In a large study with rows of shelves filled with stacks of educational books and lit up by a few gas lamps, a man sat at the center where a couch, as well as a table, resided.
Dressed in scholarly attire with a stoic air about him, he conversed with another fellow wearing similar attire to his own that sat across the table from him.
Seemingly engaged in a debate regarding a certain topic, both men exchanged knowledge whilst enjoying tea and scones.
The atmosphere was strangely calm despite the debate going on.
Just as the scholarly man was about to one-up his opponent, there was a knock at the door causing him to pause.
Glancing at the door, he inquired. "Who’s there?"
A moment later, a voice was heard. "Sire, I bring word."
The scholarly man let out an ’ah’ before replying. "Come in."
In response, the doorknob turned and the door flung open to reveal a youthful man standing at the other end, wearing a white shirt and black trousers with a red and black overcoat.
Walking into the study, he stood in a corner while the scholarly man returned his attention to his opponent.
"I do apologize for the interruption, Sir Lloyd. May we continue this debate another time?"
"There is no need to apologize, Sir Bathory. I know you to be a busy man. So even though it is quite unfortunate that we cannot finish our chat, I believe it is time I take my leave."
"If it’s no issue, I would like to invite you again for another round."
"...I’ll be expecting the invitation."
With a smile, Sir Lloyd rose to his feet and with a curt bow, took his leave with the youthful man closing the door behind him.
Taking a sip from his teacup, Sir Bathory mused. "I do enjoy these conversations with learned individuals. It helps to stimulate the senses and also helps one forget about his worries."
Letting out a tired sigh, he turned his attention to the youthful man. "Come, Roland."
Obliging the command, the youthful man... no, Roland walked over and sat across from Sir Bathory.
"What news do you bring?"
Roland bowed slightly as he reported. "We have received word from Duke Horace."
"Hmm." Bathory creased his brows. "Tell me."
"The young Monarch seems to have awakened the slumbering Silver Knights."
"...!" Bathory’s eyes widened in shock. "The Silver Knights?"
"This bastard!... Does he plan to start a war without warning?... Doesn’t he understand what that would cause?"
"This is getting out of hand," Bathory muttered. "Hah, anything else?"
"He also said that I should hand this over to you." Pulling out a parchment from his pocket, Roland handed it over to Bathory with the latter receiving it gingerly.
Taking a brief look through, he frowned. "This is a piece of the Blood Ritual that the boy is planning. Does he wish for me to decipher its contents?... This is troublesome."
Massaging his temples, Bathory rose to his feet. "I should begin at once."
"Sire, there is one more news."
"No, it’s from Claudia’s guards."
"!... Is she alright?" Bathory inquired, a faint trace of worry in his voice.
Roland nodded. "Yes, but she seems to have met someone..."
"And... I dare say, that person might be the rumored Dark Lord."
"..." Palpable tension quickly covered the study as Bathory stood in place, his eyes flashing with a strange emotion.
More than a minute passed before he remarked. "Tell them to return for now. If that is truly the Dark Lord, he may not like the added company."
"Shouldn’t we meet him and verify his identity?"
"It would be best to avoid any contact for now. If I’m correct, Damian might already have his eyes on the Dark Lord. Doing anything now might complicate things."
"... She’ll be fine. If there’s anything I trust her for, it’s her lovable character. Except that her friend does something stupid, I don’t believe the Dark Lord would do anything untoward to her."
"You may leave... there’s work to be done."
With that, Roland returned, leaving Bathory in a silent study.
Glancing at the floor-to-ceiling window erected at one edge of the room, he muttered. "Be safe, my child."
Silence reigned as Alex was left speechless by Claudia’s words.
"Is there a problem?" Claudia asked, noticing the expression he carried.
It almost seemed like he was shocked but then...he is the Night King, Claudia couldn’t fathom such a thing happening to a great being like himself.
So as quickly as the thought came, she shook it off and awaited a response with a slight look of worry on her face.
Maybe she had said something wrong?
Alex composed himself as he replied softly. "None at all."
"Hmm... okay then." Shrugging off whatever strange thoughts she had, Claudia fell back into her memories, recalling both the good and the bad.
Alex coughed dryly as he remarked. "So you said your father is a Duke?"
"Mn." Claudia nodded. "The Dean of Kro Institute and the Duke of Krobridge... a truly great man."
A faint sense of pride could be seen as Claudia replied to Alex.
