212 Vampirism 101 VII : The Challenge, Three Boys On A Tree

THE GREEN DISTRICT

THE GUARD TOWER

ADEIN YSMIR

"Are you sure of what you're saying, that irrevocably, and without a reasonable doubt, Kael Cor has issued me a challenge, and we're to fight to the death. I can choose the time and place, as long as it's public and all the vampires can watch."

The human guard in front of Adein nodded his head nervously. These days all of the guards were avoiding Adein, and with good reason. For some reason his very short temper, became a lot worse in recent months. Ever since Kael Cor became lord of the Blue district, Adein has been completely off his game. So any wasted or unnecessary movements in his presence, might end up with a guard being tortured, or worse.

"He's a really crafty fellow. Whatever it is he's done to me, he knows it has come full circle now. And without a doubt, if I fight him like this, I'll loose. He's even more of noble than I previously thought, he's as good at scheming as the rest of them."

Adein got up from his desk with great difficulty, and leaned on a pair of crutches resting at his side. Even with his apparent disability, the guard didn't dare let out a sound. Adein paced around his office, muttering softly and sometimes yelling at someone, only he could hear or see. It was obvious to everyone that he had lost his mind, and even worse his body was giving up on him, falling and breaking apart piece by piece.Adein turned and pointed at the guard who felt so unfortunate to be the one who received and had to deliver the vampire's message, no one else would have been eager to be the bearer of such news.

"Find the head Alpha of the Special werewolves guard division. Tell him that he should proceed with the plan and grab the mother and her daughters the next time they visit the green district. As soon as they're captured, I want you to send a message to Kael and tell him his challenge has been accepted, and we'll battle in the green district, right where he won his fight and his right to become lord of the blue district."

The guard nodded his head rapidly to show that he had understood the message, but when he turned to go deliver it, he heard Adein call him back. He felt his heart jump into his throat as his whole body was suffused with fear. Things never ended well for the guards that were called back by Adein. He could almost see his life flash before his eyes as he slowly turned to face the mad warden. He contemplated making a run for it, but all of his militaristic training forced him to stay rooted and focused on Adein.

"Tell someone to get me a bottle of whiskey. I'm thirsty."

"Yes sir!"

the guard shouted, and even gave a deep bow as he made his way away from the office, moving five times as fast as when he came in. At least now he didn't have to deal with Adein, and the mad man can be somebody else's problem. The guard left Adein alone, angry, mad and in pain, pacing the dark confines of his office, like a wounded old monster.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

THE BLUE DISTRICT

ETHERNALIA LEONIS

OUTSIDE THE CITY ON THE ROOTS OF THE WORLD TREE

GUS, TELUNA, KODAK

"let's talk about girls you guys, we're the cool guys now. We can talk about girls right?" Teluna spoke out exuberantly as he relaxed against Nasir's roots. The world tree did not seem to mind the company.

[Seriously?] Gus asked with his telepathy, though his rolling eyes, showed what he felt about this topic, and that it was a total waste of time.

"You're eleven Teluna, I don't think this is the age where you have to worry about such things." Kodak advised.

" we're vampires, I think we're the prime example of the phrase 'age doesn't matter'. I think Rhea is cute." Teluna answered.

[She's only ten!] Gus warned him.

"And I'm eleven, what's your point?" Teluna shot back.

"You guys don't have to worry about girls now. At least not until everything has settled down. The girls aren't running away are they? We just need to keep our focus. So the both of you tell me, how is your special training coming along?" Kodak said, ending the conversation about girls, because quite frankly, it was a weird topic for a seventeen year old to discuss with an eleven and a twelve year old boy.

[I'm not supposed to say anything about my training big brother, it's very top secret. However what I can say is that, I'm doing well, and in no time at all, I'll be able to walk into the guards tower and stick a dagger in Adein's back, and walk out without him being the wiser.] Gus replied with a confident tone.

"But aren't formations of some sort always deployed around such buildings? Like an alarm system of sorts. How would you get past that?" Kodak asked again seemingly confused.

[That's the reason why I'm being forced to take a extensive course in magical hacking. Unless it's a weave, there's no barrier or formation I can'tenchantmy way through. Just need to be s little bit prepared.] Gus answered with a simple shrug.

Kodak was impressed and a little jealous. Both this young boys were receiving guidance to be more powerful and useful, but he was still stuck being everyone's big brother. To be honest he felt a little useless and completely inadequate when compared to them, and even though he didn't want to listen to the comparisons going around vampires of their age group, it was still being said that he was just a hanger on to real talent. Things like that always brought him down, but he tried to make the best out of every situation and be there for his siblings. While Gus was off training, their sister Nivae was piously studying magic and priest arts, and their baby sister Lyn was just four years old and still hanged around their mother for everything. Kodak felt jealous, but he grew up differently from normal children, he could see the bigger picture and work towards that instead. All he had to do was keep trying his best and everything will turn out fine.

"Well Mr. Enchanting Assassin, I've met my dragon! He's always sleepingand gets really grumpy every time I wake him up, but he's been teaching me a lot of things. I can't transform yet, until I'm older and my body is stronger. Being a Shadower at eleven means that my bloodline as a vampire is pretty strong, though I don't really care about that, since that means nothing other than I had really strong ancestors. Anyway it's still going to take time for me to master my Shadower abilities, and also get comfortable enough to master my dual elements of ice and darkness. So until my body is bigger, stronger, and filled with more energy, I can't fully transform into a dragon. However much like other shifter races, Weredragons also have a half beast half man form, and that's what I'm learning to control."

Teluna explained with an exuberance that matched his youthful age. It was obvious that his excitement over being trained by his mother, and actually getting stronger was his driving force, and without a doubt he could and would become a pillar for their city in the future. Kodak understood it better than anyone, that both boys had a bigger destiny than most, and what they would achieve at Kael's side, would make it into the history books.

[Big brother there's a rumor going around the palace.]

"What rumor?" Kodak asked confused.

"Yeah I heard about that too. Do you think it's true?" Teluna asked, confirming whatever information it was that Gus found out about.

[I don't know, lady Asha and Asare are being tight lipped about it, but I suspect it's true. It has to be, it explains why Master Kael has been giving him so many Solo missions with the Envoys.]

"Okay what the hell are you two talking about? I'm also a part of this conversation aren't I?" Kodak spoke up, really worried about being left out.

"Well of course you are, the conversation is about you. The rumor is that Kael is going to be choosing three vampires to be his personal generals, people who would serve directly under him. The rumors going around the city is that this trio of vampires are being called the Trinity of Leonis, and you are one of them!"

Kodak couldn't believe what he was hearing, but this was only a rumor, so it could be just hear say and be completely baseless. It wouldn't do to get his hopes up, but if this was true, then that put him in an important position, a place where he could really do some good. A place where he wouldn't be overlooked and be known as the quiet elder brother. A place where he truly belonged.