Another week has gone by as the Everlight party arrived at a city. It was almost dusk when the Everlight party arrived at the 'Dead City'. The 'Dead City', was famous for its 'the fallen night of silence'.
Basically, every three night, beings named vampires would come and terrorize this city. Citizens would lock themselves at home every night and hid themselves where they feel safe the most inside their house for vampires are able to break into houses and search for their dinner. Back then, the citizen of the 'Dead City' aren't safe and they would get killed by the vampires every time the third night struck. Until the third century, brave warrior named themselves as the vampire hunters would ward off the vampires, protecting citizens of the 'Dead City'. Vampire hunters has been pass down from generation to generation. Right now, the current vampire hunter is the ninety-fifth generation starting from the first generation.
When the Everlight party arrived at the 'Dead City', it was the second night, so they do not have to worry about any vampires terrorizing the city. At the gates of the city, there were crucifix hung onto the gates and garlic scattered arounnd the ground. When they enter the city, fragrance of garlic can be smelled just from the streets. Crucifix can be seen wore by the residents and selling by merchants of the 'Dead City'.
"Hey ya travelers,"
A voice sounded from one of the stand. Raye turned his head to face a man in his fifty sitting down on a chair wearing a singlet. Just by opening his mouth, a strong fragrance of garlic was released, making Raye took a few steps back.
"What's wrong? couldn't handle the garlic? Well too bad, garlic is our specialties and having them keep us safe,"
Raye retreated back to the rest of the Everlight members and continue exploring the 'Dead City'. They then decided to settle down and have dinner. Inside the diner was quite gloomy as if to fit the title of their city. Red and black canvas but despite this, the folks of this city were able to speak as if they do not fear anything.
"Hello sir, how may I help you?"
A waiter came up to Raye, taking out a small notebook, ready to receive their orders. Raye flipped through the menus to see all of it were garlic themed. To say this restaurant serve gourmet food, all of these are garlic based! Who gave the ratings? The residents of this city? Raye thought to himself as Will ordered garlic pasta. Amethia then ordered garlic lobster roll, Al ordering garlic shepherd pie, Auoun ordering garlic fried rice and Raye ordering garlic chicken chop.
"That would be all sir? How about drinks? My recommendation would be the garlic juice,"
"No thanks, we will have plain water,"
After dinner, the Everlight party was filled with garlic breath. Not even water was able to wash it down.
"This city sure have a weird obsession with garlic huh,"
Al groaned as the Everlight party went to search for an inn to stay for the night. While they were walking through a huge crowd, Amethia bumped onto someone.
"I'm sorry,"
The person she bumped into was wearing a black cloak. She was hiding her face from the crowd to avoid attention. Amethia look down and notice that she has a long sword. And oddly enough, unlike the local folks, that person does not have scent of a garlic!
"Wait...You're...Amethia right?"
"Do you know me?"
Amethia raised her head to find herself face to face with the cloaked person. That person has a distinguishable light-dark skin tone, masculine body structure and rose hair popping out of the cloak.
"Wait...you're...Miss Cynthia right?"
"Yep that's me,"
Cynthia Lorez, a woman that Amethia met when she was at the hot spring on the volcanic mountains belt.
"Fancy seeing you here,"
The crowd were drawn onto the loud voice made by Cynthia.
"It's the vampire hunter!"
"That's Lord Cynthia!"
"Lord Cynthia!"
"Who's this, Amethia?"
Raye walked towards Amethia and stood beside her. Raye has to raise his head to face Cynthia for she is quite tall, standing at 193 cm.
"Oh, she's a friend of mine I met when we were at the hot spring,"
"Nice to meet you,"
Raye reaches out his hand to Cynthia. She look at it and grabbed it with a strong grip. Bones cracking can be heard from Raye.
"Nice to meet you, I supposed that you're Raye Winston,"
"That I am,"
Cynthia look around and decided to bring the Everlight party to the vampire hunter headquarter.
"It's too crowded here, let's go to the manor to chat,"
Cynthia turned her body to where the direction she was heading to and yelled loudly.
"Make way for the vampire hunter!"
The crowd quickly dispersed as Cynthia dashed in insane speed towards where the crowd has dispersed.
"Try to keep up with me,"
Raye dashed using his agility while Will and Amethia just flew up in the air and for Al and Auoun, Auoun just carry Al and leaped their way to the vampire hunter manor.
