“Come in!”

Niran thought that if he had been warned, he wouldn't experience a major shock. But no. Evidently, thinking wasn't his thing either. What he witnessed was beyond prediction. Behind his back he heard a few obscene expressions from Naam. The whole room was lined with crosses, candles were flickering, he could see several Christian icons, antique closets with centuries-old books, the wallpapers were scrawled with Bible quotes.  Niran hadn’t visited Europe in a long while, but it seemed that a portal had been opened there through this room. Behind a massive desk, in a high-backed chair, there was a man who seemed to be in his thirties. His shoulder-length dark hair, bright makeup, painted nails, and a dress didn`t obscure his masculine aura and scent. Although Niran didn’t put much trust in his smell because of the overabundance of all kinds of incenses choking the room. Long three-inch fingernail pointed at him, then at a chair in front of him. Despite the fact that he was in a seventeenth-century room of the Inquisition, Niran carried himself with the arrogance that he ought to.

“What brings you here, youths? You may call me Mr. Khrang,” his low voice amazed everyone.

“My name’s Niran. This is Naam, Ji, and San. We’re here to enroll. It just so happened in the middle of the semester. I hope we can resolve this problem, P'Krang?” Niran knew he had to start playing the trump card. “Here’s a check for a million baht for construction needs or… whatever you need to spend them for”.

“Very generous, Nong Niran, we will spend it wisely,” Khrang smiled and took the. “We need to refurbish the holy water fountain and rearrange our protective amulets across the campus perimeter. I in fact couldn't get the administration to give me money for such important things, thank you. You’ll be enrolled in the first-year engineering faculty. And the ladies can join the administrative studies department.”

“P’Niran just give him money for garlic, didn’t he?” San questioned Naam. “I’m not that dumb”.

“But I must warn you, that all is not so good at this university,” Krang shook his head. “For the second year now, I've been dealing with dark forces. Nong'Niran, you ought to know that before we enroll you and your lovely girls. I have heard from my reliable sources that vampires have infiltrated this place. So far the sources have not reported that the battle with them is over. Hopefully, that won't be a problem”.

““Not a problem at all. Vampires don’t exist,” Niran looked at him without blinking. “But if garlic makes you feel safer, it's worth taking care of your nerves. Besides it` great for killing bacterias too.”

“Don’t worry, Nong Niran .You spend a few weeks in the dorms, attend classes, and you’ll see the truth by yourself,” Krang didn't give up his faith in vampires. “Get acquainted with our students and your classmates.”

“I won’t be staying at the university area, I have my own transport and living accommodations,” Niran countered firmly. “Here are our papers, P’Khrang.” Saying “P`”it was unusual for him addressing someone as Pi, since he was several times older than Krang. But the vampire wasn’t about to give this mad man  reason to doubt him. “If you don't mind and there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Of course! We’ll look forward to seeing you at the University next week. Rest up! Our professors are very demanding! It won`t be so simple!” they all folded their hands in a “wai” gesture and the vampire team began to stand up .  “Goodbye”.

Goodbye,” Niran replied in an even voice and went out.

“How’d they even find out about us?” San whispered to Niran as they made their way down the stairs to the courtyard.

“There was no one else left. He said some sources reported about vampires two years ago. That’s impossible. He's just out of his mind, so forget it and don’t you dare let others know about us or I swear—I’ll tell everyone you’ve got schizophrenia,” Niran rolled his eyes. “What a surreal excuse for a university. Holy water fountains? Really? Let him fix the roof.”

“FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!”

The vampire stopped and listened. He was heading with the girls toward the exit under the same covered canopy when he heard yelling behind him. He turned and Naam pointed towards a crowd of students who stood in a thick circle around the fountain. From every corner of the internal courtyard, more and more students were rushing toward them. Niran’s eyes caught a textbook, a tie and a pair of glasses sailing into the air. He tried to figure out what the fight was about with his clear hearing, but the crowd was discussing what was going on so vigorously that it was unclear. And, naturally, in some moment he noticed San rushing over to the students to see who was being beaten up and for what. Niran tried to grab her y the elbow, but she slipped out and dashed ahead the adventures. Niran turned to Naam, his eyes sparking with irritation. He let out a low growl before staggering forward through the wet grass from the sprinklers. He searched with his gaze for some rock to knock the last of San's brains out. She managed to not just stand next to crowd, but to get into the circle of students. Even Niran`s considerable height couldn’t offer him a decent view.

 “Get out of here!” he growled so loudly and threateningly that the students closest to him scattered with shouts.

He was walking toward San in his brightly colored jumpsuit, wanting to pick her up and go home, when his heart suddenly shuddered. Because of his vampire nature, it didn't beat or react to emotions. However, the feeling of it twisting in his chest shocked Niran. He shook his head, dismissing the strange thoughts and suspicions. He needed blood and sleep. Searching and enrollment was not an easy task. Grabbing San’s shoulder, Niran went to drag her back, but then his attention flicked to the scene at the center of the circle. 

“Humans,” he hissed. 

A tall, wiry guy with short-cropped hair styled on his right side and swarthy skin in a senior's jacket was being held under his arms. He was spewing curses and kicking like a newborn stallion. Meanwhile, another guy with blood smeared across his bruised face was kneeling in front of him. Niran grimaced, realizing why his heart was suddenly revived. The smell of blood. Apparently the one sitting on the ground had done something wrong to the shouting brat.  They were strikingly different in build, making it seem as if someone decided to beat up a child. The taller guy suddenly broke free and kicked his victim in the chest with all his might. Niran rolled his eyes and forgot about Naam. He didn't like it when someone showed strength to the weak. He took two steps forward and asked in a playfully bored tone.

 “Is your dick so small that you self-assert by beating up the weak?” Niran's question silenced the circle of students and they all looked at him with wide-open eyes. “Leave him alone, jerk,” Niran noticed some girl crying in the circle nearby.

“What did you say” the tall guy broke free of his grip and stepped closer to Niran. “Do you even know what happened?” 

“Actually I don't care. You bamboo stick, stop beating up the little ones and go do your homework already,” Niran snorted and rolled his eyes, which was his biggest mistake.

“ P'Niran!” San shouted.

Niran couldn't hear her, his whole world spun as the forehead hit him straightly on the lower jaw.