In the Lunar Temple, Miya invited Alucard to participate in a solemn gathering led by a powerful male elf with red glowing eyes and a tribal design on his forehead, dressed with a red vest with black trousers, decorated with a cape full of fiery red crow feathers and glowing with a red circular aura.
He was known in the Azrya Woodlands as the Elf King, with the name of the magnificent King Estes.
ESTES
"Hello, my friends. Like this human visitor with an intimidating visage of a powerful vampire, everyone possesses a burning spirit; a spirit that is strong enough to resist the influence of evil. And to you, Count Alucard, I, King Estes of Azrya, on behalf of my gentle people, the elves of the Moonlit Forest, give you a warm welcome in this mystical realm. Bathe in the Holy Light, and all evil shall perish in every step in your way."
While all the elves solemnly clapped in welcome...
ALUCARD
"It's a pleasure to meet you, majesty."
After a short gathering, Estes and Alucard both sat and talked while taking a dinner prepared by Miya and other moon elves, with the archer literally smiling in seeing them getting involved for the first time.
ESTES
"What is your motivation on hunting demons, Alucard?"
ALUCARD
"I'm just a demon hunter, majesty, and it's for my father who died in a war a long time ago."
ESTES
"Oh, speaking of that, I was informed by my sister about your past... I'm sorry to hear that on behalf... but I have to say thank you. Thank you for standing up for us. Since the corruption and conflagration of our World Tree, many of the elves were part of the countless casualties of a previous war. We were outnumbered, deceived by those who masquerade as visitors, but you are the only being of a different race who have a true intention of fighting for the oppressed. You are a truly remarkable ally."
ALUCARD
"Well, this is my first time inside this temple, but I don't deserve to be here. I'm just a human, not an elf, and you deserve the blessing bestowed by the Great Moon Goddess."
ESTES
"Oh... but because of your intervention, we were saved this day from the forces of evil. I insist in repeating this, but you truly deserve to be given honor."
After the dinner...
ALUCARD
"Majesty, I have to go now. I won't be staying long, for I need to fulfill my duties for this night."
ESTES
"Very well. Glad to see you again, Count Alucard."
While Alucard nodded, bade a farewell nonverbally, and left the elven temple, Miya voluntarily informed Estes about herself going with the demon hunter.
MIYA
"Majesty, I also have to go. I will continue the quest of finding the root of the Abyss' corrupting influence. I believe it's better to destroy what originated all our sufferings before it's too late for us."
ESTES
"Miya, it's dangerous for you and other elves to leave here at this moment. Don't tell me that you're going with Alucard."
MIYA
"Oh, about Alucard... he has been my companion for a while since the day our fellow kind were about to be killed by the fanatics of the Abyss. Please, majesty, I ask you for permission to roam freely and convince him to help me in our long-cherished quest."
ESTES
"Denied."
MIYA
"Please, majesty... I'm begging you... I promise to come back here after a moment... I humbly beg you, majesty... please allow me to roam freely and go alongside our human visitor..."
ESTES
"If you want to roam freely, then stay true to your promises. The gentle people still need our utmost assistance."
Later...
Miya hurriedly followed where Alucard casually walked.
From the distance, the archer then shot an arrow some inches far from and above the hunter's left shoulder.
In response, the surprised Alucard turned back and paid attention.
ALUCARD
"I was almost shot, Miya! Why did you-"
MIYA
"I told you, Alucard, King Estes is fine! Besides, he knew you're not a moon elf like me, but he welcomed anyone who is kind to us. I even left the temple earlier before his speech just to look for you, because he said so!"
ALUCARD
"Then why are you still out? You're supposed to stay in your homeland."
MIYA
"Because I'm going with you! There is a request that I long cherish for, and I want you to help me fulfill it. The Abyss has a growing influence of corruption, and if it reaches the woodlands and turn my fellow elves into mindless spawns of darkness, our race will eventually fall. I won't let that happen, so let me accompany you to anywhere you wandered in the Land of Dawn."
ALUCARD
"It's not easy if you ask me. Demons can come to us in any shape or form that is least perceived to us. I don't want you to fall prey to their insidious schemes. If you still pursue to go with me and fight, I repeat, it will be risky. Let me ask you this. If your king is absent or in a long slumber, who will take his place for the meantime?"
MIYA
"I will. I once led the elves in our defense against the orcs and blood demons long ago while our king is in slumber. And in response to what you asked me, I have to ask you a favor. Please protect me from any harm. One more thing. You should not go alone; for a sudden attack from demons can bring you down in one go. You need someone who can shoot them from far away."
ALUCARD
"Fine, if that's what you cherish for, I allow you to fight alongside me. Just keep yourself at a safe distance when attacking. You're an archer and I know you are most vulnerable when cornered. But are you the only elf going?"
Miya nodded in response, with the demon hunter calmly offering his right hand and nodding as a way of fully accepting her request.
