Decision

Alexander walked through the mountain and he couldn't recognize anything anymore, he felt like every tree was out of place, it was a weird feeling.

He didn't see any fairy or monster until he arrived at the cold mountain's peak. And then, it didn't take long to find a white gecko.

----

Shira sat on her throne with a cold face.

She looked in the mirror and saw what she looked like. She thought her figure was still lacking even with all the soldiers kneeling at the sides of the throne.

"Isabella, Jennifer" She called her two daughters, and soon they appeared before her.

Isabella didn't look good at all but Jennifer was smiling from ear to ear.

Jennifer had the most beautiful features of all the vampires, she had blonde hair and red eyes. She was wearing a very elegant dress and a crown.

"Mother" Jennifer said while she bowed in front of Shira. But Isabella didn't move.

"My daughters" Shira said with a cold voice.

"I have duties for both of you, and I hope that you can successfully accomplish them like how I trained you to do so"

"Jennifer, you will convince Lili into going to war or think of a way to make her do it either way"

"Yes, Mother!" Jennifer answered eagerly.

"And you... What should I do with you? It's past the time when you should have learned how to control your thirst. I can't let you become such an embarrassment to this family. If you can't do it before the war, you will be punished accordingly"

"...Y-Yes mother" Isabella answered weakly.

Then both girls left the room and turned to the opposite sides.

-------

A few hours later, at the mountain peak.

Alexander already killed enough white geckos to paint chunks of snow red.

They are poisonous and he was bare-handed so he had to kill them as quickly as possible while avoiding touching any poison. It was tricky but actually feasible because of how slow they are.

He was able to gain only 8000 exp from the few hours he spent killing them. It was far from the speed he wanted and he started thinking of ways to make it faster.

Then, suddenly, he heard someone approaching. He turned his head, staring at the strangely familiar person.

"Who are you?" He asked and the unknown person showed him an amused smile.

"~It's such a pity that you don't remember... And I waited so long for our reunion. It's nice to see you again, Alexander. I'm Jennifer"

Alexander became surprised to find Lili's sister at such a place, and even more surprised because she knew his real name.

"Why so tense~? Don't worry, I don't bite"

"Why are you here?" Alexander felt something was odd since she came to meet with him in the middle of the woods, probably without saying anything to Lili.

"Don't be so stiff, I'm on your side. I actually came here to ask for your help. Lili's in danger and we need to save her"

Alexander stared at Jennifer intensely, he lost his calm for a few seconds after hearing about Lili.

"What happened? Why?! I was beside her just a few hours ago"

"I'm not talking about now, there's a war going on and mother wants to bring Lili along. My mother wants to make her stronger... Lili will definitely have to fight at some point. But unfortunately, my mother is a really bad teacher and she would rather let her children die over helping her"

Alexander became anxious after hearing Jennifer's words. He felt like an idiot for leaving her like that alone just after so many people died.

He turned back intending to go back to his house and protect her.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"To my house, where Lili is"

"She isn't there anymore. Lili is already going to the battlefield with mother. But we can't be hasty. If mother discovers that we want to take Lili away, she will kill us and punish Lili"

"Then what should I do?"

"Go to my division at the kingdom's east side. It's the army's first division, and it will be dispatched together with mother towards the war. You will be able to blend in and get closer to Lili this way"

"What about you?"

"I'm not going to the front line. I will stay close to Lili and make sure she survives until you can get to her"

"... And then what? I grab her and run? Now I don't get it... Why me? Isn't there way stronger people who can help you?"

"No, I don't have that much power inside the castle, and the few that I know can hardly be trusted. I can only count on you, someone who wants to protect her as much as I do"

"... You seem to know a lot about me"

"Yes, Lili talks a lot when she's excited. Now we need to go, we are short in time"

Then Jennifer suddenly disappeared and Alexander was left alone in the snow.

"I see that disappearing is a family trait"

He was conflicted, he either believes what Jennifer said and goes to the first division or he goes back to his house and wait for Lili assuming that all Jennifer said just now was a lie.

He didn't trust Jennifer enough to believe everything she said just because she said it, but the risk he would have to pay if she is right is just too big for him... So he decided to believe.

If Lili wasn't actually in danger, she would be safe in their house until he came back but if she was truly in danger, no matter how small the chance, he couldn't risk it.

He ran towards the division's location which Jennifer told him. He needed to get there as fast as possible to not only know if Jennifer was lying but to relieve the stress accumulated after that talk.

He used natural steps like a lunatic, raising his speed higher than ever.