After several detailed discussions, the meeting of the Counts arrives at one last matter, the most important: the organization of the new Measurement, as suggested by Arturo earlier in the general meeting. Dracula had already mentioned it, but the criteria needed to change.
"Finally, my companions, we must conclude the meeting with a very important agenda item. As I have already mentioned, I have had the feeling that our powers cannot be more effective if we remain only in a state of intimidation. I foresee a danger that could hinder, although not nullify, our actions."
Although the event we call the Cold War, as it occurred, did not happen in this timeline of reality, it would not be unreasonable to consider that something similar happens in the world. In this case, the risk of the vampires' powers is like a time bomb, but without a visible timer. A few demonstrations have already been carried out throughout history after the Second World War (in this case, the expeditions carried out by the Abstinent), in addition, of course, to the countless incidents with ghouls on the borders. But the world of ordinary people has only witnessed an expectation regarding what vampires are truly capable of. It is known that they possess impressive nuclear technology. However, they do not seem to have an organized armed force like those commonly found in the southern hemisphere. In fact, the war equipment, vehicles, ships, and other things seem to be merely a facade. They do not demonstrate a need for these things, as was seen in the containment of the Montreal incident that had just occurred.
"For this reason, it is necessary to make it clear: our power needs to be honed not only for massacre, but for a devastating combat."
"My friend Lord, what really motivates your distrust?" Pierre asked beside him.
"It is pertinent for us to know this, after all, we are the ones who have a very large advantage in this world," added Rehoboam. And everyone, respectfully, shared the same doubt.
It really seemed like an unfounded prediction from the Lord. But, immediately, Elizabeth and Simyon presented themselves before the Counts.
"Reverentia Draculae, Reverentia Potestatis. With your permission, Counts. Lord, I come to report the situation in Montreal."
"What happened, Elizabeth? Considering that it was just another damage control operation, would it be something so urgent to report?" Dracula replied.
"I apologize for the lack of courtesy. However, there is something I need to report, and it cannot be ignored. As the Lord can trust in our zeal for order and our effectiveness, we managed to exterminate all the ghouls in the city of Montreal and its surroundings. But an unforeseen factor occurred: on the side of the commoners, all the ghouls had already been killed, but there was no movement of armed forces. In fact, they arrived minutes later. I can assure you, however, that it was not the work of our soldiers. My immediate subordinates guaranteed that none of our men crossed the border."
The Counts in the room showed some concern. However, the following statement left them speechless.
"I can't say if it was my imagination, but when I returned here to investigate what had happened, I immediately felt one, actually two, bursts of spiritual energy at very high speed. And they didn't seem to be from any of my subordinates. After that, they vanished in the blink of an eye."
Dracula, somehow, didn't seem so surprised. Just curious.
"Thank you, Elizabeth. You are dismissed."
"Reverentia Draculae, Reverentia Potestatis. My parents, I will wait for you."
"Don't worry, daughter. I think, with this report, we will need to take a little longer. Dracula tecum sit."
In the vicinity of the mansion were the other groups that had stayed to wait for the Counts. Elizabeth then passed by the groups of Arturo and Lamech, who were still catching up on their conversations. They, obviously, wouldn't fail to notice.
"Look, if it isn't Dracula's executioner," said Arturo. "I find it somewhat ironic that you are not so dedicated to seeking privileges for your province, but are willing to fulfill the duty that another Sancto should be performing."
"I see before me a born politician, Mr. Arturo. At least, your evolution was not a bluff. Regarding what you said, it's the price of being more competent. Perhaps I am contradictory, but in the end, I am the one who works harder on this side of the planet."
"Whoever looks at you at first glance wouldn't imagine you're so proud," says Lamech. "As I already told Arturo: your minds, Bradiskov, are unfathomable."
Elizabeth gave a slight, ironic smile.
"I'll see you at the next Measurement. However, I'll say in advance what I already said inside: we no longer monopolize the Paths. Perhaps we never really did. But we are on the more glorious side."
And she returned to her province after that enigmatic statement, which left them both curious. Helena was still there, pensive, but she paid attention to the whole conversation and watched Elizabeth disappear into the distance. There was something that made her envious, but she was still trying to understand it. And it was something that, curiously, Tereza also demonstrated, but in a different way, almost in opposition to Elizabeth.
Atalia had also remained at the mansion for a long time, waiting for her father. However, she had gone to one of the vampire churches in the Quebec region, not far from the incident in Montreal. Her dilemmas seemed even deeper and more difficult to deal with than Helena's.
Tereza and Jerome had already satisfied their pleasures, but they were still in the room, undressed.