The two then went to an abandoned house in Braidwood that had a tall, pointed black gate and housed no person. They rested inside there for a while.
While Alucard knew that a gunslinger once shot multiple thieves inside the house, he also seriously warned Miya about the situation involving the demons that may come in their way.
ALUCARD
"I want you to listen to me carefully, Miya. Elves like you are the most preferred prey of the demons of the Abyss. By that, I want you to stay close to me when we wander around the demon-infested areas in the Land of Dawn, including this house. They are familiar of your scent, and they could come for you and capture you anytime. Since you are not in your homeland right now, I'm making a choice to protect you while you're outside of your domain."
MIYA
"Wise choice."
And as expected, both heroes heard drips and footsteps behind a wall where they hid. Shadows on the floor were seen. Alucard's cursed right hand glowed red.
As a result, he raised his glowing hand and traces of blood were infused on it. He realized that demons came for both of them.
ALUCARD (in a gradually loud voice)
"They are coming for us. Prepare your weapon and KEEP AT A SAFE DISTANCE!"
As a result, Miya went invisible and quickly rushed to a fireplace, as a horde of abyss demons went after Alucard, who raised his sword that radiated with vampiric energy and a river of blood was absorbed from their bodies.
ALUCARD
"BEGONE DARKNESS!"
On top of the fireplace, Miya revealed herself, fired an immobilizing arrow against the horde of demons, and created her shadow clone with both firing multiple arrows without being harmed.
On the ground, Alucard made a spinning slash while being surrounded by the horde.
However, shadows on the wall created demonic hands dripped with blood. These demonic hands later showed horned skulls with red glowing eyes, wearing tattered black cloaks. They were near the fireplace, with their hands slowly grabbing the archer.
With demons that surround Alucard having their bodies flying everywhere and their heads cut and impaled by arrows, the demon hunter demanded Miya to get out of the fireplace upon seeing the cloaked ones trying to grab her.
ALUCARD
"Jump down there and move out now!"
Just at the moment Miya jumped out of the fireplace, Alucard's sword wave beheaded the cloaked demons, with their horned heads falling to the ground and spilling blood as a result. The same wave caused the destruction of the fireplace, leaving the room slowly engulfing in flames.
Three flying blood demons attempted to chase the demon hunter, but their foreheads were impaled by Miya's arrows.
The two heroes in red quickly rushed outside the abandoned house, but without seeing a group of pale-skinned eyeless beasts with huge mouths and long, sharp teeth, roaring to intimidate.
In response, Alucard leaped towards these beasts and followed it with a fatal slash from his sword on the ground below them. Then a rain of immobilizing arrows followed his pursuit. One of them had its body sliced in half with blood flowing out. The rest of them had multiple arrows that pierced their bodies, slowly bleeding. With the swordsman in red making another whirling smash, these fearsome beasts that attempted to chomp his body were instead having long lacerations on their torso, with blood spilling in front of them.
From the distance, Alucard and Miya both saw a handsome blood demon in a black robe with white hair, pale skin, and red eyes. It also flew away from them with his large wings, retreating without fear.
The demon hunter attempted to charge but there was no further sign of the same demon.
ALUCARD (frustrated)
"You waited outside to face us in a battle but you just casually flew away?"
Then he turned to Miya.
ALUCARD
"I have to follow where that last demon goes. Do you want to go with me? Maybe he would lead you to what you're looking for. Or maybe your king is looking for you."
MIYA
"I'll go with you, for I still keep my promise."
Later...
The two later went out from the hideout and ventured to a dark castle familiar to Alucard. It was Castle Aberleen.
Alucard noticed that the night was getting late, something he thought Miya could not handle.
However, the archer was curious of where they both had currently gone.
MIYA
"What is this place?"
ALUCARD
"Avalor, the renowned place in the Moniyan Empire where Castle Aberleen resides. An opera house is also found there, and this is where legends were told that a blood demon fell in love with a princess. It's a tragedy, because the princess' father arranged her to marry a general, which was also one of the Imperial Knights. She chose to sacrifice her life, and become like the opera singer's image."
However, from the distance, the blood demon from earlier descended from above and came across Alucard and Miya, now carrying a crimson staff and casually walking down the aisle.
After a brief confrontation, Miya abruptly grabbed her bow and arrow, and aimed for the demon's head, much to Alucard's shock.
MIYA
"Where do you think you're going? I can hit you and let you die in a mile away. Show yourself who you are now."
ALUCARD
"Miya!"
BLOOD DEMON
"Take it easy, both of you. I do no harm unlike the demons you slew earlier. I came here to-"
ALUCARD
"What are you talking about? You're still a foul demon, after all, and I can take your blood anytime. Why would I give you such mercy in front of us? On demons like you, killing is always better than giving mercy."
The blood demon, Cecilion, showed himself.