48 Chapter 48 Thank you.

The largest problem with most teleportation spells and abilities was the extended time it took to use them. The vast majority required the user to spend around ten seconds preparing for and casting the spell. In the midst of combat, such a wide window of time was infeasible. Another large problem was teleportation's inability to traverse through wards. A proper ward array blocked anyone who was not keyed to the wards from teleporting in or out of them. That was why Clarissa's method was so valuable. So long as she had an anchor point, she could teleport herself and anyone connected to her instantly. If that anchorpoint was within the same ward array she was in, she could even teleport in areas where it should have been impossible.

A kaleidoscope of colors exploded around the four of us as we were swallowed by a rainbow vortex. Reality shifted and spun awkwardly before spitting us out. The only one to keep their feet after the jarring transit was Clarissa. The witch bent down and picked up the small, glowing, green stone at her feet before covering the rest of us as we clambered to our feet.

"We…need to…go." I said, stumbling over the words as the world around me continued to spin. That was an experience I never wanted to relive if it was at all possible.

"Look out!" the young blonde girl yelled in warning as she leapt towards a human with a rifle, her fingernails sharpening into claws to rend his flesh. She passed harmlessly through the illusion Clarissa had set in place when we'd first arrived.

"They're fake. We need to go. Hurry!" I said, having finally recovered my bearings enough to run towards the gate and haul it open.

Yubelluna, Clarissa, a confused dhampir and I filed through the gate and out of the influence of the wards.

Yubelluna began casting a teleportation spell the moment we were out.

Shouts behind us altered me that we'd been seen, but it was too late.

The four of us disappeared in a flash of orange as Yubelluna's teleportation spell completed.

X

No one had said much since Yubelluna had safely landed us in my manor – I really had to think of a name for this place – and we'd had a chance to catch our breath. Clarissa had busied herself with taking stock of the components she had used and would therefore need to replace.

After changing into the dress she had made from the cloth I'd given her, a violet gown with floral patterns throughout, Yubelluna had retrieved a tray with tea and biscuits. Our newest addition had sat awkwardly on the sofa, shuffling around uncomfortably.

Having decided the silence had dragged on long enough, I sat down across from the dhampir and said, "Why did you decide to come with us?"

She swallowed, wringing her hands nervously as she said, "I saw your intentions in your blood. You want to give me a life. You want my power, but you won't lock me in a room like they did."

"If you saw my intentions in my blood, then do you know what–"

"You want me to be your bishop." she interrupted me, her eyes rising to meet mine. "You did so much just for the chance to be able to have me, but you really would have left without me if I told you to. I…thank you." She looked away sniffling, tears beginning to fall down her face. "Thank you." she repeated, beginning to completely break down. She started sobbing, jumping across the gap between us to hug me. She just kept saying, "Thank you." her words were slurred by her sobs.

Not knowing what else to do, I just held her as she let her emotions out. Yubelluna and Clarissa walked up behind me as she was crying. Each of them began to gently rub her back.

After a while, her breathing returned to normal, and she pulled away from me, wiping moisture away from puffy eyes.

"Thank you." she said a final time, looking between the three of us. "You don't know what…" Her eyes widened as she looked down at my arm. "I'm so sorry!"

Raising an eyebrow at her, I followed her gaze down and saw two distinct fang marks still present in my arm. "Huh." I said, more interested than anything else. My Immortality had replaced all of the blood she'd taken from me, but apparently the place her fangs touched me was having to heal itself normally. That was really good to know.

"I'll fix it!" the blonde girl said, a small chalice appearing in her hand as she covered my wound with her other hand. A pure, white glow shone from under her hand. A moment later, she pulled her hand away and the marks were gone.

That was…Sephiroth Graal was absolutely broken.

Once more being reminded why I'd risked so much and planned an assault out ten days in advance to free this girl, I said, "Would you–"

"Yes." she interrupted me. "Uh…" she stuttered, her expression turning apologetic as she realized she'd interrupted me. "I mean, um, sir, if you would–"

"Breathe. Take a few seconds to relax." I said, amused at her response.

She took a deep breath and let it out. She looked between Clarissa and Yubelluna, then fixed me with a determined gaze. "I want to join your peerage."

The mutation bishop I received from Seekvaira appeared in my hand. I held it up and said, "Are you sure? There's no undoing this."

The girl nodded sharply, her lips in a firm line. "You all freed me. I'll never be able to repay you, but I can do my best."

Holding her gaze for a moment to make sure she understood the gravity of this event, I was pleased to see she didn't flinch. I gently pressed my mutation bishop into her chest, causing her to gasp.

Two bat-shaped wings exploded out of her back as the piece disappeared beneath her flesh. She looked up at us with a wide smile on her face. "I didn't introduce myself, did I? My name is Valerie Tepes. I'm looking forward to being part of the family!"

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