The next day Sylvia and Darius departed. Together with Eddena. Alera also wanted to tag along with them, but without Kadyn it was not possible. She was bound to him. Darius and Sylvia also considered taking Elora with them, but later rejected the idea—she also voiced her unwillingness—Elora had already awakened her bloodline. She would only become stronger as the time passed. Darius also indicated that when the crisis of Pengolla arrives, she would be the biggest help to Kadyn.

Kadyn thought about asking his help to resolve the problem of Blood Tribe on Pengolla. After all, his parents were super powerful. However, Darius’ reply was simple. “People of certain strength—like us—have some restrictions in the lower worlds. We can’t affect major events of the world, and if we do—we have to pay the price that we aren’t willing to pay.”

“But you destroyed the entire Death Valley,” Kadyn asked.

“Because you are my children, and no one can bully you,” Darius had said. “I can afford that much burden. For you and for Elora.”

Kadyn felt warmth when he heard Darius’ reply. Though he did not understand what they were talking about, he could tell that they must have taken a huge risk by helping him.

After that the trio departed, Darius gave him a warning before parting. “There is a vampire in your shop. Remove her bloodline if you can. Kill her if you can’t.”

Kadyn looked at his father’s serious expression and felt a graveness gripping his heart. He could tell that his father was implying something through this. Something important. something… But he didn’t explain any further, so Kadyn could only guess. Nonetheless, one thing was certain: he wasn’t going to kill Cecelia, and that left him with an obvious answer.

Kadyn sat on the sofa of the hall with every member of the shop. Except Kove and Melvona. The danger that was approaching would reveal slowly for everyone, but Kadyn wanted to preserve their innocence as much longer as he could. He won’t let them battle if he could battle on behalf of them. He would not let them take risks if he could take risks himself. He would train them for dangerous situations. The situation where they needed to fight, so they could fight.

He eyed everyone in the hall one by one. “You have already heard some rumors of sorts, about Blood Tribe, I presume,” he said.

The group nodded. Kadyn saw a tinge of worry on Cecelia’s fair face from the corner of his eyes. “Cecelia.” She looked up in surprise. “Do you have any information about them? After all, they are your ancestors—”

“The vampires have human blood as well,” Cecelia replied sharply. Only later did she realize how loud her voice was, so she lowered her head and fell silent. Her hands interlocked with each other. She was patting her shoes on the ground continuously. One glance and Kadyn could tell how uncomfortable she was feeling for the moment.

“Now, you don’t need to feel so awkward,” Kadyn said with a smile. He could tell her mood. He just could. Maybe it was because of the system. Whatever the reason was, he knew her feelings at the moment. “We are just trying to collect some information about them so we could fight with them. So we could protect each other. Remember we are family, and I don’t want anyone to be hurt in my family. So. Can you help us?”

Cecelia took a deep breath and detached her hand fingers from each other and lifted her head. “My Family opposed them together with a few more families,” he said. “But we weren’t many so they destroyed us one by one. Similar to the Von Hagen House that your father belonged to. That ‘you’ belonged to. My House was destroyed many years before, when I was just a little child. Though they destroyed everyone in my family from human to animal, I escaped with the greatest treasure belonging to my family. The reason many are still hunting for me.”

Kadyn nodded. He didn’t have any interest in the greatest treasure of her family, his attention was somewhere else. “So there are two factions in Nightshade—”

“No,” Cecelia shook her head. She eyed the confused looks in the hall and explained, “There ‘were’ two factions in Nightshade. Now there is only one.”

“I see…” Kadyn nodded in understanding. It seems Von Hagen was the last nail in the coffin. “What were you opposing for them to destroy all of you?”

“They want to bring back the Blood Tribe,” she said.

Kadyn eyed her in surprise. Now they were coming to the main topic. He needed to know as much possible as he could. For if he wanted to fight them. “Can you, please, elaborate it?”

“They think,” she began, “when the Blood Tribe comes we would gain strength unthinkable by any human. We would become the ruler of the world.”

“What is the reason behind their claim?”

“They have books left by their ancestors that describe the ancient time—the time when Blood Tribe ran amok on the Pengolla. The book details that vampires were soldiers of the Blood Tribe. When they commanded vampires, our eyes would turn crimson red and our bodies would unleash unthinkable force. Even a normal vampire could slaughter rank 6 mage.”

Kadyn’s heart tightened when he heard her explanation. And when he joined it together with the warning his father gave him before his departure…

“Then why did your family oppose them?” he asked. His expression turning stiff. His palm sweating. This was very important.

“My ancestors also left something behind regarding Blood Tribe,” she said. “A warning. Similar to other families, but different at the same time. A poem. Or you can say a story hidden in the poem.”

“What was it?” Kadyn asked. Others also looked at her eagerly.

Cecelia eyed them and began to recite the poem:

[Fallen from the void]

[Looked at the summoner, annoyed]

[With their destructive power, collide]

[Robbing the shells, becoming humanoid]

[Mating the slaves, to birth something that can be toyed]