World of Alvarra: Rise of the Vampire Lord

Chapter 5: Of blood and power

Van woke up the next morning. He got up, changed, and was escorted to the dining table for breakfast. When he entered the room he was surprised to see that it was just him and his mother. Alvaroz was nowhere to be found.

"Mom, where's father?" he asked

"He already left and ate dear. Said something about preparing something for you and to meet him up at Lorenzo's study." she said, looking at the absent chair of his father. " he also said to eat well, since you might have to skip lunch."

Van became a little worried, the only time that he had to skip lunch was when he had to go through an awakening that day since the process would take a long time to complete. He decided to push his worries away for now and enjoy his meal. After all, if that was the case there was nothing he could do, Though he did think it was odd that his father didn't tell him beforehand like he usually did.

After a hearty meal. Van and his mother had a nice chat, enjoying the morning together and the rarity of time alone with each other. Then noticing how late it was, he bid his mother farewell with a promise to talk again sometime later.

"Are you sure that you don't need a maid to escort you?" Lillia asked

"I'm sure Mom. it's just a few minutes away on the second floor. Pleeeease, I don't get a lot of chances to walk alone." Van asked, eyes pleading.

"Well..." his mother said unsure, "so long as you go straight there..."

"YES!" Van said then blushing a little at how overly excited he was on such a small thing.

Lillia smiled " just stay safe."

Van rolled his eyes, "like something is going to happen a short walk away." he then got up and left the table. " bye mom I love you!" he said as he left. His mother gave a small chuckle as he did.

Van left very happily, his chest swelling, it seemed that the distance between his mother and him had shrunk a little since that heart to heart yesterday. "I wonder what the future will bring, maybe we really can be a big happy family." he thought as he walked down the hallway. He slowed down to enjoy the sense of freedom at his own pace.

But as he neared Lorenzo's study, he heard voices. As he got closer and realized it was shouting. Van slowed even more as he realized that they were angry shouts, and tried to quietly get to the door to hear what was going on.

"IT'S TOO SOON!" a voice that sounded Lorenzo shouted " the blood binding I get, but you want him to go through another awakening! He's just eight! We're already pushing him faster than we should! Two Awakening in Two Years Alvaroz! And you want him to go for a Third!?

"I understand your concern, my friend," another voice said, sounding like his father " but this is for his own good! Think about it!

"Think about it!? Think about IT!?!? Are you listening to yourself! You are gambling with your son's life! And let's not forget you also want him to do the binding with that thing! And A Soul Link on Top of IT! Lorenzo shouted.

"She is not a thing!" Alvaroz growled, "You should know better than that."

Lorenzo threw his hands in the air "Does it matter! The Risk Alvaroz! You're asking your son to go through several torturous experiences all in one day! And we don't know what may happen if we soul link them!"

"Think about it, Lore." Alvaroz said using his friend's nickname " If you had paid attention, you would have seen that Van's body is already accumulating mana! There are even tell-tale signs of aura in his body! The previous awakenings were mostly painful only because of his body's unique constitution. But! If he is already having those energies in him, then the power awakening ritual shouldn't hurt him as badly! It might even be enjoyable...liberating even."