The abandoned foundry on Eighth Street was every bit as ominous as I had imagined. The old structure was a labyrinth of rusted beams and shattered windows, its gaping maw of a door barely clinging to its hinges. The morning sun did little to dispel the eerie atmosphere; instead, it cast long, jagged shadows across the cracked concrete floor.
I stepped inside hesitantly, clutching my jacket tightly against the chill. The air was thick with the metallic scent of decay and age, and every creak of the building felt like a warning. Somewhere within this decaying tomb, Lawrence waited.
"You're late," came his voice, cutting through the stillness like a whip.
I flinched, turning to see him leaning against a support beam, arms crossed. He looked relaxed, but there was an intensity in his eyes that made it clear this wasn't going to be a pleasant morning.
"Sorry," I muttered. "I didn't sleep well."
"That's good," Lawrence replied, pushing off the beam and striding toward me. "Sleep is a luxury you'll need to earn."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that, so I stayed quiet.
"Before we start," Lawrence said, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey, "tell me what you think you know about Flux."
I hesitated. "It's... power. Something humans use to fight vampires. That's about it."
Lawrence stopped in front of me, raising an eyebrow. "That's the kindergarten explanation. Flux isn't just power—it's the great equalizer. It's why humanity didn't go extinct centuries ago when vampires first started hunting us like cattle."
He extended his hand, and I saw the familiar crackle of red and yellow lightning dance across his palm. "Flux is unique to humans—well, normally." His gaze sharpened on me. "It's the manifestation of our life force, our willpower. The stronger your will, the stronger your Flux."
"But why can I use it?" I asked. "I'm not... normal, am I?"
"No," Lawrence said bluntly. "You're an anomaly. A half-vampire shouldn't be able to channel Flux. Your existence doesn't make sense, and that's what makes you dangerous. But we'll come back to that. First, you need to understand what Flux can do—and what it can't."
He gestured for me to follow, leading me deeper into the foundry. The space opened into what must have once been the heart of the building, an expansive area with towering furnaces and rusted machinery. Lawrence stopped in the center, where a patch of open concrete had been cleared of debris.
"Flux has three primary applications," he began, pacing as he spoke. "Observation, Armament, and Supreme."
I frowned. "Supreme? That sounds... dramatic."
"It is," Lawrence said, smirking. "But we'll get to that later. First, Observation." He held out his hand, and the crackling energy in his palm intensified. "Observation allows you to sense your surroundings with pinpoint accuracy. Heightened focus, faster reflexes. At higher levels, you can even catch glimpses of the future—five seconds ahead, give or take."
"Wait, you're saying you can see the future?"
"Snatches of it," Lawrence corrected. "It's not perfect, and it takes immense concentration. But it's enough to give you an edge in a fight. It's how I knew what those two vampires were going to do last night before they did it."
I nodded slowly, trying to process the implications.
"Next," Lawrence continued, "Armament."
This time, the Flux in his hand spread outward, coating his arm in a crackling aura of red and black. "Armament enhances your physical abilities—strength, speed, durability. You can use it to shield yourself or augment your attacks. Advanced users can coat their entire body in Flux, turning themselves into living weapons."
I couldn't help but take a step back. "That's... intense."
"It's necessary," Lawrence said. "Vampires have speed, strength, and regeneration on their side. Without Armament, you won't stand a chance in a direct confrontation."
"And Supreme?" I asked.
Lawrence's expression darkened. "Supreme is mental warfare. It allows you to cloud the minds of your enemies, disrupt their focus. Against vampires, it's particularly effective—it can overwhelm their telepathy and force them to retreat. At higher levels, you can even pry into weaker minds, though that's not something I recommend."
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous," Lawrence said flatly. "To them and to you. Supreme is powerful, but it comes at a cost. Use it recklessly, and you might lose yourself in the process."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in.
"Now, let's talk about vampires," Lawrence said, his tone shifting. "They're faster, stronger, and they heal from almost anything. But they're not invincible. Flux can disrupt their regeneration, burn their bodies, even kill them if you know what you're doing. That's why the Argent Sword exists—to tip the scales in our favor."
He paused, his gaze distant for a moment. "The older the vampire, the more dangerous they are. Ancient bloodlines have abilities that most humans can't even comprehend. But no matter how powerful they are, they're still vulnerable to Flux."
I took a deep breath, trying to absorb everything he was telling me. "And the Argent Sword? How do they fit into all this?"
"They're the guardians of humanity," Lawrence said simply. "We hunt vampires, protect civilians, and train people like you to fight back. But we're not invincible, either. Even the strongest Flux users age, and eventually, we die."
I glanced at him curiously. "What about Kadir? He seems... different."
Lawrence chuckled. "The old bat? He's been around longer than I have, but even I don't know how old he is. Some say he's older than the Argent Sword itself."
That sent a shiver down my spine. Kadir always seemed to know more than he let on, and now I couldn't help but wonder what secrets he was hiding.
"Enough talk," Lawrence said abruptly, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Time to see what you can do."
He stepped back, the energy around him flaring brighter. "Flux isn't something you can just summon at will—not yet, anyway. It responds to your emotions, your willpower. So let's put that to the test."
Before I could react, Lawrence launched himself at me, his movements a blur. I barely had time to raise my arms before he was on me, his Flux-coated fist stopping inches from my face.
"Focus, Kyon," he said, his voice sharp. "Feel the energy inside you. Draw it out."
"I don't know how!" I shouted, panic rising in my chest.
"Then learn," Lawrence growled. "Because if you don't, you're dead."
His attacks came faster now, forcing me to dodge and stumble as best I could. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel a strange warmth building inside me, like a flickering flame struggling to catch.
"Come on, Kyon!" Lawrence barked. "Do you want to die? Or do you want to fight?"
Something snapped inside me, and suddenly, the warmth exploded into a surge of energy. Red and yellow lightning crackled around me, wild and uncontrolled.
Lawrence grinned. "That's more like it."
For the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could survive this after all.