Ariella
Thornhill,
Vankar Island
Northern Isle Region,
Kingdom of Ashtarium
November 11th 6414
We had been at the Avrams' residence for several days now—though exactly how long, it was impossible to tell. Time felt distorted within this part of the Dungeon, blending into an uncertain haze. Lil, however, still hadn't woken up from whatever transformation or recovery process she was undergoing. Leah permitted me brief visits to check on her, yet always warned sternly that Lil's condition was delicate and that disturbing her might disrupt whatever mysterious process had taken hold of her. There was nothing I could do except wait, and waiting was torture.
To distract myself from this restless anxiety, I spent most of my time in the manor's expansive backyard. It had been thoughtfully designed as an archery training area, equipped with targets, racks of arrows, and sturdy wooden bows of various craftsmanship. I would lose myself in the rhythm of practice, focusing intently on perfecting my shooting technique, seeking a mental state where no troubling thought could reach me. Yet no matter how hard I tried, intrusive worries about Lil's wellbeing kept creeping back into my mind, fracturing my attempts at calm.
I had just released a series of arrows, each landing neatly near the bullseye, when I heard soft footsteps approaching from behind. Turning, I saw Jennifer McClough—her usual battle gear replaced by a simple yet elegant emerald dress that highlighted the vibrant hue of her green eyes. A surge of self-consciousness rippled through me as I took in her appearance. It irritated me slightly how effortlessly graceful and composed this human girl seemed. She had somehow captured Lil's attention during our Dungeon raids, and despite my best efforts, a pang of envy lingered deep in my chest.
Jennifer stopped next to me, her gaze fixed curiously on the targets scattered across the training grounds. "Nice shots," she remarked casually, her tone complimentary yet somehow carrying an undertone that grated against me. Perhaps it was imagined, but the words felt subtly condescending. Still, I said nothing, responding only with a shrug as I nocked another arrow and drew back the bowstring. The arrow flew swiftly, narrowly missing its intended mark—proof that her sudden appearance had disrupted my focus.
"I noticed you've stopped wearing your disguise," Jennifer spoke again, this time her voice gentler, almost conversational. Her observation caused my body to stiffen momentarily, fingers hesitating as I reached for another arrow. I glanced at her briefly, then back toward my bow, the realization settling in. Since the truth of my identity had already been revealed, continuing to maintain the disguise I'd worn since first arriving in Thornhill was pointless. Now, my true appearance was openly visible to everyone.
"I can see why Lil is smitten with you," Jennifer continued softly. Another arrow flew wildly off-target, betraying the turmoil her words had provoked within me. My cheeks burned hotly as I spun around to face her fully, embarrassment mixing with a hint of irritation.
"What do you want?" I demanded, perhaps a bit harsher than intended. I struggled to suppress the heat rising in my face, stubbornly ignoring her comment about Lil's supposed feelings. Yet beneath my embarrassment, I knew there was truth hidden in those words. Lil and I had shared a deep bond since childhood—ever since I was eight years old, marking half my life spent by her side. The relationship we shared was something I cherished fiercely, a treasured connection I could not imagine my eternal life without.
And yes, I was keenly aware of the special way Lil treated me—different from anyone else she knew. I understood Lil, perhaps better than she understood herself, and I was almost certain that her heart held romantic feelings toward me—feelings that had gradually grown stronger over the years. But Lil was complicated, tangled within her own inner conflicts and oblivious to her deeper emotions. I had never openly acknowledged these feelings, partly out of respect for her, partly due to my own complicated circumstances. It remained unspoken between us, a quiet truth hidden just beneath the surface, waiting patiently for a moment that might never come.
"To get to know you better, Anna," Jennifer said gently, her tone open and genuine. "Lith and I will be spending more time together, and since you're so important to her, I'd like it if we could at least become friends."
I noticed immediately that she was still addressing me by my false name, without any of the reverence that Neil had started to display after discovering my true identity. Even Ben had started maintaining a cautious distance, treating me with respectful reservation. To them, I was the Runaway Princess—still royalty, no matter how far I'd fled. The easy camaraderie I'd carefully built with them had vanished overnight, replaced by stiff formality.
