The squad was still in the forest almost entering an opening when Audine ordered Rocks to fire a flare gun. He followed the order by shooting a black smoke screen into the sky. This way as soon as the squad exited the forest and entered the clearance, the castle walls were now visible. Almost immediately, magic cannons were fired at the edge of the forest. This attack incinerated the entire forest edge. Tyson, Monica, Maverick and Bell were in awe and fear-stricken at such force from one volley. Then the squad slowed down since they were now safe but a voice came from the wall telling them to brace for the impact wave. Tyson pounced on Monica to cover her from the blast, Maverick did so for Bell and TJ, Rocks for the other girls. A wave of heat and dust hit them soon after. It lasted for ten scorching seconds.
After the attack, the others got up to inspect each other for Monica to heal them. Everyone except for Tyson who was still on top of Monica. They were stuck in a deadlock looking at each other in the eye. Monica started to blush as Tyson was hyperventilating. She asked him whether he was ok but no answer came. She asked again and again no answer came. He fell on her making her to shriek. This was when she noticed that Tyson was low on blood. He was having a fever. It must have taken a lot of blood for him to withstand the magic attack. She asked him to drink her blood and for the first time he hesitated. She proceeded to force him to take a bite of her neck.
Tyson still being delirious, took a bite and started to drink to his consent. He drank with no restraint and this started to affect Monica who was moaning at the feeling of being drained. Audine offered to help her but Monica refused saying her blood lacked enough mana to satisfy his thirsts. Maverick asked how she even knew that about him and she proceeded to say that it was something she read in the cathedral library. She was either flustered by the situation or drowsy from the extreme blood loss but she was not in her right self. This was when Audine reminded her to heal her lost blood.
Tyson stopped soon after and wiped his mouth in content. The others were shocked at the guy. After what they had just gone through in the lizardman settlement, the magic canons and now Tyson nearly killing Monica. But there was no time for this. The squad was, in actuality, surrounded by soldiers. Their spears were raised at Tyson. The captain of the soldiers walked forward and said," Princess Audine, it's truly a pleasure to see you return safely."
" Captain, what the heck is going on? Why are you weapons raised at my friends?" asked Audine angrily.
" I'm sorry my lady but under imperial law, all vampires spotted on human land is to be executed on the spot," answered the captain unsheathing his sword and pointing Tyson with it.
" But this vampire is the whole entire reason we are alive here and now. If you execute him, you will be putting a stain in my hoor as this kingdom's princess," said Audine.
" I'm sorry my lady but your word alone cannot go against imperial law," said the captain not budging from his earlier assessment.
" What about my word?" asked Monica standing in front of Tyson to protect him.
" And who might you be young lady?" the captain asked in a scoff.
" Oh yes, you can keep him safe," said Audine in joy jumping to stand beside Monica.
" I am the saint of the empire Monica Agnes. will that suffice with you captain?" Monica announced.
All the guards instantly fell to the ground to bow in reverence." Oh saint Monica, we apologize for our arrogance but if we are not allowed to execute him then please allow us to place him in custody to await the king's verdict," begged the captain.
" If you must then please proceed," said Monica in resignation.
" We thank you great saint," said the captain as he signaled his men to proceed with the arrest.
" But if you hurt a hair on his head then you and this kingdom will not see another day. Hear that captain," warned Monica and the men fully understood.
Tyson was now understanding the events they just went through and was feeling conflicted about what he did to Monica. He did not bother to struggle with the guards as they restrained him. The group was not okay with this but Tyson gave them a smile. Bell being the worried child asked where they were going to hold him and the captain begrudgingly said the dungeon. Audine and Monica were about to protest but Rocks and Maverick held them back. Tyson simply said with a conceited smile," Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You guys go and get treated. I know you will be able to get me out of their before the sun even goes down so I'm not really worried. And Bell [ She looks up at him in tears ], please take care TJ as you always have. I'll be back to give you a present when I'm back."
Bell smiled and wiped her tears. She hugged TJ and agreed to Tyson's requested. The soldiers then moved into the kingdom with the squad behind them. Tyson was placed in a prisoner carriage which was covered under Audine's instructions. The squad, on the other hand, rode on a fancy carriage heading for the castle. Audine rushed the carriage to make it to the castle that she practically ran the horses ragged. As soon as they arrived at the castle, she kicked open the door and bolted past her brother who was waiting to greet her. She barged right into the throne room and shouted," DADDY!" in a banshee-like scream.
The king was visibly disturbed by this and asked her what was wrong. She immediately said that the captain had arrested her savior because he was vampire. He was caught aback by this. Not because Tyson was arrested but because he was a vampire. He called over a maid and asked her to bring the captain and the vampire. The captain was now entering the castle dungeon in the back entrance when the maid came. The captain gave a sigh and proceeded to pull Tyson to the throne room.
The captain stood before the king with Tyson and bowed to his majesty. Tyson refused to do so. The captain tried to make him but he still refused. Then Tyson pulled out small piece of gold from his pocket. It was the insignia of twin dragons and a sword in between them. To someone normal it meant nothing but to the king who was visibly in terror, it was identification of his royal bloodline.