Blood magic.
The crimson tendrils writhing through the air were unmistakable—a type of magic based on miasma instead of mana that could only be wielded by vampires and, by extension, the cultists of the Red Chalice who worshipped them. Magic that should have been extinct, relegated to history books and cautionary tales.
My mind raced as Mathias stepped in front of me, his wind and dark mana wrapping around us protectively in swirling layers of midnight blue and silver. The Commander's presence was like a fortress, his power radiating with controlled precision.
But beneath my combat focus lurked a far more troubling question: Why?
Why would a Cardinal of the Red Chalice Cult reveal themselves so recklessly? The world had believed vampires and their cult were completely eradicated decades ago. When I'd tried to expose their continued existence before, they'd gone to extraordinary lengths to maintain their secrecy, sacrificing even high-ranking members to preserve their shadows.
