Chapter 2
It had been a few weeks passed since Count Magnus Lee's short reign on the townspeople of Ransylva. Fortunately, with the Nobleman eradicated, the town had gone into a peaceful tranquility; women and girls walked in the broad daylight with their children by their side with nothing but sweet smiles and chest filled with ease. Men went to work on farms and factories knowing that their wives and children shall await them to return wholly home. Overall, it was a golden time for everyone… except one!
A young girl who was actually in close proximity with the diabolical Count and was victimized by receiving the Kiss of Nobility; Doris Lang. An ordinary farm girl on the appearance but the daughter of the town's best Lycan Hunter, Sir Rachael Lang. He was an exceptional hunter whose profession was infamous around the rural neighborhoods as well. However, no matter from what bloodline the young Doris was, she was still a girl with a heart.
The traumatizing events she went through had left a huge scar on her heart and damaged her mentality. She spent most of time isolated in her room while her little brave brother – nine years of age – worked like a grown farm boy on their father's property. The Lang farm had the finest corn, vineyard, as well as milk to supply half of the town's basic products like vegetarian oil, wine, and dairy respectively.
The Ransulva citizens were left in doubt and uncertainty whether to continue their eatable trade with the Langs after the Vampire incident; when they heard that Doris has isolated herself and the young Dan is working day and night to put steps in her father's shoes, the people agreed to give the boy a chance. Still there were rumors between the prejudice families to keep their young boys and girls away from the alien girl if she dared to show herself under the bare daylight; to them Doris was no longer part of Ransylva, she was a foreigner… no- she was an opposed stranger.
However, the attention of the folks was soon driven to another exotic subject, mainly the sudden appearance of a traveling Doctor who had come from a long journey in order to pay the neighborhood townships a visit. Doctor Tsurugi and his psychological assistant Mr. Carter Brownsberger. The youths caught everyone's attentions even the sheriff's, and quite frankly, they eased the tension that had blanketed the town. Everyone was delighted to have some medics around them again – especially after the great loss of Dr. Feringo.
The thought of continuing their lives without a Doctor in town to keep their health, physically and mentally in check, had made some divested. Hence, the presence of Tsurugi and Brownsberger was a life saver. The mayor Roman went as far as to invite the duo into his house, explained the incident of a few weeks ago and requested help from the youths. Like typical, Brownsberger asked for any victims or those who got in contact with the Noble and Roman filled them with every bit of detail about Doris and the mysterious Vampire Hunter D. The duo promised to visit the young Lang after they have given checkup to the folks first.
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Knock! Knock! Knock!
"I'll get that!" Dan yelled before running down the stairs to the door.
After turning off the security lasers and unlocking the automated gates, the boy was met with a pair of gentlemen at his door. Looking them up and down, he did recognize the man with raven black hair, a white coat, and slightly narrowed yet friendly eyes as a Doctor. However, Dan kept himself posed and tall toward the strangers. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, young man. Sorry for disturbing you but," The man in white coat said before putting a hand on his chest and nodding his head courtly. "I am Dr. Tsurugi and this is my assistant and friend," he pointed to the brown-haired man with a long sandy brown trench coat, "Mr. Brownsberger."
The addressed youth tapped the tip of his fedora and smiled at the young boy. "Good afternoon." Dan nodded in return.
Tsurugi smiled. "We are traveling medics who visit different parts of the Frontier and aid those who were victims of the Nobility. Our primary mission is to supply patients with proper medical assistance and help them improve their health both physically and mentally." Considering that this information was not suited for a boy like Dan, but based on the intellect both youths assembled from the Mayor, the boy had become a grown man after his encounter with the Dhampir Hunter.
"Yes, and we have heard that your sister is in poor condition since she was witnessed to be the main victim of the Vampire who jeopardized your village."
Dan listening carefully, lowered his head in deep thoughts. They could be right what they say, but at the same time, Dan couldn't afford to bring more pain to his older sister hence the two doctors were still behind a veil of doubt for the young boy.
As if sensing Dan's hesitation, Brownsberger took his hat off and kneeled before the boy to be with his eye-level. The sudden act caused the boy to break his train of thoughts. "You have every bit of the right to be mistrustful, but I assure you young man that our intentions are good and we would do anything to help your sister bounce back to the life she once had; that happy life she spent with you…"
Those trusting words and that gleam of hope in the man's eyes, they brought almost bittersweet memories back to the young Dan. A while ago, a confident and powerful hunter once kneeled before him and not only encouraged him but gave a silent promise of a better future and that things were going to be alright, and he DID keep that promise with his life, with his blood.
Clearing his throat, Dan forced a smile. "Alright." He looked bravely at the still kneeled Brownsberger. "My name is Dan Lang and my older sister is Doris Lang."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Dan, you can call me Carter." They both shook hands and Dan invited them inside.
"Please, wait here till I go and inform my sister of your arrival." Both gentlemen sat on the sofa by the window and put their leather bags and suitcase down on the floor.
Brownsberger gently nestled in his place while Tsurugi – curious about the interior of the handsomely furnished house – stood up from his place and made his way to the left wall where some weapons and photos hang on the wall. Clasping his hands behind his white medical coat, pair of coal black orbs observed the pictures.
