The next day, as Leo was preparing to leave for work, he encountered Rorin by the door. Despite the early hour, the B-rank Paladin still carried the visible tension from the previous day's events, his brows knitted in a lingering frown.
“Good morning, Mr. Rorin,” Leo greeted, his tone light but mindful of the atmosphere. He hoped his words might ease some of the tension.
Rorin looked up, his expression softening just slightly. “Leo, hey. Thank you for last night; you saved Belgilia,” he said, his voice low, yet carrying a deep sense of gratitude that was hard to miss.
Leo offered a small smile. “Ms. Belgilia was protecting my mother too. I should be the one thanking her,” he replied, his sincerity clear in his warm tone.
But Rorin’s jaw clenched, and his fists balled at his sides. “I swear to God, I am going to kill that man,” he growled, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage.
Leo’s expression shifted to one of calm confidence, and he met Rorin’s intense gaze. “There’s no need for that. I showed him something he will never forget,” he said firmly, the steady conviction in his voice working like a balm to Rorin’s simmering anger. The older man’s tension slowly ebbed, his breathing evening out.
As they walked down the cobbled streets, Leo began recounting the encounter in detail—how he had confronted the men who had threatened his family. Rorin listened with rapt attention, his fists occasionally twitching as if imagining himself in the fray, throwing punches in the air alongside Leo. The vividness of the tale seemed to breathe life into the quiet morning, and by the time Leo finished, Rorin appeared calmer, though a quiet fury still smoldered in his eyes.
The rest of the day followed the usual routine. Leo spent the morning training with Rorin and Faleria in the association’s yard. They worked through advanced techniques and strategies, with Leo focusing on improving his skills step by step.
After the training session, Leo headed to the library, its vast shelves filled with countless tomes of knowledge. He carefully returned 'Life of Animals' and 'Magic Intermediate' to their designated places, taking a moment to admire the collection. His work duties took up the remainder of his day, requiring focus and effort as he handled various tasks.
Later, during his lesson with Lavi, Leo experienced a breakthrough. After a lot of practice, he finally mastered the ‘Calm’ spell. Although he had used it the day before, it hadn't been fully developed at the time. Now, casting it felt entirely different—there was a sense of completeness, as if a newfound clarity had settled within him. The refined control over the spell filled him with a deep sense of accomplishment, and as he left the lesson, the weight of progress lightened his mood, boosting his confidence for the challenges ahead.
The day concluded with Leo patrolling the familiar streets, ensuring the safety of the community as dusk set in. His eyes scanned the roads, alert for any signs of trouble. After his duties were complete, Leo returned home, feeling the satisfaction of a day well-spent.
…
As night fell, an hour before the secret meeting was set to begin, Leo found himself pacing nervously in his room. The anticipation gnawed at him, and he couldn’t shake off the anxiety. When there was only one minute left, he lay down on his bed, positioning himself to look as if he were sound asleep. This way, if someone entered his room during the meeting, they wouldn’t suspect anything. Moments later, the familiar burning sensation ignited on the back of his hand, and his vision blurred. When his sight cleared, he found himself seated on the cold stone chair. Leo felt a wave of relief wash over him; despite his nervousness about appearing vulnerable, he was grateful to find himself sitting rather than leaning on the ground.
Before the meeting commenced, Leo took the opportunity to observe his surroundings and gather as much information as possible. The room was small and sparse, with only a round table and several chairs. The walls were nonexistent, replaced by an endless expanse of darkness that seemed to swallow everything beyond the table. Today, seven other figures occupied the room alongside him. After a few moments, Mr. Sage began the meeting.
“Welcome, my friends, to another conclave of our order. Before we proceed, I would like to introduce a new member,” he announced, gesturing to a figure cloaked in shadows. “Ms. Eye.”
Ms. Eye gave a slight bow, acknowledging the introduction.
“Now, as is our custom, let us commence with the fulfillment of promises made at our last gathering,” Mr. Sage continued.
Ms. Shadow then stepped forward, producing three books from within her robes and placing them on the table.
“Mr. Clone, I have brought you three books, two at E rank and one at B rank,” she said.
The books floated across the table towards Leo. He picked them up one by one, examining their titles. The first was “Blood Fiends,” the second “Creatures of the Night,” and the third, the B-ranked book, was “Red Moon.” Leo remembered seeing Ms. Shadow place items into her bag at the last meeting and had hoped his own bag would work the same way, or he risked exposing himself.
He looked up at Ms. Shadow and said, “Ms. Shadow, your obligation is hereby absolved.”
He then carefully placed the books into his bag. To his immense relief, they disappeared into it. He let out a sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing.
After that, Mr. King and Mr. Immortal each took out a bag and handed them to Mr. Crow.
“Now, let us proceed to the heart of our agenda,” Mr. Sage announced, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Mr. King, not waiting for anyone else to speak, began with a commanding tone. “I’ve heard rumors that the witches in the north are scheming in the shadows, plotting something significant. Does anyone here have more information?”
