Chapter 22: Vampires in the midst

There has started to be reports of sightings of vampire attacks around the city. No one has died as of record and all the sightings indicate that it has been done by one person.

Being a vampire isn't illegal, but they do have a stigma of assaulting people during the night. There are three recorded vampires in the city, two of which are slaves. The fingers are pointing at the one free vampire, but so far they have an alibi to prove that they are innocent.

These facts have made people think that either the free vampire is using some sort of trick or that there is an unrecorded vampire in the city. Most people are condemning the one free vampire and are demanding justice, but since the free vampire has an alibi signed by the city head themselves, no one can prove that it was the recorded free vampire.

Lucas is explaining this to his homeroom class, and then he says "If you were unaware, the current free vampire in Windstone is baron Lucious Von Esteroth, a good friend of the head of the city."

Kyle then says "Of course that baron is doing something fishy behind the city head's watch. Who else can it be? One of the slave vampires?" Tenrir says "You don't believe a vampire could stay hidden from the public eye?" Kyle says "Obviously. My family would have noticed it by now and you can't lie when you are appraised by someone."

Iris says "Don't get too cocky Kyle. Maybe your house simply hasn't been up for their previous standards." Kyle gets angry and says "You dare to speak that way to me elf?! I let you know, my family has protected humanity from non humans for generations." Iris remarks "If elves know anything about humans and the general way of life, it is that they sometimes will grow one bad apple in every tree. Perhaps your family leaders have been those bad apples." Kyle says "You are walking in a very thin line elf." Iris says "What can you do? Cast me out of the city? I am in this academy because I heard it is a good school in human territory. An academy which was, and I might add, found by an elf."

Lucas then says "That's enough you two. Your opinions may vary, but don't insult or threaten each other on the academy grounds. Or on any grounds for that matter. Are we understood?" Iris says "Yes teacher Knave." Kyle just humphs and crosses his arms.

Lucas then says "This homeroom class was necessary because we need you to be careful if you go out at night. The academy advises that you don't go outside during the night, but we aren't strictly forbidding it. Well not yet at least. If you see or hear any suspicious behavior, please inform any of the academy staff as soon as possible. This is for your safety as well as others. Class dismissed."

Classes continued as usual, but teachers with combat capability were ordered to patrol the academy grounds during the nights. These are done by shifts, so not every teacher is patrolling the academy at the same time. Outside the academy was handled by the city guards.

During one patrol, Lucas noticed Tenrir sneaking out of the academy during the night, which made Lucas follow him just in case. It wasn't banned that students couldn't go outside the academy during the night, but Tenrir was acting so suspicious when he left that it made Lucas follow him.

Lucas made sure that he wasn't noticed by Tenrir, who seemed to move in a hurry. Lucas gathered that Tenrir was out to meet someone, but couldn't figure out who it could be. "Perhaps he was the unrecorded vampire and he was looking for his next prey." Lucas thought. But then he also thought "But how would he be able to not be caught by an appraisal? Did he have some sort of skill that could hide his status?"

Lucas tailed Tenrir for a while, and eventually he found that he was talking to someone. Lucas mimicked the skill of monster åhörare so he could listen in the conversation. Tenrir said "What did I say about feeding yourself like that Matthew. This can't go on like this. If you continue to do that, then you and Lyrir will be found out." The man who Lucas assumed was Matthew said "You wouldn't understand the hunger of a pure blooded vampire. You half bloods will never understand." Tenrir says "You are talking to a brother of the love of your life here." Matthew says "At least your sister is a pure blooded one. Unlike you, the half blooded brother, Lyrir can understand my pain. You are lucky to share the blood of the Bloodstone family."

Lucas was a bit surprised to hear this. But it connected many things that he heard Tenrir was doing. A craftsmanship that could be only done by someone with experience. He has to have a lot of experience, which would mean that he has lived longer than he leads on.

