Opening up the journal, I decided to start from the beginning, hoping that I could gain an understanding of what the wizard had been experimenting on and what the beast guarding the underground fortress was.

Day 1.

Finally, since arriving on this godforsaken island, for the first time, I dared to hope for a better future. I found shelter, deep within the earth. When I found the cavern, I knew that this was where I would build my new home. Far from the wizard conclave in Rome, where the conclave sticks, it's nose in everyone's business. What a bunch of bastards they are, too rooted in tradition and afraid to push boundaries. Luckily, the wizard community on this island is rather clannish, and they seem reluctant to involves themselves in the affairs of others — what a refreshing change of pace. Finally, I can get some work done without some nosy wizards poking around. One day the conclave would regret banishing me, I would return and have my revenge for this embarrassment. I would make sure the name Aelius Sejanus was never forgotten.

Day 32.

I've finished building my stronghold, it's not much, but it will suffice. After contacting some of my old friends who didn't approve of my banishment, I informed them of my new location. Some of them were very interested in my work and have promised to continue to provide funding for my experiments

Day 109.

I caught an assassin sneaking around my fortress. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was a vampire. It claimed to just be in the area, but after some persuasion, the creature revealed the truth. It had been sent to kill me by one of the wizards who disapproved of my research. Having had the chance to study one of these creatures before, I was almost grateful to the conclave, for sending me a new creature to study.

Day 154.

Despite the vampire pleading otherwise, I am convinced that the vampire is a creature of death. Earlier today, the vampire had gotten particularly creative with its insults, and I'll admit that I lost my temper, and sent the death curse at it. Imagine my surprise when the curse didn't kill him. Curious if there were other spells that they were similarly immune to, I began experiment.

Day 161.

After a week of rather grueling tests, I found that vampires were not immune to many magics like I feared, to be precise, they were only immune to three spells. Curiously, they are the three spells wizards fear most. My current hypothesis is that the three spells only work on the living and since the vampire is an undead abomination, those particular spells have no effect.

I took a break from reading the journal so that I could digest what the wizard had said about vampires. From what I understood, he had believed that vampires were undead creatures, but we now know that they are actually fact alive. I could understand how he came to that conclusion, the fact that they are seemingly immune to the death, torture and control curses is strange. Shrugging, I added this curiosity to one of the many things I wanted to study when I had learned more about magic.

Turning back to the journal, I continued reading.

Day 210.

My repeated test on the vampire revealed many interesting results. One result I found myself fascinated with is their healing factor. I found, if given enough blood, vampires can regenerate amputated body parts.

Day 300.

The more I study this wretched creature, the more convinced I am that it is a failed project of some ancient wizard of the past. I scrounged up what is little known about their race and have found stories dating back several thousand years. However, it can be difficult to track these vampires; they tend to stay in the shadows and avoid scrutiny.

Year 2, day 40.

I've decided on my next project, Immortally or at the very least, extending my life expectancy. It will be my most stunning achievement. On a side, upon hearing my new direction of study, the vampire offered to turn me. As if I would ever accept losing my magic, I can't imagine any self-respecting wizard would give up their magic and turn themselves into such a lesser creature. But, what if there was a way to extend life and not lose one's magic. Everyone has heard a myth or legend of a wizard or two living longer than normal. If I can figure out a way, the whole wizarding world will remember my name.

Year 5, day 200.

After years of failure, I believe I have identified why people age. It seems that as people get older, the essence of particles that makes up a body begins to degrade slowly. If I can find a mechanism to restore a person's particles back to their original state I believe that I will have cracked the code of immortality.

Pausing my reading, I mulled over what Aelius had written. Faint memories of my past life began to surface, what it sounded like, was that he had discovered when cells replicate, they aren't able to produce a perfect copy, and as people get older, the copy of their cells get worse and worse. Impressed that a 7th-century wizard was able to figure that out, I continued reading, curious at what came next.

Year 10, day 52.

After years of researching ideas for a potion that would restore a person's essence, I had an interesting idea. Aren't their a few magical creatures with long lifespans, it seems like nature has provided a way for these creature's particles to restores themselves. If I can find a way to harness that mechanism and combine it with my own essence, I believe that it would restore me to my prime.

Year 13, day 200.

