"You enjoy embarrassing people, don’t you?"
Hesabeth said this with a playful smile, and Jason shrugged with a calm grin.
"It’s a bad habit. I’ll try my best to work on it, your majesty."
Hesabeth huffed and playfully responded in a haughty tone.
"Ensure you do, young man."
The two of them chuckled at their playful exchange as they enjoyed the peaceful moment together, and it was only after a few more minutes that Hesabeth finally got back to Jason’s question.
"Now, about the outside world. Things haven’t exactly gone rightly for either of us out there, as I’m sure you already predicted. Let’s just say that our actions have been heavily frowned upon by the council, and we will be facing repercussions when we return. Myself moreso than you, as a matter of fact."
Jason raised a brow in surprise as Hesabeth said this. Jason wasn’t surprised that he would be facing repercussions when he returned. Jason had destroyed the world of the Machina together with Gillian, so he knew that he would definitely be punished for that. But Jason was more surprised that Hesabeth would also be punished for her actions. Jason never thought that the council would actually try to punish someone like Hesabeth for anything. Jason asked Hesabeth if this was about her using her powers to try to kill him, and Jason saw a bit of guilt on Hesabeth’s face when he mentioned that. But Hesabeth managed to nod calmly.
"Yes, it is. There were rules imposed on me at the formation of the council about how to use my powers. I have always known how dangerous it would be for me to lose control of these powers, and there have been situations in the past where I destroyed entire worlds for the most pointless reasons. I swore never to lose my composure like that again before I joined the council, but now that I have broken that pledge, it is obvious that there will be sanctions. Some money, or some resources, and maybe even a temporary suspension from the council. Who knows?"
Jason hummed as he heard all of this. It was weird to hear about Hesabeth receiving punishment like she was just some other regular person. Didn’t the council know that Hesabeth could do whatever she wanted without any repercussions? Jason was certain that if Hesabeth wanted to, then she could just say she wasn’t going to receive punishment! So then...
"Why are you allowing them to punish you?"
This was the question Jason asked, and Hesabeth couldn’t help but smile when she heard it! Hesabeth was happy that Jason realised that the council wasn’t forcing punishment on her. Hesabeth was basically allowing them to punish her! If Hesabeth didn’t want to be punished, then who could do anything about it? Hesabeth put her tea aside and answered calmly.
"I’m allowing this to happen because I understand the importance of the peace that we have forged in this region of the Primordial Expanse. You wouldn’t understand all of this because you weren’t around during the Period of Lawlessness, but the bloodshed and death that occurred back then is something that even I could not bear to witness. It was a twisted period of unprecedented evil, and it was only the desire for power that caused the entire world to be plunged into such madness. I have a feeling that we are on the brink of returning to such a period once again, and although I am a being who has every right to do whatever I please without consequence, I also possess empathy for those beneath me, and therefore, I refuse to allow my actions to be the catalyst that drives this world into such a period once again. If I were to refuse punishment, it would set a precedent across the Primordial Expanse, and people would begin to undermine the Council’s authority since they believe that they cannot be punished for their actions. Even if the world is destined to fall into the madness of lawlessness again, then let it be because of some other person’s foolishness, rather than my own."
By the time Hesabeth finished her explanation, she was already frowning down into her cup of tea as she remembered how things had been back then, and Jason could tell that she truly hated the memories of those times. Jason had been hearing about the Period of Lawlessness for a long time, and he already had an idea of how bad things must have been back then. But if even Hesabeth is this desperate to make sure the world never returned to those times, then Jason knew that things must’ve been far worse than what he thought at first! Jason felt his respect for Hesabeth go up after he heard everything she had to say, and he nodded as he finally took up his cup of tea to drink. Jason took a sip, and he immediately gagged!
"Ugh! Fuck, this is disgusting!"
[The user has consumed [Coffee]]
[The user’s Vympir Gene is rejecting the meal and has gone into a frenzy]
Jason couldn’t even read his system messages as he hunched over, and he almost choked! Jason felt a revolting feeling passing through his entire body, and opposite him, Hesabeth just hummed as she watched him put the tea down with disgust, and she eventually spoke.
"Well, I suppose I was right after all. It’ll take some time for you to get used to it."
Jason looked up at Hesabeth with red eyes, and Hesabeth felt a strange shiver go down her spine as she saw the danger within that gaze!
The world rumbled around Hesabeth, but Hesbeath calmed her Bias down since she knew she wasn’t in any danger. Jason grit his teeth, and Hesabeth saw sharp canines peeking out from his mouth as he spoke.
"What the hell did you do to that tea!?"
Hesabeth blinked, and she was surprised for a moment, but she eventually sighed and put her tea down.
"I didn’t do anything to the tea. It is the same tea that I am drinking now, is it not? I poured them from the same kettle. What you are going through is of no fault of mine, but rather as a result of your new constitution. You are now a Vympir, Jason. Did you think that you would simply be able to continue on with life as normal?"
Jason put his hand to his head as he felt a heavy headache forming, and his stomach growled in protest as he was reminded that he hadn’t eaten anything in close to three days! But for some reason, none of the food on the picnic in front of him looked appetizing at all! In fact, Jason felt like he would vomit just from staring at them! What the hell was happening to him? Was this the same as being a vampire back on Earth? Was he ever going to be able to eat regular food again!? For some reason, the first thought that came to Jason’s mind was that he would never be able to eat his mother’s cooking again, and the sheer anger that filled him at that thought was enough for his canines to grow even longer!
"This is bullshit!"
Jason cursed in anger, and Hesabeth just hummed as she felt a bit of nostalgia about this moment. Hesabeth and Gillian had once sat down like this and eaten together a long time ago, and Gillian had explained to Hesabeth exactly how it was possible for a Vympir to eat regular food. It had been a very awkward situation back then, but now Hesabeth felt like she would really enjoy herself with Jason. Hesabeth smiled, and she took another drink of tea – almost like she was teasing Jason – before she spoke.
"If you want to eat regular food that badly, then there is a way."
Jason looked towards Hesabeth sharply when she said this. Jason’s eyes had grown to an even deeper shade of red, and now he looked like a beast that you would find in the middle of a magical forest. The sort of beast that went about killing wandering travellers like some mythological monster!