The underworld....in Tascar, the underworld was both literal and figurative.
Figuratively speaking, the underworld would represent the dark side of Tascar where all kinds of villainous trades that can never be revealed occur. The underworld was a large network covering all of Tascar.
It is said that if one messes with a figure in the underworld, death would be considered a mercy to them.
Literally speaking, the underworld was the second title given to a continent on Tascar. The Demonic Continent, Sheol!
It was where the vilest of Tascar's races resided. Vampires, Wraiths, Ogres, Shadow elves, Fallens, and many more. Each main race had a region of the continent to itself.
The Vampire's region was called Acheron. At a particular location in Acheron was Le Fay, home to the House of the Nights vampire clan. This was where Rei was headed.
............…
The Az manor was not far from Le Fay. In fact, it was within a few hours distance with quality carriages, which was what Damian and Lucian arranged for him.
As the carriage rocked on the Disgress route, Rei peeked outside through a small window. Having been in the Az manor for all his life, he couldn't help but possess a growing curiosity for what the outside world entailed.
Quickly, he sat back on his seat and beamed at his sleeping sister, "Thalia! Thalia! What should I expect from the baptism?"
"Huh, what are you saying?...." Thalia rubbed her sleepy eyes. She tried to recollect Rei's words before she responded with a lazy wink, "You will know when we get there."
"Such a lazy bum," cursed Rei.
He figured that since she was not telling him, she was probably restricted from exposing it.
However, that did not mean he would allow her to sleep, "Hey, Thalia. How long are you staying with me?"
With her head on the long carriage chair, Thalia lazily spoke, "The entire day. I have someone to meet in Le Fay so you won't see me often. After all, it is your day. Don't worry about me."
Being observant, Rei picked up on something she said. He scrunched up his face, "I don't recall you telling mother about that."
To reply that, Thalia turned around and raised her index finger, "One Sanguis."
Sanguis was the main currency used in Sheol. A single sanguis was enough to pay for a normal meal at a normal restaurant.
"Heh, you can't bribe me," Rei shot a look of disgust.
Thalia simply added another finger to the original one finger, "Two sanguis."
"As a vampire, material wealth--"
Thalia raised another, "Three sanguis."
"It is best you quit this--"
Stepping up her game, Thalia multiplied the previous amount, "Ten sanguis."
This time, Rei was left wide-eyed. He found himself unable to speak.
Hell, ten sanguis was enough to but the most exquisite blood drinks. At the thought of that, Rei let out a drool, but he quickly corrected his expression with a cunning grin.
"Cough, Cough. Sister, you know--"
"Twenty sanguis," announced Thalia.
"You think I'm going to sell my honor," Rei boasted wildly.
Suddenly, Thalia turned to face him and shot him a mocking glare, "Would you shut up and accept it? If not, then---"
At the thoughts of his hard-earned money leaving him, Rei interrupted frantically, "--Alright. Alright. I will take it."
Thalia dug into her purse and threw a handful of reddish-gold coins at him.
They were sanguis, minted from one of the rarest magic ores in Sheol.
As soon as he counted the exact number of sanguis, Rei displayed a true degenerate smile, "Sister, it's been nice doing business with you. Be at ease, my lips are forever sealed."
The two siblings later forgot about each other in the carriage. Rei wasn't like Thalia. He couldn't sleep in times like this.
Hence, he closed his eyes and tried to review all that his parent taught him. He didn't need to be a genius to know they would be important in baptism.
Moments later, the carriage driver knocked on the carriage and announced with a loud and energetic tone, "Mr and Miss. Morgen, welcome to Le Fay, the domain of the night. Very shortly, we shall be arriving at Tar city where the nobles reside."
If there was one thing Rei had to say about Le Fay, it was just one word, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Alright, he was joking. His brain possibly couldn't pronounce that word but what he felt towards the domain was along that line. Amazing. Phenomenal. Marvelous!
Immediately he entered Le Fay, dark clouds blocked the sunlight from contacting his skin. Blood roses appeared almost everywhere, spreading the very scents that vampires would kill for.
Red crystal seemed to be a necessary material for all the building structures. They augmented the night vibe Le Fay gave.
The roads were unlike the forest routes he took to get here. They were tarred and well kept, not even a single waste item could be found on them.
From the window, Rei noticed a large statue of a vampiress erected where he was headed. The woman had the basic features of the Morgens; silky black hair, a pale face. She had the sharpest green eyes Rei had ever laid his eyes upon and a tempting figure that could arouse unwanted feelings in any creature, both male and female.
Out of all her features, it was her dressing that attracted him the most. The gothic gown she wore highlighted the tightness of her waist and the robe she wore over it was perfect. It was made out of the fur of an unknown creature but Rei wouldn't be wrong to think it was a legendary creature like dragons and phoenixes. Embroided on her robe was a small abyssal gate. That was the symbol of the Morgens.
His curiosity peaked as he tried to recall where he had seen the figure before.
From his side, Thalia spoke to him, "That is Achlys Morgen, the Morgen ancestor from millennials ago. She was part of the vampires responsible for migrating ups to Tascar."
Rei remembered his mother always spoke about Achlys Morgen. To the eyes of the Morgens, she was akin to a god. She was their darkest light.
Rei pondered, "So, that is Achlys Morgen….."
She was even more memorable in her statue form than the form spoken about in oral tales.
With the invigorated feeling he felt from staring at her, Rei was ready for his baptism.