Chapter 204 Chapter 45.1 - Preparations for the hunt
204 Chapter 45.1 - Preparations for the hunt
Creatures of the Night.
This phrase actually covers quite a lot of monsters. However, there are certain ones who take pride in such names.
And the fang bastards are one of those.
Vampire.
It's a type of demon breed.
A type of demon breed known for their insatiable thirst for blood, vampires are creatures that have woven themselves into the fabric of countless myths and legends across different cultures.
However, different from what one would think, vampires are not actual demons. They are mutants that had evolved in the process of evolution and differed from their origins.
Unlike other demonic entities, vampires aren't born but created through a process known as "Blood Bonding."
Blood Bonding is a ritualistic exchange of blood between a vampire and a human. The human is bitten and then fed the vampire's blood, initiating a transformative process.
This eldritch fusion results in the creation of a new vampire, forever bound to the one who turned them. The transformed individual gains supernatural abilities and an eternal existence sustained by the consumption of blood.
Vampires possess various characteristics that set them apart from ordinary demons. Their enhanced strength, agility, and heightened senses make them formidable adversaries. They're particularly skilled in stealth, often moving effortlessly in the shadows to surprise their prey.
Vampires are also known for their mesmerizing charm, which can manipulate the minds of humans.
Essentially, this is one of the reasons why they appear this many times in the stories targeted mainly at the female audience. After all, the ones who had spread those stories were the females who had been charmed by them at the start.
However, their most iconic trait is the need for blood to survive. While vampires can consume regular food, it doesn't sustain them; only blood provides the vital life force required for their demonic existence.
The act of feeding involves the vampire biting into the veins or arteries of their victim, extracting the crimson elixir that fuels their supernatural powers.
Sunlight, often considered lethal to vampires in folklore, is a weakness but doesn't necessarily destroy them. Instead, it weakens their abilities and makes them more vulnerable. However, that only applies to the lower-ranking vampires who had not completed their evolution to perfection.
Though many aspects of vampire lore have been romanticized or exaggerated over time, the core essence remains—a demonic being forever entwined with the night, driven by a dark hunger for the life essence of the living.
'This is what was written in the game.'
Whenever a player had discovered a new type of demon or enemy, the information related to them would appear on the folklore tab. And the more you killed such an enemy, the more information you would have revealed about them.
This was the game's reward system for players' hard work.
And I, who had finished the game to almost perfection, obviously killed quite a lot of vampires and hunted them.
Therefore, the moment those memories triggered me, I knew for a fact the enemy I was facing was a vampire. Everything matched their trait, and the usage of blood magic would make the discerning change.
Of course, I also wanted to make sure, so I revisited the old library at night to find the tunnels mentioned so that I could find out if it was really a vampire.
'They are really here.'
And now, here I was in one of those tunnels.
'The traces of blood magic. Undoubtedly, these are the works of a vampire.'
The recent ones were sloppy and instinctual, but there were even traces of the old ones.
'This is no joke.'
What kind of vampire had this one to be so that it could live for this long?
'A Nosferatu at least…'
It was at least around the Nosferatu, and that alone made it impossible to deal with it normally.
'I need to be prepared to the maximum.'
Now that I had confirmed everything that was needed, I immediately got out of the tunnel and reached the surface, returning to my room.
'Let's hope it is not a Higher Vampire.'
Since, if it was, then that would be the end of us.
'And hurry.'
Since, if what I am guessing was correct, Senior Maya was about to be consumed.
Or a fate that was worse than that might be awaiting her.
********
Amelia opened her eyes in the morning, and the moment she did, the tiredness overwhelmed her immediately.
She hadn't been able to sleep the night before and closed her eyes around 6 A.M., and now she was awake. Of course, as an awakened person who had a supernatural body, it didn't affect her that much, but the mental fatigue was still there.
The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. The air was still, and a quiet hush hung over the space. Amelia stretched her arms, trying to shake off the weariness that clung to her like a persistent shadow.
She sat up on the edge of the bed, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her palms. The events of the previous day replayed in her mind, each moment etched with a sense of urgency and mystery. The disappearance of Maya and Astron's findings all created a web of uncertainty.
As she prepared herself for the day, slipping into the routine of getting dressed and ready, a determination flickered in her eyes.
Fatigue might weigh her down, but it wouldn't stop her from searching for answers and finding her friend.
At the very least, she knew this was all she could do to herself at the moment.
After a quick shower that helped wash away some of the fatigue, Amelia left her room, her steps light but purposeful.
"Ah…."
However, she met someone.
"You are awake, too?"
It was Astron who was also leaving her room.
"Good morning, Senior Amelia."
Amelia returned the greeting with a small smile. "How are you feeling? Did you manage to get some rest?"
This guy was also working hard and went to sleep last night, so as his senior, she was obliged to show a greater presence and praise him.
