Chapter 6: Bloodline

...

Inside the gigantic halls, a giant sits on his giant throne. Surrounded by an immeasurable amount of riches and treasures that piled up like hills and hundreds of corpses lay beside the walls of the grand halls. They were charred by his flames with faces stricken with terror and his heavy heart is filled with nothing more but full of regret, dread, and sorrow since he wakes up from centuries of deep slumber.

His kingdom and his capital he built from the scratch... were reduced to nothing more but mere rubble. His fate as a Lord of Cinder was nothing more but a title to those worthy of linking with the Flames, and it came at the cost of his nation. Not only were his efforts had lay to waste. His linking worsened the situation of the world, as it did nothing to contain the curse. The giant heard the histories of the world from ages past upon his awakening. Kingdoms of old and new have merged through a convoluted rift of time and space into the lands of the Great Lords, and the world was brought to the brink. Right now, he sits idly to await his fate in this dying world.

This was because of the Unkindled Ones that have wakened up from their graves and began hunting down the Lords of Cinders to gain access to the Kiln of the First Flame to succeed by linking to it. Yhorm won't let that undead reignite that accursed Cycle of Life and Rebirth, else there will be no salvation and let the world plunge into eternal darkness.

Then thoughts were cut short as he heard footsteps splashed into the waters. He looked up to see an undead wearing his Elite Knight Armor, and beside him stood a Knight of Catarina.

"Yhorm, old friend. I, Siegward of the Knights of Catarina, have come to uphold my promise!" Yhorm recognised that voice. It was Siegward who raised his Storm Ruler. "Let the sun shine upon this Lord of Cinder!"

Ah yes, his promise. A promise that he shall slay him to end his fate as the King of the Profaned Capital. It was his duty to protect the remains of his domain and as the Lord of Cinder himself will probably attest to the Unkindled One standing beside him if he is worthy enough to reach for the Kiln. Siegward raised his Storm Ruler and the Elite Knight charged in.

Yhorm stood and raised his weapon to see if the Ashen One was really a worthy opponent and charged into the fray.

...

...Present Day...

...

The Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.

...

"So it is you! Hahahaha!" Siegward ran up to the Elite Knight all of a sudden with a mighty, crushing hug. "Ha! It's been eighteen years since we met! You haven't changed at all!"

"A-Aye, how did you end up here?!" Ash was trying to catch his breath before Siegward puts him down. "And eighteen years? I mean... how?"

"Hm?... Oh! Uh, I do not know how it happened. I fell asleep right after we've defeated Yhorm." Siegward explained while scratching the back of his helmet, explaining about the past. "Since you were transported here lately. Then we're apparently years apart. It must be that time has convoluted indeed."

"But you are the same person I've known." Ash pointed out in question. "Eighteen years... Then how were you not old?"

"I do not have a clue since I arrived in this new world," Siegward replied in uncertainty. "Yet look at me. Now I am the 'ol Siegward as usual. My former age had regressed to a youthful adult from over a decade ago."

While they were having time in their conversation, Sasha's mind turned blank as confusion took over. The Warrior Nun stared at the Onion Knight at first and then back to Ash before turning towards the Onion Knight again. Seems like they knew each other.

"Eh?... Huh?!"

'Did they know each other?' She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. 'And isn't Ash looking... too happy?!'

While ignoring them, her mind was swirling with voices. She saw his lips, which shows the expression that he was smiling. Smiling to see a friend he hadn't met for a long time and that bewildered her even more since Sasha is used to seeing his usual stoic and grim expressions behind his helmet visor without even seeing it and spoke in gruff tones with an emotionless heart until now, he has changed into a completely different person!

"So you did it! Well, I am proud!" Siegward spoke out loud, jovially, while placing his hand on his shoulder. "You've grown into an even more powerful warrior than I! So what happened next?"

Before Ash could speak, he paused for a moment before turning to Sasha. "Well... we're going to talk about it later on."

"Ah, I see." Siegward nodded before turning towards the Warrior Nun and then to Ash, with curiosity plastered on his face. "Oh, and by the way. Is that gal with you?"

"Uh, yes. Her name is Sasha Fullmoon." Ash replied simply while pointing his thumb at the priestess. "She's my... erm... Acquaintance."

"Hmm... hmmm... tell me old chap, you aren't too sure about it, do you? Looks to me you're like a couple." Upon hearing his words, Ash is startled at that statement while Sasha hid her blush away as she turned around. "... What? Is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing..." Ash breathes out in uncertainty while glancing at Sasha, seeing her in a flabbergasted state for a while and then looking up to Siegward. "I had a home in Lescatie until the Demonic invasion took over. We came here as refugees."

