Dawn broke over the Academy with bells.
Dante listened to them from the forest's edge, counting the rhythm. Seven chimes. Morning assembly it was. Students would be filing into the main courtyard for announcements and assignments. Professors taking attendance. Guards changing shifts at the gate.
It was Perfect chaos for two people who didn't belong.
"Last chance to reconsider," Kira said from the tree branch above him.
"I don't reconsider you should know this" Dante said
"I know. Had to try anyway."
She dropped down beside him, landing without sound despite the fifteen foot fall. Shadow affinity made her good at that. Made her good at a lot of things that kept him alive when he got too reckless.
Dante reached into his coat and pulled out two sets of papers. The system had generated them overnight. Perfectly forged credentials, complete with family seals and official stamps that would pass every verification charm the Academy possessed.
He was now Lord Erebus Noctis, visiting inspector from the Shadowfen Kingdom, sent to evaluate Academy training methods for potential adoption in his home territory. Kira was his attendant. Simple. Boring. Exactly the kind of bureaucratic visit that academies hated but couldn't refuse.
"Lord Erebus," Kira said, reading the name. "Subtle, It means darkness."
"I know what it means. I'm saying it's about as subtle as showing up with a sign that says 'I'm here to murder people.'"
"Would you prefer Lord Sunshine?" He asked, and she responded respectfully, After all Dante was a 150years old vampire
"I'd prefer you use a name that doesn't immediately make people suspicious."
Too late now. Dante tucked the papers away and started toward the main road that led to the Academy gates as he moved his face began to shapeshift taking the look of another completely. They'd approach openly, two travelers on official business, nothing threatening about them at all.
Kira fell into step beside him, her entire demeanor shifting. Gone was the casual sarcasm. Her shoulders straightened, her expression went blank, and suddenly she looked like exactly what her papers claimed, a servant attending a minor noble on tedious official business.
Dante did the same. He pulled on the mask he'd worn a thousand times before. Arrogance. The particular kind of disdain that noble vampires reserved for anyone beneath their station. It fit like an old coat.
The gates came into view. Two guards stood at attention, both wearing the Academy's crimson and black uniform. Armed with blessed silver blades that would hurt even an A Rank vampire. Standard security for a place training future nobility.
"State your business," the first guard said as they approached.Dante handed over his credentials without a word. Let the papers speak. He was too important to explain himself to gate guards.
The guard studied the documents, running them under a verification charm. Blue light scanned the seals. After a moment, the charm flickered green. Approved.
"Lord Erebus Noctis from Shadowfen," the guard read aloud. "Purpose of visit, educational inspection." He looked up. "We weren't informed of an inspection."
"That's because it's unannounced," Dante said, his voice carrying the exact tone of someone who found this conversation beneath him. "Announced inspections defeat the purpose. I'm here to observe natural teaching methods, and not a rehearsed performance."
The guard frowned. "I'll need to confirm with the Headmaster."
"Then confirm. I'll wait." Dante said
But he wouldn't wait long. Dante could see the guard's hesitation. Refusing entry to a foreign noble without proper cause was a diplomatic incident waiting to happen. Letting him in without approval was a security breach. The guard was trapped between two bad options.
After a long moment, the guard stepped aside.
"Welcome to The King's Academy, Lord Erebus. Your attendant may accompany you. Please check in with the administration building for your quarters assignment."
"Of course."
Dante walked through the gates like he owned them. Kira followed three steps behind, playing her role perfectly. They passed through the outer courtyard where students were gathering for assembly. Young vampires, most of them between fifty and 70 years old. Children by vampire standards. They stared at the new arrival with the usual mixture of curiosity and caution that strangers received.
But None of them knew. How could they? The Asheron family had been erased from history books. Reduced to a footnote about traitors and failed rebellions. These students had probably never heard the name.
But it was Good. Let them stay ignorant. The guilty would recognize him soon enough.
