Sepjour, 28th Day of Aestas, It’s been 7 days after Antonio joined our group and surprisingly the guards, the wayfaring knights, and some of the militias here in this kingdom isn’t on full alert in finding him, as for him… he’s getting by, he’s much more relaxed with Henry, a bit awkward with Áron considering Áron isn’t that friendly with him, and he’s at least a bit familiar now with me, Anne, and Luther, ohh and he also delivered on his promise, he made mine and Anne’s bow much more robust, Luther’s greatsword more polished, and even made Áron’s daggers much more sharper, he’s really not kidding that his family was from a longline of blacksmiths.

As we planned it back at Saileach Síoraí, we’re heading to Cotier to meet with the High-Priest of the Justan realm, Mother Fay Vivienne or Eleanna that she insisted I called her, said that High-Priest knows where the last remaining Dubh’s Erisgi Déamon Knights and as well as Dubh’s Erisgi Last Lieutenant is, and the other thing we got from her about the last Lieutenant is that he’s the one who’s controlling and acting as Dubh’s second in command in the Rider Cultist and his next attack was near.

It still boggles my mind to this day how Henry’s father could take on many Déamon Knights and Dubh’s Lieutenants back in the day, I still remember that day in Norrbionac… he was brutal, beyond brutal, fighting him was more than just fighting for your life, even more than for the world, it was indeed like fighting against the end itself and I… can’t believe we even manage to stop and even destroy him, it’s… scary and exhilarating at same time… I think this must be what Marie feels in the war.

While we were still walking in this, again, sunny but really temperate day, passing the bridge and climbing a hill, about 5km from the bridge I think, we found at the bottom to be a valley village behind the hill, the place was quite quiet if I have to say, well… I mean it is a valley village, the whole place is pretty much the medieval version of gated communities.

We descended down from the hill to resupply and rest for a bit, because that sunny weather suddenly became dark and rainy really quick when we set our foot at the village. We ran to the nearby inn in the middle of the village and was lucky to not have our clothes drenched by the sudden rain.

When entering I notice the unorthodox feeling from the inn, it was… not quiet but it was a bit eery, the people were drinking and yes there are some who are conversing a tad bit rowdily, but it was pretty tame all things considered.

Well we’re only going to stay here for a night, so I didn’t think much of it, but before we could settle down for the night, we got a sudden visit somewhere at 9 in the inn.

It was the leader or the alderman of this village, he pretty much said like the other village leaders around this part of the world we have met, a show of feelings on being honored with our presence here, a gratitude for helping this world there and a request to solve their local problems, as usual… but I’ll admit, this time it was a somewhat real challenge, the Alderman, Charles, said that the village has been terrorized by a pack of vampires in a nearby cave, kids, women, and even men left and right have disappeared in the night.

“Though I am not asking you to go straight to the wolves’ den, because they won’t be there, night is about to come after all, and they will lurk here in the shadows! Instead I need you all to defend my village in the night, so please, as the leader of this village, please help us!”

His request was a sensible one and he even added that the able body men and him even will help in our fight, but the problem is that… we’re tired, we have walked for a day without rest because we’re technically behind schedule to meet that High Priest, but, yeah… we’ll help them, besides he did add another thing, our lodging will be free for this night and even for the next night if we’re still tired.

So, after the rain passed and the moon was on top of us, quiet bright even, we head out. Luther went outside with Antonio and Henry, leading the vanguard with the Charles and his militia, while me, Anne, and Áron, got up to high ground, the roofs, to scan and monitor the situation.

It was quiet this night, as expected, but like before, no one can get pass Áron’s ears and it twitches. The sound came from the south of the vanguard, where Áron quickly loose and arrow towards that direction to get the vanguard’s attention there and Áron of course was right, a huge number of vampire hordes was there rushing at the vanguard, me, Anne, and Áron quickly reposition ourself to get a more clearer and advantageous fighting spot.

As we loose our arrows multiple times at the horde, downing them one by one with a straight arrow to the head, and the vanguard, hacking and slashing the vampires to bits, Áron’s ear twitch again, but this it wasn’t another horde it was actually a couple of vampires that got to higher ground, and one was near, really near with Anne as it almost sucken it fangs to her neck, but thankfully Áron quickly loose an arrow to that vampire near Anne, we then change priorities to them as there were still many of them in the roofs with us, loosing our arrows to the point Áron ran out, it was fine as he just went straight to his daggers and attacked them head on.

