It is not every day that I feel fear, however… Today is one such day.

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A calm forest spread out across a large land. Its crown reached the clouds, with leaves as wide as a man and a trunk large enough for ten people to embrace it. Thick, dense fog engulfed the surroundings, and soft droplets of rain crashed against the ground and trees, creating a natural white noise that inundated the forest. Kai walked, dragging his footsteps through the muddy earth. His legs felt heavy, heavier than rock and steel, and he flinched with every step. However he kept advancing, his hair blown by the wind, and heavy panting escaped his body as he looked forward.

His crimson pupils shone with an eerie light, and he licked his dried lips. Whatever light penetrated through the fog bounced off his pale skin, and he looked around mindlessly. Not knowing his destination or who he was, he kept walking through the fog.

Slowly but surely, with each step, he advanced until finally… A giant statue made of gold and silver appeared before him. Its appearance was vague, cloudy, and unobservable. He just knew the materials it was made of and its basic silhouette which resembled a large, skinny human with wings and notches on their head. Kai instinctively reached for it, his arm trembling as it made contact with the sculpture. Instantly, it exploded into a bright flash of light, blinding Kai and making him take a step backward. He stumbled and fell on the muddy earth. Looking around, he noticed a small area around the explosion had been cleared of fog, however, a stomach-turning sound echoed in his ears.

A sharp chuckle, and then another - A wave of laughter penetrating through the thick fog and rainy weather sent an unimaginable shiver down Kai’s back. He jumped to his feet and looked around, fear taking over his expression. Light footsteps, like those of a child, approached from all directions. Turning his head, small figures quickly appeared in his field of vision. His pupils constricted as he saw their mangled bodies and horrifying expressions. Most of all, the shock he felt upon glancing at their skin, and the mirrored wounds on each of their heads, could not be described in words.

This!

He cried inwardly as he spun, looking around for an exit, for a place he could run away to. However, no such thing existed, as, everywhere he looked, the ghosts of the humanoid figure he killed in cold blood surrounded him. Their teeth clattered, bones creaked, and fingers snapped as they slowly approached Kai. Circling him in, a wave of despair washed over his entire being.

A slight squeak escaped his body as the first of the monsters touched him, its cold hand burning Kai’s skin like hot metal. He didn’t have time to be shocked, however, as another creature dug its sharp teeth into his skin. It then tore the flesh away, causing blood to spray out like a fountain. Kai let out a soundless scream and quickly fell to the ground as he got stomped on, devoured, and ripped apart by these creatures.

…

Hah!!!!!

He gasped for air as he jumped up, hyperventilating and startling both Onyx and Barhm, who immediately came to check up on him.

“What’s going on?” The boy asked with what seemed to be genuine worry as he stared at Kai.

Sweat drenched his body, the clothes sticking to each other, and to his skin. His entire body shook. Staring at Barhm, he gulped and forced out a nervous chuckle. However, even the boy could tell something was wrong, yet he only opened his mouth halfway before closing it.

Onyx jumped on top of him and rubbed his soft fur against the boy’s body. The Obborik yelped lightly, his tail wagging as his head rose, placing it upon Kai’s chest. In that brief moment, something formed between the two of them. Rather, it solidified, and Kai smiled softly as he patted Onyx’s head with tender care.

A few minutes passed, and he gradually calmed down. Barhm gave him a glass of cold water and sat down opposite him.

“What’s happened, what got you so disturbed?”

“Just… just a bad dream,” Kai replied with slight hesitation, unsure of what to say exactly.

“A bad dream, huh?” Barhm replied, then pulled out a vial filled with a viscous red liquid from his ring. “Could it have something to do with this?”

“That is?”

“It’s the wine you gave me earlier. I studied it, just like you asked me to. The results were… interesting.”

“What do you mean by that?” Kai almost jumped from his seat. “Tell me!”

Barhm cringed and stared at the glass container with intrigue. “I… don’t know if I should.”

Frowning, Kai stood up and walked in front of Barhm, then said while breathing heavily. “I need to know, Barhm. It’s important.” Kai’s almost pleading voice and soft desperation escaped through his voice. However, the boy only looked at him with a deadpan expression, and, in one quick motion, popped the lid of the vial open.

