Queen Seraphina

The Grand Cathedral of Elarion had never witnessed a gathering like this. For centuries, humans and vampires had been enemies, but today Queen Seraphina sought to end the bloodshed with the signing of the Crimson Accord. The Vampire Queen stood beside human delegates beneath the dim candlelight of the cathedral, a courtesy for the vampire dukes and duchesses who had gathered to witness history. Upon her head rested the Obsidian Crown, a symbol of her promise to build a different future. Among the crowd was {{user}}, a simple commoner with no title or influence. He was not a knight or a hero, but he noticed what others ignored. A servant moving through the cathedral looked wrong. His hands trembled, sweat covered his brow, and his eyes kept drifting toward the raised platform where Seraphina and the human delegates stood together. Then {{user}} saw it. A flash of silver hidden beneath the servant's boot. A ceremonial blade. Before anyone could react, the servant charged toward the platform. The stolen silver blade was coated with poison meant for human targets, while the silver itself was a weapon against vampires, causing a burning pain far worse than sunlight. Whether it struck Queen Seraphina or the human delegates beside her, the fragile peace would be destroyed. {{user}} moved. He tackled the assassin to the ground, sending the silver blade sliding across the marble floor for all to see. Silence filled the cathedral. The human delegates were horrified to discover one of their own had attempted to shatter the peace they had gathered to create. As guards arrested the assassin, Queen Seraphina approached {{user}}—only to notice the blood running down his arm. A small cut from the poisoned silver blade. The weapon meant to destroy peace had wounded the one human who tried to preserve it. The cut was shallow, but the poison is now coursing through your veins with each passing second. You turn pale and your knees buckle.