Sern left the guild and ventured into the dark streets. He didn't like that Ranloo had gone by himself. It wasn't a lie that he seemed to attract trouble. Ranloo hadn't told Sern where he was going, and that troubled him. He had an idea though. Ranloo had wanted to borrow a book about the gods from the library and Sern suspected he'd gone to steal one, as he'd suggested earlier. He wouldn't be able to get there for a while, but he might get lucky and meet Ranloo on his way back. He was certain Ranloo would notice him one way or another if he just got close enough. He walked for the better part of an hour, keeping an eye out for anything of interest to steal when a blaring, like that of a horn, echoed between the buildings far off. Vaguely, answering or possibly echoing blasts followed the first. What was that about? He hadn't heard such horns before. He looked in the direction of the sound uneasily, the direction he walked. Could it be? He set off running, a sudden need for haste urging him on. He wouldn't be surprised if Ranloo had caused something again. He hated the feeling of being acutely needed but having no means of getting there soon. Frustrated, he ran through the streets, hoping he wouldn't be too late.

* * * * *

Felisei and Listarl sat in a worn couch in a corner of the room. The heavy book Gesald had brought lay open in the big man's lap. They were pointing to a picture of a fallen Eldon priest, turned away from the sun.

´Alright, listen,` Listarl continued in a foreboding and dramatic voice, ´As punishment, The Fallen was turned away from the glorious face of the sun, cursed to forever face the shadows of his dark deeds. He was beset with the final task of undoing his many crimes. Forgiveness would be had, only upon his return, free from the burden of his sins.` Listarl paused with a snort of held back laughter.

Felisei giggled at his failed attempt. ´Go on, please!`

´Good read this,` Listarl commented dryly, running his finger across the text. ´The Fallen fled far and hid his face in shame. Unable to walk in the blessed daylight, least he wanted to burn alive, he despaired. For how does one undo what has already been done? Not thinking to make up for his evil ways with good deeds, he believed the glory of the Sun God lost to him forever. He consigned to oblivion that El – `

´Don't say his name!` Felisei interrupted, suddenly worried. Better be careful, just in case.

´Him, The Radiant Lord, is the God of protection and forgiveness,` Listarl continued, unable to hold back another snort.

Felisei grinned widely at the story of the first vampire. An Eldon highpriest no less. ´Continue, I gotta know more about how the great Sunlord messed up!`

They both laughed aloud, drawing some curious glances from thieves passing through the common room.

´Right,` Listarl said. ´And here I thought he was the greatest of them all!` He lifted his hand to the ceiling to illustrate the god's greatness, sticking out his chin importantly, then let his hand slap down into the book again.

´Very glorious indeed,` Felisei agreed, still grinning at the reveal. ´I got no idea He had caused this.` Remembering that Jackal followed Eldon, she glanced around to make sure he wouldn't hear them, even though she knew he wasn't there.

Listarl followed the text with his finger, skimming the passages and muttering to himself for a bit. Then he looked up again, dark eyes glittering. ´Seems like the Sol was punished for doing evil. He let criminals off, taking bribes, hiding murderers and such things. Then, whilst in despair, according to the legend, the Lord of the Undead appeared afore him, laying forth a tempting offer. The Fallen made a deal with the Dark Lord in order to regain his lost powers and influence as a high priest.`

´Wouldn't that be beyond scary,` she commented quietly.

Listarl flicked through the pages, reading quickly, only noting the important parts. ´The evil god couldn't undo the curse of the Sun God, so this new kind of undead, the vampires, were all unable to walk in daylight since they shared the original curse. The Lord of the Undead gave The Fallen unnatural strength and speed and the ability to share his power with others but couldn't remove their weakness to the glorious sun,` he snickered.

´Well, that sucks,` Felisei said. ´For Ranloo anyway,` she added in a whisper.

Listarl nodded, turning pages with pursed lips. ´There's nothing more of interest that we don't already know,` he concluded. ´They're undead, can be killed by beheading, stakes through the heart, holy symbols, sunlight, and fire. But there's nothing about their powers and abilities really.` He closed the book with a loud clap, making Felisei jump. She looked at the book with some disappointment.

´I'd hoped it'd say somethin' more. I mean, it was fun and all, but not really informative.` She grinned. ´The Sun God himself. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself.` She stood and stretched. ´What a mess the gods cause sometimes,` she commented in a hushed tone.

Listarl rolled his shoulders and placed the book beside him. ´Well, at least we know why He hates them.` He barked a laugh. ´But it doesn't explain why a certain someone is such a devout follower,` he smirked and rolled his eyes.

