"Lady Ithania, did you call me? Can I help you with something?" Ferox questioned respectfully.
Ithania saved his life before, she gave her a choice to be free, and she was the one who awakened his inner warrior, no matter where he goes, the respect he has for Ithania will never diminish.
"Ferox, do you want to be strong?" Ithania questioned.
"Of course, I want to, Lady Ithania." Ferox answered without a second of hesitation.
"Don't answer so quickly, Ferox. Remember what I told you before? There is no free lunch in this world, to get something, you have to go through hardships.
You can be strong, yes.
The process will be quick, yes.
However, it will be extremely, I repeat, extremely painful.
Are you willing to take the risk?"
Ithania questioned again.
And again, without any hesitation, Ferox answered.
"I want to be able to decide my own fate and the fight with those humans taught me that I cannot do that unless I am strong. I want to be strong, Lady Ithania. I am willing to go through any pain for it."
A small smile appeared on Ithania's face as she nodded.
"Good, I knew I was right to choose you."
A smile appeared on Ferox's face as well.
"I am glad that I didn't disappoint you, Lady Ithania." He muttered and he wasn't lying.
He was truly glad that Lady Ithania chose him before anyone else.
He will brag about it to Tassia and Valerian.
'Heh, that Valerian bastard, he always brags about how he was her first subordinate! Hmph! So what if you were first? She still chose me over you!' Ferox smirked inwardly.
…
"Hey, do you know why we are called here?"
"Huh? Do you think I can predict the future or something? How would I know?"
"Can't you just say know without all that blabbering?"
"…"
In Luminia Crux's garden, more than 200 hundred vampires were standing with curious looks on their faces.
They were resting in their rooms when Ithania summoned them all. She clearly mentioned that no one is allowed to miss it, no matter what they were doing.
"Wait, will they give us the cultivation techniques Sir Azriel was talking about?" Someone muttered with an excited look on his face.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe vampires who heard him smiled brightly as they imagined themselves in Azriel's place, slaughtering humans like they were nothing.
"Hehe~ I think that's true."
"Hahaha! I am so excited, I can finally cultivate!"
"Same! Just look how strong I will become in future! I'll kill all those humans who tortured me before!"
"Hahaha! I am getting excited just thinking about it!"
The vampires continued talking excitedly.
They all wanted to get stronger, however, there were a few 'intelligent' vampires among them as well.
"You idiots! Haven't you noticed something?" One of the vampires muttered.
"What are you talking about?" Another vampire questioned.
"Didn't you see how they took away Elainous, Pholus and the others?" The vampire muttered.
"Wait… they still aren't back yet…" The other vampire 'realized'.
"Yes, they aren't back yet!"
"What did they do to them?"
"What happened to them?"
Suddenly, a few more vampires started questioning.
Valerian, who was standing with these vampires frowned. He knew who these vampires were.
They were all Elainous, Pholus or the other vampires' subordinates.
Although not as greedy and opportunistic as their leaders, they still shared a few qualities. Now that their leaders are missing, they were trying to use this opportunity to gather more support. Valerian won't be surprised if they try to overthrow Elainous, Pholous and the others later.
As they continued their act, Valerian's frown deepened, he knew he had to stop them.
"Wai-"
"So what?" However, before he could say something, another vampire stepped forward and questioned. He was Magnus, a neutral Vampire.
He was glad that Ithania saved him and is grateful to her, however, he isn't greatly 'devoted' to her like Ferox, Tassia and Valerian are.
Of course, that did not mean he was with the 'rebels' either.
He was neutral.
And Vampires like these were the ones who the 'rebels' were trying to get on their side.
"Huh? What do you mean 'so what?'" one of the subordinate vampires questioned.
"I am asking so what they aren't back yet?" The vampire questioned.
"Haah? Are you stupid!? Can't you use your brain!? They all might be-"
"Dead, right?" The vampire interrupted.
