Chapter 298: I love fire.

"Aurelia."

"It has been some time."

"Thirty-one years."

"You counted."

"You didn’t?"

"I did."

The two chuckled and Lucian only stared at them in shock.

So... the Patriarch of House Arcelis, an Ancient Vampire House, was... friends with Aurelia?

Just... who was he standing next to all this while?

He looked at them again, there was clearly no sort of tension between them, both of them seemed comfortable, the other Vampires around didn’t seem very surprised by the interaction either, so it wasn’t the first time either.

So...

What was happening here...?

Were they friends?

Lucian looked at Aurelia again.

A friend of a three-thousand-year-old Ancient, representative of one of the most influential Vampire Houses in the World...

Could it be...

’An Ancient...?’

He wondered in his head.

That would explain a lot.

And while Lucian was deducing everything in his head, Aurelia glanced towards him, he showed her an innocent smile, that made her look at him with a flat look on her face. Cassian noticed that exchange as well.

"I heard Silvian entered the Trial." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

He spoke. Aurelia’s attention turned back to him.

"He did."

She nodded.

"He returned mostly unharmed."

Then, her eyes momentarily moved towards Lucian and—

"Many say it’s because he made the right deal at the right time."

Those words made Cassian turn towards Lucian as well and Lucian looked back. The two stared at each other for the first time and Lucian...

He behaved.

"Lord Arcelis."

He lowered his head a little, just like Garrick had.

Cassian’s eyes showed faint amusement.

"Lucian Cross, I have heard quite a bit about you."

"That does seem like a memo here."

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

Lucian quickly shook his head.

"I hope you’ve only heard good things."

"Yes."

Cassian nodded.

Then, the Ancient Vampire smiled.

"Thank you for returning one of ours."

"It was nothing."

"You defeated him and then took his limbs.

That is not nothing."

Cassian chuckled.

Lucian stared at him. The Ancient Vampire seemed like he was smiling, but for some reason, his smile didn’t seem... pleasant?

And just then—

"Well, considering how Varek has been these past few decades, I can see how difficult the capture must have been."

Aurelia jumped into the conversation.

Cassian stared at her, she stared back. The two remained silent for the next two seconds, their smiles started to disappear, just then—

"Indeed."

Cassian laughed.

"He was always troublesome, but his last few decades were... unforgivable."

"They were, indeed."

Aurelia nodded as well.

"It is good you exiled him."

"I could not have someone like him tarnishing the Arcelis name."

"A wise decision."

Again, the two Vampires stared at each other in silence. Then, Cassian turned towards Lucian.

"I’ve heard that you have only recently entered our world."

"A few months."

Lucian nodded.

"And already you find yourself attending an Arcelis Gala, impressive."

"I thank you for having me.

I am learning a lot here."

"I am pleased to hear it."

Cassian nodded, his eyes lingered on Lucian for another moment, then—

"Enjoy the evening, Mr. Cross."

"I will."

Lucian nodded, Cassian nodded back. Then, he turned back towards Aurelia and—

"Do visit before you leave."

"Of course."

"Your nephew as well. Tell him I have not forgotten what he owes me."

"That was nearly seventy years ago.

How greedy can you be, old man?"

Aurelia frowned.

"Debt does not disappear because the debtor waits long enough."

Cassian laughed.

Aurelia just shook her head and Cassian finally moved away.

And almost immediately, the flow of the room shifted with him. He personally greeted a few more people, some from other Ancient Houses, others from Great Houses, then he greeted Garrick and the Enclave representatives, then once he was done, the Patriarch stood together with the First Steward and as he did, the people he did not greet began approaching him.

They greeted him respectfully, Lucian could see how these Vampires were waiting for Cassian to finish greeting his guests before they could finally gather around him and strike up a conversation.

Lucian watched everything play out for a few more seconds, then, his eyes turned back towards Aurelia.

"What is it?"

Aurelia asked with an amused look on her face.

"How old are you?"

Lucian asked directly.

That surprised her. Then she chuckled.

"How incredibly rude."

"I can assure you, whatever number you say, you look much younger."

"And that’s supposed to make me ignore the rudeness?"

Aurelia raised an eyebrow.

"You are incredibly beautiful...?"

Lucian tried again and Aurelia stared at this man with a flat look on her face.

"You aren’t going to tell me, are you?"

"It’s a secret."

Aurelia smiled cheekily and Lucian could tell it was bogus because he knew every person here knew the answer to his question.

Of course, he couldn’t get it out of anyone else since this woman would simply silence them with her gaze.

Plus, fishing answers from other parties wasn’t fun, he wanted to fish them from her.

"You can at least tell me if you are Ancient or not, right?"

Aurelia just kept smiling, clearly not wanting to answer. Lucian then glanced at Cassian, who was still talking to others, then he looked back at Aurelia and lowered his voice.

"Can you defeat Lord Arcelis?"

He asked, secretly pointing at Cassian.

And this time, Aurelia did answer his question.

"I can even defeat your teacher, Mr. Cross."

That answer took Lucian by surprise.

Then, without waiting, he straightened his back and pulled out his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling her."

"Who?"

"My teacher."

He answered as he began dialling and Aurelia—

Her crimson eyes glowed brightly.

"Do that."

The look on her face made Lucian narrow his eyes.

"You have no idea if you can defeat my teacher or not, do you?"

"I’ve never fought her, but I am confident."

"I can assure you, so is she."

"I expect nothing else from her."

The Vampire’s grin widened. For the first time, Lucian saw genuine excitement on her face, but then he...

He put his phone back in his pocket.

"What happened?"

Aurelia frowned.

"This feels like the best way to get to you."

Lucian smiled and Aurelia—

"You are playing with fire, child."

Her eyes became dangerous.

And Lucian—

He looked back at her and—

"I love fire."