Vampire Nightlife

'Hypocrite?' Lukas frowned.

"Please don't act so surprised. You make yourself seem like a charismatic fellow, someone who managed to steal the heart of innocent maidens and such, you like to pretend and shape yourself to be this good person… but surely, all of this is nothing more but an act for you." Drusilla smiled. "Otherwise, wouldn't you have freed Rhea in the very first chance you've had?"

'There's being kind, but there's also being naive. We don't know where Rhea's allegiance lies, and I wouldn't put other people at risk just because I feel like it's the proper thing to set her free.' Lukas thought darkly. 'I'm not trying to act or anything. Maybe I do push myself to be good from time to time because it benefits me, but I'm not downright atrocious as you are nor do I claim to be someone motivated by benevolent reasons alone. The world works differently, and—'

"Ah, there we go! The environment, the circumstance is what made you who you are, and not your internal character? Fascinating. I think it's a little bit of both, but ah, I do like how you point your fingers at anything but yourself. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why I'd let you live during the test back then." Drusilla said.

'I survived that test fair and square!' Lukas said. He could have commented on the first thing that Drusilla said, but he couldn't think of anything else but redirect his focus on the last part.

"My people were supposed to have the strength to wield the dagger and battle in the blood world with them overpowering me." Drusilla spoke sharply. "Overpower me. And those who were unable to withstand it were to die by this very dagger that you are wielding while I use their blood as sustenance to this prison I'm trapped in. You… you survived, and do you know why?"

'Because I floated on the blood ocean instead of trying to attempt to control it, which is beyond my capacity. You respected my intelligence and willingness to survive, so you allowed me to wield the blade as well as potentially benefit as to whom I might encounter later down the line.' Lukas said.

"…I spared you because you knew your place and you reminded me a little of myself." Drusilla said, and then coughed. "Though the others also constitute as valid reasons as well."

There had also been the case of the strange of the 'blue light' that invaded the blood world and pressured Drusilla into certain things—but that wasn't something that she'd willingly reveal to Lukas for no reason.

It was up to him to figure things out for himself.

'Still—you know, I kinda forgot what I'm trying to bicker with you. I'm just an ordinary person, a man who's trying to live his life and make the most of things, okay? Don't make a big deal out of it. If I feel bad for my acts against Rhea, it just means that I've thought about what I did. People can change their minds, you know?'

"I'm merely pointing out your default state—and I do not mean to discourage you from it, in fact, I say live your life with considering everyone as your pawns to achieve what you want. Do not let your guard down. If you know your enemies, you are safe since you'll be prepared against them, but it is the very friends and loved ones that might bring you into a perilous slope and kick you into the abyss because you never once questioned them."

'That… that's an awful tiring way of living. Living by transaction—Lily and Chaerin might have compromised now and then, but that's not how we work and and live our life. Things were going smoothly back then. We were all happy, it's just that circumstances changed that happiness.' Lukas said.

"Surely you do not consider me as a blind man, I see the way you act around the Vardoken child. If you were truly content, then such feelings would not have prospered. You are greedy, but luckily, those who have the desire can take what they want as long as they have the power to do it—do you not agree?"

Lukas didn't expect Stacy to be brought up right now. Out of everything that Drusilla could have pointed at him, he didn't want it to be that because he knew what he felt and wanted, yes.

'Just because you want something… or someone, doesn't mean that you have to take them.' Lukas said.

"Hah. You say that now, but rest assured, if you were to follow my footsteps, you will be able to have everything that you so desire. Heal that Lily girl, keep Chaerin and even have Stacy or whomever you want as well." Drusilla said.

'Or I might end up getting sucked into some dagger too.' Lukas said, feeling a headache coming onto him. He didn't know if Drusilla somehow became more incessantly talking recently, but somehow it felt like it did. 'Anyhow, do you think that Iolathane heard all of this?'

"You're only worrying about that now?" Drusilla rolled her eyes. "I've done my best to mask myself from anyone else hearing my voice except for yours. I am sure that she has had her fill of silence."

Lukas glanced momentarily at the blue-haired Vampire lady, and she did seem unflustered by everything and concentrated on the road.

"We shall be at our destination soon enough. I will be distributing your weapons once we all go down, but fall into an orderly line and do not run into the Dark Forest all by yourself. I pray that none of you act like children, this is a serious matter altogether." Iolathane called out and rubbed at her ear irritatedly.

Earlier, she had been hearing things and it made her wonder if that had been fatigued—but now there was only an incessant ringing. There was a lot of things on the Durand's plate today, and she was about to find herself to be served by a lot more.