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Similar to an unstoppable rushing river, time rapidly passed as the bright sun in the sky traded places with the shining moon several times over.

It has been six days since Lucy and Sera began their grueling cultivation and training of their self-control.

 Though the time they’d been training cannot be considered especially long, the two vampiresses and their willpower had progressed by leaps and bounds.

Each day the two would take increasingly longer intervals between feedings as they worked to battle and quell The Thirst. Of course, while doing this they also had to challenge themselves by being dangerously close to the humans.

 The delectable smell of blood would be only a couple feet away yet the two were not allowed to feed.

A couple times Sera almost lost control and tried to drain a human or two, luckily Lucy was there to rein her in. However, these occurrences were few and became farther and farther  in between as the self-control of the two grew and grew. 

But when it became time to feed all courtesies were thrown out of the window as Lucy and Sera only went for the best meals.

With the entire island as their hunting grounds, Lucy and Sera targeted increasingly powerful magic beasts. Every magical beast they targeted was at the very least Rank III and sometimes they targeted more than one in a day.

 They would ambush the beasts and utilize overwhelming strength to kill it, usually with a decapitation or removal of the heart.

 Lucy felt through Amara’s instincts that this was the most efficient hunting style for vampires. Since their bodies were akin to living high rank magical weapons in strength and durability, vampires were notorious for utilizing their limbs as such.

After killing the beast(s) Lucy and Sera would carefully transport it to the cave; usually with Sera’s telekinesis and while keeping The Thirst in check the entire way.

 Not a drop of the blood would be wasted as Lucy’s Blood Domain  kept a tight hold of every drop of the beast’s blood while they traveled. 

Lucy felt this was a great way for her and Sera to train their abilities and self-control at the same time.

At the waterfall base the two vampires would carefully extract the magic core of the beast before mixing it with blood then drinking and bathing in its thick life force. 

Lucy had found out about the magic cores from Sera. She had told her how precious the villagers considered them to be and after searching through Amara’s memories she found that out to be correct.

Usually magic beasts of rank II and up had crystallized magic cores located near their hearts. This crystallized structure was the amalgamation of the mana in a magic beast. 

Usually the core would become bigger and bigger as the magic beasts grew stronger. It was the very source of the magic beast’s mana and as such very precious and full of powerful energy.

Lucy would crush at least 3 or more of the crystals in the basin of blood before using her Blood Domain ability to hasten and aid their absorption of the blood energy. 

Sera and Lucy would sit in the pool for most of the day in this vampiric cultivation before going out to hunt and practice their self-control all over the island.

In this way Lucy and Sera progressed in strength and skill as well as planned for their eventual facing of humankind. But at this moment frustration shown on their faces as they sat cross legged in the basin of blood.

‘Almost… and…there!’ thought Sera as her garnet orbs snapped open. Uncrossing her legs, she quickly got out of the noticeably lower pool and assessed her improvements. Sera’s eyes traveled down her slightly more muscular and toned form. 

Her alabaster skin had a tinge of rosiness and vitality like a beautiful young maiden.

“Master, I’m at the peak of the fledgling rank now! I feel the apostle rank is not too far aw- Oh master , how is your breakthrough going?” Sera asked as she glanced back into the basin.

Still sitting cross-legged and closed eyed was Lucy in the middle of the basin. Her snow-white eyebrows were furrowed as if in deep concentration and a small grimace painted her mouth.

“Hm I think this is the best I’m going to get for now, I’m right at the peak of the apostle rank but I can’t seem to progress at all!” with a  huff all the blood in the basin evaporated and reformed into a chic shirt and skirt ensemble as Lucy climbed out of the hole.

“Don’t worry master you probably just need a bit more time, you will definitely breakthrough soon!” Sera said consolingly to Lucy

“Mhm I suppose you’re right darling it’s just that we leave tonight, and I’d rather be at my best before we embark.” Lucy said as she turned towards the setting sun behind the waterfall curtain.

Sera stared at the slightly melancholic look on her master’s face before noticing the shirt and dress ensemble she was wearing.

“Wow master that clothing is beautiful! I want one!” Sera said changing the subject.

Lucy laughed as she looked down at the crimson clothing created from her Blood Domain ability.

“Haha thank you, I may make you one somehow one day. Fashion was always a passion of mine’ she added absentmindedly, “maybe when we get to the mainland.”

Sera nodded enthusiastically as she noticed the sun finally dipping behind the horizon.

“Looks like that’ll be soon master, its time.”

As the dark of night finally fell, a striking crescent moon rose to the zenith in the sky, almost as if it was a signal of some sort. Lucy and Sera wasted no time and began to head out of their waterfall base for the last time. 

Lucy was happy to say goodbye to this place for now and hoped the land they were headed to at least had beds fit for a Queen. Of course coming to the decision to birth her new kingdom in a more developed land, was hard for Lucy but she knew it was necessary. 

As Verak was now the island had no real infrastructure or materials to build a kingdom by hand. At least not in the time frame Lucy wanted nor to the quality she had in mind. 

