Landen has always been humanity's symbol of last hope. Home of the vampire hunting association, the founding place of industrial technology, Landen is seen as the representation of human perseverance through nature's cruel challenges. Ironically, it is also the front concerning the ongoing Hunt: since most of the humans reside in Landen, it is a vulnerable city concerning vampire attacks, and its effects are well shown. In the trains, the tramways, the shops, all the papers have but one headliner: "Vampire attack". Be it a simple bite, a swarm of hungry imps chomping on unsuspecting bypassers, or even a small group of vampires having caused a few murders, each one sets a good amount of fear and despair inside the people's hearts.
Around Landen's central train station, connecting with every other city on the continent (not that the vampires left many), one young man sits outside the large steel gate separating Landen and the inside. Standing on the white marble steps, wearing a noticeable attire consisting of a white buttoned shirt with suspenders, a black denim jean, shoes and overshirt, and a top hat. While a lot would immediately think of a gravedigger or a funeral office manager, one thing makes the distinction between them and...
Random kid: Look Mom, a vampire hunter!!
Mother: Goodness Mathieu don't just blurt stuff out! People can hear!
Random kid: But Mom, look how cool he looks! He even has a silver pendant, like in the books!!
The silver pendant, just as the kid said, while the young man looks annoyed with the fact other people notice he exists. Silver pendants are a vampire hunter's prize possession, indicating their status and bringing hope to the traumatized victims.
The young man is tall and fairly built. With his light brown hair cut like a wolf, and some small scars resting on his face, he could be a middle-class dweller. However, these rather handsome characteristics go to waste. His posture leads nothing to be desired, standing like a crooked tree waiting to fall and his expression only shouts one thing... "Why am I here?"
Flashback to a few hours ago, the young man is "conversing" (rather getting hammered on) by a hulking man with orange hair, dressed like an adventurer would: cloth armor except the right hand and a brown cape covering his left side. His right hand is saved for holding an iron flask full of any alcohol he can fit at that moment...Inside the room, the names "Aaron" for the young man and "Shroud" for the old Hulk can be heard...
Aaron: Is it necessary for me to get another teammate? Url's just fine, we get along great!!
Shroud: Of course, you do, you've known 'im since trainin'. The thing is, Aaron, you guys are the worst at cooperatin'...
Aaron: The hell you are talking about, we never fight!
Shroud: Correction, URL never fights!! He stays at home patching you up while you go taking on patrols and missions requiring three people and then some!!
Aaron: Aaaandd I always manage!
Shroud: while half-losing your life in the process, putting victims' lives at stake and destroying property. Which means my sorry ass has to stop relaxing and drinking to do paperwork!!! You need another partner, someone to keep you on your toes. How does Url even manage to live wit' ya...
Aaron: guess I'm not as awful as you think, Shroud...
Shroud throws a piece of paper that he takes off his hidden bag, indicating where to pick up the new arrival. We return to our current setting...
Aaron: So.. I'm looking for a 19-year-old Japanese prince with a topknot...How stereotypical...
Aaron sulks for a moment...
Aaron: What the hell does a prince from the Asian empire want to do by playing vampire hunting? God, he's gonna step on my fuckin'-
While Aaron is lost in a vicious cycle of negative thoughts, the train has already arrived. As the doors open, a figure steps out with two suitcases. With two katanas on his side, the figure sports a white top/black bottom kimono, clad in small armor plates. With black raven hair, tied in a topknot, the man seems stern but quite approachable. Aaron notices the topknot and slowly approaches him...
Aaron: Are... you mister... Akira Suiga?
The man salutes and bows immediately...
SUIGA:My deepest apologies for any type of inconvenience my arrival has posed!!! My name is Akira Suiga , son of the Akira family, vampire hunter. Pleased to make your acquaintance!! And what could your name be?!
Aaron: (I stumbled upon a chatterbox, huh...) My name is Aaron Willheart, your... highness. I'm a vampire hunter too. You are my new partner.
Suiga: Aah, wonderful news, that is. Please take care of me, I will try my best to not be a hindrance...
Aaron: (You being here is already a hindrance). Just focus on the job and everything's going to go smoothly...Shall I help with the luggage-
Before finishing, Suiga picks up all his luggage and rests them on his shoulder.
Suiga: No worries, my friend. I said I wouldn't be a hindrance to my new senpai!!
Aaron: (Ohhh no...) Eeeh, senpai?
