章 13: The Seven Families Part 1
With their successful mission now behind them, the sisters decided to return to their family headquarters. While they diligently worked on finalizing the mission report, Clarisse extended a tempting invitation to Zac, her eyes gleaming with care. "While we take care of the paperwork, why don't you go and explore the city? You might want to check out the local library if you're eager to dive deeper into our world."
As they prepared to part ways temporarily, Clarisse reached for the Family token once more, her expression full of intrigue and compassion. She handed it to Zac with an enticing air. "In case you run into any trouble, just flash this token. Oh, and by the way, if you head west from here, you'll stumble upon a quaint little establishment called "The Crimson Elegance".' We'll rendezvous there once we've tied up all our loose ends." Zac accepted the token, captivated by the mysterious promise.
Just before they were about to bid their temporary farewells, Elise chimed in with a teasing warning, a playful glint in her eye. "Hey there, little brother, don't even think about disappearing on us before we return! If you try, we'll track you down, and you won't escape our clutches."
After parting ways with the sisters, Zac felt an inner calling to embrace his enigmatic side. With a simple command to his mystical bracelet, he summoned a sleek, black hooded robe and an equally mysterious mask, transforming himself into a shadowy, unknown figure. With an air of intrigue, he observed the bustling entrance of the city, where merchants displayed their wares of all shapes and sizes. His foremost objective was to gather information about this world, hidden behind his enigmatic guise.
Determined to unravel the secrets of this realm, Zac embarked on a quest for knowledge, inquiring about the directions to the library. Soon, he found himself standing before a magnificent, dome-shaped structure with multiple floors that loomed like a titan of books. As he approached the entrance, he encountered a pair of vigilant guards, stationed as if to protect the realm of knowledge itself.
The imposing guards demanded with authority, "Show your pass."
Zac observed the library-goers surrendering various documents, which granted them passage. He couldn't help but notice the existence of an exclusive entrance reserved for vampires, who strolled in with an air of entitlement, their passage unimpeded.It became abundantly clear that the library's doors were not open to all. Vampires held a golden key, while others had to navigate a convoluted bureaucracy to gain entry. In that moment, the purpose of Clarisse's token became vividly apparent. Swiftly, Zac presented the token to the guards, and as their eyes locked onto the emblem, their arrogant expressions crumbled, and they offered a slight bow. It was universally known that anyone who bore this emblem must be a VIP of the Crimson Family's main clan.
Altering his voice to sound middle-aged, Zac inquired, "Is this sufficient?"
The guards, now perspiring and flustered, responded in unison, "More than enough." It was a rare occasion for someone associated with the main clan to grace the library with their presence, as the main clan's castle possessed an even grander library, a testament to the prestige that the token symbolized.
As Zac ventured deeper into the heart of this intellectual sanctuary, he found himself standing in a vast, circular chamber. Towering bookshelves formed a concentric ring along the walls, creating a labyrinth of knowledge. At the far end of the entrance, a grand spiral staircase beckoned, promising hidden depths of wisdom. With a discerning eye, Zac meticulously surveyed the different sections, finally coming to a halt when he stumbled upon a veritable treasure trove of information concerning the enigmatic Vampire race.
Unbeknownst to everyone else, Bella, his ever-curious companion, poked her head out from the depths of Zac's robe, her presence a well-kept secret.
With a sly glance around the room, Zac leaned in and whispered to his clandestine partner, "Shall we embark on our quest?" Bella's nod signaled the beginning of their covert journey
Zac deftly plucked several volumes from the shelves, each one dedicated to unveiling the mysteries of the vampire race. He found a secluded corner, settling in with the books, and his reading pace was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to Bella's technological wizardry. She expertly sifted through the text, serving up only the most valuable morsels of information directly to Zac's mind.
With a deft flick of his fingers, Zac replaced each book after he absorbed its contents and seamlessly moved on to the next, his cerebral feast in full swing. This process repeated several times until he had thoroughly exhausted the section on vampires. Most of the tomes turned out to be either irrelevant or filled with superfluous details, but Zac's relentless quest for knowledge would not be deterred.
Zac's suspicion grew as he delved deeper into the contents of the first floor, realizing that it provided only a superficial introduction to the subject. Undeterred by the limitations of the initial level, his curiosity burned brighter than ever. He made a determined choice to ascend the grand spiral staircase, driven by a fervent desire for a more comprehensive understanding of the Vampire race.