A strong, pungent smell permeated the air as soon as he did so, inundating Kai’s nostrils and causing him to take a step back. He felt blood rush through his body, his heart racing, and even the nails on his hand turning into claws. Kneeling, he let out a pained groan and did his best to control the sudden, violent urge coursing through his veins. His teeth clenched, and his vision turned blurry. He could feel his fangs sharpening, and he could sense his body and mind becoming two different entities as his instincts were about to take over.

However, Barhm closed the lid and took out a green stone, blasting the surroundings with a huge gust of wind. He placed the vial away and reached for Kai’s mask, pulling it away. At that same moment, Onyx growled and jumped on him without any hesitation, his size increasing, and so did his weight. He pinned Barhm to the floor, however, it was too late. Kai’s identity had been unveiled, as easily as stealing candy from a child. Despite the sudden revelation, Barhm’s expression remained unchanged as he stared at Kai.

His crimson eyes glowed with a strong light, and his pained expression gradually lessened as the red liquid’s smell dissipated. Barhm chuckled and took out a black stone, which he flicked with a quick motion, and sent Onyx flying across the room. The Obborik yelped, however he couldn’t get back up. The floor and walls around him creaked, threatening to break under sudden, powerful pressure.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Kai blinked and lifted his head, staring straight into Barhm’s eyes with widened eyes. A mixture of emotions painted his face, however none as prevalent as anger. “What… are you doing?” He said through gritted teeth, too weak and afraid to stand up and face the weird boy.

“I was just confirming something. I was right, you’re a Vampire.” His words made Kai pause, and, after the initial shock, he realized that Barhm was holding his disguise - the fox mask. A cold shiver ran down his spine and stumbled as he tried to stand up. The pressure focused on Onyx reached him from across the room. He rubbed his spatial ring and got ready for a fight.

However, much to his surprise, Barhm chuckled and removed the magic within the room, then threw the mask to Kai. He caught it and stared at the boy with bewilderment. Kai quickly rushed over to Onyx’s side and made sure he was alright before glaring at Barhm.

“I don’t care what you are, I am not from here. I only know of this name because of the history books I was forced to study. I need to say, your race was quite barbaric.”

Kai stared at Barhm, holding his mask. His gaze turned unfocused, however, as he fell deep in thought. Barbaric? What does he know, even dad’s history books don’t have anything related to our history.

“Don't bother, such information is not available to the general public.” Barhm broke his train of thought. “You’d have found it already otherwise. No, only the nobility has it, along with other information.”

Gulping, Kai raised himself on the couch and put the mask on the table before him, then sighed. “Since when did you know?” He asked, changing the subject.

“Not that long, in fact, it was only a recent theory. I only thought about it after your reaction to the wine. I acted hesitant to get you to come closer, and then I confirmed it.”

“You… you could have died,” Kai said with slight hesitation.

“You’re not strong enough for that.” Barhm chuckled lightly and leaned on his sofa. “You’re way too weak.”

“Weak…” Kai repeated, his claws digging into his fist.

“Well, it doesn't matter.” Barhm sighed. “By the looks of things you haven’t been feeding at all. Speaking of. The wine you gave, has a significant amount of human blood inside it. Where did you get it from?”

“The wine has… human blood? How could that be possible?!”

“It’s true, I don’t know what kind of twisted person the guy who made it is, but I can’t be mistaken.”

Kai’s pupils constricted. However, he let out a sigh and leaned down, fully trusting Barhm. “I can’t take this many events in only two days… is this Goddess pulling a prank on me?”

“I doubt it,” Barhm commented.

“Hm?”

“Lumiera is incompetent.”

“Ah, right, right…” Kai chuckled and placed a hand over his forehead. “Regardless… what a shitty week…”

…

Walking back to Karfi’s place, Kai’s mind thundered with a cacophony of thoughts that jumbled together into an incomprehensible mess. His rapid footsteps, and similarly racing pulse echoed in the dark alleyway. The bar quickly revealed itself before him as he took a corner, and the jingle of the bell announced his arrival.

Six pairs of eyes immediately fell on him, and the smallest one of them - Tausi, instantly rushed toward the Boy; Obborik Duo. Her wide eyes, filled with tears, and a nose full of snot sent a warmth feeling throughout Kai’s body. He knelt and opened his arms, waiting for the little girl to arrive in his embrace. However, to no one’s surprise but his own, Tausi jumped on Onyx, almost knocking him to the ground as she gave him a large hug.

