Lysithea had spent her days writing down every bit of information she had managed to collect regarding her obsession, yet she felt no closer to finding him. With a deep sigh she leaned back against the blooming tree and glanced out over the cobbled road and the people who stood around various newly put up market stalls.

"You seem troubled?" Adrian said, breaking the silence as he walked up to her. He tightened the leather strap onto his shoulder-guard which kept making attempting to slip down his shoulder.

Flinching, Lysithea nearly leaped out of her skin as the dark-skinned man startled her. She pressed her hand against her chest and attempted to catch her breath.

"Adrian!" She shouted out and he began to chuckle heartily.

"You must be the only woman who can be snuck up on by a man in armour, in broad daylight no less."

"I was-... was lost in thought." She mumbled as she blushingly looked down into her lap where her notebook lay. It was now filled with countless loose pages and sketches she had drawn herself, together with questions, answers and information concerning the vampire from the crypt.

Adrian peered down at the book with a concerned look and sighed heavily.

"Listen, Lys… I hate to berate you like Lysander would but-... you really shouldn't keep this up." He gestured towards the book. "You will end up in trouble. The guards and Rosas’ soldiers might take you in, or the heroes around here might perform their own version of justice on you."

Lysithea turned her head back so she could face him. She could see his gentle brown eyes from beneath his hood. The sun threw rays of light towards him, making his brown skin almost shimmer.

"But I haven't done anything-... anything wrong."

"I know, but the Rosas’ protectors have punished people for less and the folk around this church? They won't care. If you seem to be any kind of threat, or if there is the slightest hint that you might become one, they will deal with you."

Slowly Lysithea placed her book into her bag again and gently closed the flap, tying it closed as hard as she could to make sure nothing could escape.

"We won't let them hurt you of course, but that doesn't mean you should continue this quest of yours." Adrian continued. "You're a good person and I would hate to see you in any form of danger. Vampires are not something you want to play with. They're evil, through and through."

Lysithea slowly got up from her seat and dusted herself off. She faced him, knitting her fingers together in front of her.

"They grow more and more into the monster they are each time they taste blood. Who knows how far down he’s gone into that dark pit he dug himself?"

"But he was kind when-... when I met him."

"Was he though? He killed four people, almost five and then fed on Yria. That isn't kindness."

"But they-... they provoked him!"

"You know, he has a point." Evander walked up to them. He was wearing a white shirt, top three buttons undone, a pair of dark trousers and his usual heavy steel-boots. He smirked towards the two, with one hand deep in his pocket.

"The more you go on about the guy the more on his side you sound. Now, we know you're a good girl, but these people here?" He gestured out over the street with his free hand. "They don't, and they won't care to find out either."

Evander stopped next to Adrian and leaned his arm over his shoulder. "Better keep it on the down low and not ask so many questions, hmh? Can't find the leech if you're locked up or dead."

Lysithea wrapped her arms tightly around her person and stared down into the ground, her shoulders pulled up high.

"No I-... I suppose so."

Adrian and Evander traded looks between each other and then turned their attention back down at her.

"Alright… listen, Lys, we might have a couple of things we could share with you." Adrian admitted with a heavy sigh.

The blond girl snapped her eyes towards him and a faint smile emerged over her lips. 

"Really?" Adrian nodded in response and the two men moved closer. 

Evander took a look around and then bent down slightly as they began to speak in hushed voices.

"Sometimes Alistair comes here at night. He talks with us quite a bit…" Adrian began.

"At us, more like." Evander interrupted with a huff. Adrian nudged him in slight irritation. "What? It's true!"

“He talks to-... to you? How often has-... has he been here?”
“Uh… A few times? Maybe… once a week?” Evander shrugged, scratching the back of his head.

“No, no. Less than that, its rare but it happens. It happened before you started looking for him.”

“Oh…”

"But! Lysander and him used to be-... be 'friends' in a sense." Adrian whispered. "But you didn't hear that from me."

"'Friends' is a strong word. Acquainted and drinking buddies is a more apt way to describe them."

"Are you going to tell her or am I?"

Evander waved with his hands.

"Fine, fine. Go on, professor."

Adrian frowned towards his companion and sighed as he turned towards Lysithea again. She looked between them, both confused and intrigued at the same time.

"Anyway. He comes here at night to discuss faith. You see, we're Shahermerites and he is a Malevolent, a follower of the god of terror, the tyrant Tyrun."

"And Lysander is a Benevolent, follower of the twin god Pronus. Funny isn't it?" Adrian stared towards Evander who cowered backwards with a sheepish grin. "Sorry… do go on."

"Anyway. As I was saying. He comes here to tell us how much better his God is than ours. Like a child at a playground. It's like an obsession of his. A vampire always wants to elevate themselves above the 'cattle', prove themselves better." Adrian pushed Evander's arm off his shoulder and straightened out his tabard. "But according to Lysander he was always like this. Childish and petty."

"They both were born in Voidatia too." Evander piped in. "Him and Lysander that is."

"Yes, but in different parts. The country is big."

Lysithea brought out her large book and began to write down everything they were telling her, making sure to not leave out a single detail. She would gaze up and between them from time to time and then bury her face into the pages again.

"He wants to conquer every part of these lands and bring them under the terror and enslavement of Tyrun. We are cattle to him, to be used in marble pits, to grow their food and work our life away with no pay or freedom." Adrian continued. "He doesn't say this straight out of course. Trying to convert people like us to his cause by giving us a choice."

"It's not really a choice though is it? 'Convert or die.'" Evander chimed in and Adrian shook his head.

"Not really no."

Lysithea bit her lower lip and hugged the pen tight between her fingers. For a moment she felt a sour feeling in her stomach, air got stuck in the back of her throat and her heart ached.

"I heard that-... that other followers of this god don't like him." She mumbled after coughing.

"That's correct." Adrian nodded. "They think of him as a heretic."

"Why?"

"Probably because he believes his vampirism was a gift from Tyrun himself." Evander shrugged. "Assuming you're that important to a deity could piss any religious fanatic off." 

"I think Lysander said they hated him before then too." Adrian stroked his chin in thought. "He didn't know why though."

They both moved away from Lysithea. Evander rolled up his sleeves. "That's about it, I think. At least I don't know anything else." 

"Me neither. The best person to talk to would be Lysander himself but… well."

"Well?" Lysithea pushed her book against her chest and gazed up at Adrian who glanced back down at her with a rather sheepish smile.

"Well… he doesn't like you."

"...that might not be exactly true!" Evander added quickly. "Lysander probably doesn't like you, but it might just be him not trusting you."

Lysithea locked eyes with him as he spoke and he gave her a faint comforting smile.

"Lysander doesn't trust many people. He only acts in the name of his god and if Pronus's teachings says something he will follow it without question. It's like he's blind." Evander frowned and shook his head in frustration. "It's annoying. He doesn't speak of many of his own opinions in the open, and if you go against the rules of his faith he'll never forgive you and you're doomed to be on his bad side."

Adrian nodded slowly in agreement.

"Yes… even if you once were best friends."

Lysithea looked between them, her eyes wide. "But-... he must be so-... so lonely."

They both shrugged in union. 

"In that sense he's as trapped in his beliefs as Alistair is. Ironic isn't it? Like two sides to the same coin."