The cobblestone streets of Covenus shimmered under the warm lantern glow, their soft orange reflections dancing over the evening mist that had drifted down from the cliffs. Merchants were closing stalls, families were returning home, and yet—among the bustle—two silhouettes walked together at a slower, gentler pace.
Lucien and Eslene.
They moved side by side with a quiet comfort, as if the horrors of the Shadow Realm had loosened their tongues and softened their hearts.
Lucien broke the silence first.
“How was your injury?”
Eslene glanced at him, brushing her hair behind her ear.
“All healed,” she said softly, “thanks to your brother.”
Lucien’s lips lifted into a bright, unrestrained smile.
“He’s amazing, isn’t he?”
Eslene blinked, surprised by the brightness on his face.
“Well, well… look what we have here.” She chuckled lightly.
“This is the widest smile I’ve seen since the day I met you.”
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck, laughing under his breath.
“Is it?”
“Yes,” she teased, nudging his arm lightly.
They continued strolling.
“So,” Eslene added, her voice softening, “you finally reached your brother.”
Lucien shook his head.
“Not fully. But we met… we talked. It was brief, but… I felt something connect back.”
His smile faded into something quieter—something honest.
“I was worried, you know,” Lucien admitted.
“That after his awakening… Kevlar would be unrecognizable. Like the brother I knew was gone.”
He inhaled slowly.
“But he wasn’t. And he made sure I knew that the moment we met.”
Eslene watched him with gentle eyes.
“That’s good then.”
She hesitated.
“You know… I feared Kevlar too.”
Lucien turned to her, confused.
Eslene continued, voice steady but soft:
“He was a mysterious figure who suddenly became the center of every conversation. The Shadowborn. A terrifying, invincible force. When I first heard of him, I feared him. But at the same time, I was… curious.”
She glanced sideways at Lucien.
“When I learned that the Shadowborn was your brother, I had a hundred questions. But… I kept them all to myself. And I waited. Waited until everything slowly revealed itself.”
Lucien smiled faintly.
“And did you find your answers?”
She stopped walking. Turned toward him.
Her eyes softened.
“Yes. And the answer is the same as yours.”
Lucien raised a brow.
“Oh… and that’s it?”
Eslene began walking again, hands clasped behind her back.
“Yes. That’s all. Funny, right?”
“All that fear, all those questions… and the answer was so simple: I’m glad he’s still Kevlar.”
Lucien exhaled, relieved.
They continued strolling until Lucien suddenly said:
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“You know… you said that was the widest smile you’ve ever seen from me?”
Eslene nodded.
“Yes?”
Lucien smiled softly.
“There was another time.”
Eslene blinked in confusion.
“When?”
Lucien stepped a little ahead, turned, and looked her straight in the eyes.
“When I first saw you.”
She froze.
A blush crept over her cheeks—quick, bright, and impossible to hide.
“I-I… was it? I… I didn’t notice—”
Lucien stepped closer, gently holding her hand. She looked up, breath caught, heart racing.
His voice softened.
“Eslene… I liked you.”
Her lips parted, voice nearly trembling.
“L-liked?… Me?”
Lucien nodded.
“Yes. Back then… I liked you.”
His grip tightened ever so gently.
“Now I’m sure. I love you.”
Eslene’s breath stopped completely.
Lucien continued, eyes locked with hers.
“And I want to be with you—no matter what ordeal comes.”
Eslene’s heartbeat hammered against her ribs. For a moment she felt naked—exposed—but then something inside her steadied.
She exhaled, calmness replacing her shock.
“What if… our parents don’t approve of us?”
Lucien answered without hesitation.
“Then I’ll fight until they do. No matter how long it takes.”
A small smile formed on Eslene’s lips—shy, radiant, warm.
“Okay.”
Her fingers intertwined with his.
“Then… I’ll fight beside you.”
Lucien’s face lit up. He pulled her into a warm embrace, and she wrapped her arms around him with a smile she didn’t bother hiding.
From afar—on the balcony—Elric and Mereth watched.
Both wore proud, gentle smiles.
The crimson sky above the Vampire Domain stretched endlessly, casting long shadows across the towering fortress of iron-black spires. The Crimson Citadel loomed in the distance, colossal gates forged from obsidian and sealed with ancient blood runes.
As Kevlar, Draculius, and Lilith approached, the gates groaned open—an honor reserved for only two individuals:
The reigning Duchess…
and The Progenitor.
Awaiting them stood a formal welcoming procession. At the front: Duchess Camilia, moon reflecting black-haired, confident, and looking entirely too excited.
Draculius sighed.
“Camilia… this parade is unnecessary. I do not rule over your people.”
Camilia scoffed.
“Nonsense. You are my father. That makes you above me—even if I sit on the throne.”
She glanced sharply at the assembled Royal One.
“Not to mention, you’re the reason these idiots even exist.”
“Do they even dare to complain about it?”
The gathered Royal One stiffened under her gaze.
“We would never dare disrespect Lord Draculius!”
“He is revered as a god—”
But their tone shifted when their eyes slid toward Kevlar—an yet known, unconfirmed outsider.
Several narrowed their eyes.
Lilith saw it. Camilia saw it.
Draculius especially saw it.
Kevlar pretended not to notice.
Camilia approached him with a bright grin.
“Kevlar!”
She practically leapt toward him.
Lilith slid between them, palm to Camilia’s forehead.
“Back. Off.”
“Uwah—sister! You’re so selfish! You used to share everything with me when we were little!”
Lilith muttered,
“And spoiling you back then is now my greatest regret…”
Kevlar chuckled.
“We should discuss what happened at the realm border.”
But before they moved, one of the Royal One spoke sharply:
“Isn’t it impudent for you to stand so close to our Duchess?”
Another chimed in, arrogance dripping from his tongue:
“You’re a servant at best, following behind Lord Draculius and Lady Lilith. Do not overstep you insect.”
Lilith’s and Draculius’s auras flickered like a snapped fuse—but they held back.
Kevlar did not.
His smile remained.
Then his aura exploded.
It surged outward like a tidal wave—silent, heavy, suffocating.
The city trembled.
The stone walls cracked.
And every Royal One crashed to their knees as if mountains pinned their backs to the earth.
The two who insulted him choked on their breath.
Kevlar leaned slightly toward them.
“So?”
“Am I still a servant? An insect?”
They shook in silence, unable to speak.
Kevlar scoffed.
“Cowards.”
He withdrew his aura, and the trembling earth stilled.
Camilia clapped her hands lightly.
“Now, shall we continue this inside?”
As Kevlar walked past the kneeling Royal One, Camilia remained behind. She paused… turned…
And flicked a finger.
A thin crimson lash shot from her shadow—
SHLKT.
—bisecting one of the insolent Royal One cleanly in half.
His remains spilled across the stones.
The others froze in horror.
Camilia’s voice dropped several degrees in temperature.
“Kevlar is my beloved guest—and someone my father personally brought here.”
“Insulting him is insulting my father.”
She raised her hand, pointing to the corpse.
“This is your only warning. Next time?”
Her eyes glowed crimson gold.
“It will be all of you.”
She turned and walked inside the citadel, heels echoing through the shocked silence.
On one of the citadel’s towers, a tall Royal One observed the entire massacre. His eyes were cold, calculating.
His subordinate waited nervously behind him.
The Royal One lowered his hood.
“Begin the preparation,” he ordered quietly.
“It all ends tonight.”
The subordinate stiffened.
“Yes, my lord.”
A treacherous plan began to stir.
One that would soon plunge the Crimson Citadel into the most dangerous night it had faced in centuries.