Leo's attention sharpened. Mr. King’s presence was undeniable, his voice and posture radiating authority. It was as though everyone in the room naturally fell beneath his gaze, and Leo couldn’t help but feel the weight of it.
“I’ve heard the same,” Mr. Immortal replied calmly. His voice was steady but carried a certain weight of its own. “Some of them seem to be linked to the Magic Kingdom.”
“The northern kingdom has sent forces to investigate,” Mr. King added. “It seems they ventured into the Shadow Land.”
Leo's pulse quickened slightly at the mention of the Shadow Land. It was a place of ominous reputation—entering it almost always meant never returning.
Ms. Shadow, however, was unfazed. She leaned back, crossing her arms with an air of indifference. “Then there’s no reason to be concerned, Mr. King. If they’ve gone into the Shadow Land, they’re already dead.”
Mr. Crow, seated near the end of the table, cleared his throat, a hint of unease creeping into his voice. “But what if their plot involves the creatures inside the Shadow Land? That could create a disaster.”
“Let’s not waste time on dead men,” Mr. Immortal interjected, a trace of impatience creeping into his voice. His disinterest in the topic was apparent, and he shifted the conversation forward. “Mr. Light, what’s happening in the oceans? Any new discoveries?”
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Leo's ears perked up. ‘So, this is Mr. Light. Does he represent the Light Kingdom? It sounds like his domain is the sea.’ Leo felt a small wave of satisfaction. He was beginning to piece together the puzzle of who was who in this shadowy gathering.
Mr. Light responded plainly. “We found two new islands, but there’s nothing remarkable about them.”
Mr. Immortal sighed deeply, clearly bored with the lack of noteworthy discoveries.
Ms. Shadow, sensing the need for a shift in tone, gave a small smile. “Don’t be discouraged, Mr. Immortal. The ocean is vast. I’m sure there are greater things to be found in time.”
Without missing a beat, she turned her attention back to Mr. King. “Last time we spoke, you mentioned a betrayal in the Northern Kingdom. I’ve learned that a mage from the Northern Kingdom is stirring trouble in the Light Kingdom. It might lead to a conflict between the two nations.”
Mr. King opened his mouth to respond, but Ms. Eye, the newest member of the assembly, cut in unexpectedly. “I’ve heard whispers of the same. It involves someone of high rank,” she added, her voice soft but steady.
Mr. King nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, Ms. Shadow, Ms. Eye. I’ll pass this along to my contacts in the Northern Kingdom. Perhaps we can avoid war if we act swiftly.”
Before Mr. Crow could speak again, Ms. Eye leaned forward, her tone suddenly more casual. “I have a question. If I can’t attend a meeting at the last minute, what’s the protocol?”
All eyes turned to Mr. Sage, the leader of the group and the one who usually held the answers to procedural questions. He sat in quiet contemplation for a moment, then slowly began to speak, his deep voice breaking the lingering silence.
“Just use this spell," Mr. Sage instructed, raising his hand to reveal a magic circle forming in the air. It resembled a sun-like shape within a circle, with the edges of the sun’s circle composed of powerful letters, some of which were unfamiliar to Leo. He made a mental note to remember the spell as best as he could.
“After that, chant this: ‘Leader of the dark meeting, I call to you,’ and then state your request,” Mr. Sage continued.
Leo watched every detail of the meeting unfold, his mind racing as he pieced together the dynamics between the members.
Mr. Crow was next to speak. “I’ve acquired two unique artifacts,” he declared, his voice was calm.
‘Where does he get these things?’ Leo thought, keeping his curiosity to himself.
Mr. Crow cleared his throat and spoke in his usual measured tone. “The first item is the horn of a minotaur. The price is 30 gold coins.”
“I’ll take it,” Mr. Immortal said immediately, without even a second thought. His voice was casual, as if 30 gold coins were of little consequence to him.
Mr. Crow nodded in acknowledgment before continuing. “The second item is far more valuable. It’s the armor of the Warrior of Light.”
Leo’s attention sharpened at the mention of the legendary artifact.
Mr. Crow explained further. “This armor grants high resistance to dark magic and comes with two spells. The first is True Healing, a spell that quickly heals injuries. It’s considered equivalent to an A-rank spell. The second is Absorbing Light, allowing the wearer to absorb almost any light-based magic below A rank.”
‘So, you’d be nearly invincible against both light and shadow,’ Leo thought, feeling the weight of the artifact’s power.
But there was a catch.
“The drawback,” Mr. Crow added, “is that the more you use the armor, the stronger your belief in the god of light becomes. Over time, it will make the wearer increasingly devout.” He paused before concluding, “The price is 80 gold coins.”
The room fell silent. The armor was clearly powerful, but the risk of becoming a zealot for the god of light was significant.
Leo noted the hesitation of the other members, but before anyone else could respond, a voice cut through the silence.
“I’ll take that.”