Then Tenrir says "You have your right to call me a half blood, but that still won't take my birthright away. You are stepping over the line and I have to put a stop to this." Matthew says "You? Are you serious? You only know how to craft things. I could obliterate you in an instant and you could do nothing about it." Tenrir says "If you do that, then I doubt Lyrir will be as tolerant as she was before with you. If she finds out that his precious brother was killed by her fiance when she slept, I'm sure she will bathe in your blood that day." Lucas was surprised to hear this from a mostly meek Tenrir.

Matthew gritted his teeth and said "You really think that she would go that far?" Tenrir smirks and says "What I can say, she is a brocon that one." Lucas was not familiar with the term "brocon" so he decided to put that under investigation.

Matthew said "You bring a very good point. That crazy brocon is really troublesome." Tenrir says "But strangely you love her." Matthew can't help but say "Unfortunately she is a perfect fit for me. Well, aside from the brother complex. Damn, what in the name of Dread can I do?"

Lucas sees this as an opportune time to come out from hiding and introduce himself, for he had an answer for Matthew's little blood addiction. Lucas said out loud so the two could hear "Well I may have a solution for your little problem dear Matthew."

Matthew shouted "Who's there?! Fuck! We have been discovered!" Matthew then tries to flee, but Lucas quickly blocks his escape by extending Lucas' own form to lock the three of them in a cocoon of his "flesh". Lucas then says "Don't be so rash. You haven't even let me make my case yet."

Then Tenrir says "Then why are you here teacher Knave?" Lucas said "I noticed you sneaking around, so I followed you out of curiosity. Little advice from your teacher, if you are going to sneak out, try to not make it so obvious. Maybe even try to act casual when you have the chance, since you could have just walked out of the academy like any other person if you had a good enough of a excuse."

Matthew then says "So it was because of your incompetence that you were followed. Now me, you and Lyrir are all in some deep shit." Lucas says "Before I make any judgments, I'd like to hear about your situation a little. Try to pull me on your side and all that, but don't try to lie to me. I hate liars."

Tenrir then takes a step and starts to tell the story. "As you may already know, I come from the bloodline of the Bloodstone family. Though I may be half blood, I still am very much a vampire. Matthew here is from another well known family of vampires called Cyllinger. He and my sister, who is a full blooded vampire, are engaged as of now. The reason why we are here is to find an old cultist of Dread in order to get my sister back up again. You see, Lyrir was put to an eternal sleep that could be only broken by a proper prayer for sinner Dread. We only heard a rumor that one such cultist should be in this city, but so far we are out of luck. The cultists of Dread are very elusive and secretive, so we haven't been able to find out much."

Lucas asks "First, how did Lyrir become like that and two, where did you hear the rumor from? Matthew says "We heard it from a lord Esteroth and the reason why Lyrir is in that state is none of your business." Lucas says "I may be able to help you as long as I'm willing to do it. If you satisfy my curiosity, then perhaps that will be so."

Tenrir then says to Matthew "If you won't tell him then I'm will." Matthew grits his teeth and says "It was a curse from the Bloodstone family. They did not approve of our engagement." Lucas just says "I would be surprised by their actions if I did not know how messed up that family is. No offense Tenrir." Tenrir says "No worries. I have become estranged from them a long time ago due to their practices."

Lucas then asks "Have you inquired with Lucious about this cultist?" Matthew says "That bastard hasn't let us meet him ever since we came to this city. He was the one who helped us to get in, but now he shows no signs of letting us meet him."

Lucas says "I assume that you have tried the most conventional way?" Tenrir says "We have tried to go to his residence and ask him, but the people there won't let us in."

Lucas then asks "Do you suspect that Lucious made you come to this city in order for him to trap you here?" Matthew says "Why would he do that?" Lucas says "Perhaps he is trying to gain something from the two vampire bloodlines. He isn't old because he is powerful, he is old because he is smart."