"Ah, sorry to hear that, my friend." Siegward nodded pity. "I sure hope the Town of Gerth doesn't cause much trouble on you."

"It's fine, Lescatie was much of a trouble in their regards to their haughty-looking nobility," Ash explained in an unimpressed tone. "Corruption was everywhere and everything. I lived in the Slums while trying not to get any attention until rumours spread about me."

"Haha! Well, you did really stick in the middle of a pickle while can I understand what types of people that lived in higher standards and knew of your deeds?" Siegward chuckled while pridefully crossing his arms. "Here on Gerth... I was a well-known warrior as the Onion Knight, and my achievements are known for making the Siegbrau! Even the mamonos themselves can't win over for their lust of coitus because of my drinks!"

Then Ash and Sasha's minds clicked in realisation from hearing Siegward's statement. Can't win their lust because of his drinks? They were wondering if that was true on how they acted like ordinary people, as Siegward has claimed. If it was true, then is that the reason they're so docile in the town?

"Hold on, um, Mr Catarina?" Sasha then spoke up before Siegward reared his head at her. "You said they can't win their lust because of your... drink?"

"Hm? Oh, you mean the Siegbrau itself?" Siegward hummed in wonder before explaining with pride. "There is nothing wrong with the Siegbrau since it was made naturally by my use of methods of the rest. I forge it in my own hands and perfected it in my home kingdom!"

"But... that doesn't explain why." Sasha raised her brow in question. "I need to see what's inside the brew once we get back to the Tavern."

Then Siegward tilted his head. "Oh, don't be. Here! I got a fresh spare with me."

Siegward puts down his sack to the ground before holding up a mug of beer in its unspoiled condition. Sasha was even dumbfounded to see how that mug and the drink inside hadn't spilt out their contents. She looks over to Ash and he simply shrugged at it. The Warrior Nun made an upset sigh. And she doesn't know what kind of foreign magic they were using. First was Ash's mysterious small box that pulls out weapons of various sizes.

And then this.

"Don't worry, it's still fresh," Siegward said while handing the brew over.

At first glance, it was nothing out of ordinary and the smell of its content has the scent of an ordinary brew. In truth... it's just nothing unusual. Only a simple, ordinary brew. Then she took a small sip of its contents before her eyes grew wide.

'Wh-What's this?! This feeling...' While drinking, she felt something ravaging that coursed throughout her body. 'It feels like... I'm lighter than a feather and I can feel a massive flow of mana coursing through me!'

Ash and Siegward watched in surprise to see her gulping through an entire mug. Both of them stare with stunned faces at each other before turning their glances back to her until she emptied the entire mug with a few deep breaths.

"Well... I didn't expect her to drink an entire mug." Ash furrowed his brow in concern.

"Aye, the gal herself drank an entire ale." Siegward agrees with a nod. "Who could have known that she would be a heavy drinker someday?"

Sasha silently stared at the empty mug in awe and wonder. She couldn't believe it. The brew itself has massive amounts of rich substances that contained Spirit Energy by a larger margin in one mug! That is more than enough to regenerate a magician's mana in an instant, rather than a full day of rest.

Even the food she ate at the Horseback Inn is rich in Spirit Energy, and that even surprised her back then. Now she knows why the Mamono in the Town is like this.

"Mr Catarina... your brew." Sasha slowly speaks up to him. "It contains highly rich textures of Spirit Energy! That's why they're very docile."

"Oh, so that makes... sense?" In confusion, Ash slowly agrees with a nod. He knew that Mana of this world was basically the essence of life, unlike his world, since he learned it from the Encyclopedia. Therefore, plants in this world contain spirit energy as well. 'Probably he used grains of higher quality that are rich in Essence.'

"Huh, so that explains why travellers brought so many of my brew outside and convince those Mamono to drink before they attempted to make a sexual assault." Siegward mused to himself while crossing his arms. "No wonder why they usually say my Brew saved their lives every day... Ah! So they're using my brew as their own firebombs!... How typical of them to share out my drinks."

"So Siegward, why don't you come over and visit us?" Sasha said while giving back his mug. "So we can talk a lot about how you made them."

"Well, I do like to talk. But I shall decline while I still have work to do." Siegward tilted his head sideways with a wave of his hand. "I must prepare the ingredients for the special menu! My daughter Sieglinde and my dear wife Jennifer are still waiting for me."

"I see. Then I will come to the Inn later on while we have things to carry." Ash said before Sasha went to his side. "Then we'll talk again."

