Chapter 15: The Gate and the Mist

Lovelenica ambled through the royal city’s streets. Despite the late hour, certain thoroughfares remained remarkably vibrant. These were the bustling night markets, which were not mandated to close until the stroke of midnight. As the hour had not yet passed, the streets thrummed with a lively energy. Lovelenica harbored no intention of seeking prey within the royal city’s confines. Each district was vigilantly patrolled by guardians, formidable individuals primarily hailing from the three great organizations, who maintained a ceaseless vigil through alternating day and night shifts. Engaging in a hunt within the city walls, she knew, would inevitably lead to a grueling struggle should they detect her presence. Given that these guardians were predominantly Sixth-Tier powerhouses, and Lovelenica herself remained uncertain of her current capabilities, hunting directly under their watchful eyes seemed an exceedingly perilous endeavor. Consequently, Lovelenica resolved to proceed to the town designated by the Bishop. For one, venturing outside the city would allow her to evade the guardians’ scrutiny, thereby granting her the freedom to fully test her burgeoning powers. Furthermore, missions of this ‘defilement’ caliber rarely drew the attention of exceptionally powerful nuns; typically, only those of the First or Second Tier would undertake them. Against such opponents, Lovelenica was confident she could easily disengage, even if her presence were to be revealed. Before long, Lovelenica reached the East Gate of the city walls. The royal city possessed only four gates, aligned with the cardinal directions. The town the Bishop had indicated lay to the south-southeast. To circumvent any other nuns who might be present, Lovelenica chose to depart through the East Gate and then proceed southward. However, as Lovelenica approached the gate, she found her path abruptly blocked by the city guards.

“Stop! After nine o’clock, this passage is strictly forbidden to common folk!”

Two towering figures, clad in armor, stood sentinel before Lovelenica, one to her left and the other to her right, their long spears forming an impassable barrier across the gate. No sooner had the left guard uttered his warning than the one on the right chimed in.

“Whose child are you? You shouldn’t be wandering about alone in the dead of night. Have you become separated from your parents? The royal city isn’t entirely safe after dark, you know. Just wait here for a while; when our shift changes, we’ll escort you to find your parents.”

This particular guard not only denied Lovelenica passage but also insisted that she remain there for the time being.

“Wha—what? Passage is forbidden after nine? How is it I’ve never heard of such a regulation?”

Upon hearing the guard’s insistence on detaining her, Lovelenica felt a sudden surge of panic. Having resided in the royal city for years, she had, on occasion, departed its walls late at night without incident. Why, then, had this new regulation suddenly appeared?

“Little sister, didn’t your family inform you? Typically, entry and exit from the royal city necessitate inspection, and after nine o’clock, commoners are expressly prohibited from passing. Only royal soldiers, mages, knights, nuns, or sanctioned demon hunters possess the privilege of traversing the city gates at any hour.”

Only after the right guard’s clarification did Lovelenica finally grasp the situation. The rule had always existed; it was merely that she had consistently entered and exited the royal city in the guise of a nun, thus bypassing any scrutiny. Now, appearing merely as the young lady of some noble house, she was, predictably, subjected to the guards’ regulations. A wave of vexation washed over Lovelenica. Had she been aware of this particular regulation, she would have simply passed through the gate dressed as a nun, then sought a secluded spot beyond the city walls to change her attire.

“Ah, I see. My apologies, I was genuinely unaware of this before. In that case, I shall take my leave.”

Lovelenica offered a brief apology to the guards, then began to turn away, yet they showed no inclination to let her depart so readily.

“Hold on a moment, little sister. Didn’t I just explain that the royal city isn’t entirely safe at night? You could encounter unsavory characters. It would be best if we escorted you back when our shift concludes.”

At the guard’s words, a slight twitch played at the corner of Lovelenica’s lips. She had never imagined her diminutive stature could inadvertently invite such complications. Indeed, allowing such a young child to navigate the night alone would naturally cause unease. Lovelenica found herself pondering whether these two guards were genuinely solicitous of her well-being or harbored some ulterior motive. Nevertheless, their earnest expressions seemed to betray a sincere concern for her safety.

‘Now is truly not the time for such overwhelming righteousness…’

Yet, it was precisely this well-intentioned sense of justice from the guards that proved to be a source of vexation for Lovelenica.

“That won’t be necessary.”

From her holy ring, Lovelenica produced an emblem of the Crimson Family. Such insignias, belonging to noble houses, were typically forged from palladium, rendering them both immensely valuable and exceedingly difficult to counterfeit. The guards, with a single glance, instantly recognized its authenticity.

“If even this token fails to grant me passage, then simply permit me to depart.”

Upon seeing the emblem, both guards instinctively swallowed, a collective gulp betraying their surprise. While Lovelenica’s attire had earlier led them to surmise she was merely the daughter of some noble house, discovering her affiliation with the esteemed Crimson Family instilled in them an even greater measure of deference.

“My lady… I am truly sorry, but even with this, passage remains forbidden. It is the regulation.”

The guard, despite Lovelenica’s esteemed identity, did not grant her passage. The rule was not his to dictate, nor could he arbitrarily alter it. His sole hope was that Lovelenica would not harbor resentment for his unwavering adherence to protocol.

“Very well.”

Without pressing the matter further, Lovelenica turned to depart.

“M-my lady… are you truly certain you require no escort back? There’s no need to await the shift change; we could accompany you immediately…”

“I said, it won’t be necessary.”

Without a backward glance, Lovelenica coldly rebuffed the guards’ well-meaning offer. Once she had vanished from the guards’ line of sight, she swiftly veered into a narrow alleyway. Her intention was not to change clothes here before exiting the city—that would be an unnecessary hassle, requiring another change upon her return. Furthermore, allowing the guards to glimpse her twice in such a brief span might carry an unforeseen risk. After all, while her apparent age might shift, her distinctive facial features would remain largely immutable.

‘Then… let us test it, this power of the vampire.’

Lovelenica stilled her breath, focusing intently as she endeavored to rouse the quiescent power slumbering within her. Gently, she closed her crimson eyes, acutely aware of the insistent thrum of her own heartbeat, and the tumultuous stirring of the blood coursing through her veins. She envisioned the metamorphosis of her physical form, picturing her body dissolving bit by bit. The raw power, surging from her blood and soul, responded instantly to her conscious will. From her fingertips, Lovelenica’s body began to unravel, gradually dissolving into a swirling crimson mist. From within this ethereal haze, countless obsidian bats materialized, and, enshrouded by the sanguine vapor, they ascended into the night sky.

‘Is this, then, the power of the Bloodline?’

For the first time, Lovelenica experienced this sensation, feeling an ethereal lightness pervade her entire being. The swarm of bats and the crimson mist were but extensions of her consciousness, which she controlled with effortless precision. It was as if the very essence of the night had seamlessly merged with her own. Thus, Lovelenica transcended the city walls. A seemingly innocuous cluster of bats soared across the nocturnal sky, drawing no undue attention from the vigilant guards below. Having successfully breached the city walls, Lovelenica did not immediately revert to her human form on the other side. Instead, she maintained her transformed state, continuing her silent journey towards the village nestled in the southeast.