All eyes turned toward Ms. Eye, who had spoken up. She flinched slightly under the collective gaze but didn’t back down.
Mr. Crow gave her a slow nod. “The armor of the Warrior of Light is now yours. You’ll receive it at our next gathering.”
With that, Mr. Sage subtly signaled the end of the meeting. The group members stood, one by one, disappearing into the fog that had surrounded them since the beginning.
Moments later, Leo blinked and found himself back in his room, the quietness of the familiar space grounding him after the surreal experience.
Before delving into his books, Leo took out a sheet of paper and carefully sketched the spell he had seen during the meeting. He meticulously drew the sun-like shape encircled with letters of power, making sure to capture every detail. The edges of the sun's circle were composed of intricate magic circles, some of which were new to him. He took his time, ensuring the accuracy of each line and symbol, knowing that mastering this spell could be crucial for future gatherings. Only after he was satisfied with his drawing did he set it aside and turn his attention back to his books.
After ensuring everything was safe, he took out the three books. A smile spread across his face.
“With my rank right now, I can’t even read the E ranks.”
Leo had already finished ‘Life of Animals’ and ‘Defense Against Dark Magic.’ With these new books, he now had five to read.
Forgetting that it was already nighttime, he picked up the book titled ‘Blood Fiends’ and started reading. The book was thick, around three hundred pages. After reading numerous pages, rays of light began to filter through the window.
Leo closed the book and started thinking about what he had read.
‘So this book is describing the creature that a vampire can turn into.’
A Blood Fiend was a corrupted vampire, created from drinking too much blood, drinking too little blood, or failing the ritual to become a vampire. Blood Fiends were mindless animals with physical strength far superior to that of a normal human, but they had no intelligence to use their mana.
‘Their blood is poisonous; it has a ninety percent chance of turning a normal human without protection into a Blood Fiend and a ten percent chance into a vampire.’
As he pondered, Leo began to get ready for his morning run.
‘It doesn’t talk about vampires much, but the information on Blood Fiends alone explains a lot. For example, if Blood Fiends become stronger physically, vampires must also become stronger. Vampire blood must be key to becoming a vampire. Their bodies are good material for enchanting and alchemy because they are filled with mana, which means a vampire's mana also increases.’
Leo's morning began with a light jog, his body moving rhythmically while his mind raced with thoughts of the strange book he had recently read. He had deliberately left it at home, wary of being seen with it, but the unsettling knowledge it contained haunted him.
‘Blood Fiends don’t age, but they rot over time... Does that mean vampires also don’t age?’ He pondered the connection between these undead creatures. Vampires, with their immortality, seemed like an enigma wrapped in layers of dark magic. Were they just as cursed as Blood Fiends, trading agelessness for eventual decay?
His jog passed quickly, consumed by these thoughts, and after returning home for a quick bath, Leo headed to the kitchen. His mother, already busy with her daily tasks, had made him a baked egg, a simple yet comforting meal. He ate swiftly, his mind too preoccupied with the mysteries he’d uncovered to linger on breakfast.
Once done, Leo made his way to the association, the hub of his daily duties and training. Along the way, his mind replayed snippets from the book, speculating on how much of this information was known by others within the association. Vampires and Blood Fiends were subjects of fear and myth to most.
At the association, Leo greeted his colleagues with nods, exchanging a few casual words before making his way to the library. He returned the borrowed book— Defense Against Dark Magic—to it’s proper place on the shelve, feeling a brief pang of reluctance as he handed it back. Though his mind was on the other, more sinister volumes, the knowledge from these simpler texts had broadened his understanding in invaluable ways.
Training with Rorin and Faleria was as intense as always, pushing his physical and magical limits. But even as he sparred and followed their lead, his thoughts often wandered back to his private studies. His body moved on autopilot, the routines familiar, but his mind kept circling the same questions: How deep did the knowledge of these creatures go?
Later, in his session with Lavi, Leo worked hard to refine the False Aura spell. The spell’s complexity required all of his concentration, forcing him to shelve his distracting thoughts for the time being. Through Lavi's patient guidance, Leo made significant progress, managing to create a false presence that would deceive anyone trying to detect his true magical essence. Lavi’s rare nod of approval was all the encouragement Leo needed to feel a spark of accomplishment.
Afterward, Leo wandered among the towering shelves, his eyes darting over the titles in search of anything that could shed light on the unsettling truths he had uncovered. He couldn’t afford to stop now—there had to be more to learn about these ancient, dangerous beings. But for now, nothing immediately jumped out at him, so he made his way to his patrol post.
His patrol was uneventful, but Leo remained vigilant. He knew he had to be more careful, more aware of the hidden threats that might be lurking around every corner.
By the time Leo returned home, the day's exhaustion was starting to catch up with him, but so was a strange sense of excitement. He hurried to his room, eager to continue reading, determined to unravel the dark secrets that might one day help him protect his family—and perhaps even save himself from whatever shadows were looming in the future. Each page could bring him one step closer to the truth.