Vampire Nightlife

'They're not corrupted are they?' Lukas looked in panic as he glanced at both Anthony and Philip. He didn't know how much the Dark Forest, or the Unknown entity, exerted its influence, but he'd rather not have these people be corrupt—

[Corruption: 6%]

[Corruption: 8%]

"That's Cerise… and she's just going to gently tap the wand over the two of you, okay?" Lukas checked on Matthew and he was fine.

Maybe it was the fact that he had transformed into a full pledged Vampire that protected him, but now it was clear to Lukas that the corruption could affect individuals.

'That means that Iolathane and the others who'd been here longer would be at a higher corruption rate. I hope it's not too late.' Lukas gritted his teeth.

Cerisedel took one look at him but then glanced at the two Vampires. She raised her wand and pointed at them.

"[Purify]"

The next moment provoked the most ear-piercing scream that echoed in Lukas' ears. He was subjected to their pain, and they fell to their knees.

Matthew glanced harshly at Cerise, but a part of him was afraid for some reason and couldn't do anything.

Besides, it was Lukas who asked for it to be done and Matthew didn't think it would be done for no reason at all.

"What…?" Matthew's question fell off as he noticed the dark vapor that rose from both Anthony and Philip. It was a strange-like energy that made Matthew instantly recoil and step away from them.

"Good. Keep your distance." Cerisedel said and then let out a soft breath. "I'm glad it worked. Not much damage on them too—are you happy, Lukas?"

"We could have knocked them out so they wouldn't shout—" Lukas' words temporarily fell off as several other beasts and flora surrounded them all of a sudden.

All of them were Corrupted Creatures and Plants.

Their appearance featured grotesque appendages, a paleness in their skin that made them look like ivory bones and often an absent of eyes or it being made of completely red ones that were all joined together.

"Protect them for awhile, Matthew—"

"[Mass Purification]!" Cerisedel sent out a wave of light that knocked back all the beasts and sent them on the floor.

All of them writhed and hissed out in an unnatural voice, at a cadence that made Lukas' ears hurt and he covered them shut at the same time as Matthew did for his.

"What gives?" Lukas asked once the light vanished and all of the creatures were down on the ground. They no longer looked like the corrupted version of how they looked, but still retained the dark shades that were reminiscent of being part of the Dark Forest.

"I had to check the wand's capacity." Cerisedel said as she stared at the glowing crystal in her wand, it seemed to retain its bright color but there was a missing luster to it. "Besides, we're supposed to purify the entire forest, shouldn't we? I'm just doing your job and it's effective."

"That's…" Lukas didn't like the feeling of just standing around and doing nothing. He may have made all his way to Ilstad Mountain to get some help, but he didn't expect to be at the complete back seat in this situation.

"What? Do you want to give it a go, yourself?" Cerisedel offered him the strange wand. "It still has its juices left. Should be enough for you to cast it alongside your friends while I do the same spell."

"You could do that this entire time?" Lukas frowned. He didn't want to just take the wand for himself, especially with how it looked, but if this was… was truly purification, was there a chance that it could restore Rhea as well?

"Of course." Cerisedel said. "I've learned the spell now that I've seen it. Here you go, take care of it and try not to destroy the crystal—it's still possible for it to recharge and gain more power."

"I wouldn't destroy such a thing." Lukas accepted it and then checked its status at once.

[Wand of Pure Crystal Heart]

A wand that allows its bearer to cast spells of light, purification and healing. This was made by the Enchanter Mage, Alewyn Braerys during the Elven Empire Era to protect the army of Elion from the dark forces of Daemon's Legions.

"This… this isn't the most helpful thing I've seen." Lukas muttered.

"What?" Cerisedel said.

"Nothing. Let's start with the purification." Lukas glanced at the first Corrupted Dark Tree he'd seen and jabbed it towards the plant.

Nothing immediately happened and both Cerisedel and Matthew gave him strange looks. Lukas coughed and tried again.

"Purify? Purification?"

"Hmmm, you still need mana to channel it. You should have it though." Cerisedel said, although the way she glanced at Matthew seemed to indicate that she was also checking him and the other Vampires.

"I came here to learn magic, I'm not going to get myself trashed by some kind of wand." Lukas grouched and tried hard to imagine himself using it.

The crystal seemed to operate as its source of magic, it was there waiting for him to use and all he needed to do was tap into its primal energy.

Lukas didn't exactly feel anything drain out of him, but as he visualized the force within the magical wand—he allowed something to pass through.

A vibrant source of direct energy blasted towards the Corrupted Dark Forest tree and it exploded in a blaze of light. This time, Matthew winced and looked away. It seared his eyes with its concentrated energy—he didn't think that something else besides the sun would hurt him, but the brightness did.

Lukas opened his eyes to see what he wrought for the tree.

The strange rot on its bark had vanished away, and while it was sizzling with some hot smoke… there was the fact that the Corruption status vanished away that left Lukas smiling in relief.

He had done it.

"Maybe try to use less energy next time."

"Let me bask in my victory for a moment."