Crimson Core

As if that day was just yesterday…

The earth felt cold, hard, and damp beneath him. His body ached all over, oddly enough his eyes were shut.

He struggled to his feet as he opened his eyes. His legs trembled unsteadily. It didn’t take long for him to realize he was in the woods after regaining his composure. His mind was still foggy with no memory of how he had arrived. The day hadn’t yet faded into night, so he had decent visibility.

He surveyed himself and found no injuries, which filled him with relief. Nearby, he spotted a gleaming black sphere on the ground. It seemed to call to him. Upon picking it up and examining it, he noticed a red heart engraved on the ball, almost as if it were pulsating.

In a sudden burst of light, the sphere quivered and shot out of his grasp, it hovered in the air about two meters above the ground.

A white light streamed out from the hovering sphere, and an elderly man cloaked in a red-embroidered black robe materialized from within the light. He exuded an air of regality, with his black hair and striking red eyes.

“You have survived. Ah, there is hope,” the man declared, his voice rough, ancient, and accompanied by a smile.

“What do you want from me?!” Kai inquired, as he attempted to maintain a tough demeanor. He responded with a smile.

“You will see.”

The moment the floating man said those words a brilliant, a blinding light flashed. It didn’t take long before Kai felt a chilling breeze against his right chest. He used his hands to investigate, he felt stickiness on his fingers as they met his chest.

He looked at his hands, they were stained with blood. A wicked smile adorning the man’s face, that was the last thing Kai saw. It was at that moment that he realized he had made a grave mistake… He was finished.

“Son, don’t resist it,” the man said as Kai slipped into unconsciousness.

He simply couldn’t discern how much time had passed, but upon waking, the man remained. It felt like a dream to him though, as the wound from the attack had inexplicably vanished.

“What have you done to me?” Kai said as he struggled to contain his rising anger.

Calmly, the old man revealed, “I have replaced your heart with my devil’s heart.” He paused, grinning, and inquired, “How do you feel?”

Overwhelmed by the turn of things, he blurted out, “I feel… I feel… Dead and yet alive, in ways I’ve never experienced before.”

Still chuckling, he responded, “Hahaha, good. But there’s more. I have a task for you.”

“Tell me,” Kai demanded.

It all felt weird, how was he having a conversation with the hallucination of a man before him.

“Firstly, my name is Salinger. I am your birth father, and I used to lead the blood mage clan…” Salinger detailed concerning the ball, which was now within Kai, having replaced his heart.

Kai stood there dumbfounded as he assimilated the surprising information from the man, who claimed to be his father.

After a bit of time he inquired, “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to restore honor to the blood clan. I care not for the means—whether it involves killing, cheating, or stealing. By any method, restore the glory to the blood clan.” Salinger declared with a grave expression.

Salinger urged, “Your first task is to leave this forest and head into the city and don’t forget to enjoy yourself.” He began to fade away.

After gathering his thoughts and regaining his composure, Kai pondered, ‘What should I do now? He mentioned having fun; what does that even mean?’

Feeling famished, he set out to find something to eat. It didn’t take long before he came across a tree with assorted fruits. In a haste, he plucked and tasted them; experiencing a mix of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors all at once.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, he spewed the fruits from his mouth. He was still hungry, so he sought out a tree bearing rose-colored fruits, only to encounter the same unpalatable outcome. This repeated with the third, fourth, and fifth trees, leaving him feeling tense, frustrated, worn out, and ravenous. He scanned the surroundings once again but found nothing else, he was on the verge of cursing the heavens for his adverse luck.

It wasn’t long before he felt something go terribly wrong with him. Soon, he felt a strange sensation, as if something inside him had shifted. His transformation was swift. His hair began to grow rapidly, his vision tinted with a crimson hue.

His body underwent a series of startling changes: his chest expanded, his legs extended, and his heels reached up towards his thighs. His teeth was not spared from the transformation as his canines had grown into menacing fangs, and he had become a Ghoul.

As his surroundings blurred, he struggled to control his movements…

When he eventually regained consciousness, he was plagued by a splitting headache. He was relieved to find that he had returned to his normal state. Kai noticed that it was already morning. Surveying the area, he was taken aback to see an unsettling sight: twenty dried-up rabbits scattered around him. “Did I do all this?”

He was dumbfounded by the implications of his surroundings. After recollecting his thoughts, he glanced around and realized that he was still in the forest. At least that had not changed.

He, fearing that someone might discover the dead rabbits, frantically dug into the ground to bury their carcasses. It didn’t take long for him to cover up the hole he dug.

After the strenuous activity, it was clear that his body was drenched in blood, with his clothes torn from the transformation. Desperate for a way to cleanse himself, he wandered through the forest until he stumbled upon a small lake. Kai could finally wash away the stains.

Emerging from the water, he felt refreshed. Upon retrieving his clothes, he realized they were beyond wearing. Feeling dejected, he scanned the area and spotted a black robe on the ground, with a note attached that read:

Hahaha, fruits are no good.

Kai, remember to consume more blood. You are my son, strive to be superior and wise. The town should be ahead.

