As the sun blares down with a new day, Cassiel, Daein, and Albus all walk back to the capital, Kotor, side by side.
.....
.....
Upon reaching the front gate, Daein and Albus are both relieved to see the capital still standing. Cassiel, however, is displeased.
Displeased with the fact that his home was still in ruin despite being gone for days.
"These wretched leeches... Daein, you best put every one of them to work while I'm gone, otherwise you'll be lying dead alongside them." Cassiel says, walking up to the gate as he draws his sword to carve out his own door through the gate.
.....
After walking through the city's streets, the vampires that have returned to their homes began following Cassiel back to the main castle, as if entranced by his presence.
Once he's reached the doors to his true home, Cassiel opens the doors to be greeted by the most displeasing sight he's seen after being released from his prison.
The castle's banner walls are torn, the floors are littered with shards of glass and ceramics, tables lie await everywhere, cracked and splintered.
While Cassiel was out fighting for his people, they went behind his back and threw a party the second he left for Ananchel.
Without a word, Cassiel continued walking all the way to the throne, before turning around to take a seat.
"Albus, Daein, find them all." Cassiel spoke with anger and disappointment.
Albus and Daein looked at each other only for a second, before they turned around and bolted out the door to round up every last vampire still in the capital.
Rounded up in rows and lines, there were over one hundred vampires kneeling before Cassiel as he sat on his throne. Over one hundred vampires were knelt, awaiting the orders of the new king. Awaiting their inevitable punishments.
After a minute of silence, Cassiel got up from the throne, letting out a heavy sigh.
"I will be gone for the next couple months, maybe even years. I will be gone to cleanse the land of humans and rightfully claim it back, all for us." Cassiel states in a noble, orderly tone, which causes great confusion amongst all the vampires there.
"While I'm gone... every, and I mean every, last one of you, will be slaving away to rebuild the entirety of Kotor." Each word lands like a hammer blow, sending chills down the spines of everyone in the room, even Albus and Daein.
"Daein, former city lord of Ananchel, will be taking over as my regent. You will all obey him as you would obey me, I trust I've made myself clear." Cassiel finishes off his speech with these words as he heads off to his own room, waving his hand for Albus to follow as Daein stays behind for former clearance.
.....
As the two walk down the long corridors of the castle, Cassiel smolders with rage ever more with each passing step, letting off an aura of anger as his steps slowly turn into stomps, which in return has Albus lacking behind Cassiel by a couple of steps.
Albus clears his throat before finally gaining the courage to speak up.
"A-Ahem, my king, where is it that you'll be off to next..?" Albus meekly gets out.
"That I will be off to? Albus you must be confused, do you not remember what it is that I had said before our last battle?" Cassiel says, his anger disappearing the second Albus broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, my king, where is it that we will be off to next?" Albus restates, this time with his normal tone.
"Bagnion, the city of hunting." Cassiel states confidently.
"I see... wait, what?" Albus says, surprised.
"What good would the city of hunting do for us? There aren't many animals left, my king."
"It's not for food, Albus. Think, the best trackers come from Bagnion, it was the birthplace of the royal Ombre lineage." Cassiel responds.
"What of the dead forest? How should we pass through it to get there?" Albus says stupidly.
Cassiel, without responding, completely stops moving so he can turn around and stare at Albus.
Without a further word, Albus apologizes and the two continue to walk down the corridor.
.....
After finally reaching his room, Cassiel directs Albus to a door two rooms down, allowing him his own room in the capital's castle.
Overjoyed, Albus runs in to settle down.
"We leave in three days, you can train with Daein, tell him I allow it." Cassiel says, walking away back to his own room to meditate further.
.....
.....
With three days passing, the inner castle has been completely cleaned out, including each and every room that had been abandoned.
Albus' overall power had increased by around 20 percent since he started training with Daein.
Cassiel's meditation allowed him to clear out any remaining impurities in his blood, making it more refined which in return has helped him grow in his magic aspects.
All it took was three days, Cassiel was finally ready once more.
This time, it was to take back his city, rather than keep one from being taken.