The Academy was larger inside than it appeared from outside. Multiple buildings connected by covered walkways. Training grounds to the east. Libraries to the west. Residential towers scattered throughout. Gothic architecture everywhere, all sharp angles and dark stone. red banners hung from every building, each bearing the Academy's crest, a crown over crossed swords.
Dante's fingers twitched. He'd seen that crest before, on the uniforms of the guards who'd dragged his father to the execution platform.
"Steady," Kira murmured from behind him.
She was Right. Can't lose control in the middle of the courtyard. That would ruin everything.
They found the administration building easily enough. A secretary at the front desk looked up as they entered, her expression shifting to polite neutrality when she saw Dante's noble attire.
"May I help you?"
"Lord Erebus Noctis. I'm here to conduct an inspection. I'll need guest quarters in the East Wing." Dante Said with a fake smile on his face.
"The East Wing is primarily for faculty, my lord."
"Perfect. I prefer to be near the instructors I'll be observing."
The secretary hesitated, clearly wanting to argue, but training won her out. Never contradict a noble directly. "Of course, my lord. Let me check availability."
She shuffled through papers, made several notes, and finally produced a key. "Room 351, East Wing, third floor. Will you need anything else my lord?"
"Privacy." Dante said
"Understood. Meals are served in the main hall at set times, but arrangements can be made for private dining if you prefer."
"I'll manage." He said
Dante took the key and left before she could ask more questions. Kira followed, and they navigated the maze of corridors toward the East Wing. Students and staff passed them, most nodding politely or stepping aside. No one questioned their presence. The forged credentials were holding as of right now. Room 351 was small but functional. A bed, a desk, a window overlooking the eastern training grounds. Most importantly, it was only a few doors down from Room 347.
Marquis Valen's room.
"Convenient," Kira said, closing the door behind them.
"I chose this wing for a reason."
"So what's the plan? Wait until tonight and kill him in his sleep?"
"No. I want to see him first. Confirm the system's information." Dante said
"Why? You've never doubted the system before."
Dante pulled the system interface up, studying Valen's profile again. The crime was clear. The evidence was documented. But something made him want to see the man's face before killing him. Maybe it was the fact that Valen had voted in person. Had stood in that Council chamber and raised his hand to condemn innocents.
"I want to look him in the eye," Dante said finally.
"And then kill him."Kira asked him politely
"Yes."
Kira moved to the window, watching the grounds below. "He teaches combat in the morning. You'll get your chance then."
"How do you know that?" Dante asked surprisingly
"I read the Academy schedule posted in the main hall. You should pay more attention to your surroundings."
"I pay plenty of attention." He muttered
"To targets and not to anything else sadly." Kira said
It was a Fair point, Dante sat on the bed, testing the mattress.it was too soft . He'd gotten used to sleeping on the ground during his decades of hunting. Comfortable beds felt wrong now, it was like he didn't deserve them and he probably didn't.
"Get some rest," Kira said. "I'll keep watch."
"You need sleep too."
"I'll manage. Someone has to make sure you don't do anything stupid while I'm unconscious and since when did you start caring?."
Dante didn't argue he didn't really care and she was correct . He laid back on the too soft bed and closed his eyes. Sleep came quickly, as it always did but it was dreamless and empty but Better that way it helped him not to think too much.
When he woke four hours later, Kira was still at the window. She didn't turn around,"He's teaching now. Eastern training ground, 20 students."
Dante got up, straightened his clothes, and left the room without another word. Kira followed. They took the stairs down to ground level and crossed toward the training grounds. The sound of combat reached them before they arrived. Steel on steel. Grunts of effort and The occasional shout of pain.
The training ground was an open courtyard surrounded by stone walls. Students were paired off, sparring with practice weapons while an instructor circled between them, offering corrections and demonstrations.
The instructor was Marquis Valen Drakos.
Dante stopped at the edge of the courtyard. The system's interface highlighted Valen in red, confirming the target. B-Rank vampire. Enhanced strength affinity. Forty years older than Dante, but still in prime fighting condition.
Valen stood about six feet tall, broad shouldered, moving with the confident grace of someone who'd spent centuries training warriors. His voice carried across the courtyard as he corrected a student's stance.
