Lyon Valakys, a young vampire with silver hair, wakes abruptly to a deafening roar that shatters the stillness of the night. The sharp, acrid scent of smoke starts creeping in under the door.
An imposing figure bursts into the room. It's Cassian Myrdoth, commander of the Crimson Army—a towering man with short black hair and a blood-soaked, tattered cloak. He carries an axe glowing with a crimson light, as though it were forged from blood itself. «Prince Lyon! There's no time! We must go!» the commander shouts, jolting him out of his daze.
«Cassian... what's going on?» Lyon stammers, still groggy.
«The castle is under siege! The Dulcar betrayed us. Your father commanded me to get you to safety at all costs!»
Before Lyon can respond, an explosion shakes the walls. Inhuman screams blend with the clash of weapons. Cassian grabs Lyon's arm without hesitation, dragging him out of the room. Torches lining the corridors—strewn with bodies—cast flickering shadows on blood-soaked tapestries.
Three vampires armed with bows and arrows suddenly appear at the end of the hallway, blocking their path. Cassian doesn't slow down, pulling Lyon forward with no concern for gentleness—there's no time for it. Lyon, fast as he is, struggles to match Cassian's pace. The archers fire magical arrows, their tips glinting with lethal poison.
Cassian: «Blood Word - Barrier!»
A hole opens in Cassian's palm as blood pours out, floating in mid-air to form a metallic crimson shield. The shield moves with them, deflecting the barrage of poisoned arrows. Reaching the archers, Cassian dispatches all three with a single, devastating swing of his axe. «Keep moving, Prince! We're running out of time!»
Lyon nods, but his gaze catches a sight that freezes him. In a nearby hall, illuminated by the pale light of the three moons over Mildelar, he sees his mother. She lies lifeless on the floor, her body mangled. Next to her is Ginevra Valakys—Lyon's three-year-old sister. Her severed head lies a few feet from her body, yet her tiny arms still clutch a teddy bear Lyon had given her for her birthday. Even in death, Ginevra had held it tight, as if hoping her big brother would come to save them.
Lyon's world halts. An invisible force crushes his chest, stealing his breath.
«No... no...» he whispers, his voice cracking under the unbearable weight of pain. A scream claws at his throat, but it won't come out. His legs tremble, unable to hold him, as he sinks into despair.
«Don't look! This isn't the time to fall apart!» Cassian barks, his tone sharp. «Your mother gave her life, and your father is fighting to secure your escape. Honor their sacrifice!» Cassian tightens his grip and pulls Lyon forward, but the boy's mind remains stuck on that horrifying image of death.
They race through crumbling corridors, the sounds of battle fading behind them. As they reach the outer courtyard, a figure steps into their path. A young vampire with long ponytail pink hair and eyes blazing with murderous intent, like a predator on the hunt. She wields two slender daggers made of the same crimson metal as Cassian's axe, her lips twisting into a cruel smile.
«Leaving already? The party's just starting,» Levreshka mocks, her sadistic voice echoing as she spins her daggers in the red moonlight.
«Levreshka Dulcar... damn it! Not her...» Cassian growls, his voice tight as he raises his crimson axe. «Stay behind me, Prince!» he commands, shoving Lyon back with his arm. Lyon starts to protest, but Cassian doesn't give him the chance. The commander charges forward, his weapon blazing with blood energy.
Cassian: «Blood Word - Enhancement!»
Cassian roars as his axe flares brighter, radiating a fierce red aura, while his muscles swell with power. He swings the massive weapon at Levreshka, but she sidesteps with stunning speed, leaving him momentarily off-balance. Levreshka's daggers shimmer with a darker crimson aura. She counters swiftly, forcing Cassian onto the defensive with a flurry of precise strikes.
The battle is brutal, an unrelenting clash of blows. Each swing of Cassian's axe tears through the air with raw power, while Levreshka, quick as a shadow, lands precise, deadly strikes like a serpent's bite. Lyon stands nearby, helpless. He's no warrior—not yet—and his blood seethes with a mix of rage and impotence.
Levreshka: «Blood Word - Crimson Rain!»
Levreshka hurls her daggers at Cassian. As they fly, the blades multiply into dozens, becoming a crimson rain of deadly steel. The attack is swift and merciless, leaving Cassian no room to evade. The daggers pierce his chest, arms, and legs, skewering him completely. Cassian's body crumples, falling to its knees before crashing face-first to the ground.
«A vampire worthy of a commander's title,» Levreshka remarks with a smug smile, «but far from enough to stop an assassin like me.» Her eyes lock onto Lyon, who stands frozen in fear. Despite the odds, he had clung to the hope of Cassian's victory, even as the battle slipped further out of reach.
In the distance, the clash of swords echoes. Lyon turns to see his father, Dariam Valakys, King of Mildelar, locked in a brutal duel with Markus Dulcar, head of the Dulcar house and mastermind of the coup. The two strongest vampires in the kingdom trade blows that make the ground tremble. Yet deep down, Lyon knows the fate of the Valakys family is already sealed.
A monstrous cry splits the night. Markus Dulcar lands a final blow, driving his blade deep into Dariam's heart. At that moment, Levreshka lunges at Lyon, poised to deliver the killing strike.
And then, something happens. Something utterly unexpected.
A crimson light envelops Lyon, piercing the darkness with a blinding brilliance. A metallic, commanding voice echoes in his mind, clear and unwavering amid the chaos. Above his head, an ethereal crown of blood-red flames takes shape.
[Royal Blood Detected. System Activation: Scarlet Crown]