Jennifer's offer to become friends caught me off guard. It wasn't something I could simply dismiss. After all, Lilith had clearly taken an interest in Jennifer. Whether it was romantic or merely admiration for Jennifer's impressive combat abilities, it was undeniable that Jennifer was becoming an important figure in Lilith's life—someone who would share space with me in her world. For Lilith's sake, it would be best if Jennifer and I at least got along, especially in her presence.
"I…I'd like that too," I replied, softly. "You can call me Ella. All my friends do."
"And you can call me Jen," she answered warmly, her emerald eyes sparkling with sincerity. As I reached to take another arrow from the quiver, Jen's gaze fell to the sword hanging by my hip, her curiosity evident.
"Do you know how to use the sword?" she asked, nodding toward the weapon.
I smiled, looking down fondly at the polished blade resting comfortably at my side, and nodded. Growing up, I'd learned swordsmanship from Father, Sanders, and Lil herself. Despite the extensive training and skill I'd acquired, swordplay had never been my favored combat style. My preference had always leaned toward long-range attacks—precise marksmanship with bow and arrow, striking enemies safely from a distance. Yet, I was no stranger to close-quarters combat and could handle myself proficiently if forced into it.
Jen's smile widened as she gracefully summoned her elegant rapier from the depths of her spatial ring, the slender blade gleaming in her hand.
"Then how about we spar together?" she proposed enthusiastically. "It's a good way to understand each other better, don't you think?"
My hand instinctively rested on the hilt of my sword as memories flashed through my mind. The way Jen was inviting me reminded me strikingly of Lilith. This had been exactly how Lilith had initially drawn close to me—through sparring, playful competition, and shared victories and defeats. However, once Lil became my personal guard, our sparring matches had ceased entirely. She began treating me differently, with protective distance, as though afraid of accidentally harming me.
Seeing Jen standing before me, rapier in hand, waiting expectantly, brought a small wave of nostalgia. Perhaps this friendship was worth cultivating, after all.
"Alright," I finally replied, drawing my sword with a steady hand and a faint smile, "Let's spar."
****
We sparred intensely for around twenty minutes, during which I quickly came to appreciate the extraordinary depth of Jen's fighting skills. Her movements were swift, precise, and gracefully aggressive, displaying a refined technique honed through countless battles and rigorous training. It became undeniably clear to me that Jen's combat experience vastly surpassed my own; every strike and defensive maneuver spoke of practiced ease and deadly efficiency. Even more impressive was her innate physical strength—her base power easily matching mine, even without her needing to rely upon Mana.
While humans were generally considered the weakest race, a Manaborn human was an entirely different matter. Upon ascending through cultivation, they enhanced not only their mystical prowess but also significantly lengthened their lifespan. Although humans could never achieve the biological immortality inherent to vampires, their longevity varied dramatically based on the cultivation realms they attained.
In the initial Awakening stages, a cultivated human could already live for thousands of years. However, as they progressed further into the Harmonization stage, individuals like Jen reached profound depths of integration with nature itself, gaining a form of semi-immortality. Jen, currently in the Grandmaster realm of Harmonization, was undoubtedly older than her youthful appearance suggested. The realization struck me as both fascinating and peculiar—it was rare indeed to encounter a human whose age exceeded that of a vampire like myself.
Yet, ultimately, her age was inconsequential compared to her capabilities. Jen's prowess as a warrior commanded respect and admiration. In her movements, I could finally understand Lilith's interest in her. Jen represented strength, skill, and resilience—all qualities Lilith deeply admired and valued. Whether Lilith's interest was purely platonic or something deeper remained unclear, but it was now easy for me to see why Lilith had gravitated toward Jennifer. She wasn't merely talented; she was extraordinary.
As the realization of Jen's strength settled in, an unsettling thought crept into my mind, reminding me once again just how dire the threat posed by those mysterious armored beings truly was. If even Lil, powerful as she was, could have her arm severed so easily, what hope did I stand against foes of such overwhelming strength? A sense of inadequacy gnawed at my confidence, conjuring memories of my uncle and the cruel lessons he'd taught me about weakness and vulnerability. Distracted by these thoughts, my grip loosened slightly, providing Jen the perfect opening.
With swift precision, she seized the opportunity and effortlessly disarmed me, sending my sword spiraling from my grasp. It clattered onto the grass several feet away, reflecting sunlight as if mocking my lapse in concentration.