"Then I'm glad that we have a dear reunion, my friend." Siegward pats his shoulder before waving his hand. "See you later!"

Once they parted ways, Ash grabbed the grocery bag before they continued their way toward their rented house. In the meantime, Sasha was shaken for a bit since she laid her eyes on Siegward. Her senses felt he has no Mana coming from him as if he was only an empty husk. Just like Ash himself when she first saw him walking past the Orphanage back in the slums of Lescatie.

'How can they live like that?'

Then she wondered, do the people of the land where Ash came from don't have mana? Then how was that possible for people to live without Mana? It was supposed to be the essence of life for every living being and this confused her even more that it only leads to more questions and mysteries than answers.

...

"So that's him, huh..."

Above the rooftops of the town, a pair of eyes silently watched over them. A couple of cloaked figures followed the pair until they reached a certain wooden house.

"So they've rented their new home. The Silver-Blue Knight and the Traitor Heroine of Lescatie." The cloaked figure murmured in a feminine voice. "We've finally tracked you down."

"Then... what should we do now?" Asked another cloaked figure standing beside her. "Daniella, shall we apprehend him and take him to Lescatie? He doesn't seem too dangerous as he looks more like an ordinary Order Knight."

"Jane. No, that would be too risky." Daniella raised her hand. "We'd better heed the warnings about him and we should observe his movements."

"What? It's like nothing is threatening about him!" Jane spoke up in a protest with a confusing gaze.

Daniella swore in her mind in frustration that her partner standing beside her is completely naïve at its finest. 'Doesn't she realise we are dealing with a man who is rumoured to be extremely dangerous?!'

"Ugh, how can you forget about the rumours that he killed an entire company of Orcs? He's the real Silver-Blue Knight!" Daniella grunts as her voice raised in irritation. "None of the Lescatian Heroes we've encountered in our invasion would reach those high amounts of kill ratios! He even defeated Eristia by himself which left her mortally wounded!"

Jane stood there quietly still for a moment until her timid mind clicks in her realisation.

"Oh! Do you mean that guy? I thought he was just a simple Order Knight!" Jane then laughed herself in a naïve tone. "Hahaha!... aahhh... Then why didn't you let me realise that we're dealing with the real Silver-Blue Knight?!"

Jane was shaking on her partner's shoulders in a terrified manner until Daniella's hood fell out to reveal her identity. She has short bob chestnut hair, pale skin complexion, and red eyes. Her appearance was human, but otherwise, her actual nature indicates that she's a Dhampir. Once Jane stopped shaking, Daniella stared at her partner with an angry look in her eyes.

'Don't tell me... that we came all the way here, and you didn't even realise who we're dealing with?!' Daniella closed her eyes and deeply sighing in regret while her mind was fuming internally. 'Why did I even come all the way here with the most naïve Dhampir as my partner?!'

...

"Breakfast is ready~!" Sasha sang while calling out the kids.

Once the children heard her voice, they rushed down from their dorms into the dining room. Both humans and mamono children took seats until they saw Sasha was wearing an entirely different outfit with a white apron strapped along with her new blue kirtle while carrying a large pot of soup mixed with vegetables, spices and chopped meat.

"Wow! Big sister has new clothes!" Emiyu chimed innocently in joy.

"Yeah, and it looks pretty, too!" Lisia added. "You look like a mommy, big sister!"

Sasha smiled with a blush at the two orphan girls. "Why thank you~!"

"Then does that make Ash a daddy, too?" Emiyu wondered herself innocently, which made the Warrior Nun reel back in surprise at her statement. "They do look like a mommy and daddy couple. I read it somewhere in a fairy tale book!"

"Sasha, I'm gonna leave for a while to meet Siegward," Ash calls out while strapping his Claymore behind his back. "I'll be coming back later."

"Be careful, Ash~!"

Once he stepped out of the house, he waved at them until Sasha waved back with a smile before the knight closed the door's entrance. Once she turns around to the children, only to be seen that they stirred a noisy conversation amongst themselves.

"Yeah, Big Sister and Mr Cyrus were like a mommy and daddy."

"Then Mr Cyrus would be called big brother Ash!"

"No! Even better, Mommy Sasha and Daddy Ash!"

Sasha was lost in her thoughts and couldn't comprehend what the children were even talking about?! Pairing him and her as their parents that came straight out of some children's fairy tales?

'Are these children out of their minds?!' Her mind screamed out of her wits. 'Why are they even pairing me and him?! We hardly know each other despite I earned his trust!'