Her hopes were that she could one day return with the power and tools needed to turn this place into a sort of territory. Until then she'd allow the villagers to breed on. 

As their figures passed through the waterfall curtain for the last time, Lucy and Sera transformed into their slightly larger bat forms and took to the moonlit night skies.

‘The compulsion of the chief is still in affect master.’ Said Sera telepathically as her and Lucy’s vampire bat forms zoomed through the night.

‘Excellent! Let us proceed as planned.’ Lucy responded happily. 

A burst of vigor appeared in Sera’s flapping at the compliment from her master. She had worked hard this week to improve her psychic abilities, and it had payed off.

 She could now easily maintain a mental compulsion over a victim despite distance between them. Though every few days she would have to personally reinforce the compulsion, the length of time between these reinforcements was growing.

Such was the power a psionic vampire had over the minds of their victims. 

Lucy was secretly elated at Sera growing psychic abilities and knew Sera would make a superb right hand in the future.

 As they neared their destination, she thought back to a saying floating around in Amara’s memories. 

‘A sire is only as good as the progeny it’s created.’ That is why she took the utmost care in nurturing the girl. 

In her memories Amara had several loyal and powerful members of her progeny. Amara never turned more than one person every century.

  They were selected from only the best warriors, mages, and hunters. As Lucy studied these memories she admired how Amara chose and strengthened the members of her coven and how they in turn protected and worshipped her. 

Seemingly in no time Lucy and Sera had reached the outside of the Chief’s two-story cabin and were happily welcomed inside by the old man.

Unlike the previous time there was no bevy of women in the cabin. Instead there were stones, fruits, vegetables, flowers, even small caged animals all packaged up and adorning his tables and floors.

The well-lit interior of the cabin caused Sera to squint slightly as she questioned him on the arrival time of the Millenium Trading Company.

“They shall arrive at any moment now masters, I assure you!” said the old chief Jia

Suddenly Lucy and Sera eyes perked up as they sensed something.

“Someone’s’ here!” They said at once while hurrying back outside the cabin. Lucy and Sera ran with supernatural grace toward the beaches that were located a few meters away from the Chief’s cabin.

Illuminated by the crescent moonlight, the shores near by the village were dotted with 3 ships of grand proportions. They rode on the dark waves and were pushed forward by massive white sails.

With eyes as wide as saucer plates Lucy and Sera marveled at the approaching vessels under the moonlight.

“Haha see master I told you ships of shiny wood!” Sera said as she pointed at the galleon sized vessels approaching rather quickly.

‘Hmm looks like petrified wood inlayed with some kind of gold magical runes or formations … wow, even the sails are self-propelling using that same gold colored magical rune array’ mused Lucy using Amara’s memories, ‘these people are definitely pretty advanced, this must be a kingdom sized force behind this!’

Using their superior eyesight Lucy and Sera could see the faces of every gold and blue colored uniformed vessel member on the deck. 

The members were mostly fair skinned men of varying proportions that wore expressions of boredom and weariness.

“Land Ho!” screamed one of the portlier individuals wearing an elaborate hat on the ship.

Lucy and Sera waited patiently as the 3 vessels set down anchor and several members got up and deboarded the vessel using long and heavy ladders. After several moments the old chief Jia came scrambling out along with several guards with arms full of goods.

“Welcome Millennium Trading travelers ! I have many treasures for you, y-yes, I really do! – Oh, I also I have my esteemed masters who shall leave with you!” he screamed at the approaching figures.

The approaching figures walked with haste on the dark sandy beaches and stopped just before the old chief Jia, Lucy, and Sera. All of the men were dressed in official looking gold and blue garbs complete with extravagant plated hats and a sword. 

Lucy and Sera’s eyes flashed to the weapons at the waists of the gentlemen before slightly gulping.

“Salutations, host chief Jia. Do you have the items?” said the portly gentleman from before

“Y-yes” the chief said as he signaled his guards to transfer the goods, " and also your Excellency i-if it's not too much trouble I'd like to buy two tickets for the vessel?"

The portly gentleman raised an eyebrow and croossed his arms in disbelief before eyeing Chief Jia up. After regaining his professional like composure he responded,

"Of course at The Millenium Company we believe as long as our customers have the money anything is for sale but are you sure you want to lea-Oh! Is it for them?" asked Captain Takar as he glanced at Lucy and Sera again.

"Yes, yes sir!" 

“Excellent, well as long as you have the necessary funds then they can board our voyage to the Hale continent. You do have the necessary funds correct?” asked the portlier gentleman as his eyes traveled up and down Lucy and Sera’s form before flashing back to the chief.

‘Hale continent?’ Lucy thought as she racked Amara’s memories only to come up empty handed.

“Y-yes, sir here!” chief Jia responded almost robotically as he shuffled through his robes. From within the folds of his robes chief Jia’s hands clasped a small black bamboo box. 

Quickly opening it he presented It to the portly gentleman.

Lucy and Sera’s eyes traveled to the contents of the box the same time as the portly middle-aged looking gentleman yet only their eyes betrayed an expression of surprise. 

