Vampire Hunting is a difficult and dangerous profession. The job requires rigorous preparation, consisting of a long training period, numerous experimentations, and tests on the mind and body alike. All so the hunters can have even a remote chance against the vampires. After a while, it became logical that a school for vampire hunting should be established at every main human region.

In Landen’s school of vampire hunting, one class decides to use today’s lesson to learn about incantations…

Teacher: Well class, what is the difference between incantations and spellcraft?

No one raises a hand, except one small girl in the middle…

Teacher: Yes, once again, Maya…

Maya: Spellcraft is used by vampires because they have what they call “magicka”, which we have defined as a malevolent ethereal substance with reality-altering capacities. Incantations are not spells, because they do not rely on “magicka” to cast, but on prayers from the book of the Sun God.

Teacher: Very nice!! But what distinct these two is a lot more complex…

The class starts to gain interest…

Teacher: What Maya said is true. Vampires and humans rely on two different sources to cast “spells”. But this difference itself develops the advantages and disadvantages in a fight. Because “magicka” itself is reality-altering, a vampire only needs to create a ritualistic medium, such as a seal, etc to cast. So they have complete freedom as to what they can do. We can only chant the incantations given in the book.

Student: One more way the bats outdo us…

Teacher: Now, now… While that’s true, what did we see in chapter seven of “Vampire Anatomy”?

The class raises no hands…Except one…

Teacher: Uuuhh, Maya?

Male student: Actually, it’s Vic?

Teacher: Oh, Victor! Weird that you have an answer on a theoretical lesson.

Victor: Well, “Magicka” is limited. If used, it takes a while to replenish their pool. This probably means, that since we only need to endure the mental fatigue from the incantation’s power, we can cast as many times as we want.

Teacher : (Finally, I can boast to the teacher’s lounge that TWO students participated in class today!)Well done, Vic!! Everyone, you should follow his and Maya’s example and open a book occasionally!! So, as I was saying…

Returning to our heroes at the pub. After the last mission, the boys deployed the body at the nearest support center for hunters. Their job would be to search the body up and down for any clues about the gravedigging. Once they returned, Url patched them up and sent them to bed.

This morning, the boys woke up to a mildly sunny day. In Landen, it is customary for people to wake up late, take their morning routine as slowly as possible, and have a peaceful, calm breakfast…

SUIGA: GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE!!! I HOPE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Landenians, of course…

Suiga wakes up early, prepares himself, and loudly descends the wooden stairs on the right of the pub, connecting the first floor and lobby. Url awaits him with breakfast…

URL: WELL HELLO THERE SUIGA. WOULD YOU CARE FOR SOME EGGS??

SUIGA: I WOULD DO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

URL: WELL THEN, REST ON THE GRAND TABLE AND I SHALL SERVE YOU WITH THE BEST EGGS YOU HAVE EVER-

Aaron: SHUT IT OR YOU ARE ALL EVICTED, YOU FUCKS!!!

Aaron, wearing his wrinkly common clothes, descends slowly and begrudgingly down to the lobby. Dark eye circles down his eyes, messy hair, that can only mean a rude awakening…

URL: Oh Aaron, you are awake.

Aaron : OH REAALLLLYYYY???

SUIGA: Are you well rested, chief?

Aaron: Don’t call me chief, and yes until two foreigners decide to make my life miserable again…At least breakfast’s ready…

As Aaron sits and eats, last night falls into the conversation…

URL: So, about the mission, I heard. Congratulations, you broke the losing streak!!! This ought to give the people some peace of mind.

Aaron: Should have seen topknot. He diced that fucker like butter. He moves pretty well.

SUIGA: I shall guard this comment deep in my heart, chief…

Aaron: No, you shan’t. And your potion worked just fine, Url. The imps fell on the stuff like Shroud on Smoked Rum.

URL: I’m glad it did…Now about your careless beheading…

Aaron : (SHIT) Uuuhh…

URL: I shall not say a thing. Shroud, on the other hand, has sent a message overnight…

Url takes out of his pocket two completely black sheets of paper…

Aaron: What the hell happened?

URL: Shroud wrote to us, but the post office had to censor the letter. Excess profanity and abusive words were used…

Aaron: THAT’S THE CENSORING????!!!

