BXBX NOVEL Chapter 243: Vitae
Alex gave a nod. "Actually, it's more correct to call it open-mindedness by necessity.
Since we are limited in power, we are forced to learn how to use the tools that we have.
Then, we start learning the fundamental rules of things, expanding our tools to reach the point.
But that doesn't really matter now. What's important is that I believe I have a way to do this, and if possible, we will just steal it."
"I doubt you can steal it easily. If there are other factions, and this vampire is still alive, that means they have also found out about Alucard's parts and want to take them for themselves
.
I am sure they will put some countermeasures in place."
As Alex and MingYue discussed this, Elvira was making her way back.
As Alex expected, she returned to her family home first.
But what she planned to do was a bit different from what Alex had in mind.
She was one of the most talented sorcerers in her family, so she had sway over the family's decisions. They hoped to use her talent to raise their position in the noble ranks.
Elvira planned to first get the vitae replaced by their own funds before reporting back.
It would cost her family a lot of money, but that was better than telling them she had failed at this job.
She already thought she had successfully repelled the bandits, who came from the Resistance. The people in black had lately started actively attacking the Royalty.
Normally, this kind of organization wouldn't last long, but this time it was different. The Resistance was now supported by a sovereign; both factions used them to do their dirty work to sabotage each other, and then wash their hands of it.
Most often, the target was shipments like this one or attacking businesses directly.
So far, there had yet to be any casualties, but looking at the situation that kept escalating, Elvira thought it was just a matter of time.
At this moment, she wanted to be in a position that could gain benefits while having the least risk.
By telling her family about the attack from this Resistance, they would already conclude it came from the Alucard faction, just as Alex had told her to do.
'Now, what should I do next? That sovereign told me to report back to him.
Should I do that, or just hide in my place until things calm down?
But the academy year will start soon. Still, these sovereigns are fighting each other. I wonder what are they thinking?
Won't the Grand Elder get angry at them?
Now that I think of it, no one has seen him for these last ten years. If something happened to the Grand Elder?
There has been so much movement of the vitae lately outside the scheduled deliveries; just why do they need that many? I should check with my sources.' Elvira thought.
Vitae is the gemstone that Alex acquired at the wagon.
The Royalty here uses Vitae as a proxy to cast spells, and sorceresses are those talented enough to wield it. At least, that is what people were told; in reality, there is more to this.
Every single elf should be capable of wielding Vitae, but the knowledge was hidden by the sovereigns. They modified the method of usage, making it only usable by people they owned.
The owning process itself is not complicated; they use a specific rune to carve it into the target's life force.
Since the sovereigns were far stronger than the Royalty, this gave them control over their life and death.
But they still needed to trigger it with a keyword.
The creation of Vitae itself is only done by a few designated royal families. Unlike the quartz crystal that Alex found on the seabed, the crystals in this place come infused with elements.
Some were red, infused with fire, others yellow with earth. There are also some rare elemental types for example light.
This crystal is then mined before it is sent to those chosen to work on polishing it, changing it into vitae.
Vitae also has multiple grades; for example, the one Elvira uses, which can change into a staff, is categorized as a high grade.
It didn't take long for her to reach her territory. The area is far more prosperous than the village Alex had seen.
The road is made of stone pebbles, while all the houses are built of wooden bricks.
In the middle of the city, a huge mansion stood, compared to other houses this one is very eye-catching as the bricks are painted white, with many beautiful carvings decorating it. One of the privileges that only the Royalty could have.
The grassroots class cannot paint nor have decorations outside their houses.
In front of the gate, two people stood guard; seeing Elvira, they all bowed down.
But Elvira just walked past them without a glance.
After she disappeared, they talked,
"What a presumptuous bitch."
"Shh… do you want to live? Think of your family, man."
"Sorry, I just have a hard time controlling my emotions. You know what happened yesterday."
"You should tell your son to stop annoying people from the royalty; it's already good enough that he survived."
The guard clicked his tongue with annoyance. He didn't say more, afraid someone else would overhear.
His son had some problems with one of Elvira's brothers about a woman. The son didn't want to back down, and they turned it into a brawl. At that time, Elvira intervened and punished his son by breaking two of his legs.
This made him resent the woman, although deep down, he knew if Elvira hadn't said anything, his son probably wouldn't be among the living.