FEAR OF VAMPIRES
Once again, my body was severely bruised and beaten by Gate's powerful swings despite wearing a full iron armor set this time. It was dark out on the Training Grounds as the long night had only come midway. The clouds were thick, and the wind blew musty, hot air around us as we sparred.
LEON
Bah!
Gate's blow sent me unto my back for the hundredth time.
LEON
God dammit it all!
I shouted. Gate extended a hand to assist me, and I dragged myself to my feet. Gate moved away to continue, but I shook my head and strode toward the benches to rest.
LEON
I don't seem to be getting better at this!
I complained. Gate said nothing.
LEON
It's been weeks, Gate!
I threw the wooden sword away from me and slumped back in defeat.
LEON
And I am still as weak as a damned newborn!
I exhaled and aggressively rubbed the sweat off my brow.
LEON
Scarring a dragon's hide, my ass...!
I groaned.
GATE
I'm wondering Chief,
He started carefully.
GATE
How much would it cost for you to acquire a Ring or Amulet of Regeneration?
I caught my legs swaying and stopped them as I thought about it.
LEON
Tch—those?
I shook my head and wiped the sweat from my brow again.
LEON
They come in, at the very least, three hundred thousand puries.
I studied him,
LEON
Have you been talking to Don?
But he quickly shook his head.
GATE
No, why?
LEON
He saw a dozen from the Fire Kingdom selling at four hundred twenty puries a piece two months ago.
I pointed out and then scoffed,
LEON
I nearly bought it.
GATE
Why didn't you?
LEON
Debt, and Don and I already spent puries on something else from Sante June. Not only that, fixing the issue of fish getting stuck in the Bridge Dam took a chunk out of the treasury.
GATE
So, I heard.
He gestured me forward to continue our training, and I stood reluctantly.
CINDA
Pardon my intrusion Chief,
I looked over to Cinda, who entered.
CINDA
Captain of the Guards Boradashire has dire news.
Boradashire then ran in after her, accompanied by two guards. A mixture of sorrow and annoyance could be seen on Bora's face.
LEON
What is it?
BORADASHIRE
It's Isaac Chief!
He exhaled.
BORADASHIRE
He's screaming about a vampire he encountered. He's losing his damned mind!
I began to take off my armor and gestured to the two guards.
LEON
Bring him to the courts! Now!
Gate helped me take off my armor.
GATE
Do you think this is it?
He whispered to me, but I shook my head. If Gate didn't know,
LEON
Tch, I haven't got a clue.
Once my armor was off, we moved swiftly through the Great Study.
BORADASHIRE
The moment he entered the gates, the bastard went mad. The reincarnation of Sasan himself! He shouted.
Bora explained. I repeatedly pulled on my undershirt, attempting to relieve myself of the sweat sticking to my torso.
LEON
This city cannot handle another fear of vampires.
We emerge into the Great Garden, lowly lit by standing braziers.
BORADASHIRE
Allow me to aid the guards in bringing him here.
I nodded, and he took off with Quicksteps.
GATE
We'll need to speak to Layondo about this.
LEON
Without a doubt! I was trying to take this slowly, but... let's see what Isaac has to say about his frantic behavior, and then we'll speak to Layondo.
*****
Inside the Great Court, we moved through the thin corridors. We moved past the four courts, where our lesser judges and Judge Chamber hold proven criminals accountable. Finally, the southern room of the Great Court was where individuals other than ambassadors who spoke with me were held.
A circular wooden table with exquisitely carved legs sat within, surrounded by red leather-cushioned chairs. Gate sat to my left, Cinda in the rear right corner, and I took the chair at the head of the table. As we waited, Don arrived, sat to my right minutes before Chambers came, and took his seat to my left. We waited a few minutes afterward before Boradashire returned from an entrance to the right with Isaac at his tail.
ISAAC
Why didn't you tell me about this!?
He bellowed, his voice bouncing off the tight walls of the room.
BORADASHIRE
Watch your tone!
Isaac ignored him and continued with his arms flailing about,
ISAAC
A vampire with powers to raise the dead!? Are you trying to get me killed?
LEON
Take a seat, Isaac.
I eyed him calmly; my hands clapped in my lap.
LEON
Explain to me what happened.
He was annoyed but eventually took a seat across from me.
ISAAC
Did you know about this?
LEON
Have you forgotten our strife with vampires?
ISAAC
No, it's just...
He stopped, his eyes falling onto the table's smooth surface.
LEON
What?
His brow scrunched up in worry as he continued to stare downward.
ISAAC
You cannot handle this one. He's strong. His mana reading...
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He looked at me and stared past me, his mind reliving the experience.
ISAAC
...was like those powerful Mages of Sante June.
He blinked several times and found his composure.
ISAAC
I know your strife with vampires, but I think I have become complacent after these years.
LEON
It's hard not to.
He smiled weakly and rubbed his right arm,
ISAAC
Not to mention your request for particular items. It's clear as day.
LEON
Is it?
I asked rhetorically with a smile, and he returned the smile. Now that he was calm,
LEON
So, tell me, what all that happened out there in the night?
He explained in detail a young-looking vampire standing before them just south of the Bridge Dam, waiting to ambush them. Isaac stepped out from his wagon and witnessed the vampire's mana through Lesser Mana Sense.
