Chapter 5: Allegiance of Kriemhild
Gransurg Blackmore's POV
In the deserted remains of the old monastery, there was a solitary figure standing amidst of his loyal followers.
As he looked over a document held tightly in his clawed, bird-like hand, his face showed a strange mix of human and bird-like features.
His long, black hair flowed like feathers, and he had dark, majestic wings sprouting from his back, which contrasted eerily with his eerie black clothing.
This abandoned sanctuary was hidden deep in a remote valley, surrounded by ancient forests and tall mountains.
Nature was slowly taking back the monastery, with vines crawling up its stone walls and moss covering everything.
Inside, the sanctuary was a spooky scene of decay, with broken columns, fallen arches, and once-beautiful stained glass windows now shattered and lifeless.
The history of this desecrated place spoke of his ruthless ambition. He had taken control of the monastery from the church, forcing them out of their holy home, and had turned it into his evil fortress for conquest and dark plans.
Inside the forsaken chapel, he read the report with growing unease and anxiety gnawing at him.
The more he read it, the more troubled he became.
Bulgaria Kingdom had fallen, and Dragon Slayer Siegfried had met his demise at the hands of Atilla the Hun, while the whereabouts of Princess Kriemhild, the promised bride of Siegfried, remained unknown.
Next should be his territory that would be invaded by the King of Hun. The Germanic Tribes that he had tried so hard to develop would become the wedding dress for Atilla the Hun.
He was unwilling, but no matter how unwilling he was, he could only give up.
He didn't know what kind of method Atilla the Hun had used to make Siegfried be betrayed by his own men as they stabbed his unprotected back and gave his head to her, but it shouldn't be Atilla who did that; it should be the will of this world that wanted to end the era of mystery and embrace the era of mankind through Atilla the Hun's hand.
After all, Atilla the Hun is a brute and reckless woman who uses her strength rather than strategy.
He lamented the fact that he was no match in front of the whole world like Alaya and could only either bitterly retreat to the hinterland of the bitter north or follow the Saxons to Britannia.
However, he knew it was impossible for outsiders like him to be welcomed in Britannia, as Vortigen and King Uther would have to let go of their prejudice first to deal with an outsider like him.
The Great Fairy, too, wouldn't let him go for invading their territory.
So... his choice only went to the bitter North, where he would grow potatoes.
It was unrealistic to defend his German territories if counter forces intervened behind the scenes. Even Siegfried, with the blessing of God King Odin and with the help of Odin's favorite daughter, Brynhildr, couldn't resist their grasp.
What else could he do against them? Probably go to sleep and dream; in there, he would defeat them for sure. After all, in dreams, everything is possible, right?
Gransurg Blackmore mused.
Speaking of Siegfried, honestly, Blackmore had to say this guy had a problem in his head. He knew he had the beautiful valkyrie Brynhildr chasing him, but because his friend Gunther liked her, he simply handed her over to his friend.
When they set up the wedding together, the brute Atilla the Hun saved the day and razed Bulgaria Kingdom to the ground, which was ruled by Gunther, making them have no time to talk about love.
If not for Atilla the Hun's invasion, Siegfried would have already tasted what it meant to be green. Probably calling him "Greenfried" would have been more suitable.
Now, both of them were dead, and the life and death of Brynhildr herself were unknown. Moreover, there was still a sole survivor, a royal heir wandering among the Slav tribes. She was Princess of Bulgaria Kingdom and the sister of Gunther, who was promised to be wed to Siegfried, Kriemhild.
However, because Siegfried had already died, her life and death were unknown too. However, there were rumors from his spy in the Hun Empire that she was last seen in Slav Tribe territories in the hinterland of the North.
Their territories were vast and split by various tribes, however, no one was willing to conquer such a wasteland full of snow and cold.
Although it was a wasteland, he knew that place was his only choice too. He didn't have the power to fight against Counter Forces and prepared himself to pack up his bags.
"Do you want to leave, my friend?" His green friend, who wore a green outfit known as the God of Mischief, asked unwillingly in an exaggerated sad manner when he saw his friend wanted to leave, expressing deep regret at his friend's parting.
"Your Ragnarok, I don't want to be a part of it. This is destiny. I don't have the willpower or desire to fight against them. You are not my monarch, Loki. I will not fight for your cause." Blackmore was used to Loki's antics and warned him that Ragnarok was inevitable; there was nothing he could do against it.
Even though he had a friendship with him, he couldn't help him.
"Of course, you are welcome to leave with me if you want to stay alive. The Counter Forces are still willing to give us this chance."
It was true, though. No matter how bad their reputation was as a force of darkness, as one of the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors, he was selected as a Counter Guardian by this planet too, to protect the survival of this planet against any indicated threat.
After their monarch's death, they were selected by Gaia as her champions. Whether Loki accepted his suggestion or not, it wasn't his problem.
As a friend, he had already done his best to help him survive. If he refused, then everything was left to him to fend for himself.
"Nope. But are you sure you want to leave, Blackmore? I've heard some rumors that said that the True Ancestor Princess has already awakened from her sleep. Now, she should have arrived on this planet." Loki grinned mischievously.