Cynthia stopped in front of a building. It was as gloomy as the houses and the facilities of the 'Dead City'. Painted black canvas and a sign board right at the side of the building written 'Vampire Hunters'. The sign board paint was peeling off and the wooden plank of it was rotting away as if it has been there for ages. There is a metallic fence in black paint that surrounds the manor.
Cynthia pushed open the large, spear-like top gates upon them and led the Everlight party in before locking the gates. There is a distance from the gate to the manor with a stone pathway connecting them. There were plants planted around the garden of the manor which is the front yard. Apple trees and few rose bushes alongside of the stone pathway. Cynthia plucked six apples and tossed five to the Everlight party, treating the guests a snack before entering.
Cynthia unlocked the door of the manor and pushed it opened.
"We got guests!"
Cynthia roared as they entered the brighten room. There is a large fan with a light at the core, brightening the room as it spins. The fan spins slowly so it's easier to grab the rope and off it if needed. During the night in the 'Dead City' is breezing cold so there is no need for much installation to keep cool during the night. There is a table sitting in the middle of the room with two long sofas at each length and a single seat sofas at each width. There are few paper works on the table and there stood a lamp next to the couch on the left length side of the sofa.
"Howdy y'all!"
A female voice greeted the Everlight party and Cynthia. She climbed down the stairs that lead the second floor of the manor. The woman who also has the same skin tone as Cynthia, she has grey fur and a pair of cat ears. She wore a white fur scarf that hangs around her neck and brown leather jacket. She wore a black piece of clothe and a black jeans. She has two revolvers on her both sides of her hip and a few explosive items that strap around her body.
"You're back Cynthia!"
Cynthia removed her cloak to reveal that she also was wearing the same clothing as the woman on the opposite side of the table. Except that Cynthia wore a black leather jacket instead of a brown leather jacket and she has a sidesword on her left hip instead of having a pair of revolvers.
Cynthia sat on the sofa and allowed the guests to join her too.
"Don't just stand there, come take a seat,"
The woman sat at the single seat sofa at the left side while Raye, Auoun and Al sat opposite of Amethia and Cynthia. Will sat at the opposite of the woman. He stared at the woman with a sense of familiarity. Though he had never met this woman in his life, maybe something similar about her with a person he met before.
"Hi my name is Miljana Rowetch, I'm a vampire hunter too nya~!"
A playful voice made by the woman and ending it with the sound of a cat. Odd, her aura and the presence she gave is oddly similar to someone. Will kept thinking to himself as Raye introduced himself to the vampire hunter.
"I'm Raye Winston, hero and the leader of the Everlight party,"
"Al Sevis, a priest, pleasure to meet you,"
Al gave a tired tone, as if he doesn't want to socialize that much.
"My name is Auoun, I'm a dwarf and uh....the tank of this party,"
Auoun look towards Raye which he raised a thumbs up.
"I'm Amethia Tropaz, the mage of the Everlight party,"
Now everyone's gaze turned to Will who was still in his thought. He tilted his head and noticed everyone is staring at him.
"What...oh, My name is Will Beuratt, also the mage of this party,"
"Well then, introduction is complete, hope we can get along together nya~"
The woman, Miljana Rowetch clapped her hands once and laid back onto the sofa.
"Miss Miljana,"
Will said in a cold voice, Raye and the other Everlight members except for Auoun were shock that Will is using his cold voice to speak.
"Yes nya~?"
"Are you by chance...."
The air was tense, Cynthia look at Will with caution, resting her left hand onto her sword.
"Related to a beastfolk named Purrine?"
Raye and Al sighed but were also confused on why Will mentioned her name. Purrine, a beastfolk that the Everlight party met long ago in the dungeon at the dune. Her party members were killed by packs of wolves but the Everlight party was able to save her before she fell into her demise. She had quit being an adventurer and returned to her hometown.
Though, suddenly mentioning her name made Raye and Al cautious again.
"Huh? Ye I know Purrine, we used to play together when we were a child, she's my cousin,"
"...ok,"
The last sentence carried no hostility nor anything at all. All that built up tension for nothing. The Everlight party sighed and Cynthia let go of her hand on her sword and place it above her thigh.
"You know her nya? She's a great person nya~"
"We met her long ago before entering the Kingdom of Ferria, she was a great companion despite being temporary,"
Raye answered Miljana's question for Will.
"Hope she's doin fine, haven't meet her in a while,"
"I'm sure she's fine back in her hometown,"
Raye reassured Miljana which she just smiled and start moving her legs up and down.
"Well then,"
A voice came from Cynthia as she crossed her leg on top of another and crossed her arms.
"Welcome, Everlight party, to the 'Dead City',"