Episode 3

My name is Karia Rodnes, daughter of the great leader of the Rodnes clan, Barakia Rodnes.

Recently, my father has been acting strangely. For the last few days, every time he would coop himself in his Silent Garden, he would go in there with this weird look on his face.

Before, the look on his face was one of a man that would go to blow off steam and escape from his duties in his safe place, but now, it's almost like he is looking forward to it. I don't understand why that is.

Given my father's views and opinions on our current conflict with the Vlassia clan and our contradicting thoughts on how we should proceed further, I don't blame him that much. He may be a leader, but that doesn't mean that he isn't allowed to relax from time to time.

The rank system in Valachia that all clans have to abide by has been reinforced by the Elder Council a very long time ago. They have ruled over Valachia for far too long. The system was made in such a way that nobody could stage a coup.

Not because of a lack of strength but because the subordinates of a clan leader can take the head of their leader at any time and become leader themselves at any time. Of course, if given a good reason.

The leader is at the very top and down the stream are the first and second lieutenants. They are in charge of taking decisions whenever the leader is absent and when the leader is present, they are responsible with giving tasks to the newbies and the regulars.

Those tasks can vary from something as silly as getting them coffee to going to scout in enemy territory.

They are also in charge of handling the yearly competitions that all clans have to attend.

The advisor is the one in charge of finances and strategic planning and is one step lower in the hierarchy below the first and second lieutenants.

Our slimy bastard first and second lieutenants are all so obvious in their words and moves. They want to take Father down and become leaders. That's the only reason they are even protesting his suggestions for negotiation.

And the only reason the guys below them go along with it is because they are easily manipulated or paranoid or are working with the first and second lieutenants.

Logically speaking, a negotiation for peace is a valid course of action. There is no reason not to attempt to talk it out. There is no reason to kill a powerful leader whose leader has lived for a long time. It would only weaken Valachia.

The worst part is that the reason they even had that to use against Father is… a slip of the tongue on my part. I have since changed my opinion but that one outburst at the wrong time when those bastards could hear us is what put the clan and Father into this tough spot. It's all my fault…

I have decided, though, that I will do everything in my power to fix this.

Every night for the past few days I went over to the one woman who I considered my older sister. She always gave me advice when I came to her and always was kind and gentle to me. As someone who was stuck in the same position of being the daughter of a leader, it allowed us to bond over it.

She is going through her fair share of things and is currently no more than a slave to the Vikas clan. They are using her power and wit ceaselessly and I'm afraid that she is going to dry up and wilt at some point.

It weighs heavily on my conscience that I even entertained the necessity of burdening her even more with my problems, but she was the only person I could count on to help me in such a situation.

I'm fucking pathetic.

*

Night came and I spotted Father preparing to go into his Silent Garden, wearing that same stupid fake uniform he had me bring over from the human world.

Things like the Silent Garden are pocket spaces that are given to the leaders only and passed down to their offspring. Its appearance changes depending on the user based on factors unknown as of yet.

"It's been so much fun, I wonder what we are going to talk about this time." I heard Father mumbling to himself.

We? Who is he talking about? Who is he talking with? What are they talking about?

I reasoned that the only way to find out was to follow him inside.

The red mist that appears whenever a vampire uses their power enveloped him like a tornado. His hand came out of the mist and then the mist gathered in front of him in the shape of a door as if the palm of his hand aspirated all of it and projected it further.

He walked through and just before it disappeared, I accelerated at the highest speed possible that I could and dashed toward the door and jumped inside.

This was the place where he spends his time alright. That tree has been there ever since I was born and looks like it's still going strong. At least Father is taking care of the place…

Suddenly, I could hear Father's voice. "Sorry Ogen. I had something to take care of before we could talk again."

Who the hell is Ogen?

I used the ability unique to me only, to become invisible, and approached them. They were sitting down at a table with bottles filled with unknown liquid and a bottle of wine.

What was very surprising was that Father was in his normal form that shows his age. He only uses his young form when he is in the clan or speaking with someone in HQ. He must trust this guy.

"Don't worry about it, Rakia. More importantly, I brought you more of those books and some wine." The one named Ogen said as he put the stack of books on the table.

His hair was long. His was as long as mine and seemed to be just as well taken care of. It was a not unpleasant shade of black. It was the same color as the night sky. He had silver eyes that inspired the same kind of wisdom as my father's.