"Are you okay?" Jen asked, concern lacing her voice as she noticed my distracted state.
"I…I'm good," I replied quickly, shaking off my thoughts and forcing a small, reassuring smile. As I moved toward the sword to retrieve it, I noticed a figure approaching us swiftly from the manor. It was Mary Avrams, her expression unusually serious, eyes sharp and intense as she took in the scene between Jen and me. Her gaze flickered briefly toward Jen, then settled firmly upon me, a look heavy with importance.
"Lilith Kain is awake," she announced, her voice crisp and clear.
"What? Really?" I exclaimed, unable to suppress the rush of joy and relief that surged through me. In an instant, my heart soared, my previous concerns temporarily forgotten. Without another word, I blurred into motion, my natural speed propelling me swiftly past Mary, leaving both women momentarily stunned by the suddenness of my movement.
I hurried into the house, navigating through familiar corridors at dizzying speed until I finally reached the room where Lil had been resting. Inside, the room was bathed in a low, ambient light. I expected chaos—confusion, disorientation, maybe even panic—but what I found instead was Lilith seated calmly, speaking in low tones with Levi and Leah. A dark purple mist shimmered faintly around her like a protective veil, humming with volatile energy. Her body was coiled, defensive yet still—like a blade half-drawn from its sheath. She hadn't attacked, which meant she wasn't fully in survival mode. That alone was a relief.
And then her eyes found me. I froze in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. Her gaze was intense, piercing straight through me, and in that instant, I felt it—everything about her had changed.
Lilith had always carried power like a storm cloaked in silence, but now... now it was unmistakable. Her aura had sharpened like obsidian, and her presence radiated a kind of pressure that only came from those who had undergone a major breakthrough. Her features were more defined, her skin aglow with the faint pulse of internal mana. She didn't just feel powerful—she felt otherworldly.
Lilith Kain had ascended. She was no longer just someone powerful for a human. She was a Manaborn in truth now, her body brimming with refined energy, humming with the unmistakable signature of a cultivator who had crossed a threshold. Her very presence bent the air around her.
"You… You…" I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence as I struggled to process everything I was sensing.
"Ella," she said softly.
It was my real name. She must have noticed I was no longer using my disguise, likely deducing that Levi and Leah already knew the truth. There was no need for falsehoods between us now.
The swirling aura around her dissipated in an instant, vanishing like mist in the morning sun. That one word, spoken in her voice, broke the tension and sent me into motion.
I ran to her, arms outstretched, and threw myself into her embrace. She caught me without hesitation. I buried my face into her shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of her breath, the strength in her hold, and the warmth I had missed more than I could ever say.
She was awake. She was alive.
And somehow, she was more Lilith than ever.
_
Lilith's POV
The moment my eyes fluttered open, I became acutely aware of the shift in my surroundings. The cocoon of essence that had enveloped me while I trained was now gone, leaving behind no trace but the hum of new power coursing through me. I found myself in a dimly lit chamber unlike any I had seen before. I was reclined on a massive bed, its soft surface more luxurious than anything I could recall. Shelves lined the walls, their burden a strange assortment of tomes, vials, and—much to my alarm—disembodied limbs and organic fragments that dangled from thin chains overhead. The air was thick with the sharp tang of alchemical substances, and the tables scattered throughout the room bore the chaotic remnants of experiments: stoppered flasks of glimmering liquid, half-finished runes etched into stone plates, and tools that looked more suited to a butcher's trade than a mage's laboratory.
What struck me most was not the oddity of the scene but the intensity of my awareness. My senses were no longer dulled or confined; they were sharp, honed. I could feel the grain of the wood beneath my hands, hear the faint drip of liquid from a distant vial, smell the acrid sting of chemicals mingled with the faint trace of old blood. Each detail leapt into my mind with a clarity I had never experienced. Yet I knew this newfound acuity was only the beginning. I could be more—see further, feel more deeply, understand the world beyond even these heightened senses. I closed my eyes and reached out with what Aeternum had called my internal sense.