SUIGA: This Shroud sounds aggressive…

URL: He’s our senior, after all. He can be a brute, but he means well…

Url puts the papers back…

URL: Aaand on the subject of bad news…

Aaron: No, we are out of rotisserie chicken sauce!! I knew I should’ve run out to…

URL: Listen to me well when I say that because of you, WE ARE NEVER RUNNING OUT OF THAT STUFF. No, it has to do with your medical results…

Aaron: The fuck’s this all about?

URL: Aaron, I might need to take Suiga to Central today. I’m worried about that vampire and the kick he landed on his gut. There might be a dislocated bone my potions can’t fix.

SUIGA: You managed to confirm that with just a general exam?? You are sure an amazing doctor!!

Aaron: Even more reason he should be treated here. You’ve patched up worse than this!

URL: I’m afraid we are also out of supplies. I miscounted my resources…

Aaron: Well, I can take him then, no need for you to

Url slowly approaches Aaron, and rests his hand on his shoulder…

URL: I N E E D T O G E T O U T.

Aaron: Understandable, I’ll stay and recover.

URL: Great!! Suiga, get ready to see Central!!

SUIGA: With pleasure!! But are these injuries that-

URL: Let’s leave now!!!

The boys get ready and abandon Aaron as they depart for Central. The route to the institution is quite short, but Suiga takes it as a chance to witness what the city has to offer. To his expectations, Landen is truly the mechanical haven that most outsiders hear. Factories all over the place, and tramways fill both ground and aerial space as they ensure safe transport for the citizens. Electrical apparel is less common since the technology was recently developed, but you can easily notice the new automated stop signs and the hidden generators that power the numerous decorations for every little shop occupying Central Square. The people have seemed to adapt to this complicated lifestyle, establishing an anxious and energetic personality to cope with this challenging environment…

The boys arrive at Central. A large building in front of an avenue. Historic, since the association was founded long ago. The architecture is a mixture of the original gothic foundation of the building when it was first conceived, along with the industrial modifications made to accommodate today’s hunters.

The gates are always open. An old rule of the office, to signify the availability of the association concerning civilians, and to indicate that the Hunt is a day and night occupation. Once inside, the boys reach for the lobby. They are greeted by the secretary, a kind, brunette woman…

Recep. : Well, well, if it isn’t Landen’s favorite plague doctor!

URL: Hi, Patricia. Favorite because I’m the only one, I assume?

Recep. : Uuh, that humbleness of yours…Wish more of your colleagues could be like you…

URL: Ooh, our diversity only makes us more unique…

Recep.: You know, all those words would sound even better if you took off that horrid mask…Let that face shine…

URL: Nice try, Patricia. Should I expect the same from the nurses?

Recep.: Oh, come on, we have to watch like 30 ugly old mugs per day-

Patricia notices Suiga…

Recep.: On second thought, you can keep that mask, if that cute fellow is with you at ALL your visits ever…

URL: Depending on the visits, today we are here for the hospital wing. Would not want to see Suiga there every time we are here…

Recep.: True, true…The hospital’s calm for now, but the nurses are just coming back from lunch, you’ll have to wait a second. In the meantime, where is the annoying stack of muscle that you carry around for no reason?

URL: I told Aaron to stay home today. I told him Suiga might have a fractured bone, but honestly…

Both Suiga and Patricia approach…Seems Url might have some complaining to do…

URL: Yeah, he was supposed to show Suiga around central, but knowing him he would do half the job, then go eat. So, I needed an excuse to change seats…

SUIGA: So I am just fine? Are no bones fractured?

Patricia: Your Highness, the man before you is no simple doctor. He relocates your dumb partner’s shoulders during combat like that!

Suiga seems amazed by his silent partner’s feats…

URL: Well that’s enough about me. Any gossip around the house, maybe about the “expedition”?

Patricia: You sure are a sly one… uh nothing new yet. Right now, Shroud is leading, cause the other two seniors had to leave for Pirout. No vampires other than some scavengers and imps. Word is that they will be coming home by the end of the week.

URL: Hmm, ok.

Patricia: Given what you told us yesterday, Higher-ups think there might be a cult inside the city. They scoffed it off eventually, but honestly, they just wanted to keep it low to avoid a freakout…