Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 66 Beginning Of An Era

The tension from the night before gradually evaporated under the childish banter between Alicarde and the ladies. The gentle hum of the vehicle as it approached the mansion was soothing as Carrisa's mind sifted through the potential risks and possibilities Alicarde's transformation might bring.

She needed him to be in control of himself, yet subtle hints had shown he was far from that state.

Carrisa looked out the SUV's window. Numerous worries plagued her mind, Alicarde's mental state, the Nexus, which still had one more missing core fragment and an unknown number of lesser fragments, along with the key to the Nexus.

More importantly, potential enemies in the mundane world would stop at nothing to obtain the Nexus. And finally, her inevitable looming conflict with her siblings. Fleeing to the mundane world would not be enough to escape.

Carrisa sighed. 'I have no hope of victory against them. I seek only survival. At this moment, it is crucial that I maintain a clear mind. I cannot afford to fail, not just for my sake but for my Alicarde as well. To achieve this, I will have to stand against the three great powers of this world.

Additionally, I need to steal the magic core they possess on Academy Island.'

Her resolve hardened, her eyes ablaze with conviction. Carrisa was determined not to fail. First, she needed to comprehend the nuances of Alicarde's current mental state. Then, there were the numerous other challenges ahead, all demanding her attention.

She couldn't move forward without Alicarde, his well-being was paramount. She silently counted the assets she had at her disposal.

'I have control of the Night Shades, which grants me numbers. Argint Beowulf, the half-werewolf, is a capable ally. Elizalina Crimson, the vampire, can be useful, and there is the explosive magicite I had embedded into Amena's heart a few years ago. Still, this is insufficient... I must play my cards carefully... I cannot afford any missteps.'

Tuning out the chatter from the others, she remained deep in thought.

Amena, also quiet, observed her mistress through the rearview mirror, wondering what her lady was strategizing. She felt concerned for her mistress, knowing that the future was fraught with conflict, with the odds stacked against them.

Amena resolved to assist however she could, even if it meant enduring untold hardships. After all, her purpose was to be her lady's support, the very reason for her existence.

They finally arrived at the mansion grounds and exited the vehicle. Alicarde smiled as he gazed at the mansion's grand entrance, seemingly lost in thought. Argint, watching him, could not discern his thoughts. The scent of his previous negativity had mostly dissipated, leaving behind only a faint trace of resentment.

Argint took some comfort in his apparent improvement. Nonetheless, she remained worried, unsure of what undercurrents might be stirring in his mind. She could only hope that he would be alright.

Her gaze shifted to the vampire. While she held a deep disdain for vampires in general, Alicarde had been correct—this particular one had done nothing to her... yet. Argint realized that the vampire had restrained herself during the earlier battle. If she had truly wished to, she could have escaped even after her defeat, meaning the vampire's intentions remained unclear.

Was she attempting to ingratiate herself with the group?

Alicarde had chosen to overlook her initial attack, so, in deference to him, Argint would let it go for now. The vampire had returned and even aided in their search for Alicarde. Though she neither accepted nor trusted her, Argint was willing to tolerate her presence, for the time being.

Alicarde's expression remained distant, a touch of wistfulness in his eyes, as they watched him enter the elevator, undoubtedly heading toward the sixth-floor master suite.

Elizalina, after ensuring Alicarde was as well as he could be given the circumstances, decided to depart. Carrisa had exchanged a few words with her before she left.

Elizalina had come to the mansion with two objectives, to apologize and to repay her debts. Her noble lineage would not allow her to leave a debt unsettled. And perhaps there was a selfish third reason—she had wanted a taste of Alicarde's delicious blood. The thought made her cheeks flush.

She drifted through the air, her form becoming an ethereal mist.

"You were of assistance in resolving this minor issue. I suppose you may consider your debt repaid," she recalled the princess's words.

Carrisa's statement irritated the vampire. It implied that Elizalina's entire existence was valued solely on the events of that single night. More importantly, her words carried an undertone of suspicion.

"I have not yet repaid my debts, and there is still more to gain from this alliance. I cannot hope to win my battles alone," she whispered, her voice laced with frustration.

Night had fallen, and Alicarde, having taken a long bath, slept the day away. Given how utterly drained he had been, he thought he would remain asleep for several days, but to his surprise, he recovered quickly. He attributed it to his boon, passive abilities that enhanced his regeneration—both physical and mental.

His mind, once frail in comparison to his body, was now beginning to heal just as rapidly.

He leaned back on the sofa, feeling the weight of recent events crushing him. The room was dim, illuminated only by the glow of the tv. Carrisa, seated next to him with a stack of papers, occasionally glanced his way, her curiosity piqued by his silence and distant gaze.

"What troubles your thoughts?" Carrisa inquired, her tone calm, but laced with concern. Her eyes briefly left her papers, focused on him with intent.

