A/N: It's been awhile, but i've finally gotten things working once more. But i still hate editing... all the paragraphs are all messed up as always...
Notes:
Silver/ White hair- While not common, it isn't rare to see humans on the main land of Rune Midgard with silver or white hair. Usually those with such colouring of hair are from families of either great prestige, and/or power. It is said they are descendents of the time when Gods and Elves came and migled with humans. While it is true that those with such hair are righteous, smart, and strong, it does not mean they are any different from normal humans. History has recorded a few incidents in which the main instigator of the wars and conflicts were by those with silver and white hair. They were once revered as higher or holy beings, now just simply regarded as typically beings from the higher echelons of society. There are people from the lower class with such colour, though they are rare and normally hide their hair, or colour it.
Black Hair- Extremely rare to find it in someone born on the mainland. Most black hairs are from humans of the East, off the mainland in the Eastern World. However, it should be noted that their hair is not completely black, though appearing to be so. Tharin's hair is completely black, and so her identity is a mystery.
Count Ios Van Lios De Bilanka- Resident Vampire of Einbroch, though he didn't start out as a vampire. Once an arrogant young noble, he was bitten by a high vampire while hunting in the woods near his father's castle, and was turned into a vampire. Bound to the vampire who bit him, he was forced to do things that he hated, but soon was overwhelmed by the dark powers that came with being a vampire. The vampire who bit him then tried to fight with a True vampire in order to gain new powers, but was easily defeated. Now free from the bounds that once restrained him, Ios roamed the world, gathering strength by feeding off villagers and monsters. But his true break came when he chanced upon an Elf, who had accidently crossed the gates separating Alfenhiem and Rune Midgard. By feeding off the Elf, he gained magic and powers strong enough to defeat High Vampires, and he rose to the rank of Vampire Lord. He summonded hordes of demons, and invaded the castle of another Vampire Lord, killing him, and taking over his castle. Naming himself as 'count', he moved his fortress to Einbroch due to its unnatural environment.
Blood Dance of the Moon
The vampire lord was tall, about a head taller than Kaine, with a long silver hair tied into a tail. His suit and coat was one that resembled what nobles wear. But was there anything noble about a vampire? The vampire walked up the empty throne chair, and sat down on it.
"You mortals have done well to avoid all of my traps, and my minions. I wonder, how is that you came to know of my secret passages?"
Then, the vampire's eyes gazed down on the small figure hiding behind Meili. A dark smirk crossed his face.
"I see... so it was you, you failure."
The tiny homunculus clung tightly onto Meili's tunic, obviously afraid.
"What is that you plan to do with Tharin?"
Kaine demanded. The vampire chuckled, stroking a finger down Tharin's face. That act made Kaine rather unnerved.
"Foolish mortal, you have no idea how special this girl is. Her blood is special. Her very essence is both holy, and evil. She is the balance between the worlds. She is everything."
Now the count was just not making any sense.
"And thanks to her blood, i am now more powerful than before. I could have never dreamed of such power till i had a taste of hers."
"You what?!"
"Yes, i bit her. Soft and smooth, milky skin. Jealous?"
The vampire smirked. Now Kaine was pissed. He drew his swords, and charged.
"Kaine!"
Terash and Vensil charged after him, while Gwen drew her guns and Meili reached into her pouch, drawing dozens of knives between her fingers. Kaine threw his giant blade at the vampire, who did not even blink as the blade bounced off some sort of invisible wall. Kaine grabbed his sword and stopped. Magic?
"How observant. Yes, it is a magical barrier. Now, what can you do?"
The vampire was somewhat amused, as Kaine tried a couple more time to crash the barrier with his sword, but to no avail. That was when a single shot was fired, and the barrier suddenly shattered. The vampire looked up towards the smoking gun in Gwen's hand.
"Ah, Einbroch science. Frightening, isn't it?"
The vampire got to his feet, sweeping his cape aside.
"Anti-barrier bullet. It's only a prototype, but looks like it works on you."
Gwen smirked, discharging her clip and slotting in a new one.
"So it seems. But i am far more powerful than before, and that barrier, was something that i did not create, but rather coming from this castle's previous owner. I believe a demonstration of my new power, is in order."
The vampire snapped his fingers, and a piece of the floor behind Gwen exploded, showering Gwen and Meili in rocks. Count Ios pointed a finger at Vensil, and she flew back as though being punched by some invisible force. She flew a good five metres, before crashing into one of the stone pillars. The vampire next pointed at Terash, who brought up his arms to defend himself, but instead of some invisible force pushing him, deep cuts appeared all over himself. His legs then gave way when a cut to his right leg was too deep.
