Chapter 52: Chapter 25

As I stepped onto the deck and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my face, I caught my first glimpse of land in over forty days. The coast was a striking contrast of red dunes and turquoise blue waters. Yet, despite the beauty of the landscape, there was a stark emptiness to it, as there were no trees or other forms of vegetation in sight.

We finally arrived.

Abble approached the railing, and her palms landed on the smooth wood as the warm breeze tousled her hair. “Kade”—Abble looked back at me—“We made it,” she smiled.

Abble’s gaze returned to the shore. “The Blood Desert looks just like my mother described,” she said, her voice filled with wonder.

“I can’t wait to see it up close.”

Abble turned to me, her smile growing even wider. “We should be there in a few hours. Let’s get our stuff packed.” 

Her energy was contagious right now. I could stop myself from smiling at her. We were ready to explore this new land, and nothing could dampen our spirits… right now. 

We made our way back to her room and began gathering our belongings. Abble was beaming as she packed her satchel. Although I had very little to carry besides my dagger and jacket, I followed suit.

I pulled out my silver pocket watch from my backpack, staring at its reflective surface. The engraving on it depicted a wolf—or I imagined things like that to fit the narrative of me being a Lycan. I knew the College would be the place to answer this question that had been on my mind for weeks. If they did not kill me the moment I stepped into the building.

Abble crept up beside me. “That’s a beautiful watch.”

I stuffed the watch into my bag. “My father gave it to me. It’s been passed down through generations.”

“It seems your generation will be a touch longer than most.”

I let out a sigh. “I’ll have to give it to my sister, eventually. It doesn’t feel right for me to have it.”

Abble tilted her head. “Why not?”

I turned to her. “I highly doubt that demons can reproduce. It feels like a waste for me to have it.”

A look on Abble’s face informed me that the next thing that came out of her mouth was to make me uncomfortable. There wasn’t much to the expression, which was the first signal of worry. That meant she was busy thinking.

A long pause ensued before Abble spoke. “So I know you don’t shit or piss, but can you like”—Abble makes a stroking motion with her hand—“you know, lay your seed?”

Wow. That was not what I expected.  

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Abble… Please go back to getting ready.”

“What? It’s a legitimate question.”

“I don’t know,” I said, walking over and squatting in front of Jordan, patting her head as she lay on the floor, bored to death. 

Jordan’s restlessness was apparent as we approached the shore. The last week of our voyage had been filled with her pacing around our room, clearly stressed and eager to disembark. I couldn’t blame her; I, too, felt the effects of being cooped up on this boat for so long. It was difficult to imagine how sailors endured these long journeys regularly.

It was crazy that we were about to stroll into a crowded city with a wolf. There wasn’t an alternative, but that didn’t take away from how ridiculous this would be. 

“Since becoming a demon, haven’t you touched yourself?” 

I sighed, glancing back at Abble, squinting her eyes at me. “No, Abble, things have been pretty hectic, and I’ve spent most of my time with you. When would I have the opportunity to do that?”

“I mean, you don’t need to sleep, so I figured maybe while I was—”

I stood up, spinning around. “Wow. I wouldn’t do that next to you. I am insulted you even think I would.”

Abble grabbed her chin. “You are so odd.” 

“I think you are disconnected from what’s normal.” 

After a brief pause, Abble shrugged and resumed her packing. I was glad that the conversation ended. There was no reason for her to know that. She always asked such personal questions. 

I was also a tad sensitive about the subject because I hadn’t really had anything going on down there. When Abble would get a little too fidgety in our spooning position, I expected some response, but nothing. It wasn’t like I would say no if… Ugh. I needed to stop ruminating on those thoughts. That was never happening. Humouring the notion felt wrong since Abble trusted me so much not to act like a typical man.         

Watching Abble sling her sword strap around her hip, I looked down at my holster sitting on the ebony desk. “Can we walk into the city with weapons?”

Abble fastened her belt. “We about to find out.”

I picked up the holster and buckled my dagger to my waist.

My dagger had pretty good stats. I should practice with it soon. A lot of what I learned from the cutlass would transfer over, but there were things like strike range I needed to master. Abble had taught me not only how to wield a sword, but also how to train with one. And now, with her guidance, I felt confident continuing to hone my skills independently.

“I don’t want my dagger taken away from me. My father gave me this.” 

