Next morning.
Cars raced with intense speed, if not for their systematical arrangement it would've looked like racing. But It wasn't quite like that.
A white expensive looking car was in middle while rest bulky black cars who looked like tanks were surrouding it.
Black tanks had guns and artilleries, while white just looked quite plain yet expensive and despite their appearance, each maintained intense speed with unperturbed manner.
"He's gone, Huh." Jack sighed in disappointment, hanging his head outside of a white car that ran in middle.
His Black hair swayed violently in tumultuous wind yet his eyes remained open and wide, unhindered by strong wind.
Contrary to it, morning hue mixed with slight chill in the air set his mood up, he was enjoying it.
" Well that's too be expected after what I did." He gestured Minerva and as ordered, she poured him fresh wine.
" May I ask?" Jack nodded, curiously smiling to Minerva who dare ask something but young maid kept her face stern.
" Why is young master so interested in that immortal?, I mean you delayed your schedule?" Jack had doubts written over his face, Because that was the stupidest question with answer written in it.
But he answered,
" Because he's immortal, What else? And for a moment I thought you were someone else." Ignoring minerva's confused state, jack laid his head in her lap. This time his legs hung outside, swaying up and down with melody he hummed in his mind.
And soon his thoughts were sidetracked to the academy, its life and all the other things which he wasn't really excited to experience.
******
It was Beautiful Morning with orange rays piercing out of heaven, on the vast expanse of vampire civilization.
Last night went just fine, he didn't sleep. He just couldn't and the city never sleeps helped in a weird way.
But now that sun was up, he was ready for another day.
Eren strolled warily, Walking around a place with majority living individuals being vampire was not so nerve calming.
But it didn't look so dangerous on the surface, Everything was just as one would imagine of any community.
Expensive shops to the poor wanders, everyone pouring their effort on the market to bring desired income. Rest of the world, just as diverse and unknown. Some vampires walked through The crowd Attired in suit which suggested their sophisticated background while rest looked normal, Not poor yet their presense awfully mixed with rest of the world, insignificant.
Eren walked slowly, observing everything curiously yet minding his step to not bump into someone. Eren despite not doing anything, obviously attracted eyes. Reason being his appearance with aloof expression of confusion and amaze.
On his way, many shopkeepers stopped him. Trying their best to enchant eren with their products but poor fellows didn't know that other than this expensive clothes, eren had no money. Fire sword village or this place, eren had fair share of experience dealing with those schemes, so he bowed and ignored.
He bowed because his status being lowest in social ladder tought him to be humble, even if he didn't wanted to. With fear that by mistakenly done disrespect would cost him money he didn't have and so he was humble, Such skills were engraved in his being and wasn't so easy to get rid off.
Along the way many women smiled at him, many men showed open hostility and rest looked bewildered to his charm yet eren kept his facial expression gentle, it wasn't too long before a woman came upto him.
" Are you a celebrity?, Oh sorry?...You're really handsome so I wanted to take a selfie." A beautiful vampire girl dressed in tight jeans and tshirt was way too clingy and eren didn't knew how to handle this, He didn't wanted to be rude without knowing what this conversation was about.
But before he could say anything, A shout came from behind.
" There you are stupid, How many times have I told you not run off all on your own." Another vampire young man, Similar to eren in height with Somewhat crude feature of nobility written over his face.
He walked hurriedly with aggravated expression and dragged eren away to safe distant.
" Ooff... That was smooooth." The vampire boy smiled as he looked at eren and behind him.
" Thank you For your help but I don't have any money." Eren didn't wanted to cause any misunderstanding.
" Oh no no..I didn't do it for money, I just wanted to help you get out of that tricky situation." Young vampires smiled.
" Then I'll be off, Thank you again mister." Before eren could leave, Young vampire stopped him.
" You're okay, Right?, I don't mean to pry but You seem lost." Eren smiled, feeling the concern in his voice was enough to remind him the warmth of emotions but eren was too wary to believe anyone right now.
Eren turned around and left, hoping to find some work. Though now that he was an immortal, very few things could kill him and hunger wasn't one of them but he belived in Alena's teaching.
To live is not enough, living in luxury is much more fulfilling and eren had an inkling that his stay wasn't a short one. He was ready to settle for time being and to do that he needed most important component of civilization, Money.
And a job to earn it, He had some experience being a chore boy. He just hoped that experience would help in someway.
On the way, Eren turned around feeling a presense walking behind him and there he was, Young vampire.
" I'm not following you." He didn't wanted to be misunderstood either, Eren nodded and kept walking.
" By the way, My name Marco starks. What's your?" The guy walked upto him, lively and awefully cheery.
