Tired, ragged, bruised and beat up, Everything felt as clear as reality in deep darkness. Was it real or just another dream?
A being that transversed eternity of misery would surely question the reality, Why?
Because now light seems to grew dim as darkness took hold of heart.
Is life even worth it?
But better even if it's not, What is valued and for what reason? Question that has answers as obscured as dream.
Dream that ends with burst, a cliffhanger.
And so the bubble bursts. Eren wakes up tired, ragged, bruised and beat up. Only comfort was that bed felt soft. He remained silent, Looking up at the ceiling designed pristine white in gold
He felt slight cold, Lying naked on the unknown place. But his headache made it a bit difficult for his thoughts to process smoothly.
With enough time he materialised his thoughts, Last thing he remembered was face of Prince of ravenvale, jack.
KNOCK...
Door was open But with a knock jack made his presence known. Just like last time he was smiling, hiding the monster underneath.
Another monster, Stood beside him. Towering figure, Tommy with his rigidly obedient expression.
" Hope it was peaceful sleep."
Eren didn't answer, Only reasonable explanation he came up with was, jack couldn't or didn't kill him.
" Your dragon armour is gone, Horns are still there, that I cannot remove even though I hate it." That statement came out of nowhere and raised Eren's interest.
That armour trait was one of the most beneficial factor with apparent liable nature, Even then it was one of the most suitable torture mechanism for sadists such as jack, and he gave it up.
Surely he has many ways to torture, But giving one up still came as surprised to eren who felt the brunt of that sadism. It rose question of his machinations with every answer hidden in his sleeves.
Eren obviously doubting his words, tried to access to his power and failed. Surprised he looked in his eyes, with question he didn't wanted to ask.
" Don't look at me like that, Obviously I wanted you to become my subordinate willingly but you resisted so I had to take some extreme measures.
Even now, I can tie you up and keep on torturing but I know it wouldn't change a thing. So here I am, Showing kindness and humanity."
Eren scoffed in anger,
" Humanity?, Hilarious."
" I know why you think that's funny, humanity is the word that describe human nature and that is kindness.
It's really hypocritical to make such blatant remark, All humans are kind and every other races are what?, Monsters.
I agree to humanity as well, We should be kind." Eren looked at him with mocking anger, He didn't buy it for a second that such words meant anything.
" Yeah you may be right, But I know for a fact you are not one of those kind souls, So stop pretending."
" Is it that obvious tommy?, I mean maybe I went little overboard with that last part.
But you can't argue, That was some good show." Jack laughed at his own praise.
" Well that's a downer, I thought your own voice would shake you up or atleast give me some response but you're just like those horns of yours, Adamant and arrogant."
Eren didn't care what he thought, but his tone described his feelings and now he wasn't pleasing anymore.
" Oh well, Let us just clear this up a grown up way. I'll give you whatever you need and in return, come academy with me."
" I don't want anything."
" You sure?, Don't you want to return to dragonar kingdom?" Eren didn't hesitate.
" And I will, on My own time and own way."
" Don't be like that eren, Besides i'm really trying to help.
You see, I know you don't have single penny and any travel route is way too much expensive.
Hey Tommy, How long it will take for nobody like eren to earn enough to travel any continent." Jack obviously hinted that Eren's goal was eventually another continent, But he wasn't sure whether it was dragon continent or not.
" Minimum several decades, young master."
" See, I'm asking for only one year." Eren couldn't care less, It didn't matter to him what was the deal.
And for a better or worse, he didn't belong anywhere. He didn't feel attraction toward neutral continent. Just Natalie's words gave him what he envisioned, a peaceful world.
He didn't believe it but there was no harm checking it out and live in it if it was really not so much bad as vampire continent.
If he can't go then he'll just discard the idea and move on.
" No." Eren stood up, ready to leave. While he actually didn't believe that leaving here was that simple.
" Fine, Atleast wear some clothes."
Clap...clap..
On his command Two maid came in.
Following his gesture, Dragged eren to bathroom. As always eren remained poweless, Atleast maids were gentle and precise in their work.. he was cleaned up nicely, dried and doll up with expensive clothes.
Trouser, shirt and golden embroided robe, with leather belt. Maids even tied his hair in bun behind his head.
" Show some gratitude peasant, Prince of Ravenvale himself shows liking to you." Eren looked at young vampire maid, who made the point of generosity laced with pity.
Eren didn't give her much response and walked away, Hoping for no other obstacle.
With his presence gone, Room fell silent. Maids and Tommy were somwhat scared, they knew their young master's nature, Unpredictable.
" Sigh.. Tommy, Make sure he's escorted out respectfully and help him settle, with all his needs fulfilled." For a moment he seemed dejected, but again the indifferent attitude with signature smile took place over Jack's face.
" As you wish young master." Tommy bowed and made his leave.
" Bertha Prepare for my departure, we'll leave at midnight."
" As you wish, Young master."
" leave us alone." Bertha as ordered took her leave and closed the door behind.
" what's your name?"
" Minerva."
" So what did you think of that boy?"
" huh... He must be a amazing if he cought young master's eyes." The woman who looked around mid twenties, with green core realm cultivation answered keeping her head down. She was the one who tried talking eren into discipline and failed.