Squinting at the slight strange pressure Lucy blinked once then twice at the contents of the box.

‘What! This old fart actually had two rank 4 beast cores on him!’ Lucy and Sera both thought, shocked.

 'More importantly what type of bamboo box could suppress such a strong magical aura?! I'll definitely have to return and thoroughly investigate this island's mysteries. It belongs to me!' vowed Lucy.

“Excellent, this is sufficient. Come along, any luggage you have can be given to my men. I am Charles Takar, captain of the Millenium Trading Company’s Verak voyage. Your quarters will be assigned to you once you board the magic galleon vessel as well as voyage time and expectations. Thank you, for your cooperation.” The overweight middle-aged gentleman said quickly in one breath before curtly turning and walking back towards the ship.

“That’s it?!” Sera asked astounded at the ease of the transaction.

“Yes master. That is all!” The old chief Jia said robotically as he began to sway slowly.

“Well let’s go Sera, we’ve got to board plus now that the psychic command you’ve forced on him has been fulfilled, he won’t be able to remember correctly let alone function for at least 3 days”

The two vampires walked quickly behind the retreating Millenium Trading company men and their awaiting vessels.

 Looking back, they noticed all the goods had been transferred and, in their place, expensive trinkets, foods, weapons, and various other accessories were now being moved by the guards. 

Lucy couldn’t help but lament for the stupidity of the islanders in this transaction. But soon rethought it when she thought of the rarity of some luxuries on this island.

‘Wow I can’t believe I’m finally leaving this place after 21 years! I never thought that I’d get up from that cot at one point.’ Thought Sera as strong emotions welled up inside of her. 

Reaching her hand out to clasp her masters she said aloud  “I swear I’ll serve you faithfully forever”

Lucy didn’t know why the girl got so sentimental all of a sudden, but she couldn’t help but grasp her hand in return.

“You’d better.” She said with a roll of her eyes.

Under the cover of the crescent moonlight and holding hands Lucy and Sera left Verak island aboard the Millenium Trading Company’s magic galleon vessels. 

They knew not what awaited them at their destination, just that it was necessary in rebuilding Amara’s former kingdom, and Lucy’s new kingdom.

Once upon the deck of the boat Lucy and Sera waited patiently for Captain Takar’s further instructions as they took in the vessel. 

Just at first glance it appeared to be a truly fine work of craftmanship and gave Lucy hope that their destination would be civilized. 

Massive masts with mystical looking runes carved into them supported the semi translucent sails that propelled the ship. 

At the very top of the pillar like masts were banners fluttering like a butterfly with the name “Millenium Trading Company” on it.

‘The Hale continent…I wonder where that is?’ thought Lucy as she looked around at the other passengers and crew members on deck.

There were other people on the deck who wore the same bored expressions as the crew, but they were all busy with their own affairs. Some were with children, others were gambling with gold coins on deck tables and hardly noticed the addition of two new arrivals. 

Each passenger had expensive looking garments in eye catching colors, which caught Lucy’s eye immediately.

‘I’d say these people are a bunch of rich folks…’ Lucy thought to herself, ‘It’s comforting to know that some things never change…’ she thought as she and Sera noticed Captain Takar walking towards them.

“Welcome to the Millenium Trading vessel, Polo. I’m sure you wish to rest in your quarters which can be found below deck on using stairs set A to your left and B to your right. Dinner time is at …” droned on the captain with a deadpan expression towards Lucy and Sera.

‘Master, this fat gentleman sure can speak rather fast’ Sera remarked telepathically, causing Lucy to have to suppress a chuckle under the captain’s disinterested gaze.

“… as I’m sure you’ve heard The Southern Sea Region that Verak is located in is quite big. There is however definitely less area that is land than area that is sea, as such we can be considered quite far from the continent of Hale, at least 400 nautical miles…” He continued explaining to the now attentive ears of Lucy and Sera.

“…but as long as you have money, distance means nothing and we here at the Millenium Trading Company expect our magic galleon vessel Polo to dock safely in the town harbor of Port Port Blackwood in a week.” Captain Takar finished with a gasp before promptly walking away to the captain’s cabin tucked in the corner of the ship.

“well that went better than expected” remarked Sera once they were alone, “It appears he nor anyone on this vessel has noticed what we are, I guess we were worried about our eye color for nothing.”

Lucy thought seriously for a moment at Sera’s words. ‘Maybe humans have forgotten about vampires… or maybe just these humans don’t know…’

“Yes, it appears so…” Lucy eventually replied as the cool night air ruffled her hair in a breeze. “… still I would rather not take any chances, we must limit our interactions with humans. Let us go below deck”

As soon as Lucy uttered her suggestion, a strange whistling resounded from one of the pillars supporting the sails on the galleon. Almost at the same time a heavy pressure began to build upon one’s body that abruptly ceased.

 With a raucous lurch the heavy galleon magic vessel sped away from the already distant Verak island coastline. 

Carried on enhanced artificial magical winds, the huge magical galleon vessel Polo, departed for the Hale continent with Lucy and Sera in tow.

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