Usually, after the night hits the town’s gates, a surreal gloom covers every street and alley of the city, allowing only the random meowling from the cats prowling the streets to be heard. And all of this takes place under the ever-watching glow of the moon. The eerie atmosphere surrounding the city might, or might not have had something to do with this feeling of constantly being watched. No matter where in the city you were, the moon would always be right above you. An illusion? Possibly, but everyone knew that the Dark Lord saw everything.

Ever since he decided to transform his castle into the Dark Arts Academy for the Paranormals, a whole new city started to appear around the massive fortress. Creatures of the night: Vampires, Werewolves, Gorgones, Witches, and many other supernatural creatures now resided inside the town.

You’d think that would be grounds for a slaughterhouse, but because everyone knew that all their actions were being constantly monitored, no crime ever occurred inside the city to the relief of the normal people who came here to escape the secular fighting of mortals and reside under the Dark Lord’s umbrella, hoping to gain eternal life in one way or another.

This night though, unlike many other quiet nights, had its peace disturbed by a rambunctious voice coming from one of the town's taverns. And knowing about the Dark Lord’s power, the men and women residing in the tavern were shocked to the core to hear what he had to say.

“HA! I tell you, if that Dark Lord thinks he’s so great why does he never leave his gilded castle, huh?! He is afraid! That’s why! What other Dark Lord hides away as he does? A scaredy cat of a Dark Lord, that’s who!”

The voice continued to throw slurs and insults into the night as if trying to invoke the Dark Lord himself to appear among them.

“What? You don’t think so?” He pointed at the barkeeper who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there and just continued to polish his glasses, doing his best to ignore him.

The drunken man appeared to be a forty-something years old male, with sharp features, black hair, and black eyes, dressed in a fine suit of clothes, nobility of some sort judging from the appearances.

Probably, also the main reason why no one else from the bar dared to say something to quiet him down. The man had a death wish, so who were they to stop nature from running its course and let natural selection do its thing?

That is apparently until one of the other patrons seemingly had enough of the drunk’s man tirade and walked up to him. He looked young, but had similar features as the loud man, marking him another member of the Night’s Nobility. Judging from the fangs, one of the more bloodthirsty types.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Talking with a lisp, the man presented himself with a noble bow, one leg behind the other, his left hand stuck to his back, while with his right he carried a sweep of the hand, all while bowing slightly towards the man who was chugging down the rest of his drink, seemingly unimpressed.

“My name is Andres Von Hellsing, and I could not help but hear what you had to say about our Principal, Dark Lord Iulius Nefarius Blackthorn, and I would like you to apologize for what you just said. As one of Dark Lord’s top students, I feel the need to fight for my master’s honor. Apologise or this glove will come right off!”

He said while raising his gloved right hand and bringing it closer to his left one in preparation for taking it off.

“Bwahahwahwahwaahwaahhaahwaaa!”

Not only was the man not fazed at all by the challenge, but he started guffawing in his face, spit flying all over. The young man could barely maintain his fury, judging from his red face, he was ready to explode at any time. Seeing that, the man stopped laughing and turned towards the barman.

“Garçon! One more round for me and my new friend here!”

Turning back towards the now irate boy who was struggling to get his glove off, the man stopped him by placing his hand on top of his and looking the boy straight in the eyes with a seriousness that wasn’t there a moment ago. But now that the boy looked better, it was a look that matched him perfectly, one that demanded respect. The sheer pressure that he felt in that second made him stumble backward and forget what he was even upset about in the first place.

Picking up the drink that magically appeared on the counter by his side, the man pointed towards the seat next to him, and the other drink now waiting to be picked.

“Well? Are you gonna just stand there and gawk at me now? Have a seat. Drinking alone is so dull. But, do you know what’s even more dull?” He asked with one brow raised.

Finally, getting his wits together, he sat down and took a large gulp of the drink to calm his nerves.

‘This man is dangerous’, the boy thought to himself. He didn’t see it previously because of his boisterous attitude, but now… He realized why really no one else dared to say anything. And now that he decided to jump into the fire, he had no other option but to see it to the end.

“Sitting down alone with nothing to drink?” Finally finding his words, he answered with something he thought the man might say, only to be shocked by his answer.

“Hehe, that indeed would be quite an annoying situation for one to find himself in. But, no. What I personally find very, very dull are people who are lying to my face.” He said while his aura multiplied tenfold, making it almost impossible to keep his head straight.

“Now, before things get messy will you tell me why you introduced yourself as one of my disciples?

“My…?!!!!” The boy's terrified face was only matched by the uncontrollable shaking of his body. He tried to get away only to fall down to the ground and be pinned there under the ever-increasing pressure of the man's aura.

“You wouldn’t happen to be part of the Noble’s faction here trying to steal one of my seals are you?” He said, an evil smile forming around his lips.

Seeing no answer coming from the boy he continued.

“Well, anyhow, it would be rude of me not to greet a member of the Night’s Nobility properly. Garçon, please bring the strongest of poisons! My long, long, lost family member and I have a lot to catch up on.” He said while staring deeply into his eyes, the grim smile on his face spelling his doom.

And the only thing left to see in the boy's eyes was despair, despair, and hopelessness, for this is where all his ambitions would come to an end.