despite the use of questionable materials in its creation. The main building stood tall, its shadow dominating the surrounding landscape.
As I stared at the massive shadow it casted, I can swear on my pride that I saw some strange moment happening there. It was almost like I was seeing things that weren't there.
I looked towards Eirene, and she just shook her head at me. Are they the guards hiding like that? She did tell me that Verdats were masters of Shadow Manipulation.
Ignoring it, we started to approach the entrance.
The entrance to the residence was marked by a long, broad pathway flanked by high walls, and they seemed to create a sense of anticipation as one moved closer to the entrance.
The pathway was also lined with lush greenery, including palm trees and meticulously maintained gardens, providing a stark contrast to the arid desert surroundings.
Finally, we reached a grand staircase that led up to massive metal doors, intricately carved with what was perhaps the symbol of House of Verdat. The doors were guarded by statues of some sort of mythical dog creature.
The building itself was multi-tiered, with each level featuring large, arched windows that were built to allow natural light to flood the interior.
I wonder if my ancestors lived in a similar type of mansion.
Upon entering, the surroundings changed but there was still this feeling of timelessness. The floor was covered by a brownish-red carpet that was emblazoned with very detailed patterns.
On the doorstep there were three people, two females and one male. The male and female, who both wore steel armor, were standing behind the women.
Her hair was as black as the night sky on a moonless night, and her skin had a light brown pigmentation. Her eyes were unnaturally sharp and slitted, this combined with the silver color gave them an unique appearance.
She was also wearing similar clothes to Eirene that looked considerably more expensive, with all those additional detailing and accessories. Her clothes color pallette was also different. That black and purple theme gave it a royal aura.
It only took a few seconds for me to realize who was standing before me.
Verdat Lillitu 7th, the blood descendant of Verdat Lillitu, was waiting for us in a grand hall. A woman of great power that had been the matriarch for almost three centuries now. She was apparently the third longest ruling Matriarch.
Eirene looked at me expectantly, and bowed. Since we were the visiting party, we had to follow the traditions of the receiving ones. Following her lead, I bowed too.
"Silim." We both greeted her in sync. Silim translates to 'Health', so we were basically greeting her with good health. Ugh, I guess learning this language would be my next priority. Right now, we are conversing in Demotic, since Verdat knows that language too.
"Silim. Welcome to my humble abode, I hope your journey was comfortable.'' she responded, her voice melodic and powerful. There was a hint of happiness in her smile… At least I hope so. I am not a master emotion reader and I am not going to pretend that I can tell what a woman like her is thinking or feeling.
We were then led into what was perhaps a negotiation room. I do think it fits the aesthetic quite well. There were multiple tables around the room, with a big table placed in the center.
We all took seats with Verdat taking a slightly bigger seat opposite to us. Eirene was sitting to my right, while on Verdat's side there were just the guards from before. They were of course standing behind here, though their eyes were trained on me and Eirene.
"Ziam. Nuere. You both should leave now. While I am attending to my guests, you both can guard the doors." Verdat said in a commanding voice and those two guards obeyed quickly. They left after bowing to Verdat and us. Verdat's expression softened as she looked at me, her eyes reflecting a hint of sorrow. "I am deeply sorry for Amenhet's death. He was a great ally for us."
I felt a pang of grief but pushed it aside for now. "Thank you for your words, Lady Lillitu. His loss is felt deeply, but we must move forward."
Seeing that everything was going good, Eirene decided to finally start the discussion we were here for.
"I hope you have been in great health, Lady Lillitu. It's been a long time since my last visit to Kur, yet you're looking as young as I last saw you. Aside from all that, as you have been informed, we are here to negotiate some deals regarding Iron Sand, Blood Gems, Lapis Lazuli, Branches of Tamarisk,..." Eirene continued to list of things that we need and services and items we can offer in return.
Eirene began discussing the recent events, detailing the current state of affairs and our situation. Verdat listened attentively, her expression blank. As the conversation progressed, I started stepping forward, and taking the lead from Eirene, who just smiled briefly at my actions.
While I wasn't taught extensively about negotiating, I did know some things and wanted to try my hand. Eirene had already told me on the train that Vedat would go especially easy on me, when asked if I could negotiate too.
Time flowed slowly, but I felt like it was going even more slowly.
I had to really concentrate on what I was saying and what she was saying. I really need to improve my negotiation skills. Father wasn't really a master at them, but he had to be good considering just how many deals we have.