Sasha blushed wildly. The warrior nun couldn't stand her emotions swirling wildly. While the number of embarrassing thoughts filling in her mind, the dining room became even noisier. That is until her senses snapped. Then Sasha raised her voice, sending out a chilly aura in the air while the mamono orphans kept their mouths shut as they felt her dark aura out of her being.

"AHEM!"

Thus, the children stopped squabbling before looking up at her. She glared at them with a dark stern which looks rather scary which made the children feel fear and fell into silence as well.

"Children, enough talk." She spoke coldly. "We're having breakfast. Understood?"

Her voice sounds strict, which made the children sit obediently still while shutting down their mouths. They realised Sasha was invoked in her bad side because they were not well-behaved and really wished to pass on. Sasha breathed in relief and was thankful to put their disciplinary act together.

Her mind then spoke calmly. 'Thank goodness.'

...

Ash is walking down the cobblestone path heading towards the Horseback Inn until he reached the nearby chapel. The Order of the Sunlight; this religious covenant caught his curiosity. He buys some time before heading to Siegward and entering the building.

The chapel itself is smaller than the Order Churches during his time in Lescatie. The floors were indeed polished and there he saw a couple of kikimoras wearing maiden outfits like the Acolytes of the Sunlight while they were sweeping the floors from dust and dirt.

Then he came across an altar, depicting a familiar figure of a Knight of Sunlight doing a pose who stretched both of his arms upwards in the air. Ash mused to himself while lifting his chin in wonder. Whoever this Knight of the Sunlight was, must've been responsible for establishing the covenant in this new world.

"That is the statue of Saint Solaire, the first patriarch of the Astora family." Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind. Ash spun around to see the same Priest from before who have stood against the mob of fanatics. "It seems you are interested in seeing the statue of himself."

Ash looks at him in bewilderment behind the helmet visor after hearing the name of his old companion from Lordran and then looking up at Solaire's statue once more. So that means he was here all along as well? If so, then where is he?

"I see... A Saint, huh?" Ash muffled himself as he turned his glance back to the old Priest. "Could you tell me a few stories of what he did to make this... covenant? I'm rather interested in hearing it."

The Old Priest looks up to the Silver-Blue Knight in surprise to see his eyes full of curiosity behind his visor. The old man slowly made a warm smile.

"Ah, so you are interested in hearing about his achievements?" Ash nodded in response to his question. "Then let's take a seat."

The Priest took a seat on a nearby bench and Ash soon followed until both of them were facing in front of the Sunlight Altar. The Priest then begins the unheard story.

"Over seven decades ago. Solaire is a warrior who hailed from an unknown land. He came to the City of Ansur and from there on, he started as an Adventurer and made his jolly cooperation with his newfound comrades." He then explained the traces of his history, which made Ash stumped to hear the covenant was established nearly a century ago, which means Solaire was already long dead by now. "Yet he brought very enlightening beliefs that led some people to establish this new and small religion, which made the Covenant that is still standing until today. The Order of the Sunlight remained a minor religion in Gaul, but it is a major religion around Viola region where both Human and Mamonos will seek for their own light."

"But what made him a Saint?" Ash asked once more, curious about the reason.

"Oh, that? Well, it all happened since the Order of the Sunlight started at first, only full of human members until he met a Dragon named Catherine of the Northern Corse. In their duel between powers, he defeated her with his powerful lightning magic. Shortly after that... the Dragon later became his wife." The Old Priest answered while continuing to explain the tale, and Ash was stupefied about hearing Solaire married a Dragon. After all, he has a weird tinge of feeling that the spirit of the Nameless King is clapping in amusement. "But after their wedding, their first offspring was something that amazed both humans and mamonos alike. It was truly a miracle."

"A Miracle...?" The Silver-Blue Knight raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

"Yes, indeed. The miracle happened when Catherine gave birth to a boy, a human boy! Her second child is a Dragon and amazingly, their third child is a human girl!" Once Ash heard this, his eyes went wide in surprise while staring at the Priest with an incredulous look. The old man simply smiled, aware of his bewildered expression. "I'm certain that you won't believe me. But I, too; have witnessed the birth of the latest generation. The Astora Family is blessed by fate itself that their descendants who inherited his bloodline have given birth to two races alike, no matter what race their mothers are. Therefore, we called him a Saint."

Once he digested his words into his mind, Ash was mulling them over. The mamonos are inherently parasitic and supposed only to be giving birth to daughters. Maybe it's probable that Solaire is an outworlder like him and Siegward. Does that mean only the outworlders could mate with Mamonos to produce sons? In this theory, should that makes sense? Since this world's basic laws and physics don't apply to him, or could it be... the work of the Dark Soul fragment?