SUIGA:Yes, my senior, to say. Landen is at the forefront of the Hunt against the vampires, I can only suppose you have the most experience in this team.
Aaron: Ohh ok, let's calm down here, we are pretty much on same level the both of us. And don't call me senior, it sounds like I'm 30...
Suiga : Then chief?
Aaron: No
Suiga : Commander?
Aaron: Uh, no?
Suiga: Leader of our merry band?
Aaron: The hell's with you and authority!? Partner, I ain't no one's leader.
Suiga: Very well, partner it is.
Aaron: Great. Now let's go to the hideout, I'll explain our situation down the road.
As they prepare to leave, sounds of panic can be heard towards the east corner of the station... A crowd is seen forming around a group of people with wooden panels, and a woman screaming...
Woman: This cannot go on any longer. Saint-Louis first, which area's next?? Vampires are going wild in our poor neighborhood, victims are only rising every week, and our hunters aren't doing a thing!!! Three months since we heard about a vampire killing that's not from the already failures of expeditions in the old forests!! Tell me, how long!!
Half of the crowd screams along, while the rest stay neutral, but concerned...
Suiga: What is she saying??
Aaron: Uh, leave it alone...It's been a few rough weeks...
As they start their route, Suiga notices a lot of interesting elements in the cloudy city. People rather prefer transport instead of walking, a lot of horns sitting ready on electrical poles, and mysterious amounts of blood sprayed on various walls. Aaron starts talking...
Aaron: So, as you already know, our job is to chase vampires. We either take cases of continuous, unexplained attacks and sightings around the city, patrol some nights, and/or MAYBE an expedition or two. Right now, most of our forces have left for an expedition in the south, so we are short-staffed, which is already troublesome since vampire hunting isn't a profession that pulls a lot of candidates.
Suiga: I see, that's why my application procedure was that fast. Is this cut on forces related to what we heard earlier?
Aaron: Pretty much...The expedition was sudden because Saint-Louis has been a hotspot for vampire attacks lately. The higher-ups decided to send some people down south to see if any cult has set camp, but because of that, the last weeks have taken a large toll on our performance...
SUIGA:How many hunters are there in the city, right now?
Aaron: Well... you, me, and the other guy who's with us, Url...
SUIGA:Everybody else left?
Aaron: Well, I mean, most of them are already on other expeditions, so there weren't enough to begin with. My senior already left to rejoin the south, so we only had three hunters and what was left of the general army to patrol at night.
Suiga: Sounds somehow dangerous. But that must mean that you and this Url must be amazing to hold on by yourselves like that!!
Aaron: (Shouldn't tell him about our team's lose streak, establish dominance) Exactly why I didn't need another partner!! You came here for nothing!!!
Suiga: Oh, well, I'm sorry about my inconvenience...
Aaron: Aaah, I didn't mean it like that! You just wanted to
Suiga: As punishment, I shall now and here, commit seppuku to restore my-
Aaron: Nooo suicides!!! (Aaron tries to take the knife out to of Suiga 's hands).
Aaron: (Uuh, why am I paying for this?) Welp, here we are. Your new home and my favorite place.
The boys stare at a small pub, blinders closed, door locked. Suiga grabs his partner's shoulder...
Suiga: A hidden watering hole, to drown one's troubles away in the joy of alcohol. I now understand this city's situation-
Aaron: I'M NOT A DRUNKARD, IT'S JUST THE BUILDING!!!!!!
As Aaron unlocks the heavy wooden door with a large key, the boys enter a salon filled with wooden barstools, a large table, and lots of accessories. Maps, schemes, potions, barrels full of aging alcohol. Candles and low-quality lightbulbs provide some light. The wooden floor cracks as they walk towards the main bar, where our Suiga is interested in a certain accessory. The statue of a plague doctor, mask cloak and all, standing behind the bar.
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Suiga: Amazing taste, Aaron. He looks quite lifelike.
Statue: And I am!!
Suiga stumbles from fear and falls to the floor. He quickly backs up and draws his sword, a katana made of polished silver.
Suiga: Aaron, behind me. A vampire has used spell craft on this poor piece of art.
Aaron stops him from attacking.
Aaron: No, no, no, you got it all wrong... Url, goddamit, stop scaring the fuck out of people like that!!!
URL: Sorry, but the setting and context were just an opportunity not to miss!
Suiga: This is our other teammate?!
Aaron: Uuuhh, Suiga , meet Url Schellinger. He's our other partner, and now ironically this team's doctor. He's pranking people cause staying hours cooped up in here turns people mad. He's not mean, just maladjusted.
