Chapter 13: Ascendants

As we lounged on the plush red velvet sofa, Nephelia reclined thoughtfully on my lap, savoring her steaming cup of coffee. Curiosity continued to bubble up within me.

"So, what exactly are these 'Pathways'?" I asked, trying not to sound too impatient.

A fragment of memory flashed in my mind. It was the words of Vancha, the man from the Church of the Sun God, who claimed to be a Inquisitor's Pathway.

Nephelia turned her crimson eyes toward me. For what felt like a long minute, she carefully chose her words to convey something that eluded my understanding.

"Your curiosity knows no bounds, huh?" she finally said affectionately. Taking a sip, she continued, "From what I gather, long ago, this world was in utter chaos. Countless things roamed here unchecked: sea monsters, magically potent plants, malevolent spirits, demons, dragons... Creatures from other realms invaded the Earth relentlessly. It was a truly turbulent time, and if I recall correctly, they called it the 'Chaos Epoch'."

What the-! I couldn't help but show my astonishment. How is it possible that we were never taught about this in school? Such a significant history on Earth itself! The very mention of the "Chaos Epoch" feels like an invitation to chaos itself.

Nephelia let out a sigh and shifted her gaze toward the window. Darkness enveloped the outside, with only the stars and the cold light of the moon illuminating the surroundings. As she lost herself in her thoughts, a sense of tranquility seemed to settle in.

Resuming her explanation in a relaxed tone, she went on, "During that era, a figure emerged among humanity, enlightened by the wisdom of the Creator God. Known as 'The Voice of the Creator', this prophet received divine teachings inscribed on two stone tablets called the Divine Slate, which form the basis of the 'Pathways'."

"They reveal the existence of 'Pathway Pills' that can be crafted from the remains of monsters, demons, dragons, and magical beings... By consuming these pills, one gains different powers. The ancestors of each race encountered losses while testing the effects of consumption. And indeed, in exchange for power, there are tragic consequences."

"Tragic consequences?" I inquired curiously.

"That's right. There are several possibilities. Inability to assimilate the Pathway Pill can lead to hallucinations and psychedelic visions, resulting in a loss of control. Similarly, if an extraordinary or highly potent pill is ingested, the brain will decay, and the entire body will turn into a putrefying mess."

She seemed to recall something that unsettled her. She took a deep breath of my scent, composed herself, and then continued, "But the worst thing is consuming a Pill that is foreign to your Pathway. It can turn you into something even more terrifying than any bloodthirsty demon."

Her words sent a silent whirlwind of emotions through me. A shiver ran down my spine.

Whoa, hold on a second... This is incredibly dangerous!

I glanced at Nephelia in confusion. Earlier, she had warned me about the risks of consuming the concentrated blood of noble vampires and strictly forbade me from doing so. And now she was suggesting something even riskier? If I understood correctly, she was implying that I should take a Pill.

Sure, the power it could grant was undeniable. But when you consider all the disadvantages it brings... Life is too precious to gamble with so recklessly.

I'm no fortunate protagonist capable of surviving such a cruel ordeal. My fate has been unfortunate enough thus far; I have no desire to add fuel to the fire.

Nephelia took a moment before adding in her serene tone, "The latter implies that once you've chosen a Pathway, there's no choice but to follow it. However, many ambitious individuals try to bite off more than they can chew and end up ingesting Pills that are foreign to their Pathway. Some are transformed into fearsome monsters, others descend into complete madness, and the luckier ones simply die instantly..."

"One must exercise great caution to resist temptations that surpass one's true capabilities. The consequences of yielding to greed can be exceedingly steep."

Though I didn't aspire to become one of those who consumed Pills like commonplace drug addicts on a street corner, the curiosity to understand their nature and influence in the world was simply irresistible. Thus, I couldn't resist asking:

"So, how many Pathways are there exactly?"

Nephelia placed the empty coffee cup on the table, and as Camille quietly retrieved it, she replied, "There are numerous Pathways. While the exact count remains unknown since the Divine Slate disappeared before they could be thoroughly studied, dozens of Pathways have been discovered through extensive trial and error, guided by 'The Voice of the Creator'. A system of 'Ranks' was subsequently established and continues to be utilized."

"Over time, many Pathways have been lost to the sands of time or remain incomplete. However, the major factions keep for themselves at least one Pathway with its complete Rank."

I nodded in silence. "So, how many Ranks does each Pathway possess?"

Nephelia responded in her soft, serene tone, "Each Pathway consists of eleven Ranks, ranging from Rank Zero to Ten. The higher the Rank number, the greater the complexity and power of the corresponding Pill."

Eleven Ranks... the progression of power sounds like something out of a fantasy tale, and yet there aren't that many Ranks. But that just means climbing the "Rank" ladder is as challenging as attempting to scale Mount Everest without any preparation, or perhaps even worse.

After a few moments of thoughtful silence, during which I finished my coffee, Nephelia eagerly resumed our conversation. It seemed like she was excited to continue enlightening me about this world.

"Naturally, each Rank of a particular Pathway requires its own set of ingredients to craft the corresponding Pill."

As I gently massaged her tense shoulders, I couldn't resist interjecting with another question, "Hold on... Does that mean..."

She calmly nodded, "Exactly. Ranks aren't advanced through simple meditation or training. Each Rank has its own unique Pill."

"Ascendants must fully assimilate the Pill of their current Rank before ingesting the one for the next Rank. Otherwise, as you already know, the consequences can be dire. Oh, by the way, Ascendants are individuals who possess a Pathway."

I listened attentively, occasionally nodding to show my understanding. Ascendants, huh... So, does that mean the term 'Ascendants' encompasses beings of different races who have consumed the Pathway Pill? Well, never mind.

While I was still processing the information, a melody interrupted our conversation from the phone on the table. We exchanged a glance, and Nephelia let out a sigh.

"Camille," she lazily gestured towards her, indicating that she should answer the call.

I could see that her explanation had left her visibly drained. She nestled into my lap, seeking to recharge her energy, and lazily rubbed her face against my chest.

I decided to let her rest while Camille handled the call. Nephelia hugged me, and I noticed a faint blush coloring her typically expressionless cheeks. Her face drew closer to mine, and her voice took on a seductive tone as she murmured my name.

"Damien~"

I shifted my gaze slightly downwards, meeting her small, irresistible pink lips. Her warm breath brushed against the tip of my nose as she inched closer and closer.

My hands softly traced down her back, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips while our lips met in a fiery kiss. Passion and desire engulfed us, and I allowed myself to be swept away in the moment.

"Mmh~ Damien... I've been longing for this for so long, fufu," she whispered amidst soft moans, accompanied by the wet, fervent sound of our lips locking together.

I held her waist tightly, my hands firmly gripping her ass as our tongues entwined in a passionate dance. With a swift movement, I carefully laid her down on the couch, positioning myself on top of her.

My senses seemed to drown in a sea of pleasure, each caress and movement intensifying as our closeness deepened.

It was an odd sensation. I couldn't help but wonder if it was my newfound vampire nature that had awakened such intense desire within me, or if it was the result of our unique Connection.

Yet, I couldn't allow such thoughts to hinder my actions at that moment. The passion was overwhelming, and I intended to take advantage of it.

Just as I was on the verge of undressing her, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense as Camille, wearing an impassive expression, relayed the message she had received:

"Lady Nephelia, this is a matter for the Morigerants," she announced in a neutral tone.