More importantly… this guy was a human.

Then Father suddenly threw something at the human at a speed where the human could catch it.

"What is this?" He said as he opened his hand.

"I noticed that you always come with your long hair untied, so I gave you something to tie it with."

The smile father had was one he never showed even to me… That hurt.

I took a peak at what the human had in his hand, but it was only a thin black band that could as well be a ring, with a black jewel on it. I'd never seen that thing in my life. Not in my father's possession or anywhere in Valachia for that matter… What the hell was that?!

"I've read that one story you told me about last time and I had some revelations." Father said, his gaze stuck on the book in his hand.

He put it on the table and looked that man in the eyes.

"This thing about having the right ideas and views but now having the power to act on them… It spoke to me." The man's expression did not change.

"Hmm… then let me ask you something. What is the difference between ideals and the ideas and views you mentioned?"

The difference…

The man put the book he was reading as he was speaking with Father down and replied before Father could.

"It's conviction."

"Conviction?" My father asked. I almost asked aloud as well.

"Yes. Ideals without conviction are useless. Without a reason and a desire behind the ideal, it becomes shallow and generally just pretty words."

"Then…" my father continued.

"Your ideals that you talked to me about the other day are not shallow at all. You have the power and desire. It's just your subordinates that are disrespecting you and your ideals. I'm sorry, Barakia."

The entire time, the man's expression did not change. Father, though, showed another smile that he hasn't shown even me yet.

"Heh. It is my fault, at the end of the day. I allowed them to join the clan and allowed them to stand in my path. Even if I didn't notice it."

Father…

"You are the one that made it possible for me to see a good picture of what was going on under my nose. Thank you, Ogen." My father added unapologetically.

"That's what I'm here for." A smallest hint of a smile formed on Ogen's face.

A human deduced what is going on in the clan with limited information and on top of that, biased information from Father who apparently did not notice what our lieutenants were up to?

"I'm unworthy to be the family leader…" Ogen's gaze that was stuck in the cup he was sipping from snapped to Father's eyes.

Father looked like he wanted to say something, but was heavily hesitant in doing so.

"Ogen. I've taken pride in being the leader of the clan ever since I found out I was going to be one. I did my best these two thousand years to get people who are better than me on my side. That's why…"

Father bit his lip in frustration.

"I think you would be a much better clan leader than me. By a long shot."

That was a shock. I couldn't even think. It felt like my heart stopped in place. My knees went weak for a second and almost fell on my ass and rolled down the hill. My blood ran cold and did for a long while after that.

"What did you just say Barakia?" Ogen seemed angry as he said that.

"I want you to be my successor." Even Ogen spit the liquid he was drinking.

Father?! Am I that unworthy of being a leader? Is that how much trust you have in me?!!

Ogen quickly regained his composure and proceeded with the question I wanted to hear the most.

"What about your daughter, Karia?" That snapped me out of my shock and I began to listen intently.

"... My daughter? Well. I've already talked to you about this, but we clan leaders being who we are, we are forced to be put in tough situations where we have to choose what we want to give up in order to win or survive. We have no freedom. Our every thought and action has to be for the benefit of the clan. In all honesty, meeting the love of my life, Suria, and having Karia was not a freedom that a clan leader is allowed often."

"And?" Ogen inquired.

"I don't want Karia to have to live a life like that. I want her to live her life, I want her to do what she wants and fall in love, have a kid and grow old without having to shoulder that kind of responsibility."

At some point, I began to believe that Father did not see anything in me. I thought he gave up on teaching and helping me become like him. I thought I was worthless and that's why he gave up on me.

That pushed me to become better, smarter and faster and to prove my worth to Father at any chance I had.

"I told you that she really is a smart and powerful girl, seeing as you even told me the same thing she did… that I was naive and that I could get stabbed in the back at any moment… She has some other sort of fate in store, rather than basically being a slave to the system."

I could not hold back the tears anymore and I began to silently sob. All along, he cared about me and allowed me to do what I wanted to do. He never gave up on me. He noticed my efforts and acknowledged my results…

Dad… you stupid idiot! You should have said that earlier!

I wiped and wiped away tears but they kept coming. I left through the door that was barely open anymore. As the door closed, all I could hear was them happily chatting away.