On the same day in the afternoon in Bathaija’s second capital city, Sanheiraga.

In the castle of the city where the royalty and nobles normally resided during their stay in Sanheiraga. A boy with black hair and eyes sat in one of the lounges on a couch laying his feet on the wooden table. He seemed to not be bothered as he kicked back reading a book.

He had a face that was still young and youthful, that was full of optimism for the world, and that some people might judge as naïve. His skin was light and he had a muscular physique outlined by the noble attire he was wearing.

A black and gold outfit that showed his wealth and status. He had a ring, a hat, and a feather as accessories. He liked to look good and be successful, but he also liked to read and learn. He was confident and adaptable, but sometimes anxious.

He took off his hat, exposing his perfectly combed hair. He then spun the hat on his finger with the hand that took it off. This was a way of fighting off the drowsiness that made his eyelids start to close.

His face was dull with a small hint of impatience. He wrinkled his nose as he smelled the stale air of the quiet room.

He placed the hat on the side of the couch and used a hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. The book he was reading would have interested most people but for him who had read it multiple times, it was only a torture device, as he had no idea why he was still subjecting himself to something that increased his boredom. He supposed it was because he really had nothing else to do.

“This wasn’t working,” He said, his voice monotone and flat, lacking any enthusiasm or emotion.

Gerard d’Angoulême the son of Charles d’Angoulême, the marquee of the Bathaija empire. At 16 years old he was the oldest son of the Angoulême house, a genius that was said he could learn anything and do anything if he put his mind to it.

He threw the book to the side, onto the pile of books that he had already read that was next to the couch. Kicking back even further, he stretched.

He was extremely bored and didn’t know what to do with the rest of his day.

Well, that was a lie, he had things he needed to do, but because they weren’t going to give him immediate pleasure like he was looking for, he wasn't going to do them.

With his legs still on the table, he crossed one over the other as he placed his chin in thought.

What could he have done that would have been enjoyable? There were indeed a few things that others might have found enjoyable in the castle, like board games, training, horse riding, or reading. But for Gerard, he had found them all to be lackluster. Anyone whom he played games with couldn't measure up, and training was dull along with re-reading things you’ve already read. And to be honest he never found out why others enjoyed riding horses besides the convenience they brought when traveling.

Maybe one of the guards could tell me an interesting story about their line of work. I'm certain people who dabble in such dangerous professions always have something to tell.

His mind went to the guards that normally patrolled the castle itself and outside of it. But the was a problem with doing as such, namely that he was the son of the marquee, and people would find it difficult to converse with him.

Then like he was hit with it, an idea came to him. Why didn’t he leave the castle? The was sure to be much fun in the commoner section beside the tails he was looking for. People didn’t know who he was and as such they wouldn’t mind their tongue most of the time. He wondered what it would be like if he spoke with someone who held no respect for him.

It would certainly make conversations and debates more interesting.

He could possibly meet adventurers as well who could speak of their adventures and battles with monsters that existed outside the walls.

“I suppose I should get right to it while the day is young,” He announced as he stood to his feet, like a spring that had been bent.

“Unfortunately young master I can't allow you to do that."

At the same time, the door opened and a beautiful girl who was in a maid outfit and had cat ears on the sides of her head and whose golden hair was tied in a bun came in. She elegantly closed the door behind her before giving a bow to Gerard.

When she was done with her greeting she continued speaking.

"Young master, I'm certain you do remember that your father forbade you from leaving the castle and its premises, no?”

Damn it how did she know I was going to leave! Gerard thought with a smile on his face, as he looked at his personal maid, who often did not take his side when it came to his father’s orders over his.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He deflected, but….

The cat girl's ears moved an indication that she had caught his lie.

Damn it, it was a trap! She didn't know but was waiting for me to expose myself by lying. I should have stayed quiet.

The maid, by having reminded Gerard of what his father told him. She implied that she knew that Geraed was planning to sneak out of the castle, even though she wasn’t exactly sure if he had planned to. By having Gerard answer her accusation and having it been a lie, she was able to prove what she had feared was true.

