Lore Time!

"Looks like High Queen Morgause had a rather bloody ancestor,"

Iris remarked, her eyes scanning the intricate details of the family tree.

"More like blood-sucking," I replied, my gaze fixed on the name at the top of my mother's family tree.

The Vampire of the Purple Rose.

The term "vampire" caught my attention.

In this universe, a myriad of nonhuman beings such as elves, fairies, dwarves, vampires, and countless other races coexist.

These nonhuman entities are known as Otherworlders, as they originate from distant planets beyond our own.

Allow me to elaborate, dear readers.

Eons ago, Asteris was connected to various planets through a celestial bridge of sorts, allowing inhabitants from these interconnected worlds to traverse from one planet to another.

The Leprechauns—comprising elves, fairies, pixies, orcs, and other pointy-eared races—were among the first to set foot on Asteris.

They were soon joined by dwarves, Demi-beasts, giants, and even the formidable god-like dragons.

This interplanetary exchange fostered cultural diversity and facilitated trade, ushering in an era known as the Age of Prosperity, which stood as the pinnacle of Asteris's history for millennia.

Then, one fateful day, an event occurred that altered the course of history.

The celestial bridge that connected the worlds suddenly collapsed, abruptly ending the Age of Prosperity and leaving many Otherworlders stranded on Asteris, while numerous humans found themselves marooned on distant planets.

This catastrophic and enigmatic occurrence came to be known as the Great Collapse.

No explanation has been presented so far, and it remains a subject of intense study and debate.

Seeing that they could never return home, the Otherworlders decided to make Asteris their new home, many gathering together and forming nations.

The Leprechauns now inhabit a large group of islands in the middle of the great Gregoris Ocean off the southern coast of the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the dwarves, leveraging their advanced technological and crafting skills, constructed an extraordinary underwater nation named Atlanto, situated within the depths of the Krokesis Sea between the continents of Aria and Edith.

Atlanto is currently regarded as the most technologically advanced nation in the world.

But the most impressive feat belonged to the Giants.

Legend has it that these towering beings, harnessing their unparalleled strength, heaved a colossal chunk of the planet's crust skyward.

With massive chains and formidable ardor, they anchored this landmass high in the heavens, giving rise to the breathtaking sky nation known as Jotunis.

As for the dragons, being akin to deities, they possessed the ability to traverse between planets effortlessly, rendering the collapsed celestial bridge inconsequential.

Consequently, many of these majestic creatures departed Asteris for their native realms.

However, a handful of dragons, enamored with our world, chose to remain on Asteris, dwelling in remote corners of the land, where they still reside to this day.

Despite now residing in separate nations, the Otherworlders maintain amicable relations among themselves and with humans.

Intriguingly, some Otherworlders have forged unions with humans, resulting in the birth of half-bloods.

These individuals possess exceptional strength, yet they are exceedingly rare.

Given that the Otherworlders have established their own nations, nonhumans are quite rare in the three continents.

Vampires are a unique case.

They are a race of elevated humanity, relying on blood consumption to sustain themselves.

However, this macabre dietary necessity has rendered them somewhat ostracized even among Otherworlders.

Yet, it wasn't merely their thirst for blood that set them apart from the rest.

What truly distinguished them was the profound animosity harbored by their Queen towards humans and humanoid races alike.

During the Age of Prosperity, the vampires maintained an isolated existence, refraining from engaging with humans and Otherworlders.

Those who did arrive on Asteris were often refugees fleeing the Queen's wrath.

Following the Great Collapse, only a handful of vampires remained on Asteris.

Owing to their remarkably extended lifespans, many endure to this day, dwelling in the shadowy recesses of the world where sunlight seldom reaches, such as the secluded island of Nyxios, renowned for its Moonsilver.

Presently, most vampires sustain themselves through the blood of ardimals and voluntary blood donations, with only a minority engaging in predatory behavior, particularly targeting elves, fairies, and humans.

And it seems my mother was a descendant of one such vampire.

"Fancy title. But there's no name," I observed, furrowing my brows as I searched for further information about this mysterious figure.

Iris's expression shifted to one of disbelief. "You don't know the Vampire of the Purple Rose?"

I shook my head, feeling a twinge of curiosity. "Is it someone important?"

Iris sighed, her tone tinged with amusement. "Oh, Incarni. Have you ever delved into vampire mythology?"

I shook my head. "There were no books about that in the Dawn Palace. Besides, vampires have their own mythology?"

She nodded, "Yes, they do. Let me enlighten you, dear Mordred."

"According to the legends passed down by vampire refugees, the Vampire of the Purple Rose is revered as the progenitor of their kind. She bestowed the gift of vampirism upon the first vampire—their Queen," Iris began, her voice taking on a captivating tone.

I arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Their Queen? Was she born a vampire?"

"No," Iris continued. "The Queen's origins are shrouded in mystery, but it's clear she was once human. Legend has it that she encountered a being from another universe."

"A vampire from beyond."

"An extra-dimensional vampire. Fascinating," I mused aloud, my mind racing with possibilities.

Was I not the only one from beyond this world?

"Exactly," Iris confirmed, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "The encounter transformed the girl into the first vampire, a powerful being forever cursed with an insatiable thirst for blood."

I winced. "Yikes."

"Let's save the discussion about the Queen for another day. For now, let's focus on the Vampire of the Purple Rose, also known as the Progenitor," Iris suggested, her tone more serious.

"As the myth goes, when the girl destined to become the Queen crossed paths with the mysterious Progenitor, she made a curious observation. The woman was with child."

