As the sun shines down on Cassiel's bare skin, he wakes up to the subtle burning sensation it gave him.
He got his gear on and prepared himself for the long walk ahead, then woke Albus up shortly after he was fully ready.
…..
…..
After Albus gets on all of his own gear, he'd pull a hood over himself, ready to follow Cassiel once more, accepting that this is his only path to growing stronger.
.....
As they reached the road they had traveled before, they took a turn, heading off towards Altanisar, the city of healing.
Altanisar was one of the major cities of Rampiel, along with Ananchel, Armaita, Colchis, and Hallen.
All five of these cities need to be conquered for the sake of Rampiel's continuance, for the sake of turning the tides of war.
…..
Once they started picking up pace, Cassiel finally, yet begrudgingly, opened his mouth to speak.
"Albus, there's a house we will be passing on the way to Altanisar... pay it no mind." Cassiel said through gritted teeth.
Albus nodded in response, figuring it best not to speak when Cassiel acts in this way.
…..
Traveling down the road at an increased speed from what they've done in the past, the pair finally find their way in a completely open field, unlike before with there being trees scattered around, the land ahead was scarce with everything but grass, and a singular house farther up.
"Is that..?" Albus questioned
"Yes, we will be going straight past it, do not stop." Cassiel responded, keeping his eyes forward and unwavering.
While aiming to move right past the house on the side of the road, melodic tunes started playing, coming out of the wide open door, the sounds headed straight for Albus, and as they reached him, Albus instantly fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Damnit... that old man..." Cassiel said, his ears being covered in his blood magic.
Breathing in deeply, Cassiel turns around, walking past Albus as he lays unconscious on the ground, heading inside the house covered in mystery.
"Old man Jenk, where are you?" Cassiel yells out, knocking on the door before entering.
With the house covered in vines and cracks on the outside, the floorboards from within creak under every step.
The worn wood and the tattered walls would give any visitor an unsettling vibe, other than Cassiel, who moved around the house as if he lived there himself.
"There you are." Cassiel says, turning a corner to be face to face with an old man playing a violin.
Standing and staring, Cassiel watches and waits as the man finishes his tune, before finally looking up and acknowledging Cassiel.
"Were you really going to run straight past my house without greeting me, boy?" Jenk, the old man says in a raspy voice.
"Damnit.... I have business to attend to, if you hadn't realized, we're being invaded." Cassiel says, fiddling with his fingers.
"As if you really care about your people, Cassiel." Jenk said, a menacing aura surrounding the entire room as he spoke.
Cassiel began to sweat just a bit.
"...Fine I'll drop the act around you, however why would I come to see you, Jenk? You left me there in that damned crypt for so long my power has dwindled down to this weak and pathetic state." Cassiel says, gritting his teeth.
"You say it as if I put you there, boy." Jenk responds, chuckling.
"You could have stopped my father." Cassiel bites back.
"Listen, boy, I may have been there to train both you and your father, but I'm just a feeble old man now, what could I do to stop him." Jenk smiles.
"Damn you, I've dropped my act now you drop yours, it's your own fault you're in this state, you stopped holding your age."
"Can you blame me? I've been around for so long I've just about lost count. I want to die in peace, but I still want you to stop by." Jenk mumbles out, his face darkening.
Cassiel stands there, quiet for a bit.
"Jenk, you're a warrior too at heart, come fight with me."
"Am I simply Jenk to you now? I don't remember giving you permission to call on me so casually." Jenk responds, his aura beginning to make Cassiel's body tremble.
Unable to say a word, Cassiel continues to stare at Jenk.
"I will stay here, that's final boy. This is the age for new evils to rise, and I'm too tired to come back into the fray now."
"The next chance I get, I will tell them about your location, sword king, Jenk." Cassiel finishes the conversation, turning around to walk out.
"And one more thing, don't make my soldier fall asleep like that again, or I'll kick your ass." Cassiel smiles, walking out of the house.
Jenk, Rampiel's first and only vampire to earn the title of Sword King, an honor that carries weight heavier than any other except the King's crown itself. He had overpowered every warrior in Rampiel, having never lost a battle to anyone, not even to Cassiel's father, Cain Aeternus who is the rightful king of the lands.As Cassiel walks over to Albus, a single strum of Jenk's violin can be heard from inside his house, heading straight outside and hitting Albus' ears, waking him up instantly.
"I forgot to mention, you needed to cover your ears... let's carry on now." Cassiel mocks, walking past Albus and heading straight back towards their destination, Altanisar.