URL: The recruit I see. Sorry for this small piece of amusement, Your Highness, the last few weeks have been rough for us. I hope this doesn't encourage you to leave us earlier than expected, considering the first Landenian you had to speak to was Aaron.
Aaron: Who's cooking your food and housing your creepy bird ass, again?
Suiga: Aaah, no worries, my friend. And it's Suiga, no highness with me. I hope we can get along just like this if it means bringing you joy.
URL: Oh, a weird one. Sounds like you Aaron. Did he meet Shroud?
Aaron: No, not yet. Luck favors him.
URL: And did you fill him in on our little situation?
Aaron: Yes
Url starts taking out a bunch of plans and schemes from under the counter. He leaves them on the grand table and calls his allies around to look at what he just brought...
URL: So, since Suiga 's caught up, I can explain today's case-
SUIGA:Eeeh, excuse me sir Url, but shouldn't you-
URL: Take off my mask to see better? No worries, I am well adjusted to reading and conversing with this.
Suiga: How did you-
Aaron: Not the first and not the last to ask this question, topknot.
URL: Getting off topic...One of our bigger problems the past week has been imp sightings. I don't know if they've been present in the empire, Suiga.
Suiga: Oh, you are talking about the lesser vamplings. Disgusting little creatures, thank the Sun Lord we don't have many of them.
URL: Well, today's mission is sort of a blessing and a curse. These little scamps have been seen scouring the city during the nights by homeless people in parks. We managed to trace their paths and apparently... they're stealing graveyards.
Aaron: Huh? Like, bones and stuff?
URL: Specifically, bones. They even managed to break the seals of the mausoleums. We have no idea why, but the higher-ups are afraid this might be some preparation for a spell.
Suiga: But vampires don't use bones for spells. What could they need them for?
Aaron: You'll be surprised by what vampires can consider "useful" from us humans. Probably statues to pray to that bat god they love...
URL: Well, whatever it is, it must end today. We must follow them from the graveyard, up to whatever lair they lead us to. And of course, by us, I mean you two.
Suiga: You are not joining us?
Aaron: Url's our doctor, can't have him dying on us. Central Vampire Hunter Hospital services are usually crowded with vampire victims and other stuff, so we best keep him safe.
URL: I do, however, have a new batch of potions for you to replenish your supplies. No idea what you will encounter...
Aaron: Well, best start preparing soon, the night's approaching. Aaaah, finally after weeks, we get a chance to cut some bat head.
Suiga: My first mission, I shall not mess this up!!
As night approaches, the two boys move to the graveyard. While awaiting the arrival of the imps to start their mission, they notice a figure already in hiding...
Aaron: Well, well, well... Look what we have here...
Suiga: Is that the woman from the manifestation earlier today?
The woman is hiding inside the bushes surrounding the graves. She notices the hunters approaching her but pays no attention...
Aaron: Uuh, excuse me? Hi, vampire hunters, are you somehow authorized to be here?
Woman: Oh, screw me, silver head! I'm taking matters into my own hands! Useless...
Suiga : Excuse me, Aaron. Miss, we happened to come across your speech earlier today. I understand Landen has been in some sort of predicament the past few weeks, and you are more than justified to live in fear, but this is a dangerous situation that you are not equipped to deal with...
Woman: Oh, are you? It took you three weeks to narrow down that a bunch of imps were stealing bones from a graveyard, without any reason or cause. All that, while vampires have been sucking our people dry every other Tuesday!!
Aaron: We... are trying our BEST, miss. I'm sorry that our troops have been lacking because of-
Woman: Let me guess, the expeditions?! The free trips our people have been paying from taxes just so you can go suicide by vampire out of our sights, but first do some sightseeing of the Alban Forest Trees?
Aaron: (Kill, kill, kill) Uuuuuh...
Woman: Exactly. And don't worry, I saw you earlier. Looking at me like I'm spouting off nonsense when you know damn well, I know the truth. You vampire hunters are nothing more than sorry decorations that this city has put in to ease our minds while we await the GRAND BITE-
Suiga: Miss, please calm down! The imps will hear us!
Aaron: Speak of the devil, they are here!! Get out of here, we can't have a civilian tailing us!
Woman: Never, I'm not letting my future to two 19-year-olds!!!
As there's no time, the woman is forced to join them. The imps arrive. Disgusting creatures, lesser vampires, around 1.20m, grey skin, black eyeballs, and rotten, prickly skin. They have zero to little conscience, mostly working by instinct, but they follow a vampire's command by the book and are dangerous in numbers.