“They probably don’t care,” she said, holding her short jacket to her side. “Endeavor is known for its love of war and people’s ability to fight for freedom.” 

I sensed a hint of sarcasm in her voice, which undermined my confidence.  

My eyes drifted around the room. “Much has happened on this trip.” 

Abble nodded. “Yeah.” 

“It’s almost going to be weird not being on a boat.” 

Abble chuckled, glancing at the maroon blanket on the bed. “Slept with my first man here.” 

I rolled my eyes. “Why, you gotta say it like that.” 

Abble shrugged. “Cause it’s true.”

“You understand why that sounds wrong, right?” 

Abble squinted at me. “No, I don’t.” We both stared at each other for a moment before a grin emerged from her lips. “Yes, Kade, that’s why I said it. Even the mildest jokes get you flustered. It’s adorable.”

I sighed. “I am not flustered, and you’re slipping on your harassment. That one lacked any sort of punch.”

Abble eyebrow raised. “Is that a challenge?”

I grabbed my backpack, adjusting the straps over my shoulders as I stared at her with a steady gaze. There was no need to answer that because she would make it a challenge no matter what I said.

My eyes glanced at Jordan. “Stay here until we dock,” I said before making my way out of the room.

Abble and I stepped onto the deck, making our way to the front of the boat. As the City of Endeavor came into view, I felt a sense of awe wash over me that I had never experienced before. When its magnificence struck me, I even found myself a little choked up.

The city before us was a wonder to behold, with stone-carved buildings that seemed to reach toward the sky, towering higher than the walls of Lockward. The smooth, tan surface of the structures glinted in the sunlight, reflecting its rays with brilliance. What I had initially mistaken for mountains in the background turned out to be majestic, triangle-shaped monuments with sloping sides that reached a pointed peak.

Abble smiled. “The city of gold and marble.”

I point toward the city. “Those things in the background are huge.” 

“Those are the Pyramids of Xavier”—Abble nodded into the distance—“He was one of the founders of the Guild.”

I paused, looking at these pyramids. “Those are a hell of a memorial.”  

As we approached a distant harbour, boats with red sails, smaller than our own, came into view. The men aboard these vessels were dressed in gold-plated armour, with helmets resembling birds’ wings in their flowing design. Though striking to behold, the heavy metal seemed ill-suited for swimming if they fell into the water.

Most of the men on the red-sailed boats held what appeared to be golden spears with long, razor-sharp blades at the end. These weapons were so large that they would require two hands to wield and could efficiently cleave a man in half.

One of the boats sailed alongside ours, matching our speed. It became clear that their purpose was not to attack but to communicate as the men on board came within speaking distance.

My gaze shifted back to Wrecky, who was guiding the ship and conversing with William. Once William took command of the wheel, Wrecky made his way down from the quarterdeck, his boots clicking on the wooden steps. 

Wrecky arrived at the ship’s railing and tipped his tricorne hat toward the men below. “We are just dropping off passengers,” he announced, and the soldiers stared at him like he was speaking another language.

An older man with a white beard and a skin tone similar to Abble’s stepped forward. “Who are you delivering?” he asked in a thick accent, holding his golden helmet at his side. 

The armour, while impressive, seemed impractical in battle, and I couldn’t imagine it was entirely made of solid gold, considering how weak it would be. If they were dipping their combat armour in this precious metal, it must be abundant here.

Wrecky paused for a moment. “I have a Sterling on here and the daughter of Nightingale.”

As we glided across the serene, light blue water, the man glanced in Abble’s and my direction before turning his attention back to Wrecky. “I believe the Sterling part, but not Nightingale.”

Wrecky shook his head in response. “Why would I lie about that?”

“Make sure you dock on the far side. I don’t want you causing panic among the civilians with your Red Tide ship,” the man instructed before motioning for his men to set sail back towards the city.

Wrecky did not look well. His skin had taken on a grey hue, and I feared it wouldn’t be long before he couldn’t keep himself above water. He also appeared tired and slow at responding at times; he was unlikely to make it back to Lockward.

You are reading story Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] at novel35.com

I walked over to Wrecky, who pulled his attention away from the departing red sails. “Are they really going to leave us alone?” I asked as a gust of warm wind blew by.

Wrecky nodded. “Yeah, Endeavor hires pirates sometimes, but they keep it on the down low, so it doesn’t upset the Guild.”

