Theocracy border administrator POV:

  There was far too much going on recently. Peter was tired. After his wife died, he didn’t really have any reason to help the elves any more. She didn’t even leave him with a dying wish to save them. Nothing to keep him going, though he knew she would’ve wanted him to keep saving her bretheren, so that’s what he clung to.

  This time though, the elf king was up to his usual antics and honestly Peter couldn’t care less. Just a hundred more elves he had to hide somewhere. Finding yet another location that didn’t have government oversight but was still rge enough to hold all those people at once was getting to be impossible. He wasn’t sure he had the motivation for it any more.

  Then there was the distinct feeling he was already in deep trouble, a remnant instinct from his days as a soldier. Yet trying to find out where it was coming from was driving him mad. Sure, the crime rate in the city was high but being a border territory not unexpectedly so. The suspicious group that passed through yesterday was a little off. Still they were heading to the kingdom so Peter didn’t think they could cause too many problems and certainly not something that would make his hairs stand on end like this.

  Maybe it was arrogant to underestimate the kingdom like that. He knew plenty of his more pious fellow administrators would remonstrate him for it but honestly they were a bit pathetic. It didn’t feel like the kingdom could threaten him.

  Someone like Gazef Stronoff doesn’t just grow on trees and the one generation the kingdom gets someone who could actually solve their problems they immediately try to rid themselves of him. Worse the man didn’t even have the brain to stop them. He’s got impressive loyalty and a sword arm to match some of the best in the theocracy, excluding the outliers, but the man isn’t fit for a political nightmare like the kingdom. Not to mention the tenuous position his strength has put him in.

  Peter was pretty sure some country would end up eliminating him for some reason or another. It might even be the theocracy honestly... That’s probably what the people passing through were doing but that didn’t really matter. Gazef didn’t seem the type to cause trouble even if the theocracy did something, not unless his king gave him permission anyway.

  Peter had to wonder then why the bad feeling he had only seemed to grow in intensity, the hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end. He felt like he was lying on a bed of needles. Looking to the door to re-assure himself, he recalled the old military friends he’d hired to guard him. Trustworthy comrades. They wouldn’t be able to fight off Gazef Stronoff but no random criminal was going to cause him trouble, even if the kingdom managed to find one willing to do their dirty work.He got up from his desk and began to pace.

  What was it? Why did he feel like he was locked in a cage, the flickering candelight almost seeming like it was to mourn his oncoming demise? It was silent as a funeral but he could feel the tension. Wait? Silent as a funeral, there were guards outside weren’t ther- Suddenly it hit him. In this case, that was quite literal as something impacted the back of his head and he was soon unconcscious.

  When Peter awoke he was staring into blood red iris’ that did not bode well for his future. Better this than being discovered by the Theocracy he supposed. “This is as bad as it gets huh?” He muttered, resigned to his fate already, given the prominently dispyed fangs his captor was fshing in her hair raising grin. Despite his training and apathy, he still shuddered.

  “Oh, sweetheart this is not nearly as bad as things can get.” Corrected the vampire.

  “I dunno waking up in the hands of a monster fairly well-known for being both murderous and sadistic really doesn’t strike me as the most pleasant of days.” He replied snidely. Maybe it was all the teachings of the faith that he had heard in his youth or maybe it was just the situation not really sinking in yet. He wasn’t quite piss his pants scared. Instead there was just a silent scream emanating from the back of his mind, the small part of him that still felt like living on.

  “Murderous I could understand but sadistic? I feel like that’s always been a me thing more than a vampire thing but I guess I haven’t met the vampires here yet. Chatting with some like minds could be fun when I manage to find them.” Great, so she was a psycho even among her own kind. Wonderful.

  “So, you one of the vampire lords? Or dy in your case I guess but Landfall was a dy and she got lumped in with the other lords.” It’s funny what idle musings come to mind on the brink of death. Peter almost had to thank his brain for the distraction.

  “Nah, I’ve got nothing to do with this world’s vampires though I have to admit you’ve intrigued me. Even if I’m pretty sure none of them are true vampires.” She waves her hand casually and dismisses the country destroying vampire lords as fakes. “You know I’ve met a couple people who cim to be the origin of all vampires. There was that one progenitor blood deity or something I can’t remember who was basically just a mid-boss but he cimed all vampires descended from him. Personally I think there’s enough bloodlines around the original progenitor is probably lost in the noise.”

  Peter didn’t respond but he had to wonder what she was talking about. He didn’t remember any such powerful vampire. “Well it doesn’t matter anyway I’ve got a bloodline of my own and soon you can ponder those sorts of questions yourself.” The moment she finishes PEter suddenly felt a prick on his neck.

  Guessing this was it, Peter waited for darkness to envelop him. Instead, he was overwhelmed by pleasure and pain all at once in a deluge he couldn’t quite process before it was over. Then there was only joy.

  After all, the mistress of night herself was standing right before him and she had a task he could fulfil. Wasn’t it glorious?

  ---

  I have to admit finding out there are vampires in this world does have me a little excited. Fellow blood enthusiasts! It even sounded like they shared my hobbies and that was certainly a novel idea though of course they'd have to get their own toys. Somewhere I wasn't. Maybe I should dump them all on Momon, that could be kinda funny.

  Still I couldn’t be distracted now I had revenge to take and my new friend Peter Uniguard Gouche was telling me all about my new unfortunate victims. Poor man having such a long name. I remember when people thought that was cool and how often I got to ridicule them for it in ter years. Ah, good times. “The country is run by a Cardinal for each scripture water, fire, wind, earth, light and darkness. Along with a few official positions in the government. Judicial, executive, legisture and the grand marshal are the ones that have the most say in the Supreme Executive Council.” Peter continues as I daydream.

