Talk Before the Curfew

I stand inside Langwar's house, panting.

"You saved me."

"What's the situation, buddy?" Langwar asks.

 "A vampire is lurking in the city," I explain briefly.

"I figured from the sound of the bell," he says after a moment of silence, his demeanor turning serious. "Are you a suspect?" 

I nod, admittingly. "I was at the square when the incident happened. I didn't wanna get into trouble, so I ran away with a person who was in a similar situation."

"I see... Guards can go crazy at times like this," Langwar says, locking the door behind me. "Come, have a seat," he invites me to the table.

"Wait, don't you suspect me?" I ask with a bit of relief.

"You wouldn't be running so carelessly if you were a vampire," he says, pouring me a cup of water. 

I sit down at his table hesitantly.

"W-won't they come after me?" I ask, worried about what could happen.

"Don't worry. They probably do not have a warrant... Yet," he says in a calming voice. "You're safe here for now."

For now... Great!

"Do you think I can get back to the inn?" I ask, hoping for confirmation.

Langwar leans back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Probably. But not during the day," he says, leaning closer. "The city will soon announce a total curfew. Anyone seen outside will be arrested for suspicious behaviour."

I blink in confusion. "Is it that serious?!"

"You've never seen a vampire before, huh?" Langwar narrows his eyes. "Think about it, what's the purpose of a vampire?"

"To drink blood?" I answer after a moment of thinking.

"Exactly, that is their sole purpose. They are not simply creatures that feed. They exist because they feed—they feed because they exist," Langwar reaches out with his hand, putting up four fingers. "Every moon phase, a vampire must feed. That's approximately four days."

"So the curfew is a way to trap them," I say, getting his point.

He nods, lowering one finger.

"Day one, they’re calm. Careful. They pick their target. Our vampire has probably chosen his next prey already."

Another finger drops.

"The second day, their hunger grows. But they wouldn't strike just yet. They are not that impatient. They'll try getting closer to their prey, either by befriending them or following them."

One finger remains.

"On day three, they might feel nervous. Prone to mistakes. The less patient individuals might attack."

He folds down the last finger.

"Day four, they attack. Be their prey friend or foe, no matter how long they'd known each other, if they feel desperate, they'll attack..." Langwar pauses for a moment. "I've heard a story of a merchant. Successful, generous, and respected. He was a friendly, quiet man. But secretly, he was feeding on criminals, beggars, and vagabonds. He lived in a big city, where disappearances didn't stand out too much. And no one would suspect him. He managed to live like this for fifteen years, not committing a single mistake. But one day, he couldn't find a prey in time. He became desperate. He invited a blacksmith, who had been his friend ever since he came to town. And he struck."

As he speaks, Langwar lowers his gaze with horror.

"He tore his throat out right at the dinner table. He didn't say a word. The hunger had taken everything else from him—reason, restraint, memory. All that was left was the desperate need to stay alive. But at what cost?"

A chill runs down my spine as I imagine the scene.

"The neighbors heard the noise, found him hunched over the drained body like a beast. He wouldn't move. He just stared blankly at his friend he had just murdered. As if his actions had got to him."

That's truly horrifying.

"They say vampires and elves have the same roots. They both use magic. That's why elves are able to sense them," Langwar pauses.

I suddenly remember the image of the elf at the square. So that's why she was there...

"But their mana is faint. Over the thousands of years, vampires have cautiously developed their own version of magic. They call it dark magic. Since vampires are solitary creatures, there's not a single technique. They all have their own. That's what makes them so dangerous."

Langwar leans back, calming himself with an exhale. His serious demeanour changes as a faint smile appears on his face.

"But you need not worry, buddy!" he says, standing up, patting me on the shoulder. "The guards are doing a good job so far. If you are careful, you can't get hurt.

He then turns and picks up two large jugs.

"Wanna drink up?" he says with a cheerful smile.

He switched so fast!

I shake my head slowly. "Thank you, Langwar. But I need to go back to the inn now,"

Langwar puts the jugs down as an acknowledgement.

"I understand you, buddy. You may be able to sneak back to the inn before the curfew is officially announced," he offers casually. "Most guards are still setting up checkpoints. You should be able to make it if you go now."

The thought of slipping past armed men while a vampire hunts in the shadows makes my stomach twist. It might be better if I just stayed. But Sylvienne must feel alone.

Langwar walks over to a narrow cabinet and pulls it open with a loud creak. The cabinet is full of different weapons, lined up next to each other.

"If you can take a single advice from a warrior," he pulls out a dagger. "Never leave without a weapon in times of danger," he says, reaching out to me with his large palms, holding the dagger in them.

I gulp as I hesitantly grab it by its hilt.

"Th-thanks!" I say quietly.

I raise the weapon, holding its shining blade close to my face as I measure it with my eyes. My body starts shaking at the sight. Is this what I signed up for when I decided to join that elf?

"Kaito," Langwar calls. "Everything's gonna be alright. You are fit, just like a warrior!"

He gives me an encouraging grin and puts up his thumb.

That's right! I didn't go to the gym for nothing. I clench my fist as I take a look at the weapon awkwardly. But holding a dagger in my hand doesn't calm me.

I look towards the door and put away the dagger. I gotta go now.

I look around carefully as I step out. The alleyway is clear. But there's a certain, unsettling atmosphere waiting outside.

"Alright... Bring it on, vampire!"