Because of this, Áron said that we should focus again on the horde below, but as I saw our below, it was pretty much over, the horde was dealt and Luther, Henry, as well as Antonio was tending to the injured militias. Seeing it was pretty much over I sat down with Anne, relaxingly in the roofs, while Áron was finishing with one more vampire, I then saw someone in the roofs, I asked Anne if she saw anyone in front of us, and yeah she saw the same mysterious figure I saw in the distance, it was looking at us I think, but it disappeared as Áron said he was finished with the vampires on his side.

Prijour, 29th Day of Aestas, Yep… I knew it, not only my body is in pain because of my the muscle sores from that vampire horde last night, I feel entirely sluggish, and it wasn’t me alone, Anne, Henry, Antonio, Luther, heck even Áron, the one person who always have some kind of energy hidden away to always be prepare for trouble, is as sluggish as a high school girl in Monday morning, talk about biting more than you chew… well in the end we need to drag our ass off to have breakfast and hit the road as fast as we could.

Arriving at the main hall with the gang, we were greeted by cheerful customers, the militia men from last night, and even Charles, the alderman, it was a sort of surprise party, they didn’t know when we would be up, but nonetheless they already prepare one heck of a party for us, from all kinds of alcohol to all kinds of meat even… which was kind of surprising for a medieval village to have this many meat.

Our body, again, was not cooperating with us, but free food and drinks, are still free food and drinks, so we endure a bit and enjoy everything that they offered to us.

While there, eating and drinking, Charles, who was one table with us, noticed right away of our sluggish nature from how slow we ate and drank, seeing this he offered us the room we were staying at for free to rest and heal as long as it takes for us all to be in tip top shape. Henry declined the offer respectfully, because again, we were already behind schedule, but… seeing the group was pretty much out of battery, he reconsidered it for us and accepted.

Dujour, 30th day of Aestas, Shit… it’s either the bed or something is up… because we still woke up as sluggish as yesterday, but it’s a bit more worse when I took my first step of the day, it was as if I was carrying an anvil with my back, I do hope it’s the bed…

Trijour, 31st day of Aestas, yep there’s something going on, it’s not the fuckin bed because last night I saw something, near Anne’s bed there was a shadowy figure beside her, creeping towards her though I don’t know where, because it was dark, but I know for sure that was definitely a vampire because this morning, Anne is as pale as a corpse and has a fang mark, actually… it wasn’t her only, I have fang mark as well, Áron too, everyone has it, but… it’s not on our neck, if it was there we should have noticed it earlier, but instead it was on our, armpits… fuckin gross…

We of course informed this straight to Charles, he said his militia will be on guard near their room and more patrols will be made to tighten security. Though I do believe Charles will deliver what he promise for us, I’ll still made preparations of my own defence, because when we went out of his office, I saw that mysterious figure from the day of the horde attack, on the roofs.

Quajour, 31st day of Aestas, Wow… well I’ll be damn, the trap wasn’t set off, but I woke this morning feeling more than rejuvenated, the sluggishness was pretty much gone, it was like we were zapped by lightning of caffeine, well either way we were all pumped up, even if… we looked a tad bit pale.

Though we were in the condition to continue our journey, we… I don’t know, we didn’t really feel like it, call us lazy but… this place is really pampering us and I kinda like it.

Quijour, 32nd day of Aestas, Okay something is off… I do still feel as energized as yesterday, but… I got this strange feeling in my gut after Henry said we should put a hold in our journey, it was… fine really, I was actually on board with his idea, but what makes my gut a bit unsettled is the fact that everyone agreed, right there I could tell something is wrong, the fang mark from that vampire must have done something to us… because I am actually now questioning why I even agreed with Henry, I do get the nice homey feeling here in this village, the awesome and nice neighbourhood, and especially the hospitality they’ve been showing us, considering we’re staying rent free, but… we’ve been here for more than two days, we still have to do the mission we were tasked…

Sejour, 33rd day of Aestas, You know what… it’s nice here Elizabeth! Everyone is nice, the food is good, the bed is good, everything is-

NO, EVERYTHING IS NOT GOOD, SHIT… fuck I should’ve have notice it sooner, something or someone is controlling my thoughts, controlling everyone’s thoughts, and this… craving for meat… for blood? Fuck… I don’t want to test it, but… what if we were turned into a vampire yesterday night? Shit… I need to do it, I need to…

