The morning sun didn't bring warmth. Not today.
I woke feeling… wrong. Exhausted in a way that normal tiredness couldn't explain. My body ached, but worse than that, my soul felt hollowed out, like something was gnawing at it from the inside. The symptoms of the Spell.
I tried to ignore it, forcing myself out of bed, down to breakfast. My movements were sluggish, each step heavy as though gravity had doubled overnight. But Dad noticed immediately. His sharp gaze lingered, the way it always did when something was off.
I couldn't lie.
"I… I think I'm infected," I said finally, voice small, almost brittle. The words sounded heavier than I thought they would.
For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Dad, my usually stoic father, pulled me into a hug. His arms felt strange around me — warm, but tentative, like he didn't know if I'd break. I returned it instinctively, patting his back awkwardly. Neither of us said anything; we didn't need to. Sometimes, silence carries more weight than words ever could.
Mom — Elena — sat at the table, hands clenching and unclenching as she fought an invisible battle inside herself. I could see her eyes glisten with unshed tears. My chest tightened. It hurt me, seeing her cry over something she couldn't fix.
Rain sat across from me, clutching her hands to her chest. She was old enough now to understand the implications of the Spell, but understanding didn't mean accepting. She shook her head, muttering to herself:
"Maybe… maybe you're just tired. Yeah, that's it. You're not infected. You've always been… a little weird after all. Maybe it's not the Spell."
For once, I didn't mind her calling me weird. Part of me actually hoped she was right, that maybe I was just overreacting.
But deep down, we both knew the truth. She couldn't lie to herself, not about this. Not when the symptoms were undeniable.
The twins, Luca and Dante, didn't understand any of it. To them, it was exciting. To them, I was going to become like the Awakened heroes in their cartoons — swinging through the city, fighting monsters with powers no one could explain.
"Yup! Big bro's going to be a cool Awakened, like in your cartoons!" Luca exclaimed, bouncing in his chair.
I smiled faintly, ruffling his hair. "Yeah… I guess something like that."
I didn't correct them. Let them have their fantasies. There would be time for reality later.
Over the next week, life carried on as normally as it could. I didn't tell anyone else — why would I? I wasn't a golden heir, a child born to a great clan. I had no special training to guarantee my survival. For me, this wasn't going to be a story of triumph.
Still, my family refused to leave me to that fate. Even if they couldn't prevent it, they prepared. They spent money, called in professionals, arranged for caretakers — people trained to watch over me during my first Nightmare.
Honestly, I didn't know how to feel about that. Should I be grateful? Angry? Humiliated that they were already preparing for my failure?
It didn't matter. They had chosen their path, and I had to face mine.
The evening before my awakening, we sat together in the living room. The air was thick with unspoken tension, the kind that makes the walls feel smaller than they really are. Mom, Dad, Rain, and the twins — everyone was there.
Mom was first to break the silence. Her voice shook slightly, though she tried to sound strong:
"Alucard… promise me you'll come back," she whispered. "Promise me you'll be careful."
I placed a hand over hers. "I… I'll try, Mom. That's all I can promise."
Rain, usually so composed, buried her face in her hands. "Don't… don't go, big brother. Please. You're not ready! You can't—"
I knelt beside her, resting my hand on her shoulder. "Rain… I have to do this. I have no choice. But I'm still me. I'll… I'll come back."
The twins, oblivious to the danger but aware that something serious was happening, tugged at my sleeves.
"Big bro, can you promise you'll catch us if a monster attacks?" Dante asked, eyes wide.
I laughed softly despite the tension. "Yeah, I promise. I'll catch you guys. And don't worry, I'll protect Rain too."
Dad finally spoke. His words were low, measured, but each syllable carried weight.
"You've got to survive, Alucard. No matter what. Your life… it's yours. Don't waste it."
I nodded. That was the first time he'd ever said anything like that to me directly. Usually, his affection was shown through actions, not words. It felt strange. Powerful.
Mom dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "We'll be here when you get back. Every single one of us. Luca, Dante, Rain…" She paused, voice cracking. "…And me."
I felt a lump in my throat. Words failed me. So I hugged them all at once — my family, my real support system. The warmth and scent of home, of love, of protection. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist.
"Alright," I said finally, stepping back. "I'll go. I'll… survive."
Rain wiped her tears and nodded. "You better, big bro. Or else I'm coming into your Nightmare and yelling at you."
I chuckled. "Deal."
The twins cheered. "Yay! Go big bro!"
Mom laughed softly through tears. "Be careful, Alucard. And remember… family always comes first, even in the Nightmare."
I swallowed, knowing that once I entered the Nightmare, none of them could follow — not really. All I could carry with me was their hope, their belief in me.
With one last look around the living room, I left for my first Nightmare, the weight of my family's love pressing on my back, both comforting and terrifying.