A Walk with Eternity-Chapter 31: Plans

"Well... would you look at this," Samael trailed off as entered Cimmerian’s room after hearing all the noise coming from it. They all seem to be bickering around like little children. "You all aren’t acting like you’ll head out for a rescue operation at all."

For his comment, they could only roll their eyes back. Yves himself didn’t bother arguing and looked past the duke. It was Callista who carried a specific scroll. She walked towards Yves and handed it to him.

"Here, take this," she said. "Lord Cimmerian had mentioned about him being trapped in his shadows, so you’ll need that."

"What’s that?" Cimmerian asks and looks over.

"It’s some sort of talisman," Callista begins to explain. "A vampire being trapped in his own shadows is no rare occurrence within the clan, but it’s definitely something unusual."

The vampires are a rare kind of species on this earth. They live longer than elves, are as powerful as sirens, as beautiful as angels, and as frightening as demons. Because of this, they are targets of mass murderings from other races, hence the decline in their population. Only with the reign of Emperor Kyro did it stop.

The Redridge Clan, also known as the vampire’s clan, is currently where all vampires (full blood or not) belong and co-exist. That very clan has been under Lysander’s rule for almost a decade now. However, Callista... is not a part of that clan anymore, despite being a vampire herself. It remains a mystery even to Yves.

"How can we free Lysander?" Cimmerian couldn’t help but ask. Now was the time to make use of their resources. And it seems Callista knows a lot more than they thought. However, to their dismay... Callista shakes her head.

"You cannot save a vampire succumbing in darkness, let alone the leader of the clan," Callista responded in disappointment. "Only they will be able to free themselves through such a thing."

"Is the case the same with those who were forced in their own shadows?"

Cimmerian didn’t give up, but that wasn’t what caught Syvestian’s attention. Callista on the other hand, raised a brow at the question and simply answered, "No, because if it was an actual spell directed to keep him bound in his own tower without anyone knowing, then it’s not his shadows that he’s fighting against."

"What do you mean...? Lysander was attacked?" Yves asks, his chest is pounding from worry.

Cimmerian couldn’t dare meet his eyes. He was hesitant.

"Cim," Yves called him. Cimmerian could only sigh and be honest about it.

"Yes, there was evidence in his tower that was attacked. Lysander himself found a loophole in the spell and was able to send me a message..."

"What did he say...?" Dolunay asks.

"...Hide Yves."

While Samael and Callista remained utterly confused, those who understood fell quieter. Their hearts sank once again...

This mess... this accident... is because of Yves.

All their eyes were on him again, and they couldn’t help but notice how much his gaze had darkened over the revelation.

He knows who exactly would do such a thing...

Yves heaved a sigh and shook off his own thoughts. There was no use simply thinking about it; something had to be done. He needs to free Lysander, and that’s what he’s going to do now.

"How do we use this?" Yves asks. And Callista was taken aback by the fact that Yves asked him such a thing, but responded anyway.

"Rip it to activate. It can help repel harmful shadows coming your way," Callista instructed, and Yves simply nodded.

"You sure you don’t want to come?" Samael asks her. Yves and the others then looked at her, waiting for her response. They do think it would be best if she comes with them as well. After all, she’s the one who knows most about such.

However, Callista shook her head.

"I have no right to take even a single step on that land ever again," she stated, which leaves Yves and the others wondering.

Why...?

"If you say so," Samael simply shrugged it off and threw a crystal towards Kian, which Kian caught swiftly. "That’s what you’ve asked for, Your Highness."

Kian raised a brow for a moment, but his expression lit up in realization. "Father agreed?"

Samael nodded in response. "Yes. After all, this is an operation led by Syvestian Grimestone. He wouldn’t want to get in Yves’ way no matter what."

Kian scoffed at that remark. "Yves has everyone under his thumb huh. Imagine receiving permission to do whatever the fuck you want within two hours from the emperor himself. I can’t even see him during scheduled meal times."

