Valdis awoke before the sun.
Pale moonlight still lingered beyond the tall, arched windows of his chamber, filtered through crimson silk curtains embroidered with the sigil of House Ebonhart.
The room itself was silent, vast, and immaculately ordered—an environment befitting the son of a duke.
Dark stone walls inlaid with silver runes absorbed sound rather than reflecting it, while antique furnishings of obsidian wood and blood-gold accents spoke of wealth that had endured for centuries.
He lay still for a breath, red eyes opening calmly, unfazed by the early hour.
Then he rose.
There was no languor in his movements, no indulgence in comfort. Valdis swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, bare feet touching the cold stone floor.
He dressed, discarding the silk nightwear for training garments: dark trousers bound at the calf and a sleeveless tunic that clung lightly to his frame.
When he stretched, muscle shifted beneath smooth, pale skin—not bulky, not excessive, but refined, honed by relentless repetition.
Valdis stepped into his private training ground just as the first hint of dawn began to bleed into the night sky.
The courtyard was enclosed by high walls, and at its center stood a simple stone platform, worn smooth by decades of use.
No servants or guards were present. This was Valdis's routine since he was three years old.
And without ceremony, he began.
Push-ups—slow, controlled, each movement deliberate. Then squats, lunges, planks held until his muscles burned with quiet protest.
He transitioned seamlessly into strikes and footwork, faceing of against imagined foes. His breath remained steady, measured.
Sweat gathered along his collarbone, tracing thin paths down his torso as the exertion mounted.
Yet even as his body responded obediently, frustration simmered beneath the surface.
'Still the same' he thought.
No matter how early he woke, how rigorously he trained, the result never changed.
His strength improved—but only marginally. His speed sharpened—but far too slowly.
He finished with a final, punishing hold, muscles trembling faintly before he released and straightened. Valdis exhaled, rolled his shoulders once, and sighed helplessly
A soft footstep echoed behind him.
"My lord."
He turned.
A maid stood at the edge of the courtyard, hands folded neatly before her. She wore the standard attire of the ducal household—black and white, modest yet elegant. Her posture was impeccable.
"Sorry for interrupting you, but it's almost time for your awakening ceremony, Young Master," she said.
'It's really time for that huh' Valdis thought
'I really hope it's as wondrous as they say' he looked at his hands and sighed
'I feel like I've reached a barrier which no amount of training can help me overcome'
He looked at her and nodded his head and said
"I'll go bathe now, I'll be ready in fifteen minutes " he said, already walking past her.
"Yes, my lord."
She turned to follow at a respectful distance, carefully schooling her expression. Behind that composure, however, her thoughts were anything but orderly.
'How can he be this strong, even the first son wasn't this monstrous at his age
It seems like House Ebonhart has entered its golden age'
The bath chamber was already prepared—steam rising gently from a wide stone basin carved from a single block of dark marble. He dismissed the maid with a glance and disrobed without hesitation, lowering himself into the heated water.
Warmth closed around him, loosening tight muscles. He leaned back, crimson eyes half-lidded as his thoughts drifted once more.
He had pushed himself harder than most. Studied techniques meant for elders. Conditioned his body until pain became routine. And yet… There was a ceiling he could not break.
Today's ritual—the so-called blood awakening—was supposed to change everything.
A ceremony that would rouse dormant power, refine one's essence, and align body and blood.
'If it works, I can finally take a step forward' he thought.
After bathing, he dressed in ceremonial attire laid out with meticulous care: fitted black garments traced with crimson threading that echoed the veins of a living heart.
The fabric hugged his frame comfortably, accentuating rather than concealing the quiet strength beneath.
As he fastened the final clasp, he looked into the polished obsidian mirror.
His white hair fell loosely around his shoulders, stark against his pale skin. His red eyes stared back
"Let's get this over with," Valdis murmured, turning toward the door as the bells of the manor began to toll.
As he stepped out of his room, he met the maid standing outside his door
He looked at her and said
"Let's go"
The maid bowed and followed behind him
They walked through the corridors of the Ebonhart castle until they reached the Crimson Hall
When they entered the hall Duke Draven sat on the throne waiting.
As soon as he saw Valdis enter the hall a warm smile appeared on his face before it was quickly hidden.
As they both entered the hall the maid dropped on one knee
"May your blood reign eternal, Your Grace"
Duke Draven nodded and said
"Leave us"
The maid bowed and quickly left
As soon as she left the tension in the room vanished, as if it was never there to begin with.
The duke's posture relaxed and the warm smile returned to his face
"Today's your blood awakening ceremony and the day your story begins" Draven said
Valdis looked at his father and said
"Father, you have yet to tell me what's so special about the blood awakening ritual" Valdis said
The duke nodded and said
"Come, we'll talk as we go"
Duke Draven started walking in the direction of the blood ceremony, and Valdis followed after.
"Do you know how vampire nobility earn their titles?" Dukes Draven asked
Valdis shook his head
"Unlike human noble titles which are given based on achievements or contributions
Vampire noble titles are given based on blood purity levels"
"How will the purity of a vampire's blood help him in running his fiefdom?"
"Well the purer your blood, the stronger you are
A vampire with a high blood purity level will definitely attain a level of power, which is essential to rule and enforce order in your domain.
Without it, everything will become chaotic because there is no central force suppressing other forces in the domain"
Valdis gave a nod of understanding Draven saw this and continued
"Measuring bloodline purity comes after the awakening ceremony, blood density is assessed and graded"
"But what is it graded on, there has to be a criteria which blood purity is measured," Valdis spoke up at this moment
Duke Draven heard this and let out a light chuckle
"What, did I say something wrong?" Valdis looked bewildered as he asked
"No you didn't say anything wrong, I just found it funny that you asked the question that most people of the kingdom of Blackspire fail to ask"
Valdis heard this and frowned
"Why won't people want to know what basis blood purity is measured" he said
"It's due to the influence of the royal family" Draven said
"Why would the royal family do that, it doesn't make any sense" Valdis replied
"I thought the same thing too, initially, until my father explained it to me
To understand the reason for the misinformation and removal of ancient records you must first know the criteria by which blood purity is measured" Draven said
Valdis gaze sharpened, because he knew this was a secret only a few knew about
"The so-called vampire ancestor that all vampires descended from is a lie"
Valdis' eyes widened in shock
Duke Draven saw this and continued
"All vampires descended from five ancient vampires who created five families which today represent the leading families of the kingdom, the ducal houses and royal family— House Pyraxis, House Glaciovar, House Voltyr, House Mortivar, and House Zephyror"
"Wait, you said it represents the ducal houses as well but you didn't mention House Ebonhart and House Zephyror doesn't exist" Valdis asked
"I made no mistake, House Ebonhart isn't one of the ancient families, House Zephyror was completely annihilated during the primordial war leaving minor remnants but its entire legacy was destroyed
The Ebonharts emerged during the thousand-year war, made names for themselves and had astonishingly high blood purity levels, so we replaced the Zephyrors as the fourth Ducal house"
Valdis was frozen in shock as the information was too shocking