Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 52 Doubts and Suspicions

The four women entered the labs, the alarms blaring crazily as soon as they crossed the threshold. The facility was a maze of cold, sterile corridors illuminated by harsh, fluorescent lights.

Metal tables and various pieces of scientific equipment cluttered the rooms on either side, many covered in bizarre, half-finished experiments. The scent of antiseptic mingled with the faint, earthy aroma of magical ingredients, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

Argint looked to be in a foul mood. The doctor had been left behind now that he had outlived his usefulness. She stopped abruptly, turning to Amena with a stern look.

"Did you really have to take a family hostage, even the children?"

That question had been lingering in her mind for quite a while. She refrained from asking when the doctor, who had been their hostage, was present, knowing it could undermine their control over him.

Amena fired back, her eyes cold, taciturn, and unyielding.

"The doctor was guilty. He deserved it. The sins of the father should fall upon the child. If he hadn't gotten involved, we wouldn't even be here."

"That doesn't justify using children as hostages!" Argint countered, her voice rising. She was mortified by the cruel words coming from the indifferent expression of the maid.

"I don't care," Amena said flatly. "Define what a child is. If you go by the standard that is age, I am very much a child myself considering my chronological age is just a little over eight years."

Argint was at a loss for words. She gritted her teeth. "That still doesn't justify pointing that weapon at an innocent child," she said, gesturing to the Gatling gun Amena held with one hand.

"You being a homunculus is different from a normal child. You can't just do that."

Amena's taciturn expression did nothing to betray how she felt. She remained largely unconvinced. Once again, it came back to her being a mere homunculus, a life form created in a lab.

What did she expect? The only person who didn't treat her like just a homunculus was Alicarde. She felt justified doing whatever it took to save him. Plus, it was also her duty as a maid to aid her master no matter what.

With that thought in mind, she gave Argint an indifferent look.

"Allow me to reiterate, I do not care. If he had not acquiesced, then I would make him pay the ultimate price. A maid's duty is to serve her master. I am merely fulfilling my duty."

Argint pressed on, her expression dejected. "Alicarde would care. You know he would."

Amena faltered, her expression shifting from defiant indifference to worry. "I... I just wanted to get the doctor. I didn't think..."

Her taciturn visage was now fraught with mixed emotions.

Carrisa and Elizalina silently observed the argument, their expressions unreadable.

Argint turned to Carrisa. "How do you feel about this?"

Carrisa shrugged. "I would do whatever is necessary to protect Alicarde. Amena was merely trying to find her master, which counts as fulfilling her duty."

Argint expected as much from her, she could never get a proper read on the princess. "But Alicarde wouldn't want her hurting children. He would not approve if he ever finds out."

Carrisa didn't seem to mind at all. She was still wearing an aloof expression, her words seeming to have made Amena somewhat relieved. Her mistress supported her, so it should be fine. Although, Alicarde finding out was something she didn't want.

On the other hand, Elizalina smirked. "I don't really care about humans. They are only food to me. How I feel about them is the same as how a shepherd feels about their sheep. The sheep spend their life being protected from the wolf by the shepherd, only to be eaten by that same shepherd."

Argint snapped, visibly irritated. "Shut the hell up, parasite. No one asked you."

Carrisa interjected with a serene tone. "That is to be expected from a vampire. Your kind has been secretly protecting the Truth Association in the Demiplane for centuries."

Elizalina replied coldly, her expression darkening. "I have no hand in that. You should take it up with the old ghouls in the council."

Before the conversation could continue, they were besieged by dozens of macabre chimeras. These grotesque creatures were a horrifying amalgamation of various animals, their bodies twisted and deformed.

Some had the heads of wolves with reptilian scales, others had the wings of bats fused with muscular, human-like torsos. Some had two heads—those of tigers accompanied by shark fins—and all of them moved with predatory intent.

The sight of such a massive horde would have been terrifying, but the women didn't seem bothered by it at all.

Carrisa drew her rapier, her body glowing as she used enhancement magic to boost her strength. She darted forward, her blade a blur as she cut through the chimeras with precision. Her violet eyes glowed as she weaved between her enemies like a lethal dancer, reaping lives as she moved.

Argint's arms transformed into wolf claws covered in white fur, a wolf's tail sprouting from her back. She slashed and tore at the chimeras, her movements wild and feral. Her rage was all turned toward the unfortunate chimeras who dared to oppose her. She was a swift cyclone of fangs and claws.

Elizalina's eyes turned red as she began to use hemomancy, making her enemies explode into a blood mist. She manipulated the blood, forming it into deadly weapons that she hurled at the remaining chimeras. Her grey eyes, now blood-red, gleamed as she used the very blood in their grotesque bodies against them.

Amena wielded her Gatling gun with deadly efficiency. She let her hair down, the tips transforming into blades that sliced through the enemies. She was quick and efficient, her battle style akin to a well-developed android, each move a calculated prelude to the next.

The battle was intense and chaotic, each woman fighting with a ferocity that filled the area with the sounds of disastrous impacts and shocks, along with terrifying flashes of light and the horrifying splatter of flesh and blood.

Carrisa's thoughts were focused and methodical, analyzing each move to ensure maximum efficiency. Argint fought with raw, unbridled rage, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger and frustration. She unleashed a brutal assault, using the battle style she had learned from her clan. She was fast, bringing death upon her prey like any predator would.

Elizalina's mind was cold and cunning, every action precise and deliberate. She manipulated the blood in her enemies, leaving them as hollow, desiccated corpses or exploding them into a crimson mist.

