“Our race was not born but created.”

Motes of light began to coalesce into the shape of a frail-looking girl. She wore a long rope and had a comically oversized hat.

Aelius blinked at the tiny featureless figure. She looked like she was just about to keel over. Just as he thought that the figure tipped her hat to Aelius and ended up falling forward.

An involuntary giggle escaped his lips and Elizabeth smirked.

“By works of magic, love, and sacrifice this young witch overcame her illness and transformed from prey to predator.”

Another figure, a man, appeared before the girl. The figure kneeled before the girl and the motes of light moved from the man to the girl. The man collapsed, weakened. The girl stood up, removed her hat, and bent down towards the man.

Aelius looked quizzically toward Elizabeth as the man disappeared, but the maid didn’t pause her magic.

“All bloodlines and abilities, from the royals to the lower class, can all be traced to our progenitor. As the first-born vampire, she possessed the strongest bloodline and as a witch, she had free reign over magic. Her inheritors all achieved one or two aspects of magic.”

The woman floated into the air, surrounded by elemental lights, she radiated power. Branching lines spread from her, creating other bowing figures that became less and less powerful.

A witch? Aelius blinked as his mind whirled. The connection was obvious. His mother is a witch, and he was born from a royal bloodline. That meant he has great potential!

He started imagining coils of lightning surrounding his body as fire rained from the skies.

Elizabeth paused her illusions and looked at him with amusement.

“Come to think of it, you’re mother was a witch.”

He flinched. Can she read his mind?

“No. I can’t read minds.”

He narrowed his eyes and she smirked in turn.

“Sure, you might have more potential for magic than the rest of us peons...”

Aelius looked smugly at her.

“Unfortunately, history shows otherwise. You’re not the first half-blood born from a witch. They’ve all turned out to be mediocre. A weaker than average bloodline and even weaker affinity for magic.”

She began laughing as she saw his face go slack.

“Nevertheless, you never know what might happen. You could become our progenitor reborn. An archwizard with a royal vampire bloodline at your fingertips.”

The illusion changed into a baby with black hair and amber eyes. He wore a cape and had a wand in his hand. The baby looked smug, vanquishing rats and spiders.

“But no matter how powerful you become, there will always be a mountain that you can never overcome.”

Another figure appeared behind the baby illusion. Aelius wanted to warn the little archwizard but before he uttered a warning the figure stepped on the baby, shattering the illusion.

The new figure had deep crimson hair and a lean figure. With hands behind his back, he started defiantly upwards. Yellow-slitted eyes glared coldly at Aelius.

Aelius heard heavy breathing and looked toward the source. Elizabeth was blushing and breathing heavily.

“Your father, Nicolas De Aludra. Our glorious patriarch. As our progenitor lays slumbering, he is the master of our race. He stands at the pinnacle, a hero.”

Her breathing became heavier as she swallowed audibly, her face growing flush.

“He’s perfection incarnate. The apex predator that other races fear, glorious and—”

Aelius’ chubby fist shattered the illusion of the patriarch. He stuck out his tongue in rebelliousness. There. Enemy defeated. The mighty soon-to-be archwizard has annihilated his nemesis.

Elizabeth blinked. She looked a little less amused than usual.

“Neh!”

Aelius grinned innocently.

“[Greater Illusion].”

‘Uh oh.’

A shadow fell over Aelius. Something was behind him. His head mechanically turned back. The figure returned. Full-sized. Those yellow eyes pinned him in place. Paralyzing his body. Holy shit.

Wait. There was nothing to fear. This was still an illusion.

The illusion lifted his hand and tendrils of blood began to wrap around Aelius. Crimson snakes wrapped around his limbs and began to crawl towards his neck.

He can feel them. They were made of light, but he can still feel a physical force around him.

‘Oh no. Nononononono.’

As Aelius was lifted into the air, he heard Elizabeth’s voice.

“No matter what you do. No matter where you go or how powerful you become. There will always be one who you can never defy.”

Aelius floated closer to the figure, the oppressive feeling increasing.

“One who will not tolerate treason.”

Aelius tried to squirm free, but the tendrils might as well be made of metal, they were immovable. The figure opened his mouth as if to speak. Then his mouth began to unhinge and open wider and wider as Aelius was brought towards the black hole.

**

Sniff. Sniff.

Aelius tried to glare at Elizabeth as she changed his diaper, but the swollen eyes and sniffling nose destroyed any attempt at intimidation.

“Sleep tight.”

She grinned back, amusement dancing in her eyes, before disappearing from the room.

‘That was terrifying.’

A bedtime story. This was supposed to be a bedtime story. He’d be lucky if he got any sleep tonight.

He needed to make a proper plan for the future. At this point, he was a bug at the dinner table for giants. You would ignore a bug if you didn’t see it, become a nuisance and you’ll be squashed.

The baby shivered. He needed a plan. Something that will help him survive and thrive. Luckily he has an advantage.

He knows how the story goes.