As we enter the forest I can feel this strange sense of peace as if nothing was ever wrong in this place. There was no feeling like people ever hurt anyone here or like monsters hunted throughout this forest.

It is the closest feeling to peace that I think one being could ever have... If I had to genuinely speak my mind.

Birds chirp around us as we walk along the path.

"This probably would be a pretty good place to set-up camp for a night since it doesn’t seem particularly hostile in the slightest," Lia speaks up while observing everything around us.

"I think it would be a good place as well," I reply in agreement.

Without wasting anymore time we started making our camp for the time being. It didn’t take very long since we weren’t making a huge one.

Just like the one back by the waterfall, this one is small but big enough for the three of us. It is also a bit away from the path which gives some cover from anyone coming through.

I did my best to make sure everything wasn’t really noticeable. Not like I’d be sleeping in the makeshift tents anyway.

"I think this is good enough for the time being," Lia says while taking a seat on a log.

"Definitely," I respond.

The cave should be around here somewhere as well which makes this whole trip worth it.

And another reason I prefer going to get the artifact first is because it means we might have a potential weapon to use. That also makes the decision to go for it first smarter.

I honestly don’t know a whole lot about these artifacts since my family never really talked about them in the past.

It is kind of surprising that humans would even have such a focus on them while others don’t seem to. Like Lia didn’t even really seem all that interested in the artifact to begin with.

That kind of thinking makes me wonder if all elves are like that when it comes to these things.

"Amelia did you ever hear anything about the artifacts before?" I ask with curiosity in my voice.

She looks my way with her head slightly tilted.

"Artifacts? I don’t think my father ever talked about them before," Amelia responds with a shrug.

"Did you expect her to know something about them?" Lia asks while staring at me.

"Potentially but I don’t think it matters anyway," I respond calmly.

It isn’t surprising in the slightest that Remi would keep to himself about the artifacts since they do bring greed. Something I think a lot of beings tend to fall to.

Greed. I’ve never really liked the idea of it but I know sometimes it just happens... Without thinking.

I still don’t think I’ve had much greed in all the years I’ve been alive, but maybe that is because I had everything I needed. The only thing I’m missing right now is power.

If I could get strong enough to fight multiple hunters... That would be the best possible scenario. I’d be able to wipe them from existence with that kind of power.

Then again, no vampire has ever reached such heights.

Mom did used to tell stories of a vampire who became a god but obviously it never lasted long of they really did. Vampires never would’ve suffered if that was really what happened.

"There will probably be some danger within this cave," Lia says with a cautious tone.

"And we’ll handle them," I reply with certainty.

"Like monsters?" Amelia questions.

"More than likely. Caves have always been a good spot for them to hide," Lia answers with an annoyed tone in her voice.

"Are there worst monsters than vampires?" I ask with some curiosity.

"Goblins, skeletons, undead, ogres, and even husks. There’s probably a lot more but those are just some basic ones," Lia responds while scratching her head.

Most of the monsters she listed I had never seen before since again, I lived in the manor my whole life. We didn’t really have any problems with them or encounters.

Death would come to them quickly if they did happen to step on our property... But it could be the fear that kept them away. Lower tier monsters would run from higher tier monsters.

That also means I admit to being a monster.

Which in all circumstances I don’t consider us monsters since we don’t do anything to follow the life of one.

"You’ve fed on humans a few times."

"Yes, you did feed."

"Feeding would make you a monster!"

The voices echo around me for a few moments as I look towards Amelia, trying to tune it all out.

"You aren’t a monster," Mel’s voice echoes.

Within an instant I turn my head to see where her voice came from but she isn’t anywhere around me. It is still just the three of us here together.

I’ve been going back and forth on the idea of Mel being an enemy or not but I think that answer is clear. She could’ve killed me at any time and didn’t.

Especially with the time we spent together at the cabin. Those days were kind of nice, except for the fact that she never truly gave the reason she risked her life for me.

"Dante what exactly are you trying to accomplish?" Amelia asks with a curious expression on her face.

I snap out of it and shift my attention to her.

"I’m working towards bringing my people back and I plan to slay the hunters in the process," I respond with a serious tone.

Her curious expression doesn’t seem to disappear, nor does she seem to be concerned.

"Hunters really aren’t needed. Vampires haven’t been a threat in centuries, at least according to my father," Amelia says while looking down at her hands.

"Our ancestors might’ve had some problems but it shifted a lot over time," I reply with more of a calm tone.

"Makes sense why I don’t really feel like I’m in danger around you," Amelia says with a small smile on her face.