"A whole lot. I don't even know where to start." Cipher answered casually, but before she could dwell on the thought, the transpirantor strapped to her wrist came to life—its green light flickering while emitting a sharp vibration.
She sighed, already suspecting what was coming. With a practiced motion, she pressed it on.
Melody, the AI, materialized before her, her translucent form shifting with the glow of the device. "Cipher, you have been tasked with a mission to save and stabilize the Kingdom of Karian. You are to undertake this mission alone."
Cipher blinked. "What?" Her voice wavered between confusion and disbelief. "I barely know anything!" she protested.
"Press the mission confirmation." Melody's voice remained emotionless, unwavering. "You don't want to know the consequences of refusing."
Cipher clenched her jaw. "That's not fair."
Melody didn't hesitate. "Life is not fair, and it never will be." The AI's response was as cold as ever before she went silent.
Cipher stood frozen, feeling the weight of the unknown mission settle onto her shoulders. Her mind swirled with indecision—until the gentle yet resolute voice of Eatherion broke through her turmoil.
"Cipher, you have learned all you need to know. You will do just fine. Remember, every moment life offers you is a lesson in itself."
Good words. But they did little to quiet the storm brewing in her chest. The task was immense, and she was alone. But refusing wasn't an option. Reluctantly, she pressed the confirmation. The transpirantor pulsed, locking in the mission. There was no turning back.
In an instant, Cipher found herself in the midst of battle—only this time, she wasn't just watching. She was in it.
"Hey, young girl! Watch out!" A sharp voice cut through the air just as two daggers sliced forward in rapid succession. The silver blades barely slowed the vampire's advance.
"Get behind me." The man's tone was protective yet assured, a stark contrast to Cipher's own uncertainty. He knew exactly what was happening—she did not.
Her eyes darted around the battlefield. Fanged figures lunged at human warriors, their movements eerily swift. Vampires.
Before she could process the shock, the vigilant man slashed his blade clean through a vampire's neck. The creature crumpled with a dull thud.
He turned to Cipher, eyes sharp. "How do you walk into battle without a weapon?" Without hesitation, he shoved a sword into her hands. "Stay close."
She grasped the hilt awkwardly, unfamiliar with its weight.
"Rendell Graves. You can call me Ren." He introduced himself, never breaking focus as he drew a bow and swiftly loosed an arrow. The silver projectile struck a vampire gulz, slowing its movements but failing to finish the job.
Cipher tightened her grip around the sword. "Cipher," she said, unsure if she was even holding it right.
Ren let out a short chuckle. "Just one name?" His voice was easy, but his hands moved with deadly precision, releasing another arrow into the chaos. He was fighting, leading, protecting—all at once.
Though his arrows only weakened the guls, the other warriors made quick work of them. Cipher took a shaky breath.
Queen Drusilla stood on the high tower of the Hall of the Kingdom, her gaze fixed on the battle raging below. The chaos unfolded like an unsettling spectacle—yet her focus lingered on one particular figure.
"Where did that young lady come from?" She voiced her thoughts aloud, eyes narrowing as she observed Cipher's uncertainty in battle.
Dr. Marcellus Thorn, standing beside her, followed her gaze. "I haven't seen her before," he admitted, then frowned. "Her attire is… unusual. It doesn't match ours."
Drusilla tapped her fingers against the cold stone railing. "There's something about her," she muttered, mostly to herself. "Something I can't quite place."
Marcellus studied Cipher's shaky stance as she fumbled with her sword. "She doesn't look like she's ever wielded one before," he noted, his tone edged with skepticism.
The Queen exhaled softly. "Maybe the sword is too heavy for her. I just hope she doesn't get bitten." A flicker of concern crossed her features.
Her worries were valid. The vampires were evolving—too fast.
"Marcellus, we can no longer rely on our traditional methods." Her tone hardened as she turned to him. "They've adapted. They're attacking in daylight." She paused, the weight of their reality pressing down. "Find something that can wipe them out once and for all."
Marcellus nodded slowly. "I've been experimenting—searching for alternatives."
Drusilla shifted her gaze back to the battlefield. "Whatever it is, hurry."
Meanwhile, Cipher was struggling. Ren glanced at her with faint amusement amidst the bloodshed. "You're holding that sword like it's a basket of fruit."
Cipher scowled. "I wasn't exactly planning to be in a vampire battle today." Ren smirked, shooting down another guls with a well-placed arrow. "Lucky for you, I was."
Cipher adjusted her grip awkwardly. "If you have some tips, now would be the time."
Ren kicked a fallen vampire off his boot. "Swing with intent. Don't hesitate. And don't get eaten."
"Great advice," she muttered dryly.
Just then, another gul lunged. Ren spun swiftly, cutting its advance short with a brutal strike. Cipher barely reacted in time.
"You need to move faster," Ren said, pulling her aside. "That hesitation will get you killed."
Cipher gulped. "I'm trying!"
"Try harder." His tone was firm, but there was an edge of encouragement hidden beneath it. Up above, Drusilla watched closely. Her instincts whispered: Cipher was different.
"Cipher, you can do this. Have faith and believe in yourself."
The voice echoed in her mind—firm yet reassuring. She spun around instinctively, searching for its source, but there was no one. Just the battlefield, the warriors and the vampires. She barely had time to process it. Five gul vampires surged forward.
Ren moved like lightning, charging at them with relentless precision. He rolled low, slicing his dagger clean through the tendons at the backs of their ankles. The creatures shrieked in agony, momentarily destabilized. But then—another gul leaped into the air, its eyes locked onto Cipher. She saw it too late.
"Cipher, MOVE!" Ren's voice cut through the noise.