“This man again…” He muttered to himself as he donned the robe and advanced towards the town.

At the edge of the forest, the city came into view. Although it wasn’t too far from where he stood, an instinctive fear of the sunlight kept him from venturing closer. The scorching heat deterred him from entering the city, and returning to the forest was not an option. He drew a conclusion to wait for nighttime.

It wasn’t long before he found a suitable place to lay his head and rest. He remained there until nighttime, unaware that his life was on the cusp of a profound change as soon as he entered the city. After the sun had set, the city’s streets were illuminated by candlelight lanterns.

It didn’t take long before he had awakened from his enforced sleep and was now making his way towards the city gate, which was guarded by two sentinels.

One of the guards, dressed in the humble yellow garb of a 6th rank soldier, stepped forward, attempting to exude authority. “Halt! Declare your reason for seeking entry to the city,” he demanded.

“I have come in search of employment to earn my keep,” Kai replied, feigning a pitiable demeanor.

“Pay the city’s entry fee.” The 4th rank guard drawled slowly from his lofty perch. Kai had to act quickly, as he was penniless.

“I have no money, my parents succumbed to a mysterious illness, and I’m left with nothing as my uncles seized everything from me, leaving only these clothes. I could part with my shoes; they might fetch something.”

“Your shoes seem rather valuable. They’ll do. Take them off and enter the city.”

Thankfully, his half-truth resonated, allowing him to enter the city barefoot. The stone pathway felt chilly, as if it had recently rained. ‘This must be magic,’ he mused, as there hadn’t been any rain or snow.

This part of the city must be the slums. It looked good but not beautiful, and it was poorly lit as there was a shortage of lanterns, from what he saw. Still looking around to choose his next step. Suddenly he heard the sounds of horses.

“Hey, get out of the way!!”

That was all he heard then his line of sight changed. His eyes looked towards the dark sky; he was on the floor. He felt too weak to stand up from the cold hard ground.

Surprisingly he felt no pain, so he had to think; to make the accident look real he closed his eyes. Still lying on the ground, some footsteps were heard.

He didn’t know who it was, but he had a feeling it was a man. It was as though he could sense the blood flow of the person approaching him, albeit faintly.

“Gilbert, is he still alive?”

The entrancing angelic voice belonged to the owner of the carriage and the person by Kai’s side was her chauffeur. “Milady, I cannot ascertain.”

This just dragged him out of his trance, the voice had that recently sounded was the exact opposite, it was gruff and professional, void of emotions.

“Bring him into the carriage,”

“Milady, I do not think it is wise.”

“Sigh….Gilbert just do it.”

“If you insist, milady.” Gilbert lifted Kai off the ground as though he was weightless… Making Kai feel weak.

This man was strong. He took Kai into the carriage and placed him in the most uncomfortable position. They started moving to the lady’s residence. Kai decided to take a peek at the lady who helped him. He didn’t keep his hopes up as he took a glimpse of the lady sitting before him.

There she was, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen; not that he had seen a lot of women. She had full blue locks of hair, emerald colored eyes, a small nose, and small but defined lips.

Kai moved his line of sight lower, and almost vomited blood. She was heavenly. The lady before him was clad in a blue-flowered dress. He could not see more of her beauty as the dress had covered it all, but truth be told she looked stunning in her dress. He closed his eyes to avoid any unwanted events.

The lady sitting before him was the daughter of the city Lord, Lord Marshall Walter. Her name was Chelsea.

The ride went on for some time, then the sounds of gates opening was heard.

“Open the gates!!, lady Chelsea has arrived!”

‘Seems she is important.’ He said to himself as the carriage came to a stop inside the manor. The carriage door was opened by a man who Kai guessed was Gilbert.

“Gilbert, kindly escort him to the guest room upstairs and summon the family doctor to attend to him,” Chelsea instructed as she disembarked from the carriage and entered the estate.

“Yes, milady,” Gilbert responded.

He effortlessly lifted Kai from the carriage as if he weighed nothing at all. Carrying him into the mansion, Kai gazed around and could only think of one word: Magnificent. The mansion was fit for a king. Gilbert escorted him to the designated room where he was to remain.

Gilbert placed him on the bed and quickly left after a cursory glance. Kai lay there, feeling uncertain about what was in store for him. As time passed with no one in sight, he found himself drifting back to his days in the woods, pondering the purpose of the mysterious artefact and his inexplicable thirst for blood.

What had he become, and why was it so difficult to comprehend? The rapid healing of his injuries, what did it mean? The strange blend of vitality and emptiness within me, and the creeping fear of sunlight left him utterly confounded. “Sigh.”

Kai was preparing to rise from his position and stretch his legs while in the process but the sound of the door opening caught his attention. He remained still, keeping his eyes open, as Chelsea entered the room.

She had changed into a stunning white dress, and the flickering candlelight illuminated her figure, creating an enchanting aura around her.

“I’m sorry for hitting you,” she said, her voice like music to his ears. He couldn’t help but smile as he replied,

“Thank you for rescuing me.”