"Nothing specific... I don't even know what to feel anymore," he replied, his voice low, reflecting a deep-seated turmoil.

Carrisa sighed softly. "Is this about your truename or the bloodlust you've been battling?" she pressed, her words carefully chosen, yet probing.

Alicarde's expression darkened. "Bloodlust... you make it sound so twisted. What I aim for is the eradication of vile human filth. I call it justice."

Her gaze shifted to him, her voice measured. "And how do you define justice, Alicarde? Justice is, after all, a fleeting concept with no permanent definition." Her tone was firm, carrying an undercurrent of wisdom.

His jaw clenched, and a glint of barely-contained rage surfaced in his eyes.

"Justice is only considered just because it holds power. Without power, it's nothing more than the delusion of fools. I will kill them, not because it's right, but because I have the power to do so. My justice doesn't require fairness, after all, justice was never fair. It's only justice when it serves just us. "

His voice carried a bitterness that echoed through the room.

Before Carrisa could respond, the television flickered. The screen shifted to a shadowed figure standing in a dim room, partially obscured. The words at the bottom of the screen read: [Hacked Broadcast: Unauthorized Transmission.]

"Good evening, citizens of the world," the figure began, his voice smooth and calm. "My name is Caden, and I am the leader of a now rogue group of Espers."

Alicarde's eyes narrowed with interest. "Well, now... this should be good," he murmured, leaning forward slightly.

Carrisa, noticing the shift in mood, put aside her papers and focused her attention on the screen.

"We have taken control of all broadcast networks to reveal the truth," Caden continued. "For years, we have been hunted, experimented on, and treated as less than human by the very governments you trust."

The screen transitioned to chilling footage of sterile laboratories, where men, women, and even children were bound to tables, enduring unspeakable experiments. The screams of the victims contrasted with the cold, methodical efficiency of the scientists overseeing their suffering.

"This is the reality that has been concealed from you," Caden said, his voice grim. "We have been used as tools, stripped of our humanity for the sake of power and human greed."

The footage shifted to a live feed from a city square—identified as Central City—where Caden and a group of Espers stood, their faces obscured.

"We will no longer hide in the shadows," Caden proclaimed. "Today, we reveal to the world who we are, and what we are capable of."

As his words echoed, a squad of heavily armed soldiers approached the Espers. The camera caught the tension as the soldiers raised their weapons, ready to engage. Caden raised his hand, and objects around him began to float.

The battle erupted. One Esper manipulated fire, sending waves of searing flames toward the advancing soldiers. Another erected a shimmering force field, deflecting the hail of bullets. Caden himself, displaying formidable telekinetic abilities, disarmed the soldiers with a flick of his wrist.

The camera captured the chaos—the sheer overwhelming force of the Espers versus the helpless soldiers—and the fear that gripped the onlookers. The soldiers, despite their training and equipment, were no match for the raw power being unleashed.

Alicarde watched with mild amusement. "I have to admit, that's pretty damn impressive," he remarked, though his tone remained detached. "But it's got nothing to do with us."

Carrisa nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the screen. "Indeed, but it changes the landscape. The mundane and the supernatural have collided in a manner more blatant than ever before. We must be vigilant, for the repercussions could reach us in time." Her words were measured, as if already considering future outcomes.

The broadcast ended with Caden's final declaration "We are the Rogues, and we demand recognition and justice. The world will know who we are."

The screen went dark, and the news anchor appeared, visibly shaken, struggling to maintain her composure. Alicarde, with a look of mild irritation, switched off the television, plunging the room into silence once more.

"Well, that was something," he muttered, his voice thoughtful yet unconcerned.

Carrisa set her papers aside, her expression contemplative. "The world is about to grow far more complicated," she mused, her tone cold yet somber.

Alicarde shrugged, as though dismissing the gravity of the situation. "Let them deal with their own mess. We've got enough on our plate without adding their problems."

Carrisa agreed with a curt nod, though the flicker of concern remained in her eyes.

"Let us hope the chaos stays contained," she remarked, though her mind continued to churn with the implications.

'Curious… How did such a group of Espers escape from control? Do they have a benefactor hiding in the shadows?' she pondered silently. 'There is far more to this than meets the eye.'

Carrisa's mind raced through the mounting problems. The nexus, Alicarde's unstable mental state, potential enemies lurking in the mundane world... the challenges seemed endless. And now, the rising threat of rogue Espers, openly defying the powers that be.

'Regardless of what lies ahead, we will survive. Even if I must fall, it will be bathe in the blood of my enemies" Her conviction solidified as she took Alicarde's hand in her own, feeling the coldness in his distant gaze as he stared at the now-black screen.

It was the beginning of an era, a turbulent new era.