"There is no need to lie young master. I know you too well that I doubt you'll ever be able to hide anything from me."

She gave him a warm motherly smile.

Yeah right. Gerard thought then began to look at her with puppy eyes.

“Please! I’ll only be out for like a few minutes.”

“Even you don’t believe that.”

“Okay a few hours,” He backtracked.

The maid did not answer immediately, but walked to the pile of books, picked them up, and started arranging them on the shelves.

As she did she then returned to the conversation with a question.

“Do you not have enough entertainment here, my young master? Other than books there are certainly other things that could do to amuse yourself. And putting entertainment aside, you have work to do yourself my young master, are the assignments you have been given not due this week?"

Gerard dropped back to the couch with a ‘plop’. The assignments he had been given by from his lectures could be done in a day, or two if he was tired. What he was looking for was fun not a task to do to pass the time. He wanted to enjoy himself while he had time, while he still did not have heavy responsibilities to carry on his shoulders, like managing one of the most productive territories in the empire.

"I'd be able to finish those with little to no difficulty and I don't think I'll ever be able to use magic so…." He shrugged his shoulders.

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Elemental magic is magic that wasn't part of the church and was a category of magic that was newly discovered. It seemed that everyone could at least learn one of these branches of magic if they did not have an affinity for holy magic.

But Gerard hadn’t found his affinity even after all these years, as such he was on the verge of giving up learning magic.

A brief history of magic that Gerard had read about came to his mind.

Magic is the power of the gods that grants an individual the ability to manipulate the forces of nature and reality. Throughout their history, magic was seen as a rare and sacred gift that only the chosen ones could wield, those who belonged to the Order, an ancient organization of holy warriors and priests. They used a form of magic called holy magic, which was based on the light of the gods and could destroy any evil or corruption.

Gerard looked at his personal maid Rina, who gave an exasperated sigh at his answer. She went back to finish arranging the books, while Gerard continued to recall his history.

The church claimed to have a direct connection to the divine and acted as the guardians of the world. This power was later named holy magic when humanity discovered other forms of magic and other humanoid races as they explored the rest of the world. These races included elves, dwarves, and many more, each with their own culture and magic system. Some of these races were friendly and willing to trade and share their knowledge, while others were hostile and threatened by human expansion. With this discovery, the church, the institution that controlled the Order and the holy magic, was displeased and fearful. They saw the other races and their magic as heretical and dangerous and tried to suppress them. However, it was also revealed that everyone had the potential to use magic, as long as they knew their affinity and how to train it. This was a shocking revelation that challenged the church's authority and monopoly on magic. Many people, especially the poor and oppressed, began to seek out other sources of magic and learn from the other races. This sparked a series of conflicts and revolutions that changed the course of history.

Gerard was surprised that the church had let some of the information that made them look bad stay in the history books for others to see. He supposed that not every old organization was destined to be corrupted.

"So you want to hear stories from the soldiers and adventures who work in the city?"

Garerd paused, wondering when he had told her that. Did Rina have the ability to read minds as well?

"Yep," He answered with a grin before he continued. "I want to hear tales about fighting and defending the weak from horrifying monsters that could be found outside the walls, like goblins, kobold stray demons, etc."

“Do you honestly believe you’ll find someone who’s fought a demon in Sanheiraga?”

Probably not, considering the city we lived in was far from any monster nest or powerful monsters like titans or dragons. Gerard thought this as he knew that people who were crazy enough to fight such strong monsters wouldn't be in Sanheiraga.

“Well it doesn’t have to be demons, a vampire would do considering we have been having an epidemic of them running around.”

Rina's face lost all its friendliness and she looked at Gerard with a questioning look.

“How did you know that?” She asked.

“About Tarragona?” He clarified with a smirk.

"I don't know why Father, the emperor, and the other nobles are trying to hide the fact that the western territory of the empire was taken. Roamers do float around especially if people can no longer get in contact with such a large part of the empire, and to add to that the sudden increase of vampire attacks all over the empire when vampires were supposed to be rare could only point out something was wrong. And it was obvious for me the greatest genius of my time to figure out, especially if the important documents and messages come to the home I live in.”

