Break I

In the mind of the pilgrim, a constant fuzz of the memories began renewing one after another.

The scene was exhibited to him as follows:

Sebastian stood alone, although others could hear him by manner of a seance he conjured, the emanating glow rested in his left palm.

"Yes, I've captured them as you advised," he uttered into the light. "And incidentally, you have my thanks for such advice. Your service proved to be quite useful."

Puffing a cigar in his lips, as he bragged on. "We'll take things slowly for now, firstly, we will hold onto them as bargaining chips to force the council to its knees, overturning votes in our favor, giving us our golden opportunity to rulership over Lucedinia."

"I want my throne. . .fresh."

"In time, Unfortunately, I must go." He made the same gesture a symphony conductor would make to signal the orchestra to stop playing, and with that the illusion faded into mist. Sebastian then left for the dungeon of Olvgram.

#

Jeffrey awoke to find himself on a bed of stone with a pile of straw for a pillow. Dizzily massaging his bruises, his eyes went to the source of the sound of footsteps and a singsong call echoing by.

"Get up you lonely fools, before you drag the folks. . ."

"It's him again," he thought. "I'll wring that bastard's neck..."

"There you are, you absolute buffoon" said Sebastian upon arrival to Jeffrey's cell, almost cheerfully.

"What do you want?" asked Jeffrey, almost surprised to find his fury had still not left his voice.

"Do you know the reason why you're here?" returned Sebastian, in the tone of a mother asking her child if they know why they're being punished.

"Because you put me here, and the sky is blue, what else?" Jeffrey sneered.

Sebastian casually inspected his manicure. "Don't you think the status of a mere half-human, half-vampire renders one unfit for candidacy when concerning the throne? You must know that the elections are coming up soon, right?"

"Yeah. And?"

Sebastian raises his brows briefly, irritated by the indifference of Jeffrey.

"In any case, that's not the only reason for your capture. We would very much appreciate your enlistment in this war against the demons."

"The demons?! No thanks, why don't you unfuck your own problem?"

"Firstly, they messed with us, second I have even more exciting news for you. . .Your wife is enlisted already, so..."

"What!? She'd never!"

"Oh dear, but it is you see!" Sebastian said with a injuring smile. "Granted, it wasn't her own choice, But-"

"You FORCED her?!" Jeffrey yelled, his anger boiling through his eyes and reddening face.

"Oh no, you see. It wasn't me," Sebastian replied with ice in his voice to match Jeffrey's fire. "It was MY idea."

As Jeffrey cried out and punched a wall in a desperate attempt to vent the fury welling up in him, Sebastian said, "We'll make another "payment" tomorrow... In the meantime, you may enjoy the company of your squabbling daughter. She is over in the next cell." He then pauses. "For Now."

Sebastian leaves with a hum followed by swift laughter, leaving Jeffrey alone with his bleeding knuckles. Sebastian leaving a coy wave as he leaves behind only a trail of elation.

#

Shanti woke up to loud bangs on the wall, and realized their source.

"What is going on? Daddy? You're here too?"

"Yes. We need to find a way out of here."

Shanti was impressed by her father's fighting spirit, but couldn't help but also be surprised by it given the circumstances. "How are we going to escape?"

Jeffrey spotted an old rusty vent. "There, you see that vent? Get the cover off and go inside."

"What about you, Daddy?"

Jeffrey grabbed a rock off the floor and threw it against the wall, catching it after it ricocheted. "Don't worry about me, your daddy's got this in the bag."

Shanti shimmied her way into the vent, making sure to replace the cover once inside. She slid through the system with surprising ease. Apparently whoever put in these vents never considered the possibility of any prisoners being as small as she.

Her father, meanwhile, had to admit that he had not had it in the bag as he had boasted. His attempt to bend the prison's bars proved fruitless — he suspected their strength had been enhanced through the application of magic.

This rigid cell won't stop me from kicking his ass, he thought. That moron. . .

# 

After this illumination, the pilgrim caught to his senses. Upon waking up, it was revealed to him that what he read in the diary, was associated with him. Soon he were enveloped by wooden roots and animate leaves, transitioning his form to that of a Druid.

"I remember now, I was so close, and yet, I'd forgotten how it felt to remember."

In that moment he had grown wings of jade and feather, transforming into an owl.

He took to the air and proudly displayed his wings, with which he hovered over the firmament. In the distance he saw a floating island hidden in the sky, shrouded by clouds. He made his way to the island and landed with grace, transformed back into the pilgrim he were prior, and was greeted by his class of followers.

"The great druid Whelani! Welcome back, master!" said the youth.

"I've received news that the vampire leaders' lives are at stake. I am here to inform you all that my studies have made a breakthrough, and I will share that with you in time." said Whelani

"As you see fit, my master." Said the youth.

Whelani then transformed himself into an owl once more and set out to the skies, gliding through the clouds, back towards the cave of Lucedinia where the vampires reside. While he sailed the skies his memories were replaying in his mind.

#

Jeffrey sat in the prison cell. Helpless. Powerless.

He furiously grabbed the bars once more. Only this time, they crumpled in his hands.

Jeffrey could, as a vampire, sense the usage of magic nearby.

"Who could that be?" he thought out loud.