´Yeah, I don't get it either.` Felisei chuckled. It was so absurd. ´I'd love to read the Dark Lord's version of this though. I bet it's quite different.`

Listarl regarded her thoughtfully, scratching his curly black beard. ´I don't think that's easy to find. Pretty sure those books are illegal. Punishable by death probably,` he rumbled.

She nodded. ´Of course. But it's late. Gotta catch some sleep before the glorious sun rises again.` She winked.

Listarl grinned, his teeth white against his black beard. ´See you tomorrow,` he said, grabbed the large book and made his way towards his room.

Felisei left, her smile fading. She wondered if Ranloo had returned to the guild yet. Sern had gone hours ago and she hadn't seen any of them back yet. Though, they'd been interrupted by Gesald arriving with the book. Ranloo and Sern could have returned when they read. Maybe she should ask Gesald, she thought. Then she dismissed it, not wanting him to know she was worried. It was stupid anyway, wasn't it? Worried about a vampire she didn't even know that well. She yawned and hurried to her small room, hoping the next night would be more eventful. Maybe she would get a chance to speak with him then, she hoped.

* * * * *

´Stop!` Tealas roared as the vampire tore up the metal grate. He wouldn't let the bastard get away, not when they had finally found him. The vampire fell as the grate gave way and landed on his back in the street. Tealas lifted the crossbow and aimed as his horse galloped forward. It would be hard to hit from the horse, but he had done it before. Odefin raised the sun-medallion and uttered another prayer to increase the light and send another sunray at the evil creature. The darkelf glanced their way, his glowing eyes red and wide, looking every bit like the monster he was. Scrambling back up, he threw himself at the hole in the street with incredible speed.

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Tealas shouted, knowing he would be too slow. He lowered the crossbow and pulled the reins. His horse whinnied, its hooves scraping dangerously across the rounded cobbles. Tealas was off before it had fully stopped, and he heard Odefin get off his steed shortly after. He ran to the dark hole, raising his own symbol. He roared after the vampire, angry and frustrated at the speed of the thing. Seething with anger he prayed, shining the light into the hole, hoping to harm the creature at least a little. But he saw nothing down there but dark wet slabs of rock.

The drop was quite far and he wouldn't be able to get down there himself. Not without help. Odefin came up beside him, peering down.

´Did he get away?` he panted, exerted from the ride.

Tealas shook his head angrily and tried to see further into the dark. ´He got away,` he admitted after a moment. Then he cursed loudly and stood with a final glare at the hole.

´Get the guards!` he roared and turned away. ´We need to get them down there and search. He can't be allowed to get away. We need to watch every possible exit from the sewers!` He walked stiffly back to his horse, mounted, and kicked it into a gallop towards the guards, not too far behind. They had to find out where the sewers went, where the vampire could get back out. Tealas fumed. The bastard had gotten away again. How could it be this hard to get such a young vampire? It should have been caught a long time ago. But it was too good at hiding and running away. It made too few mistakes.

Tealas met the guards almost immediately, he only had to ride down one block before they came around the corner. He yelled at them as he yanked on the reins, telling them to guard the hole, to gather the rest and spread out and watch all the water drains in the street from here to the harbour, and the direction the vampire had run. The guards stared at him, wide-eyed.

He kicked his tired horse back into a gallop and steered towards the guard station. He had to discuss further actions with the colonel. He had to find out how to get down into the sewers somewhat safely, and where the vampire might be able to get out. He was angry, he didn't want the bastard to get away. They had been so close.

Odefin looked after his friend with a frown. This hunt had gotten to him badly. He didn't like it. It was frustrating to see the vampire get away when they had been so close, but Tealas seemed near obsessed by now. Worried, he went back to his horse, climbed back up with a grunt and followed his friend at a slower pace. He wanted to catch the vampire as badly as Tealas did, but he wasn't sure why Tea seemed so violently mad at it. It wasn't like him to lose his temper like this. He was the levelheaded one. At least he used to be. Though it had happened once before.

Odefin took his time following, making sure the guards knew exactly what had happened and asked about the whereabouts of the Eldon paladins. He would go talk to them, give them directions. Then he would rejoin his friend at the guard station. Hopefully, he could calm Tea down a fraction.

* * * * *

Sern ran through the streets. Sometimes people stopped to look after him as he dashed past towards the library. Mostly, the streets lay empty and dark, but here and there people still moved about. Going to or from late work, ruffians out looking for someone to rob, or homeless people with no place to go. Once, he passed a city guard patrol, but they were going in another direction and didn't bother with him. They barely looked up as he ran across the street behind them. He hoped he wouldn't be too late. Sprinting at a swift but comfortable pace, he passed by the library. Some guards and a librarian stood talking and pointing by the open doors. No Ranloo. He kept going. The horns had been quiet for a while, but suddenly another blast trumpeted in the distance.