ISAAC
He was a daywalker, twenty-one years of age but looked much younger. He went by the name Pain and must have a low level of Interference as he blocked out my Petty Scan. I couldn't see his class or any other spells other than Earth. He hid his fangs and claws so my guards did not notice. I feared we would've died right then and there if I had told them.
Isaac explained how the vampire wanted to trade, and he agreed after he felt the vampire's mana surrounding them in dense concentration.
ISAAC
That's how I knew he was a Necromancer.
I leaned forward in realization and squinted at him,
LEON
What did you give him?
Isaac smiled weakly, his eyes blinking frantically.
ISAAC
The sword.
I clenched my jaws.
ISAAC
I'm sorry—
LEON
I have been waiting weeks—
ISAAC
Yes, I know! I am sorry! But I had to!
LEON
Why!?
My anger slipped out, and I took control of myself.
LEON
Why that sword?
His eyes became teary, and his blinking became furious as he looked off to the right.
ISAAC
Selfish reasons, to be honest. I had to, or else...
LEON
What of my puries?
He shook his head and materialized a black and gold (Space Affinity) Metallic Gold Chest, Inventory onto the table.
ISAAC
All yours, Chief.
Gate approached the (Space Affinity) Metallic Gold Chest, Inventory and, with Isaac's permission, was able to claim it as his own. Gate placed his hand on the chest and scanned the contents,
GATE
All safe, Chief. Nothing but golden puries.
He then released ownership of the chest, allowing me to claim it.
ISAAC
Nine hundred and thirty-two thousand puries. My wagon, you can have all of its contents free of charge.
He took a deep, shaky breath before facing me.
ISAAC
The fear is catching up to me again. Sorry about my anger.
I barely caught what he said as the nine hundred thousand puries were on my mind. However, the sword had only cost five hundred and forty thousand. This was a good outcome, and personally, I had no sympathy for Isaac. He was a prodigy child who later achieved fame as an Enchanter and Infuser with the unusual skill of concealing enchantments. In other words, he'll be fine.
ISAAC
Three years ago, when the old Chief died. I... I couldn't believe it.
Again, I nearly missed what he had said.
LEON
Well, a nightwalker was the reason behind his death.
ISAAC
If I were there, I would have been able to compare the difference between Pain and that old nightwalker.
He shook his head.
ISAAC
With all due respect, Chief, your city and you cannot manage this vampire.
I frowned at him,
LEON
What are you suggesting?
He began blinking again,
ISAAC
I have already contacted Solid.
I shook my head at the name and faced Chambers,
LEON
Solid?
CHAMBERS
He is a Major Commander from North Star.
ISAAC
You will need his help.
I clenched my jaws—North Star!? I hated them passionately as they were a Kingdom neck deep in religious doctrine. The egos of their soldiers, the Sons, were too much to bear. I only met them on a few occasions. They tried to discredit my father even though they were significantly weaker than him when they decided to show up years ago to help him in vampire extermination.
They also attempt to throw their authority around as if they had any in my city.
DONATELLO
And you made this decision on your own?
ISAAC
But you can't face this monster alone!
LEON
And that was not your decision to make.
His mouth opened and closed, and I continued,
LEON
I am grateful for your reimbursement, but now I must squander it catering to the Sons. And now that you have contacted him about vampires, they will send an army. They always send more than they need to.
ISAAC
Do they not give credit?
He asked, and I grimaced at his ignorance.
LEON
You're a trader, and you should know how this works.
Don cleared his throat and leaned toward me.
DONATELLO
Um—Pardon me, Chief, merchants know best; traders don't know a thing.
Oh, dammit, he's right.
LEON
Oh, my apologies. Anyhow, I believe we are done here.
Isaac trembled as he stood and took another deep breath.
ISAAC
My deepest apologies Chief—
LEON
Your fright was—
ISAAC
—but I will not be returning here for trade.
LEON
—...understandable. Yes, yes, I understand.
ISAAC
I do pray for the safety of this City.
He bowed,
ISAAC
May the Maiden bless you with grace.
And he departed with Boradashire following closely behind him.
Once he was gone, Chambers spoke,
CHAMBERS
The city's in turmoil Chief.
I sighed in response,
LEON
Anything you can do to quell their anger?
CHAMBERS
The Blacksmith and Carpenters are demanding trade protection and insurance.
DONATELLO
We'll see what we can do.
CHAMBERS
The demands are nothing but verbal complaints, though.
I stood, and they stood after me.
LEON
I'll draft a provision.
CHAMBERS
Thank you, Chief.
Don and Chambers parted, returning to their duties, while Gate and I returned to the Training Grounds.
GATE
Training again, Chief?
I shook my head.
LEON
That report of a vampire casting two spells at the East Gate.
Gate's eyes widened as he remembered, but then he shook his head.
LEON
No?
GATE
According to the reporting guard, that vampire was a lady who used Fire and Water.
Tch—I cursed and pursed my lips.
GATE
But I do not rule out the possibility. Not all Petty skills are of the exact level.
LEON
Wait, could she be one of the Vampire Knights you spoke of?
Gate nodded with uncertainty.
GATE
It could be… but she leaped off into the ravine. Unfortunately, we do not have the best intel on where the ravine leads, and we've been avoiding going past the southern hills because of the fiends.
I sighed and thought for a moment.
LEON
Arrange a meeting with Layondo.
GATE
Tonight?
I nodded.
LEON
So I can meet him tomorrow. These nights are still long this time of year—enough time to keep him calm.