His ascent continued, step by step, floor by floor. On the second, third, and fourth levels, he unearthed layer upon layer of knowledge, each revelation adding to his fascination. But it was on the fifth and final floor that his unyielding pursuit of knowledge encountered an unexpected and formidable obstacle.
On the fifth and final floor of the library, Zac encountered a formidable vampire guard like none other. The guard exuded an aura of unwavering authority, and his features bore the marks of both strength and experience, signifying the profound importance of this level of the library. Undaunted, Zac reached for the emblem once again, presenting it like a magician unveiling his trump card.
The guard's gaze flickered between the emblem and Zac, his curiosity evident. He understood the emblem's significance, which indicated a profound connection to the main clan. Typically, those with such affiliations would visit the main clan's castle library. Despite his questions, he remained silent, respecting the unwritten rule that dictated not prying into matters that exceeded his station. The unspoken acknowledgment of this extraordinary encounter hung heavy in the air as Zac ventured deeper into the heart of the library's enigma.
With a graceful step to the side, the guard yielded, granting Zac access to the elusive fifth floor. As he ascended the final steps, the chamber unveiled its well-guarded secrets. Scattered across the room were only a select few volumes, their contents akin to whispered secrets of unparalleled value. Zac's eyes gleamed with the realization that within these sparse pages lay the missing puzzle pieces of the Vampire race's enigmatic structure – pieces he yearned to uncover. Each word he consumed was a treasure, and it required both time and patience to unlock the secrets hidden within the pages.
After an arduous journey through the tomes of secrets, Zac finally succeeded in piecing together the intricate puzzle of the Vampire Race's hierarchy. At the zenith of their enigmatic society stood the enigmatic Blood Queen, a figure of such power and allure that her very name sent shivers through the shadows, leaving Zac with a newfound understanding of the Vampire race's enigmatic structure.
Zac took a deep breath, his mind whirring as he processed and analyzed the information swirling within. With the 5th Floor now eerily empty, Bella had seized the opportunity to slip from her hiding place and revert to her natural size.
"I feel so stuffy hiding inside your pocket," Bella remarked with a playful pout.
Zac, with a reassuring smile, replied, "Don't worry, Bella. Once Clarisse and Elise return, we'll figure out a more comfortable solution for you."
Zac leaned in; his eyes filled with curiosity. "So, where should we start?" he asked.
Bella considered for a moment before responding, "Let's begin with the war. There's virtually no information about the vampire race before that time."
Zac nodded; his brow furrowed. "You're right. Even these ancient books have little on the war. What we know matches what Clarisse and Elise told us. The Blood Queen, the formidable ruler of the vampire race, engaged in an epic battle with the Ancestor of the Werewolf race. Both were in the God-Stage, and their conflict shook the very earth, lasting for days. The Queen emerged victorious, but her victory was a costly one. She succumbed to her injuries and fell into a deep slumber."
Bella interjected with newfound information, her eyes scanning the text. "You missed something important. It says here that the Queen's castle is now under the control of her most trusted aide, the second most powerful figure in the Vampire Race, right after the Queen herself."
Zac raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's intriguing. But what else does it say about this mysterious aide?"
Bella continued; her voice tinged with mystery. "Unfortunately, there's a shroud of secrecy surrounding her. Apart from the heads of the Seven Families, no one outside the Queen's castle has ever met her or laid eyes upon her."
The two of them exchanged a glance, the weight of the unknown hanging heavily in the air. It seemed they had stumbled upon a hidden world filled with enigmatic figures and untold stories, and the quest for answers was just beginning.
Bella released a long, contemplative sigh, her eyes reflecting the depth of the challenge they faced. "The Seven Families..." She paused; her words heavy with uncertainty. "No matter how you slice it, this situation is incredibly convoluted. According to this text, after the war, these seven families were the foremost contributors among all the vampire clans. In recognition of their unwavering dedication, the Blood Queen herself bestowed upon them extraordinary gifts. These gifts were not mere trinkets, but latent powers waiting to unfurl when their bearers reached the coveted Grandmaster stage. It's this infusion of mystical bloodline abilities that set them apart, elevating them to the pinnacle of vampire society."
Bella's expression grew pensive, and her eyes hinted at an intriguing discovery. "The so-called powers the Blood Queen granted them seem to be manifestations of different Laws. But here's the kicker – to bestow unique powers to each family, she must have comprehended multiple laws. Now, I've heard of people practicing multiple Laws, but to infuse Law-based powers into their bloodlines, granting them a fraction of this cosmic knowledge when they hadn't even touched the threshold of Laws... Well, it's nothing short of genius."
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