“It was nothing. By the way, I hope you recover soon. I would love to get to know you better. Please cooperate with Melinda, the nursing maid. She will take care of you until the family doctor returns from the healer’s summit. He’ll be back soon. Now, I must go and inform my father that you’re here.”

With a warm smile, she left the room, leaving him to contemplate his next move. Lost in thought, he was startled when the door opened again, revealing a woman dressed in a black maid’s uniform.

“Hello, young sir. I am Melinda, the nursing maid. I will be taking care of you until the doctor returns or until you recover. I suggest you take a bath, and I will prepare it for you,” Melinda said, not with much respect but with enough etiquette of a woman who had served a lot of nobles

Turning to head towards the bathroom; It was then that he noticed her striking beauty, her black hair swaying with each movement. Kai couldn’t help but wonder if all the women in this city were as captivating as she was..

Meanwhile, Chelsea made her way towards her father’s study, her heart pounding with guilt.

“Father, I hit a man,” she exclaimed, knowing that her father had a soft spot for her.

City Lord Marshall, a towering figure with blue hair and pale sapphire eyes, turned his attention away from the neatly arranged books on the shelf to look at his daughter.

“You hit a man, huh? Is he dead?” he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“father! How could you say that? He’s not dead, he’s in guest room number four,” exclaimed Chelsea in disbelief, at the extent her father’s humur had twisted

“Is that so? I would like to see him, take me there,” He replied to the determined Chelsea.

City Lord Marshall emerged from his study, with Chelsea leading the way and stepped into the room where Kai was being checked on by Melinda, the nursing maid.

“Mi Lord, milady,” greeted Melinda with a bow as soon as she saw them enter the room.

“Yes, how is he?” inquired the city Lord, looking at Melinda as if he recognized her.

“Mi Lord, he is getting better. He just lacks blood, which is why he is weak.” explained Melinda.

“Right, take care of him. When he is well, let him go,” Commanded the city Lord assertively.

“Thank you, Father,” expressed Chelsea, happily.

“Yes, Chelsea, I have to go now. Later,” said the city Lord as he walked out of the room with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Melinda, please take care of him,” Chelsea instructed. “I will come and see you tomorrow.”

“Milady, I would do my best to make him get better,” replied Melinda with a bow.

“Yes, by the way, bathe him, will you?” Chelsea added before leaving the room.

“Yes, milady.” responded Melinda, bowing again until Chelsea exited the room.

Alone in the room with Melinda, he opened his eyes. It wasn’t long before he felt something, an intense thirst, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He knew what he needed.

“Melinda… Melinda, I need blood,” he whispered.

“I didn’t hear what you said, could you repeat?” She leaned closer to his lips.

“I said I need blood!” He repeated this time in a forced whisper; his eyes shimmering with a red tint as his canines grew into fangs. He swiftly sank his fangs into Melinda’s neck, using his hands to suppress her screams.

After some time, he released her from his grasp. Melinda was left trembling and flushed in the face.

“What… What did you do to me?” she began to panic. “What did you— what is happening to your eyes—”

“YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR ACTIVITIES NORMALLY AND FORGET WHAT HAPPENED,” Sounded a gruff loud voice out of his mouth. Her eyes glistened with a red hue for some time then they dimmed out.

He didn’t know how, or why he said those words. It just felt normal.

“Young sir, your bath, it’s time,” Melinda said as though nothing had just transpired.

“Yes,” he agreed half lost in thoughts. ‘Did I just compel her to forget what happened?!’

He was still lost in thoughts when she entered the room, “Your bath is ready young sir.”

“Oh, thank you,” he stood up from his bed with his newfound strength. Mostly, it was what he got from the blood he just drank.

Kai walked towards the door of the bathroom, he expected Melinda to open the door and lead the way but no one came. He looked around and saw a blushing Melinda staring at him. Kai followed her line of sight; he saw a tent made by his hot rod in his robe. He honestly thought it as nothing.

“Please Melinda! My bath, I don’t have all day.” she snapped out of her daze as Kai said those words.

“I am sorry young sir.” she led the way to the bathroom, trying to hide her embarrassed expression.

It was not long, Kai walked out the bathroom as Melinda walked out of his room. Her face was flushed and she walked funny.

The image of Kai on the mirror was that of a tall, pale boy with silver-colored hair, abyssal jet-black eyes. His long legs were on the verge of being too long, a broad chest, crowned with an athletic build. He was seductively alluring.

He watched himself for a bit more time. He felt that some thing was different, he could feel it. Confused, he walked away from the body mirror and walked towards the bed assigned to him.

Kai lay on his bed facing the bathroom door, he was in a long train of thought. He simply could not wrap his head around what had just happened.

With her out of the room, his mind became clear. The room itself was beyond quiet. He began to ask himself questions that he did not know the answer to, ‘What did I just do to the nursing maid? Why did my eyes glow red? Why did she obey my commands easily? Did I just control her mind?’

All these questions ran through his mind, the questions he had multiplied as time went by but he had no answers.