"I’ll have to get out of here soon" Zeres stared at the ancient temple before him. It’s walls have an extravagant yet unsettling vibes.

"System, what date is it today? " he asked, then a ringing sound echoed inside his head

[Year : 2685. Month : Cancer. Date : 3]

"Fuck, the academy’s entrance exam is just around the corner, I’ll have to leave today then" Zeres clicked his tounge, then he head down the storage room, He’ll take everything inside it.

Taking everything, Zeres wiped the sweat in his forehead "Now that’s done, I’ll leave this place then" he stared one last time at the temple and the gargoyle’s bidding their farewells.

______________

The scent of rotten corpses filled the air was Zeres continued to walked, following the guide the system had granted him. "Thankfully I wore a mask" Zeres breathed, for the last few days, he’d been slowly getting used to his body, it’s senses and even the way it easily accepts mana.

The travel will likely last 10 days on foot before arriving at the nearest castle, that was Zeres’ biggest dilemma, he needed blood whenever he’s injured or his mana is depleted "still, I’m at Eclipse rank now, I can handle some mid-level forsaken" he said calmly.

The place has an unsettling silence, aside from the constant roaring of the forsaken and the wandering corrupted monsters.

"Ughh, what’s this mana, is it miasma? " Zeres’ face scrunched, the mana around him had a disgusting smell even his mask can’t prevent from slipping.

Zeres continued his walk, because he is not a human, the forsaken her had encountered just passed by him, making his journey rather peaceful—if not for the disgusting sight he’s currently seeing. Humans, he saw some humans devouring another human’s flesh, they look crazed as black veins continued appearing on their skins.

Zeres hid himself first, still observing the scenario "are they the apostles? " he asked quietly, the crazed group of apostles continued to devour the flesh of their dead companion without any awareness around them "should I just passed by them or just kill them? " zeres clenched his fingers, he had never seen such a disgusting act before, it looks like he’s right. Humans here are crazy.

’Yes, it’s just right to kill them, they’re worse than scum’ Zeres thought to himself, convincing his own naive self that he isn’t on the Earth anymore where there was a law constraining the ugliness of human nature. "If I want to survive and go home, I’ll have to change first" letting his mana out, he tried sensing the level of the apostles.

They were at the occultist rank "it’s still manageable" Zeres nodded, then he took another glance, the crazed apostles were fine devouring their own companion—they’re now looking for a new flesh to devour.

"Flesh, Fresh~" they all echoed at the same time, their eyes emitting black smokes, as they walked awkwardly.

Zeres flexed his fingers, a blood drop hovered before his palm, it trembled, then it took the shape of a sword "this will be enough" Zeres moved, too fast for the human eyes, he swung his sword diagonally—cleanly severing the torso of the apostles closest to him. The other apostles head snapped towards him as they lunged forward.

"F-flesh! " they shouted as they all opened their mouth wide, their body’s completely covered by the black veins. One of the apostles jumped, his hand twisted in a disgusting way then a sharp blade appeared.

Zeres then moved, his blood red sword gleamed under the red moon as he lunged forward, the sound of flesh being torn and cut apart became the melody on the quiet night as Zeres continued to slaughter them.

Standing a top the apostle’s corpse, He stared at the one leaning on a tree branch "You’re the last sane one, aren’t you? " Zeres wiped the black blood that splattered on his cheek.

"Indeed, are you also at Arcanist rank? " the woman leaning leisurely stood up, dusting of her fitted clothes "Though I am not one of them, I was held captive, by their master of course" the woman said, then she took of her robe.

Her short dark hair fluttered against the wind, her crimson eyes gleamed mischievously "Since we now have the same enemy, are we allied now? " she stepped forward, extending her arms, she smiled sweetly.

