When Drac started his journey, he made sure that he had covered himself under robes and covered his face as well. He didnt want to be seen outside in public, in the case he had gotten famous in the kingdom.
He thought that he might stick out as a sour thumb in crowded place considering his getup. He was proven wrong on the second day of the journey when he got to King's Road, a long stone-paved road that goes from the capital to the Northern Port.
On the King's road, he came across a group of travelers, that were wearing more or less the same clothes as him. The winter had not been easy for normal humans.
The sheer number of people that he saw in that group made him realize that there was something wrong with Alanor Kingdom. This group was not a traveling merchant group, but from the looks of it, the group belonged to some normal villagers.
Although he was curious about who and what these people were, he didnt dare to interact with anyone. He just joined their caravan and stayed in the end.
By the time the sun went down, the caravan also rolled out their straw mats by the side of the road. With the first light of the campfire, the whole atmosphere of the caravan changed. People who were silent as crouching tigers started talking to each other like they had known each other for ages.
A group of old men and women created a circle around the campfire, and started discussing the matters of the kingdom…
"This kingdom has been abandoned by Lord Itab," one of the old men said, "Which is why the cold gates of hell have opened here," Everyone nodded at the statement as if it was a fact.
"I tell you this, if it were to me.. I would burn the bitch of a queen. She didnt deserve the throne, I heard that his husband was the one that deserved it." An old woman added.
"What does the queen have to do with the cold?" someone asked.
"Well queen is cursed, that is why," the old woman said, "Her curse first killed her husband. And then it also swallowed his only son. Such a woman should not be allowed to rule, hell she should not be allowed to live among people. If it were up to me, I would have banished her in forests,"
Swallowed Crown Prince, that means Sara has been successful in her quest. According to their plan, Sara would take control of Crown Prince, and make that man destroy the central Communication Tower.
Drac listened to the old people rambling more, as he wanted to know whether these people were aware of any magical beast attacks taking place. And sure enough, the topic was soon touched…
"I heard those creatures mauled their victim like minced meat." Someone said as they were talking about the frequent attacks of the beasts that had been taking place.
"But what are these beasts? Some sort of bear or something?" someone asked.
"Dont know. But my sister's son, who is the squire of a knight told me in private.. These creatures might be magical beasts," the old woman whispered.
The old people nodded their heads, but the young ones looked confused, "What does that mean?"
The old man woman looked at the young one with disdain, "Look at this ingred. Never listened to Lord Itab's scriptures have we? Grown-up, is built like a horse, and still haven't learned the ways of the world,"
The young one put his head down with shame, but then another old woman who was not as fierce as the first one added, "People who could wield the power of mana wielders, are gifted those powers by Lord Itab. Sometimes, Lord Itab seems it deems it necessary to provide the power to common beasts as well, which are then called magical beasts."
"Why do Lord Itab do that?" one of the young ones asked.
"Well, it is said that when the population of sinners rises in an area, he must cleanse that area. So Lord Itab gives the power of annihilation to a beast."
Religious mumbo-jumbo aside the old people then talked about the places that had been hit. And that information did make Drac worry a little bit. From what these guys know, around 10-11 villages had been hit by the monster. Which was troubling as to hit that many villages, the Ulaspas would need a lot of Vampas. And considering the cold, he was worried that those dumb-dumbs might as well bring the end to the world.
But I wonder, how the hell did these guys get their hands on the original Vampas in the first place?
From what he read in the books, Nosferatu soon after the Ice Era understood that it would be disastrous for the world to have Vampas live among them. So he made an inferior version, the ones that the first albino woman used. But when Yasmine and the other demons arrived in the Sumor Castle, they had original Vampas. But how did they get it?
"And what do you reckon the man from the posters did? All the soldiers that we have come across are eagerly looking for the fellow," one of the young ones asked.
The conversation got his attention. One of the old women exclaimed excitedly, "Oh I know.." She said with enthusiasm, "My boy who is in the royal army said that this man knocked up the queen,"
"He knocked up the queen?" one of the old men asked, "Someone named Ado knocked up the queen?" the old man asked in a rather surprised tone.
It didnt take Drac long to realize about whom they were talking about. So Daniel had opened his mouth about me. He was the only one who knew about my past, and I guess Gregor did as well. But his main focus was on the fact that there were wanted posters of him being circulated. And from what it seems, everyone was out to get him.
Well, this changes things. He had planned to first visit the capital, and get information of what was happening outside. While he was at it, try to find a way out of the island as well. But if he were to believe these people, then it would be very hard to even approach the capital's gate.
Well, this is a normal setback. I can still figure something out. He thought.
He knew that this kingdom had three ports, situated in three corners of the island. To get out of the kingdom, he needed access to a ship that would leave for the Hograve Continent. What he didnt know was, where would this ship would come. He was hoping to find the information in the capital.
That night he thought about it long and hard, and realized that he needed the information no matter what…
The next morning when he got up, the caravan was also packing their things. He stood up and waited for everyone, and then started moving again with the caravan. He didnt want to travel alone, thinking that would surely gather some attention. He figured that he should blend in.
He befriended some of the old ones by offering them a small bottle of mead that he had. The old one asked him his name, and he introduced himself as Jeff. And he headed towards his hometown to see his parents. His friendly demeanor won their heart, and he was sure that they were not suspicious of him, not in the least. The good thing was, none of them even tried to make him uncover his face.
If someone had even done it, none of them would have made him out of the posters. He had a long beard because of staying in the underground bunker. And if he were to guess, then the Sumors would have surely made a poster of him when he was in his clean shave, as the butler of the family…
When the sun was upon them, everyone was in great spirits as the sun brought with it the gift of warmth. It is when they come across a carriage. On the side of the road was a carriage, whose wheel axle was broken. He noticed that there were these 5-6 soldiers with the carriage, wearing steel armor lurching around the carriage.
As he was walking the center front with the old men, he saw that the soldiers were twitchy when they saw them approaching. As they approached, he saw that everyone had their hands on hilts.
Is someone important in the carriage? He could sense that there were two people inside, as both of them possessed mana.
"Do you need any help my friend?" one of the old men broke from the caravan and asked.
"Keep moving old man," the soldier scowled.
"Wait," the leader of the soldiers jogged to them, "I apologize on behalf of my colleague. Yes, I can need your help.. Do you know anyone who could fix this wheel for us?"
"Well there is a village about 5 li that way," someone said, "You would be able to find a replacement there,"
It is then Drac saw, through the glass windows of the carriage, something was moving inside. The curtains of the carriage were drawn from inside. But something was moving the corners of the curtains, and he realized that it was someone's foot.
It was then someone banged on the wooden door of the carriage from inside, the soldiers looked spooked hearing this. The leader of the soldiers looked uncomfortable, and said, "Well, young mistress inside kicks when she is asleep,"
Sensing something was wrong, one of the old men urged everyone, "Well all the best for your endeavors. Let's move on everybody," And everyone started following suit.
The people from the caravan were all poor folk, who were going to capital in order to earn some money. Most of them were peasants whose crops were destroyed due to cold. They were in no condition to get in between something that could cost them or their loved ones their lives.
Everyone started following moving again, but with Drac's heard the leader curse under his breath, "That bitch, wait till we reach Hograve…"
He didnt stop moving, as to not show any reaction. But he had heard it loud and clear, and now he was truly curious about who was in the carriage…