Iglis' POV
One month has passed since Eleanor died. When Dracula and Lazarus left, Alucard collapsed, still holding to Eleanor. We just couldn't take her out of his arms for hours. It took hours before we could separate them. Gently.
The saintess imparted some thoughts to us in her sorrowful voice. "Alucard despiseth his vampire blood, and what thou witnessed was him forsaking all restraint, seeking naught but power to avenge his beloved. Yet, mark my words—should Lazarus be the pupil of Dracula, thy plight is greater than thou can comprehend. For Dracula did not flee out of fear of thee, Iglis, but because his schemes run deep. Aye, I know him well, and were it his will, he couldst strike thee down with nary an effort."
Two weeks later, Alucard is still not talking to anyone. He won't eat, and all he does every day is sleep and cry. I feel so powerless.
He still won't speak to any one. That was two weeks ago. And now I intend to set out. I refuse to find myself in this position again, at complete mercy of another monster such as Lazarus. Amabel and Aldous have decided to stay with Alucard until he recovers.
Before departing, the saintess came over to me. Her words stayed with me in my mind. "Iglis, thou bearest the visage of thine ancestor, the first patriarch, Lucid van Xenon. Northward thou shalt travel, to the domain of the Snow Elves, where Lucid himself did once train. The Elders there shall know thee by thine appearance and grant thee wisdom long forgotten. Go forth, child, and grow strong, for the hour draweth nigh when thy strength shall be sorely tested."
I told her goodbye and left for the north, determined never again to let myself feel so powerless. For my sake.
Lazarus' POV:
Lazarus muttered to himself, still incredulous over the outcome of his last encounter; even his divine-iron and demigod-blood augmented bones, were damaged by Alucard. The sheer power in Alucard's transformation intrigued him. He had lived up to Lazarus' highest expectations. But now, Lazarus must concentrate on his latest scheme: blood poison.
He harvested vials of venom from Jormungandr, a claw from Nidhogg, and a venom from the Hydra. In his alchemy lab with only a few drops of his own blood, he set about his task. The upshot was entirely satisfactory, producing a poison many times stronger than he had expected. Merely a few drops would instantly kill a man.
Lazarus thought for a moment on some form of name for his concoction, plumping at last for "Oblivion's Veil" to suit its deathly aspect and all-devouring capacities.
Lazarus made sure to give the antidote to himself then introduced a small quantity of Oblivion's Veil directly into his bloodstream. The pain was instantaneous and extreme, but he clenched his teeth determined to push through it all fascinated by what the poison might bring. His flesh turned black, and his veins turned purple but felt like they were on fire. However, as the antidote took hold, so the pain went away; he could feel his body rapidly getting used to the poison.
Lazarus mixed poison against poison in his own body in austere experiments. It was not until the seventy-third try that he could bear the symptoms; one hundred thirty-nine later he had built up immunity to full strength. This turned to his advantage the deadly nature of this poison, giving Lazarus a killer edge. It was only the beginning. Now the Veil of Oblivion has become a part of him, Lazarus will gradually increase his intake so that his body builds up an immunity and he can master the poison's power. His very blood would become a tool for ceaseless slaughter.
He couldn't shake the Curiosity of his last encounter with Alucard. The younger twin had great potential aswell—infinitely greater than he had thought. Alucard's transformation brought him into a Nephalem form, combining both light and dark as well as breaking Lazarus's jaw. Alucard could become a threatening opponent. Planning their next meet, Lazarus began to work out how he might manipulate Alucard's powers and emotions to his own advantage.
Iglis' POV
The journey north was long and arduous. The landscape changed gradually from thick forests to ice tundras where it was bitterly cold, one's breath crystallizing in the freezing air. The legends of the Snow Elves are true: it seemed they had created themselves a land of perpetual winter, with a beauty that took my breath away. Sunlight caught on the towering ice cliffs and skidding over snowfields, casting a cool ethereal glow.
As I approached the concealed dwellings of the Snow Elves, I couldn't help but think of the Saintess' words. My ancestor Lucid van Xenon, had once trained among these mountains, and he was a legend in our family as well as the originator of our own mastery of swordsmanship. The elders of the Elves treated me with an almost reverential manner, seeing in me someone who resembled Lucid; and they brought me to the ancient great hall where Lucid once trained, a room rich in history and magical power.
The Elders explained that the training I was about to undertake would push me beyond my limits, both physically and mentally. They emphasized that mastering our family's techniques wasn't just about strength or skill; it was about understanding the essence of the sword and the flow of mana. They offered to teach me techniques and secrets that had been long forgotten, even by our family.
With this new understanding, I embarked on a rigorous training regimen, focusing solely on the sword. Each day was a test of endurance and precision, aiming to refine my skills to match, or even surpass, those of Lucid. The journey was challenging, but the clarity of my goal—growing stronger to protect those I care about—kept me steadfast.
Alucard's POV
The loss of Eleanor had left a deep scar, but it also became a turning point. After a month of mourning and introspection, I approached the Saintess with a plea for guidance. I needed to master the power within me, especially the Nephalem form that had emerged in my darkest moment.
The Saintess, understanding the gravity of my situation, agreed to help. Under her tutelage, I began a new phase of training, focusing on control and balance. Each day was a lesson in discipline, as I learned to harness both my human and vampire natures. The Nephalem form, a blend of light and dark energies, required precise management to avoid losing control.
As I trained, I felt a gradual return of my strength and confidence. The path was arduous, but with the Saintess's guidance, I started to see the potential within me.
Narrator:
So the world 's corners were three different individuals embarked on paths of growth and transformation: Iglis honing his sword--arts under the Snow Elv wisdom; Lazarus training in magic and poisons; and Alucard, seeking tutelage to master the dark power festering inside him.
Different though intertwined their fates were, each went through hardships obligatory upon his own path. As they continued throughout that time preparing themselves for what lay ahead, a sense of impending meeting was in the air. Forces outside their control came to bear and even the world seemed to hold it breath, waiting at last for this intersection of paths once more.
Right now, their journey is one of self-discovery and readying themselves for combat, as well it must be. Yet soon, quite soon by God, they are going to have to come back together again. The tests facing them then will not only test their strength but stretch their very souls.