[Two days after the fall of the Ariel Capital]

We’ve made it to a nice place to setup a camp, a small patch of land down near a waterfall. Well, it might be better to say that it breaks off from the river where the waterfall pours into.

The camp blends in quite well since Lia and I put in a lot of work to make sure we wouldn’t be found.

Two days worth of digging around the woods to find the perfect camouflage to keep us from being found. It also took some work to cover the tracks completely since we don’t want to be followed.

Amelia is still grieving over the events that happened at the capital but there is a high chance Remi never died.

"What exactly is the plan here Dante?" Lia asks while standing before me, her arms crossed.

"Rest for a bit and then Amelia needs some training," I respond while looking towards Amelia.

She’s sitting over by the water, almost completely out of it.

"She also is grieving," Lia says with a calm tone.

"I understand how it is. I’ve lost everything before my eyes too," I reply while keeping a calm tone.

"Well if we are staying here for awhile, what about food?" Lia asks with concern in her voice.

"We hunt animals," I answer without hesitation.

I have noticed quite a bit of animals in the forest around us so we shouldn’t have a problem finding food. She probably assumed I didn’t think about them needing it since I’m a vampire.

"When are we hunting then?" Lia asks.

"I’ve already hunted a bit earlier. There are some rabbits hanging over by the tents," I respond with a laid back tone.

A look of relief forms on her face as she looks past me.

"I’m glad you remembered that we need real food," Lia says with a small smile.

"Hard to forget that she’s a human and you’re an elf haha," I reply with a chuckle.

I walk over with her to the rabbits and help get them setup to cook. There’s something bothering me lately too.

As the rabbits cook I look at Lia for a few seconds, really taking in her appearance a bit more. She is a lot more beautiful than I initially thought.

I didn’t really look at her in that light when we first met... Just someone who decided to join me as a companion. I definitely need to get to know more about her as well.

There’s a lot that she could tell me about since elves do have a long life span like vampires. (Ours lasting forever if we’re smart).

Obviously I am part of the younger generation of my kind but there is a lot for me to learn. I didn’t get the chance to learn from my mother since she was waiting for the right time.

That time being when I was finally done learning how to fight from my father.

I trained a lot the last few years before the attack happened. We were constantly training everyday after each meal... It was to keep me sharp.

That much I know now.

"You seem like you’re in thought," Lia speaks up, interrupting the sudden silence.

"A lot happened lately. I’m just thinking about it all," I respond softly.

"I can’t say that’s wrong. Everything with your family, our encounter, and now the beginning of war," Lia says quietly.

"Is it really war when Lumiel just stomped all over them?" I ask.

She looks closely at the rabbit before answering.

"Other kingdoms will see it as war," Lia answers with more of a serious tone.

Remi is bound to have allies so I think Lia might be right about the war starting like this.

There is too many factors I haven’t considered for what is happening right now but what do the hunters gain? Yes, the artifact race is the main thing I’m noticing... But adventurers even get sent for them.

Who knows how many have successfully found them or kept it for themselves. What is the true strength of these artifacts that kings want them so badly?

Will it make that much of a difference?

"What are you guys cooking?" Amelia chimes in with curiosity.

"Rabbit," I answer before Lia can.

"I-I have never had rabbit before," She says nervously.

"It’ll be a first for me as well," Lia speaks up while looking at the rabbits. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I think rabbit could be good," I try to assure them both.

Finally the rabbit is cooked and they both begin to try it. Surprise surprise, I don’t see a look of disgust from either of them.

A few minutes go by and they finish eating.

"So what’d you both think?" I ask with a curious tone.

"I liked it," Lia answers first.

Amelia finishes her last bite before speaking.

"I’ve never had it till now but it was a lot better than I expected," Amelia says with a smile.

"I told you both that it could be good," I reply with a casual tone.

It could’ve been one of the worst experiences but they enjoyed it which is all that matters. I don’t have great taste for human food since blood is my go to.

One day I might try it, even if it doesn’t benefit me the same way. Some of the stuff does smell pretty good... It’ll never beat the smell of blood, especially when it is sweet.

Amelia’s blood is like that. I have to do my best to resist feeding on her unless she gives me permission to do so.

That is the other problem with getting used to drinking blood again... I have to resist my urge to feed on them unwilling. Luckily Lia helps keep me under control every so often with some of her blood.

But I can’t drink too much from them either since it will start to cause issues with how they function.

"How are you feeling Amelia?" Lia asks curiously.

"I want to beat those guys... To destroy them," Amelia answers with a bit of anger in her voice.

"Then you need to learn to fight," I speak up with a serious tone.