This was a skill the construct had taught me during our sessions—one that required not physical movement but an application of mental energy, the raw power of the mind. It was a technique that stretched my awareness beyond my physical self, allowing me to feel the contours of the space around me without sight or sound. It wasn't just an extension of the senses; it was an entirely new perception, a kind of mental resonance that painted a vivid picture of my environment in my mind's eye. I could sense the walls of the chamber, the cracks in the stone floor, even the faint currents of air shifting as I breathed. Aeternum had told me that, with time, I could refine this ability to detect even the smallest disturbances—an insect's wingbeat, the faintest ripple in the fabric of magic itself. For now, though, I let the sensation flow over me, learning its texture, feeling its reach.
This place was unfamiliar, yet I knew that wherever I was, I had emerged stronger, sharper, more attuned to the world. I resolved that I would not simply settle for what I had gained. I would push further, hone this new sense, and make it my own. Aeternum's training had only laid the foundation. It was up to me to build upon it.
As my internal senses expanded outward, I began to grasp the scope of my surroundings. I could sense the structure of the building—the breadth of its halls, the placement of its rooms—and I felt the unique resonance of the manor's essence. But more than that, I quickly picked up on the energy signatures of three figures. Their power dwarfed even my newly sharpened presence, leaving me no doubt as to their dominance. Yet I detected no hostility in them; they did not seem to be preparing for an attack. As soon as my senses brushed against them, their attention shifted toward me. I felt the weight of their awareness bearing down on me, like a sudden shift in pressure.
One of the three began to move, but not in my direction. The other two turned and started toward me, their energies resolute and deliberate. As their auras drew closer, I pushed my perception past them, seeking out more familiar presences. I soon found the faint but steady signatures of Neil and Ben in separate rooms. They seemed unharmed, their energies calm and undisturbed. Reassured by that, I cast my awareness beyond the manor's walls, to the open space outside. There, I found Ella and Jen. The two of them appeared to be sparring, their movements swift and precise, their energies fluctuating in measured bursts. For a moment, their familiar presences eased my tension. They were fine.
A sharp sound pulled me back to the room as the door opened. Two figures stepped inside. The first was a tall man, his presence commanding and otherworldly. His skin glowed with a deep golden hue, and his long white-gold hair cascaded over the pristine folds of his white robe. His bearing was regal, effortless, as if he moved through the world entirely untouched by its weight. The second figure was a woman whose warm brown skin carried a faint golden undertone. Her rich brown hair framed her face in soft waves, and though she was stunning, her beauty was only part of what struck me. She seemed familiar—uncannily so. Her golden-hinted complexion and graceful poise sparked a nagging recognition in the back of my mind. Yet it was the man's presence that held my focus. His power was like a tidal wave, overwhelming and undeniable. It radiated from him in steady pulses, making the air around him feel heavier. Reflexively, I activated my ability factor, shrouding myself in a defensive veil. My instincts told me I couldn't be too careful.
"Levi, you're scaring the poor girl," the woman said, lightly swatting the man's arm. To my surprise, he flinched, his expression tightening as if the gesture had stung him.
"I'm not doing anything," he replied evenly, but his eyes shifted toward me. They were a striking shade of indigo, deep and unsettlingly familiar. They reminded me of Ella's eyes. "You're finally awake, Lilith," he said, his voice carrying the weight of long-standing knowledge. It was not a question, but a statement. As his gaze lingered on me, the confusion on my face seemed to register. "You don't remember me, do you?"
"Am I supposed to…" I began, but the words were barely out when the door slammed open. I turned to see Ella rushing in. Her energy felt lighter, warmer, and she wore a bright smile, her relief and joy unmistakable.
"You… you…" She stammered, the sight of me catching her off guard. Her disguise was gone. Her true form was bare for all to see. My mind raced. If her real appearance was visible, that meant these two strangers already knew who she was.
"Ella," I said, my voice soft with both surprise and recognition. Before I could say more, she ran to me, throwing her arms around me in a fierce hug. Instinctively, I restrained my newfound strength, careful not to hurt her. I was in the Master realm now, and my physical power far exceeded hers in the Warrior realm. I couldn't risk squeezing too tightly, even in a moment of relief and reunion.
"I'm so glad you're alive," Ella sobbed, her voice shaking with raw emotion. Her arms clung tightly around me, as if she feared I might disappear again. "You promised... you promised not to leave me. So you can't die on me, Lil. Do you hear me?"
