"Ahhh!" Xylon cried out, clutching his ears.
"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" Arden asked with concern.
"W-What's happening to me? I can hear them... I can hear people talking," Xylon said, his voice trembling.
Arden smiled faintly. "It seems your hearing has begun to sharpen. Next, your sense of smell and eyesight will awaken. Before long, your true powers will begin to emerge."
"My... powers?" he is getting overwhelmed by all the things he is finding out.
"We're almost at your mansion. I'll explain everything once we get there," Arden said.
Xylon nodded, and the two continued on their way.
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.....
At last, Akuma's group arrived at the Fifth District of Aznar.
The Kingdom of Aznar was divided into seven districts, each governed by members of the vampire nobility.
The Seventh District, home to Serolf Academy, was ruled by Mist, the son of Kan, the academy's former overseer.
The Sixth District, the center of Aznar's agriculture, was governed by Aria and Cedrick.
The Fifth District, where the prestigious House of the Royal Knights was located—the birthplace of Aznar's finest knights—was under the rule of Arden and Zander.
The Fourth District, home to the grand Basilica, was governed by Lilith and Yvess.
The Third District, where the kingdom's hospitals and medical facilities were located, was ruled by Blake and Zake.
The Second District, which housed the Capitol, the ministers, and the central marketplace, was governed by Xenon and Heberlin.
Finally, the First District, where the royal palace stood, was ruled by the King himself and his two princes.
"We're almost at the palace," Viel said.
The Mirce Lorde now occupied the royal palace, having stolen the throne that rightfully belonged to the King. He had even renamed the Kingdom of Aznar as El Quero.
"Where's Brother Xerxes?" Akuma asked.
"Probably outside," Mist replied as he lit a candle.
They were currently resting inside a small cottage.
The door suddenly opened.
Xerxes walked in, dragging two teenage boys by their arms.
"We had a pair of puppies following us," Xerxes said.
"It's a wolf, it's a wolf... awuuu!" Sagittarius suddenly sang, unable to resist. (He was a huge EXO fan.)
Xerxes shoved the two boys forward.
"Who are you?" Akuma asked.
"My name is Lycan. I'm a werewolf, and this is my friend, Ira," one of them introduced himself.
"Why were you following us?" Viel asked.
"Because... we don't know where to find a safe place." Lycan lowered his head. "The Querons attacked our pack and captured my father. I barely escaped. Later, I found Ira alone in the forest. We had nowhere else to go... then we saw all of you. We thought... maybe we'd be safe if we stayed with you."
Mist studied the young wolf. "You're brave for someone your age. You knew we were vampires, yet you still chose to follow us."
"There has always been a peace treaty between vampires and werewolves," Lycan replied. "Neither side is supposed to harm the other."
"We're heading straight for the palace, where the Mirce Lorde is waiting," Akuma warned. "Do you still want to come with us?"
Lycan and Ira exchanged worried glances.
"It's too dangerous, Lycan," Ira whispered.
"But my father is there," Lycan answered.
He turned toward Akuma with determined eyes. "We're coming with you."
Akuma and Viel smiled in approval.
Meanwhile, Xerxes remained unusually quiet, his gaze lingering on Ira.
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.....
Inside the mansion, Blake and Zake finally regained their memories, bitterly cursing the Mirce Lord.
"I still can't believe that bastard Mirce Lorde actually erased our memories," Blake said through gritted teeth.
"Thank you for searching for us, Lilith," Zake said sincerely.
"We could never abandon you," Lilith replied with a gentle smile. "You're our friends... and Aznar needs both of you."
"What has happened to Aznar?" Blake asked.
"Mirce Lorde rules the kingdom now," Yvess answered grimly.
"We have to move quickly," Xenon declared. "It's time to put an end to that bastard's madness."
"Lucas is already searching for Heberlin and Zander," Lilith added.
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.....
Zander and Heberlin trembled in horror.
They had killed Heberlin's neighbor.
It hadn't been intentional.
The unbearable thirst had consumed them, and they had lost control.
"W-What have we done?" Heberlin whispered as he stared at the razor-sharp claws that had appeared on his hands.
The apartment door slowly opened.
A man with long, flowing silver hair stepped inside, wearing a dark cloak. Another man stood silently behind him.
"W-Who are you?" Zander asked fearfully.
"Don't be afraid," the silver haired man said calmly. "We're your friends."
"S-Stay away from us!" Heberlin shouted.
The man raised one hand and calmly recited a spell. "Exanimatus!"
Instantly, Heberlin and Zander lost consciousness and collapsed onto the floor.
"Carry them, Kun," Lucas ordered.
Kun nodded.
His body suddenly transformed into a towering beast.
Kun was Lucas's Familiar.
Since Grum was finally done helping him with his previous mission, Lucas let him rest for a while and had Kun accompany him on his new mission.
Long ago, Lucas had purchased Kun from a group of barbaric vampires who had captured and enslaved the creature. Unable to bear Kun's suffering, Lucas bought his freedom with a sack of gold.
From that day onward, Kun faithfully served his new master.
Eventually, Lucas developed a spell that allowed Kun to assume a human form, preventing others from fearing his monstrous appearance.
Kun carried the two unconscious vampires as the group quietly left the apartment.
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.....
Aria could hardly believe what she had seen.
The moment she touched Sheen's hand, she succeeded in reading his thoughts.
Now she knew the truth.
Hades... Spring... Sheen... Tresvain... and Owen...
They were never evil.
They weren't Querons at all.
They were...