Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Sul Lotus Blood [1]

Chapter 384 – Sul Lotus Blood [1]

The Sul Lotus Blood Festival had begun.

All over Waverith, lanterns shaped like drops of blood were floating like jellyfish, illuminating the streets in a bloody hue.

Red lotuses were carpeting the ground, making it look like a sea of blood, with people singing and dancing inside it.

On the day of Sul Lotus Blood, everyone, all over the stronghold, would eat the same meal. It didn’t matter if you were poor. Or even if you were rich.

All would eat the Tamtam, a special food the cooks of Waverith created in homage to Kaden, after asking him for his idea.

Kaden didn’t quite take it seriously that day. So, absentmindedly, he said the first thing that flashed inside his thought-cage.

Needless to say, it was catastrophic.

People would now eat mashed potatoes mixed with red rice made from Kaden’s own garden. Added to that, there was also milk from the cattle mixed in the midst.

It was very random.

Yet the cooks made sure it became good by adding some seasoning and other things inside.

On that day of Festival, too, all people of Waverith wore red dresses, and you could see a red lotus tucked between their ear and temple.

In the morning, nothing would happen except a few pleasantries exchanged with each other and the parade of the Red Crown, then next the Silver Crown.

It was in the night, when the sun began to crawl back to sleep, that the real festivities began. Poets would start reciting their poems.

A new profession, Gryo, would rise to hail the Red Crown and Silver Crowns with flowery words, honoring their deeds and bloodlines. They would also start to tell stories and play some games to amuse the public.

Plays, too, would be presented.

And as it was a day of love...all lovers, or those who wished to be with someone, would have the opportunity to dance under the moonlight, with the Song of Fire and Blood echoing all over the stronghold.

It was supposed to be a great day. And Kaden hoped that it would be one.

After all, every time he decided to go back to Fokay, he never knew how much longer he would stay there.

So he might as well depart with good memories as a companion.

And it seemed the beginning was not too bad.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUNGEST!!!" Dain billowed, his voice shaking the carriage they were in as he hugged his little brother with his monstrous strength.

Kaden was prepared, so this time he returned the hug without much of a grimace.

"Why are you always so loud, Dain?" he grumbled, a smile on his face.

"Why don’t you ask father about that?" Dain retorted with a grin.

Kaden winced.

"I’d rather not."

They barked a laugh, before Dain was forcefully shoved aside by Daela.

He almost toppled over the seat covered in red leather, looking at Daela with a hurt face.

She ignored him completely.

Kaden, meanwhile, took in Daela’s appearance. She wore a red dress with black strips all over, and a slight slit between her legs.

Her legs were showing, but very demurely.

Little skin could be seen on her body, and she wore red gloves.

Her borgne eye was not hidden, just how she liked it. And there was a necklace around her neck.

It was shaped like a cross of two swords.

It was gifted by Kaden, after realizing he had never given anything to his sister. The necklace was made by his blood manipulation, so it was shining like crimson stars.

Dain, too, Kaden had given him something. A small red dagger.

Wordlessly, Daela took her little brother into a tight hug, sniffing his scent at the same time. Her body relaxed considerably, then she snuggled deep into him, as if she would never have enough.

Dain watched while shaking his head. He thought he would get used to Daela’s immense love for Kaden, but it was hard to do when she was so cold toward anyone else.

He shrugged carelessly, grinned wide, then began to play with his dagger. Inside his head, the voices of Griffin and his battle axe, Ragnar, were talking and cursing him.

Griffin was cursing him for being too weak to wield him correctly, saying Dain was spitting on his majesty.

Ragnar was cursing his master for using another weapon than him. He wanted to curse Kaden too, but he knew better.

Dain didn’t mind disrespect toward him. If you laughed at him, you would end up laughing with

But anything relating to Kaden or his family, he would become the monster the two knew he could be.

"Happy birthday, little brother." Daela muttered, still hugging him, "You grow fast."

Kaden smiled, "Aren’t I?" He chuckled, "Mind you, I am slowly getting taller than you, sister. Just one more year."

She scoffed, "Never."

"We will see." He laughed, then returned the hug.

A comfortable silence settled inside the carriage. Soft and warm. The kind that made the world around disappear in a hazy blur.

Soon, they would have to get out of it and parade through the streets for dozens of minutes.

A display, they bitterly remarked.

It was something none of them liked, yet their parents gave them not a single choice.

"Will you go back to Fokay?" Kaden asked, destroying the silence.

"Yes," Daela answered, "Soon after you."

"Will you be okay?" He inquired once more, "The elves would probably expect you after what you have done."

"I know. That is why I will be ready before going back."

Kaden nodded slowly, frowning faintly, something slithering inside his heart.

He instinctively hugged Daela tighter and whispered with a kind of heavy emotion he didn’t expect from himself at that time,

"Don’t take off the necklace," Kaden advised.

"You gave it to me." Her lips curled upward, "I will never."

"And don’t let anything happen to you." Kaden added.

"What will you do if something happens to me?"

"I will come to the Elves Kingdom, and crimson stars would rain on all of them."

Daela giggled faintly, her heart filled with ease and love. She hugged him even more.

"I would love to see that sight." She whispered.

"No—!"

"WHAT ABOUT ME?" Dain chimed in, hugging the two together with his enormous arms.

"And me, youngest?" He repeated, laughing wildly, "What would you do if something happens to me?"

"Will you be in danger?" Kaden managed to speak through the crushing hug.

"I am the Heir," Dain bared his teeth like a wild beast, "I will be at the front when any of the nearby beasts and Kaleith decide to attack."

Daela and Kaden nodded in sync, expecting it. The situation was dire, and Kaden was even tempted to stay and help.

But Dain had told him to go, shouting about how it was time he finally did his job as an Heir.

Kaden had said nothing back then. But internally, he knew. He didn’t particularly need to be here to help.

Still, he nodded at his brother, feeling his overwhelming force on him, "If something happens to you, I will aid you."

"How?"

"Blood and Ashes, Dain." Kaden grinned, recalling Blanche’s creed that weirdly resonated with him, "Blood and Ashes."

They didn’t understand at that time, but they accepted his words anyway, smiling while hugging together.

Silence settled around them, but it was soon broken by the sudden halt of the carriage.

It was time for the parade, it seemed.

Slowly, they began to break away from their hug.

And there, they spoke.

"If something happens to you, youngest." Dain began, his voice so serious that for a moment Kaden didn’t know he was the one talking.

His eyes glowed with scalding yellow-gold fire. Deep inside, Griffin and Ragnar could be seen, terrifying and eager for blood.

"Only ashes shall remain."

Daela nodded, kissing him softly on his left cheek.

For a brief moment, her borgne eye was opened, searing white light spilled out of it, before she closed it rapidly. Her voice boomed out in that unnatural silence.

"They would seek death. But death would never come."

Daela’s face was flat.

"Only silence..." She said, "Only silence would come to them."

Kaden grinned, "And you are Silence."

Daela mirrored him.

"I am."

They laughed, and so the festival continued with the Warborns parading through the streets.

—End of Chapter 384—