Ash slowly stood up before shaking hands with the old Priest. "Thank you for telling me this."

"Well, you seem like the tale of the Saint." The old Priest replied with a smile. "What is your name, young lad?"

"The name's Ash Cyrus."

"Isaak, Isaak Berando." The Old Priest introduced himself. "It was nice talking with you."

Once he parted ways with Isaak, the Silver-Blue Knight walks out of the chapel before looking back. His eyes glanced at the statue of Solaire. It would have been nice to meet him again and despite him who had reignited the fire. He couldn't blame the Knight of Sunlight who has blinded with so much faith to search for his Sun... at least he has already got his second chance in this world. Probably found his own way to make a family and became famous amongst the locals for his deeds.

...

Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie, City of Lescatie.

...

Druella glanced towards the projecting mirror to hear the news coming from a Dark Knight, a member of Eristia's Detachment Force in the North-Western Region, who reported the last sightings of the Silver-Blue Knight.

"The Operation went badly as the Silver-Blue Knight and the last Lescatian Heroine crossed Valley Ridge." spoke the Dark Knight through the Orb. "Eristia and her Subjugation Group failed to capture the Knight and the refugees. The commander... she's badly wounded."

"I see. I hope she will recover to continue her duties." Druella sighed while closing her eyes. She never expected that one of the most powerful heroes had underestimated him and realised that not even a single fallen hero would be enough to apprehend him. The Lilim clicked her tongue. "Dismissed."

The image of the Dark Knight disappeared from the Orb and was replaced by another face of a dhampir wearing a ragged cloak.

"Daniella, did you track him down?" The Fourth Born asked.

"Y-Yes, he's here in the Kingdom of Gaul," Daniella responds with a nervous expression. "Currently residing in the Town of Gerth."

Druella immediately hardened her glare after hearing the name of that town, Gerth. She remembered one of her older sisters attempted to annex Gaul to expand the Demon Realm, and that was seventy-five years ago. But her campaign was beaten by a small covenant of faithful knights who hailed from the Order of the Sunlight and their allies. Their defence of a small town held off the Demonic Army for days until her older sister was badly wounded and withdraws from the siege after receiving many failed attempts to complete her objectives.

The Order of the Sunlight was akin to the Order, but there are mamonos who were working for them and the worst part is that it is still unknown how long can their knights withstand the heavy influence of Demonic Energy rather than the Order Heroes could do in a few days because of their deep faith in their mysterious covenant? She heard from the baphomets that some unknown magical protection was given to them that isn't even forged nor blessed by the Chief God.

Probably she wasn't interested in hearing it back then. Up to this day, the Sunlight Order remained a mystery to the Fourth Born of the Royal Makai. She knew those knights can withstand the influence of the Demonic Energy at bay and effectively stopped trespassers coming from the Demon Realm into Gaul. The Demon Lord, her mother, admitted that they are a more dangerous force than the Order despite their small bands of Knights.

'It's not the best to invoke the Astora Family and their allies or else, there will be further consequences that it might involve my so-called "little sister" as well.' Druella grimaced to remind her that their family members are a threat, no matter if they were human or mamono. Those who have inherited Solaire's bloodline are all immune to the influence of Demonic Energy, along with the monster transformation. '... Could it be that the Silver-Blue Knight is related to the Astora Family? Then it should not have been a coincidence at all... ugh! What has my older sister been thinking to make them enemies from decades ago?'

When Druella first learned about them, they should have been allies and the cure for the mamonos sole problem since they couldn't produce sons. Unfortunately for the Demon Realm, they didn't share nor even liked the ideas of Lust and other desired debaucheries of the Radicals. Not even they could approve of her mother's intentions for the world. The Fourth Born shakes her head from those thoughts before facing the projecting mirror.

"Keep your eyes on him and try to avoid the Sunlight Order." She ordered in a stern tone. "And whatever you do. Don't even try to approach Sasha Fullmoon, it might provoke him to your deaths."

"I see." Daniella nodded. "Any other further objectives?"

"I... might send another group as reinforcements," Druella replied while glancing her eyes into the shadows. "A team of fallen Heroes and some of our experienced warriors would like to take care of him. You're dismissed."

"U-Understood!" The Dhampir saluted before her. "Daniella, out!"

Once their conversation was over, the Lilim turned her head around to the dark corners of the throne room and there stood two silhouette figures.

Druella then smiled wickedly to muse herself. "You two, I have a mission for you both."