Despite the troubles I was facing, we continued to negotiate, finding a profitable deal that suited both parties. Verdat was pleased, and I felt a sense of accomplishment as we sealed the agreement with a traditional gesture of drinking an alcoholic beverage together.
After the formalities were over, Verdat relaxed, her demeanor becoming more grandmotherly. "Sethos, now that business is finished, we can drop the formalities." she said warmly. "You negotiated well, but as your own father used to say, 'There is always room for improvement'."
"Really? Thanks for the compliment uhh-"
"It's Grandma for you. Eirene probably already told you, but I was your grandmother's close friend. I was present when your father and his siblings were born." She reminisced about the old times, and I think she was genuinely smiling. But that smile quickly disappeared and was replaced by a scowl.
"It was truly a large shock when I was informed that they had been killed by those vile cretins. If it weren't for my position as the Leader of this House, I would have personally gone to tear apart their bat wings. Alas I had to suffice my bloodthirst by orchestrating some very unfortunate accidents."
Woah, now it seems truly dangerous. She was smiling but I can't help but think that this smile looked more dangerous than the scowl.
Anyway, this is the first time I am ever hearing of this. Father really needs to tell me more about such things. Once he is reincarnated, I am not letting him sleep in a coffin until he tells me everything. While I was pondering, Verdat continued
"We did lose some members, but my council knows better than to question my actions when people I love are involved. Just like right now. I had to spend some resources but the results are worth the price. Griselda Quarta is very powerful, somewhere around the middle ranks of Ultimate-Class. She is almost at the peak of humanity."
…How? How did that mortal become so strong? Ugh, it must be Yahweh's doing. He probably blessed her from birth, tsk. Doesn't matter, I would avenge my father anyhow.
"I know you probably want to avenge your father, but you need to be patient. You're nowhere near the level required to defeat beings of that power. However, I do think you would reach that level sooner than normal. I thought your father was exaggerating things when he talked about you." Verdat finished with a beautiful and sweet smile on her face. I froze at her words.
I really don't know how to react to that. I was proud that my father thought so highly of me, but this is the first time someone other than my family had acknowledged my talent.
"I- I am truly grateful for your words Grandma. I don't know what else to say." I replied with my voice cracking slightly.
She laughed lightly at my words and the (probably weird) expression I had. "Don't worry, I am sure you will come to realize your potential soon. Let's forget about that, and return to how you can improve your negotiation skills." She smiled at me. But I don't think this was the good smile.
Just how many smiles does this woman know?
After that she offered me tips on negotiation, sharing the wisdom she had gathered after centuries of leading this house. After this session, I was truly enlightened on how shitty I am in the art. When Eirene said she would be going easy on me, she wasn't joking.
I think if it weren't for the old guys breathing down on her neck, and her being the Leader of her House, she would have probably done much much more for me. I am really starting to respect her more and more. She is balancing all her responsibilities and still making sure that she can do whatever she wants.
Anyway, the session came to end in an hour or so.
"Thank you, Grandma," I said, genuinely grateful. "Your guidance was really enlightening. I think I could have negotiated a better deal, if I had known this stuff before."
"Is there anything else you need, child?" she asked, her tone gentle.
I thought for a moment. "Perhaps some advice on navigating the politics here in Kur. It's all quite new to me."
She smiled, a knowing glint in her eye. "Ah, the politics of Kur are very complex. 'As treacherous as the desert sands of Kur' A quote which is ironically said by one of the biggest and most powerful Demon House here. But fear not, I will teach you what you need to know in order to not step on the wrong feets."
"You're the best, Grandma!" I replied joyously. All this doesn't seem so bad.
______________________________________________________
[Unknown POV]
In one of the most famous sweet shops in Udire, it was usually full of customers. It was famous for the unique flavor of its sweet and the savory after taste they had.
Today was no different than usual. Or at least it shouldn't have been any different.
There was still a crowd of waiting demons, and members of different races who were here for different purposes, outside and inside the shop. But they all made way for a gray haired and black eyed muscular butler. The butler looked really calm and stoic but the effect was kind of ruined by the pink and red bags he was carrying.
A beautiful young girl with white skin and blue eyes was walking ahead of him. Her most distinctive feature was her long, beautiful crimson hair that reached down to her thighs with a single hair strand sticking out from the top. Her hair also has loose bangs covering her forehead and side bangs framing her face.
She was none other than the sister of the current Devil King, Sirzechs Lucifer.