“Are you okay?”

Wrecky waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, don’t worry about me. The air is just extremely dry here.”

It took about an hour to reach the harbour’s far end. This seemed to be where larger ships docked, as the marble platforms were extra high, but the ramp would still be needed for our vessel.

As we docked at the harbour, I returned to Abble’s room to grab Jordan. She was pacing anxiously as I entered, but came over and nuzzled her head against my hand as soon as she saw me. 

I knelt and petted her, trying to soothe her nerves. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll make this work.”

Jordan leaned into my touch, and her eyes closed as she relaxed. She had become increasingly affectionate with me lately, and I couldn’t help but feel flattered. 

I knew people would be uneasy about a wolf this size walking down the street. If she hadn’t been able to change her glowing eye colour, this would’ve been impossible. Nobody would’ve believed she was just a pet—It was a hard sell even now.

 “Let’s go,” I said, giving her a tight hug before patting her side. 

As we emerged from under the quarterdeck, Wrecky’s crew kept their distance, moving away if we got too close. It was for the best that Jordan stayed in Abble’s room. I don’t think any exposure to Jordan’s presence would have helped reduce the unease, not after she brutally tore Alexander’s head off his body.

Stopping next to Abble’s side, Jordan looked at the city in the distance and whimpered. The sight of the towering buildings and crowded streets must have been overwhelming for her. I placed my hand on her back, hoping to comfort her. Despite her fearsome reputation on this boat, she was still just an animal, and I couldn’t help but harbour a sense of protectiveness towards her. 

Not that she needed any protection. 

Abble was looking at me, worried. “The level 408 demon wolf being nervous doesn’t give me much confidence.” 

“We’re going to be fine. I am sure plenty of people with pets are in the city.”

Abble rolled her eyes. “Yeah, things like dogs and cats, not two-hundred-pound wolves.”    

As the ropes were secured and the ramp lowered, Wrecky’s crew bustled about with purpose. Abble and I stood at the ship’s edge, gazing in awe at the grand marble city that lay ahead. With leather belts cinching their waists, the men wearing white tunics quickly tied the ropes to the anchoring columns, securing our vessel.

I was sure Abble and I felt the same thing at this moment: fear and excitement. 

Giving us a nod, Wrecky accompanied us down to the dock, clearly dreading the goodbye to Abble that was approaching. I hoped she would listen to him because, unfortunately, this was likely the last time they would speak.

Wrecky glanced over at me. “Do you mind if we talk in private?” 

Abble looked uncomfortable, but they needed this before we left. “Take your time.”

As Jordan and I wandered through the port, the sound of ropes creaking and wood groaning filled the air, mingling with the shouts of sailors and merchants. The dock was alive with activity as ships of all sizes were being loaded and unloaded with cargo. Jordan walked close to me, her presence causing the crowds to part and stare in awe. I tried to act like nothing was unusual, but the fear and curiosity in their eyes were difficult to ignore.

Sailors stepped up to the edge of their ships to get a better look at Jordan, and some even fled to their boats after spotting her. The actual test would be when we approached the guards. Their response was the one I was truly worried about.

I couldn’t help but be impressed by the diversity of ships and cultures present in the port. Clearly, this was a central hub for international trade, putting Lockward to shame in terms of size and grandeur.

The ocean here smelled strongly of salt but carried a distinct earthy aroma that I couldn’t put my finger on. It was almost sweet, like blood, which made little sense. 

What was this smell? I was confident it wasn’t from a person.  

The sunlight was irritatingly bright, but I’d grown tired of the depressing black ship and its wintry days. My only complaint, and I wasn’t sure if this was just a demon issue, but the lack of moisture in the air was rough. If I took a breath, it was like it dried my mouth in seconds. 

At least I didn’t have to worry about my breath’s viability anymore. 

My eyes couldn’t help but drift over to Wrecky and Abble. 

They stood close together on the dock as they exchanged farewells. I could see the sadness etched on Wrecky’s face, knowing that this was the end. Abble, on the other hand, seemed ready to move forward with her next adventure.

As they hugged, Wrecky whispered something in her ear, to which Abble nodded, and her expression became flustered. They broke the embrace, and Wrecky stepped back with a smile on his face. Abble’s eyes were glued to the ground, as whatever he said was still embarrassing her.