Two individuals stepped forwards from the shadows and bowed to the Lilim. First is a blonde dhampir with a bob-cut hairstyle and a rapier with a golden hilt strapped on her waist, the second is a blue-skinned demon in her skimpy bikini and has a weapon as well, which is strapped on her waist that looks similar to the dhampir's rapier. The attires they wear is loosely resembling that of the Lescatian Musketeers and both shared the same trimmed hats.

"Alameria, Olivier. Your mission is to meet up with Daniella in Gerth and hunt down the Silver-Blue Knight." Druella spoke in an authoritative tone. "I will also apply, Sandra, in your group as well, to assist you two. Now go forth!"

"Understood!" the two fallen heroes replied with their salutes before leaving the throne room.

But little did Druella know that the souls of her two loyal subjects were trembling to their cores and grew fearful that one day, they will encounter the infamous knight.

"Olivier... I regret everything after what we've become." Alameria spoke with a hint of fear in her voice. "It seems the rumours about him confirmed that... he's..."

"Unrelenting? Indeed, he is. It was proven that Eristia herself was defeated but in a bloody way." Olivier added with a grimace. "In this mission, there will be no turning back until we've completed our objectives."

Somewhere around the royal Castle of Lescatie, Sandra sat inside her quarters while writing up the reports of several engagements from combating the remaining Order Resistance that is still scattered around the outskirts of Lescatie. Her facial expression slowly turned into unease until her fingers slipped and her feather pen accidentally drew a line across the parchment.

"Damnit! Another waste." Sandra cursed herself while crumbling the parchment and throwing it away into the nearby bin. "It'll take me another hour to write this down."

The disgruntled Dhampir couldn't think to concentrate on her work ever since that day she witnesses the fate of her comrade. She had been working with Itha together for a long time to raise an effective Orc company. She became their Vice Captain that is appointed by Druella and took the role of Itha's right hand before she was transferred to lead one of the Demon Army's Detachment Force during the Siege of Lescatie. After the horrible fate that was wrought upon Itha's Orc Company at the hands of the Silver-Blue Knight, the remaining members were transferred to another Army Detachment. Sandra is currently assigned to the intelligence branch of the Demon Lord's Army.

"Itha... I wished you were here." She groaned in distraught.

*Knock!* *Knock!*

The Dhampir heard a couple of knocks on the door before placing her feathered pen on a bottle of ink.

"Come in."

The door opened, and she saw a succubus come into her dorm. She wore a skimpy black bikini armour and has light-blue hair, but Sandra knew who she was. A former Heroine of Lescatie, who was beloved by the people that once perceived her as the strongest hero, Wilmarina Noscrim.

"Wilmarina, how may I help you?" She asked while raising her eyebrow in question.

"Sandra, you're appointed for a mission," Wilmarina spoke while expressing her rigid look. "Under the orders of Druella, you're assigned for a mission, along with Alameria and Olivier, to track down the Silver-Blue Knight in Gerth."

Upon hearing his moniker, Sandra's heart stopped pounding and grew in silence. Now that is something she didn't expect to hear, and this mission would only mean one thing.

'I-Is Druella gone mad?!' Sandra then trembled in fear. 'Did she not realise how he is capable to leave a field of corpses?!'

"I was assigned to a mission to hunt down the Silver-Blue Knight?!" The Dhampir slowly raised her voice. "Isn't that considered suicide?!"

"Sandra, please. This is a direct order from the Fourth Born." Wilmarina replied sternly while her eyes grew unamused. "Druella won't be happy, and she will be not amused if you leave in mutiny."

The Dhampir seethed her teeth to think that Druella would likely put her life at risk, which she is not happy about it. Wilmarina stayed calm and collected with a stern look while Sandra's hand was shaking before clenching her fists.

"Is she here?"

Suddenly, Sandra's furious thoughts died down once they heard a voice. Wilmarina turned around to the newcomer, and another fallen heroine stepped in the room to reveal Alameria herself before the Dhampir saluted in her presence. Meanwhile, Olivier is leaning against the wall outside of Sandra's room while overhearing their conversation.

"Oh, there you are. We've been looking for you because of our mission." Alameria explained before turning to Wilmarina. "Have you told her the details?"

The Succubus nodded before turning to Sandra with an amused smirk. "Yes. Isn't that right, my dear?"

The Dhampir caught Wil's glare that was staring right at her and felt the pressure in the atmosphere tense. There were no other options. She straightened herself and nodded in defeat.

"Understood."

Sandra puts her hopes to live in his encounter.

...

Kingdom of Gaul, Northern Auvergne Region.