"Your guard is too high,Lower it, Strength means nothing if your core is exposed."
The student adjusted. Valen nodded approval.Dante watched,Memorized every movement, every mannerism. This man had voted for his father's death. Had seized Asheron lands. Had profited from murder and to him it was completely unacceptable and tonight, he would die for it.
As if sensing the weight of Dante's stare, Valen looked up. Their eyes met across the courtyard. For a moment, something flickered in Valen's expression it was confusion an unsettling feeling and fear.
Then it was gone. Valen's professional mask slid back into place, and he returned his attention to the students.But Dante had seen it. That flash of recognition it seems Valen knew on some level, he knew exactly who was watching him.
Let him feel it. Let him spend his last day wondering if the dead prince standing at the edge of his training ground was real or just a ghost.He'd learn the truth soon enough.
Dante turned and walked away. Kira fell into step beside him.
"It seemed He recognized you," she said quietly.
"I know."
"That complicates things."
"No. It makes them simpler." Dante said
They returned to their quarters. Dante spent the rest of the day reviewing the other targets' information, planning routes through the Academy, memorizing guard patterns. Kira disappeared for a few hours to scout the surrounding area and returned with a map of the building's layout.
By midnight, everything was ready.
Dante stood at the window, watching the Academy settle into sleep. Lights going off. Patrols passing on their rounds. The perfect quiet of a secure facility that believed itself untouchable.
He checked the system one more time.
[CURRENT TIME: 2:17 AM]
[TARGET: MARQUIS VALEN DRAKOS][LOCATION: EAST WING, ROOM 347][STATUS: ALONE]
[OPTIMAL STRIKE WINDOW: ACTIVE]
Dante opened the window. Three stories up, but that was nothing. He climbed out, found handholds in the stone wall, and moved laterally toward Room 347. Kira would be watching from the shadows below, ready to intervene if something went wrong.Room 347's window was closed but not locked and that was Careless. Dante opened it without sound and slipped inside.
The room was dark. A figure lay in the bed, breathing slow and even.
Dante crossed the room in three silent steps. He stood over Marquis Valen, watching the man sleep. This close, he could hear the heartbeat.He reached out and placed his hand over Valen's mouth.The Marquis's eyes shot open. He tried to shout, tried to move, but Dante's grip was iron. Enhanced strength activated Valen's muscles bulged, power flooding his system. He grabbed Dante's arm, trying to break the hold.It didn't budge.
A Rank strength trumped B Rank every time.
Dante leaned close, his voice a whisper. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Valen's eyes were wide with fear. He shook his head frantically.
"You should." Dante pulled back his sleeve, revealing the Asheron family crest tattooed on his inner wrist. "You voted to execute everyone who wore this crest. Including children."
And there Recognition flooded Valen's face. His struggling intensified, but it was useless. Dante's blood magic activated, a subtle manipulation of the blood in Valen's system. The Marquis froze, paralyzed from the inside.
"My name is Dante Asheron," Dante continued. "You killed my family. You profited from our lands. You thought yourself safe behind Academy walls."
Valen tried to speak but Couldn't. His eyes pleaded.
"I've waited one hundred years for this moment." Dante's hand moved from Valen's mouth to his chest. "Your debt is due."
He pressed down. Blood magic surged. Valen's heart stopped instantly. No struggle. No pain. Just a clean, silent death.
The system confirmed it immediately.
[KILL CONFIRMED: MARQUIS VALEN DRAKOS]
[BLOOD DEBT: 474/1,000]
Remaining Targets: 526
Dante arranged the body to look natural. Heart attack. It happened sometimes, even to vampires. No one would question it.
He left through the window, climbed back to his own room, and found Kira waiting.
"Done?" she asked.
"Done.
"Any complications?"
"None."
"Good." She moved toward the door. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow we find the next one."
Dante didn't sleep. He sat at the window, watching the eastern sky lighten toward dawn. One down. Fourteen to go.
And the Academy still didn't know death walked among them.