She was not ashamed of the identity her foster father held.
’This is a bit too convenient, no?’ Alex couldn’t help but wonder as he glanced at Claudia.
Not too long ago, he was already musing about how easy it had been to enter the city and now... now, before him stood a sure ticket to getting to the airstrip and leaving for his original destination.
’It would seem there’s no need for the initial plan.’ Slightly annoyed, Alex pondered if it was even worth it to make plans only for them to not be used.
Sighing helplessly, he knew it was just his frustrations talking.
This wasn’t the first time he’d made a plan only for it to not be used but that didn’t mean not making a plan was best.
For now, he chose to go with the flow and see what happens next.
Pursing his lips, Alex decided to probe Claudia further to learn more about this potential one-way ticket out of Krobridge.
"How long have you been a Vampire?"
"50 years," Claudia muttered before revealing a smile that was neither joyful nor sad. "... It’s been a crazy run so far."
His question seemed to strike a chord as Claudia suddenly paused before dropping her head to look down at the rug.
"Do I hate being a vampire?... Of course not, I can age as I want and enjoy the wonders of life without worrying about sickness, accidents, or the like. What’s more... I’ve got some cool powers to boot."
A slight chuckle escaped her lips while Alex looked on in silence.
Meanwhile, ahead, Ada had stopped walking, her stance eerily similar to a statue as she waited for the duo behind her to follow after her.
"Do I hate that I lost my humanity?... Maybe, but hate is a strong word. I dislike it but it can’t be helped. Dad always said feeling regret for the past is a waste of energy. Instead, look towards the future and ensure you don’t have any more regrets."
"Difficult but wise words."
".... That describes my dad quite a bit."
"Mn." Claudia gently nodded. "But... I do hate it and when I say it... I mean the fact that vampires and humans can never stay together. that because of my race, I will always be seen as a monster... I hate the discrimination and I hate the fact that I have to hide who I make friends with because of some stupid history."
Taking a deep breath, Claudia looked up to the ceiling and in a despondent tone, remarked. "I hate all of it."
"I see," Alex muttered.
Claudia let out a sigh as she dropped her head. "I apologize for speaking so much, my lord. I just..."
"No need to explain yourself. Your hate is not unfounded... unfortunately, it won’t change anything." Alex said without mincing words.
Claudia nodded. "I know... I’ve long since accepted my fate."
"... Thank you, great one."
"Enough with the honorifics. I am no great one... call me Kane."
"..." Claudia struggled briefly before letting out a sigh. "Kane.... Thank you."
Alex had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when an explosion in the room a few meters ahead erupted, causing the mansion to tremble.
Claudia barely kept her balance while Alex looked in the direction of the explosion with his brows furrowed.
Ada’s expression remained soulless but the fact that she was about to move showed how serious the matter was.
Claudia quickly steadied herself as her eyes locked on the door ahead of them.
"What just happened?" she inquired breathlessly.
Alex pursed his lips as he sensed a certain aura emanating from the site of the explosion.
He would have likened what happened to a grenade explosion but the tremor it caused was greater than the shock force produced by a grenade.
As his eyes flashed a bright yellow, Alex prepared to move the moment something happened.
And like clockwork, something did.
The door exploded with wooden shrapnel scattering every which way.
A young lady with dark hair, pale skin, red lips, and a slender figure, wearing a witch’s garb which Alex was familiar with since he had come across it one too many times on holidays like Halloween.
The lady flew out of the room and landed awkwardly on her back just a meter away from Claudia.
Her eyes were closed and blood stained her black dress prompting Alex’s brows to crease further.
’What to do?’ Alex couldn’t help but wonder as he pondered his options.
Whatever was happening had nothing to do with him and so the option of just avoiding conflict crossed his mind more than once.
But considering his one-way ticket out of Krobridge was beside him and judging from the expression on her face as she beheld the lady in the witch’s garb, Alex guessed that the girl was Claudia’s friend that was meant to help him with his memories.
Letting out a sigh, he accepted that turning his back on what was happening would only serve to affect him negatively.
As he ran almost ten simulations on how to handle the situation in his head, the lady’s body suddenly twitched before her eyes opened up and she sat up like some sort of undead.
Alex barely had the time to question what was happening when a crisp crack was heard.
Simultaneously, the lady in the witch’s garb, Alex, Claudia, and Tanya turned their attention toward the origin of the crack.
A second later and Alex frowned deeply at the sight that graced his eyes.