The imps start digging and stealing...No jewelry or artifacts, but bones, hair, and leftover flesh. They start leaving one by one through a broken opening in the iron fences of the graveyard...
Aaron: Uh, never going to get over the smell...
Suiga: We truly must follow them, I guess...
The boys quickly start the chase once they notice the strange woman has outpaced them...The opening leads to a small forest behind the graveyard. Given the graveyard's location to the outskirts of town, the forest trees are tall, with dark leaves that spread out enough to cover the forest from the light of the moon...
As they reach farther into the forest, the imps start splitting to sides, using their small stature to enter the bushes and lose the hunters...
Aaron: Wait... Stop!
Suiga: Hah... A problem?
Woman: We almost had them!! What gives?!
Aaron: Zip it! We are walking into a trap. See how the Imps split?
Woman: Of course, I did, since instead of cutting their heads off, you are playing chase!!
Suiga: Miss, please have some respect for my senior here. An alcoholic he might be, he is still-
Aaron: Both of you zip it! We kill them, but we never find the bat behind their plan. They didn't just split, they divided with coordination. Imps can't even shit by themselves.
Woman: We already know someone gave them orders, hunter!!
Suiga: I think what my SENIOR wants to say, is that someone is probably commanding them as we speak, thus leading us into a trap!!
Aaron: Exactly, topknot!! Wait, why am I celebrating, take out your weapon, dammit!!
As they prepare, circling the woman for protection, they start hearing a laugh. While the woman looks to the sides for some sort of figure, the two hunters know to look up at the night sky. One figure, two wide bat wings spread out, descends upon a boulder in front of the group. Tall, pale, chestnut hair in a wolf cut, two fangs, and a pair of crimson eyes staring down at the lost humans. Dressed in a blue coat, he smiles at his enemies...
Vampire: Well, well, well, after so many weeks too... I honestly thought vampire hunters were getting sloppy...
Aaron: OK freak, show's over. Before we INEVITABLY chop your head off your neck, how about you tell us why the hell you robbin' graves?
Vampire: Honestly, THIS HERE is why I hate humans. No suspense, no patience, have a little chat...straight to the bloodshed with you...
Aaron: I don't think anyone would want to have a chat with you and your teeth all over their necks...
Suiga: Aaron, some of the imps have gathered around him...We should prepare for a fight.
Vampire: Hmm? Oh, and you even brought me a snack!!
Not even a minute passed, and the vampire flew next to the woman and lifted her the ground...
Aaron: Hey!!!
Woman: Let me go you freak!!!
Vampire: Honestly, I can't believe you imbeciles. You know we can't drink putrid hunter blood, so you brought me something to fill my stomach after I toy around with your corpses...
Woman: Don't you worry about them! I'm the one you should look out for!
The woman manages to pull out a small, silver knife. She tries to stab the vampire, but to her surprise, even though the knife pierces the skin, the vampire barely moves, just looking at her with pity...
Vampire: I hope that was not expensive... You humans are so naïve like cutlery would kill me...
He grabs her with his two hands over her cheeks, and slowly approaches her neck, his cold yet dense breath grazing her shoulders. She violently tries to escape, with little success. He whispers...
Vampire: So vibrant, so strong for your age... And just when I was searching for a new blood bag...
Woman: Huh? No, no, no...
Vampire: Oh well, why one more dependent would hurt? I'll just tell everyone else that they can use it during my work hours!!
As the vampire shows his fangs, ready to turn the woman to his kind, he feels something coming. He pushes her away and dodges a slash from Suiga, who manages to reach their height with Aaron's help...The vampire retreats to the boulder, and Aaron grabs the woman.
Suiga: No human will turn into another slave for you, freak!! Aaron, allow me to handle him.
Aaron: Starting to like you, topknot. I'll take the imps, then I'm coming to you.
Suiga: Deal!
As Suiga starts reaching for the vampire, the latter tries to send his imps on him. Aaron pulls out a flask filled with a slimy bleak fluid. He throws it to the ground. As the flask breaks, a gas is released from the fluid that surrounds the imps. They suddenly leave the samurai to chase after the fluid...
Aaron: Url was right, they'll chase it like madmen...
Woman: What... is that?...
Aaron: Imp "seductive". It simulates human and animal blood. The scent from the fluid is powerful enough to overcome any control from a vampire because it "stimulates an imp's archaic sensory cortex" or something. Damn Url's a nerd...
