My Three Beautiful Vampire Wives can hear my Inner Thoughts-Chapter 157: Princesses of the Aurelion Kingdom

For a few seconds after the fire burst faded, the forest remained silent.

The younger sorcerer knelt there with his staff half raised, breathing heavily as blood ran slowly down his chin. His final spell had been weak. Even he knew that. His body had already reached its limit. Mana no longer flowed through his veins with the same strength it once had. His hands trembled while he tried to gather another spark of magic.

The blood owl stood only a few steps away.

Its enormous body rose above him like a dark tower made of feathers and blood.

The creature’s eyes burned with crimson light as it stared down at the two exhausted sorcerers.

The defensive mage tried to stand behind his companion, yet his legs would barely move. His mana core felt empty. The shield that had protected them earlier had vanished completely. The air around him felt heavy and cold as he realized there was nothing left he could do.

The owl stepped forward. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

One heavy talon landed on the ground with a dull crack as the earth broke beneath it.

The younger sorcerer forced himself to stand.

He lifted his staff again even though his arms trembled.

"You..."

His voice sounded hoarse.

"You’re just a beast..."

The owl gave no answer.

Its wings rose slowly.

For a moment the forest seemed to hold its breath.

Then the creature moved.

The owl’s body blurred forward with terrifying speed.

Its massive claw swept through the air like a blade.

The younger sorcerer barely had time to widen his eyes before the talon struck his chest.

The impact tore through his robe and body at the same time.

Blood exploded outward.

His body lifted from the ground as the force of the strike hurled him backward through the air. He crashed against a tree trunk with a sickening crack before sliding down slowly to the dirt.

His staff rolled from his hand.

His eyes stared upward toward the moon.

The light in them slowly faded.

Behind him the defensive sorcerer shouted in terror.

"No!"

He tried to crawl away.

But the owl turned toward him.

The injured mage raised one shaking hand as if begging for mercy.

"Wait!"

His voice trembled.

"Please..."

The owl’s glowing eyes watched him without emotion.

Then its other claw descended.

The talon pierced straight through the sorcerer’s chest.

The man’s scream died instantly as blood poured across the ground.

The owl lifted its claw.

Both bodies fell motionless.

The forest returned to silence.

For several seconds the Moonshade vampires simply stared.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Their eyes remained fixed on the two lifeless figures lying across the torn clearing.

One of the younger members of the Moonshade family slowly opened his mouth.

"...They’re dead."

Another vampire blinked in disbelief.

"They... they really died."

The words sounded strange even to their own ears.

Just minutes earlier those two sorcerers had seemed unstoppable.

Their spells had torn the forest apart.

Their power had forced the Moonshade family into a corner with no hope of escape.

And now...

Both of them lay lifeless in the dirt.

Killed by the blood beast owl.

Ancestor Ghurn slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding.

His old eyes remained wide as he looked toward the massive creature standing in the center of the clearing.

"I... I cannot believe this."

Elder Rivik rubbed his face slowly.

"That owl..."

His voice sounded stunned.

"It killed both of them."

Zenaya stood nearby with her hands pressed over her mouth.

Her eyes were locked on the owl.

The creature walked toward the body of the younger sorcerer.

Then it lowered its head.

With one swift movement the owl swallowed the sorcerer’s head whole.

CRUNCH.

The sound snapped everyone out of their stunned silence.

The Moonshade family looked at each other at the same time.

Then suddenly someone shouted.

"We won!"

Another vampire laughed loudly.

"We survived!"

The clearing burst into noise as the family members jumped and cheered with pure joy.

Several of them rushed toward each other and embraced tightly.

One of the younger vampires even fell to his knees laughing as relief flooded through his chest.

"We’re alive!"

"We’re alive!"

Elder Rivik let out a long breath before shaking his head slowly.

"I thought we were finished."

Ancestor Ghurn gave a quiet chuckle.

"So did I."

The vampires turned their attention toward Zenaya.

The young woman stood there with bright eyes while looking at the owl.

Her hands trembled slightly from excitement.

Someone shouted her name.

"Zenaya!"

Another voice followed.

"That beast is yours!"

Several members of the Moonshade family gathered around her.

"That owl saved us!"

"You did it!"

Zenaya blinked several times as the excitement around her grew louder.

Her heart pounded rapidly.

For years she had dreamed about this moment.

Ever since she had discovered her talent for controlling blood beasts she had trained endlessly. Many people had laughed at her strange goal. Some had even told her that such creatures were too dangerous to tame.

But she had never given up.

She had always imagined standing beside a powerful blood beast while protecting her family.

And now it had happened.

Her owl had defeated two powerful sorcerers.

Zenaya slowly looked toward the enormous creature standing in the clearing.

The owl turned its head slightly and looked back at her.

The red glow in its eyes softened when it saw its master.

Zenaya smiled.

"...You did well."

Her voice sounded filled with pride.

She walked forward slowly and placed her hand against one of its feathers.

The owl lowered its head slightly as if enjoying the praise.

Elder Rivik watched the scene with a warm smile.

"You have grown strong, Zenaya."

Ancestor Ghurn nodded in agreement.

"This is only the beginning."

Zenaya felt warmth fill her chest.

Her dream of becoming a powerful blood beast tamer had finally begun to take shape.

But before anyone could celebrate further something changed in the air.

Ancestor Ghurn suddenly frowned.

"Wait."

The other vampires turned toward him.

"What is it?"

Ghurn lifted his head slowly and looked toward the far edge of the forest.

His eyes narrowed.

"...Do you feel that?"

At first no one answered.

Then Elder Rivik stiffened.

"Yes."

Zenaya also looked toward the distant horizon.

A heavy wave of mana rolled through the air.

It came from far away but it grew stronger every second.

The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet.

Through the trees a distant rumble could be heard.

Horses.

Many horses.

The sound of armor clanking together echoed faintly through the forest.

A cavalry unit.

The Moonshade family fell silent as tension returned.

One of the younger vampires whispered nervously.

"...More enemies."

Ancestor Ghurn’s expression hardened.

"Everyone prepare yourselves."

The rumbling sound grew louder as the cavalry approached.

Through the trees shapes began to appear.

Armored riders.

Dozens of them.

Their banners carried a golden emblem that glowed faintly under the moonlight.

The Moonshade vampires slowly gathered together.

Zenaya stood beside her owl while gripping her staff tightly.

The cavalry stopped at the edge of the clearing.

One rider stepped forward.

She dismounted from her horse with graceful ease.

The moment her boots touched the ground a powerful wave of mana spread outward from her body.

Her armor shone bright silver under the moonlight.

A golden crest rested upon her chest.

She walked forward calmly while looking at the vampires.

"My name is Princess Aurelia of the Aurelion Kingdom."

Her voice carried across the clearing with calm authority.

"I am the first daughter of His Majesty the King."

Behind her four other riders dismounted as well.

Each one stepped forward with noble grace.

The second woman spoke first.

"I am Princess Selene."

The third raised her chin proudly.

"Princess Lyra."

The fourth smiled faintly.

"Princess Valeria."

The fifth stepped forward last.

"Princess Mariel."

The five royal women stood together at the front of the cavalry.

Their eyes fixed on the Moonshade family.

Princess Aurelia looked down at the bodies of the two dead sorcerers lying in the clearing.

Then she raised her gaze toward the vampires.

Her voice grew cold.

"Vampires."

She pointed toward the corpses.

"You killed two important figures of our Aurelion Kingdom."