In the teleportation room, beams of light shoot out from a huge hole in the middle. A fall into it means disintegration of body and soul—a temporary state akin to "sleep," followed by rapid reformation depending on the distance between realms.
"Ready?" Lucuis asks. I nod. "Good. Then let's go!" We jump in. The teleportation sensation is oddly blissful, a moment of peace before consciousness returns.
Lucius configured the portal to a remote forest, ensuring it was still the dead of night. "We'll reach the capital in less than an hour. Did you both remember to equip your blood daggers as main weapons?" "Yes," I reply. "And you, Ardent?" "Yes," comes the response. "Very good. I forgot to remind you both and myself, but luckily I remembered at the last minute. Now, can both of you keep up with me?" "Of course. I haven't been lounging around, daydreaming," I jest. "I've been hard at work, just like you, grandpa..." A smirk escapes me. "Ha ha! Don't push your luck, kid. I might be a hundred years older than you, but we vampires don't age!" We share a laugh until it fades, Ardent awkwardly looking at us with an inscrutable expression. "By the love of the gods, Ardent! Smile a bit! We're just having a quick laugh! Not even Morsus is as cold as you!" "Forgive me, Lucuis, but I share no... umm what is it called... ? 'Emotional bond', with anyone..." "Come now, Ardent! We've known each other for a while now...! Somewhat... but still... you're probably the coldest vampire I know!" Ardent shrugs, and an uncomfortable silence falls. "... well... we should keep going... Come! Let us make haste to the capital!" Lucuis dashes into the darkness and vanishes. Ardent follows, and I trail behind. Vampires have the ability to 'blend in' with darkness, becoming almost invisible, and gaining a tremendous speed boost. Out of the forest, we sprint across an open field. Even if a human were nearby, they wouldn't discern us—we merely resemble shadows darting around at incredible speeds.
Upon arriving at the capital, we're winded. The night persists, but the morning sun looms on the horizon. "Alright. You two, start gathering information. Let's split up to cover more ground and appear less conspicuous. Hood up, conceal your pale faces, and avoid eye contact. The sight of your red eyes will foil our mission instantly. Clear?" "Yes," we both affirm. "Good. Disperse into the shadows! Wait until the sun rises; it won't be long now!" We part ways, seeking refuge in dark corners to evade patrol guards. Amidst the darkness, I ponder my approach... Should I lurk near the cathedral and eavesdrop on the nuns and priests discussing the baptism? Perhaps tailing a group of guards might yield valuable information. Or, I could venture to an inn and glean intel there. The options overwhelm me, a mix of stress and excitement. It's been a while since I had a contract relying more on wit than my blade.
"Prepare yourselves, both of you!" Lucuis's telepathic voice reaches us through the beacon orbs we carry. "The sun is nearly up! Ardent, have you devised a plan?" "Yes." "Good. And you, Morsus?" "Still brainstorming..." "You need to come up with something fast. The baptism begins in 2 hours, lasting 3, and I estimate an additional hour or less for the pilgrimage preparation." "Alright, understood."
The first rays of sunlight pierce through. "Alright, time to step out of the darkness." I emerge from the shadows and into the sun. It feels somewhat pleasant, despite the knowledge that we vampires are stronger at night. I pull up my hood and keep my gaze low to avoid eye contact. Heading towards a busier section of the city, I find a considerable crowd already preparing for the baptism.
Occasionally glancing up, I spot a guard in gilded armour. "Perfect. He might have something valuable in his pockets." Drawing nearer, I notice he's accompanied by guards. "This could be tricky to pickpocket. I'll need to deal with the two of them... Yes, I have an idea."
Walking past one guard, I skilfully pilfer his coin purse, ensuring he notices. He turns around, "Hey! Thief!" All eyes are on me now. The guards give chase, and I manoeuvre, not too fast to arouse suspicion. Employing parkour, I leap over fences and rooftops, eluding them. Searching for another person with a hood, I find a suitable candidate. Jumping off a roof, I land behind them. "Oi!" I shout. The person turns, and I swiftly deliver a punch to the face, rendering them unconscious. I quickly exchange hoods and blend back into the crowd.
Next, I head toward the brothel and spot a whore in the distance. Swiftly, I grab her and pull her away from the crowd. "Listen, I need you to seduce the guard's captain. Get him to talk as much as possible about the guards that will be accompanying the princess on her pilgrimage, understand?"
"Who the hell are you!? Let go of me!" she protests. I cover her mouth, "Shhh! Listen!" I whisper urgently. "I'll pay you handsomely. Here..." I show her the coin purse I stole from the guard. "And if you don't do it or tell someone about me..." I remove my hood, locking eyes with her using my blood-red, glowing vampiric eyes and baring my fangs. "I'll eat you and your loved ones' flesh, alive. Do you understand?"
Startled, she nods with tears in her eyes. "Good. Now hurry! I don't have a lot of time! Be done in about 3 hours! Once you're finished, meet me back here, and if you don't, you know what will happen then..." I release her, and she quickly runs off. (Was this the best course of action I could take? I suppose I'll have to wait and see...)