The Pact: Bruno and the Crimson Veil

Inside a cave in the territory of the Bright Moon Wolves

POV: Bruno

Thrown, one in each corner, I covered the cave entrance with a stone using my last strength. The cave wasn't big, but it was enough for me, Ignis, and that fire horse. There was also a dead Bright Moon Wolf.

We gathered some wood in the snow and made a campfire. Ignis lit it easily.

I was tired and beaten, still remembering that fight.

While fighting the wolves, after being hit by an arrow, one of them almost caught me. But Ignis faced him head-on — it was the same one I had cut before. Even without strength, we kept battling those wolves.

They retreated and attacked, probably I was the hardest prey they had ever hunted. I didn't give up; I fought to the death with every breath in my body.

The fight was intense and lasted until dawn. When only Ignis, two wolves, and I remained, Ignis held one down without letting go while I fought the last one, who, intimidated, fled.

Joining forces, we killed the last wolf left in that cave. But we needed to get out fast. The blood would soon attract predators, and those wolves belonged to the dominant tribe.

But I needed to take the fire horse — he was one of the key pieces for me to get out of there.

I lifted him onto my neck. I didn't know where so much strength came from, but I didn't have to walk far. After about thirty steps, I found a cave and threw the horse inside.

Ignis, for his part, brought a prize: the corpse of a wolf.

We gathered wood, even though it was wet, and lit another fire. I closed the entrance, pushing a large stone that was inside.

With the strength of a vampire and the oval shape of the stone, it shouldn't have been so hard… but it was hell.

POV: Bruno

Thrown on the floor, back to the present moment, I was exhausted. Ignis lay on my chest, and we slept right there, on the cold ground.

My last thought before passing out was:

I'll never complain about a slice-of-life routine again.

I let out a weak laugh before falling asleep.

Time passed. It took a while, but I woke up.

Ignis was on me, licking me, his expression conveying a clear message — even without words: hunger.

I nodded silently and looked at the Bright Moon Wolf. I approached it and sucked all its blood. The taste was horrible, like rotten fish. Nothing like the sweet, warm blood of Flávia...

I missed her.

I started separating the wolf's body into parts. I used some twigs to make a support over the fire and left the meat roasting.

Next to me, the fire horse was weak. His flame diminished every minute.

I cautiously approached and tried to send some of my vitae. With my lack of skill, I only managed to transfer a minimal amount — almost nothing. Still, his flame seemed to stabilize a little.

There wasn't much to do but wait for the meat to roast.

I couldn't eat it myself, but it would feed Ignis and the horse. After all, it was a level 1 wolf — or at least that's how I classified it, since I didn't know exactly the ranks of demonic beasts.

After an hour and a half over the fire, the fur completely burned, and the meat was finally ready. Ignis began devouring it enthusiastically.

I approached the horse. He suddenly opened his eyes, startled, neighing weakly. He looked at me with distrust but was too weak to move.

Then I knelt and helped him eat — bringing the meat to his mouth and forcing him to chew.

POV: Flávia

In a familiar room… yes, Bruno's room.

Flávia was there, lying on the bed. Tears flowed nonstop.

One word echoed endlessly in her mind:

Little bat.

Every time she remembered how he called her, she cried even more. Guilt pressed her chest.

She saw herself divided — between the weak girl who lost the one she loved and the ruler who needed to protect her people.

The demonic beasts weren't attacking. She finally had a little time to rest.

But ironically, it was one of the only times in her entire life that she simply… couldn't sleep.

Lost between love and duty, between guilt and silence, Flávia sank deeper into thoughts that even a vampire's eternity didn't seem able to bear.

POV: Flávia

I brought him into this world… but when something happened, I abandoned him.

How can I think of protecting him if I can't even protect my people?

A persistent doubt hammered in my mind, and it involved a Baron Arcane. I had to keep that thought to myself. Could that old man really have advanced?

That would explain the appearance of the stone gargoyle… but even so, some things didn't fit.

Lost between sadness and inevitable thoughts, I no longer knew what to do. Nor how to act.

But one thing was certain: I couldn't fail twice.

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon. And now it was already Wednesday night.

Bruno… he had slept from Monday dawn until Wednesday night.

Without knowing anything.

Somewhere far away

POV: ???

— Do you think we'll get the relic?

— Without a doubt. The Elder advanced to a Baron Arcane. He faced and defeated the stone gargoyle. The other elders also acted, forcing the beasts to temporarily migrate to other baronates. As soon as we get the relic, maybe our family will give birth to a count! — said an excited voice.

— Don't speak lightly of it — replied another serious voice — The relic… the Coin of Opposite Sides… is an artifact almost level 4. Or maybe a level 3 artifact that surpassed its own limits.

With it, the Supreme Elder will be practically invincible at Baron level.

