[A/N: Pls check the Author's section after this chapter.]
Two minutes later, Seth stood up from the chair beside the counter. He handed the document to Nina and waited for the lady to review it.
"Hmmm… Everything looks good. Just one thing. You are a vampire?"
"Yes," Seth answered.
He thought to himself. 'I hope that's not a problem.'
"Vampire… Vampire… That name rings a bell. Vesstan, do you know what a vampire is? Maybe it is a subrace of elves?"
Vesstan confidently replied, "No. It is definitely not of elven heritage."
"Hmmm…"
Nina fixated her eyes on the race section of the document. She couldn't remember the race called vampires.
'I have to check the archive. Perhaps I will find something about this race.' Nina clapped her hands as soon as she came to a decision.
She called one of the other staff and asked the girl to take care of the counter.
"Let's go. Vesstan, follow me. You will conduct the other process."
.
.
.
After reaching a specific room on the second floor, Nina opened the door. A wave of dust hit the trio as they entered the room.
There were shelves arranged here and there, but dust covered the books on the shelves.
Nina sighed. "I have told them to clean the room, but they never listen. Please ignore the foulness. Let's move straight to business."
Seth and Vesstan stayed at the sides while Nina searched for a book.
"Aha!" She exclaimed as soon as she found it.
After wiping away the dust on the book, Nina opened its pages and checked the index.
"Vampire… Vampire… Oh, I found it!"
Immediately, she turned over the page that provided details about this mysterious race.
"An outlook of vampires by Gervart the Windchaser. The origin of vampires is unknown to us mere mortals. Very few have walked the lands of Lycroft, but all their acts have been brimful with blood. Thus, I have come to a conclusion. The race of vampires is a dangerous bunch... "
... My first encounter with a vampire was serene. A blissful nightly conversation with a man named Jarius Cien. He looked human and carried the charisma of merfolks. But little did I know he had another face. A face that was given the moniker of Jarius the Bloody by the kingdom of Avonia after he terrorized their capital, decimating their soldiers until the king came out himself to put an end to his rampage. How was one man capable of riling up the legendary kingdom? He looked so gentle!..."
Nina closed the book after reading a few more lines.
It was still in the room, as tense as the atmosphere of a graveyard.
Vesstan and Nina took a few steps away from Seth, who remained composed as if he didn't listen to the contents of the book.
Vesstan reached out for his sword at his waist. Before he could draw it, Nina blocked him with her arm. She signaled for him to let her take care of everything.
Taking a step forward, Nina asked, "You are a vampire, just like Jarius the Bloody?"
Oh, Nina knew of Jarius the Bloody. He was the only man that stood up to the king of Avonia. Tales of his deeds spread to Ryithh, and every child feared and adored him.
"Yes."
"... Alright. This is Lostvale, where all races are welcomed equally. If you aren't a threat to our town, then it's alright."
"Thank you."
"Vesstan, you know what to do. I have to return to my duties."
"Ok."
Nina left the scene. Now, it was just Vesstan and Seth. Vesstan wasn't as jovial as before. It was expected since he heard the details of vampires.
"Follow me. Let's go have fun."
"Huh?" Seth voiced his confusion.
"Just follow me."
They left the archive and approached another room with a much larger door.
Opening the room, Seth marveled as he saw the interior. The room was seventy feet long and fifty feet tall. It appeared as a chamber with crystalline walls and ground that occasionally sparkled with light.
A beaming crystal hanging on the ceiling was the primary source of light. It illuminated the room well enough.
Stepping into the room, Seth observed. 'The floor is comfy. It doesn't feel hard. So weird.'
Vesstan stood opposite him and announced. "Welcome to the Crystal Chamber! Before an adventurer is initiated, it is necessary to test their strength. Should it be subpar, we won't accept the adventurer. Pick a weapon and armor."
Vesstan pointed across the chamber. There was a shelf beside the left wall where various weapons and armors stood.
Seth said nothing and went to the shelf.
After a short period of searching, he couldn't find a weapon of his choice.
"I see no crossbows," Seth shouted.
"Not many adventurers choose crossbows. We don't have it."
"Ok. I will choose something else."
Shuffling through the shelf, Seth eventually settled on daggers. He picked two daggers. Playing with them, he wore a light armor vest and walked back to the center of the chamber.
"Are you ready?"
Vesstan positioned his longsword in front of himself. His eyes sharpened as he prepared to make this fast.
"Yes."
"I will introduce myself. I'm the swordsman Vesstan, adventure rank C."
*Whoosh!*
Vesstan moved first. His sword appeared to cut through the air as a sharp screech filled Seth's ear.
Immediately, he twisted his body sideways. This was a good decision as Vesstan appeared in front of him and swung his sword in the direction he fled from.
Seth distanced himself from Vesstan after the first encounter.
'I underestimated his speed. He is fast, and the way he moves with his sword is so strange. Ehhh!'
Vesstan attacked once again!
Seth brought his daggers and blocked another sword attack from Vesstan. It was not over yet!
Vesstan applied pressure on his sword, pushing Seth downward. It suddenly became a contest of strength. Whoever gave in would lose.
'How is he so strong?' Seth wondered. He gritted his teeth and focused on holding his ground.
"Good. I like this, but you have to do better. Show me the strength of a vampire!" said Vesstan.
He casually shifted his stance and pushed again. This time, Seth could feel the weight of a mountain pressing on him.
The whites in his eyes showed. His veins popped on his face as he willed an impossible strength into his body. Seth would not be easily defeated.
If he gave in now, he might lose the trial!
'F*ck. I need to evade this attack, but he has locked me. Once I move, the sword will be free to attack me. Ehh, I still have one trick up my sleeves.'
Looking straight at the nonchalant Vesstan, Seth thought, 'He is not giving it his all. I can use that to my advantage. I just need the right timing.'
Suddenly, Seth let go of his right dagger. He activated [Vampiric Drive] and burst out with great strength and speed.
Guiding Vesstan's sword with his right hand, Seth flung his left dagger at Vesstan's face. The dagger shot at such velocity that everything seemed over… that was until a blur reflected in Seth's eyes.
Vesstan caught the dagger with his bare hand.
He smiled. "Wicked trick, but–"
While he spoke, Seth kicked his leg, tripping him intentionally. It was all too smooth, as if it was pre-planned.
He grabbed his right dagger instantly. His body operated at peak performance as he went in for a stab!