Iris continued, tapping the page displaying my mother's family tree. "This list leads to only one conclusion."

"Your mother, Gawain, and you are descendants of this vampire deity," she declared.

"So that means…" I trailed off, staring at my hand as I forced a drop of blood to the surface, "Vampiric blood courses through my veins?"

Iris's gaze fixed on the droplet, her expression contemplative. "And not just any vampiric blood. Since the Progenitor hails from another dimension, she possesses qualities that set her apart from vampires in our universe."

"She doesn't rely on blood for sustenance. To her, consuming blood is akin to drinking fresh fruit juice or wine, a mere refreshment."

"And her power is unparalleled. It's whispered that the Queen rivals the Crowns and stands shoulder to shoulder with the Incarni."

"The Vampire of the Purple Rose may well be a force surpassing even the Incarni," Iris concluded with a hint of awe in her voice.

"So to put it in a nutshell, the Progenitor is far superior to even the Queen," I surmised.

"Exactly," Iris nodded. "And here's the fascinating part: descendants of the Progenitor's child possess the potential to awaken their vampire deity bloodline, regardless of where they stand on the family tree."

I stared at her in amazement. "How do you even know all this?"

Iris swept her hand toward the towering shelves of the library. "I practically lived here during my first year and there are tons of records about vampire mythology in here."

"Huh." Somehow, she has become even more beautiful in my eyes.

Like the old Mordred of this world, she spent a lot of time in a library, absorbing all it had to offer.

We really are similar. That thought brought a smile to my face.

I raised an intrigued eyebrow. "So, does that mean I could become a vampire whenever I choose?"

"Theoretically, yes," she affirmed, sounding a little excited.

I leaned in closer to Iris, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "If that's the case, perhaps I'll have more reason to indulge in biting your neck."

She returned the smirk, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Why not turn me into a vampire as well? After all, shouldn't we both relish the perks?"

"And like I said before, your blood tastes amazing," she whispered.

"Quite vampiric words for a human," I murmured as Iris leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Our lips were tantalizingly close, the air thick with anticipation when a stern voice caused us to jump.

"Oi. No making out in the library."

We quickly pulled away from each other, turning to see the librarian Deathwalker looking at us with a raised eyebrow.

"Really, guys? In the library with a book between you two? Isn't that kind of cliché?" he asked, giving us a bemused expression.

Iris stuck out her tongue playfully. "Oops."

The Deathwalker sighed. "Well, you two aren't the only ones. Just yesterday, I caught Fred and his girl going all out in the dark romance section."

Iris's face turned red, and she stammered. "All out?"

I whistled. "Must've been quite the show for Minerva."

The librarian nodded. "You bet it was."

"I got an earful from her and my captain," he added with a shudder.

"Oof, man. Don't worry. We'll be good readers," I reassured him.

"He's right. We'll be well-behaved," Iris supported me.

The Deathwalker looked at us and shrugged. "Alright then. I'll be off."

With an exasperated sigh, he turned around and went back to his duties, muttering, "Kids these days."

"Talking like an old man in his twenties? Being a librarian must be tough," Iris remarked.

I nodded, a smirk playing on my lips. "Yeah, but at least he gets to keep us on our toes."

"But that is odd," she frowned, looking at my mother's name and tapping her finger beside it thoughtfully. "I was sure there was another name besides your mother's."

"You've read this before?" I asked.

"When I was young," she responded softly, a shadow crossing her features as she recalled distant memories.

Her expression grew troubled. "That's odd. I distinctly remember reading an older version of this book, one with an additional name listed beside your mother's."

I regarded her with concern. "But you have read it?"

Iris nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "I believe so. However, I can't seem to recall the details."

A twinge of worry crept into my voice. "Could this be a case of amnesia?"

Her blue eyes had a distant look in them as she pondered. "Now that I think about it, I've struggled to remember many aspects of my past, particularly the year before I became a Deathwalker. It's as though my memories are fragmented, incomplete."

"I remember bits and pieces," she continued, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Like the faint recollection of encountering an older version of this book."

Squeezing her hand gently, I voiced my concern. "Are you alright, Iris? Your memory hasn't been this foggy before."

"There have always been gaps in my memory, even when we first met. But I never deemed them significant enough to address," she replied and gave a reassuring smile.

"Besides, most of the forgotten memories pertain to the dreadful times I endured at the Karsus Estate. I never longed to revisit those memories, so I never dwelled on their absence. Perhaps that's why I never noticed the gaps until now."

She chuckled gleefully. "I guess you could say that this is a blessing in disguise."

Despite my concerns, I smiled back. "Yeah, but still, we need to get that checked."

"Fine, Dad," she rolled her eyes.

I scowled and grabbed her ear. "You stupid maniac. Try to have at least a bit of self-preservation."

"Ow! Ow! Stop it! Fine! I'll ask Casper to look into it," she exclaimed, leading me to let go of her ear.

She rubbed her reddened ear and grumbled. "I'll get you back for this."

I chuckled. "I'll look forward to it, love."

I then refocused on my mother's name. "So, are you saying my mum has a sibling?"

Iris nodded. "Seems like it."

"I never learned anything about this," I said and frowned. "Perhaps Gawain has some idea."

Suddenly, my eyes widened as I remembered something.

I immediately took out my phone and opened my calendar.

"Ah, fuck," I swore.

"What is it?" Iris asked, leaning closer to have a peek.

I looked at her with a sheepish expression. "Gawain's coming for a visit, and I totally forgot about it."