Sarah and I did not exchange any words while we were up stairs. I was not in the mood to talk. I just kept my hand on the girl that I don't even know the name of yet. After about an hour of sitting in silence Sarah got up, gave me another hug and went down stairs.

I stayed sitting in total silence for an unknown amount of time. It's odd how in age you can just shut down like this. Maybe it's a coping mechanism to help deal with the time in between. There is a lot of time where there is nothing happening or to be done. Not so much anymore thanks to the internet. But that was not always the case.

There is a good reason the system keeps bombarding me with sex related classes and skills. When I was turned I was in the prime of my life. An interesting thing about vampires is as long as you were not turned too late in life you will never lose your ability to have kids. Your body will even make more eggs and flush out old ones. I’m not going to claim I know how it works and I know no vampire would ever let themselves be tested in such a way to find out. But with this you also never lose your sex drive. Between that and me learning how to manipulate my reproductive cycle to never get pregnant, I had a period of about 200 years of nothing but sex. I mean to be fair, what else was there to do in pre industrial Europe. Not much when you're immortal.

Finally getting up and shaking off my contemplation I gently put a pillow in place of my lap for her to lay on. I walked into my room finding the dead body of Carl. Kneeling next to his body I spoke.

“I'm sorry, I failed you. Your life was not meant to end here. I could see it, you learning and controlling the power that the system awakened within you. You were going to wield magic, the thing that can bend the world around you.

I feel you would have liked Zachery. He is amazing with magic despite the fact that vampires normally can not use it. I could imagine it, you two working together to use devastating magic and amazing magic.

But that option was taken from you by no fault of your own other than associating with me. I’m sorry I hope wherever you are now that you can forgive me and live the life you deserve.”

Having said my peace, I moved down the stairs. Once again sneaking to the dungeon the guards recognized me, saluted and let me pass. I went down to the cemetery that Gareena made for us and with my bare hands dug a grave for Carl. I don't know how long it took me but every scoop of dirt I engraved his face further into my perfect memory. When I was done I walked back up to my room no longer trying to be subtle. People felt me more than saw me. I guess they could feel my torrent of emotions. Quickly everyone's voices silenced and all eyes were on me as I walked up stairs.

Once there I made Carl the most presentable I could. I picked up his too light body and slowly made my way down the stairs. Once again everyone's eyes turned to me. People made way for me as I walked outside. Everyone in the bar followed me walking up to the entrance of the dungeon where two retired military men were on guard. They looked at me then back at those behind me. I nodded and they stepped aside. The first person behind me who I now noticed was Sarah followed me. The rest of my companions followed after. The next behind them hesitated for a moment but they soon followed.

We all worked our way down the lightly lit path to the entrance of the dungeon. Making it down the path I turned right and walked over to the cove in the wall of the dungeon. I noticed a couple of new things at the entrance of the Cemetery. First there were a couple of signs in english. They read,

“Welcome to the resting place of the fallen stars.”

“No violence is permitted in the gates of the cemetery”

“When adding a new fallen star, place your hand in front of the grave and speak to what you wish their last resting place to say.”

Looking past the open gates I noticed that the area had grown bigger. In the middle of the area was a smaller version of the crystalline tree that marked the entrance to the dungeon. This one however had leaves that glowed. In front of the tree was the hole that I dug. Silently thanking Gareena, I moved my way to the grave site. The tree gives the area a light glow.

I stopped in front of the grave and waited silently for all those that cared to join us. Sarah stood by my side with everyone else right behind me. People slowly started to gather around us but kept their distance. The graveyard even with it increasing in size was still not large enough for people to comfortably stand so many stayed outside the gates. Once I noticed that there was no more major movement I gently dropped down into the grave and laid the body of a young man with so much life left to live in his final resting place.

I jumped out, turned to the hole and gave a slight bow. I then looked at Sarah and asked quietly. “Were you able to get a hold of any of his family?” She nodded.

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“Did they have anything they wished to put on his gravestone?” She again nodded then whispered it to me. I then turned to address the crowd.

“This day we lay to rest a life not yet time to leave us. Carl was one of my employees before we all woke up to this nightmare. He braved the unknown to still come into work whether he thought all things would turn out well or he had the bravery to face the possible danger I do not know but I believe it was a bit of both.

Knowing the danger the dungeon presented he decided to stand by me and work with me to start what we are doing now. He was a good young man. Though he had doubts about himself he still worked his way forward.

Working with him over the last few years has been a pleasure. Though a bit timid he was a joy to have around. Doing his job well with no complaint. I can not begin to express the regret that I was not able to protect him. It is to date one of my greatest failures.”

Taking a moment to look over the crowd I let my words sink in. Taking a deep breath I moved on.

“As sad as the loss of a life's we must remember that not only is today a day of grieving for family and friends but it is a celebration of a life lived. To look back on the mark they left on the world and on each of our souls. Remember their life and hold it in your heart. For a person is never truly forgotten until their name is uttered for the last time.” Passing once again to let the words settle I shifted topics.

“Now as much power as I have been given by the dungeon and the system I am but one person. No matter how powerful I am, I can not be everywhere at once. I will do all in my power to protect those that reside in my area of influence but as this has demonstrated there are powerful beings coming out to play. As much as we wish these things were myths it is clear that many of the stories and tales we thought were fiction have turned out to be fact.

As the system has told us all dragons are real and as we have been the victim of vampires living among us. What else is out there and what or who are friend or foe has yet to be seen.”

Putting some weight behind my words I said. “But remember this! Just because they are different from us it does not mean they hate us. Be cautious, be wary, be paranoid but be willing to welcome those that mean us no harm or wish to help us. Be respectful to those that are respectful back. But be unrelenting in those that are not. We no longer live in a safe world. What we thought was dangerous before may now seem safe and what we thought was safe will no longer exist. So let us prepare, let us create and build anew in this new world. Let us grow stronger together and fight back against the danger the system has brought upon us! Let us improve, let us survive! But let us never lose our humanity in the quest for survival.

Now let us lay a friend to rest.”

Turning around I moved to the pile of dirt and began to fill in the grave. After a moment Sarah joined me then Cameron and then the rest. Once it was done I put my hand at the front of the grave, spoke softly and a stone moved up in front of the ground reading.

Here lies Carl Petersons the first fallen star

A miracle of life thought impossible

A life taken too soon but never forgotten

April 15 1998 to October 1 2022

Standing, I let a few tears run down my face. I stood there looking at the grave stone for an unknown time. After a while a hand was on my shoulder and looked back to see Sarah with red eyes and dried tears streaking her face. Looking past her I saw the only other person still in the cemetery was Cameron. She stood next to Sarah also staring at the grave stone. She too had red eyes but she still had tears flowing. I don't know if it was because she was the first to see him dead or if they had a closer relationship than I thought but she was taking this harder than everyone else.

Turning around I hugged Cameron. This seemed to make her breakdown again. She sobbed into my chest. I patted her back, not saying a word, just letting her cry. She started to sink to her knees and I followed her down. She ended up crying herself to sleep. Once she was, I picked her up and we all headed out of the dungeon.

On our way out I noticed I had a system notification.

(You have been offered the skill Leader of a Broken People (Grand) Do you want this to take up your empty general skill slot?)

Leader of a Broken People (Grand)

The world is breaking apart around you, people are dying, family and loved ones have been lost and will be lost. Events can break people but a great leader can put them back together will you take up this flag and carry them into tomorrow. Will you make the people whole again or will they forever be broken? Gives better understanding of those you lead, give those you lead increased skill leveling speed, you can give an aura of authority, you can give an aura of defense where you can take damage in place of those you lead. Can give a limited number of miner titles to other leaders, All effects increase in effectiveness with level.

Not even debating on the skill I accepted for I will carry the burden of those around me. I will not let this happen again.

Once out we found it was night with once again two people guarding the dungeon this time it was not any of the military folk. Eric must have recruited some more people. They both looked at me then down to Cameron. I assume looking for anything wrong with her. Seeing nothing wrong they nodded to me and we moved along. Walking back into the bar we garnered some attention but nothing like before. Going up to my home I asked Sarah to get some blankets and a pillow for me and laid Cameron on the carpet in the living room. After tucking her away I sat down on the loveseat next to my daughter's head and fell asleep.