Born in Blood

As the three powerhouses found themselves on the same floor, the atmosphere tightened to a razor's edge.

Alucard's presence forced Liam not to obey Queen Thyress' command and leave. If he did, that'd probably make the Pashah look bad. 

And by extension, offended.

Those who found themselves there of the non-powerhouse variety wanted nothing more than to leave… but they couldn't find the correct opportunity to do so.

Instead, they lowered their heads and pretended they were busy eating or drinking.

The air was too heavy.

Liam wanted no part in this either, but not because he couldn't handle the rigid atmosphere. 

In reality, there was no secret pressure weighing against everyone's chest. 

With their strengths sealed, the powerhouses were just regular people as of now.

It was just their psyche playing tricks on them. 

Liam, on the other hand, just couldn't be bothered making things worse for himself. 

All of this was just planting the bombs that would eventually explode in his face.

'Well… let's ride the waves and see where the tide takes us,' Liam thought, but a bitter taste fell on his tongue. '...That sounds exactly like something Bill might say.' 

In response to Alucard's accusation, Queen Thyress remained quiet, not a trace of emotion in her eyes.

Liam was just a bystander here. 

There was nothing he could add, nor wanted to add, nor had to add.

A moment later, the Queen spoke with a silver tongue forged in arrogance.

"Don't address me like an equal. There's only so much grace and patience I have for you and your ilk."

Alucard's eyes grew colder. He laughed loudly, then sent her a condescending, reserved look.

"How quaint, coming from you. Your failing continent would have been a mass graveyard had it not been for my indifference."

A brief silence followed.

The Queen's lips curled to a small smile. "And how times have changed."

Another deadly silence hung over the air.

Alucard's slitted eyes were filled with quiet, reserved malice. 

And the Queen's beautiful irises contained nothing but arrogance.

Alright… maybe it really was time to leave. 

Some did already. Red Flash, the Ice Witch and a few others utilized the chance to slip off unnoticed.

After a while, just a handful of people remained in the same room, with a few maids and butlers here and there that watched with no particular interest in their eyes.

Eyes of Knowledge, who's name was apparently Reiner, interjected for the first time.

He wasn't giggling anymore.

"Let's just skip to the part where both sides wage war on each other, yes? This is getting a little boring and too serious for my taste. What started as a joke shouldn't break the peace between our borders." 

Despite lighting the fuse that led to this, the genius manchild was as apathetic and uncaring as ever.

Who cares about your taste, you utter buffoon! 

The Queen lingered around for a few seconds, looking at Alucard first, then Eyes of Knowledge, before her gaze landed on Liam. 

"Every period of peace is preparation for war," the Queen said with a tinge of distaste in her voice. "Prepare well, insignificant ones." 

A moment later, Queen Thyress turned her back to the group and gracefully made her way towards the exit.

Like so, with her crisp footsteps fading into silence, she was gone. 

***

As the Queen left, Liam snuck a glance at Alucard's gaze, and the sinister darkness clouding his ashen face was absolutely bone-chilling.

Reiner looked at Liam and back at Alucard with a complicated glimmer in his hypnotizing sapphire eyes.

"Is this a good time to talk, Alucard?" Eyes of Knowledge asked with a cryptic tone. 

Alucard sighed as he shook his head. His expression had reverted back to normal. 

"Of course."

Then, the Pashah looked at Liam. "But I need to have a small chat with a friend."

Reiner nodded with a grin. "Alrighty, then. I'll wait for you on the final floor. I hear everyone's already gathered up there."

Eyes of Knowledge looked at Liam, and his mocking grin grew. "Had fun chatting with you… uh… I forgot your name. Anyways, later."

Like so, Eyes of Knowledge was also gone, giggling as he entered a tunnel.

'I'll make him suffer,' Liam thought. 'I just know I will.'

There was no way that Reiner actually forgot Liam's name. He was just a massive prick.

Now, just Liam and Alucard remained.

"Apologies," Alucard said to Liam as the two approached a table to sit on. 

"I would have preferred not to involve you in such matters, but… well, there's no realistic way to avoid it."

"I understand," Liam said with a sigh, sitting opposite the vampire king. "I just wish this didn't come so soon."

There was a slight pause as Alucard raised his brow. 

"I think you've misinterpreted something," Alucard said, gesturing for a maid to bring them two drinks. 

"Oh?" Liam said. 

"Despite her haughty words, the Queen has been inactive for centuries." 

"You don't have to worry about a cataclysmic war taking place so soon."

So soon.

'So it'll eventually come?' Liam thought with an inward laugh. 'How reassuring.'

"These matters are complicated," Alucard said, accepting a pair of blood-red drinks a maid brought over. "I'll worry about them for now." 

Right. 

"I sent you a message to let me know when you're awake," Alucard said, pushing a glass to Liam. "Did you not receive it?" 

"Oh, right, I did," Liam said, as though just remembering. "Sorry. I got caught up in work. Six and a half years of being asleep took a toll on me."

Liam grabbed the glass and took a small sip. It was berry juice…

Of course, what Liam said was only a half-truth. 

Obviously, he remembered Alucard's request to talk, but he was busy and needed to polish his newfound abilities. 

Alucard nodded understandingly, then paused for a second, giving Liam a scrutinizing look.

It looked like he wanted to ask about what exactly Liam did in his Self Tribulation… but he chose not to. 

It may come off as rude or overbearing if he did so.

"It seems like the six years have changed you," Alucard said with a small smile. "For the better, of course."

Liam chuckled under his breath.

…Or for the worse.