Solarius and Gladius's Border - City of Thalarien 

Days had passed from Axiel's flight beyond the Elven Forests. The trip with Loriel, marked by night flights, ambushes of abandoned hunters and villages, took them to Thalarien - an ancient mystical city ingrown in the mountains, where humans and elves lived in relative peace ... Or at least they pretended. 

The streets of Thalarien were made of polished gray stone, with old moss -covered statues. Elements of the two cultures lived: Solar Lanterns of the Church alongside the runes of eelific protection. In the city center, a cathedral converted into a market vibrated with smells of herbs, magic and sweat. 

But something in the city atmosphere was wrong. A metallic smell, hidden between incense. A muffled sound in the wind. 

Malak UG rode through the streets flanked with Aranna, his pupil, both dressed in travel cloaks and hidden coats of arms. The expressions were severe. 

- The city is beautiful. she murmured. "But the people are afraid." 

- We received reports of night human sacrifices. Disappearances. The church does not react. This ... is hidden corruption. 

Malak looked at the stained glass of the old converted cathedral. 

- This city has already belonged to the "night keepers". An extinct sect. But it seems that ... something came back. 

The same night, Axiel and Loriel were sitting in an elific bar in the upper Thalarien. The atmosphere was illuminated by blue crystals. Soft music filled the air. Humans and elves spoke low, as if they feared being heard. 

Axiel had a glass of dark wine. The cloak of the symbiotic costume hung like black silk over the shoulders. He looked at the liquid with tired red eyes. 

- Why did you stop me ... with the queen? He asked, low. 

Loriel spinned a miniature chalice in the air, sitting on a floating pillow. 

"Because you would have come and sucked half her blood at the same time." A lethal orgasm. That would be ... bad for diplomacy. 

- She wanted to. 

- You wanted to ... with the canines. The difference between a kiss and a murder is the pressure. 

Axiel snorted. He was about to answer when the bar door opened violently. 

A young elf girl, about twelve winters, staggered. The eyes were whitish, the pale skin. She fell on Axiel's table, unconscious. 

The neck was bitten. 

The bar has silenced. The girl's mother, a tall elf of braided hair and an amber -colored eyes, shouted and ran to her. 

- My daughter! No, no! 

Loriel immediately landed on the girl, checking the wound. 

- It was a vampire. Recently. Deep, but ... she still lives. 

The crowd retreated. 

- Take it to the healer of the Square of Fontes. Fast! ordered Loriel. 

Axiel raised her in him arms and left without speaking, disappearing in the darkness. 

In the healer's cabin, an elderly elf examined the girl while her parents cried in the background. 

- She can survive. But if the body does not expel the blood of the aggressor ... - said the healer - ... If she does not kill who bit her, it will be transformed. 

Axiel remained motionless. The eyes fixed in the blood dripping. 

Loriel landed on his shoulder. 

"If you accept the mission ... you'll have to hunt and kill one of your own." And save it. 

Axiel looked at the child. For a moment, something moved inside him. 

- Where? 

- The trail leads to the old altar of the city ... where offerings were made to the gods of night and death. The place was sealed. But now ... smells of the thing too much, faster to go through the ruins behind the city. 

Keeping Altar - Thalarien's Underground 

The abandoned temple was a building carved from the living stone, with bone -shaped pillars. Magic lamps pulsed in purple tones. Statues of forgotten gods observed with hollow eyes. 

Malak advanced with the sacred sword in hand. Aranna followed him with bow and arrows ready. 

- Children. Six disappeared. The rituals involve pure blood. whispered Aranna. 

But before they could approach the main camera ... they heard a metallic sound. 

Claws. 

Axiel appeared on the other side of the altar, with the costume vibrating and the eyes lit. Loriel floated behind, silent by tension. 

The two men were stared at each other. 

- You again. - Said Malak, clearing his teeth. 

- I didn't come for you, idiot. - countered the vampire. 

- Me too. - answered the paladin. 

Loriel landed between them with a forced smile. 

- How romantic. Two alpha males in an old basement. 

The floor shuddered. 

From the ceiling, the shadows ripped. 

It emerged. 

Shaedra Vorn 

A woman with blue-skinned skin, totally black eyes, dressed in black silk rags. The nails were long like needles, the sharp teeth. The hair fell like damp snakes on the shoulders. 

- What a surprise ... the paladin and the vampire. As in a tale of horror and redemption. 

Shaedra smiled, and her breath exuded death and lust. 

- This city is mine. The children of the night follow me ... and those of light do not touch me. 

She snapped her fingers. 

Vampires left the walls. Skinny, deformed, hungry. Former Homens. Former. Now beasts. 

Malak wielded the sacred sword. Axiel activated his wings. 

- First they ... then you. Said Axiel. 

- Fair. - growled Malak. 

The battle began. The light and darkness collided between columns and bones, while caged children shouted in the background. 

Aetherion - Tower of the Seer 

At the top of the oldest tree in the kingdom of the elves, a room of lunar lights trembled with the presence of Nyalan, an elf that appeared to be about forty years, but as ancient as the time, in white tunic with greenish ornaments. 

The court council was gathered. Aether was sitting, serious 

"Time darkens ..." Nyalan whispered. - The fallen false god prepares his throne of fire ... and the war that will be will not be between kingdoms ... will be between plans. 

She lifted her head, her white eyes shining. 

- The vampire ... is the key. He walks between the living and the dead. If he falls ... the light will fall too. 

Aether was for the first time ... No words. 

...