Eamon followed closely behind the city guard. The man was tall, with short brown hair and a heavy silver brooch pinned to his chest armor. His sword clinked gently against his side as he walked.
"So, what's your name, sir?" Eamon asked, breaking the silence.
The guard turned to him and smiled briefly. "Frank. Guard Captain Frank, if you want to be formal. But just Frank is fine."
Eamon nodded. "Frank… if you don't mind, could you tell me exactly what happened with the doctor?"
Frank's expression darkened. He glanced ahead before answering.
"It was a vampire."
Eamon blinked in confusion. "Wait… what? A vampire?"
Frank gave a bitter chuckle. "Yeah. Shocking, isn't it? His assistant, that boy who worked with him for over a year… he was a vampire."
Eamon slowed his pace a little, trying to take it all in. "But how? I mean… he lived in town?"
Frank nodded. "Pretended to be kind. Helpful. Innocent, even. He helped old people carry their baskets. Ran errands for neighbors. Spent time in the clinic learning from the doctor. Everyone trusted him. Hell, even I did."
He shook his head as if still trying to believe it.
"Three weeks ago, bodies started appearing. Not many at first. Just a few people gone missing. We thought it was bandits or maybe wild beasts in the nearby woods. But then the doctor started getting suspicious."
Eamon frowned. "How did you find out?"
"The hounds located a place where blood was smelled by them. We found a cottage outside the southern edge of the town," Frank said. "Looked abandoned from the outside. Broken windows, overgrown plants. But inside, it was a different story. We found a room filled with blood packets. Hundreds of them. The air reeked of it."
Eamon winced.
"The place was quiet. No signs of anyone inside. We confiscated everything. Took the whole stash back to the barracks. Some of it was still fresh. That's when we realized… this wasn't just about theft or smuggling. This was something darker."
Frank paused for a moment, then continued. "Later, we found out the property belonged to the doctor's assistant. That's when things went from strange to horrifying. After we raided that cottage, he must've panicked. He went wild. A day later, he attacked the doctor's home."
"He… he killed him?" Eamon asked softly.
Frank nodded grimly. "The doctor and his wife. Both of them. They cared for him like their own child. Took him in when he had nowhere else to go. Raised him. Taught him. And that's how he repaid them. We arrived too late. By the time we got there, the place was covered in blood. He had already fled."
Eamon lowered his head. "When did this happen?"
"Just a day ago," Frank replied. "We only confirmed he was a vampire after that. The blood packets from his house, the bodies, the missing townsfolk. All the pieces fit. We moved fast, but he was faster. Got wind of our movements. Vanished before we could even draw swords."
Eamon took a deep breath. "Where is he now?"
Frank looked to the south, his eyes narrowed. "Last sighting was near the southern gate. A few townsfolk saw someone matching his description running that way. We believe he's headed to another town. The royal army is on it now. They've got men patrolling the roads."
Eamon's heart raced. He clenched his fists as a thought ran through his mind.
"I didn't think I'd find an Obsidian Seraph this fast… I need to reach him before the royal army does."
His stomach turned. He was nervous, but a strange fire burned in his chest. He felt ready.
Frank led him through the busy streets, dodging carts and weaving between townsfolk until they arrived at a stone building with a large blue flag. The entrance was wide, with two armored guards flanking it.
"This is the Dungeon Administration Office," Frank said. "Go on inside. Tell them I sent you."
Eamon stepped through the wooden door, and Frank followed. Inside, the space was clean and brightly lit. A wooden desk sat near the far wall, behind which a woman in uniform sat, busy with papers.
Frank approached the desk. "Hey, Mira. This young man here wants to register as an adventurer."
The woman looked up and smiled at Eamon. "Welcome, sir. May I please know your name?"
Eamon stepped forward. "Hello. My name is Eamon."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "Just Eamon?"
He gave a small smile. "Yes, ma'am."
She nodded. "Alright then. Please write your details in this form here. Your age, address, and magic attribute."
Eamon sat down and carefully filled out the form. He listed his age as sixteen. Under address, he simply wrote "Cindral Village", a phony address. For his magic attribute, he wrote "Fire."
The receptionist glanced at the form and gave him a small nod. "Thank you. Here is your token. The trial exam will take place three days from now, right here. Come early."
Eamon accepted the token. It was a smooth silver piece with a number etched into it.
"Thank you," he said.
Frank placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know a small motel nearby. Not fancy, but it's safe. You'll find food and a warm bed."
Eamon followed Frank again as they walked through winding alleys and cobblestone paths. Soon, they arrived at a two-story inn with a faded wooden sign that read "The Sleeping Goat."
"Just tell them Gaurd Frank sent you," he said. "Good luck, kid."
"Thanks," Eamon replied sincerely.
Inside the motel, he checked in and received a key to a small room on the upper floor. The room was simple, with a wooden bed, a table, and a window that overlooked a narrow street. Skarn jumped on the bed instantly and curled into a ball.
Later that night, Eamon and Skarn sat on the floor of their room, finishing a quiet dinner of bread, soup, and dried meat.
Eamon rubbed Skarn's head. The wolf wagged his tail gently.
"We need to find that vampire before the royal army does, Skarn," he said softly. "This is very important. It's the first stage in lifting my curse."
Skarn let out a low, understanding woof.
Eamon stared at the ceiling for a moment. "And… I'm actually thinking of giving that adventurer exam."
Skarn tilted his head.
"I mean, having an adventurer identity would help me enter towns more easily," Eamon continued. "I won't join any of the guilds. But it's a good cover. People won't ask questions if they think I'm just another dungeon explorer."
He leaned back and stretched.
"Plus," he added with a smile, "the money I brought from home and the coins Grandpa Arvin gave me will run out someday. If I pass the trial, I'll be able to earn money whenever we need it by doing some solo dungeon explorations."
Skarn gave another short woof.
Eamon laughed. "You liked that idea, huh?"
He stood up and patted Skarn's back.
"Come on, let's put you to bed."
Then both went to sleep.