"How pitiful."
The vampire lord laughed. Kaine looked at his comrades, who all lay beaten. All of that in less than a minute. This was a battle that he couldn't win. This wasn't normal at all. This vampire lord was something greater than anything Kaine had ever faced. For the first time in a long time, Kaine Vether felt fear. Sweat trickling down his brow, his hands trembling as his grip on his sword was loosening. This wasn't a normal vampire, or a vampire lord. Kaine had killed those damned creatures before. Even a vampire lord who led a small coalition of other vampires against him fell before his sword and his allies. But this was different. This vampire was no longer a vampire. This malice, this dark feeling. The devil. It was like Kaine was facing the devil straight on.
"Oh? The knight is shaking in his boots? Ha! So much for the fairy tale of Knights in shining armour saving the damsel in distress!"
Count Ios laughed at Kaine, and Kaine knew that he couldn't argue back. Though Tharin was right before him, he could do nothing. He wasn't even a knight, but a mere guide. Why was he pushing himself for her anway? Why does he have to jump into the flames of death to reach out for her? The mysteries that surround her, and what other people say about her keeps his mind too focused on finding out her past, her identity in relation to himself. But was it worth it to come so far? A shot rang out, and the Count blinked, hand reaching to touch his cheek where a clean cut started to bleed. Kaine spun around, seeing that Gwen was still standing, though slightly bruised.
"Do not give up, sir Kaine! There is no point in turning back now! If you would not do this for yourself, then do this for Tharin! You would never let her suffer, am i right?!"
Gwen's words struck Kaine like a bolt. He would not let her suffer. He would not let another person close to him suffer under the dark magics that consumed them. He would not let them be controlled. He swore that time. To Maria.
"You impudent litte WENCH!"
Count Ios pointed at Gwen, and a shot of dark magic shot out from his finger, streaking at incredible speeds towards the girl. Kaine could not make it to deflect the attack, but the dark magics was suddenly negated before it could hit Gwen. With Meili standing before Gwen, both of her hands holding onto pieces of paper that suddenly exploded into flames. Dropping the papers onto the ground, Meili heaved a sigh of relief.
"That certainly was some powerful magic. Used up all of my protective charms in one go... Kaine, you're going to replace all of the charms i lost when we get back."
"Meili..."
The two girls rushed up to where Kaine was, brandishing their weapons. Kaine was still afraid of the vampire, but he had some comfort in that his comrades were not dead. Since when did he start caring? He did not know. But it was feeling that he was starting to enjoy.
"Pitiful mortals... if you wish to die together, THEN SO BE IT!"
Count Ios raised his hand in the air, summong a giant ball of black magic. Kaine and the other two steeled themselves, but then, the magic stopped. The vampire looked up, and saw that his raised hand was no longer there, instead lying on the ground next to him.
"Wha-"
A figure appeared behind the vampire, dressed in rough clothings close to rags. The assasin let the blood drip from his wrist blade.
"You-"
"I have nothing to say to you scum."
The assasin disappeared, and reappeared by Kaine's side.
"You seem well enough."
"Where the hell were you?"
Kaine demanded, though keeping his gaze and weapon still pointed at the vampire.
"I was simply bidding my time."
"Yeah, well, why couldn't rescue Tharin before coming over here?"
Meili asked.
"He has a magic barrier around her. I can't break it."
"I see."
Kaine just had more problems piling up on one another.
"How dare you!"
The count suddenly had his missing arm regrown, which earned a couple of disgusted glares from the girls. He raised his hand the assasin, but a knife suddenly imbedded itself in that same hand. Appearing next to the first assasin, another figure in clothes that resembled rags, appeared, though with a black cloak wrapped around the body. Another assasin, but this time, a woman.
"Vinlett, you're late."
The first assasin commented.
"Oh shut it. That 'thing' is heavier than it looks. Can't believe humans actually created it. And you were careless too, Ferex."
The female assasin shot back.
"Hmph. Go grab the monks and put them one side. Use this."
Ferex threw Vinlett a small vial, who caught it.
"Great, i'm on medical duty."
