Chapter 19

Weird Things Happen

"What's wrong, dumbass? Don't tell me you can't fight anymore?"

Matthew chuckled, eyes gleaming with that sadistic spark he always had when towering over someone weaker.

Dylan was on his knees, gasping for air, blood dripping down his forehead. His sword lay next to him, his hand clenched around the grip like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

More blood pooled at his chest with every shaky breath.

"Fuck you! Isn't this supposed to be gentle training? My ass, you almost killed me!"

Dylan yelled, cheeks burning as the younger kids watched with curiosity, and that weird cheerful atmosphere.

"It is gentle. You're just weak." Matthew shook his head. "Now I understand why vampire hunters are so easy to kill."

Dylan bit his lip hard enough to almost bleed. That humiliation — the sting of it — felt like déjà vu. He pushed himself up again, refusing to bow his head.

He raised his sword, attacking high. Matthew parried like it was nothing and kicked him straight in the stomach, sending him crashing back down.

"Too open," Matthew said coldly. "If my other hand had a dagger, the inside of your stomach would scatter on the ground."

Dylan sat there, frustrated. Why was it so hard for him to grow? He trained every day, yet nothing stuck.

His martial arts stayed mediocre. His swordplay was pathetic. Meanwhile that nerd Seamus went from loser to hero overnight.

Why couldn't he do the same?

"What are you daydreaming about? Do you want your head rolling on the floor next?"

Matthew suddenly appeared in front of him, sword grazing Dylan's neck until a thin line of blood trailed down. He gritted his teeth, shoved the blade away, and rose again.

He then pointed his sword straight at Matthew. "I'll wound you today. Even a little."

Matthew smirked. "That's the spirit. Shame spirit doesn't win fights."

They clashed again and of course, Dylan immediately fell into a bad position.

Andrew, watching from the bench, shook his head and took a long gulp of liquor just to warm himself. Even though the building was indoors, the place was always cold.

A gym designed for martial arts and weapons training, Velstrath-style. The orphanage wasn't just a shelter. It was a factory. A breeding ground for a child army.

His cancer made him chronically anemic, so he barely noticed the nosebleed until a handkerchief appeared in front of him. He blinked and turned to see Bianca standing beside him.

He took it and slid slightly to give her space to sit, wiping the blood from under his nose.

"I wonder how you're still alive," she said bluntly. "Isn't your cancer the type that eats red blood cells?"

"It's the simple way to explain it, yeah." He shrugged.

"Maybe since I don't take chemotherapy, I don't look like a corpse yet." He chuckled lightly.

"I hate when you joke about that." She took the liquor bottle from his hand. "And I know you don't even like drinking. Whoever owns that Vitalis Core in your body has terrible taste."

"I drink because it's cold," he muttered, but didn't reach for the bottle again.

"Are you trying to keep your corpse warm?" Bianca rubbed her brow. "Anyway, your 'student' over there is pathetic."

"He's not my student." Andrew glanced at the fight again.

Dylan was now on the ground while Matthew stomped his wounded chest without mercy.

"Also, you need to tell Matthew to chill."

"Can't be helped," Bianca said. "He was supposed to serve Isolde and follow her to Rowani. But now he's stuck back here — in this hellhole — the place where he lost his entire family."

"Yikes. That's dark."

Andrew leaned back on the bench, arms stretched along the top, staring at the ceiling.

"We found something strange in a village near Lilium," Bianca said suddenly. "Oprichin. You can skip it if—"

"No. I'll go. With Matthew… and you." He looked at her.

She grimaced. "Bring that vampire too. The depressed one. Lady Isolde says her eyes can see things others can't."

Bianca stood. "I'm not coming. I'll watch from here and use my skill to guide you from above."

She left without waiting for a reply.

Andrew sighed and looked back at the fight. Dylan had finally fainted. The children gathered around, poking him, squatting beside him, debating whether he was dead.

"Damn it. What a pain." Andrew ran a hand through his hair and walked over. "Move, children. I'll bring the loser to the infirmary."

The kids giggled at the word "loser."

Andrew lifted Dylan like a sack of potatoes and glanced at Matthew. "Don't get too confident, kid. You win because you've trained longer. This loser just started."