— Our family already has seven barons: one Arcane Baron, two Guardian Barons, and four novices.

With this artifact in hand, we'll have absolute influence over the surrounding baronates.

Until a count arises… we will be kings.

— That's why this secret must be kept at all costs.

If it leaks, the artifact will be coveted — and my family could be wiped out.

— Yes, sir — answered the excited voice, now more restrained.

Back to the cave

POV: Bruno

I was lying on the floor. My strength was starting to return, although the pain still remained, a product of slow and constant regeneration.

But at least, my wounds were better.

Near me, Ignis was sleeping. On the other side, the fire horse was lying down. Still hostile… but already accepted me. He understood that we could only survive if we stayed together.

I was hungry. The blood of that wolf hadn't been enough to satisfy me.

And I was defenseless.

Without a spear — in which I had only minimal proficiency — and without my chain, which was already at its limit. After being burned and used in combat, it broke into thousands of pieces.

A small piece was still attached to the horse, but it was too short, and I couldn't handle it without the chain base.

Without options, I had to resort to what the environment offered: stones… and bones.

It was a level 1 wolf, equivalent to an apprentice — its body had great resistance.

After Ignis and the horse ate, only bones remained.

I took four of them, from the paws, and began sharpening them like daggers, using stones. It wasn't my strong suit, but it would help.

With these four semi-bone daggers, I aimed at my next target: a young tree about ten steps west of the cave.

It wasn't very thick, and there were vines wrapped around it. Even under the snow, I could see them — so they had to be minimally resistant.

I prepared myself.

I woke Ignis, asking him to watch my back. He was much better than me.

Then I opened the passage and left calmly.

It was night. The moonlight lit the environment. I walked holding a dagger in my left hand — my right was still practically shattered. The other three daggers were stuck in the waistband of my improvised shorts.

I looked around and didn't see any beasts. Ignis, by my side, watched all corners attentively.

I started walking as fast as I could to the tree. It wasn't far, fortunately, but there was still a hole in my leg. Each step was painful — but bearable.

Luckily, the tree wasn't far. Upon arriving, I stuck the bone dagger into its base and, with vampire strength and the support of my leg, I managed to break it.

Crack.

The noise was loud, and snow fell on my body. But I continued.

Ignis, excited, carried a large branch he found nearby, holding it firmly in his mouth.

With the tree on my shoulders, we returned to the cave more slowly. When I put it inside, a growl echoed.

It was a monkey — it looked like a baboon. And it didn't seem to be level 1. Its eyes glowed with anger.

Without hesitation, it charged at me.

It jumped, trying to reach my face, but I was faster: I pulled one of the daggers and stabbed it in its skull mid-air. It fell dead instantly.

Ignis dragged the body inside. I closed the cave entrance with the stone, as before.

Already inside, I observed better. The creature seemed to be almost entering level 1.

Driven by hunger, I sucked all its blood. The taste was even worse than the wolf's — something rotten, like fermented meat.

With no choice, I began cutting the body to roast.

Alone, I separated the thinner branches with leaves and put them on the fire to light it.

Tired… but alive.

After a good while, I analyzed better the tree I had brought. It seemed to have the thickness of an adult eucalyptus — which, honestly, wasn't much.

A huge vine was still wrapped around it, resistant even under the snow.

I put the tree in a corner while I began dividing it into two parts. I wanted to try making an improvised spear.

With a sharp-pointed stone, I started breaking the wood. Thanks to my strength, it gave way easily.

After about 15 minutes, the tree was already divided and cleaned — without the bark, revealing only the inside.

I then began using a stone as a knife, trying to sharpen one of the tips.

It wasn't as difficult as I thought. After all, I already had exactly what I wanted to do in mind.

I looked around and didn't see any beasts. Ignis, by my side, watched all corners attentively.

I started walking as fast as I could to the tree. It wasn't far, fortunately, but there was still a hole in my leg. Each step was painful — but bearable.

Luckily, the tree wasn't far. Upon arriving, I stuck the bone dagger into its base and, with vampire strength and the support of my leg, I managed to break it.

Crack.

The noise was loud, and snow fell on my body. But I continued.

Ignis, excited, carried a large branch he found nearby, holding it firmly in his mouth.

With the tree on my shoulders, we returned to the cave more slowly. When I put it inside, a growl echoed.

It was a monkey — it looked like a baboon. And it didn't seem to be level 1. Its eyes glowed with anger.

Without hesitation, it charged at me.

It jumped, trying to reach my face, but I was faster: I pulled one of the daggers and stabbed it in its skull mid-air. It fell dead instantly.

Ignis dragged the body inside. I closed the cave entrance with the stone, as before.

Already inside, I observed better. The creature seemed to be almost entering level 1.

Driven by hunger, I sucked all its blood. The taste was even worse than the wolf's — something rotten, like fermented meat.

