chapter 3:THE lost brother

after hearing a loud scream, he quickly regained his senses and saw the vampire woman he had fought rise from her ashes, still struggling to gain balance. Her eyes were now darker than ever. Filled with hatred for him, she slowly approached him. His injuries were terrible, which prevented him from fighting back.

The vampire said nothing as she stood over him, her sharp fangs bared menacingly He thought for a moment that this was it—the end of his journey.

That he was going to die at her hands, as she had planned all along. The vampire woman paused and hesitated for a brief moment She stopped when she heard Zellrid's voice, her eyes wide with surprise when she listened to his last voice echoing in her mind. "Remember who you were before this curse consumed you." Zellrid's voice whispered in the vampire woman's mind.

"Remember the love and kindness you once had in your heart." The vampire woman faltered, her eyes flickering with recognition as she struggled against the curse that had turned her. He adds, "What's your name? I didn't get the chance to know it."

The vampire woman stared down at the wounded arcanist in front of her when his words registered in her mind. She hesitated for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. The memories of her past flooded her mind, making her feel things she had not felt before. She tried to remember her name, repeating, "My name is Serana."

in a desperate attempt. But the overwhelming thirst for blood refused to let her recall who she was and instead sent her into a frenzy The vampire woman launched herself into a frenzied attack, her fangs bared and ready to strike.

She lunged towards Zellrid with all the strength she could muster, but he was prepared for this moment. He braced himself as she lunged toward him, her fangs glinting in the light.

In one swift motion, zellrid managed to fend her off, but she severed his arm instead, leaving him screaming in agony the blood began to pour. The arcanist's life was quickly slipping away But as life began to leave Zellrid, a strange power surged from his body. A barrier of fire started emanating from him and kept Serana at bay, her screams echoing through the night.

The light was so bright that she had to shield herself with her hands in order not to get burned. In a few seconds, it disappeared, leaving Serana lying on the floor, her limbs broken, and her entire body covered in bruises.

The vampire woman stared at Zellrid in shock and awe, realizing that he was not only an arcanist but something she couldn't explain, Something greater than she could ever imagine Zellrid turned to face serana, his eyes burning with fierce intensity. zellrid could feel the power coursing through his veins—the same power that would make her regret it.

He felt like he was no longer in control of his body, but he felt like his brother's soul was responsible for this power. He spoke firmly, asserting his dominance.

"You are dead," he said, rage emanating from every word. "You hurt my brother, Zellrid." Fear surged through Serana as the body of Zellrid moved toward her, radiating power and hatred. She knew that Zellrid was no longer in control of himself and that something sinister had taken over completely Serana tried to crawl away, but Zellrid's hand reached her and grabbed her by the ankle.

He lifted her up with ease, a dark smile playing on his lips. "You thought you could get away with hurting him, didn't you?" he spat.

His fire aura consumed the room, and Serana could feel her strength waning. "But I won't let you get away with it." He continued, tightening his grip, and the fire started burning her ankle Serana's heart raced as she looked up at Zellrid, the man she had once thought she could control.

She had underestimated him, and now she was paying the ultimate price. Zellrid's brother had instilled a merciless side within him, and Serana realized that she was nothing more than a mere insect in his eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Please, I didn't mean it. I deserve to die for what I did." At that moment, Zellrid made his decision.

He dropped Serana to the ground and began to torture her, viciously exacting revenge for the pain she had inflicted on his brother.

He channeled his newfound firepower into each blow, bodily punishing her until she was no longer able to move When he was done, Zellrid rose above Serana, his body trembling with anger. He watched as her life slipped away from her Zellrid's consciousness slowly returned to him as the pain of his injuries set in. He had no idea where this

newfound power was coming from or how it had appeared within him, but he could see Serana lying motionless on the ground. His mind raced for a way to save her, but he didn't know if he was powerful enough to do it.

The arcanist gritted his teeth and took an action he never thought he'd have to take: he offered Serana his own disembodied arm. He knelt before her and presented it to her, pushing it against her lips until she began drinking the blood from within And, just like that, it was done."Redemption is a difficult path, Serana. But you have a chance now. Use it to make amends for your past actions."

Serana had been saved. But at what cost? Zellrid was now in an immense amount of pain. He felt his life slipping away from him as he lay there on the ground, and he uttered his last faint words: "The world can be cruel, but do not let it harden your heart. Hold onto compassion, even in the darkest of times." His father's words echoed in Zellrid's memory, and with those words, he passed out.