The morning fog hadn't even cleared when Lucas was dragged—yes, dragged—by four overenthusiastic vampires through the plaza.
"My lord, the temple is ready!"
"You must bless the blood altar!"
"Also, we installed dripping chandeliers! They're very gothic."
Lucas, still wearing his night-cloak and holding a cup of warm blood like a grumpy old man, groaned, "If one more of you touches my shoulder, I swear I'll turn this city around."
The Temple of Blood Unity
To be fair… it was huge.
The doors were twelve feet tall and made from blackened bonewood. Giant red banners hung from towers, each with the sigil of the Crimson Palm. The ceiling rose like a fang into the sky, and everything—walls, floors, carpets—was dark red.
Lucas muttered, "This place looks like it was designed by a depressed goth teenager with a god complex."
Mira, standing beside him in full ceremonial armor, replied, "You're describing you, boss."
"…Fair."
Inside
They led Lucas to the central altar, a jagged slab of bloodstone suspended over a shallow basin of blood.
A crowd of vampires—cloaked, armored, even baby bats in capes—stood in total silence, watching.
Lucas sighed, raised his hands awkwardly, and said, "Uh... may your veins stay juicy, or whatever."
The crowd roared.
Chants erupted: "Blood binds! Crimson reigns! Lucas eternal!"
Lucas whispered to Mira, "Did they just name a religion after me?"
Mira nodded. "You've had a cult for three days and didn't notice."
"I thought that was just... intense fandom!"
"You command their blood, Lucas."
"Oh. That explains the statue. Why am I shirtless?"
"Ask the sculptor."
[System Warning: Blood Unity Field Overloaded]
Ritual Site: Active
Mana Flux: Unstable
Blood Veins: Overcharged
Probability of Magical Surge: 91%
Consequences: Yes.
Suddenly, the altar glowed.
The basin of blood began to boil—not hot, but bubbling with raw magical resonance. Red lightning crackled across the ceiling.
"See?" Lucas said, backing up. "This is why I don't do ceremonies!"
The altar cracked. The blood surged. And from the center, something rose.
Not a creature.
A mirror.
Crimson-framed. Glowing. Whispering in the Old Tongue.
Everyone backed away.
Lucas stepped forward, against Mira's shouted warning.
The mirror reflected his back, not his front.
Then it spoke.
"He watches you still. The One Beneath remembers. And you are late."
Lucas blinked. "Excuse me. I am never late. I'm fashionably traumatized."
The mirror shattered.
The room went dead silent.
Then—splat—a goat fell from the ceiling and landed on the altar.
Lucas turned. "Alright, who keeps summoning the goat?!"
[System Update: Sealed Echo Triggered]
The One Beneath: Noticed
Crypt Tether: Weakening
Bloodline Instability: +4%
New Objective: Investigate the Mirror Shards
Goat Affinity: Maxed
Lucas sipped his blood again. "Okay. New rule. No more temples."
The crowd of vampires dropped to one knee.
"All hail Lucas, Slayer of Mirrors!"
Lucas facepalmed. "I need a nap. And possibly a muzzle for the goat."