Rina narrowed her eyes and Gerard with a jerk, jumped off the couch and got down on his knees, bowing.

"I'm sorry! Please don't tell Father I went through his stuff!"

While he exaggeratedly begged he thought over the information he had gathered.

Though he said he had no idea why they tried to hide the news, in truth he could think of many reasons. The one that was most likely was the collapse of the empire because of unrest and large migration from the people as a result of fear. The other reason was probably fear of other countries taking advantage to invade once the threat had been dealt with, so they must have wanted to keep information from leaking into other nations. Well, either way, it was a good move because those scenarios would have definitely happened or rather will happen when people find out, that the army that the empire sent to recover their lost territory had been wiped out with not a single man returning.

Getting the Order's assistance was certainly another great move for the short term, but whether the Church won or lost, the empire would still be finished as an empire.

But ‘lose’ huh? Well, it would certainly be scary to think that there is something that could defeat the Order. Especially if it was an undead which the Order had an advantage against.

But though he feared for the future, he was still excited for the unknown. He wanted to see one, a vampire. A creature that was said to be so powerful that the order made it to be their number one enemy. Though they couldn't use magic like most monsters, they were still powerful enough to be ranked with monsters such as demons and titans. They could control humans through a bite and they were semi-immortal.

He wanted to meet one, one day, though preferably behind a cage, or something of the sort.

***

At night, back where Alice and her team camped.

A grassy land stretched out, dotted with a few trees and boulders. Bushes blended in with the green grass, and forests loomed in the distance. The dark sky was lit up by the full moon, which drew the eye when one looked up. It was cloudy, and sometimes the clouds would block out the light, plunging the land into complete darkness. It was serene and peaceful which caused Alice to place a smile on her face for the first time ever since she woke up.

The silence and calming effect of nature had allowed her to clear her mind better than the sleep she received.

The beautiful maiden with long silver-blond hair reflected the moonlight, as did the silver armor she wore. She sat on one of the large boulders that dotted the landscape. Her legs were straight but crossed, following the slight slope of the rock. Her arms supported her sides, and her head was tilted back as she gazed at the stars.

She sometimes wondered what the dots floating in the sky truly were. The Order had said they were people lost to them reborn anew, but Alice had a hard time believing that.

Alice’s silver armor, like that of most female knights, was different. It was a lighter design that covered only the essential parts of her body, such as the chest and some of the arms and legs, leaving the joints free. Underneath the armor pieces, a black flexible material protected the exposed parts as much as possible. This black material was as strong as chain mail but less rigid. However, she doubted that it would matter much against a direct hit from a vampire. Her sword, which was made from a special metal because of her captain status, lay next to her hand, ready to be grabbed.

She was alone, the others nowhere to be seen. The was no carriage or wagon, neither horses nor people, and her teammates were not with her, as she sat there waiting.

She waited for her enemy, her feud that she had yet to finish things off with.

She had willingly separated from the group to fight alone while the other protected the people. She had decided this after some time of thinking and though the others did intersect she still proceeded with her plan. She left just before sunset and ordered Henry to not let anyone follow her or let anything enter beside her. Liz had enhanced Alice’s body, but she had doubted she needed the power while she was on her way to this remote area.

Though she told herself this was for the safety of the others, in truth she knew it was just an excuse. She was reckless and taking unnecessary risks. The Order had taught her to minimize risk because humans weren't as durable or could heal as fast as their undead opponent. A mistake on her part would mean death for her and eventually everyone else she left behind.

What was wrong with her was she willing to risk everyone else lives for some petty revenge? Why couldn't she have just set up a trap like Henry had mentioned? Or listened to the few other suggestions she was offered?

Alice questioned herself. When her mind had cleared up because of the silence and calmness of the place she was, she began to have second thoughts. She reflected on her actions and now understood she was going off of her heart rather than her mind.

She was a terrible leader, to put her own wants ahead of those she led.

She bit her lips but got down from the bolder, her silver boots making a thump as she landed. This was not the way to do things. She needed to return and apologize.

