Born in Blood



Niveh scoffed proudly with disdain in her tone.

"It's not something you can just learn in one day. Every one of our Arts takes a lifetime to learn and adapt to. It's a fighting style we choose and remain with for the rest of our lives. Unless you have a Rank 3 Nexus, you can't choose another."

Liam hummed thoughtfully. He took another look at Niveh's palms. 

A thin red line began from the tip of her fingers, then ran up to the top of her hand and down her arm. Those were where the strings exited from.

They were also made from their blood, and their hardness, strength and usage would depend on what Rank it was.

Interesting. He had actually thought of recreating that art into a spell or technique to use. It sounded incredibly useful and powerful, but no doubt difficult and hard to make. He wouldn't give up on that train of thought just yet, though. 

"This Vxich person. Where is he?" 

Nineveh looked like she didn't want to answer… but Liam's gentle hand hadn't left hers.

"...North of the Feeding Grounds. There's a station there."

Liam nodded, then proceeded to ask a few more questions. 

In short, there were roughly 10 'upper vampires' – vampires with sentience and a Rank 2 Nexus – and one Rank 3 'higher vampire' – Vxich, within each station.

Moreover, the Citadel was roughly a month or two away from where they were, towards the north. But there were multiple villages, Feeding Grounds and borders that needed passing before they got there. 

Not to mention, they'd have to pass by Vxich's territory too.

It was risky. Kalia's words rang in Liam's mind, not to go to dangerous and mainstream locations if it risked their lives. 

But gaining information about how the vampires functioned and advanced would be extremely rewarding, both for himself, and the prizes he was to receive.

Liam didn't forget to ask where they received the humans from, but Niveh honestly didn't know. 

It could have been any country surrounding the Korsan continent, perhaps even Echoria had a dark hand to play in it. 

Though, Liam wouldn't trust every word the vampire told them. 

Unsurprisingly, vampires had a glaring weakness – sunlight. They couldn't kidnap the humans even if they wanted to, which meant someone had supplied them with it.

[I say we go towards the Citadel,] Liam transmitted to Nord and Rin. [If at any point it gets dangerous, we can leave… but we've hit the motherload.]

In all honesty, he would've liked to make the sole decision himself and go there without conferring with his crew… but Nord and Rin had earned some respect from him.

Not to mention, it was practically impossible for him to do it alone. Nessa and Gerald… well, they had no say in the matter.

[I'll go,] Nord relayed after a short pause. [It's not like I have anything better to do.]

Rin looked pensive, but gestured with a nod. 

'I'll go too.'

"It's decided then. We'll be heading to the Citadel."

Niveh scowled with shocked eyes. 

"Did you not hear a word I just said?! Your little squad can't do anything against them! The Blooder can kill ten of you if he wants!"

Liam hummed noncommittally. There was fear in the vampire's tone, but not at him, at her superior. 

"Well, with how much you've told us, you would get butchered with us if he found out, wouldn't you?"

Niveh flinched, then lowered her head with a frustrated and defeated look.

Liam smiled, then let go of her hand.

"It doesn't have to be that way… I have a proposition."

///

Liam's 'proposition' was something that benefited both sides. Niveh would be a guide of her own freewill, and Liam's crew wouldn't kill her, nor tell the Blooder of her betrayal. 

…Also, if things went well, he could quietly bring back the vampire to Echoria.

The more Niveh spoke, the more Liam realized that she really didn't like her circumstances. 

Vampiric society was apparently much more ruthless than he imagined.

By their standards, Niveh was still young, only 46 years old. Her age was a shock to Liam and the others, but he supposed that was in line with their cultivation journey. Just two centers of power yet it took a very long time to purify and evolve them to a higher Rank.

That said, Niveh wasn't overjoyed with her life here in the Korsan continent. Most of all, she hated her superior with a flaming passion for all the torture she'd gone through by his hand.

It took a little bit of convincing, but she eventually agreed on certain conditions.

"I don't want to get tortured and dissected for your kind to see my insides. And I… I want a house of my own, and my own supply of food and other… things."

Liam gave her a strange look. 

"Is that all?"

Niveh nodded after some thought.

Liam left the room and gave Jack a call, explaining what they've been doing over the course of two weeks.

"What?! You want to bring a vampire back to Echoria? And she agreed to this demand?" Jack said incredulously. 

"She has," Liam responded casually. "Can you get permission from the Royals?"

Silence.

"I'll try and get back to you."

Jack explained what he'd been doing in the meantime before hanging up. He'd been creating formations around the ship to establish a proper safezone. Blood piranhas attacked the ship more than once, apparently.

An hour later, Jack gave them the OK.

"We have a deal," Liam gave Niveh a firm handshake, though she thought he would break her hand again. "Oh, and there's one more condition."

Niveh gave him a confused look. 

"You'll have to let me cut you apart now and again for some light experimentation. At least, until I find someone else to experiment on. Oh, and you'll have to teach me your Blood Arts."

"That's two conditions!" Niveh protested angrily. "And are you sick in the head?"

Liam shrugged, then put on a thinking face.

"Or maybe I should cut you apart anyway and find someone else to replace you with..."