The Last Vampire God

[A Day Later.]

We spent a day getting away from the cave and as far into the forest as we could. The map seemed to be leading us in that direction at the very least.

The forest is also a lot bigger than I originally imagined it to be. It still is quite strange how peaceful it is here.

"We can set-up a camp here for a bit before we continue for Lumiel," I speak up while stopping in place.

One look can tell anyone that this is an ideal spot to make camp, especially if you pay attention to the surroundings. Everything is quite hidden from the path here.

"I’ll get started then," Lia responds while sitting her bag down.

It doesn’t take long to set-up the camp since there is four of us now, making it even easier than before. Makeshift tents are always the easiest parts since it is just utilizing nature.

I am glad that my father taught me how to do stuff like this back at the manor since he said I could use it some day. He was definitely right about using it... Since I’ve had to multiple times since meeting all these people.

If they never came along with me I probably could’ve slept up in some tree or something instead.

Not that it is the safest option since anyone could check the damn trees, especially hunters. I’d still prefer it since it is less likely to catch any attention.

Most normal people don’t expect anyone to be hiding in the trees, unless you are tracking a specific animal. The ones you know are good at hiding tells you to check everything in the surrounding area.

Exactly why hunters are a pain.

"I can’t believe how quick we run into hunters," Amelia speaks up.

"That was random," I respond while turning around.

"Seriously. I mean that was two more after the last one in Ariel," Amelia says with her arms resting on her hips.

"Hunters usually have good communication with one another so it isn’t too surprising when more show up," I reply with a calm tone.

"You know a lot about them," Morrigan chimes in.

"My father taught me as much as he could when we were living together," I reply without any hesitation.

It is thanks to him that I even have such a good understanding about them in the first place. He used to fight against them in the past from time to time, but he never told Mom.

I only found out because the one night he was holding his sword still. The scent of human blood is one that no vampire can ever mistake... That’s exactly what I smelled.

"At least it is all useful information that helped you get to this point," Morrigan says cheerfully. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Right. I can’t disagree there," I reply while looking around.

The camp is finally done so now it is time to enjoy the outdoors once again before continuing on to Lumiel.

A couple of hours go by, everyone has been talking and enjoying some of the food we caught. A small fire is crackling every so often as I keep watch on things.

I still don’t understand how this forest has such bliss in a world filled with violence and chaos. It all feels quite strange to me... Like something that should’ve given me a sign by now.

Anything at all could’ve come up to tell me that this place is something different but it hasn’t.

Yami Forest might actually just be peaceful after all. But Morrigan did kill those people outside of the cave in this "peaceful" forest. I feel like that has to change the feeling of this plac a bit.

Or maybe I’m just overthinking the whole forest thing since it could just be naturally like this.

There doesn’t always have to be a different meaning behind it all or some ulterior motive for it. I’m just not used to this kind of place or peace anymore.

"You like to stick away from everyone quite a bit, huh?" Lia teases softly from behind me.

I turn my head slightly.

"Sometimes peace and quiet by yourself is great," I reply with a small smile on my face.

She gets a bit closer before finally bumping against my arm.

"You know we haven’t really talked much about ourselves since we started this journey together," Lia says with a casual tone.

"It has always been kind of difficult for me I guess," I reply genuinely.

"Difficult to talk about yourself?" Lia questions.

"Yeah," I answer instantly.

She is right though, we haven’t really talked much about ourselves... Just the two of us. I’ve heard bits and pieces about her through her conversations with Amelia but I don’t think she knows that.

I’ve kind of kept everything about myself hidden from everyone since I don’t know what benefit it has to be shared.

The enemy could be listening in at any time... Maybe that is another reason I’m so careful with what I talk about when out in the open like this.

....

But that excuse doesn’t work for when we were in that abandoned town together.

"What happens after we handle the hunters in Lumiel?" Lia asks curiously.

"We establish a safe place that we can fall back to before making the next move," I answer carefully.

"Next move?" She questions.

"The hunters are spread throughout the continents, not just here. I’ll probably have to go to the other ones if I want to stop them permanently," I answer with a serious tone.

"I’ll still follow you for that you know," Lia says without any hesitation in her voice.

"I appreciate that," I reply genuinely.

She has been with me since we first met at the beginning of my journey. The first person to fight me who actually didn’t see me as a monster.

Her old group was definitely the real monsters. I don’t know if she ever caught on to what they were doing to people.

Baiting them, then killing and stealing their loot instead. They truly are scum, I really should’ve killed them but it would be a waste of my time.

They deserve painful deaths.