Sensation returned in an instant, and Al snapped back to consciousness. The groggy sight of a wooden floor came into view. Titling his head, he inspected the partially cleaned-up patch of vomit. Hoping he had not been the dispenser of such a stain.

When he got up, he noticed he had sprawled across several adjacent chairs. Either he or someone had arranged them in a makeshift sleeping arrangement. Arising to an upright position, he clasped his forehead.

Letting out a soft groan, he endured the raging headache as foggy memories came flooding back. Vague images of drinking, singing, and jovial laughter mentally surfaced.

Al took stock of his surroundings. The world, once blurry and out of focus, became clearer. The tavern, a place where he had consumed a considerable amount of liquor, stretched out before him.

“Your awake, finally.” A voice hit him from the side like a semi-truck running over his brain.

The voice was grating and hammered his brain with a gruelling headache. Shaking his head to counter the pain, Al turned around and spotted the young Felix seated at the end of the table.

He was wearing a fresh grey tunic with no accessories at all. The impatient stare was clear on his pale face. Grunting in pain, Al ascended. Sighing heavily, he glanced at Felix, trying to gauge his level of pissed off.

Noticing the young man giving him an icy glare, Al realised what he was in for. It “Go ahead boy, have at it.” He said, dejected.

Instead of answering, he felt puzzled and didn't understand, but not for long. Soon he regained his wits. “You said you would take care of us?” He accused.

The boy demanded answers; Al's recklessness had wounded him. Al could barely stay upright. Still, he mustered enough brain cells to respond.

“I intend to.” He answered.

Felix inhaled sharply, ready to launch into a tirade. “You call this taking care of us? You took us to a tavern.” He gestured emphatically at the gloomy surroundings. “Three men propositioned my sister—three men!—after being here for just ten minutes!” His voice elevated to a borderline shout as he thrust three fingers into his face.

Al realised the boy was right and so started soothing the wrathful vampire. “I am sorry about that; taverns are not exactly known for having respectable company.” He said apologetically.

“Yet this place is the perfect cover. Most would not expect you and her amongst the riff-raff.” He gestured to his surroundings, making his point.

Felix considered a rebuttal, but he felt too mentally exhausted to attempt one, so he slumped into his chair. “What now? My sister went out to buy supplies. You said something about a trip north.” Swiftly, he changed the subject, still maintaining his displeasure.

“We are going to head out this morning. We will meet a few new friends at the northern gate.” He explained, feeling a twinge of unease. “So, get your sister and meet me outside the inn.” He added.

A pounding headache was there, but instead of succumbing, he ignored it. Nodding to the young man, he made his way out of the tavern. Exiting the double doors, he covertly withdrew an old backpack out of thin air. Strapping it to his back, he donned the appearance of a brave adventurer. Satisfied with his attire, he waited patiently for his companions.

Surrounding him were the bustling streets filled with peasants. Every one of them scurried around at first light. Breathing in the fresh air, he felt the fatigue leave him. Soon enough, a voice carried on the wind. It originated from inside and spoke in a shrill female voice.

“You're finally awake.” The words were dripping with indignation.

Felix's elder sister appeared before him and for a moment, Al was concerned, but he soon left that feeling behind. “I am. Did you sleep well in your humble lodgings?” He asked with a slight note of sarcasm.

Joan snorted, getting used to their new companion's sarcastic demeanour. “I can't complain. It was decent of you to provide lodging.” She sincerely thanked him, not even a trace of sarcasm.

Her sudden shift in demeanor took aback Al, quickly surprised, with his next words stuck in his throat. Joan instead shifted to her usual self as if the former sincerity didn’t suit her.

“Still, you could have told us you were going to get blackout drunk.” She chastised.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Upon reflex, he stood straight, the old instincts from his youth taking hold. Initially disturbed by this turn of events, he quickly sank deeper into the sensation. “I apologise. It was rude of me to partake.” He mustered up all the politeness and gentlemanly demeanour he had discarded years ago.

Thankfully, she accepted the apology, and the two were finally civil. Only for the awkward silence to set in, both not knowing where to go from here. Al scratched his chin, trying to come up with a next topic of discussion, and Joan just smiled like nothing was off.

"So, when do we leave?" Felix interjected, and Al felt a sigh of relief when someone broke the ice.

“We will make our leave soon; I first must check in with the wizard's guild.” He declared, and the siblings nodded.

The three left the inn and plunged into the city's depths towards their destination. Visiting the wizard's guild for a moment to log his journey north. Greeting the receptionist with a smile, he spun her a tale.