Amena fought with a mix of long-range barrage and deadly blade strikes, her movements cold, ruthless, and calculated, with the precision only a machine could possess.

The first wave of chimeras was destroyed, their broken bodies littering the lab. Blood, ichor, and desiccated corpses coated the broken floors and walls, the aftermath of their carnage a testament to their lethal capabilities.

They continued deeper into the labs, dismissing the brief slaughter as insignificant. Eventually, they reached a fork in the road. After a brief discussion, they decided to split up to cover more ground and find Alicarde. The plan was to rendezvous at the same location later.

Argint crossed her arms. "I'm fine splitting into groups of two as long as it's not with the parasite."

Elizalina sneered, her tone venomous yet refined. "I would rather perish than subject myself to the company of a werewolf. If Alicarde's life weren't at risk, I would gladly burn under the sun than tolerate your presence, wretch."

Sensing the brewing conflict, Carrisa intervened with calm authority. "Elizalina will accompany me. Argint, you shall go with Amena. This is not the time for petty grievances."

Argint frowned but nodded, reluctantly accepting Carrisa's decision. "Fine. Just stay far from that bloodsucker. We still can't trust her. She did attack us, after all."

Elizalina rolled her eyes, her disdain palpable. "As if I would ever wish to be near you. Your trust is meaningless to me. I have my own reasons for being here, and they are far beyond the trivial concerns of a lowly bitch."

Carrisa observed the entire exchange with a hint of amusement. The inherent enmity between vampires and werewolves was well-known, and yet, they refrained from outright violence.

It was curious, though likely fleeting. She wondered if there was any potential in leveraging their animosity to her advantage, though cooperation between the two seemed highly improbable.

Still, pairing Amena with Elizalina wasn't an option either. Amena had been unusually volatile of late, and Elizalina's views on humans, particularly those in their group, were far from favorable. The two would not hesitate to spill innocent blood, and Alicarde's wrath would be swift if they did. He would be greatly displeased.

'If Amena kills too many humans, Alicarde will be livid. I must let her think for herself, though she often allows her emotions to cloud her judgment. It is the first time I've seen her so unrestrained—a nuisance indeed,' Carrisa mused, her thoughts sharpened with concern and strategy.

Once the teams were decided, they each chose their respective paths. Carrisa and Elizalina ventured one way, while Amena and Argint took the other.

As they parted, Carrisa glanced at Elizalina, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

'I wonder, what is her true goal? Her apparent affection for Alicarde cannot be her sole reason for being here. There is more beneath the surface, and I intend to uncover it,' Carrisa pondered, suspicious of the vampire's motives. Trust was not something she granted easily, least of all to someone like Elizalina.

Though Carrisa admired Elizalina's ruthlessness, she was fully aware of the potential danger the vampire posed. With the right guidance, she could prove a powerful ally, but equally, she could become a perilous adversary. For now, however, the focus remained on rescuing Alicarde. Carrisa would decide Elizalina's fate after.

Walking alongside Elizalina, Carrisa felt the weight of the looming threat. Their future was fraught with danger, and they needed to be prepared for the worst.

'Elizalina is strong—perhaps even stronger than she appears. When she fought us in the mansion, I am certain she did not unleash her full power. Why hold back, even when her life was at risk? Could she have anticipated Alicarde's intervention?' Carrisa's mind raced, her suspicions growing.

Elizalina glanced at her, curiosity flickering in her cold gaze. "What occupies your mind, Princess?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.

Carrisa smiled faintly, masking her true thoughts. "Merely contemplating how much I despise this wretched place. Let us continue. We cannot afford to linger."

Elizalina's eyes narrowed. "Do not insult my intelligence with such trivial deflections. I am well aware that you conceal much more than you reveal, so I shall humor your pretense—for now."

Carrisa's smile deepened. "Perhaps. But for the time being, our priority is finding Alicarde. Our disagreements can be settled at a more appropriate time. Although, I would think you might show a little gratitude to the one who spared your life—unless, of course, you have forsaken your dignity as a noble?"

Her tone was light, yet Carrisa's words carried a deliberate weight, meant to provoke a reaction from the vampire. She remained wary of Elizalina's intentions and sought to use her as a tool, despite the risks involved. Bringing her into their fold was a calculated gamble, but one Carrisa deemed worth the potential reward.

'Every move I make must be carefully measured. Elizalina could be a key asset, but only if I can ensure her compliance,' Carrisa resolved, her thoughts cold and calculated.

With her resolve hardened, Carrisa strode forward, her mind never straying far from her ultimate objective—rescuing Alicarde and securing their future. In this dangerous game, they were not even worthy of being players. But that would change soon, she would make sure of that.

As they walked, Carrisa's mind continued to weave intricate strategies. 'Elizalina's affection, if genuine, could be exploited. Should she truly care for Alicarde, I will use that to my advantage.'

'If her emotions are real, I will manipulate them, making her believe that his safety depends on her loyalty to me. I will engineer situations where she requires my assistance, fostering dependence within our group. Her rivalry with Argint will further serve my purposes, as I can pit them against each other while reinforcing my position as the irreplaceable leader.'

Carrisa's eyes gleamed with the makings of her insidious schemes. 'Yes, that will suffice. Even the clever are slaves to their emotions. This gratitude of yours, Elizalina Crimson—I will nurture it into a fire so great it will bind you. Those flames will be the strings by which I control you.'

Her thoughts were as sharp as ever, her focus unshakable. Carrisa would ensure that no matter the outcome of their mission, she remained in control. And by the end of it all, Elizalina would either prove her worth—or fall into irrelevance, discarded like so many before her.