I turned toward the Warden, the air thick with tension as our gazes locked in the charged silence. Then I began to speak, my voice even, yet edged with authority.
"The terms are as follows: You will not interfere with my plans for the human city in any way—no presence near it, no interaction with its inhabitants, no hostile actions, direct or indirect, against me or any member of my clan. In turn, I vow that neither I nor those under me shall act against you. This neutrality shall remain in place until I complete my work and return the city to its original location—one month from now.
When the time comes, I will arrange for the city's leader to cede control of the territory to you. It will be yours to shape into your own domain, the cornerstone of your future Citadel Mega City. As part of this arrangement, I will also request that the humans find you a Blessed girl—one suitable to bond with you and stabilize your unstable state. This will give you the foundation you need to grow your order."
I paused briefly, watching as the Warden's posture remained tense, yet his expression shifted with every word.
"After the city has been teleported back, our pact will take full effect: an absolute ban on interference, lasting indefinitely. Neither my clan nor your Order will act against one another in any way, nor will we use or manipulate third parties to bypass the pact. Should either side wish to cooperate, it must be mutual. Both you and I must swear upon our names, and the agreement will last no longer than a month at a time, to be renewed daily. During this time, no harm may befall either party, and no one may attempt to exploit loopholes.
The pact is designed to recognize such attempts. Should a loophole be identified, it will automatically be closed and the exploit added to the offending party's personal restrictions. Any form of weaponization or bad-faith manipulation will be treated as a breach, and the consequences will be immediate."
I raised a hand slowly, mana flickering faintly at my fingertips as I spoke the final words with deliberate clarity.
"Let these terms be overseen by the laws of the world and the patron gods of both our races."
The Warden's three eyes narrowed, and for a long, weighty moment, he remained silent. Then, with a low growl of reluctant acceptance, he spoke.
"And why, pray tell, do you believe the humans will go along with such an arrangement?"
I met his stare evenly. "The same reason you are listening now."
A grimace twitched across his face—part fury, part resignation.
"Tch. Fair enough," he muttered. "It's not as though I have much choice, is it?"
"No," I replied coolly, "you do not."
"Fine," he spat, but not without a touch of dignity. "Then I swear an Oath upon my name—Siegfried Hon Blackguard, that I and my order shall abide by the terms of this pact."
A strand of radiant light surged from his chest, spiraling into the air before coalescing into a half-formed magic circle that pulsed with divine energy.
I followed suit. "I swear an Oath upon my name, Will Von Mortis, that I and my kin shall honor the terms of this pact."
From my chest came a similar thread of power, completing the circle in a flash of unity. As the circle faded into the air, its essence etched itself into our minds—an ever-present reminder of our binding agreement.
With the pact sealed, we parted. The Warden turned and vanished into the distance, bound now by the terms that kept him away from both the city and my domain.
Lilya and I resumed our journey home. She remained silent for some time, her brows furrowed in thought. Then, at last, she spoke.
"Will, I have many questions. You said that was an unstable Warden, correct?"
I nodded. "Yes. He hasn't bonded yet. Without a Blessed partner, his power and ability to create more hunters or Wardens remain stunted."
She glanced at me, confusion flickering in her eyes. "But I thought Wardens were like humans?"
A curious observation—one born from her human origins.
"Wardens are the race of Adam and Eve," I explained calmly. "Like Vampires and Werewolves, they possess a human form, a mask they wear to interact with other races."
She fell quiet, digesting the information. Her thoughts echoed faintly through our bond.
"Wait, are you saying Adam and Eve weren't human?" she asked, clearly shaken.
I gave a small nod, realizing the depth of her confusion. "That's correct. They were Wardens. Humans were not their kin. In fact, humans were born without patronage. They are what we call Baseliners—creatures created without a divine core or racial trait."
Her mind reeled at the revelation. I continued gently, guiding her through the truth.
