427 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Though my aim was to revive the demon god, there wasn't much for me to do, honestly. I just had to keep pleasing Teer and focus on bringing back his senses. As a result, I ended up spending most of my time with Teer. Being together didn't just mean being in the same space... "Sister! May I enter?" "Come in." "Yes! I'm just going to enjoy your room for a moment..." Once granted permission, Kavila joyfully opened the doors to the receiving room, only to fall silent upon seeing what lay inside. Inside, Teer and I were seated. If that were all, it would have barely slipped past Kavila's thresholds of acceptance. However, there was one detail. The fact that Teer and I were seated in the same chair made Kavila come to a halt. "What is this?" When one is utterly dumbfounded, words fail them. Even if the other party is a vampire, the effect is the same. Observing the collapse of Kavila's thought process, I explained. While Teer was perched on my lap. "Feel free to carry on with your discussion. Don't mind me." "How can I ignore this! I mean, why are you holding Sister like that?! Who dares to touch my sister so... again!" "Didn't Teer mention it? I am currently in the process of restoring Teer's senses, so I must remain as close to him as possible." It wasn't a lie. With my hands gripping Teer's shoulders, I was engraining his senses into him. Even the demon god of thunder cannot arbitrarily engrain sensations into another's body. The demon god understands the structure of the world, not the intricate nature of a single human being. If finding a formula could explain every practical issue, the term 'ivory tower scholar' wouldn't exist. But I am different. As a human monarch who can read the essence of humanity, when I grasp the demon god's knowledge, I can engrain senses into a body accordingly. Provided, of course, that Teer cooperates willingly... "Ah. It seems there's still a psychological barrier against displaying this to others..." "Should I stop, then?" "No, continue. To treat Kavila as an outsider would hurt her feelings. Kavila has witnessed even my most shameful moments over the years...." Teer leaned further against me, speaking. I nodded and placed my hand back on Teer's shoulder. The dress with its thin shoulder straps left most of it exposed, so I pressed my palm onto Teer's shoulder without hindrance. Crackle. As a weak static electricity sparked, I began to massage Teer's shoulder. He shivered, closing his eyes like a cat. "How does it feel? Does it relax you?" "Ah. Yes. I can feel it." "Your muscles are quite tense. Why are your shoulders so stiff?" "Do muscles even tense like that? I haven't exerted any force." "Oh. Sorry. It's my weak strength." It was a conversation like one you'd have while giving your grandparents a massage. Though, to be honest, I probably looked older than Teer. As I continued to knead Teer's body, Kavila stood frozen, taking in the entire scene with wide eyes. "Sis...ter?" "That should be enough. Kavila." Even as I continued the massage, Teer scolded Kavila. "I too, did not wish to display such an unseemly state in front of others... But Huey is human. He must sleep, eat, rest his hands occasionally and take strolls. I cannot rightly demand more time from him." "You should demand it! If a lover serves you with all their heart, that's only natural!" "I refuse. I cannot accept Huey exhausting himself because of me. I hope you understand." When ordered by a progenitor, one has no choice but to comply. Though reluctant, Kavila accepted the situation. 'To dare lay a hand on Sister so freely... Does that human have any appreciation of how undeserved even the tiniest fraction of this is...? Enough of this souring display...!' Well, I wonder if this really counts as flaunting. If you strip away prejudices, I'm merely giving a massage, aren't I? This is more akin to an elder's routine; just overlook it. "Come, sit. So, what brings you here?" "...It's about the upcoming nocturnal ebb." "The nocturnal ebb is approaching, is it? I've returned at a favorable time then." Nocturnal ebb? The unfamiliar term made me pause, and Teer, sensing my confusion, caught on to my unspoken question. 'Ah, right. Huey from afar wouldn't know about the nocturnal ebb. As much as I said not to worry, talking about something Huey doesn't know all day would be inconsiderate.' Indeed. It's commendable Teer picks up on things. While reading thoughts can reveal much, pretending to not know something you do is a hassle. Forewarning just makes things smoother. I haven't experienced such thoughtfulness in a long time. 