Chapter Thirty One: the Prophecy and Serena’s Circumstances

Hadrian takes Ezekial to the dungeon that lies within the labyrinth underneath Eris' gothic-style castle. While Harian does that, Eris takes the little girl inside of a room with a huge, round table with thirty one chairs around it, some larger than others. In the center of the black table is an insignia that resembles a bat flying with a red moon in the background. There's an individual sitting at all of these chairs including Eris, Lulu, Chrono, Lucina, Leila, Kieran, the younger vampire, and the rest of the Four Horsemen, Seven Deadly Sins, Ten Commandments, and the Nine Rulers of Purgatory.

Eris is the first to speak, breaking the silence of the room, "What is your name?"

"My name is Serena Bloodstar. I'm the only child of the Bloodstar family, the second most powerful noble house in the vampire kingdom of Rimore," the little girl answers.

"Alright, Serena. I have a few questions. First of all, you seemed excited when you first met me. Almost like you were hoping to see me. How do you know about us?" Eris asks.

"It's an ancient legend. Or, I guess it could be called a prophecy. My parents used to tell me about it every night before I went to sleep."

"What did it say?"

"It spoke of the coming of a powerful vampire. The first vampire that's ever existed. The progenitor. According to the prophecy, the progenitor is supposed to awaken, and unite all inhuman races, vampires included, under one flag. It says that you come to save us all."

"How do you know it's me that the legend speaks about?" Eris asks with a crooked eye.

"I knew because a few days ago, I sensed a power unlike anything I've sensed before. And it came from this castle."

"That must have been when I was testing my aura," Eris mummers to herself.

"When I felt that power, I was both terrified and excited at the same time. From the day when my mother first told me that story, I hoped that I would be able to meet you, Great Progenitor," she says with a smile towards Eris.

"So you've traveled here because of a bedtime story told to you by your parents?" a 12 foot tall knight in silver armor asks with a suspicious tone.

"Don't be so quick to judge, Titanor. The prophecy does sound strange, but let's not be so hasty to put it down," says a girl with blond hair, golden eyes, and four, black angel-like wings, wearing ornate, silver armor.

"Serena, how old is this prophecy?" Eris asks.

"According to my father, the legend was first heard around ten thousand years ago," she answers.

"Ten thousand years? That's exactly how long that Empress Eris has been asleep for," says the girl with four angel wings.

"The time frame is definitely similar. I don't think we should ignore this," says a man with dark skin, purple eyes, and pointed ears wearing green and brown leather armor.

"Even so, this could just be a coincidence. We don't even know if this girl's intentions are what she says they are," says a larger shade in more thick and ornate armor than a normal one.

"I promise that I'm telling the truth! I'm here because the entire vampire race is in danger!" Serena says in a desperate tone.

"And what danger would that be?" Lucina asks.

"Ever since the creation of our worlds and all the beings that reside on them, vampires have been regarded by humans as just another type of monster. That being the case, there have been hundreds if not thousands of wars between my people and the other races. Because of this, my nation has grown very weak. We don't have the power to stop them if the human nations should ban together to destroy us once and for all. But if what the prophecy says is true, then you can save us, Great Progenitor."

"Hm. Alright, but that still doesn't explain how you were being chased by a bunch of idiots," says Eris.

"Me, my mother, and my father were traveling to meet the king and princess of the nation to the west called the Mikhail Kingdom. The king's name is King Gregoron. We were travelling discreetly and even used illusion magic to hide our appearance. However, somehow, the Theocracy of Reogradia found out what we were doing and they sent their hunters to stop us. My parents and I got separated in the chaos. I don't know where they are. Reogradia hired mercenaries to hunt me down. They probably wanted to execute me and my parents publicly to deter any vampires from trying it again."

"Hm… I knew that the Theocracy of Reogradia was going to be a pain to deal with, but now that I heard this, they might be even more troublesome than I thought," says the vampire goddess.

"Do you think that they could be pressuring that King Grenon fellow into battling the vampires?" Chrono asks.

"I certainly wouldn't put it past them. Especially if Mikhail is weaker than the theocracy," answers Lulu.

"Indeed. Serena, you said that you were going to meet this king. Does that mean that King Gregoron does want to stop the war between humans and vampires?"

"I think so. Unless he secretly invited us to speak with him just to fall into a trap," Serena answers solemnly.

Eris sighs, "Yet another highly likely scenario. But it's also likely that the king is tired of the war and the theocracy is just pressuring him. I'll find that out from our prisoner later."

"Please, Great Progenitor! Please come with me and take the throne of the vampires. Please save our race from the theocracy!"