Aaron takes out his amulet...
Aaron: Look, miss. As much as I want to agree with you, you got it wrong. You just saw what these freaks are capable of, and for how little they will do it. And you are right, we probably lost the ball the past three months. We are not strong, we are not fast, we are not supernatural beings that can cast spells from hell... But hunters have one thing in common...They are all mad enough to go and chase these vamps out of our lives...
Aaron starts chanting: "Oh Lord of the Sun, bestow upon me thy strength of the wolf to punish the demons: Wolfsbane!" The amulet glows white. The silver starts to liquify and grow, thus transforming the amulet into an engraved greatsword. Aaron holds it by his two hands, grips firmly, and rushes to the pile of enraged imps, slashing upwards violently to chop as many as he can. He manages to get them in one full sweep, sending their limbs and gore all over the bushes.
Woman: He... killed them...
Aaron: You need stronger silver than that butter knife if you are going to stab a bat, miss...
In the meanwhile, Suiga has engaged his opponent. He swiftly dodges the vampire's aerial kicks but remains on the defensive. The vampire taunts him...
Vampire: Honestly, you just had to put your nose in our business. Damned hunters...
Suiga: "Your" business? Who else is there? Did "they" receive the bones you stole?
Vampire: Hehe, quite indeed!! Seems like you are risking your life for nothing.
Suiga: Not necessarily. Once I cut you down, it will be one bat less in our world!
The vampire manages to land a strong kick to Suiga 's guts. His armor prevents a lethal hit, but he still gets pushed back and stunned...
Vampire: You think you can kill us, don't you??
He repeatedly tries to hit him again. Suiga barely manages to dodge...
Vampire: Let me tell you something...You think just because your God gave you his silver and his light, you can somehow manage to kill the US!! We are stronger, we are faster, and we can wield magic like its cheap parlor tricks that your kind wouldn't even DREAM of achieving. So, WE are the superior beings! So, when I want to eat a human, you should bow down and beg for mercy instead of trying to cut me down. Why? Cause livestock and toys, DON'T FIGHT BACK!!!
As the vampire tries to land a sweep, Suiga quickly dashes and slashes off his leg. The vampire loses balance and falls back, his wings retracting. Suiga must have feigned his injury to lead the vampire on.
Suiga: Shout all you want about strength, magic, and whatnot, freak. But do believe me when I say, that just because you are blessed by life, it doesn't give you the right to torture others!!!
He slashes the other leg and keeps the bat at bay...
Suiga: I noticed earlier... You wouldn't need some imps to handle us, no vampire would ever admit he can't handle humans without help. You tried to eat the woman to gain your strength back...It's safe to say then that these legs won't be regenerating soon enough if we keep you starved until support arrives...
Vampire: You brat!!
Aaron and the woman arrive...
Aaron: Nice job, topknot!! You good?
Suiga: Like this starved bat could ever hope to slay me...So, what is next? Our captive just said the bones have already gone to his associates...
Aaron: Well, he better spit out their names before I choke out whatever vampires live off of...
Vampire: You fools...
Aaron: Huh?
Vampire: You have no idea what plot is afoot. My death is but trivial in front of what is to come in a few weeks...
SUIGA: A few weeks? What are you planning?
Aaron: More importantly, us chopping off your head is okay with you. Great!!!
Vampire: Know this, humans! You can struggle all you want, fight us till your bones turn to dust. In the end, my masters shall prevail in this game. Vampires will always be on the top of the food chain, and humans will always be putrid, lowly, live--
Aaron pierces his head before the sentence is finished...
Aaron: Well, we weren't gonna get anything from him. And hearing the word livestock one more time...We'll give his body to support, maybe they'll figure something out...
The woman approaches the two hunters...
Woman: ...I'm...deeply sorry... I-
Aaron: We get it. We can always be better. Until these freaks disappear...
Suiga: We'll keep fighting!
The woman smiles...
Suiga : Um, Sir Aaron?
Aaron: Mate, I told you, we are the same age-
Suiga: If I remember correctly, weren't we supposed to deliver him alive to Salazar Prison for further questioning?
Aaron freaks out.
Aaron: SHIT!!!! WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO NOW!!!!??? SHROUD'S GONNA KILL ME!!!
Suiga: It is my fault for getting caught up in the moment. I shall now commit seppuku!
Aaron: DON'T ADD SUICIDE TO THE REPORT, TOPKNOT!!!!!