'But directly asking Huey who doesn't know for an explanation would put him on the spot, wouldn't it? After all, we should maintain our partner's dignity.' Not that I expect such consideration... Anyway, Teer cleared his throat and asked. "Kavila. My memory's a bit fuzzy. Could you briefly explain what the nocturnal ebb is?" "As much as you'd like, Sister." Without any suspicion, Kavila began her explanation. "In the turbulent sea, there are two sea monsters: the island whale and the cloud ray. The reckless cloud ray beats the water with its wing-like fins to stun fish, then skims the surface to snatch them up. While a pesky troublemaker, it’s nothing compared to the island whale." I still remember that tidal wave. A wave that almost swept away the humans who had come during ebb tide to gather food. It was from the sea creature's hunting, barely just its aftermath. Yet the island whale was even greater than that. Even Kavila seemed to feel a hint of reverence thinking about it. "Once every four years, the island whale, seemingly lifeless in the deep sea, surfaces around this time in the turbulent sea. What is deep to us is shallow to the whale — if it lays on its belly, its back juts out like an island. It situates itself like a dike between two islands, opens its mouth toward the water's flow, and then..." "The water that fills the sea passes through the island whale's belly." “Precisely. The island whale swallows up seawater voraciously to filter out its prey. The remaining water is expelled through its massive gills and blowholes." Apparently, words weren't sufficient, so Kavila used her blood to create a visual model. She demonstrated how the island whale acted like a dam, blocking the water flow and opening its massive mouth. Blood spilled forth to depict the whale swallowing the waves, filtering the remaining water before letting it flow out. "However, the water that the island whale releases is significantly less compared to usual. This creates a dramatic ebb tide in the sea of tumult, revealing vast plains that are usually submerged. This phenomenon is called the nocturnal ebb." The tales of this tumultuous sea were passed down more like myths. They were hard to comprehend through words alone, and few had witnessed them. Still, hearing it from a vampire’s mouth made the legend seem surreal, even when aware of the background. What’s that about? So the island whale’s named for its back protruding like an island, and it blocks the sea like a dike, filtering seawater to feed? And this results in a massive ebb tide revealing plains? The scale of it is awe-inspiringly frightful. It reminds me why boats don’t float on these seas, beyond just rivers and lakes. It’s not merely a beast; it’s a moving natural disaster. As she finished her explanation, Kavila crossed her arms, clearly displeased. "I'm not particularly fond of it, but for the people, it presents a precious chance to earn substantial sums. There's quite a demand for coral and shell." "Weren't most of them sold to the Gold Kingdom before? That kingdom no longer exists, so who desires these now?" "The demand remains. Itinerant merchants from the Magic Federation are still around, and though that kingdom is gone, they discreetly sought these goods for arena prizes. Even the lands below, with their black wizards, traded these as magical materials." Like Valdamir, Kavila seemed accustomed to explaining things. Teer, who had secluded herself for a few decades or even centuries, needed these situations outlined upon her return. "So before the nocturnal ebb begins, people and vampires from across the principality will gather here. Moving like darkness at the onset of night." A gathering opportunity for humans and vampires scattered across the principality—that is the nocturnal ebb. "And... Valdamir has set that time for Lyr Nightingale's trial." The real purpose behind Kavila's mention of the nocturnal ebb emerged at the end. It wasn't just any matter but one concerning the Elders, naturally to be announced when all the vampires gather. The Crimson Duke consulted Kavila on using that day for the trial.... "Of course, only with Sister’s approval!" And as Kavila sought that final nod of approval, Teer willingly agreed with a nod. "Proceed as planned." “You have no objections?” “It’s logical, so there’s no reason to change it. It’s a day when all conscious vampires will assemble, and afterward, everyone will be busy again, so it’s better to conclude it by then.” She manages affairs efficiently. Teer trusted Valdamir, granting him governance, and Valdamir served her with loyalty. It’s not an exaggeration to say he handled virtually all major state affairs. Predictably, Kavila nodded, as if she had anticipated this. "Then, I’ll go inform everyone." “You're doing well. I’ll leave it to you, Kavila. Ah, wait. Could I ask one more favor?” “Anything.” Teer glanced at me with a smile. "Your cooking truly impressed me. It’s both a blessing and curse to have regained taste and eaten your food. My standards have risen too high for anything else." “You flatter me.” “Not at all. If you would, could you cook for me and Huey next time? I wish to share and appreciate that joy with him.” It seems even a late bloom leads swiftly to interest in gourmet tastes. After just recently reacquiring her palate, she’s already intrigued by culinary delights. How might it feel to serve food to a revered progenitor and an admired sister? It’s likely a thrilling situation, one to make the heart race and brim with pride. Such emotion might even render her speechless. But Kavila is a vampire. She wouldn’t be paralyzed by sentimentality. She learned cooking not out of fulfillment or empathy, but merely to stave off human discontent. It was different in the past. Back then, Teer was lofty yet felt an emptiness, and her vassal, Kavila, was bound by her power and emotions. Kavila strained to bring even the slightest joy to Teer, clinging one-sidedly. Now things have changed. "For Sister, anything at all!" A smile crafted over a thousand years was all she could offer.