"Dea…" The subordinate vampire was taken aback by how unbothered the Magnus sounded, soon, his expression changed and he shouted.
"Why are you acting like it's no big deal! They killed a Vampire! They killed a fellow vampire! What is the guarantee that they won't kill us!?"
"There is no guarantee," Magnus muttered.
"Ye-"
However, before the subordinate vampire could say anything else, Magnus continued.
"However, was our life guaranteed when we were humans' Slave?"
"…" The subordinate vampire turned silent.
He didn't know how to answer that question.
"We are getting food that is a lot better than we used to get. The place we live in is a lot better than we were used to living in. We don't have to do the thankless job of ploughing the fields every day.
Do you think they will waste so many resources on us just so that they can kill us later?" Magnus questioned.
"Yes, what he says is true!"
"Indeed, why would they kill us?"
"And what if Pholous and the others are killed? It's not like we don't know how they were!"
"True! We all knew that they were against Ithania, the one who saves them in the first place!"
"Yes, people like them should be killed! There is nothing wrong with what Sir Azriel did!"
Many vampires started siding with Magnus.
Ithania, who was watching it from afar smiled. Lady Luminia was right, however, she had one question.
"How did Lady Luminia know that beforehand?"
"It's simple." Lilia, who was standing beside her muttered.
"They are weak."
"Hmm? What does it have to do with anything?" Ithania questioned.
"These people are weak, not only physically but mentally as well. They are weak-minded. All they seek is 'living'. They do not care what happens to others, as long as they live, it is fine.
Being suppressed by humans for so long, they do not how to 'resist', they will turn to any side that they think will help them 'live'.
Most of them has heard about, if not seen Azriel's strength, therefore, unconsciously, their mind would be drawn to the 'strong' and they will support him.
The question was never about who is right or who is wrong, the question is about who is strong and who is weak.
When you were their 'leader', they couldn't sense an overwhelming strength from you. You were just slightly stronger than them. Therefore, you couldn't provide them with the sense of security they were looking for.
However, Azriel is different, him slaughtering humans in front of them left a major impact on their hearts.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAzriel provides the sense of security you failed to, therefore, they will side with him unless someone stronger than him appears."
Lilia answered, she did not care if her words hurt Ithania or not. She wanted Ithania to realize the importance of strength.
"So according to you, people like Lupas would have followed him by their own will if it was Azriel?" Ithania questioned.
"Indeed." Lilia was honest.
A sad smile appeared on Ithania's face.
"However," Then, Lilia muttered.
"Azriel wouldn't be able to form a 'team' of more than 200 vampires in the first place. So the comparison with him is stupid.
Also, you can't lead with strength alone, you can gain obedience yes, but how will you plan?
How will you use your subordinates?
How will you help them grow?
The current Azriel is unable to do that."
Lilia then turned to Ithania and patted her head.
"Therefore, you need to step up, improve yourself and lead them"
'Until Azriel is ready to lead them.'
She didn't say the last part out loud.
Lilia knew that no matter how talented and intelligent Ithania is, the one leading the Vampires has to be Azriel.
Bringing Vampires back to their prime wasn't easy, if it was, Lady Luminia would have done that already.
Someone like Azriel was needed.
Ithania smiled, being patted felt good… She was enjoying it.
However, soon, her face turned serious and she walked toward the garden.
"Alright, everyone, silent!" She instructed, and the vampires, who were talking and whispering to each other turned silent.
Lilia was surprised by how good of a leader Ithania was and smiled.
An unpolished gem.
"Everyone, I called you all here to tell you about something very important." Ithania gained the vampire's attention and continued.
"I am sure all you know about cultivation.
'Vampires can't cultivate' was a lie!
It was a lie framed by those humans so that they can keep us as their slaves for our whole life.
However, this won't happen anymore.
Sir Azriel has given me the techniques that we vampires can cultivate.
However, before I give them to you, I need to tell you some things about cultivation.
So listen well."