" I'm eren salvatore." Eren only answered because he didn't wanted appear rude, especially to his benefactor.
" woah, Even your name sounds charming." Eren didn't knew what that meant or in what manner that was supposed to be interpreted.
" So what do you do eren?"
Eren couldn't answer, There was no answer to give.
Sensing the awkwardness with his question, Marco fell silent in dejection but how could his over friendly nature let this end like this.
" You know, I'm Psychiatrist." Eren looked at him with Expression of confusion.
" What's that?"
" Oh, You're from outside it seems.
Psychiatrist is basically who guides people in good way." Only once he was done Marco realised That, it did not came out nearly as clean as he hoped.
" Are you a leader or something like that?" Obviously eren couldn't understand what exactly that meant.
" No no..How should I?.. Ah yes... think of it like I help people realise their problems and give them solution and in return they pay me." Eren stared at him for few seconds, Stoically.
" So you're an advisor."
Marco's face visibly changed to flushed red.
" Yes advisor, That would be a one simple way for explanation....Hah..ha..Anyway, You can ask me for advice afterall first session is free." And that was one way to turn the way around, eren didn't mind. On the contrary, His goofy smile relieved some tension that eren held over his shoulder.
" I'm looking for work but I don't know how things are done around here."
" Is there something specific that you're good at?"
" I'm decent cook, though I only know few dishes and I can do chores."
Marco was little surprised, obviously hearing like ' I can do chores' from a handsome guy wasn't what he expected.
But he was a psychiatrist, he had been long accustomed to weirdness.
"Any experience with kids?" Now eren had doubts for his authenticity.
" No."
" And how much Do you expect to earn?"
" Few vens."
" Ravenvale's currency is Yon, Ven is currency of Aion, United Kingdom of neutral continent.
You don't know that?" Eren shook his head, even this much he knew was only because of Natalie's constant rumbling about how good neutral continent was.
" And You don't have any place to stay, do you?" His silence was enough answer.
Marco smiled to himself softly.
"To tell you the truth, I'm in need of caretaker and you seem like a good guy for the job.
I'll give you place to live and ten thousand yon a month.
But obviously, You can decide after you see it for yourself." Marco tapped on Eren's shoulder, gesting to think while he went up to the food stall.
Eren's mind doubted everything and everyone yet his heart, Said to trust this guy. Eren was simple, but obviously living with Alena had developed that persona into much more complex and scheming being.
He read every situation by benefits, disadvanges and dangers but only acted on those scheming customs when left with no choice. Right now, There was no need for such measures.
There was no apparent danger, But that didn't mean that it wasn't there. So despite his reluctance eren decided to take marco's proposal, though he remained vigilant.
" Here." Eren's thoughts came to abrupt stop when suddenly a stick with green iced ball stuck to it was pushed on his face.
In the spark of moment he took the stick, Not knowing what it was and what to do with it.
So he asked," What's this?"
" Eat, What else?" Eren observed Marco, sucking juice out of the ice popsicle and followed his example.
Eren was surprised by the sugary sour taste of mango flavour, and intrigued by such fancy mechanism.
" This is..Your lips.." Eren wanted to ask but stopped, He wanted to say something but stopped himself. He didn't wanted to make rude comment when Marco looked stupid with blue lips.
" yeah, Yours too eren.
Now let's hurry before rest gets spoiled." With that, With no other explanation Marco ran as fast as possible with blue popsicle in his mouth.
A soft chuckle left Eren's green lips as he followed this fool of a benefactor.
********
Enormous figure claded in amythest scales from head to talons, with prominent golden horns shining above the head- landed on the ground.
Dragon turned into a girl, Asura to be precise. Woman with dark purple hair, shining amythest eyes and golden horns, Dressed in formal robe.
Yes, Natalie had long flight but she was finally relieved to be on land, it took hardly few hours but only she knew how arduous those hours looked with no surface in sight.
But she finally found it.
Almost unending forest was in sight ahead and infinitely streching sea behind, only after confirming that she was really all alone and safe from any threat, she allowed herself to relax.
The clear image of eren pushing her away, as he sacrificed himself to give her few seconds of time to fli gripped her chest tight.
To add insult to the Injury, Ava and eva were nowhere to be found. Each passing second reminded how cruel the joke of fate was, the guilt made it worse.
Natalie stood up, walking in dense forest. Hoping that pushing herself in danger would make up for her incompetence and relieve some pain but it was stupid as it was futile.
She walked in one perticular direction, more like strolled leisurely. She was tired otherwise crossing this vast expanse would've been much easier with dragon transformation.
