Ack, it hurt. I stand up, trying to recover myself from a dazed state. What exactly happened? I remember waiting outside the house, until I started listening to loud struggling noises. I remember feeling worried, unsure of what was going inside. Then I went to see what was going on. I remember looking at a scene that felt like the elf, Arlendir, was being... cruel to the woman who could have been the Vampire's minion, and then...

Oh, right. She kicked me. I was sent flying, quite far, by a human woman's kick. I am wearing a full set of armor. I feel pretty stupid right now. She was a minion, nothing else could explain that excessive strength of hers. That's what I get for not properly assessing the situation... It's ridiculous that I should forget one of the few pieces of advice I got from my father. Why am I not learning? The moment I stepped in this stupid town I saw examples that you can't just look at the people who are below and think they are in the right. Damn it!

I step out of the house, still slightly dazed, but Arlendir, Kardenon and the minion woman are nowhere to be seen. Did she manage to run away and the two of them are pursuing her? Maybe... Whatever it is, it probably would be best to follow this trail of broken branches and trees. It seems that Kardenon wasn't all that careful in running around in the forest this time. Something serious is going on, I'd better hurry.

It didn't take long for me to find Arlendir and Kardenon. Besides the two of them, the woman who kicked me was there, as well as... The Vampire! It was exactly like it had been described to me in the legends: They are even more beautiful than regular elves, almost as if their best features were highlighted and their blemishes hidden. The long nails that are more like claws add a dual feeling of grace and savagery, like one might see in an apex predator. Not only did it move gracefully, easily dodging attacks from both Arlendir and Kardenon, its blows lifted Kardenon off his foot. It was clear that the two of them were outclassed, both in strength and agility.

“So you think it's good to bully my dear Miriam, how do you like being bullied yourself?” He spoke calmly as he fended off each hurried and increasingly desperate attack from Arlendir. “Take that!”

He swung at Arlendir almost lazily. It was not very deep, but despite his attempts at dodging, he was left with a deep cut in his padded armor. He did not seem to be bleeding though.

“Huh, it's very funny that an unholy monster like you should show such concern for your slave. Maybe if you had shown similar concern for its family or just the people around it, then the situation might have not gotten to this point for you. You killed too much and now is the time to pay for your sins.”

I saw Arlendir briefly glance in my direction. He knows I'm here, but it doesn't seem like the Vampire does, good. I don't need to be told what to do. Just by feeling the unholy presence, the sheer wrongness, of the Vampire, I know what I must do. I start praying with all the conviction that I can muster.

“Pay for my sins? This situation? This is a very funny way to talk to someone who clearly has the upper hand. Sure, it might take me long to crack open this slow armored dwarf, almost like a helpless flipped turtle, or slice open your belly seeing as you're as annoying to catch as a bird. But don't worry, I will do it, then I will delight in prolonging your last dying moments as much as I can for what you've done to my Miriam!”

As it swings at Kardenon, it is grabbed by him, holding it in place. Glowing lines appear on the armor, I know that this means Kardenon is spending more mana than usual to increase the armor's power. This situation won't last forever.

“You keep calling her yours, but I wonder what makes you think that. All I see is a young woman who has had her will stripped from her. What gives you the right to steal her soul and kill her family?”

Irritated, by both being held and Kardenon's words, the Vampire starts scratching and taking pieces out of Kardenon's armor. I must hurry, Great Father in heaven, Virtue, who knows all that is good and judges all that is evil, give me strength. Arlendir tried to attack the Vampire, but was held back by its minion, the poor woman.

“Shut up! Unhand me! I don't need any permission. She's mine and I will do with her and her family as I well please! And you will not so much as touch a single strand of hair unless I give you permission!”

Imbue this sword, through my unwavering faith, with the ability to smite evil, wherever it is! Yes. I can feel something, a force I hadn't before. There is nothing different about my sword in terms of looks, but I know, I just know that it will be able to hurt the Vampire.

“Prepare yourself!”

I show myself and run towards the Vampire. Both it and its minion look panicked, but too bad for them. Arlendir was keeping her busy, while Kardenon was holding it tight.

“Ah, took you long enough! Do it!”

In the last second, Kardenon let it go and I swung my sword, it tried to parry my blow, but my now brightly shining sword easily cut through its arm to inflict a deep wound in its chest and belly, a huge diagonal cut that would be mortal to most people. The minion fell to her knees, in shock, or perhaps her connection to the Vampire was severed.

“Huh, so you're actually a paladin? You could have told me, I wouldn't have been so worried. Now, it can barely move, I will deliver the killing blow, if you don't mind.”

Me? A paladin? A part of me wanted to deny it, because I don't want to claim a level of holiness that I do not possess, and yet... That was the kind of thing you might see a paladin do, wouldn't it? The ability to imbue one's weapon with righteousness and holy power was the mark of a paladin. I was happy that my faith was rewarded.

“I... am... No done yet!” Even if the Vampire might say that, it could only stumble around. In its futile attempts to attack, it merely managed to grab pull away the cloth that covered Arlendir's face. “Ah. Arlendir? Is that you?”

That was strange, how could an ancient immortal Vampire recognize someone?

“Sorry, you probably got the wrong person. I don't remember ever having met a soul destroying, blood sucking monster. Who are you again?”

The Vampire laughed as it let go of its efforts and fell to the ground.

“Of course you don't remember me... You only ever paid attention to the instructor, didn't you? We thought you may have been killed rather than sold into slavery like us... But now I see you with a human and a dwarf. How disgraceful.”

Arlendir's eyes shot open, almost popping from his skull, full of panic. He fell upon the Vampire, dagger in hand.

“Shut up! I don't want to be called disgraceful by someone who has become a monster!”

He stabbed the vampire in the shoulder, burying the dagger deep. If it was a living person, they would probably have died from a pierced heart, but the Vampire retorted.

“I didn't become like this because I wanted to, you know! I...”

But the Vampire was interrupted by a new voice.

“Candriella, you don't need to talk to every person you know from the past.”

Immediately when it heard that voice, the Vampire became more lively. Oh no. That's what that bad feeling was this whole time.

“Ah, Brother! Please, help me, it hurts! This thing here, it's taking my blood... And this wound stings so much...”

However, its increased liveliness is merely temporary. Its voice starts trailing, until it seems to fall into a sleep.

I turn to the voice and, of course, I see another Vampire, this one bigger. Of course, a Vampire has to feed once a month, if there are two people disappearing each month, then it can only mean one thing.

“Ugh, damn, I'm not sure I can hold the armor up much longer.”

Things weren't looking good.