Kael Cor: A Vampire's Awakening Chapter 249 Dragons VI : A Different Kind Of Pain

I shot towards Norcia like a bullet out of a gun, too fast for even my own eyes to perceive. My sword dug into his throat, and to make matters worse, I had my sword coated with my Aura, increasing the reach and range of the blade, as it poled a hole through his neck, and out the back of his head.
He died immediately, and without pain. The weight of his body brought me to the ground, but I was able to keep his head up, raising it with my hands and with more strength than I though myself capable of. In fact it didn't even feel like I was carrying anything at all.
But as I stood underneath the dead dragon, his head held upright by me, his blood flowed out from his wound. It came pouring out, like the rush a rapidly moving river, rousing and bathing me in golden blood that covered the whole of my body, and then began to sink into my skin. I was startled, and spooked by the sudden literal blood bath, and even more so by the fact that his blood was getting into my body.
But for some reason I couldn't move, I was stuck there, helpless as not just his blood, but also his bones, his scales and skin, began to peel away and fall on me, sinking into my body, like rain water sinks into the ground. So enough there was nothing left of Norcia, even his decapitated limbs had deconstructed and been absorbed by me.
And then my body began to tremble, my bones freaked as my blood also boiled. It was somewhat painful, but at the same time it was a really pleasurable experience. I felt as if I was a hundred times stronger than before, so much more faster and resilient. Maybe this was happening because quite a few mouthful of Norcia's blood had made its way down my throat, and I was high on dragon blood. But either way I felt amazing, and I didn't want this feeling to end.
Riding the high from being bathed with dragon's blood and even feeding on it, I rushed towards the totem pole. At any other time, I would probably be too scared to touch it due to the sheer amount of pain I would be forced to experience. So I had rely on this new found courage to get through it.
The totem pole was different from the other.....whatever the hell I've been touching so far. These pain causing objects that seemed to serve as a beacon for me to find the soul dragon. So far I have no idea why I've been going around all this temples and putting myself through painful experiences. I know Bobo said I had to activated e the temples, but so far, all I've been doing is taking things from them, and having a tattoo of dragon being drawn on my body.
The totem pole in front me had a bird, kind of like a phoenix on the top, and it was somewhat surprising that it wasn't a dragon give where I was, but I don't care either way. This totem pole was not made of metal, stone or skin, but rather of wood, bone, and vines. Why was it different? Was it going to be a whole lot more painful than the previous one? Were all questions I wanted to ask, but I doubt there's going to be anyone to give me the answers I need, so I just stepped forward and placed my hands on it.

I felt pain, great and heart wrenching pain, but it was not the pain I had already become familiar with. It started slow, and steady, building in rhythm and tempo until all I could do was fall to my knees with tears in my eyes, weeping, like I've lost everything. There was spit in my stomach, a deep ache in my heart like I've been broken beyond all repair.
This was the worst possible sort of heartache and pain, it was like a cancer was eating me up from deep within my soul. All of my emotions were in disarray, and I was so depressed that I wanted to just let go and die, that all of it should just come to an end, so that I could be free from it all, from the benign torture that is life, my life. Where nothing ever made sense and my survival has been dancing on the edge of a knife for every second that I'm alive.
And then as suddenly as it came, the pain went away, and it made me feel like it had taken my soul along with it. I was left feeling hollow, empty and devoid or any sort of happiness or positivity. And then the totem began to fade away, and the tattoo of my forearm seemed to come alive as it got larger, and grew a mane just like the dragon I just killed. And it's mane stretched across it's entire spine, moving and going all the way to the tip of it's tail. There was a glint in it's eyes, like it was acknowledging my existence or something.
But that was done with, and I was suddenly left on the ground, depressed and feeling hollow. There was no extravagant light show this time, and as I sat there in the middle of the grove of giant trees and their tree houses, Bobo and Soren made their way towards me, picking their steps as they tentatively dodged the areas that had scars from mine and Norcia's fight.
"Your Majesty, you're a dragon slayer? I never would have imagined it was so." Bobo said to me, as he walked closer.
"I have no idea what that means Bobo, other than it wad a class unique to my family. But even then, this is the first I'm hearing of it" I said to Bobo.
"If that's so, then I don't think you need to know anything your Majesty. Knowledge about who and what a dragon slayer does, would only make the trials ahead that much harder for you. There are two more temples to go, and you need to be focused. Knowledge about dragon slayers would only cause more harm than good at this point. Please don't ask me about this anymore, at least for now." Bobo pleaded with me.
I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by his explanation, suggestion and the fact that he really wasn't going to tell me anything. But I couldn't force him, so all I could do was drop the matter and make my way back up to my feet, as I focused on the beacon that would call me to the next temple. But before we could start moving, Soren started speaking to me.
"Master, you've grown quite strong, a lot more than before."
"Yes Soren, I noticed. I don't know the reason why. Don't worry about it Soren, it's a good thing either way, so let's get a move on." I said to him, as I got on his back and I pointed at the direction we had to move in. But even as we began our journey anew, I couldn't help the feeling that somehow, we were forgetting something, something really important that could explain my new found strength. Whatever it was, I'm sure I'll remember it eventually.
This time our journey took us northeast. And we moved for almost seven hours before we came to the entrance of a fog enshrouded valley. Based on how confused Bobo looked, it looks like he has not been here before, which was surprising, because I expected that he has lived in the realm for quite a very long time. But it seems that we would really be moving into unfamiliar lands, since Bobo had no knowledge of this valley.
We made our way inside, while the fog was not thick enough to the point, we would get lost or get ourselves in danger, we had to be careful, and pick our steps carefully. We kept on going until we heard the sound of running water, and after fifteen minutes, the fog suddenly came to an end, and in front of us, was wide field, with a river running besides it, and right on the bank of the river was a simple wooden cottage. A house, that was unquestionably built for human habitation.
At the front of the cottage, an old lady was sitting on a rocking chair, knitting what looked like a very ornate cloak. There was a table in front of her, and two steaming cups of tea where placed on it, almost as if she waiting for someone. We got closer, keeping our guard up, but once I could see her face clearly, I stopped in my tracks shock etched allover my face.
"Jason, or should I say Kael. What are you doing standing there like a fool, come over and have some tea, we have much to talk about."
"Mom!"

Chapter end