But simple act of manifesting wings made her ache with soreness. She would've had quite the adventure if only there were monsters and demons to hunt, but the eerie silence felt more threatening. The journey didn't became adventurous, Only frightening.
Natalie allowing herself to relax at thick trunk, Closed her eyes. She thought of her mother, father, two brothers and even her aunt. Only her mother was smiling while the rest were laughing mockingly, She was too tired to get angry.
Her thoughts drifted towards more recent events, young and giant vampire's devilish appearance ignited fear in her heart. Drifting her thoughts away she reasoned herself in calming down, soon Image of Eren's charming face appeared before her.
' I'm sorry'
But there was no one to reply.
The first time she saw eren and Alena, Later when she got to know them, Her fortunate encounter with godly being Alena and her absurd proposal- Wisp of warmth ignited in her soul.
Eren's reluctance to Alena's insane explanation, His face after Alena's departure, his demeanour and how well he tried to hide those emotions- It reminded Natalie of her own self.
Eren's chiseled face, His crowning horns, Godly body, Childish and funny humour, His lips and every touch- Now even her body felt warm.
Natalie shot open her eyes in disbelief.
This last few memories were more than just reminiscing past, They were arousing and the realisation left her bewildered.
Luckily or unluckily, shallow sound of footsteps diverted her attention.
She hurriedly stood up, summoning the sword for unavoidable clash but deep down, she hoped for best.
People more than a dozen walked exactly where she was. Yes, they were cultivators and now both parties were aware of each other's presense.
" Show yourself or we'll designate you as an enemy and will leave no expanse in killing you."
' They talk like military, That means this is a border. Let's just hope it's a border to Aion.' Now natalie had no choice but to show herself, She walked ahead with sword still raised up.
Natalie felt her eyes strain in sun but they adapted quickly, And what she saw sent chill down her spine.
She maintained her composure but the beads of sweat rolling down her temple gave away her fear.
There were exactly twenty people, asuras and humans mixed but each having ragged appearance with signature evil smile plastered on their not so human face. Some had their eyes widened in awe of Natalie's beauty while rest gawked in lust.
" Didn't I tell you, Damn trick works every single time." Old human who was their leader spoke in gleamful manner, his eyes showed more than just lust and hunger.
" We never doubted you boss."
" Yes Yes, Strong and smart."
" But boss what should we do with this woman?" Young vampire asked, His timid manner of speech didn't hide his piercing gaze.
" Obviously she'll be mine, Look at her she's my fellow kin." Ugly fat dragon roared.
" Yeah right, as if you ever cared for any of your kin."
" that's true."people laughed at that remark, even the fat dragon who looked angry just now.
"Obviously she'll be on the feast tonight, we can't miss delicacy like her on such auspicious day." A beastral, A cat man to be precise rolled his tongue in disgusting manner.
" You idiots, She's a guest." The boss man shouted in anger." She'll be entertaining me first." That's what he was after, his face riddles in scar and yellow dirty teeth made his smile even more creepier.
" Walk away and I'll spare you." Natalie shouted in anger, Yet as if her words didn't even register. On the contrary that only made them laugh even harder.
" Drop the false bravado girly.
You're merely green realm, while there are more than a dozen here with blue realm cultivation.
But don't take my word for it." Boss took a step forward with indifferent confidence.
" Leaving those aside, rest are also green realm and much stronger than you. Surely you can tell, can't you?" He took another step forward, his smile getting wider.
" And you can't forget me, cyan realm.
You are outmatched, no that word doesn't even begin to describe your pitiful situation." Natalie's head throbbed in pain as invisible pressure slowly coiled around her, getting stronger still as he walked closer and closer.
"You can have best night of your life if you co-operate, Worst if you don't but we'll have fun either way...hahaha.."
" I rather die." She switched her grip, ready to die but till then her body had lost all the mobility.
" I can't let you do-"
Swishh..
A swift white arrow pierced his skull, halting his words and action midway. His limp body, devoid of any life fell in uncontrolled manner. This display of cold ruthless killing without even making a sound invoked deep fear within every present soul.
But the killer had neither pity nor arrogance to waste any time, another 19 arrows danced in the night simultaneously as it snuffed out life of every bandit, just casually.
Natalie, The girl of misfortune didn't knew what to think anymore because with this much uncertainties, She had more hope of finding God than finding a good person.
For all she could piece together, she debated whether upcoming individual would be better or worse than those died before and she didn't hope for anything anymore.
Hope was a bitch.
A soft footstep alerted her, she hurriedly turned around and she was genuinely surprised and even scared, watching as who came.
" You?"