  I take in the information as I pat the bat’s body because even though it looks like it’s made of shadow it does have the correct texture for fur. “Any of these supposed 6 deities still around?” I asked.

  “There’s a rumour that the deity of death could live forever and thus had to still be alive but the government is tight lipped about it.” He answered. “The rest though were one hundred percent human and their csses only provided minimal extension to their lifespans. Their descendants are venerated though. Everyone knows of the deity-kin who reside in the deepest depths of the treasury guarding the artefacts left by their ancestors.”

  That caught my attention and my fingers froze for a moment, the familiar’s shadowy fur returning my mind to crity. “What do you know about those items?” I asked. If they truly were the remnants of a pyer then it was entirely possible some world items remained in there. That would make this more than a revenge mission.

  “I am sorry mistress but I do not know much about the artefacts only that they are said to grant the power of a deity but may only be wielded by the worthy.” I had to snort at that. All he had was religious rhetoric but unfortunately that didn’t actually tell me much even if it made me suspicious. It could be the pyer’s strategy to hide their world items. On the other hand it was entirely possible people had just overestimated their gear and gotten cocky about it.

  “This might be a bit more difficult than I thought.” I muttered. Originally I had intended to simply storm the theocracy with a bunch of expendable minions and see what happened.

  I knew there’d be a few people who could just halt the minions like they didn’t exist but it sounded like there might be some who could just wipe them all out at once. That would make the whole thing pointless. Then again they might just stay in their little treasury and guard these artefacts which would annoying in itself. I had to pout. A bunch of former pyers were ruining my fun and they weren’t even alive so I could make them PAY for it.

  Oh well, I’ve got other toys to py with for now. This seemed like a long-term project with the possible promise of some world items waiting for me at the end. Still I didn’t want to just give up and go home.

  I had to express my anger a little at least before I began plotting their demise. “Anything your… what were they called again? Scribbles?”

  “Scriptures.” The new minion provided.

  “Yeah them. Anything they’ve been compining about recently or any problems you can think they’ve always had but mostly ignored?” I asked. The smallest of niggles could always become a festering wound if you poked it enough.

  Peter’s prompt answer was “The Elves.” Apparently the man had been hiding elven war prisoners from the theocracy government because they were often sold as sves. How sweet. He also mentioned that the commoners had wanted to attack the dragon lords for quite a while, thanks to the Theocracy’s human supremecy rhetoric. Personally though I was more interested in the elves. I didn’t really want to fight these dragon lords just yet and I had the perfect poetic afterlife for our friend Peter.

  He was going to spend his unlife undoing all he did in life.

  ---

  Seeing the way Gazef treated these prisoners was an excellent example of how this world differed from our own and my own common assumptions from Yggdrasil. For example their restraints were incredibly weak. All they had was a pair of enchanted handcuffs that couldn’t have been more than level 20 and these were considered the highest form of restraint avaible.

  Another difference was their punishment. They were to be executed. I’d already seen death during the attack on the vilge, even caused it and that strange ck of empathy I had made the news not all that hard to hear.

  Perhaps it had the same impact as someone telling me a stranger’s dog died? It was sad but only logically. Albedo hadn’t cared in the slightest either, in fact she was rather gleeful and had even whispered into some of the prisoner’s ear. I suppose it made sense given the background around her species. Though I did ask her what she told them just in case she leaked sensitive information to humans she thought were insignificant. Even the first thing I heard convinced me not to ask further.

  “Sir Momon, I cannot thank you enough.” Gazef told me as he strolled up to myself, Albedo, Sebas and Narberal while we stood apart from the crowd. He bowed.

  “You needn’t humble yourself before me head warrior.” I told him. The man had earned my respect both as a warrior and as an individual, the care he showed for the vilgers was clear in his actions. It spoke well of his character.

  “I would very much like to bring you to my king so you can be properly rewarded.” He told me and I nodded my head.

  “I would certainly like to meet the man who earned your loyalty.” I replied. “That said you are not the only individual who has promised me a reward and I will be upfront about that fact.” Gazef frowned. I knew he wouldn’t take kindly to the idea that I helped out because nobles were present but Selene seemed convinced this was the best backstory. If she thought it was for the best then there were surely bigger reasons at py than my own judgement of this man’s admirable character.

  “I am sure the king’s reward will more than make up for what these vilgers might be able to spare.” Gazef seemed to have misunderstood.

  “I would not take from these vilgers even if it were my only payment and I am offended you think so little of me sir Gazef.” I replied and his shoulders rexed slightly. “There were a group of individuals working for a noble personage inspecting the vilge when I arrived and I have already received a reward from this noble personage.” I expined.

  “A noble was inspecting the vilge? Did you recognise them perchance?” Gazef asked with narrowed eyes.

  I panicked a little on the inside hearing that before remembering that most people would be able to recognise a noble on sight. “Unfortunately I did not. I can tell you the names of their servants but they left shortly before the battle began as their mistress arrived to take them home. I can describe her if you think it necessary?” I asked a little wearily. I was improvising a little here and it concerned me, I wasn’t sure if Selene actually wanted these people to know her face. She didn’t seem too concerned. Would Albedo stop me if I was going against Selene’s pns? Or would she think I was simply improving upon it. All the NPCs seemed to have a far too high opinion of us after all.

  While I was worrying Gazef nodded. “That would be much appreciated, this is the king’s nd and thus no noble can cim dominion over it. If they are here then it is not on official business.” He expined.

  Well that was some interesting information to get out of a retively harmless question. Hopefully I can get more of that along the trip.

  Iassus-Rudera