A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

"Oh, I know!" Eldrian refrained from explaining. Leaving Levana disheartened and just a tiny bit curious about what plan Eldrian had. "Let's ask if it is possible," he mumbled, the words just barely being heard by the vampire with her excellent hearing.

Those words were even more horrifying than anything before.

'He can talk with the gods?!!!!' Honestly, Levana was impressed she hadn't fainted from shock yet. The glare of the firebird kept her awake.

As for why this was so shocking, at most people would get revelations from the gods as oracles. It was unheard of for someone being able to talk with the gods. The only exception was the ambassadors of the gods. Ancient beings who had been in this world since the start of time.

Levana started wondering if Eldrian was such an ambassador. She felt it wasn't the right conclusion, but that perhaps it was similar. A thought that gave her goosebumps as she pondered if all Chosen were then similar.

She knew from their spies that this wasn't the case—Eldrian was an anomaly. But his uniqueness hinted at the curious nature behind both the Chosen and ambassadors. On paper, they weren't that different.

Beings temporary to this world, incapable of death. Only, the Chosen has been here for less than two years while the ambassadors originated from the annals of history. Thus, the longevity of the Chosen were yet to be confirmed. However, their immortality had been proven—to an extent.

'I'm certain there is a connection, which makes them a terrifying existence... Especially since the Chosen only appeared in our enemies' lands.'

Of course, she knew that the Chosen were -according to the official story- brought to aid the races of 'good' through Asteria—the goddess of life. But she was now curious if this was the truth, no she had always doubted it. She now felt certain there was more to it.

While she was working through her epiphany, Eldrian was talking with GAIA. Only snippets of his mumbling reaching her.

"Yes, yes... Right, so I would need to... Sounds good." Eldrian mumbled as he sent a few messages to the duality god/goddess. In the end, GAIA had rather referred him to Ziraili. Something about them keeping distance from those who lived in the world.

He felt it strange, but since that was how they preferred to handle things, Eldrian left it at that.

"Sorry about this, appears GAIA isn't fond of the idea." Eldrian apologized to the vampire. Her hopes reached new heights only to be dashed a second later. "But there is another god, goddess, really. Technically, she is the god for us—Chosen. So I am sure this will still work."

Levana looked curiously at Eldrian. Finding it strange that he would think Asteria would be able to bind a contract between a vampire and an elf—no, between a vampire and a Chosen.

She started suspecting that classifying the Chosen on their race appearance might be the wrong move. They were a race separate from those natural to this world, similar to the ambassadors.

Deciding not to make her suspiciously known, not wishing to become the target of the gods, Levana faked a blank smile and look. "Huh? Sure..." she replied, as if she was still reeling from all the things Eldrian had done.

Her heart was still shaken, but the previous revelations helped her view Eldrian, and Chosen in general, as different entities to those born to this world. This way, the insanity surrounding him made far more sense.

However, she was still cursing herself for acting so haughtily. If she had just realized that his confidence wasn't from ignorance but true strength...

It was too late now. She just hoped she could survive the coming duel. She was already planning how to de-escalate things. Still, she did not know how to talk Eldrian down since he truly seemed to look forward to the duel.

And even worse, he finished his preparations in mere seconds. Giving her no time to formulate a plan with the newfound information.

Informing the vampire that his friends were coming, Eldrian took out a rather large monster scale. Around the size of his hand.

With the endless horde of undead moving towards the walls, there were plenty of monster parts to be found. The parts that survived through undeath were normally of quite the value. Even the bones of skeletons had special magical properties. Though, most can't be used easily because of the taint of undeath.

This scale came from a Kassa, a type of snake monster. Though, their variety of mutations was very large and often they appeared more like a reptilian race, the link to a snake being lost somewhere along the line.

This Kassa had appeared more like a drake than a snake. Vivian had dealt with it during her rampage and brought it back. Throwing it before Eldrian, and Solvi and Sofiera, asking if they had a use for it.

Of course, Eldrian had asked Solvi what he could use and in the end, only took the scales. The rest was too tainted with undeath, which would complicate its use. If proper steps aren't taken, a curse might be added to the crafter or item upon completion.

Since it was only low rank 1 grade materials, Eldrian hadn't felt it worth the hassle.

Eldrian placed this scale on a pillar of dirt, which had grown from the ground without any spell. At least, none that Levana had noticed. The ground had simply risen to form the pillar. A display of magic that reminded her how strange the surrounding mana had been when she had ordered the existential vampires to stop.

He then started to write up the contract in the air above the type of scale. A sight that reminded the vampire of advanced formations. However, this -where the magic appeared in the air- was normally one of the last parts after preparing the entire formation.

While difficult, she could read the letters Eldrian was writing. Finding that it truly was a simple contract surrounding the duel, she nearly fainted again.

What he was showing her was one of the greatest displays of magic. And he was making such a basic contract. As if what he was doing was nothing special.

'No, likely he considers this quite normal...' The thought didn't ease her mind much, and she wracked her brain to find a way out of signing the contract.

It might be basic, but that was actually a problem. It was so simple in terms that there was no way to bend the meaning.

"Here?" Levana asked, pointing to one of the two lines on the shell.

Apparently, since she couldn't form runes with mageia -whatever the hell that was, apparently it was linked to forming magic in the air- Eldrian had opted to bind the contract via blood. According to the goddess he had talked with, blood held a signature of one's life and would thus bind the contract.

Levana understood this. Any part of a person would actually work. However, the less vital that part, the less strength it would hold. For example, hair would only hold traces of a person's life signature. An aspect of lifeforce. Contrary, the heart would hold near the greatest amounts.

Of course, as a vampire, Levana knew this better than Eldrian and his lacking explanations.

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