With that, Vinlett casually walked towards the monks. The vampire roared in anger, raising both of his hands towards the new assasin, who did not seem to bother at all. And for a good reason. Another shot rang out, but this time, louder and it wasn't from Gwen. The bullet pierced the barrier that the vampire had hastily erected, and went through his left hand. Everyone turned to the smoking gun, a man in a black coat and pants. He had in his hand, a similar pistol to Gwen's but it had a round piece near the trigger. Kaine recognized the gun as a revolver, a big one at that too, and he knew the man as well.
"Azel... Barralos."
"It's been quite some time, Kaine."
The newcomer stepped forward, and that was when Kaine noticed two long wrapped things on his back. One was larger than the other though.
"Azel, what are you doing here?"
Gwen asked.
"Your father asked me to make sure nothing happened to you. Here, you left this behind when you ran off."
Azel handed the girl the thinner of the two long wrapped rods on his back. Gwen unwrapped it to reveal a rifle. But this rifle was somewhat different from what the town guards use. It had a magazine clip like Gwen's pistols, and it was longer.
"Hmm, and i would think that other one is... 'that'."
Gwen smirked.
"Exactly. Now then, shall we get this over with?"
Azel pulled the cloth wrapping, revealling a giant metallic contraption. With multiple barrels, the gun was nothing short of scary. Azel pulled a lever at the side back, and the barrels begun to spin.
"Stand back. This might get loud."
Azel warned, before pulling the trigger. The defeaning roar of the gun as it fired multiple bullets in one go surprised most, the vampire the most. The count pulled up a strong barrier, but he was slowly pushed back by the hail of bullets that never seemed to end.
"Let's go!"
Kaine rushed forward, Meili, Ferex and Vinlett right behind him. Gwen pulled out her rifle, went on one knee and aimed. Her shot was accurate, and powerful, breaking the count's barrier. Meili drew multiple daggers, throwing them with great precision. The two assasin disappeared, and reappeared right in front of the vampire, only to disappear again, leaving only slashes in their wake as they flickered in and out of sight, continously injuring their opponent in flashes. Kaine drew back his great sword, and brought it crashing down the middle of the vampire, actually splitting the undead lord in two. The group jumped back, as they were sure it wasn't over. True enough, the vampire lord was starting to heal. And at an incredible rate at that too.
"Ha, you think the steels of mortals can harm me?"
The count chuckled.
"Now face my true power!"
The vampire lord raised both hands into the air, and the ground began to shake. The air was thickening with some malicious air. A dark wave of energy pulsated from the vampire lord, pushing the group back. It was like facing a storm of torrent energies. It was nearly impossible to get close to the dark lord. Another pulse of energies forced the entire group on their knees. As though their entire body weight had suddenly tripled on the spot. The force applied upon them was so great, and many of them were succumbing to the force. Only Kaine remained, trying with all of his might to stay as he is. He forced his gaze up, glaring straight at the count.
"Oh? You still have this much of energy? Well, i guess playtime is over. You will now die."
The vampire raised a finger and pointed it directly at Kaine. A dark focus point of energy gathered at the tip of that finger. Kaine wanted to close his eyes to avoid seeing the end, but his will pressed on. He will see this to the end.
"DIE-"
The vampire stopped in mid-cry, looking down, where a hand was sticking out from his chest, covered in his blood.
"Wha-"
Count Ios turned back, and saw someone he didn't expect. Tharin. Staring expressionless at him. Her eyes dull, devoid of life. But even with all of these, he could still feel a dark aura growing from her.
"Im...possible-"
Tharin jerked her hand out from the vampire's chest, brought it to her lips, and licked blood off it. The vampire's wound started to close, but Tharin raised a hand at the vampire, and his left arm disappeared.
"Wha-?!"
Count Ios's arm regrew itself, but that was when Tharin continued her attack. More blasts of immense energy destroyed the right arm, then the left leg, the chest, the head. While the vampire was clearly showing signs of fatigue due to regeneration, Tharin was simply blasting dark waves of energy like it was nothing.
"Dammit!"
The vampire released a sudden burst of energy, making Tharin pause, giving the vampire ample time to grow his wings and take flight. Tharin looked up, her eyes following the vampire's movements closely. Dark energys surged, wrapping around her entire body. When the energies dispersed, Tharin's clothes changed. Black long sleeved coat, over a black tunic, and mini-skirt. Dark boots went up to her knees, and belts wrapped all around her clothes, as though binding it there. Tharin's eyes opened, revealing her dark pupils, but alive with dark energies. Tharin then lifted off the ground, and flew upwards towards the vampire. But she flew like Feyrin, with magic.
