Silence hung over the rugged path taken by Alex and Niloufer, but for her, it was anything but ordinary. Niloufer's new senses kept her constantly turning toward him; she no longer just heard his footsteps, but the sound of his steady breathing was so amplified in her ears that it began to irritate her and shatter her focus, as if every inhale and exhale from him echoed inside her skull.
Suddenly, Niloufer's body tensed, and her pupils dilated in terror. She heard a loud, heavy sound, as if something massive were running at a maddening speed toward them, crushing everything in its way. She screamed in panic, backing away: "Alex! Something huge is coming... something terrifying is approaching us!" She tried to turn and flee, but in that moment, Alex's hand shot out, firmly grasping her hand and holding her in place.
Niloufer froze, staring toward the forest in anticipation, only to be surprised by a small rabbit emerging from the bushes and hopping quietly away. Silence reigned for a moment, and Alex looked at her, thinking to himself: "She is still unable to adapt to the amplification of sounds in her ears... every simple movement seems like a disaster to her."
Niloufer lowered her gaze to find Alex's hand still gripping hers tightly. In that moment, a strange sensation washed over her; it wasn't fear, but a sense of security she had never known. She whispered to herself in shock: "This is the first time I've felt such warmth..."
Quickly, she pulled her hand away in confusion, trying to hide her tension with a light laugh: "Haha... I knew it was just a rabbit; I just wanted to test your reaction!" Alex gave her a cryptic look she couldn't interpret, but he continued on his way in silence, leaving behind a heart that had begun to beat with a rhythm it had never felt before.
Leo entered the city, and the air was charged with a strange, potent energy he had never encountered before. The dragon turned to him and asked in a low voice: "Do you feel this immense amount of power surrounding us here?" Leo looked around coldly and replied: "No... how much power are we talking about?" The dragon responded in a grave tone: "It is equivalent to the power of a newborn dragon... a massive, innate strength." Leo paused for a moment, looking at the city's towering walls with bewilderment. "Strange..." he thought. "Why do I feel nothing? Is it because I am human, or do vampires simply lack this kind of perception?"
As they moved deeper into the city, a massive fortress emerged before them, surrounded by fierce guards whose imposing presence was visible from afar. The city was a blend of contradictions: a bustling market thrumming with life at its entrance, flanked by luxurious houses reflecting the wealth of their inhabitants. Leo stopped a passerby and asked: "Where can we find the Great Library?" The man looked at him with mockery, struggling to suppress a laugh. "The Great Library? What century are you living in? That fortress right in front of you... what do you think it is?" Leo looked at the fortress, then at the nearby market with disapproval. "This is it? But why is there a market at its entrance? Shouldn't it be a sacred and solemn place?"
The man answered with a sneer as he continued on his way: "Indeed, that's what happens when someone knows how to exploit the obsession of people coming from all corners of the universe to reach this library... Money rules everything." He then muttered as he walked away: "Idiots everywhere..." Leo bit his lip in frustration, thinking to himself: "I have gone from a king who rules to a mere commoner... worse, I don't even have money. But patience; it won't be long before all these figures kneel before me."
Leo reached the walls of the library—walls protected by an unbreakable, mystical barrier, with dozens of guards watching every inch. He headed toward the majestic gate where people flowed in and out. As he approached, two guards blocked his path. "Who are you?" one of them asked sharply. Leo's eyes darted around, searching for a name or an identity to give, but the guard interrupted him contemptuously: "Don't bother... you don't possess any power that would even allow you to enter." Leo recoiled. "How so? And why power? Isn't this a library for books?" The guard laughed loudly and said with disdain: "Yes, a library, but it's not for the likes of you. Move along, I don't have time to waste on the weak."
Leo looked at the dragon and whispered: "How will we get in now? Should I wait until night to transform and sneak in? But if I'm caught here, the place is teeming with forces whose extent I don't even know." Just then, Leo saw another man being denied entry. The dragon said mockingly: "Strange... even that man possesses power far beyond your current strength." Leo approached the man and asked: "Why didn't they let you in?" The man replied with irritation: "I'm new here, and I didn't know entry requires an 'Acceptance Document'." He then shoved his shoulder against Leo's and added: "And you? Why are you even asking? It's clear you'll never set foot inside." Leo turned toward him with a dark expression and a voice dripping with menace: "Remember this face well... because you'll be seeing it a lot in your upcoming nightmares."
Leo continued his way, inquiring about this document, only to discover the bitter truth: the "Acceptance Document" wasn't just a piece of paper. it was a seal from the Great Library granted only to those who could tame a Grade 11 pet—a feat requiring monumental strength and extraordinary skill that very few possessed.