...

"Th-There he is!"

A Minotaur cried out in terror while shielding herself with her massive axe. But in an instant, her weapon was cleaved in half along with her body. A group of five remaining monster girls fell into disarray once they saw a man who held a greatsword by his shoulders and wielded a crescent shape knife on his left arm. His armour was only a set of chainmail covered by additional leather armour, partial steel plates, steel knee caps, a tattered cape that covers his upper body, and a trimmed bicorn headwear.

This mysterious warrior was ready to pounce while kneeling on the ground like a wolf. The Minotaurs felt a dangerous aura of killing intent emitted from him before the warrior leapt forth at an inhuman speed. The first Minotaur raised her axe, but she missed once he dodged her swing while gliding through the ground until his knife jabbed into the ground and clenched it. Thus he spins his bastard sword which sliced her legs apart before an overhead swing ended her life.

'This man is dangerous!' One of the Minotaurs cursed internally. 'He has no Mana and how can he-?!'

Of a sudden, her thoughts were interrupted when the crescent-shaped blade cleaved through her neck, and blood spurted out like a fountain before the mamono fell back to the ground, resulting in her death. The Minotaurs steeled themselves and rushed in at once to take him out.

Unfortunately, a second has arrived and killed two Minotaurs in quick sessions. The last mamono spun around and widened her eyes in terror to see another person wearing armour, sharing a similar appearance to the same male warrior. But this time, it's a woman, and yet there is something that caught the Minotaur baffled once she caught her scent.

"You're... a Mamono." Then the beast girl staggered back, bewildered. "Wait... you don't have mana as well! Then how are you alive?!"

"Do not talk during combat." The young woman muffled behind her scarf, glaring at the beast girl with her emotionless, hazelnut eyes. "Big brother, I'll end this quick."

The male warrior crossed his arms and nodded in much to the terror of the beast girl before the swordswoman sped past her and a massive blade rose into the air. Thus, within a few moments of silence, the Minotaur's blood suddenly spurted out across her body until kneeling to the ground and glared at the unknown mamono who mortally wounded her.

The minotaur took the last glance of her killer before her vision dazed all of a sudden. The woman then pulls down her scarf and reveals herself to have a human-like complexion, a glimpse of her dark brown coloured hair and a pair of sharp fangs at the side of her lips. This woman... is a Dhampir.

"You and your group were targeting my brother." The Dhampir speaks coldly while glaring down at the minotaur. "Now sleep."

In one quiet swift of her sword, the last Minotaur died as her bisected head flung across the air while her body fell to the ground with an eerie thud.

"Elen, you could have left her to die with her wounds being exposed." The male warrior muffled under his bandana. "She's already beyond saving."

"Whatever. They're nothing but a mere nuisance." His sister, named Elen, scoffed while rolling her eyes. "Even after these years of training. I questioned myself why are they still hellbent on raping men whatever they find-"

Yet her thoughts snapped back to reality once her brother taps lightly on top of her head. She looks up at him while he points his thumb down the dirt road.

"I know what you're thinking, but we have to keep moving." He said while sighing deeply and tilting his head sidewards. "We still have to visit Uncle Siegward and buy some Divine Blessing from the Sunlight Order before mother will be mad for human blood."

"R-right, pardon me. I lost my thoughts." The Dhampir looks down with a slight embarrassment while scratching the back of her head. "So... what are we waiting for?"

Once they left the area, the male warrior held up a pendant that depicts a Wolf and flips to the side, showing an emblem of a warrior sharing the same outfit as his. His younger sister glanced at him with her eyebrow raised.

"Reginald, I wonder why are you so interested in father's pendant?" Elen questioned.

"I'm not sure why." Her brother named Reginald said while his eyes still locked on the pendant. "After father told us the story of how he deserted the Legion of Farron. I'm still interested in his past duties, but he surely won't talk about it."

"Yeah, true. But he told us the past should stay in the past." Elen added while lowering his hands that held the pendant. "Just ignore it. We can still make our duties on our own."

"Hmm... actually, you're right." Reginald closed his eyes for a while and nodded in acknowledgement. "Forging our own ways might be better."

...

Kingdom of Gaul, Viola Region. Ansur City.

...

The City of Ansur is bustling with life as mamono and humans went around as normal while smaller festivities occurred around the city. At the very edge of the city centre stood a massive cathedral and people of diverse races walked out from the entrance once the mass was finished. A Priest waved his hand over to the followers as a farewell.

Once the massive wooden doors of the cathedral were closed. Several kikimora maids came into the church halls and swept the floors. The Priest came up to the group of clerics and one of them is a man in his mid-fifties.