Her words cut through the haze of recent events, pulling my attention fully onto her. I couldn't help but smile, her desperation tinged with relief warming my heart. I reached up and patted her back gently, reassured that no harm had come to her during my time away. Behind her, in the hallway, I caught sight of Neil, Ben, and Jen, along with another figure—someone who must have told Ella I'd awakened. Still, my focus remained entirely on Ella as she poured out her feelings, holding me close as though her life depended on it.
Once Ella had finished voicing her grievances and her tears began to subside, the Avram family, who had been hosting them, prepared a grand feast in my honor. Ella explained everything that had happened since I bonded with Aeternum. We had materialized in a part of the tutorial floor of the Dungeon, a dense forest teeming with dangers. Levi Avram and his daughter, Mary, had found Ella and the others under attack from Feyborn creatures and had intervened just in time to save them. Since then, they had been living under the Avrams' protection, waiting patiently for me to emerge from the cocoon.
The dining room was as magnificent as the rest of the mansion. The long table was a spectacle, laden with platters of every kind of food imaginable—roasted meats, fresh breads, vibrant vegetables, and trays of sweets—accompanied by goblets of wine and ornate pitchers of other beverages. As I settled into the feast, I couldn't help but marvel at how ravenous I'd become. I had expected that my ascension would reduce my need for sustenance, but quite the opposite was true. Each bite seemed to fuel the powerful energy coursing through me, and I ate with an intensity I hadn't known before.
As I enjoyed the meal, I turned my attention to the Avrams, watching them closely. On the surface, they appeared entirely human, yet something about them didn't sit right. Humans were capable of becoming Manaborn, just as Neil had, but the Avrams seemed different. They exuded an air of something ancient, something holy—almost divine. Their presence carried a purity that felt foreign, as though they were untouched by the corruption and decay of the world outside.
"They are Children of the Light, just like you, Lilith," Aeternum's voice echoed suddenly in my mind.
Children of the Light. The term struck a chord. I had read about them before in the old records, back when I first started piecing together the fragments of history. The Children of the Light were the fabled warriors who had stood against the Vampires during the War of the Race. They had been powerful, a faction of pure, unyielding light that waged a brutal campaign against the Vampires' dark empire. But the War had not ended in their favor. The Vampires' victory had been absolute, their dominance cemented by erasing the Children of the Light from history. Names, records, entire lineages—gone. And in the end, their desperation had led to one final, catastrophic act: they bombed the world with a weapon of unimaginable power, leaving scars of deadly radiation that still poisoned the earth to this day. I had assumed none of them survived. Yet here they were.
"What do you mean, just like me?" I asked Aeternum silently, breaking my bread in two as I spoke.
"The Kain family is one of the oldest bloodlines in existence," Aeternum replied, her tone calm and measured. "Is it really so surprising to learn that you're not as human as you believed yourself to be?"
I paused, staring down at the piece of bread in my hand. The truth was hard to deny. Since bonding with Aeternum, my senses, my strength, my entire being had changed. The abilities I'd unlocked were far beyond anything a normal human should possess. I said nothing in response, choosing instead to tear into the bread, letting the answer sink in with each bite.
"So, Lilith, how do you feel now that you're bonded to Aeternum?" Levi asked, his calm, probing voice pulling me from my thoughts. His familiarity with the Codex caught me off guard. My eyes drifted to the intricate runes etched onto my arm, the black ink symbols shifting like living veins, weaving patterns from my wrist to my elbow.
"You know about Aeternum?" I replied, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice.
"Aeternum?" Ella echoed, tilting her head in confusion.
"The grimoire that awakened her," Mary answered matter-of-factly. I turned to look at the Avram family, who sat quietly, their calm demeanor belying a depth of knowledge that far surpassed my own.
"They were charged with watching over me while I was sealed away in the Codex Dungeon," Aeternum's voice resonated within my mind, a quiet but steady presence.
"Charged by who?" I asked aloud.
"I… I do not know," Aeternum admitted after a pause. "It seems that, like you, some of my memories have been sealed."
Leah, her demeanor warm but reserved, spoke next. "Our family has been waiting for the day you would return to claim the Codex."