I've located the perfect magical creature; it is a rare monster found in the deep within the depths of Britannia. The local magical community has known the creature by many names, but I believe that most of them call it a Grendel. It took years to track down and capture one because they are so rare. I believe that with their long lives they rarely breed, I was hoping to capture a pair of them, but just the one I have will have to suffice for now. It is a hideous creature, it's shape is humanoid, and it stands taller than most men, with coarse, wiry black hair covering its head. It's glowing yellow eye, stood out against its dark green skin. Its daggerlike teeth are designed to rend flesh. Defensive spikes cover portions of its body like it's spine, shoulders, and knees. Equally impressive, large razor-sharp claws erupted from its finger's tips. All in all, it is an impressive creature; I couldn't wait to dissect it.

Year 14, day 1

After numerous tests, I've discovered many interesting things about the creature. Regrettably, my last test required me to put the creature down, but luckily, I believe it allowed me to locate what is responsible for the creature's long life and incredible healing factor. It has a unique organ located near its heart. This incredible organ constantly repairs the creature's particles to perfect condition. If I can find a way to harness this, I will have succeeded.

Year 14, day 160

I'm almost ready, I captured another Grendel and was able to successful remove the organ while keeping it viable. I've sent word to my friends back in Rome, they're excited and have assured me that if this works, I can return to Rome with glory. In a few days, I will know if this last decade has been spent in vain or not

Year, 14, day 165

It's done, I was able to merge the organ into my body. Even better, I seem to be physically stronger, and my magic hasn't been affected whatsoever. Looking in a mirror is all the proof I need to see that it's working as intended. In the morning before the operation, my hair had more grey in it than color, and my skin was full of wrinkles. But now, I've returned back to my prime, and I look like I did when I was in my 20s. I've sent word of my success to my colleagues in Rome; they have promised to join me in a few weeks.

Year 14, day 172

Something has gone wrong with the operation, my skin has begun turning slightly green, and I can see a yellowish tint in my eyes. I need to figure out what is going on before its too late.

Year 14, day 175.

I woke up in the forest today, with blood spattered on my torn robes, I can feel, my teeth sharpening. It's becoming harder to think and my thoughts seem sluggish. I panicked and tried to magically remove the organ from my body. However, even after I removed it, it grew back, panicking, I cut it from my body like a muggle, but it seems like it's become one with my body. I contacted my associates, and informed them of the ongoing situations, they've promised to send help. Fearing that I may lose myself before they get here, I put on an unbreakable collar and bound it to the local area, so that if I go wild, at least I won't disappear from the area, and my colleagues can hopefully find me. I pray that they will be able to fix me, or at the very least put me out of my misery.

Year 14, Day ?

I don't know what day it is; I'm losing time, I checked my reflection again, and was no longer able to fool myself. I would say my transformation is well over halfway complete, and that I'm turning into a Grendel. What's worse is that I can feel my mind slipping away. I fear by the time my colleagues get here, there will be nothing left of the wizard I was.

Unknown date

Somehow, I was able to claw back to awareness, but I wish I hadn't, I found a set of bloody, torn wizard robes that smell of death. From the flashes I got when I smelled them, I got the sense that I might have eaten whoever they belonged to. I know that should make me feel bad, but for the first time in a long time since the transformation started, the hunger has finally been sated.

Upon reading the last paragraph, I realized that it was the final entry in the journal and that it was probably the last time he had human awareness. While thinking about what went wrong, I came to the conclusion that the organ merged with the wizard and slowly subverted it's host until it was back in its original form, a Grendel.

I was in two minds about the wizard; on one hand, he was brilliant in his own way, especially considering how long ago he lived. But on the other, some of the experiments he committed were terrible. I find it kind of ironic that he ended up turned into one of the creatures that he treated so terribly. Karma is a bitch.

Deciding that I needed more information on what the strengths and weaknesses of a Grendel were, so I asked Anton, "Have you ever heard about a Grendel?"

Anton replied unhelpfully, "Never heard of them, but the study of magical creatures was really never my thing. You can always check the library on the other floor."

After checking the library and not finding anything, I called it a night. Hopefully, when I got back to Hogwarts, I could find some more information on the subject, which will allow me to make a plan to recover my ring, and if I can do it safely, free the vampire. After all, I'd imagine that the services of a vampire assassin might come in handy one day in the future.