"What did you say?" Blackmore lost his cool in an instant as he grabbed Loki's collar, demanding an answer from Loki.
After all, the princess that Loki was talking about had a very similar appearance and power to her monarch, which made him decide to swear allegiance to her when she woke from her sleep.
Only she had the qualification to make him bend the knee.
"Release," Loki glared.
Blackmore complied as he apologized for his rude behavior.
"Where is she now?"
"Well, my friend, no need to rush. Why not we enjoy ourselves first?" Loki clapped his hands as the servants around them brought cold beer and a feast to their table.
"I'm very sure you will be happy with the proposition that I have given. Your princess would be happy, you will be happy, and I will be happy too. Everyone is happy, except my brother, Odin." Loki laughed sinisterly.
"Do you want to hear it, my friend?"
"Let's see whether you just spoke empty words or if they have weight behind them, Loki." Blackmore was willing to listen to what Loki had to say and sat down as he enjoyed Loki's feast brought to him.
"Speak your terms."
...
Kriemhild's POV
When she woke up from her deep slumber, she was met by a blonde-haired girl with crimson eyes, who fixed her gaze upon her.
Her cold yet emotionless eyes seemed to draw her soul into a hopeless hole named abyss.
What kind of past could lead such a young girl to possess such eyes?
And she's still a kid at that. Moreover, those crimson eyes are very rare in this world, except for vampires or creatures of the night.
After she realized that Kriemhild had awakened, she raised her hand, signaling to the tribal men and women in the camp that surrounded them to leave, as she saw that she appeared to be uncomfortable with their presence.
How did this young girl manage to subdue slavic tribes?
Well, considering she was not human, it should sound easy for her to subdue them.
"So... Are you a runaway princess?" a young girl asked.
The fancy dress she wore set her apart from most of the population in this medieval world, which made it reasonable for her to assume that her identity was that of a princess or a noble lady, rather than a woman from the slav tribes.
She possesses long, flowing blonde locks that gracefully cascade over her shoulders, creating a beautiful frame for her face.
Her eyes shimmer with a captivating, vibrant blue hue, a striking contrast to her dark and luscious eyelashes and eyebrows.
Her complexion is fair, and her petite nose adds an endearing touch to her features. Her lips, a soft and inviting shade of pink, are gently parted.
Clad in an exquisite ensemble reminiscent of a pirate's allure, her outfit included a meticulously crafted corset that accentuated her curves and a skirt adorned with golden treasures and delicate lace, flowing down to her knees.
She was Kriemhild, Princess of the Kingdom of Burgundy and former fiancée of Siegfried.
After her brother was attacked by Atilla the Hun, the Kingdom of Burgundy was wiped off the map, replaced by the Hun Empire led by Atilla the Hun. Luckily for her, she was not a spoiled princess but a warrior, which made it easy for her to escape. This endeavor led her to the vast northern territory ruled by Slavic tribes.
Although it wasn't her intention to flee the fight, her brother's orders were absolute as the king. He wanted her to survive to seek vengeance against Atilla the Hun in the future, as she would be more useful alive than dead, he said.
All the retainers who had escorted her were either dead or had deserted; they had given up on fighting for her cause and her impossible revenge against Atilla the Hun.
Moreover, she fainted not because she was being hunted by Atilla the Hun's men but due to the betrayal of her own men. She wasn't sure how she had fainted and how she hadn't ended up being captured and presented in front of Atilla the Hun herself. Instead, she found herself facing this girl with crimson eyes. Nevertheless, she felt a deep sense of gratitude towards her savior.
Whether the girl was a demon, a vampire, or any other form of malevolent creature, Kriemhild didn't know. Yet, despite her uncertainty, the girl had extended a helping hand when Kriemhild needed it the most, and that made her a savior in Kriemhild's eyes, regardless of her true nature.
"Thanks for saving me, Miss Vampire."
Did she not respond out of indifference or did she not even care in the first place? However, when she noticed that her savior was entirely focused on peeling the golden apple in her hand, she realized that she had misunderstood her.
The girl peeled the apple, its golden sparkling color presented with utmost care as she fed Kriemhild. Though her movements were clumsy, as if she had never done a nursing job before, her sincerity in taking care of Kriemhild nearly brought tears to her eyes.
Did she deserve such treatment? She was a failure, not only a disappointment to her brother but someone who had run away when her kingdom needed her the most. Regardless of her reasons, it couldn't change the fact that she had fled while her kingdom burned, all the while being well-fed and well-dressed.
Unbeknownst to her, Kriemhild was crying in the embrace of the young girl, who patted her back in a comforting manner, showing no concern for her own rudeness.
"Please, Miss Vampire, don't be gentle with me. I am a traitor, a sinner, and wicked. I don't deserve to live," Kriemhild begged.
"Although I don't know what you've gone through, your life is now mine—your body, your soul, your everything. If you wish to die, then do so with my permission," she spoke with a hint of command, leaving no room for refutation or disobedience in her voice.
Rather than feeling displeased or upset about being claimed by the vampire princess, Kriemhild found a new purpose in her life.
Her once-devoid eyes filled with light as they gazed into the young girl's.
"Yes, Princess."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone