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I stared at Father, my mind reeling. "Did… did I die after drinking that potion?..." I blurted out, my voice trembling slightly. "Am I in some other world now?" I was utterly, completely confused.

"Alright," he said, picking up a set of heavy, black metal rings. "From today on, you'll wear these on your wrists and ankles. Never take them off. Each one weighs 20 kilograms." He tossed the rings in the air, catching them effortlessly like a toy.

"After the Awakening Ceremony, your strength has increased significantly. You can't control it yet. This kind of enhanced body needs training, and these rings will provide that training automatically."

Tomorrow, you will have your job after the interview. If you get the job, you'll likely be home around 6.00 pm. So, from 6:30 PM until midnight, you'll be working according to my schedule. No questions asked. Understood?"

"Yes, Father," I replied.

"Louder," he demanded.

"Understood, sir!" I blurted out, suddenly feeling like I was back in school, standing at attention for drill practice.

"Start getting used to them now. Put two of the rings on your ankles for now. They'll adjust to fit perfectly. These rings will also… regulate your enhanced abilities. They'll keep your mental strength and physical endurance at a manageable level. Only your physical form has changed; everything else remains the same. So, wear these constantly." I slipped two of the heavy rings onto my ankles. They felt strangely cold against my skin. My father continued speaking.

"Come," he said. "I'm going to explain some things you need to know. Pay close attention." He led me to the projector room. It was where we usually watched movies together, but tonight, it felt different. He connected his laptop and turned on the projector. Images flashed across the screen, one after another. Some of them looked familiar.

"This," he announced, as a pale-faced, thin man with slightly elongated canines appeared on the screen,

"is a vampire. Class B. They're typically inactive during the day. Their primary food source is blood, though not necessarily human blood. They also consume animal flesh. They appear human, except for an almost translucent pallor. Their fangs are retractable. They're stronger than normal humans, have an aversion to garlic, and are highly vulnerable to silver. They possess an incredibly fast regenerative ability. While often described as immortal, they are not truly so. They have an exceptionally long lifespan, around 350-400 years. They are capable of physical attacks and are believed to possess hypnotic abilities. Meridios Le Eriberto is the oldest known living vampire. They reproduce through lineage within their clan." He paused. "The Riri Yaka of Sri Lankan folklore is believed to be descended from them."

The next slide showed...

The next slide showed a creature that looked like a hybrid of man and beast – part wolf, part bear, it was hard to tell.

"This," Father explained, "is a werewolf. Class B. You've probably heard many myths about them, some true, some not. They're primarily active at night and are omnivorous. The most noticeable characteristic is an increased amount of body hair. They live in packs and are stronger than normal humans. Like vampires, they have retractable fangs and can undergo physical transformations. Encountering a transformed werewolf pack is extremely dangerous. They're particularly aggressive during new moons. Their lifespan is about 200-250 years. They are capable of physical attacks. There's no single identifiable 'alpha' or leader. They reproduce within their packs or through mating with humans, which can result in a half-werewolf. The Mahasuna is an example of this type of creature.

The screen then shifted to a hulking figure covered in thick, matted fur. "And then there are creatures like the Yeti," Father said. "They are a form of werewolf, a werebear, found in the Himalayan region. They're often considered a cryptid, but some believe they're a real, undiscovered species, or perhaps something… more...

then The image then changed to a sleek, feline form. "And we can't forget the werecats," Father added. "Like werewolves, they can transform between human and feline forms. Their eyes, even in human form, often retain a feline glint. They're often associated with grace, cunning, and sometimes, danger."....

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The image then shifted to a beautiful woman with a fish tail. "And then," Father continued, "there are mermaids. They are a type of werefish, creatures of the sea, often depicted as alluring and sometimes dangerous. They appear in the folklore of many cultures, both Eastern and Western. Their beauty is legendary, but it's their song that poses the greatest threat. Mermaids possess a captivating voice that can lure sailors and fishermen to their doom. But their song does more than just enchant – it weaves illusions, showing those who hear it their heart's deepest desires, tempting them with visions of what they long for most. Their attacks are primarily mental, using these enchanting songs and illusions to manipulate and control their victims.

The next slide displayed a gallery of unsettling images, each depicting a different type of undead creature. "These," Father explained, "are the undead, Class C. They come in several forms. The first is the soul form. They're incorporeal, invisible to the naked eye, and can only be seen through special means. They are sustained by emotions – fear, joy, sorrow, anxiety, depression, and so on. Their lifespan is unknown. They can inflict spiritual attacks but are immune to physical attacks. It's believed they are created when someone dies with a strong attachment to something. Ghosts, phantoms, and wraiths are examples. In Sri Lanka, the Kalu Kumara is considered to be of this type.

He clicked to the next slide..

The image changed to a skeletal figure. "Then there's the skeleton form. They're just skeletons, sometimes carrying weapons. Their lifespan ranges from a few minutes to a few days. They can rise again. They can inflict both spiritual and physical attacks. They are often summoned by summoners or necromancers, and their lifespan depends on the summoner's power."

The next image was truly gruesome – a decaying figure, its flesh rotting and crawling with worms. "And finally, there's the zombie form. They have a physical body, either bone or flesh, though the flesh is usually rotting, infested with worms and other creatures. They are sustained by emotions or vital body parts like the brain or spinal cord. Their nervous systems are constantly decaying, so they rely on the nervous cells of other creatures. They can inflict both spiritual and physical attacks. Their lifespan can range from a few months to thousands of years. The Mohini fron sri Lanka and ghouls from western countries is a prime example – you've heard of them, haven't you?"

As my father spoke, a chill ran down my spine, and I shivered in fear. Goosebumps popped up on my arms, each one a testament to the growing dread in my heart. "These grades," he explained, "represent their danger level, going from least to most dangerous: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS. And these are just a few examples. There are many more creatures out there, things you've never seen, things you can't even imagine. Remember this: this world is full of unseen dangers. You'll likely encounter such creatures in the future, and you need to be prepared."

Author's Notes:

Werewolves and Related Creatures:

* The Riri Yaka: A fascinating and often terrifying figure in Sri Lankan folklore. They are included here to add a layer of local flavor to the vampire mythos.

* The Mahasuna: A demon in Sri Lankan folklore, often depicted as a fearsome, shape-shifting creature with a bear's head and a human body. They are associated with graveyards and are believed to possess great strength.

* The Yeti: Also known as the Abominable Snowman, a legendary creature said to inhabit the Himalayan mountains. They are large, hairy, ape-like beings, and in this world, are classified as a type of werewolf – a werebear.

Werecats:

* Werecats: Shapeshifters that can transform into feline forms, often cats, lions, or panthers. They appear in various mythologies around the world.

Werefish:

* Mermaids: Mythical creatures with the upper body of a human female and the tail of a fish. They are common in folklore worldwide, often associated with the sea and magic. In this world, they are classified as a type of werefish, possessing a dangerous mental attack in the form of their enchanting songs.

Undead:

* The Kalu Kumara: A malevolent spirit in Sri Lankan folklore, often depicted as a dark, handsome man who seduces and then torments women. He is associated with misfortune and is greatly feared.

* Wraiths: Often found in Western lore, spectral beings tied to death and carrying a sense of dread. They are similar to the soul form undead, but often more malevolent.

* The Mohini: A female demon in Sri Lankan folklore, often depicted as a beautiful woman who lures men to their deaths. She is associated with madness and is said to be incredibly powerful.

I encourage you to do some research – you might be surprised by what you discover!