“I bought some books on vampires,” Caius says after a moment, correctly interpreting Faust’s silence as an unwillingness to elaborate.

Faust laughs.

“Are you sure they’re not romance novels?” He says. “I doubt any commercial bookstore would have any volumes worth reading.”

“They’re proper books!” Caius protests. “They have a lot of the things I already know about vampires, like their paralyzing vision and their methods of attack.”

Faust frowns at the bag on the counter.

“Hmm,” he says, sipping his coffee.

“More importantly,” Caius says, getting a plate for himself from the cupboard, “what were you doing last night?”

“You’re better off not knowing.” Faust replies. “Things could get really dangerous if you got involved any more.”

He glances at Caius. Caius is glaring at him.

“I’ve already tied myself to you as your student,” he says, annoyance tinging his voice, “and I’m not going to stop until I save Cletus. So if you have a lead on the vampires, I won’t rest until you tell me.”

Faust sighs.

“I should have known you wouldn’t give up just because I told you to.” He grumbles. He looks at Caius, an odd expression flickering over his features like a stormcloud. “Do you really want to hunt vampires?”

“Yes.” Caius says, without hesitation.

“To the point where you’re willing to give up your life?” Faust asks, his voice getting heavier. “Not just in death, either. You won’t have any close friends or family, except for other hunters. You won’t breathe easy in public spaces.”

“Still yes,” Caius says, his brow pinched. “I wouldn’t have started this if I weren’t prepared.”

Faust leans over, bringing himself slightly closer to Caius in the narrow kitchen walkway.

“Are you willing to accept,” he says, “that at the end of your long and difficult road, your friend is probably dead?”

Caius’s lips are pursed in a thin line. 

“Yes,” he says, steeling himself.

Faust looks at him for another moment, then exhales with exasperation. He leans back.

“I get the feeling you’re going to get yourself killed if you keep asking everyone you meet about vampires,” he says, an edge of resignation making its way into his voice. “Especially with what’s happening right now, so I should at least teach you to defend yourself…”