"You asked for that, not me," Yves grunted, trying to dismiss the allegations. "I didn’t even think of that."

"That’s exactly what I’m trying to say, smarthead," Kian argues, rolling his eyes. "We’re going to a territory that not even the emperor can step foot on mindlessly. We needed to at least have the emperor himself ask the clan itself to enter."

Yves rolled his eyes. "Fine. You guys eat something to energize. I’ll get something from my lab, and when I get back, you all better be ready to leave."

Just like that, he disappeared completely from their sights. There was a moment of silence before the air shifted into something a bit... lighter. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"He’s panicking," Milera commented. Cimmerian showed confusion.

"He is," Ezio chuckled.

"It shows. He’s a huge klutz when it comes to actual preparation," Kian sighs.

"He reacted the same when he found out about Cimmerian, too." Dolunay joins with a small smile.

"He did?" Cimmerian became curious as well. All of them nodded along.

"You should’ve seen his face when he first learned about what happened to you and all the others," Milera says, showing a warm smile. "It may not have looked like it for the past decade, but he truly did wish us nothing but happiness and growth. He simply has other priorities..."

Right...

Cimmerian fell silent, quietly sitting with his thoughts of the current happening. He couldn’t get rid of a certain feeling for years after Rue cut them all off. It wasn’t anger, nor was it even regret... maybe he felt left behind. Maybe it felt like he wouldn’t be able to become something if he chased something else... While Yves and Rue had to shut out the world to prioritize their own goals, he was busy trying to catch up to all of them.

But that’s not how it was supposed to be.

All of them were all meant for a different path since the beginning.

Why do I get enlightenment at a random moment like this... Cimmerian couldn’t contain his chuckle at the thought.

"Well, since all of you seem to be doing just fine on your own, we’ll take our leave," Samael then bid his farewell, bowed, and left with Callista alongside him.

The five of them were then left in the room once again, awaiting their leader’s return in chatter and chuckles.

Meanwhile, all the way across the entire earth, is an empire rebuilt not too long ago.

The Empire of Amadeus Oceana—or as others may call it, the sacred queendom of the sirens. It’s a land where only a fourth of the population are not sirens. They are strict with anything that touches the ground on their land. You would need to go through at least three closed inspections before entering the capital city.

One would say that it’s an overreaction. However, after that tragedy from years ago, a fool would be its empress if she were to put her walls down for the very same people that brought them to their immediate downfall.

The empress of the sirens herself was a thorny rose bush. She is beautiful, more than what one could describe in words.

"Your Majesty," her aide bows.

Before her is a siren with indescribable beauty. She just woke up from her nap, and yet, her hair was brushing softly in the sheets. The mesh and silk fabric barely covers her naked skin that shines like diamonds in the rough.

"Must you interrupt my sleep?"

Her cold voice echoes through the room. Her aide refuses to look up because of this, but the empress was feeling a little merciful.

"What is it?"

"An unregistered demoness is wanted in our land," the aide reveals immediately as a servant walks toward the empress with a tray, holding that very wanted poster that has been around for days.

The empress paused for a moment.

"Sin...?" She uttered under her breath; a familiar nickname.

"Has there been any problem regarding this?" The empress asks.

"None so far, Your Majesty. However, it’s been attracting outsiders, mostly bounty hunters of the like, to come to our land."

The empress fell silent for a moment.

"Be extra strict with adventurers entering the capital for the next two weeks."

"Huh...?" This confused the aide. "Would it not be better to be a little loose with the security knowing a demoness is on the loose in our streets—"

The aide stopped her own words as she met the empress’ sharp gaze. It wasn’t a simple look, it was a warning for overstepping. The aide once again stepped back and bowed.

"A-As you wish, Your Majesty," she confirmed with a shaky voice. The empress looks at her, observing.

She’s another new aide... she thought to herself, unimpressed. This is the third one this month.

The empress looks back at the wanted poster.

Now... what is going on in your head, Sin?