"Adam and Eve took pity on the humans and granted them patronage. But humans remained what they were—blank slates. They became the only race that could be turned by all others. This is why Vampires, Werewolves, and Wardens all use humans as vessels. They're malleable, and since no god claims them, there's no divine backlash in converting them."
Her voice was quiet now. "And that's why no one ever told us the truth…"
"Yes. There is a divine pact—crafted by the gods—that forbids us from revealing these truths to humans. We're barred from sharing the secrets of their role in this world, in any form, directly or indirectly."
Lilya sat in silence, her mind still processing. I could feel the storm of realization building behind her calm exterior.
"Vampires, Werewolves, and Wardens," I continued, "each embody the essence of their patron gods. Wardens, whose trait is versatility, manifest monstrous forms—multiple limbs, extra eyes, enhanced adaptability. Werewolves embody raw physical power and aggression—muscle and instinct in perfect fusion."
She nodded slowly. "And vampires?"
I met her gaze and said, "A Vampire's true form is their Birth City. We are the embodiment of Mana itself—creation, expansion, dominion. Unlike the others, our physical body is only a semi-Avatar, composed of pure mana. It is why we are immortal."
Lilya blinked, stunned. "So vampires are walking mana?"
"Precisely. And those who bind themselves to a Progenitor's Birth City empower that Progenitor further. We are not born—we are manifested. And when unawakened, we grow in strength, fed by the mana of the world. This is why Vampire Progenitors only appear once every thousand years—and why I am only just awakening now."
"Wait… then does that mean my body is now made of mana?" Lilya asked, a dawning sense of realization in her voice.
"Well, yes and no," I replied, my tone measured. "Your body became infused with mana the moment you fused your coffin into me. From that point onward, you were no longer fully physical—but not entirely immaterial either. You exist in a transitional state. That's also why, if you were to die, your reconstruction would take twice as long compared to others. You're caught between forms."
She fell silent, absorbing my words. I continued before she could formulate another question.
"Do you know why vampires turn to ash when they're slain?"
She blinked, and I didn't wait for a response.
"It's because their bodies, being made of volatile mana, combust upon death. Their heart serves as the mana core, the center that holds their essence together. Once it's destroyed, the structure collapses, and the raw mana ignites into that ashen residue.
"True Vampires, however, are different. Because they are linked to a Progenitor's Birth City, they don't fully perish when destroyed. Their connection allows them to be reconstructed and reborn within the Birth City itself."
Lilya's expression tightened with curiosity, and I could sense the flicker of a deeper question forming. I pressed on.
"This also explains why lesser vampires—the Kindred—burn in the sunlight. The sun, in its essence, is a chaotic furnace of untamed mana. Its rays act as wild, unstable beams that disrupt the finely balanced mana holding the Kindred together. They haven't yet achieved the stability that comes with linking to the Birth City or forming a true mana core.
"True Vampires, on the other hand, possess that link. Their mana is refined, anchored to a greater source. It stabilizes them against such chaotic interference."
I leaned back slightly, letting the weight of the knowledge settle.
"This is also why only specific weapons can harm us. Elven Silver, for example, is purified under the gaze of lunar mana. Dwarven Rune Weapons are carefully enchanted with ancient formulas that disrupt mana resonance. And Warden or Hunter-forged weapons? They're infused with alchemic processes designed to tear into mana forms. Normal steel, common silver—they're useless. They can harm flesh, yes, but they can't touch the essence of a vampire."
By the time I finished talking, we arrived at the entrance of Mortishaven. Once we were inside, I teleported us to Mortishaven Palace. I then called the other girls and led them to a large empty chamber.
"For the next three days, I will train you. You will learn to access and control your vampiric abilities, and we will begin the first stages of your combat instruction. If everything proceeds as expected, by the end of this period, you will be capable of wielding your powers at will. All that will remain is experience—real battle, blood, and the lessons only conflict can teach."
I paused, letting the weight of the words settle.
"So, without further delay… let us begin."