He waved lazily as he turned. "Watch your back. Maybe one day the same person you're mocking will beat the hell out of you."

He didn't need to see Matthew's face. The loud, furious clang of a sword hitting the floor said enough.

"Youngsters, so dramatic" Andrew muttered, rolling his eyes.

***

When Andrew finally managed to drag Dylan to the infirmary, the nurse and doctor both gave him a look that clearly said: 'What an irresponsible adult.' He only shrugged and walked off.

In the hallway, children's voices echoed, kids far too young to be training yet. He stopped and peeked into the toddler room, then widened his eyes.

Maria was inside, helping the staff tidy up the scattered brick toys.

One little girl clung to her arm and wouldn't let go, even when the staff tried to gently separate them.

The girl ended up crying, so Maria picked her up, humming a soft melody Andrew instantly recognized. The toddler giggled, and the others crawled closer, drawn to her voice.

Andrew smiled to himself. 'At least Maria finally got out of her room.'

It had been almost a week since they arrived. It would have been stranger if Maria hadn't stepped outside by now. Even so, her body still looked thin. She barely ate.

Though he knew perfectly well Bianca had "forced" her to come out. Maria's room was too close to the babies' room, and the noise would drive anyone insane, especially a vampire with heightened senses.

Andrew shifted his weight and accidentally stepped on a toy. It squeaked loudly. He grimaced.

"Damn," he hissed under his breath. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."

Maria's eyes met his for a moment. She stiffened, nervous, and quickly looked away.

"Maria, we need to talk," he said.

She blinked in surprise but nodded, gently passing the toddler to a staff member as disappointed little faces watched her leave.

They headed to the drawing room on the first floor, where they found Bianca waiting. She opened the door for them.

"Perfect," she said, lighting a cigar and exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "I wanted to give you two pieces of information about that weird village. Sit."

They took seats side by side, waiting as Bianca leaned back and continued.

"Oprichin is a mining village for charcoal. Most of the men are miners," she began.

"But about three months ago, they found a statue inside the mine. People claim they saw it crying blood. Anyone who sees it starts having nightmares."

She tapped ash from her cigar, eyes narrowing. "Nightmares of burning in hell. Some dream about that upside-down tree."

Andrew's expression changed. "Scarlet Moriai," he murmured, rubbing his chin.

"Oh? So you've heard of it?"

"I read about it once at the vampire hunter HQ." He exhaled. "You think the crest is inside the statue?"

Bianca nodded. "But the next part is worse."

She leaned forward. "They actually turned that statue into an idol. The entire village is acting strangely and has isolated itself."

She shrugged casually. "So watch out for zealots. Religion can be more intoxicating than any liquor."

Andrew tapped his fingers on the armrest. "If things turn violent… are you allowing it?"

Maria, who had been silent, jolted and stared at Bianca, shocked.

"Yep, no problem," Bianca answered without hesitation. "Honestly, it benefits us. The mining area belongs to the village chief. If he goes crazy or dies… we can take it."

Andrew sighed, not even surprised. "Just in case," he said, then turned to Maria, locking eyes with her.

"You're coming with us."

Maria widened her eyes and shook her head fast. "No! Impossible! I—I don't want to kill those villagers!"

"But you're fine killing vampires? That's hypocritical." Bianca huffed smoke right into Maria's face, making her cough.

"I-It's different! They're different, they're monsters who kill people!"

Maria shouted, fidgeting harder, clearly uncomfortable with where this was going.

"Ah, right. That stupid reasoning." Bianca let out a long sigh and crossed her arms.

"You're the same monster now, and your beloved 'humans' are on the wrong side. So which side are you on?"

Maria's mouth snapped shut. She couldn't answer. Andrew groaned under his breath.

"You know it doesn't mean I'll kill all of them, right?" he added. "It's just in case. In the worst possible situation, even you won't be able to save anyone."

"I understand, but still… You should do better! Don't just kill people easily like that!

Humans aren't less important than whatever all of you are planning! Our lives should have the same weight!" she insisted, her voice rising with frustration.

Andrew rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to hold back his own since even he thought her naivety was stupid.

"You need to do better, Maria," Bianca cut in. "Your eyes might help us see the weird phenomena happening there. So do your best in this mission."

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