Tenrir then asks "But what does he want from us?" Lucas says "I can't answer that. I will pay him a visit tonight and "ask" him about it." Lucas then removes the cocoon and says "You two come to the principal's office together with Lyrir when the morning comes. I will have the answers for you by then." Then Lucas leaves and the two men look at each other for a moment.

Lucas is now heading towards the Esteroth manor that is in the noble district. He passes the gates with ease and finds the way to the manor in question. He then uses an ability of Reilione monster to see through objects and find his target. He finds the guy he was looking for. The same semi pointy ears, gray hair that is pulled back, blood red eyes, a face that shows some age while still exuding youth and fancy clothes. Lucas then infiltrates the manor.

When he is in the same room as his target, Lucious says "What for have you come to me this time, old friend?" Lucas stops hiding and says "I have never considered us friends as those are very precious to me. But as to why I'm here, I want to know what you're scheming with Cyllinger and Bloodstone kids?"

Lucious smiles and says "I dare say that I don't know what you mean?" Lucas says "Don't try to play games with me. We both know that I can just mimic your being and then I know your thoughts exactly. Me not doing it from the get go is courtesy."

Lucious keeps smiling and says "Oh I know. I just don't want to make it that easy for you. We both know you like being on higher ground than your opponent, no?" Lucas relaxes, shrugs and says "You got me there, but if you still think that I'm shallow enough to let my pride take over my goals, then you haven't quite grown to be as smart as you think you wanted."

Lucious sips some wine and then says "What do you want to know?" Lucas asks "Why did you lure Matthew and Lyrir to Windstone?" Lucious says "To hit two birds with one stone."

Lucas says "Elaborate." Lucious then says "To make sure the Cyllinger lineage loses one of their most prominent members by judgment of humanity and to make sure I don't have to go looking too far for my future bride."

Lucas says "I hope that you are speaking strictly that you want to marry Lyrir purely for political reasons and not because you have lost to keep it under your pants." Lucious says "I will not comment on that."

Lucas asks "Is the cultist you spoke about yourself?" Lucious says "While I do not revere sinner Dread anymore, I do know how to lift the curse that was put on Lyrir."

Lucas asks "Was the curse put on Lyrir by the Bloodstone family because you colluded with them?" Lucious says "As much as I want to say that it was, I must admit that they did it all by themselves. I'm just lucky that I have the ability to lift that curse. The gods must be watching over me for me to have such luck."

Lucas then says "Lastly, what will you do if I solve their problem?" Lucious says "You can't solve it. You don't revere any gods so you can't…" Lucas asks "Have you gone so senile that you have forgotten what I can do?" Lucious finally gets a serious face on him and says "I will not let them live peacefully." Lucas says "And what if I kill you now?"

Lucious says "I would make sure that you will take responsibility for your actions. Not even Luciana can protect you then." Lucas says while exuding a deadly pressure "You think that anyone can put me in shackles? Me? Legul Ranan?"

Lucious starts to feel an immense pressure coming from Lucas. He is shivering a bit as he says "You… you would go against the world after all that?" Lucas smiles and says while slowly changing in Lucious voice "When I make my mind on things, I will make sure that none shall tremble it. And I have become a teacher. I won't let you fuck with their peaceful lives even if you put the whole world against me."

Lucious is disturbed to hear Lucas speak in Lucious's own voice. Then Lucas says while slowly changing back to his own voice "I think I got what I wanted from you. Be a smart cookie and don't make yourself crumble." Lucas then leaves and Lucious can't get the aura of death out of his mind for a while after.

But when Lucious collected his mind back together, he went near the window and looked outside. Then he said "You have won this round, king of puppets. But your power won't be able to get in my way forever. When the plan of that which you love is put into fruition, then you won't be able to force your will on others. I may have had my fill during your absence, but I crave for more. Until that fateful day, I'll be waiting."