Tharin chased the vampire lord around, blasting energies while he kept dodging, till one stray burst of energy destroyed the roof, revealling the night sky. The vampire took that opportunity, and flew out, escaping into the night. Tharin looked at the hole in the ceiling, and down at the party on the ground. She flew down, and looked at Kaine, who did not know what to say. Tharin did not say anything either, before looking over at one side. She lifted her hand, but in the way that she was offering her hand to something, or someone. From behind the pillar, the tiny homunculus who led Kaine and the others here stepped forward. The homunculus walked up to Tharin, and took her hand.
"... Mas...ter..."
The homunculus smiled, before a dark glow surrounded her. The homunculus disappeared, and the glow wrapped itself around Tharin. The glow disappeared, and Tharin's clothing changed once more, but into a dark armour. Black chest plate, black greaves, black boots, black gauntlets with claw-like fingers. A black cape emerged on her back, as well as large bat like wings. In her hand, a large black scythe materialized itself. With one flap, Tharin was up in the air again, and went off to chase the vampire lord.
Escaping into the night sky, Tharin spotted the vampire lord not too far off. With a sudden burst of speed, Tharin was catching up to vampire lord. The vampire lord materialized a rapier in his hand, and defended himself against Tharin's initial attack. The two exchanged multiple blows, though it was mostly the vampire on the defence. Tharin brought her scythe down, knocking the vampire unbalanced, before giving a swift kick to the abdomen. The vampire flew back a few metres, but when he looked up, it was too late, Tharin flew straight and fast, slicing across the vampire, and pass him.
"It... can't... be!"
The vampire split into two across the waist. He no longer had the energy to regenerate. Tharin turned around, and raised her hand to the vampire. A dark smile formed on her lips.
"Do not think yourself as someone who is great. For your power is merely only borrowed. You have committed a crime so grave, that your only outcome is death. Die."
In a blink of an eye, the vampire was gone. Not a trace was left.
Kaine struggled to his feet, as the others did the same. Even the two monks were awake, and getting up. Meili was fast to get up and use her healing drinks and bandages on herself and the others. But everyone stopped, when Tharin came flying in. Her feet lightly touching the ground, as she stared blankly at the party. Her armour flared for a moment, before the tiny homunculus reappeared by Tharin's side, and Tharin no longer the armour, but the black coat.
"..."
Tharin did not say a word while looking directly at Kaine.
"Tharin..."
Tharin walked up to Kaine, smiled, then collasped unconscious.
"Wha- Tharin?!"
"Master... is tired."
The homunculus giggled. Kaine did not know what was happening any more. Things were just too complicated. And, to make matters worse, the entire castle was trembling.
"... Great, how typical. Guys! Let's move!"
The group managed to get out of the crumbling castle just before it collasped in itself, though it was a rather close call. As they made their way back to the town, they were greeted by Karves, and a group of town guards, who heard the explosions and rushed out to check. They made it back to Gyun's inn, and Kaine gently set Tharin down on her bed. Kaine noticed that her black coat had disappeared when she lost consciousness. Maybe it was part of her will that formed that clothing. But just who is she? The mysteries surrounding Tharin just kept mounting with no answers for any of them. Kaine heaved a sigh, sitting down on the chair behind the bar. Gyun dropped a glass of beer in front of him, smiling.
"Looks like you guys did it. The town is grateful for what you did. Never thought you guys would be able to defeat the Count though."
Kaine took the beer, stared into it, and drank a long one from it.
"It wasn't us who finished him off. It was Tharin."
"Well, that's a surprise. The prisoner turns into the savior."
"That isn't only it. She... she wields untold power, much like... Feyrin."
Gyun narrowed her eyes at that sentence.
"A crusader with the powers of a mage? That's ridiculous."
"It certainly is. Though i saw it with my own eyes. And not like a mage... more like, some dark entity. Feyrin had a similar power before, but not as pronounced, not that solid..."
"You mean, not 'complete'."
"... Yeah."
Kaine took another swing from his glass. He got up from the chair and headed towards the door.
"Not going to look after her?"
Gyun called after him.
"The two assasins and Vensil are watching her. I'm off to report to Feyrin about this matter."
"Alright."
The moment Kaine left, Gyun took out a small card.
"We may need to decide. It is as you all have heard."
'"... But we still need confirmation. In the mean time, we will start mobilizing our forces. I hope that you will be able to join us when we give our call."'
"Certainly."