The adults in the room chuckled, and Kai shook his head as he walked toward them.

“What’s up kid, you looked distraught the other night.” Natasha raised a glass of alcohol toward him as she asked. Kai laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head before sitting down next to her.

“It’s been… a weird night, to say the least.”

How come? Natasha asked, leaning on the counter and staring at Kai with a curious expression.

The boy shook his head and sighed, “I’d rather not recount it, to be honest.” He said as he caught the glass of water Karfi slid to him. Pulling out his straw and taking a sip, he leaned with his elbow on the counter and held his head in his hand. “Life’s getting difficult, to be fair. Not that it wasn’t already.”

Karfi smiled softly at the boy, his eyes shining with a tinge of melancholy as his unfocused gaze looked slightly behind Kai. Turning his head, he saw Tausi playing with Onyx, along with the weirdly obsessed man. Hum? Kai suddenly felt awkward, and his face reddened under his mask. Right… who am I to complain? I haven’t done anything to better my situation either… all I’ve been doing is mopping around and playing lab with Barhm. He glanced inside his spatial ring and bit his lower lip as he looked at the few mana pills stored within. If I had been stronger, maybe things would have been different to a certain degree. His mind raced with thoughts, and a sudden pressure grabbed his throat, suffocating him. The blood within his veins boiled, and the entirety of his body began to burn.

With a resolute glimmer in his eyes, he stood up and walked past everyone, the bell ringing as he swung the doors open. “I’m going to get fresh air,” Kai excused himself and disappeared into the shadows. Onyx yelped as he stood up, however in the end decided not to follow his companion.

Kai’s figure whistled through the streets, splitting the air as he stealthily jumped over the guarded fence and streaked through the darkness of the forest. He ran, fast, with as much dexterity as he could. Evading thick roots, holes, and rocks, he let himself be guided by the wind. Taking off his mask, a smile broke out on his lips as he let the cold breeze crash against his blazing skin. Despite the moon’s rays burning him ever so slightly, he bolted without a care in the world, using magic to enhance his speed. Kai’s body turned into a blur, and the sound of rustling bushes echoed behind him, as well as soft footsteps. That guy’s dog is following me, as expected.

He smiled.

Whatever.

That didn’t deter him from advancing, after all, as long as the dog’s only job was to watch, he didn’t mind. Though my display today wasn’t the best, so much for averting suspicion. He almost felt like crying, as his failed attempt to be a normal person may lead him to his downfall. Oh well, too late to worry about it now…

As he ran through the forest, the clouds began to darken and a thunderous boom echoed across the land. Shortly after, a soft trinkle filled the calming silence, as droplets of rain fell and crashed against the leaves and ground. Kai stopped, finding himself in a small clearing where little leaves blocked the flow of rain. He raised his head and allowed the drop to hit his skin. He flinched with each one and even seemed to laugh as they dripped down his skin. I remember reading that this does good for the mental, must be a quack though, I’m just wet now.

Chuckling to himself, he looked at the moon, bearing the sharp pain. He shook his head and restarted his journey, letting his body guide him wherever it pleased. Eventually, he saw a small hill in the distance and walked towards it. For the most part, it was just a normal hill, blending perfectly with nature. It wasn’t that tall, just a little taller than three Kai’s on top of one another, however, the boy got an idea as he stared at a seemingly flatter side.

Pulling out his wand, he replaced two of the fire crystals with earth crystals, and swung it toward the hill, casting a mumbled chant. As the magic crystals glowed with a faint light, an indent appeared on the side of the hill, just tall enough for Kai to pass through. He swung his arms a few more times, and with each instance, the hole became bigger and bigger, until, finally, a small room carved inside the hill.

Well, that ought to do it. Kai smiled to himself as he walked inside and quickly placed a couple of light crystals in the walls, illuminating the room. Next, his ring flashed as a couple of pelts covered the floor, and he created a small hole in the middle of it with a wave of his wand. After throwing a dozen fire crystals inside, he sat down and sighed.

Leaning against the wall, Kai closed his eyes and listened to the soft drops of rain, the whistling wind, the crowns of the trees moving, guided by the strong air currents and the small critters moving about. It was peaceful, as far as he was concerned. The boy took out a thicker pelt and placed it over his legs before closing his eyes, and allowed himself to fall asleep once again. I need some proper rest…