The morning sun sent rays through the bare window. Edvard’s eyes slowly opened, and just as slowly, he pushed himself upright and against the bed frame. He looked around - a bare room, with white plaster walls surrounding him on all sides. An uninteresting wooden dresser was opposite him, and next to it was a table and a chair.

He couldn’t believe it. The prior events - the feeling of being hunted, trapped, and killed - were just distant memories. He placed a hand to his neck, and although there was a distant pain, it was completely fine. Edvard pivoted his body and got out of bed, walking a few metres forward. Even his legs were working, which he couldn’t say the same for when he had woken up in that crypt.

He had escaped death, truly.

Edvard looked to his right, to see out of the window. A wide gravel street was below him, with a row of terraced houses opposite. They seemed similar in appearance to the building he was currently in, white walls made of plaster held up by thick wooden beams. He saw people going about their day. It was a weird sensation, watching the normality and tranquillity of whatever place he was in - his memory was still far gone, but he seemed to have more familiarity with the dark and unusual.

There was a knock at the door. Edvard’s head darted to its direction, and he walked over to open it. On the other side was a woman with tied up brown hair, with a black cloak that hid most of her leather armour of a similar colour. Her yellow eyes stared into his - butterflies flew in his stomach, a sickly unease spreading. For all he could remember, those eyes were the sign of the enemy.

“Oh, you look troubled. I’m not going to hurt you,” she said, although her voice was stern and unfriendly. “I’m here on behalf of the Three Guilds Association. You probably don’t remember what that is, but I’ll explain in all due time - if you let me in.”

Edvard nodded cautiously, and stepped aside, allowing the strange woman to enter. She drifted over to the chair in the right corner, pulled it out, and sat down, facing him. She continued - “I’m….you can just call me Ellanher. I’m specifically a part of the Assassins’ Guild, but I do work for the Adventurers’ and the Association too.”

He stared at her blankly. She sighed in return. “Right, you don’t know what those are. A guild is an organisation where people of a similar job, goal, or otherwise band together to protect each other, work together, and make the process of their work more organised. You get me so far?” Edvard nodded. So, she continued. “The biggest are the Adventurers’ Guild, the Assassins’ Guild, and the Machinists’ Guild. While the first two are combat-oriented, the Machinists focus on development, industry, and basically creating things for other guilds. Finally, the Three Guilds Association, who I work for as well as the Assassins’, oversees these three biggest guilds in order to act as a liaison, and settle disputes.”

Edvard, in the meantime, had closed the door, and crossed his arms when she was finished. “Right. So, what do you and the Association want with me?” His eyebrow was raised, and an uneasy expression was on his face. “I’m just an…” Memories flooded in of his escape from death. “...I’m just an ordinary person.”

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Ellanher chuckled. “The resurrection of Edvard Diefenbach was detected by the Machinists’ equipment.” Edvard’s eyes widened at the mention of his name. “Game systems aren’t typically known to most people, but luckily for you, we have some of the foremost experts on figuring them out on our side. And besides, have you taken a look at yourself lately? Your eyes glow so, so brightly.”

Edvard’s eyes widened. “So I’m–”

“You’re a vampire. Like me, and like those crypt scavengers who ended your previous life.” His heart dropped. That’s what he was? “In fact, Edvard Diefenbach, you were once standing among the greatest of vampire lords.” His heart sank further. “Your legacy, and peoples’ perceptions of you, will all be warped in your new life. But, there are two things I recommend you do.”

Edvard raised his eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Well, firstly-” Ellanher continued, “-you should take these.” She pulled from a pocket on her armour a pair of round gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses tinted dark. “These have two purposes - they’ll protect your eyes from the sun, and they’ll also hide your eyes’ colour and glow.”

He took the glasses and put them on, the world becoming slightly darker around him. The light felt less sensitive on his eyes, though. “What’s the second recommendation, anyway?”

She watched him put the glasses on, and then continued in order to answer his question. “Well, you’ll need a new name. That’s up for you to decide. I’d recommend making it fairly different to your current one, and getting familiar with it fast.”

He thought for a second. Something called out to him, a vague feeling from the far reaches of his memory. “I’m thinking…Amalric. Amalric Brauneg.” It came to him on the spot, and it just felt right, yet he didn’t know why.

“Well, Amalric. Welcome to your new life. Oh, and, one more thing.” She pulled out a leather purse and handed it to him. It chinkled, revealing the presence of coins in the purse. He looked at her with confusion, raising his eyebrow. “Well, you need something to get by till you get a job. Or, it could get you equipment necessary for adventuring. Either way, you need it.”

He sighed, taking the coin purse. “Alright. Just not sure how much I like being given a pick-me-up.”

“I’d say, don’t worry too much about it.” Ellanher would stand and make a mood to the door. “We may meet again, we may not. Depends on your trajectory in life from this point forward. But, on behalf of myself and the Association, I wish you good luck in the future.” She opened the door and stepped out. “Goodbye, Amalric.”

Amalric nodded and closed the door after her, then walked over back to the window. He observed the people going about their ordinary lives below. He knew, no matter how "fresh" this new life was going to be, he had a responsibility to do something with it - especially if he was a notorious creature of the night. He could not face it, though. How could he be one? So far, two out of three vampires he had met had been involved in his death, and even with his lack of memory of his past, he knew they had a notoriety for bloodshed. And if he had infamy as one, he must have done something horrific in his past life.

So, he decided to take this burden upon himself. To repent for whatever he did as Edvard Diefenbach. He furthermore decided thus - he would become an adventurer, join the Guild, and see where he could go from there.