"I even heard Elizabeth's voice around here. Are you still going to let others get their hands dirty for you?" said Jerome, changing to go downstairs. Tereza remained lying down, although not so covered.
"Don't break the mood, darling. I think you wouldn't disagree with me if I said that effort is useless if there's already an easy way to achieve what you want. Death is a natural thing. The blood we consume, the hemaine we produce… are also natural to us. If we follow the natural flow without forcing it, there's nothing wrong with that."
"Your contradiction is enviable. Clean, but deadly, hands. And that's what I admire most about you."
Another intense kiss between the two seals that moment of long passion.
"In the end, if we want to take Dracula's place, we must let these incidents continue to occur. They are the greatest sign of this empire's failure. We will know how to rule this world for glory," Tereza states. "And there is no reason for me to worry about the people's reaction to my attitude. They just need to understand one thing: the weak must be annihilated before the face of the earth. If ghouls perished, it was their fate. The strong will survive and lead the world to its peak."
Jerome says goodbye and goes to the living room. Teresa seemed unconcerned, being in her own province (the natural reaction should be the opposite, after such an incident). Something, however, intrigued her. Somehow, she also heard part of what Elizabeth said downstairs: "we no longer monopolize the Paths." Although she had enough self-confidence not to feel insecure (because of her political and manipulative skills in front of others), she did not escape the natural reaction to these words. In fact, even though Elizabeth herself sensed that something was wrong, there was no certainty about what had happened.
In the end, Dracula was right about his suspicion. There was an important factor: the Paths, even though they were understood to be exclusive to vampires, could not be subjugated. Even though the Lord was seen as someone divine in that world, he was a servant of the Paths. And this needed to be reiterated before the Counts, who were in an uproar over what had happened.
"Who would dare betray Lord Dracula's trust?" exclaimed Catarina, in utter outrage.
"It's a shame to imagine that there are people among us who would stoop to the level of the vulgars," added Elisha.
"Let us not be hasty, gentlemen," Dracula emphasized. "We must not forget that everyone here is a servant of the Paths. We are not yet able to fathom them. However, that is what we seek. Absolute power will allow us to subjugate the Paths. But, for that, the obstacles on the journey must be overcome completely. Therefore, I will pass on to you the guidelines to be followed from today onwards, so that they may be taught to your children and your other subordinates."
"I assure you, Lord Dracula, that Arturo will not disappoint. He is a visionary, someone who did not suggest a new Measurement in vain," Carmen interjected.
"Carmen, Carmen… Parents have no right to say such things, there is no impartiality in this judgment. It is we who should say this, seeing the progress of our son," Astarote stated.
The others ended up, involuntarily, laughing discreetly, leaving Carmen slightly disconcerted by her excessive zeal and pampering of Arturo.
"Calm down, don't hinder a mother's or father's pride in their child," Dracula stated, even though he himself knew what Jerome was doing behind the scenes. "But I agree: the circumstances to come will demonstrate the wisdom of this choice."
And then, Dracula instructed them on how to proceed with the new negotiations of the Measurement. It was a revolution in that power system, probably the most impactful. After another half hour, the meeting finally ended, and the groups from other provinces returned to their places of origin.
Jerome then approached his father.
"Reverentia Draculae, Reverentia Potestatis. I see it was a serious meeting, father. I've never seen a general meeting last until almost nine o'clock at night."
"That's right, Jerome," said his mother, Victoria. "Your father's premonition was correct. We have an unknown enemy in our midst. And, therefore, our way of dealing with the Paths needs a metamorphosis."
"I've heard some of the new guidelines. So now, do we need to refine how we manipulate the nature around us?"
"Exactly. Up until now, we've dealt with this in a simplistic way," Dracula stated. "But we must establish the foundations of a system not only of attack, but also of defense. This means that our way of directing power must intentionally follow these conditions."
We realize one thing here: the powers of the Paths are essentially psychological. It is the way the mind and spirit, the two fronts that make up the metaphysical aspect of the human being, connect with each other and with the world around them. This explains why they don't need gigantic armies to impose power on the rest of the world. However, once the foundations of attack and defense were assimilated, there would be no escape for the vulgars, who would not be able to access these Paths. Tereza had gone downstairs and was listening behind the door to Dracula and Victoria's conversation with their son.
"Did you understand the urgency of the situation, daughter?" said her mother, Margareth, seeing her peering into the meeting room.
"Absolutely, Mother. But this will be a bonus for us. If we maintain our political and spiritual qualities, such obstacles will be mere pebbles on the road." And they immediately set off to begin training for the imminent Measurement.