It seemed like Wrecky was doing all the talking now. Abble gave a slight nod after a lengthy pause, and Wrecky grinned, shaking his head. 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t read their lips from here. I wish my hearing were better because I was shamefully interested in what was being said. One of Jordan’s ears kept pivoting toward the two, making me think she could hear. 

My arm came around Jordan’s neck as I bent down. “You wanna tell me what’s being said?” 

Jordan looked at me with her blue eyes for a few seconds before huffing and shaking my arm off. 

 I frowned. “What’s wrong with you?” 

My attention moved back to Wrecky, taking Abble’s hand and kissing the top before glancing at me. He nodded his hat and began climbing the ramp as Abble stood there for almost a minute, lost in thought. She shook her head several times as she slowly made her way over. 

Abble halted before me, quickly averting her eyes. “Let’s go.”

“How did it turn out?” 

“Fine,” Abble said, and she knew I wanted to know more. “Wrecky didn’t confess or anything. He told me you encouraged him to mend things.”

I nodded. “Yeah.” 

Abble’s face became serious. “Don’t get into my business again, okay? You put me in an awkward position with him just now.”

“I thought you said he didn’t confess—you told me you wanted to talk to him.” 

“He was going to, but then he asked something I didn’t want him to know. And yes, I wanted to talk to him but not about—” Abble stopped, closing her eyes and letting out a long breath. “Let’s just drop it.” 

I looked away. “I am sorry I upset you, Abble. It won’t happen again.”

Abble said nothing as she led the way, and we three made our way down the marble path in silence. I only wanted to help, but my actions had only worsened things. It seemed like the right thing to do, but it backfired like most of my ideas. I hope this doesn’t hurt our friendship.

You are such an idiot, Kade.  

As we approached the end of the dock, a guard with one of the spear-like blades did a double take at us. I tried to act like it was customary to take a leisurely walk with my wolf, but the guard raised his hand, motioning us over. 

“What do we do, Abble?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“We don’t have a choice,” she said under her breath. 

We stopped in front of the guard in gold armour, who was wide-eyed, staring at Jordan. “That’s an enormous wolf,” He said, gazing over at me. 

“She’s a Sterling family pet,” I said, trying to sound as confident as possible. “Is that a problem?” 

The guard glanced at my hair before returning to my eyes. “No, sorry for bothering you, Mister Sterling.” 

I nodded, and we continued our journey, which I was almost certain would hit its first obstacle just now. That was quick thinking, and I was proud of myself. That reason for having Jordan with me might work all the way to the College.    

When we had gotten far enough away, Abble smirked. “Mister Sterling.” 

“I can’t believe that worked.” 

Abble shook her head. “You don’t realise how influential the Sterlings are. I am not shocked.”

“Hopefully, I can keep using that,” I said as we entered the huge golden city gates.

Jordan’s presence drew the attention of many, and I could sense the unease in the air as people stepped out of our way, giving us a wide berth. Onlookers whispered amongst themselves as we strode down the busy street, their gazes fixed on Jordan. Her size and striking black fur made us stand out like a sore thumb, drawing attention from all around, even peering from out of the marble buildings above. We were not going unnoticed, that was for sure. 

Merchants were selling exotic goods from around the world on the streets, and the aroma of spices and street food radiated from the stalls. Locals wore similar tunics as the men marooning the ships, but the women really caught my attention the most. Their tiny silk robes clung to their bodies, revealing so much skin that I was unsure where to put my eyes. This was clearly my problem, but I still felt uncomfortable.

Abble elbowed me. “You okay, friend?” she asked as we walked down the street.

I nodded. “Yeah, why?” I kept my eyes away from her. 

“You seem a little flustered by all the half-naked women,” Abble said, and I knew she had a grin on her face without looking.

I coughed. “It’s a little culture shocking, yes—where are we going?”

“To a famous inn for the night. Tomorrow I’ll figure out when the next ship leaves for Centrum.”

I looked down at Jordan, who was pressing against me so much that I had to lean back towards her a bit to avoid falling over. “You think they’re willing to let her in?” 

Abble sighed with a shrug. “Hopefully. I am not sure what else to do.”

This was going to be fun…

You can find story with these keywords: Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series], Read Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series], Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] novel, Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] book, Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] story, Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] full, Awakened [Vampire/Demon LitRPG Series] Latest Chapter