Selena finished explaining the cryptic history and said, "You are looking at me as if I hold a magic key, Kaiden." She noted the sharpness of his gaze. "The truth is, we are completely ignorant of the nature of the bloodline you belong to. But mystery doesn't protect you from a silver blade."
Her tone then shifted to practical resolve: "Now, what matters is that you exploit the ordinary strength Garen awakened in you and nurture it into a power that keeps you alive. Your blood was dormant, and now it is weak. You must become useful, and we have a specific place for that."
Selena led Kaiden out of the Ancestors' Hall, through a labyrinth of carved tunnels that became increasingly busy. These passages bustled with younger vampires, dressed in practical clothing, moving with light, rapid motions, unlike the solemn stillness of the great hall.
"This is the practical part of Vialor," Selena said. "No one is born perfectly strong, not even us. But for you, it is more critical. You must learn to control your new senses, and your most vital instinct, before you make us regret keeping you alive."
They stopped before a massive black iron gate, heavily guarded by physically imposing vampires whose faces bore signs of old scars.
🩸 The New Recruits
The moment Kaiden stepped inside the hall, he felt the change in atmosphere. There was no silence of the caves here, but the sound of metal scraping, faint shouts of pain, and a low growling. It was a vast space lit by oil lamps, divided into areas for hand-to-hand combat, target practice, and endurance training.
Kaiden glimpsed dozens of young men and women, their eyes gleaming with different shades of red, training intensely under harsh supervision.
"These are those who survived human attacks or were called up from their secret hiding places. You are not unique in being weak, Kaiden, but you are unique in the mystery that surrounds you," Selena said in a low voice.
Kaiden felt the gazes surrounding him. This time, they were not looks of curiosity, but of assessment and challenge. Vampires despise weakness.
"Your current strength is no different from any other fledgling who has just begun training. But they, at least, didn't live two decades as a human," Selena noted with a faint, cynical smile. "They will think you are easy prey, and that will be your first challenge."
Selena whispered: "Remember, Kaiden, you are not a bad duelist by human standards. Don't discard your experience in hand-to-hand combat; you might need it to compensate for your current physical weakness compared to them."
"What do I need to do?" Kaiden asked, clenching his fists. The fear was still present, but the insult and anger at his new reality began to boil within him.
Selena pointed to a massive-bodied trainer standing in a corner, his skin dark and his eyes flashing with a violent amber glow: "That is Fyor. He will teach you stealth and combat. Do not ask him for mercy, and do not expect answers to your enigma."
Then she placed her hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him toward the training hall, filled with tension and raw power: "Now, go. Go meet the trainer. Prove you deserve to stay alive, or return to us like minced meat. You don't have the luxury of questioning now."
The First Confrontation: Trainer Fyor
Kaiden walked steadily toward the imposing trainer, ignoring the whispers and stares of surprise. His body did not carry the usual strength, but his stride, and the set of his shoulders, revealed someone accustomed to confrontation.
Fyor looked down at Kaiden, his amber eyes scrutinizing Kaiden's faint crimson glow.
"You are the newcomer Selena spoke of. The one discovered in the human pen." Fyor's voice was rough and deep, as if emerging from stone. "You look weak."
Fyor extended his hand and tossed a dark, bone-like training sword onto the ground. "This hall is for forging warriors. Take your sword. The first lesson here is defiance."
Before Kaiden could reply, Fyor shouted loudly: "Rina! Come here."
A relatively short girl with short black hair and bright red eyes stepped forward, carrying her sword with lightness and confidence. She looked strong and young, yet her combat experience was evident.
Fyor gestured to Rina and Kaiden: "Rina, this newcomer will be your first opponent. Make him remember why he is here." He then looked at Kaiden coldly: "Stand, and fight. Do not ask for your fate; forge it. Now!"
Kaiden picked up the sword. It felt light in his hand, unlike the weight of the real sword he was used to. He resumed his old stance, the posture of a seasoned warrior despite his current bodily weakness. He looked at Rina, who was smiling with excessive confidence, and a spark of anger flared in his eyes.
Begin!!!!