Chapter 60: The Truth Behind the Curse

Silence lingered in the main hall of Silverheart Palace after Queen Morwenna’s words.

Victoria stood still, her crimson eyes fixed on the elven queen. Daemon remained beside her, his expression serious. Sana, Roxanna, and Princess Zephyra all listened without interrupting.

Even the small black bat resting near Victoria’s shoulder stayed quiet, as if it somehow understood the weight of the conversation.

Morwenna finally continued.

"The curse within your bloodline is not a true curse," she said calmly. "It is the result of an incomplete awakening."

Victoria’s brows tightened slightly.

"Incomplete... awakening?"

Morwenna nodded.

"Your bloodline is a Vampire Bloodline.

In Virendal, such a bloodline is not rare among the higher blood clans, but it is powerful. It requires a large amount of compatible energy to fully awaken and stabilize."

She paused, allowing the meaning to settle over the hall.

"Earth does not have that kind of energy."

Daemon’s eyes sharpened.

Morwenna continued in a steady voice.

"In your world, the mana density is far too weak. When a person inherits a high-level bloodline like yours, the first stage may still awaken.

But the bloodline cannot progress further. It becomes trapped between awakening and manifestation."

Victoria’s fingers curled slightly at her side.

"So the curse..."

"Is the bloodline consuming your life force," Morwenna finished. "Because it cannot draw enough energy from the environment, it begins to take from its host instead.

Over time, the body weakens. In many cases, the person dies young."

The hall grew heavier.

Victoria lowered her gaze for a moment. The nosebleeds, the sudden collapses, the sharp pain that came without warning, and the constant fear of her body failing her all of it suddenly connected into a single, cruel explanation. For years, she had believed her family carried a mysterious curse.

Now she understood that the truth was even more merciless.

Daemon spoke next.

"In Virendal, bloodlines follow clear stages, don’t they?"

Morwenna looked at him and nodded.

"Yes. In this world, bloodline progression is generally divided into seven stages."

She raised one hand slightly as she listed them, her voice clear and measured.

"First is Bloodline Awakening. That is when a dormant bloodline first becomes active and begins affecting the body.

Second is Bloodline Manifestation. At this stage, the bloodline can take physical form claws, wings, armor, weapons, or other traits.

Third is Bloodline Evolution. The bloodline itself evolves into a higher form and gains new nature or abilities.

Fourth is Bloodline Authority. The user gains control over the fundamental power represented by their bloodline.

Fifth is Bloodline Domain. The bloodline begins affecting the surrounding space and can create a personal battlefield advantage.

Sixth is Bloodline Sovereignty. At this stage, the world itself begins recognizing the user’s authority.

And finally, True Bloodline Immortality. The bloodline becomes deeply connected to the user’s existence, making them extremely difficult to kill permanently."

Victoria listened carefully, absorbing every word.

Each stage painted a clearer picture of how far her incomplete awakening truly was from its natural path.

Morwenna’s gaze returned to her.

"On Earth, most bloodlines never even complete the first stage properly.

Your case is more severe because your Vampire Bloodline is pure enough to demand progression.

Without enough mana, it remains incomplete and unstable. That instability is what your family called a curse."

Daemon turned fully toward the queen.

"Can you cure her curse permanently?"

Morwenna did not answer immediately. Her silver eyes remained calm, but there was clear seriousness in them.

"Yes," she said at last. "I can. Even Roxanna may be able to do it once she advances further in her Lifeweaver Bloodline."

A spark of hope flashed across Victoria’s face.

But Morwenna’s next words crushed it just as quickly.

"However, if we forcibly cure the instability ourselves, the bloodline will be sealed permanently."

Daemon’s expression darkened.

"Sealed?"

"Yes," Morwenna replied. "The incomplete structure would be stabilized by cutting off the bloodline’s demand for energy.

In simple terms, the curse would disappear... but so would her Vampire Bloodline. She would lose that power forever."

Victoria’s lips pressed together.

Losing the pain sounded tempting. No more sudden weakness. No more fear of collapsing in the middle of a mission.

But losing the bloodline itself the source of her strength, her identity as an S-Rank Awakener, and the power she had relied on for years was not a simple decision.

It would mean cutting away a part of herself.

Daemon’s voice remained steady.

"Then what is the proper way? The way that cures the curse and fully activates her bloodline."

Morwenna looked at him, then at Victoria.

"She must enter a Bloodline Trial."

The words echoed lightly through the hall.

Sana frowned.

"A Bloodline Trial?"

Morwenna nodded.

"It is a special trial ground formed from concentrated bloodline energy.

In Virendal, those born with incomplete or unstable high-level bloodlines sometimes enter such trials to force their awakening to completion."

She continued,

"Inside the trial, the environment provides the energy the bloodline needs. At the same time, the trial tests the user’s will, body, and compatibility.

If she succeeds, her Vampire Bloodline will complete its awakening. The instability will disappear, and her power will rise naturally."

Victoria’s eyes flickered.

"And if I fail?"

Morwenna did not soften the truth.

"Then the bloodline may collapse completely. In the worst case, it could cost your life."

The hall fell silent again.

Daemon’s jaw tightened. The idea of Victoria walking into a trial that could kill her made something cold settle in his chest.

But he also understood her well enough to know she would not accept a permanent loss of her power without a fight.

Victoria, however, did not look away. After a long moment, she exhaled quietly and lifted her chin.

"So the choice is clear," she said. "Lose the bloodline forever... or risk everything to complete it."

Morwenna gave a slight nod.

"Yes."

Daemon turned toward Victoria. Their eyes met. He did not immediately tell her what to choose.

He simply watched her, waiting for her own decision to form. Whatever path she took, he wanted it to be hers.

The small black bat on her shoulder shifted slightly, as if reacting to the tension in the air.

Morwenna’s voice softened just a little.

"If you decide to take the Bloodline Trial, I can prepare the path for you. But once you enter, no one can complete it in your place."

Victoria remained silent for several seconds.

Then she spoke clearly.

"I didn’t survive this long just to give up my bloodline."

Her crimson eyes sharpened with resolve.

"I’ll take the trial."

Daemon’s expression tightened, but he did not stop her. Instead, he stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Then we prepare properly," he said. "You’re not walking into that place unprepared."

Morwenna watched them both, a complicated emotion passing briefly through her gaze before she nodded.

"Very well."

"Then I will explain what the Bloodline Trial truly demands."