Zeres’ eyes sharpened "and why should I let a suspicious person such as you a company me in my travel? "

"Oh, come on, I’ll help you have a the best journey going to Trias Castle" she smiled, then grabbed Zeres’ hands "and as if you’re not suspicious yourself, a vampire coming out of Lilith with no affiliation to the Forsaken? "

"If you say it like that, then I guess I’ll let you in, but the moment you move suspiciously, I won’t hesitate to kill you myself" Zeres shook her hands, then threw his own robe at her.

"Hey, what’s this for? " The woman’s brow arched, looking at the expensive robe he threw at her.

"Your outfit will get us in trouble" Zeres replied curtly, already moving towards the path leading outside of Lilith.

"My name’s Revien, yours? " catching up to his strides, she asked.

"Zeres" He replied, his eyes focused on the way before him.

_____________

Five days had passed since they’ve started walking, and now, they can finally see the entrance to this wretched place.

Zeres glanced back at Revien, then he tilted his head "You took the artifacts those apostles use to enter this place right? "

Revien smiled, she then searched on the pouch she had strapped at her side "of course, here it is" she handed one to Zeres. The ring was pure black, it even has a black smoke emerging from it.

"It’s cold" Revien said, clutching her fingers where she wore the ring.

"Of course, it’s a relic from a strong forsaken after all" Zeres said, dusting off the leaves that hung loosely at his robe.

"Is it my turn now? " Revien smiled as she stepped out of the barrier, then she extended her hand, her pale yet healthy skin showing as she flexed her fingers "let’s go, I’ll guide you from now on"

The strong wind made it hard to take another step in the snowy ground, Zeres carefully chose the ground with less snow to maximize efficiency.

"You bastard, you really won’t rest will you? " Revien breathed heavily behind him, it had been five days since they’ve stepped out of Lilith.

Zeres stared at her, then he clicked his tounge "Just do your job, after this, I won’t bother you anymore"

"Don’t worry, we’re finally here! " Reviel shouted, the thick fabric they wore made it hard to hear each other so she’s shouting.

Zeres’ head snapped at the direction Reviel pointed, and there, he saw a giant drawbridge, knights commanding the commoners to fall in line, the curtain walk filled with cracks stretched tall, and an archer stood inside the machicolation, quietly observing the grounds.

"Here’s the way" Reviel guided him through the gate with only four knights guarding.

"Halt! " one night stepped out, his eyes scanning the entire figure of Zeres "I’ve never seen you here before, you live in forest perhaps? " the knight sneered, staring at Zeres’ face pissed him off.

Reviel tilted her head, then she smiled "Mister, this guy is one of us, ’The Gifted’"

"U-uhh, a gifted? Then go in Sir!" The knight guards attitude immediately went 180 degrees as soon as he heard the word ’gifted.

Stepping inside the massive city gates, he glanced everywhere ’Well, gifted is indeed rare in a rural place like this. ’

"What’s your plan next? " Reviel asked, matching Zeres’ paced as she put her hands behind her.

"Recommend me some lodgings, and I want you to find a group of mercenaries heading at the capital"

"Hmm, kay~" Reviel smiled, then began spouting about the best lodgings the Viscounty of Trias has.

Zeres listened carefully, after some moment "Then I’ll take your first recommendation" he spoke.

"This is it"

Zeres stared at the door of the lodgings, it was quite decent for a rural place like this, it’s door was polished, window panes shining despite the stormy weather.

"Then I’ll see you here tomorrow" waving, Reviel went on her own way.

Zeres stepped inside the lodgings, the pleasant scent of bread and cooked meat entered his nose as he went straight at the counter "lodgings for one day" he muttered.

"That will be 3 Haven " the skinny man with freckles on his cheeks replied

Zeres slid down 5 pieces of Haven "one day, and one order for chicken stew" He inhaled, the smell of chicken and bread made him remember his once peaceful life at earth.

Seating down at the farthest seat, he stared at the window, it was peaceful, kids chasing each other, citizens on their way for work.

Zeres smiled bitterly ’I hope I can find a way to go back’ he thought to himself as he waited for his order to arrive.