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Sir Geoffrey steps out of the dark forest beneath a sky rumbling with thunder and lightning. Heavy rain sweeps across the farmland before him, and at its distant edge rises a great walled town: Brenbold Town.

The largest settlement in the Brenn Domain, Brenbold is surrounded by a massive stone wall. At its southwestern corner stands Brenbold Castle, where generations of the Brenn Family have lived and ruled.

Sir Geoffrey looks toward the storm clouds. He’s experienced many storms in his life, but the weather here feels strangely nostalgic. The Brenn Domain is notorious for its spring storms, weeks of rain and flooding followed by clear, dry days perfect for planting.

His gaze falls fondly upon the fields. When he was ten, Sir Geoffrey often snuck out of the castle to help the farmers plant and harvest their crops. Those memories belong to another life now—a life he abandoned long ago.

With his knapsack over one shoulder and his greatsword at his side, Geoffrey begins the final stretch toward Brenbold Town. His heart grows heavier with every step closer.

Soon, he notices the silence. Beneath the roar of the storm, Brenbold is unnaturally still. There are no birds or animals among the fields. No farmers are caught outside by the storm. The town gates stand wide open and undefended. Beyond them, the cobblestone streets are empty.

Brenbold was once called the “city that could never sleep.” Morning or midnight, merchants and travelers passed constantly through its gates. Laughter, arguments, and songs filled its streets. Even from the highest tower of Brenbold Castle, Sir Geoffrey could hear music drifting from the taverns below.

Now, there is nothing. Doors and shutters beat against empty buildings as the storm howls through abandoned streets. Not a single light burns anywhere in town. Except at Brenbold Castle. Light glows from several windows on the ground floor.

Sir Geoffrey stops, fully alert. His hand tightens around the hilt of his greatsword. Something has happened to the town.

He remains exposed in the empty street, waiting to see whether his presence draws anything out.

Nothing comes. Sir Geoffrey continues toward Brenbold Castle.

Brenbold Castle is a relic of the crusading era, built nearly two centuries ago from massive blocks of dark stone. Six spires rise above its four levels, overlooking the town and surrounding countryside. Beneath the castle lie three older levels of cellars, vaults, dungeons, and forgotten chambers carved deep into its foundations.

Sir Geoffrey stands at the bottom of the forty-five stone steps leading to the castle doors. He remembers trying to jump down them two at a time as a boy and tumbling halfway to the bottom. He remembers his father, Lord Marcus, standing over him afterward, furious and terrified in equal measure.

He remembers August beside him, the two of them racing up and down the steps until their father chased them away. Now the steps are empty, washed by rain and silent beneath the storm.

Sir Geoffrey pulls a large wrapped bundle from his knapsack and fastens it behind his waist. He leaves the knapsack beside the steps. Then, with only the bundle, his greatsword and armor, Sir Geoffrey takes the first step toward home.

The large castle doors creak noisily as Sir Geoffrey pushes through. A dimly lit stone hallway stretches before him, stirring up childhood memories. He and August used to run around here, playing hide-and-seek with the servants. Their father would try to scold them, but their butler and head maid, Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, would always shield them from their father’s scolding.

But there are no servants in sight. Yet the candles are lit. Sir Geoffrey keeps close to the left wall as he proceeds.

At the end of the hallway is the main chamber. Sir Geoffrey remembers the room as being round and large enough to accommodate thirty people at once. A large fireplace stands at the far end, while tall tables and chairs fill the center. On the left is an imperial staircase leading to the second level. On the right is a corridor leading to the gardens and a staircase to the lower level.

The main chamber appears just as Sir Geoffrey remembers it. The fireplace is lit, but the room feels incredibly cold. There’s no sign of a servant. Dust hangs undisturbed in the air. He enters the room but remains vigilant, keeping close to the entrance and right wall.

His destination is the lowest level of Brenbold Castle, where the Crystal Coffin rests.

Down, down, and down Sir Geoffrey goes. He arrives in a dungeon of large stones laid in a brick bond pattern, damp and covered in mold, dimly lit by iron lanterns. It had rarely seen use during his father’s rule. A long stone corridor stretches ahead. At the end of the corridor is a small guardroom where the gaolers and knights assigned to the dungeon once rested.

Sir Geoffrey remembers this room. He and August had been forbidden from entering it. Of course, his curiosity won over his obedience, and he defied his father’s orders. He discovered his father’s secret: the Crystal Coffin.

The Crystal Coffin was a massive glass container, large enough to hold a grown man. Thick silver bands reinforced its walls, engraved with ancient runes. Small, translucent crystals were embedded throughout the frame, their faint glow suggesting that the ancient magic within had never truly faded.

Within was the most beautiful person he had ever seen: a fairy princess.

Sir Geoffrey may have only been eleven years old, but he believed she was indeed a fairy princess, trapped inside the Crystal Coffin by his wicked father. Her long platinum-white hair flowed down to her slender waist. Her pale skin seemed almost ethereal. Even as a child, he understood her great beauty.

The fairy princess slept peacefully, barely moving. Curious, young Geoffrey stepped closer. To his amazement, the fairy princess’s eyes opened. Her golden eyes met Geoffrey’s, and for a moment, he felt an inexplicable connection to her. The fairy princess introduced herself as “Alfa.”

Ever since, Geoffrey would sneak into the secret room and talk with Alfa. They talked about anything when Alfa was awake. Otherwise, Geoffrey simply sat beside her, content to keep her company. He wondered if this was love. If it was, then he would become stronger—the greatest hunter like his father and grandfather—and one day stand proudly before his father. Geoffrey wished for the strength to protect Alfa from him.

Many times, Alfa asked Geoffrey to open the Crystal Coffin and free her. She was suffering. Every time Geoffrey tried, a small feeling at the back of his mind told him not to. He would apologize to Alfa and leave until next time.

On his 15th birthday, the day he was officially recognized as an “adult,” Geoffrey finally confronted his father about Alfa. Instead of anger, his father remained quiet and patient. Slowly, his father revealed Alfa's true background as a vampire princess of the Holostein Bloodline.

Geoffrey’s grandfather, Lord Peter Brenn, fell in love with Alfa and disobeyed the Silver Order’s code, hunting and capturing Alfa, and putting her into the Crystal Coffin for many years. Very much like Geoffrey, Lord Marcus also defied his father’s orders and entered the secret room, discovering the Crystal Coffin and Alfa. He, too, fell in love with Alfa and chose to leave her imprisoned.

Looking straight into Geoffrey’s eyes, Lord Marcus asked Geoffrey about his feelings for Alfa.

Geoffrey was about to declare that he loved Alfa, and that imprisoning her within the Crystal Coffin was not love. However, that same feeling at the back of his mind stopped him. Geoffrey held back his words and fell silent.

Later that night, Geoffrey went to talk with Alfa about what his father told him. And that same night, Geoffrey ran away from home.

Sir Geoffrey shakes his head to clear away his thoughts. His hand still gripping the hilt of his greatsword, Sir Geoffrey slowly pushes open the guardroom door.

At the center of the guardroom is the Crystal Coffin, the same as Sir Geoffrey remembers from his childhood. However, the Crystal Coffin is open. The beautiful vampire princess, Alfa, is nowhere to be seen.