Chapter 129: Sanguine History
Lyra and Dante were engrossed in their work, the soft glow of the twin moons of Geneva casting a gentle light through the windows of their laboratory. The Parity Potion bubbled softly in the cauldron before them, its shimmering surface reflecting the determined expressions on their faces.
Lyra looked up from her notes, her eyes meeting Dante's. "So, will you be able to take the potion once it's finished?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Dante smiled, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes - a flicker of uncertainty, perhaps. "Well, Lyra, I'm a little different from other Sanguines. How much do you know about Sanguine history?"
Lyra thought for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I know about the Mafia, of course. The Nightfall Mafia, the Crimson Dawn Cartel, the Bloodmoon Syndicate..."
Dante nodded, impressed by her knowledge. "That's right. But what you may not know is that as a pure Sanguine, and a member of a royal family no less, I don't have the same 'human' essence techniques that other Sanguines do."
Lyra's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? What does that mean for the Parity Potion, then?"
Dante sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It means that the potion might have a different impact on me than on other Sanguines. My guess is that the intensity of a Sanguine's essence will determine how they react to the potion."
Lyra nodded, her mind already racing with the implications of this new information. She knew that Sanguines had a range of unique abilities, but she had never considered how those abilities might be tied to the purity of their essence.
"Rapid recovery from wounds and injuries, an extended lifespan - these are just some of the benefits of being a Sanguine," Dante continued, his voice taking on a slightly wistful tone. "We're not truly immortal, of course, but we are untouched by the ravages of time."
Lyra frowned, her mind turning to the darker aspects of Sanguine physiology. "But there are weaknesses too, right? Sunlight, silver..."
Dante nodded, his expression growing serious. "Yes, sunlight weakens and disorients us, forcing us to seek shelter during the day. And silver has mystical properties that can inflict grievous wounds and hinder our regenerative abilities."
He paused, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. "But perhaps the greatest weakness of all is our dependency on essence. Without a constant supply, typically obtained through the consumption of blood, our strength and powers will decline. Prolonged absence of essence can even lead to death."
Lyra shuddered, the thought of such a fate sending a chill down her spine. "And then there's the risk of degeneration into ghouls," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dante's face darkened, his eyes filled with a deep, aching sadness. "Yes. Caused by prolonged essence deprivation or severe physical trauma, the loss of higher cognitive functions is a fate worse than death for any Sanguine."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air between them. But then, with a determined set to his jaw, Dante reached out and took Lyra's hand in his own.
"But that's why we're doing this, Lyra. Why we're working so hard to create the Parity Potion. If we can find a way to balance the needs and abilities of Sanguines and humans alike, then maybe we can build a world where no one has to suffer such a terrible fate."
Lyra nodded, her heart swelling with a fierce, unshakable resolve. "You're right, Dante. We can do this. We have to do this."
And with that, they turned back to their work, their minds and hearts united in the pursuit of a brighter, more just future for all of Nocturnia.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone