The Eclipsed Bloom
Chapter 58: Earth

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Earth

Zara stood across from Grace, the light glinting off the blade in her hand. She took a deep breath and raised her sword into position, her feet shifting into a practiced stance.

Grace grinned wildly as she lifted a sword almost as tall as she was, the massive blade looking ridiculous in her small hands—but somehow, she made it work. Her crimson eyes gleamed with excitement.

"You ready, girl?" Grace smirked. "I won’t go easy just because you’re pretty."

Zara responded with a calm smile. "I wouldn’t want you to little girl."

Grace narrow her eyes and shout, "who are you calling little girl"

Zara just smiled and dint answer,

From the sidelines, Nyssa rose from her seat and walked toward the two. Her voice rang out, clear and composed.

"Well then girls stop bickering. I’ll be your referee."

lucy, still seated cross-legged beneath the shade, glanced around with a slight frown. "Clair... where’s Edith? I haven’t seen her since this morning."

Clair, lounging with one leg draped over the other, scanned the crowd. "Huh. You’re right." She scratched her head, then snapped her fingers as realization hit. "Ah! She’s probably hiding somewhere with her nose buried in one of those novels again."

Clair sighed and tilted her head, brushing her Black hair behind her ear. "Most likely... She always finds the quietest corner."

Lucy rolled her eyes and slapped her thigh. "Tch! I’ll never get it. Real battles are a thousand times more thrilling than those mushy fantasy books she reads."

Clair’s cheeks turned faintly pink as she looked away. "W-Well... people enjoy different things. You shouldn’t judge her for that."

Lucy raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile creeping onto her lips. "Wait a second... Clair, don’t tell me you read those too?"

"I–I didn’t say that!"

Back on the field, Nyssa raised her hand between the two duelists.

"This is a friendly spar. First to disarm the other wins," she declared, her voice firm. "Begin!"

Grace’s grin widened as she launched forward like a bullet, her oversized blade gleaming under the light.

Zara’s eyes narrowed. This was her chance to test her new mastery.

Grace lunged forward, her sword slicing through the air with astonishing speed for someone of her small frame.

Clang!

Zara stepped to the side with fluid grace, narrowly dodging the strike. In the same motion, she countered with a swift slash aimed at Grace’s side.

From the sidelines, Nyssa’s brow lifted slightly. "She’s faster... far faster than yesterday," she thought, a flicker of intrigue flashing in her eyes.

Grace’s eyes widened in surprise at Zara’s sudden speed—but then, a wild grin spread across her face. "Now we’re talking!"

With a burst of momentum, she leapt backward, flipping midair to avoid Zara’s blade. The moment her feet touched the ground, she dashed forward again, unleashing a rapid flurry of strikes. Her sword danced in her hands, moving with reckless, almost chaotic energy.

But Zara... wasn’t fazed.

Her eyes tracked each motion with sharp clarity, her body tilting just enough to let the blades glance off her, her sword moving with elegant precision. Every slash Grace threw at her was effortlessly redirected or deflected.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Zara’s mind buzzed, but not with fear. It was exhilaration.

This is me? This is what sword mastery feels like?

Each motion felt natural—instinctive. Her body responded to Grace’s attacks like it had practiced a thousand times before.

As their swords clashed again, a small smile crept onto her lips.

"I think," Zara whispered to herself, "I’m starting to enjoy this."

Lilith stood at the edge of the dueling ground, eyes fixed on Zara as she gracefully deflected Grace’s rapid sword strikes. The way Zara moved—fluid, precise, confident—made Lilith’s cheeks flush with warmth. Her breath hitched slightly, and she brought a hand to her chest, trying to calm the sudden thudding of her heart.

Just then, Rose, the seductive black-haired vampire with ever-present mischief in her eyes, leaned close to Lilith’s ear. A teasing smile curved her lips.

"Zara is cute, isn’t she?" she whispered.

Lilith, lost in the moment, nodded instinctively.

Rose’s smile widened as she continued in a singsong tone, "But... you do remember Grace made a blood oath, right? If she loses this duel, she has to become Zara’s lover. Vampires can have multiple wives, sure... but you don’t really want to share, do you?"

The smile on Lilith’s face vanished.

Her expression froze, eyes narrowing as the words settled into her mind. She stared blankly at the ground, the joy from watching Zara replaced by a hollow ache she didn’t quite understand.

Rose leaned back with a smug look, humming to herself as if she hadn’t just dropped a verbal bomb.

She glanced sideways, like a child pretending to be innocent after causing mischief. A glint of triumph danced in her dark eyes.

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USA – Nighttime, California’s Largest Church

The streets outside bustled with life—cars honking, neon signs glowing, and people walking the sidewalks unaware of the storm brewing beneath their feet.

Beneath the cathedral, hidden from public eyes, a large conference room lay deep within the church’s fortified basement. Around a long, obsidian table sat a diverse group—men and women clad in a mix of formal suits, military uniforms, and ancient armors, their expressions tense. The air was thick with pressure. Sweat trickled down their foreheads despite the cool underground air.

At the head of the table sat a silver-haired man in ceremonial robes, clearly the one in charge. His fingers gripped the armrest of his chair tightly as he glared at the figure sitting across from him.

The man’s presence alone was suffocating—tall, regal, yet terrifying. Though his expression remained unreadable, his body trembled slightly, as though barely suppressing a deep fury.

The silver-haired leader finally spoke, voice cold and restrained.

"Lucien... Why are you on Earth? Did you forget? During the Grand Assembly, it was clearly stated— no progenitor is to cross realms without permission."

The name alone sent a chill through the room.

Lucien—the Progenitor of the Vampires and Crimson Lineage.

The man raised his Black eyes and locked them on the leader, causing the latter to instinctively flinch. Then, without a word of explanation, Lucien turned away, standing as a dark portal shimmered to life behind him.

"Tell your people to be ready," he said flatly. "The Grand Meeting is tomorrow."

With that, he vanished into the portal, which closed behind him with a low hum of arcane energy.

The moment he disappeared, everyone exhaled. Some slumped in their chairs. Others wiped their brows with trembling hands. The weight of his aura was gone, but the fear remained.

A grizzled general leaned forward, hands clasped tightly, looking at the leader with visible concern.

"Sir... what did he mean?" he asked, voice low. "The Grand Meeting... isn’t it supposed to be five years away?"

The silver-haired leader didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stared at the closed portal, a shadow of dread darkening his face.

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