Astron scratched the back of his head, a gesture that hinted at a mix of fatigue and determination. "A bit. Enough to keep going, I guess."
He also seemed to be quite tired.
'He really values Maya.'
She knew from the start that these two didn't have a usual Senior-Junior relationship. She could see the care Maya showed to Astron, and Astron also behaved differently in front of her. He was more docile.
Good to hear. So, where are you off to?" she inquired, curious about Astron's plans for the morning.
Astron hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, I am going to check something."
Amelia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Did you find new information?"
"It's not exactly that," Astron replied cryptically, "but I'm going to meet someone."
Amelia nodded, understanding that Astron had his reasons. "Keep me informed, okay?"
09:46
Astron met her gaze with a determined nod. "I will." With that, he headed toward the exit, leaving Amelia with a sense of anticipation.
But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned back. "Did Sylvie wake up?"
Amelia shook her head. "No, she's still resting. The poor thing needed the sleep."
A thoughtful expression crossed Astron's face. "I need to talk to her about something. When she wakes up, could you let me know?"
Amelia nodded in agreement. "Of course. I'll make sure to inform you as soon as she's awake."
With a final nod, Astron continued on his way, leaving Amelia like that.
'What do they want to talk about, I wonder?'
She thought but knew it wasn't her time to probe. Then she returned to her room. It was already quite late and breakfast time, so she returned to her room while ordering breakfast.
As Amelia settled back into her chair, contemplating the day ahead, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she noticed it was the instructor overseeing the History and Art club. Curious, she answered the call.
"Hello, Instructor," she greeted.
"Good morning, Amelia. I hope you're doing okay," the instructor replied, her tone feeling a bit guilty. After all, she was supposed to be with them when they went on a trip, but she thought the Western Uxbridge would be on the safer side.
What a bad decision this was, but alas, she couldn't do anything about it anymore. "I wanted to check in. You still haven't returned to the academy?"
"Yes, instructor. I am still in the city."
The instructor's tone became more serious. "Amelia, I understand your concern for Maya, but it's time to consider returning. Leave the investigation to the authorities. They're better equipped to handle these situations."
Amelia took a deep breath before responding, her determination evident in her voice. "I appreciate your concern, Instructor, but I can't leave. Maya is our friend, and I can't just abandon her. We need to find her, and I won't rest until we do."
The instructor sighed on the other end. "Amelia, I really understand your loyalty to your friend, but this situation is getting complicated. It's not safe for students to be involved in these matters."
"I know it's risky, but we can't just stand by."
The instructor seemed torn between understanding and worry. "Amelia, the academy cares about all of you. Your safety is our priority. Please reconsider and return."
Amelia remained resolute. "I can't leave Maya alone in this situation. I'll stay until we find her. We'll be cautious, I promise."
The instructor sighed again, realizing that persuading Amelia might be challenging. "Amelia, I can't force you, but I hope you'll consider the consequences of your decision. The same goes for the other three students with you. Make sure to notify them about this as well."Top of Form
With those words, the call ended, leaving Amelia with a heavy heart.
She knew why the academy was doing this, and what she was doing was nothing logical. But at the end of the day, knowing things and being able to remove her feelings were two different things.
RING!
As she was thinking to herself, her doorbell rang.
"Senior Amelia, it is me. Sylvie."
It was her other Junior. She immediately went to the door and opened it. There, she saw the girl with disheveled blue hair and dark circles under her eyes.
Amelia's eyes softened at the sight of Sylvie. "Sylvie, come in." She could see the exhaustion on Sylvie's face, and it mirrored the weariness she felt herself.
Sylvie entered, and Amelia gently closed the door behind her. "Are you okay?" Amelia asked with genuine concern.
Sylvie nodded weakly. "I... I'm trying to be."
"Sit down. Let's talk," Amelia suggested, guiding Sylvie toward the small table in the room. She knew well for a fact what kind of things this girl experienced. "Did you get any sleep?"
Sylvie hesitated for a moment before answering. "A little. It's been a rough night."
Amelia nodded in understanding. "I can imagine. I didn't sleep much, either. But we need to eat something. It might help."
"Okay."
As Sylvie accepted, she ordered another plate of breakfast service from the hotel site and sat at the table.
"Where is Astron?" Sylvie asked her eyes wandering around the room.
"He went out just now."
"He went out?"
"Yeah, he said he was going to meet someone."
"….."
"He also said he needed to talk with you alone, so call him when you feel better."
At the mention of his needing to talk to her, Sylvie's expression seemingly brightened, and that change didn't miss Amelia's eyes.
'I see.'
She nodded inwardly as a pleasant smile spread on her face.
However, that smile soon turned into worry…..
Hope you liked the two chapters. I will try to post two of them, whenever such POV switches happen.
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