"It has gone well as intended, Grand Bishop Astora." The Priest bowed to him.

"I see. Seems like they're as jolly as ever." The Grand Bishop made a smile under his white beard while glancing over at the clerics. "Say... has anyone known about my son's whereabouts?"

"Oh, he was currently in training." The old Priest responded. "Practicing on the outskirts of Ansur."

"Ah, I see then. He's probably practising some new miracles." The Grand Bishop smiled proudly while stroking his beard. "I hope... my boy can pull the Astora's powerful signature."

...

In the outskirts of the city, a knight in his early 20s wearing Sunlight Armor is standing in the middle of the open fields. From several meters away, he is facing a wooden mockup target. The knight apprentice of the Sunlight raised his left hand with a talisman and aimed at the target.

'I hope this works. If it did, then Great Grandfather Solaire will be proud.' His mind mentally noted. 'Well... here it goes.'

The knight-in-training closed his eyes behind his great helm and concentrates for a few seconds until he felt a tingling feeling of energy coursing through his veins. Several sparks of electricity materialise out of thin air and swirl around his talisman, taking the shape of a spear.

'This is it!'

The trainee opened his eyes and flung a spear of lightning towards his target. In one fell swoop; it exploded into wooden bits and ashes. He couldn't help but smile. He finally perfected the art of Lightning Spear on its lethal stage that would make him a fine knight like his ancestor.

"I-... I DID IT!"

*Clap!* *Clap!* *Clap!*

His thoughts were soon interrupted once he heard someone clapping behind him and slowly turned around to see a kikimora in her mid-forties wearing her sunlight maiden robes. Eventually, she is smiling at him.

"Well done!" She happily cheered at him.

"M-Mother?!" He flabbergasted in surprise. "How did you find me here?"

"Oh my dear darling, didn't you forget that I always have my scent on you?" She made an annoyed pout while walking up to him before pulling up his helmet. "Ever since you were born. I've always followed you and knew where you are."

Once his helmet was removed, the face of the knight revealed his caucasian complexion with blue eyes and dark brown hair. His mamono mother smiled to see his face being worthy enough that any woman would go after him. Then pinched his cheeks in a teasing manner.

"Hehe~! You've grown up quite into a handsome man, Arcturus." She spoke softly before letting his cheeks go and wondering herself while looking up into the air. "Now... I wonder who will be your future wife be?"

"Ugh! Mother, please." Arcturus smiled as he blushed in embarrassment while scratching the back of his head. "Only in time I would find one, but... not right now."

"Ah... I know, I know. It's quite different to raise a child who inherited the Astoran bloodline." She smiled sadly while looking down at his helmet while reminiscing about her old memories. "When I was young, my mother taught me I would find my husband one day. After my marriage with your father, I didn't expect to give birth to a human boy... and it was very difficult for me to be raising you than any other ordinary mamono child."

"Yeah, I know it too as well... but you know Mariane is a mamono too." Then Arcturus shrugged. "But she's... you know..."

"Different, indeed. Your sister isn't the likes of me." His mother replied while nodding in acknowledgement and disappointment. "Her personality would be rare, rational, and unique amongst the monsters, like the Dragons themselves. But I know how it's common within our family."

"Mmhm, true." He responds with a nod. "So um... what are you doing here exactly?"

"Oh, I just came to see how my dear little boy doing in training~" She smiled while clasping her hand before turning her head in the opposite direction. "Also, I've brought a Picknick with me."

"Picknick?"

Arcturus raised his eyebrow in question before looking up to see a pair of kikimora maids setting up a portable table and placing a tray of teacups and crumbles.

'Oh... wait, how are they here without making a sound?'

Arcturus exhaled deeply before looking up at his mother with his warm smile. Ever since he was young, his mother had taught him and his younger sister how to get a partner and have sex. Once they've learned about her lessons of sexual intercourse, it really disgusts them. He even remembered how his mother reacted in surprise when his younger sister didn't like the idea of becoming like her that truly grossed her out, which is unusual for a standard mamono child.

But they were just simple children back then, and nowadays it was different as maturity comes with age and changing minds. He shakes off those thoughts of memories and joined with his mother in a picnic.

Perhaps one day, he will find something interesting in life once after he was knighted by his father, the Grand Bishop himself.

...

Chapter 6: Ends

AN: Guys, the reason for this minor change does not affect the second volume of the story. I was not pressured; I was just filling the gaps in the sentences due to my re-experiences to write a story long before I used Grammarly.