When the morning came, Lucas went to the principal's office where all four of them were already waiting for him. Lucy says with a bit annoyed tone in her voice "You dare make arrangements without me knowing. The kids have explained everything to me already, so do you have an answer?" Lucas says "I have" and then he goes near Lyrir, who was lying on a sofa, and starts lifting the curse via using the Lost theorem.

"Kaa kaa kaadu puu. Yön pimeydessä kallistuu. Vie tämän neidon kirous, sillä hän siihen juurtunut on. Víe kirous tyynille vesille, äläkä anna karsia helleville. Pois pois kirous mee, onkallille kallioille, hevenille heinämille. Tämä neito vapaa olla saa, eikä olo pahemmaksi mennä saa."

Then Lyrir starts to wake up and both Tenrir and Matthew become emotional. Lyrir asks "Where am I?" And Tenrir hugs her tightly saying "Thank the gods. Thank the gods." Matthew says "Hey, don't get in my way! I wanted to do that too." Meanwhile Lucas and Lucy smile and let the three be for a while.

After the three have sorted out their feelings, Tenrir says "I can't thank you enough teacher Knave. I will be forever in your debt." Lucas says "Forget it. I didn't do this for your servitude." Lyrir also says "Thank you. What my sweet brother means to say that we are forever grateful for your deeds." Lucas says "I don't think you should thank me that much. Let me explain the situation a bit more clearly."

Lucas tells what happened at Lucious' mansion to others. Matthew says "That bastard. To dare use us like that." Tenrir then asks "Can we do nothing about it?" Lucy says "Unfortunately, the best we can do is to accuse him of trafficking people. As to how far that will take us, I doubt that we won't get much. And as you are now three unregistered vampires in the city, things won't be much in your favor. Especially since the recent vampire attacks." Lyrir smiles and says while exuding a terrifying aura "And we might know who's fault that might be." Matthew looks down and says "So- sorry."

Lucy says "I will put some good words for you three, but you might be imprisoned for a time being. As for Tenrir, we might have to give you an expulsion." Tenrir says "I completely understand." Lucas then says "But what if we don't tell anyone that they are vampires? What if we just lift Matthew and Lyrir out of the city and if they want to stay in this city, then just let them come in through the gate just so. Sure, they might suspect that it is weird for a vampire to come into the city after the vampire attacks, but all they can do is question them, right?"

Lucy says "You don't really know how far human technology has gone. They have samples of the previous attacks and if they see a vampire coming to the city, then of course they are going to test them if they are compatible. Matthew will surely get caught and sent to prison."

Then Lyrir says "Then why don't I become a registered vampire in this city by the means that this mister suggested and make Matthew give himself in and make him suffer the consequences of his actions. As for my dear Tenrir, we can just keep his identity hidden."

Lucy says "Sure, but isn't that a little cruel for Matthew? Aren't you his fiance?" Lyrir says "Is there a problem with this arrangement? I surely see that it is just. I shall be patient and wait for my fiance to be freed from whatever sentence he serves. Meanwhile, I can work somewhere in the city."

Matthew says "And that place might be this academy right?" Lyrir smiles and says "Oh my, am I that predictable?" Matthew says "Your brother complex never ceases to amaze me. Fine, I'm fine with this arrangement. I take whatever sentence I have to take."

Lucy says "While I'm not an expert on these kinds of matters, since I think that the court will treat these crimes as aggravated assaults, the worst that they can do is put you in prison for around 50 years. I don't know if they will take the fact that you are a vampire as a factor, but that is what the general sentence should look like. And maybe there are some charges against Matthew for illegal entry."

Matthew says "I just hope that it won't be too severe." Lyrir says "You will get what you deserve." Lucy can't help but feel that Lyrir is a little harsh on her fiance. Lucas doesn't give a damn and says "So are we doing this or what?".

Then the group separates and following is what happens. Tenrir gets to spend his time in school as usual, Lyrir has started to work in the academy as a girls dormitory watchguard and Matthew was sentenced to 37 years in prison. Lucious did not make any moves in fear of retaliation from Lucas himself.