With the scabbard in hand, she walked back in the direction she came from.

“Hehehehehe,” A laugh that was all too familiar for her came into her ears, causing her to freeze up. “Sorry I’m late,” The despicable creature said, as though it was a friend who was late to a party. "You know how small streams of water are sometimes, you can't even see it when you walk, hehe."

Alice stopped and looked with eyes filled with anger at the owner of the voice.

The person, or rather undead, strolled leisurely to Alice, as he wore a friendly smile that could have charmed any girl.

He walked with confidence and calmness like the world was his playground. His hands were in his pockets and his chin was up high as his red eyes looked down on Alice with contempt. He too, despite the relatively calm expression on his face, held anger for Alice.

He took his final step, the grass rustling under him as he did. They were a few feet away from each other, close enough to talk, but long enough to act when the other attacked.

The vampire looked like a man in his mid-twenties, with black hair and very pale skin. He wore the average attire that a normal man who looked his age would wear. The only peculiar thing was that his shirt and pants were entirely black. He wore black from head to toe, including his boots.

“How unexpected, seeing you here. I imagined I would have waited a while longer to meet 'the woman that rocked my world' again," He said fetchingly and winked at her while he was at it.

“…”

Alice simply gazed at him, her face a stone mask devoided of any emotion.

The vampire that went by the name Arc, snickered, as he continued to speak.

“Ahhhh, don’t be so cold love--” He grinned as if he was about to throw out a punch line of a joke, “--Shouldn’t you at least bless me with a ‘hello’ as well?”

“…..”

He sighed, dropping his shoulders and head for a second before looking back up at him with a smile.

“Ahh, women……... Are you still mad about that friend of yours I killed?” He asked with a trivial tone. “You killed two of my underlings too so that should at least count for something, and to add to that your friends wiped out the army I made with great effort.”

Alice's hands tightened and her teeth clenched. The vampire noticed this and smiled even more as though he was receiving pleasure from her anger.

“Ooohh, I see, you upset about the women and children my ghouls devoured while they were alive. Hehehe, I bet it must have been gruesome, screaming in pain and shit.”

He laughed.

“…..”

If eyes could kill, Alice’s eye would have killed him a million times because of how much hatred she stared with.

“Either way it's no biggy, you humans will repopulate, and the incident will be like nothing ever happened. It's no sweat off your back, so you can stop looking at me as if you want to ravish me, love.”

“……...Why?”

Alice finally said a word after she had stayed silent for up to a minute. Her voice was small, as though she was asking herself.

Arc, because of his vampiric hearing, heard her just fine.

He tilted his head.

"Why do you want to ravish me?”

“Why do your kind always spread misery!?” She shouted, he buried emotions coming out to the surface.

Arc, surprised for a second, grinned as he stayed quiet to let her speak.

"You vampires, you are more intelligent than other undead, and you have shown to have an understanding of human emotions, but instead of trying to find a way to co-exist with people. You simply choose to use that intelligence and understanding to create as much pain as possible, you use it for evil."

Arc picked one of his ears with a finger but seemed to forget that his fingers were clawed. His ear bled, but he seemed to give as much care as he did this conversation.

“So, I want to know, is….. why? Why do you all choose to be like animals—No, animals are better. Animals don't kill and murder for pleasure and game. Animals don't wipe out groups of people because of their ego.”

Alice breathed in, as she tried to get rid of the frown that was clearly evident on her face.

When she felt alright she asked again, calmly this time.

“Why can’t your kind find a way to live with other races without spreading misery?”

Arc hummed and grabbed his chin as he appeared to be in thought.

“Hmmm…. Why is it?” He contemplated.

“Why…..can’t…..we….stop…being….asssholes….hmmmm…..let’s see….. Ahhh!”.

“I got it! It’s because……... it’s exciting and tasty that way.” He gestured with his arms. “Don’t you humans enjoy your favorite food? It’s the same for us. We want to taste a human when they are rich in flavor. And if we have to tease them a few times to get that flavor. I think it’s a treat.”

He gave Alice a grin as if to ask her for a reward for giving her a great answer.