The First Vampire

 

In the quiet room, Vera was lying face-up on the bed.

Her face was as white as paper, her breathing weak, and in her delicate expression, there was a persistent resolution that couldn’t be quite described.

At the bedside, Turennes prayed intently, his body radiating a holy white light as he performed a Healing Technique.

The Healing Technique performed by the Cardinal himself would, of course, yield highly effective results, but Vera showed no signs of waking up.

As time wore on, Turennes’s forehead became covered in a cold sweat, and the luminescence radiating from the holy symbol on his chest flickered, suggesting he was on the brink of exhaustion.

However, he didn’t dare stop.

For, on either side of him, Colin and Marquis Garcia were watching him. He could imagine that if he failed to heal Vera, his life would likely be in grave danger.

There was no need to question Colin, whose murderous intentions were clearly displayed in his eyes.

And Marquis Garcia was surprisingly murderous as well, a fact that Turennes found hard to comprehend.

He had dared to approach Marquis Garcia earlier thinking that the man could be potential ally.

After all, no matter how close his relationship with his niece Vera was, faced with the enticing prospect of capturing the Northern Duke easily, Turennes believed that Marquis Garcia would make the “right” decision.

But reality slapped him in the face.

Marquis Garcia showed absolutely no desire for the Northern Duke, and when he saw Vera lying lifelessly on the bed, the murderous intentions in his eyes were as intense as Colin’s.

Turennes was utterly perplexed.

And what perplexed him even further was why had Vera spared Colin?

Had the Lord of Glory really abandoned his believers?

Turennes felt his faith crumbling bit by bit…

Eventually, Turennes consumed the last of his Divine Power under Colin and Marquis Garcia’s watchful, murderous eyes.

He collapsed in front of the bed, shaking his head helplessly:

“I’m sorry… Duke’s condition… I… really can’t help…”

“What do you mean you can’t help?” Marquis Garcia grabbed Turennes’s collar and growled, “Why has Vera ended up like this?”

Turennes realized that the Pope’s plan had failed utterly. He could only tell the truth:

“During Duke’s baptism, she received the Pope’s blessing technique. This technique greatly improves the recipient’s affinity with the Holy Light, which is beneficial to the knight’s training. ȒΆ𐌽О₿Ɛȿ

But in fact, it has a hidden effect.

It can control the Patient’s mind through a certain stimulation method, commanding them to obey unconditionally for a short period.

Three days ago, when I saw Duke in the Prayer Hall of the Central Cathedral in Winterfell city, I planned to stimulate the hidden effect of the blessing technique and wanted her to assassinate Count Angler…

But… but I don’t know why this happened?”

Colin added coldly: “Just now, Vera did try to assassinate me, but at the last moment, she stopped herself. It was clear from her expression that she was desperately struggling against the God’s technique that was controlling her mind.”

Turennes wore a face of disbelief, shaking his head: “No, no one can resist God’s technique! That’s the glory of the Supreme Lord, nobody can resist it!”

Colin snorted, retorting sarcastically: “Considering the dirty deeds you’ve been doing, you actually dare to mention Lord’s glory? Quit the nonsense, how is this God’s technique removed? Don’t tell me you can’t.”

“I can’t indeed,” Turennes, seeing Colin’s deadly stare, immediately added, “Only His Holiness the Pope can remove this God’s technique. However, even if His Holiness the Pope is willing to remove the God’s technique for Duke, I’m afraid it will be of no avail…”

“Why?” Marquis Garcia asked urgently.

“This divine technique involves the domain of human will, which is a forbidden territory for mortals, rarely, even the Pope can temporarily control the patient.

As for the Duke… such a case has never appeared in history.

But I speculate that Duke must have forcibly sealed his consciousness to battle the control of the divine technique. In this case, even if the divine technique is disengaged, it becomes impossible to awaken the Duke, and healing techniques are of no use…”

“So how exactly can we wake Vera?”

“This…” Turennes said indecisively, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, “This… might have to…it all depends on the Duke…”

“Depends on her?” Colin clenched his teeth and asked, “Does that mean she might never wake up?”

Turennes kept his head down, not daring to look into Colin’s murderous gaze, he whispered quietly :

“There…there is a possibility…”

“So, you neither have a way for Vera to wake up nor can you estimate when she will awaken?” Marquis Garcia’s tone suddenly became quiet, quiet enough to make one’s heart pound. “Then what is your use?”

Turennes immediately grabbed Marquis Garcia’s arm and begged:

“Marquis Garcia, don’t act impulsively! At such a critical time, the Empire cannot afford a civil unrest…”

The Cardinal’s words ended abruptly.

Because, a horrid gash formed in his throat.

He tried futilely to close it up with his hands, but blood with bubbles seeped out through his fingers.

“Help…gasp…help me…gasp…”

Colin watched coldly without any intention of stopping or rescuing the Cardinal.

After Turennes breathed his last, Marquis Garcia looked at Colin impassively and asked:

“I plan to declare war against the Church. If you want to quit, it’s still not too late to distance yourself from the St. Hilde family.”

Colin drew his sword without hesitation and beheaded Turennes, saying:

“Marquis, I’ve actually wanted to do this for a long time. I just didn’t expect you to be a step faster than me.”

Marquis Garcia stared at Colin for a long time, then heavily nodded and said:

“Good! I didn’t misjudge you!”

With that, he gestured for Colin to follow him and walked out with confident strides.

As Colin didn’t seek to conceal the news of Vera’s unconscious state, many people were anxiously waiting outside the door.

When the heavy wooden door was pushed open, and they started to ask their questions, they were horrified to see Marquis Garcia walking out covered in blood.

Behind him, Count Angler was holding a skull —

The skull of Cardinal Turennes of the Glorious Church!

Marquis Garcia’s cold eyes slowly scanned the faces of the crowd, and then he loudly declared:

“Cardinal Turennes of the Glorious Church conspired and secretly attacked Duke St. Hilde, causing her to fall into a coma. She is currently in an unknown state of survival!

Thus, I, Garcia St. Hilde, along with the guardian of the North Territory, Count Angler, call on all vassals of the St. Hilde family, all Lords of the North Territory, and all loyal knights to uphold your oaths and declare war on the mastermind behind this despicable attack –

The Pope, Gregory!”

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