Stepping outside of the inn, made me thank god… yes, I wasn’t turned into a vampire, if I had I would have burn to crisp now in the middle of the day, but… I do feel a bit hurt just being in direct sunlight…

Seeing this I knew right away to get out of this village, something malicious is happening to us and it’s denizens, but… when I said this to the group, they dismiss it and said I was paranoid, fuck… they’re all thralls at this point of the fucker that sucked our blood for the last 5 nights…

Okay, okay… the vampire at this point must have some kind of connection to my brain and its probably reading the journal I am currently writing, So… how do I ambush him…

***

Night has fallen, everyone is a sleep and I am in my hiding spot. The vampire probably going to think I am under the bed to ambush him, but no… I am at my bed, all covered with its sheet from head to toe, I just hope the vampire look down first.

Creek…

The door was open, I could heard the vampire’s footsteps and I could hear it more clearer as it’s approaching me, I held my breath, armed ready with Áron’s dagger to stab him the heart and it… opened my blanket.

I lunge myself towards the perp with the dagger already pointed at its heart, it was of course taken off guard but this wasn’t an easy victory, it was quick enough to notice my attack and threw me away from it, where with that throw the wall, it wake up everyone in the room.

Áron quickly conjured up a light to the ceiling to reveal it was Charles all along…

“Tch… I’ve always hate the kind of women you are, well time to use my ace card!”

As he said that, everyone in the room became more paler, Áron, Antonio, Henry, Luther, Anne… shit… they turn completely into a thrall with their eyes blackened to the point I can’t even tell if their still alive or not, but… I could feel a bit of myself being hold back, this must be because of the last 6 nights, but… shit… now I am seeing three of him… fuck, what should I do? What should I do?!

BRAKK…

The glass behind Charles, shattered into a million a pieces, as he, the one I’ve been suspecting behind all of this, appears. he was tall, can’t really tell what clothes he was wearing but it was red, velvet red, like his eyes.

“Charles… it’s time to end this!” He said menacingly.

The velvet man, then swung a longsword from his back to the Charles’ head, he of course dodge it and used the others as his shield, I quickly ran to him to stop him from hurting my friends, but thankfully he didn’t hurt them, he actually conjured something to their head to make them fall asleep.

“I am sorry Lady Maynard, but I have to put you to sleep like the others, so you all can’t be used as his puppet!” He then cast the same thing to the others to my head, making me fall to a deep slumber.

***

I woke up finally, somewhere in the middle of the night or… actually early morning when seeing the moon was heading west, head was a bit heavy, but my body wasn’t that sluggish in anyways. I then scanned my surrounding, saw the equipment and supplies were brought and as well realizing we’re under a tree in some hill, the others were sleeping soundly, and I also noticed the paleness from their body was gone, mine as well!

“Ohh… you’re awake Lady Maynard…” He… the one who crashed through the window and attacked Charles appeared from my right side.

“You! I’ve seen you lurking in the roofs for the past six- no, seven days! Who are you exactly?!” I asked him.

“Who I am… is not important, but I can tell you that I was sent by his lord, Lux, when you six suddenly stopped your journey, and my fear was true when it was Charles’ who was the one behind him.” He clarified.

“Wait… you know Charles? Okay… just who are you really?”

“Again… who I am is not important as well as Charles at this point, because he is ash now, but I will tell you this if you really want to know…” He held his breath for a moment. “Charles, Charles le Filou, was one of the four Crimsonborns that I am currently hunting to repent my sins against the Mother Familiar, they considered themselves as vampire grandmasters, but in reality they’re just mages and magi that went mad with power because of me…” The sun rose. “They are my mistakes and sins, what they’ve done is unforgivable, but it is still the right thing to do to give you an apology on their behalf, you don’t have to accept it of course…”

After that he stood up and walked away, but before he could be gone from my eyes, I rose up and ask him again.

“Please, at least can I know what your name is?” I asked him, this… mysterious man that saved us.

“I told you… Who I am is not important…” He then vanish to thin air as the sunlight got to him.

Sepjour, 34th day of Aestas, After explaining everything to the others about what happen to us, we then set out of the hill we were on and continue our journey, we didn’t look back after that, but… that man, that man who wore velvet red colors, still stuck in my head, he was like a walking old book, filled with stories that’s… I think to painful to read, I do hope he can get absolved for whatever sins he did to incure the wrath of one of the gods in this world.