With no choice, I began cutting the body to roast.

Alone, I separated the thinner branches with leaves and put them on the fire to light it.

Tired… but alive.

After a good while, I analyzed better the tree I had brought. It seemed to have the thickness of an adult eucalyptus — which, honestly, wasn't much.

A huge vine was still wrapped around it, resistant even under the snow.

I put the tree in a corner while I began dividing it into two parts. I wanted to try making an improvised spear.

With a sharp-pointed stone, I started breaking the wood. Thanks to my strength, it gave way easily.

After about 15 minutes, the tree was already divided and cleaned — without the bark, revealing only the inside.

I then began using a stone as a knife, trying to sharpen one of the tips.

It wasn't as difficult as I thought. After all, I already had exactly what I wanted to do in mind.

With the first tip already sharp, I set it aside.

Now I would try something riskier.

I took the other half of the tree and repeated the process, but this time I didn't sharpen the tip or make it pointed. I just polished it calmly until it took the shape of a smooth, firm staff.

With the wood already polished, I began opening a hole in the tip — creating the base for a double-pointed spear.

Just below, I made another hole that went completely through the staff.

Then, I started looking for stones around the cave until I found some suitable ones. On the ground, I improvised a small container with deep and hollowed stones.

I put there what remained of the broken chain.

I asked Ignis to melt it. He got excited to help and began casting a continuous flame on the metal.

It took more than ten minutes until the chain began to give way.

As soon as it melted, I positioned the spear with the sharp tip over the liquid metal. I wanted to create a metal protection on its tip — something like a secondary blade.

And it worked. The chain metal formed a thin layer around the tip, hardening over it.

There was still a solid piece of metal left, which I let cool beside it.

Meanwhile, I began crushing some stones carefully, reducing them to small sharp pebbles.

Then, I took a large piece of the wolf's tough skin and the main bone of its spine.

I broke the small lateral branches of the vertebra and kept only the central bone. It fit well on the tip of the staff… but, as expected, it was still loose, ready to fall at any movement.

With the wolf's skin, I prepared a kind of support, molding it like a small firm container.

I used stones to create a base above it, where the solid metal piece could fit.

Everything was ready for the next step: fusing the elements.

I asked Ignis to melt the metal again.

He promptly helped me — excited as always — and I told him to focus the heat from below.

When it started melting and dripping, I waited until about 80% of the metal was liquid. Then I told him to stop.

I took the wolf's skin to hold the hot metal, but even so, it burned my hands. The pain was unbearable… but I had no choice.

I used the skin as support and directed the metal between the space of the bone and the wood, filling everything. This created firm stability for the improvised spear.

Taking advantage of the remaining molten metal, I glued the skin under the base of the bone and the junction with the wood — reinforcing the weapon even more.

I went back to the last piece of metal that had been left. It was the size of a toothpaste tube.

I compared it to the size of the second hole in the improvised bone spear… but it wasn't enough. So I ignored this idea and went to the second option: reinforce the vertebra.

I put the metal in the improvised container once again and asked Ignis to melt it.

While he did this, I added crushed bone and little stones until it became a thick paste. It was a small amount but sufficient.

I dipped the tip of the bone spear in this mixture.

The paste infiltrated the small spaces of the vertebra, filling and stabilizing the internal structure.

What was left of the mixture solidified on the tip of the spear.

It was a bit irregular.

So I spent a good time sharpening and melting more metal with Ignis's help.

The process was slow, but in the end, I had two weapons to defend myself.

They were two spears — but very different from each other.

One was perfect for precise piercing.

The other… was a combat spear. I could fight with it, even with my limited knowledge.

The last thing missing was the vine.

It was thick, and I could feel it had some vitae running inside — probably a material close to level 1.

I already had an idea of what to do with it.

I took my four improvised daggers and stuck them in the tip of the vine, creating something like a primitive, sturdy, and functional hook.

It was little that I had.

But at that moment… I was happy.

And with that thought… I went to sleep.

After a few hours of rest, I woke up with Ignis licking my face. His clumsy voice whispered something:

— D-day...

I got up with difficulty, still feeling pain. Through the crack above the stone, daylight entered softly.

And that reminded me of something: I urgently needed to hunt to recover.

I took the spear with the metal tip, ready to go explore…

But then I remembered one thing: I still needed a knife.

I wanted to make one the previous day, but tiredness got the best of me.

Fortunately, it wasn't difficult. I just needed stone and bone.

I made one quickly.

I took the bones that remained from the monkey I killed.

I used a stone to break and sharpen another smaller stone until it had an acceptable point.

Then, I attached a bone fragment to the side of the stone and tied them with strips made from the monkey's tail skin, wrapping until firmly fixed.

It was done.

A rustic knife… but functional.

I removed the stone from the cave entrance and left with the spear in hand, ready to face the world.