She was beautiful, Black hair, pale face, pointy ears and characteristical red eyes. A beautiful vampire in maid gown.
Of course where Bertha expressed precision based aged authority, Minerva exuded young elegance filled with confidence.
" Again with this, I want to hear what you thought." This was one of things that really annoyed jack, Bootlicking.
" He looked peculiar, He had horns yet no mana core. Either he doesn't have it or he's just that much powerful to conceal his power so masterfully.
So I did not lie When I said he must amazing if cought your eyes, young master."
Jack smiled pleased, Not because how correct or wrong she was. Just that unlike tommy she didn't outright sugarcoated it, she added multiple layers of logical explanation to make it as much as plausible as it should be.
She was smart, But what she said was truth or lie, only she knew and she was good at concealing it.
" Yes he's peculiar because he is an immortal with no background." Minerva nearly tripped with shock.
" And I already tried to kill him, twice. So I have to make it so that he doesn't become problem for us." Blood visibly washed off from young maid's face, Why because unlike most people she knew what this piece of information meant. What gave her the privilege to know such things? only she knew but her reaction was too obvious.
Contrary to her expectations, jack ignored it.
" Well, That we can not do anything anymore. Oh yeah, pack up.
I like you so You'll be joining me in my adventurous journey to find love of my life in academy dorms." Minerva laughed politely, bowed with a nod and left, only when jack gestured. Closing the door and leaving jack to his own schemes and plans.
*******
Eren observed the surrounding with curiosity, Still angry yet perplexed by the majestic appearance of decorum in golden illuminated spacious room.
Along the hallway too. Everything from mere carpet to the painting and portraits looked Expensive. Eren despite in his anger and frustration felt the presense nearing.
" Why are you following me?,ordered to torture me again?" Eren spitted in anger without turning back.
The giant didn't answer, Not because he felt guilty of what he did. No, he didn't feel guilty in slightest.
He just kept walking behind, Only speaking to directs Eren's pathway which eren followed, despite his annoyance.
And it took almost fifteen minutes for eren to find the exit, His presense asked mockery of guards but Tommy's huge figure and stoic face clearly silenced those.
Only after walking another half an hour of distance that eren looked back, A giant with red eyes and enormous mansion in background that could be seen even from distance.
" What do you want?"
" Young master's order to help you out."
" Well that's a great compensation after terrorising and kidnapping me, Fuck off.
I don't need his pity." Eren was ready to leave in spite of anger, When tommy asked,
" Do you think that's worse?"
Eren glared at him, Questioning.
" Don't ignore young master's benevolence, That will incurr his wrath even more." Tommy spoke with fear, Though his expression said otherwise.
Eren was angry but atleast he thought for tommy's situation, he wasn't completely at fault atleast. Maybe he was just another victim and so eren didn't say much.
He didn't wanted to argue with the guy who was just afraid for his family.
" He could torture you for years, maybe for lifetime. He can have you raped over and over, knowing it won't hurt your body but will shatter your ego. Better yet he can make me do it myself.
He can cut off your arms to feed animals, only to cut them again and again. And God knows what he'll cut if he's angry.
You think you've seen the worst, Think again boy." Eren halted, each of scenario sounded absurd yet awfully acurate for unending torture.
If not before then atleast now, Eren felt the chill running down his spine.
" Let's just get you an citizenship card and bank account, That's the bare minimum requirment to live in this country.
Or you'll be slaved to noble and will eventually becomes the toy that young master wishes, only the worst would be that noble won't be lenient as our young master." Eren didn't answer, he didn't know what to say.
Is that supposed to be praise?
is that supposed to show how disgusting a vampire continent is?
Because however eren looked, it seemed insane yet very much plausible.
So eren just went ahead with the situation, Tommy despite looking a brute and uncivilized. his conversation skill was smooth, especially that status of personal guardian of Prince of Ravenvale earned him respect.
What really surprised eren was that despite people's expectations, tommy didn't satisfy their ego. His behaviour was simple, Polite with implied enough sarcasms to not mess with him.
Process went smooth and rapid, within few minutes of paperwork and some basic question to eren-Eren didn't wanted to answer but it was nothing that he explicitly wanted hide so with some basic question cost him nothing, except the feeling of nakedness.
such as age, sex and race, Questions with complex answers, which earned him shocking gazes.
Like his race, Tommy explained it as vampiric half dragon. Obviously everyone was shocked, But even it seemed as though a rare miracle, it still something wasn't completely new in this world.
His age, despite being forteen, he looked older with his piece of art physique and intellect.
At the end eren held a citizen card with his photo and some basic details in it, A credit card with unlimited balance and keys to his new home.
Despite Eren's reluctance and denial, Tommy fulfilled his duty with utmost sincerity and left eren to his lonely self in unknown street of unknown place, between unknown people.
Eren glanced around, The crowd somewhat reminded him of his village but instead of humans, people here were vampires mostly and few misplaced humans, dragons, beastrals and elfs.
Standing around for a few minutes, Eren thought something and started walking with no perticular destination.
Along the way, dissolving in crowd like any other individual,Leaving the credit card and home keys behind- Eren vanished in this new world.