Time-Skip (2022) Current Face Claim: Elsa Granhiert - Re:Zero
New Face Claim: Ningguang - Genshin Impact
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Time-Skip: Although Esperia had hoped to spend the future away from all the adventurous chaos that Earthland had to offer, to simply spend the peaceful days alongside her beloved wife and family seemingly was a dream too far-fetched. It all began when a mysterious messenger revealed to her that several of the ancient vampire houses were engaged in a conflict of sorts. If anything, to Esperia it sounded more like a political game, with a violent backdrop: Considering most of the houses their origins can be found in the households of the thirteen who betrayed their predecessors and were cursed by their God-King Cain.
Among those houses there are certain vampires that are often revered, some would consider it akin to nobility among the vampires, for those select few can trace their origins back to the original bloodline of their God-King, a feat only the thirteen are able to claim... or do they?
When Esperia was first approached by the mysterious girl called 'Khay', she didn't know what to think: Although her unique abilities made it easy to perceive the girl's tale as truthful, it didn't made it any easier to come to terms with the tale: The history of Nebuchad, the birthplace of vampirism, a civilization doomed by betrayal and greed. And Khay? She was one of the Nine, one of the few, possibly even a lone survivor of the betrayal at the hands of her children.
Despite her best efforts to keep other vampires in the dark about its existence, the recent rumors about vampires possessing Cain's blood had caused a surge of interest in the various households who wanted to attain the allegiance of those select few for their own purposes.
While Khay might had not been the most selfless in her intentions, she did act with a certain honesty Esperia found refreshing: Khay was quick to reveal the reason she had approached Esperia was in the hope of serving as a mentor to the girl, to teach her about the ancient secrets of Nebuchad and the intrigues of the vampire houses.
Khay's desire to restore Nebuchad to its former glory was a idealistic dream, she knew that much herself anytime she thought back about the submerged ruins, but she also felt that the current nature of their society was a pale shadow of the glorious days of Nebuchad.
Cursed by betrayal most vampires had been forced to stay hidden in the shadows, or move under the darkness of the night, the traditions and rites of old were gone, in a way it might had been partly due to how the cursed state of the thirteen had led to the vampires their blood to become 'impure', they were weaker than before, but also had shunned away from ancient teachings.
They thought themselves superior to others, and became both a terror and blight upon civilization to the point the term 'vampire' was commonly associated with a blood-sucking monster, a mockery of their glorious existence in the past.
Nonetheless, as a vampire Khay lacked the ability to create a household, it took much more time for her to be able to properly convert someone, during the same time one of the thirteen could create an entire house, she could only turn maybe one or two individuals. They could easily dominate through sheer numbers.
But an opportunity was found, Khay had observed Esperia in utmost secrecy and believed that despite possessing the Blood of Cain like the original Nine, she was likely capable of turning others into vampires with the same ease as the thirteen could, should she align herself with Khay, she could create a household that could stand against this mockery of Nebuchad's legacy.
Yet, despite Esperia's willingness to train under Khay to master her vampiric powers, the fact remained she was quite... hesitant to turn others. Not only did she know just how much a normal person could consider vampirism a curse, but were there even any who shared Khay's views?
However, it would be during her trip homeward alongside her lover Valerie that Esperia came forced to acknowledge something. She had just arrived at a village that had burned a vampire at the stake, but after investigating the matter further she realized a rival house had used the vampire as a scapegoat, and said victim was actually a well-mannered vampire that despite their unusual existence tried to coexist with the villagers. Even as he was burned at the stake he refused to go back on his ideals, didn't attack the humans that were carrying out his death sentence despite a minority trying to defend his innocence.
Esperia understood just how different the existence of vampires was seen by the broader audience, and that something had to be done to change things. But was it her responsibility? And if so, what could she possibly do?
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