Chapter 2: Mystery.

P1: A New Problem

It had been a month since I awakened. My most trusted subordinate Dracula whom I considered a brother betrayed me and over the past 5000 years ruled Transylvania spreading maliciously false rumours about me.

That being said, there have also been positive developments since my awakening.

I enrolled at the Magic Academy creating two close friendships with Leyla Gilfelia. It was thanks to her that I was able to awaken.

Cecilia Bloodfallen, despite her own tragic past, never gives up, determined to prove to herself and her family that she can become stronger without being in misery.

Both of them had tragic pasts and yet never let it show.

I still have mysteries to uncover and convince the nation that I am the actual Vampire King before I can even think of fighting Dracula.

“Ilyas?” I was ripped out of my thoughts by Leyla.

I faced her slightly worried face.

“Are you okay? You were in pretty deep thought,” She asked.

“I'm fine, I just needed to gather my thoughts,” I replied.

She sat in her seat next to me.

Cecilia also took her seat shortly after in front of us.

“Morning,” She greeted us.

“Morning Cecilia,” Leyla replied with a smile.

I also greeted her.

“What do you think about the rumours spreading around?” Cecilia asked us both with curiosity.

“You mean about the missing students?” Leyla whispered.

There had been students missing as of late as a result rumours started to spread about how and why this was the case.

“I heard that a being kidnaps them at night,” Leyla quietly mumbled.

“I heard that they are seen to walk outside their dorm at night only to be missed the next day,” Cecilia whispered.

Rumours remain rumours until they are proven but the fact that students are missing is real and must be investigated quickly.

Professor Edmar walked into the class preparing to begin the lesson.

“Sit down everyone and be quiet. I have an announcement to make,” He said, slamming his book on the front table.

The students went quiet and looked toward the front.

“As you may have heard students went missing in the past few days, as a result, the Headmaster has ordered that nobody is allowed to leave their dorm rooms at night and must be present in their dorms by 6 pm,” Edmar made it clear that this was a serious matter.

The students understood that this was no laughing matter, this was a serious concern rather than an unproven rumour.

“With that out of the way I have another announcement to make, you will be in groups of 4 to compete in the upcoming tournament against humans and vampires that will take place 6 weeks from today, you will represent the first years of our magic academy,” Edmar explained.

“I need the list of your group members by the end of the day,” Edmar announced.

Leyla, Cecilia and I quickly agreed to be in the same group but there was one more student we needed.

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We looked around and saw that students had already begun to form their groups.

“Who could join us?” Cecilia asked, looking around.

I looked at the other side of the class near the door and saw a student in his seat.

He had black hair covering most of his face and was of short stature with his head hanging low staring at his desk to avoid eye contact with others.

I made my way over to this boy.

“Hey, where are you going?” Cecilia was confused as to why I left.

“To get our final member,” I replied while walking.

I stood in front of his table.

“Mind if I ask if you are in a group?” I politely asked.

The boy shook his head sideways.

“You are Esteban Acrose if memory serves me right,” I memorised all the students' names and teachers attending the academy.

Esteban looked at me, his hair mostly covering his eyes only through tiny gaps between his hair could I make out that his eyes were crimson red.

“Y-You know who I am?” He was surprised by me knowing him.

Esteban was quiet in the class and was never seen interacting with anyone during non-class hours.

To most people, he seemed invisible being approached by me knowing his name did warrant his reaction.

“I do. I am Ilyas and I hope you can be the final member of our group,” I asked politely pointing toward the girls who stood at my desk across the class.

He looked over to the girls and quickly turned toward me.

“I-I don't think you want someone like me. You're better off with someone else,” He said quietly.

His confidence was very low but I could sense another emotion from him which was fear.

I sat down next to him.

“Esteban I know you are afraid of something, you don't have to tell me what it is if you don't want to but I will help you overcome it. You have immense potential and I will help you become stronger than you could possibly imagine,” I promised him.

Esteban doubted my words.

“Can you really help me?” He wanted to make sure.

I extended my hand to him for a handshake.

“Of course I can,”

Esteban extended his hand and we shook hands.

“Welcome to our team,”

Esteban gathered all his belongings and we made our way over to Cecilia and Leyla.

“Here is our final member. Leyla and Cecilia, please meet Esteban Acrose,” I introduced them.

Esteban was shy facing the girls despite his hair shielding him from direct eye contact.

He bowed his head.

“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Esteban Acrose, I look forward to working with you,”

Leyla went up first to him and grabbed his right hand.

“It's a pleasure to meet you too, I am Leyla Gilfelia,” She said with her usual bright smile.

Esteban’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Th-Thank you,” He replied with a shaken voice.

Cecilia also extended a warm welcome to him.

“It's nice meeting you, I am Cecilia Bloodfallen,”

He once again bowed his head.

“It's an honour to work with you,” Esteban said humbly.

With the greetings out of the way, I picked up a quill, ducked it in ink and wrote our names on a piece of paper.

“If there aren't any objections I will hand the list of our names to the Professor,” I made sure that everyone was on board to avoid unnecessary complaints.

The three of them nodded in agreement.

I made my way to Professor Edmar who had been sitting in his chair.

“Professor, I'm here to give you the list of my group,” I handed him the list.

He took the paper out of my hand and looked at the names for a brief moment.

“Thank you, are you happy with the group?” He wanted to confirm.

I nodded in agreement.

“Very well, you may go back to your seat,” Edmar told me kindly.

I turned around to head back to my seat.

“Ohh wait Ilyas,” The Professor called out.

I turned around to face him.

“Headmaster Tepes wants to see after class,” He told me.

She wouldn't be asking to see me unless it was something serious and I had a vague idea of what that could have been.

“Thank you for letting me know,” I replied and turned around walking toward my seat.

I reached my seat.

“Did everything go well?” Cecilia asked.

She picked up the fact that I had a tense thought on my face.

“I'm fine, I need to see the Headmaster after this,” I told them.

“You didn't do anything bad right?” Leyla asked with concern.

“No, I'm sure it's something else,” I replied.

After class ended I made my way over to Vallerie Tepes’ office.

I knocked at the door.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

“Please enter,” She called out from the other side.

I entered her office, closing the door behind me.

“I'm glad you are here my Lord,” She got up from her chair and kneeled in front of me.

“Please stand,” I replied.

She got on her feet.

“Is something the matter,” I asked.

She took a deep breath.

“My Lord, I am sure you heard the rumours about students missing. You must have noticed the atmosphere changing because of the fear the students are feeling,” She said with guilt.

She must have been feeling guilty not being able to prevent the situation from unfolding.

“I have. Have you found the cause of why those students are missing?” I asked.

She shook her head sideways.

“I was unable to pinpoint the location of the missing students nor was I able to figure out the reason why they went missing in the first place,” She said with deep regret.

She bowed her head.

“Please! Please help me find those children. It's shameful of me to ask you this, I know full well that this is my responsibility but I can only turn toward you,” She said with tears of sadness dropping on the ground.

She never had to ask me. I would have investigated this matter myself either way.

“There is nothing shameful about a Headmaster wanting to assure the safety of her pupil. I will gladly help you with that,” I said with a smile.

She lifted her head, wiping away her tears.

After a little while, she calmed down.

“My Lord. Where do we start?” She asked.

I thought for a moment.

“At Nightfall,”