The treasury was not far, at least according to Valtheriz.
Seth followed him through a side corridor branching off the throne room, his shoes squelching with every step from the blood still clinging to them. Valtheriz moved with deliberate poise, but Seth noticed the faintest wobble in his stride, like a man trying very hard to pretend he hadn't lost all credibility a few moments ago.
"Just to be clear," Seth muttered, wiping dried streaks of red from his cheek, "if this turns out to be another one of your pathetic blood tricks, I'm walking."
Valtheriz's back stiffened. "You insult me, mortal. The Nightborne treasury is legendary. Vaults of silver, relics of kingdoms that no longer exist, crowns taken from fallen kings... all of it rests within these walls."
They arrived at a heavy iron door, half-buried in dust and cobwebs. The metal was etched with ancient runes, though many had faded. Valtheriz extended his hand and pressed his palm against the center. For a moment, nothing happened.
Seth raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
The vampire king scowled, muttered something in a language that grated like broken glass, and pressed harder. This time, faint crimson lines pulsed through the carvings, spreading outward until the entire door shimmered and rumbled open.
Beyond lay darkness.
Cold air rushed out like the exhale of some buried giant. Seth stepped closer, peering into the black. The torches on the walls inside the room flickered to life, brightly illuminating stacked chests, heaps of coins, and glittering objects buried beneath layers of dust.
"See?" Valtheriz spread his arms dramatically. "Wealth enough to topple nations."
Seth walked inside slowly, his eyes adjusting. There was, undeniably, treasure here: heaps of gold, strange jewelry, weapons that looked more ceremonial than practical. But the piles were smaller than he expected. The "legendary treasury" seemed more like the leftovers of a long-forgotten hoard.
It seemed even Valtheriz could notice the smallish size of the treasure the more he looked at it.
He heard him mutter something like, "I could have sworn there was more in here..."
He squatted by a chest and pried it open. Inside were coins, dull and tarnished, stamped with sigils he didn't recognize. "I don't know what you're paying with, but this isn't exactly spending cash where I come from."
Valtheriz frowned. "Gold is gold. Any merchant with half a brain will bow before it."
Seth tossed a coin into the air, caught it, and slipped it into his pocket. "Fine. But if this ends up being worthless, I'm not dragging your undead ass around."
The vampire king's eye twitched. "You should feel honored to even stand in my presence. You are the first mortal in centuries to set foot in this hall. Together, we could conquer kingdoms."
Seth leaned against a chest. "Or, hear me out, I could take a handful of your shiny coins and just... leave."
For a brief, dangerous second, the room grew colder. Valtheriz's red eyes glowed sharper, his voice low. "Do not test me, mortal. You may mock my power now, but the pact has already begun."
Seth froze. "Pact?"
The vampire grinned, showing too many teeth. "That cut upon your hand was no accident. Your blood mingled with the altar, binding you to me. You cannot walk away so easily. Your life... and mine... are now entwined."
"Although it really should have been the divine blood of a god that would have increased my power even more, those damn followers of mine couldn't do anything right..."
Seth's stomach sank. He glanced at the faint cut on his thumb. The sting was gone, but a thin crimson mark lingered, pulsing faintly as if something moved beneath his skin.
"You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.
Valtheriz's laughter echoed in the chamber, bouncing off stone and gold alike. "Kidding? No. This is destiny. You are mine now, Seth. And together, we shall bring the Hollowshade kingdom back to glory!"
Seth pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, "Fantastic. I've been in this world for what, three days? And I'm already blood-bound to a delusional vampire hoarder."
Valtheriz ignored the insult, striding deeper into the vault, his cloak dragging over scattered coins. "Come. There is much to prepare. If my power has seemingly 'waned', then yours must grow. We will need both."
Seth stared at the treasure, at the strange artifacts glinting in the shadows, then at the pale monarch who had somehow shackled him to this mess.
He sighed.
"Fine. But first," he said, voice flat, "you're buying me a clean shirt."