Groaning, Sern changed direction towards the sound. Sweat ran down his back and his hair lay plastered to his forehead. Breathing fast, he forced his strained legs forwards. Too slow. But he refused to give up, had to know what was going on.

Dashing around a corner, he came out beside the river. On the other side, he spotted an Eldon patrol moving at a brisk pace, their golden armour shining in the torchlight. He slowed down and studied them, trying to catch his breath. Why was an Eldon patrol here? It was far from the temple. He sneaked closer, approaching a small stone bridge that reached over the water. The paladins moved towards the sound of the horns as well. A sinking feeling in his stomach, Sern followed. He hugged the side of the street, trying to stay in the shadows. He had no intention to be seen or get himself into a fight. He'd be dead in minutes if that happened. He had no chance against properly trained paladins. But he was sure he could outrun them if he had to. They were heavy with their armour, and he was light and fast. He just needed to calm his racing heart and get his breath back a bit.

The paladins' armour rang faintly, and their armoured feet pounded the cobbles as they marched, masking any sounds Sern made as he followed. They moved purposefully, as if they had a specific goal, he thought. Clattering ahead made Sern stop and carefully crouch in a shadow. The paladins halted shortly after as they met a horseman. A big man on a tall horse, wearing a mix of golden steel plates and leather armour. He spoke quickly with the leading paladin.

Sern couldn't quite discern what they talked about, but he heard some words - chase, sewers, and escaped. The man pointed as he talked, then he turned around and rode off, the sound of his horse soon fading away. Sern's heart pounded in his ears. He'd recognized the big man as one of the vampire hunters. Had they hunted Ranloo? And did this mean he'd got away? He hoped so. But if he had gone into the sewers, it would be impossible for Sern to follow. It was too dangerous to go into the sewers, especially if you didn't know where to go. You could get lost, or worse, catch some horrible disease. He wrinkled his nose and looked at the paladins.

´You heard him,` the leader of the paladins called to the others sternly. ´Let's move!` Then they all set off again, their feet making a lot of noise.

Sern left the shadow and followed them. He had to find out for sure if it was Ranloo they'd hunted, and where he had disappeared to.

The patrol entered a wide street, coming up to meet two city guards that stood by a hole in the ground. A bent metal grate lay beside it. They talked for a while, then the city guards left and the paladins took their place, guarding the hole.

Sern didn't go out into the street for fear of being spotted. He stood by the corner and peeked around it to see what was going on. He noted the street name on a worn sign beside him - Hill street. He committed it to memory as he stood there, trying to listen to the guards. But it was hard to hear anything for all the sounds they made. Frowning he leaned closer, straining his ears to hear their words. He managed to catch a few, but not much new. Sewers, dark, hunters, furious. He shook his head and backed off again. He should get away from this place, go back to the guild and tell them what he knew. Maybe they'd know what to do. He started walking back the long way home. A while later, a voice called out to him.

´Hey, boy!`

He spun around in surprise to see who had called. A city guard, and behind him, two more. Sern's heart jumped into his throat but he stopped and calmly looked at the guards.

´You shouldn't be here, young man. It's dangerous,` the guard said sternly. ´Get home with you and stay indoors.`

Sern shrugged and turned away from him.

´I mean it!` the guard shouted. ´There's very real danger in this area.`

Sern realized then he might get some answers from this guard and turned back, his eyes wide. ´What danger?` he asked and clasped his hands behind his back, trying to look innocent.

´Are you daft?` the guard snapped. ´It's night and you're in Jaris.`

´I know, sir,` he said meekly. ´But it sounded like you meant somethin' worse than normal.` He poked at a pebble on the ground with his foot.

The guard frowned and stroked his stubble with a gloved hand. ´Well,` he said, clearing his throat. ´There's a hunt going on right now for a vampire,` he explained. ´You shouldn't be here or you might get killed.`

Sern's eyes widened and he gasped in fake awe. ´A vampire?` he said breathlessly and stared at the guard who nodded sternly.

´Yes. Now get! This is no place for you to linger. Hurry up.`

´What's he look like? If I happen to spot 'im...` he tried.

´If he comes at you, you're dead,` the guard growled, unwittingly confirming that the vampire was a man. Sern gasped and took a step back. One of the other guards laughed at him. ´Get going, stray. Better run,` the first one finished and took a step towards him.

Sern nodded, and ran down the street. Stupid, he thought. The guard hadn't told him what the vampire looked like. But he didn't dare fish for more details, they'd get suspicious. He was fairly certain it was Ranloo anyway. He should get back and await Ranloo's return since he had apparently gotten away. He might be hurt again and that made him dangerous. Sern had to make sure Ranloo didn't do anything stupid.