He was lying his ass off and informed her of his plans to visit the northern ruins of the old wizard kings. She smiled, accepting every word as if it were a gospel. The siblings stared dumbstruck as he spun the intricate web of deception. If they weren't in the know, they would have believed him.

Soon after leaving the guild, Felix could no longer hold his tongue. “Why did you lie?”

Al grinned evilly, enjoying these moments when he could flex the old con man that lay dormant in that old criminal heart of his. Becoming a hero didn't erase his past, and he had no interest in being a better man. Sure he enjoyed being a vigilante, it was cool and reminded him of the old comic books he used to read as a child.

But nothing was better in life than gaming the system, finding exploits and taking advantage of everything that was on offer. He wondered if that made him a bad person, but only briefly.

“I couldn’t really tell them I was heading to the old ruins of the upire. It’s forbidden lands as far as I can tell.” He explained, shrugging.

The siblings parsed his words, their brows furrowed in thought, wondering if sticking with this kind of man was in their best interest. The two collectively decided that he was the best option they had.

Soon they made their way north, passing several checkpoints with ease. Al wore the sigil of the wizard's guild draped around his neck. The necklace had a metal chain laced through it, connecting to a medallion with a stave and a wand crossing each other.

The sigil allowed the trio to pass through with ease, and eventually they reached the northern gate. It was a massive structure of black stone and the faint emanations of magic weaved into the structure were obvious to his trained eye.

The gate itself stood taller than every building surrounding it. Battlements dotted the structure, with soldiers patrolling them. The gate itself was the typical medieval construct made of steel with teeth sliding into the ground. It was akin to a giant maw, devouring caravans as they passed through.

Al looked around, trying to locate his associates, and after some time, he spotted them. The pair was leaning beside a carriage and with them in sight; he made his way over, greeting them as he approached.

“Hello there.” He spoke in the manner of one of his favourite characters back on earth.

James and Sally turned to greet him. Sally’s expression shifted quickly from a pleasant smile to an annoyed scowl. “You're late.” She chastised.

Before Al could speak in his defence, James cut in. “Come on, Sal, they are only late by a few minutes. Give the man a break.” The bulky man with an imposing form towered over the rest.

Despite his appearance akin to a barbarian ready to crush skulls, he was a pretty nice guy. The one he nicknamed Sal glared at him with annoyance. Despite that, her eyes softened once she noticed the pleading gaze of her companion.

“Fine, but remember, I am holding you responsible. Don’t think I didn’t notice you sneaking off to the tavern.” Agreeing with James, she shot back, laying his sins bare.

Al felt confused before a hazy memory suddenly came back to him. During his drunken escapades in the tavern, James had slinked back to drink with him. The two merrily had one pint and then six, the memories became blurry after that.

Al ignored that and promptly changed the subject. “So, are we heading out? I see there is a caravan behind you.” He queried.

Sally and James glanced back. “Yes, my man, we worked out a sweet protection gig. They should take us all the way to Helgos, and from there we go our own way.” He explained, grinning like he was the best negotiator in the world.

Al glanced back at the two siblings. They both looked a little sheepish. “Well, that sounds good. I and these two are planning to head to Paru.” With a pleasant smile, he lied through his teeth.

Sally frowned before the light of recollection sparkled in her eye. “Paru, I have heard of the place, pretty rough territory, neither imperial nor federation.” Her gaze sharpened, lingering on the two child companions.

Before anyone could speak up, Al replied confidently. "No worries," Al said confidently, attempting to put their minds at ease, as the wizard's guild confirmed they will receive him well.

James merely nodded, accepting the answer. Sally snorted. Her anger was likely provoked by the mention of the wizard's guild. Paying that no mind, he gestured for them to lead on.

Before Alistair could follow, he felt a tug on his cloak and, glancing back; he noted Joan glaring back at him. Her questioning gaze quickly unveiled the truth. Preempting a tirade, he spoke first in a hushed whisper.

“We are not actually going to Paru.” He explained, eyeing both of the siblings.

The two glanced back, confused, and gestured for him to continue. “We are going to the Ruins of Nosfera.” Letting that statement hang, he paused.

The siblings gasped, their bodies tensed, and a shiver ran up their spine. They recognised that location and they knew why everybody stayed out of there.

"But imperial decree forbids those lands. Even the federation avoids them. Everyone knows that." Everyone knows that.”

“Forbidden, huh? Now, where is your sense of adventure? Don’t you want to learn of your heritage?” Al grinned, offering the sweet nectar of forbidden knowledge. “Come on, who wouldn’t want to explore the ruins of the once great Upireon Empire?” Leaving that question hanging, he gestured for them to follow.