"The boy has been taking care of her quite well." Brownsberger's soft sound sliced through the silence.
"Yes, he almost reminds me of myself when I used to watch over my own One-chan."
The brown-haired youth sighed deeply before resting his hat on his laps. "I have to wonder about her," The Asian looking Doctor turned to his friend.
"About why he is still alive?"
"AND unharmed!" Carter ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I mean, the last two women we visited back in Krauhausen, they both had gone into a state of madness."
Tsurugi sighed. "Unfortunately, they were beyond help and even though the younger one did commence to show signs of improvements, it didn't last long."
And by that, he meant that she had committed suicide. The subject of Noble and Vampires was a horrifying topic for most people in the Frontier, but some considered it a punishment or revenge of the Devil upon mankind. Regardless, a victim of the Nobility was nothing different than a person possessed by a malicious demonic entity, needing exorcism to grant their heart peace and return their pure soul.
They were wrong though; it had been stated by their Ancestors that when the Vampire is demolished, every single individual tainted by their venomous claws will be released from their evil spell and the victim regains their full humanity. Regardless of the facts, people remained strict with their own scornful ideas and abandoned the person to either die or kill themselves from depression. Therefore, there were some dark asylums built for such people to live away from the normal society.
The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs caught the males attentions. A reluctant Dan slowed his pace when he reached the final stair and gazed at the expecting due. "Thank you for waiting but… my sister thanks you for making the long way visiting her, but she refuses to see anyone at the moment."
A brief silence reigned in the room. Tsurugi watched as Dan fumbled with his shirt a bit before wiping the sweat from his temples with the back of his sleeve. He sighed. Forcing the patient against her will to start treatment was a sin; that's what he made himself vow to never do in his career as an honorable Doctor.
Brownsberger having the same intuition, put his hat on and grabbed his bag before standing up. "Well then, if your sister doesn't want to see us, we can't disrespect her wishes. Tsurugi?"
The sad man looked at his older friend before nodding in approval. "Yes," He took his own stuff and both males were walked to the door by Dan.
"I am sorry for the trouble." The young boy said the moment the due stepped out of the house.
"No worries young man. We are Doctors and the first rule is to be patient. Your sister probably requires more rest than unnecessary agitation which is understandable."
Tsurugi smiled as Dan lowered his head. "True. We will be in town for a couple of more weeks. In the meantime, if you or your sister required company, we would be glad to join you."
"Thank you Dr. Tsurugi, Mr. Carter." He nodded to each individual.
Both males nodded their head before taking their leave. A few steps and Tsurugi stopped when his eyes fell on the pile of golden straws neatly organized and ready to be thatched. By the number of them, more than thirty rectangles were accumulated.
"Are you going to bring them to the warehouse all by yourself?"
Dan noticing the Doctor's gaze went to him and watched his work. "Yeah, guess so." He rubbed the back of his small neck bashfully.
The young Doctor couldn't help but smile at the strength of the young boy. Pulling his sleeves up, Tsurugi smiled down at Dan. "It might sound strange, but need a hand?"
Watching the tall male, Dan couldn't help but smile in return. "If it doesn't bother you, then I would much appreciate it."
Nodding his head, he turned to the still waiting and confused Brownsberger. "Carter, you can either come helps us with the thatching or go to the motel and wait till I return."
As if surprised, the psychologist gasped. "What? Hey, I won't let you get all the credit."
Dan laughed while Tsurugi chuckled. "I can assure you that it is no money or bet in these gentlemen."
"That's fine Dan. We are going to do this to help you. It is all that it matters."
"Thanks."
Making their way, the three males started their work with great zeal, unaware of the pair of soft brown orbs which observed them through the window. Doris sighed for the umpteenth time when she caught the stranger return to help her younger brother. The last male who dared lay hands in the Lang farm's chores, was Vampire Hunter D; her powerful employee as well as her savior.
Despite the cold rumors, the beautiful Dhampir had helped doing the work with great zeal as well as no place for exhaustion, expanding the farm, doing repairs, working almost like a living factory. Dan had also learned a lot from the youth and Doris grew to find him more endearing. He was a hunter brute and cold, but with her and Dan, he was a man with a warm heart. His fluency in work made it hard to believe for anyone to doubt him holding anything but his sword; but D worked with the siblings as if he had a farm of his own. He even told them instructions about plant caring both siblings were unaware of.
And despite our best intentions, our last memory together at farm turned so bitter.
The delicate flower was right. She and D had a small confrontation which almost lead D to lose on his Noble blood. Their time together got tainted with blood and tears, words of death and sacrifice by the stoic hunter.
The sound of loud laughers from the outside made Doris look at the trio. Dan was happily working while the raven-haired youth did his work efficiently. However, the brown-haired male showed great fluency in his art, making Doris almost frown in disbelief.
Maybe he is a man in farm as well.
The act sure appeared not foreign to the stranger. He knew were to tighten the knot, how much straw to assemble, how to hold two rectangles at the same time without stumbling or make a fool of himself. He was well organized.
Hugging her knees tighter to her chest, Doris watched them with tearful eyes. "D, I wish you were here." But little did the little fragile Doris knew that far, where the wind blown, in the vast Frontier, her silent prayers could be heard by the Hunter's heart.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER THREE