Before I could respond, Neil interjected, his tone laced with skepticism. "I'm sorry, but what is the connection between you guys and Lith?" he asked, using the nickname he and Ben had given me. I preferred it to Lilith, if I was honest. There was something simpler, less burdened about it.
"They're my family," I said quietly, looking directly at Leah. Her features—especially the way she carried herself—reminded me of someone I couldn't quite place. It was as if the echoes of a forgotten memory danced just out of reach. My gaze lingered on her, and I felt something stir deep within, a pull in my blood that grew stronger the longer I stayed near them. Ella had spoken of this sensation before—a blood bond that allowed members of the same lineage to recognize each other on a primal level.
"Family?" Ella repeated, her voice soft but tinged with uncertainty.
"My maternal side of the family," I explained. "Isn't that right?"
Leah's smile was faint but genuine, and tears glimmered in her eyes as she regarded me. "Yes," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "It's been so long since we last saw you, little one."
"So I've been here before?" I asked, a spark of curiosity mixed with apprehension.
"A long time ago," Levi answered. "With your father, Jonathan." The mention of his name caused an immediate shift in the room's atmosphere. Levi's expression darkened with scorn, his jaw tightening as though the very name tasted bitter. Before I could question him, Leah reached out and smacked his arm, her reprimand silent but effective.
It was strange—strange to think that I had a grandfather at all. The concept felt so far removed from my reality. Yet here he was, flesh and blood, clearly carrying some unresolved tension toward my father.
"Is my mother here?" I asked, my voice hesitant, almost afraid of the answer. "Is she somewhere nearby?"
Levi's expression softened, though it was tinged with regret. "I'm afraid Sarah isn't here," he said carefully. "She left Thornhill with your brother and Jonathan a long time ago."
I froze, the word brother echoing in my mind. I'd never once considered the possibility. If my father and mother had been shrouded in mystery, my siblings had been a complete blind spot. Were they still alive? Had they survived wherever my mother had taken them?
Ella's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "If you guys are Lil's family, where have you been all these years?" There was a sharp edge to her tone, and she glared at the Avrams, her indignation palpable. "Do you even know where my family found Lil before she came to live with me? How lonely she was?"
"Ella—" I began, trying to calm her, but Leah raised a hand to stop me.
"You don't understand," Leah said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness. "We all thought she was dead. The last time we saw her…" She trailed off, clearly reluctant to say more.
"Leah," Levi said firmly, his voice carrying an unspoken command. Leah's expression tightened, and she fell silent.
Levi turned his gaze on me and Ella, his demeanor steadier now. "Our family was charged with safeguarding the Codex of Aeternum. We swore an oath to your father, Jonathan. He entrusted it to us, asked us to protect it with his dying breath. He promised that you would return for it one day."
The mention of my father sent a jolt through me. The memories I had of him were fragmented, hazy, and this revelation only added to the confusion. I remembered the promise I made with him, the one where he swore he would return for me. But now, the pieces didn't align. Had I misunderstood all along?
"How did he die?" I asked, my voice sharp, urgent.
"I'm sorry, I cannot tell you," Levi replied, his tone resolute.
"What?" I shot to my feet, anger rising like a tide. "He is my father. I have the right to know what happened to him!"
"Jonathan made us promise not to tell you," Levi said evenly. "Not the events, not the reasons. It was his dying wish."
His words only fueled my frustration. I opened my mouth to argue, but the way he looked at me, then glanced briefly at Ella, gave me pause. "It is best," Levi continued, "that you focus on the present. Leave the past where it belongs—"
"Easy for you to say," I snapped, cutting him off. "All my life, I thought I was alone. I thought I had no one. My father promised me he would bring me home. But he's gone. And now you refuse to tell me how he died!"
"We want to…" Leah began, her voice cracking slightly. "But our oath to Jonathan binds us."
My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as a storm of emotions boiled under the surface. The heat of anger and the weight of sorrow mixed in equal measure, threatening to overflow. Grinding my teeth, I turned on my heel and strode away from the table, not waiting for anyone to stop me. I needed air, space—anything to cool the turmoil building inside. Leaving the mansion behind, I stepped into the night, the chill air a welcome reprieve from the suffocating tension. It was the only way I could keep from doing something I'd regret.