Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"But master, please-! What should I do?!"

"To find your sight again, you must help another regain theirs. Light their way by your own might and magnificence, and your own path shall once again be opened. Only until then will you be lost in the darkness. May the spirits guide you."

"Thanks, master..."

Sent into the world with a new inhibition, you'd been cast away in order to fulfill this new mission. With the cruel decision to not even help you adjust to your newfound blindness, your master and your colleagues sent you to find someone. Didn't matter who, didn't matter where, but the mission itself was simple: Help someone regain their path. Whether that meant spiritually, mentally, or otherwise, you don't know.

With frustration your guide, you traveled, eventually binding your magic to a staff, which in turn provides you with defense from ever-ruthless night creatures, and a means to make noise. (You heard from a kind man that humans could "see" using sound, too.) Clicking your tongue or tapping the staff gave you that very ability - echolocation, as they called it. Like bats.

Right now, you haven't the faintest clue where exactly you are. There's crunching below your shoes, and the songs of birds over your head: sounds extremely familiar to you. So, you're either in the woods, or in some sort of clearing. The air is crisp and clean, with a faint smell of wood lingering.

It's only been a month, and you haven't the time to learn them all, but you've come to figure out the current season. It's Autumn. Spring has a heavy smell of flowers and there's the faint buzz of bees, Summer is hot and smells of water. Winter is... well, surely overwhelmingly crispy. (You've come to despise the winter snow, as it swallows your feet and your clicking without a lick of thought, and nothing but cruelty to speak for in the meantime.)

Tapping does nothing, mostly, so you've taken to just clicking your tongue in the woods. You're anything but helpless, so if a night creature would be to come at you, you can hear them, and ultimately protect yourself. In this time, you've managed to better hone your sense of hearing, so you can hear them further away. After all, you've been told before that the sightless are oft blessed with keen insight. A blessing from above, perhaps, or the simple well-wishes of your family that make it that much easier to be alive during this sort of turmoil. Not that you'll ever know; more pressing matters demand your focus.

All of your hairs stand on end when an owl hoots in the distance, echoing through the trees and straight through your body. Once it stops, you take a deep breath, clutching your staff tighter to your chest. For a moment, you're grateful, since the sound helps you a bit more with where everything is, and you put your hand out to help you circle around a tree.

"It's fine... everything is okay..." A mantra that you try desperately to justify, with the world rebuking you time and time again, with more cruelty and bitter cold as its patience is lost into the ether.

Dammit... It's late, I can feel it. Thanks, owl... Aside from the hooting, the horrid growling of your stomach and the clicking of your tongue is all that's helping you in this endeavor. The first thing I need to do is find a river. Where there's water, there's fish. You haven't yet mastered catching deer or anything like that, and squirrels are elusive this time of year, so you're making do even if it's killing you.

Your thoughts trail off as your clicking no longer echoes, and curiously, you silence your movement altogether as your head turns this away and that. Tapping your staff down, your magic pulses through the ground - a completely amateurish spell of your own making without a lick of mastery - giving you some sense of placement. There's no trees ahead, but rather something... really huge.

Swallowing, you push forward, and only around ten steps later your clicking bounces off something. Two moderately tall things on either side of you, in that they're your size just towering slightly over your head, but there's no crunching sound to imply they have leaves, and you can't feel warmness on your face, so they're not trees or lanterns. They're something else. Dragging a lip between your teeth you investigate, taking quick note of a strange scent.

Curiosity gets the better of you, and you meander to the side until you can sense something right in front of you. Reaching out your hand, you feel cloth, but one of those special kinds you'd only known the richer folk of the towns you visited wore. Swallowing your hand presses down further into the cold underneath, feeling something flaking off underneath as the smell of rotting iron perforates your nostrils. Revulsion shoots up from your core, and your skin raises in goosebumps as your spine stiffens in terror taking root.

There's a twist in your stomach, overflowing into nausea, with the realization that this is not something you should even be close to. But you have to know what it is - that's how you can better figure out your surroundings and just where you are. In addition these help you to gauge how dangerous it is around here and, by extension, how much of your power you should use lest the resulting chaos invite monsters or adventurers seeking companions.

Your hand goes upward, until it finds a break in the cold plane, like some twisted change of pace. Pursing your lips, you move your hand further up - and an uneven gasp tears from your throat when your wrist is coiled by an unmistakable tendril of hair, a wet residue left on your skin as it slithers off. Quickly you clench your teeth and swallow a scream, your free hand shooting to your mouth as a quick safeguard lest everything else fail you.

Your fingers dig in curiosity that isn't your own, and you rip your hand back. Something is yanked out with them, tangled, and cold, congealed... Oh, God!

Somehow managing not to scream you stagger, eyes wide yet protected from the full extent of the goriness. That's a corpse-! That's a person!!! 

Everything in your body twists and flips, frantic and scrambling. In mere seconds the torrent takes hold, and you seize, body lurching forward as you projectile vomit all over. It comes in waves, as though your very intestines wish to dislodge, until it's nothing. After agonizing minutes of this your lungs open back up, and the horrendous stench is the only reminder you're still standing, albeit on wobbling knees. Never had you felt something this wretched, much less seen back when you could. With what remained of your innocence just about gone you gulp, harshly, finding the flask hanging on your belt and gulping down what remains. Your senses are mercifully returned, and you're able to breathe, but you opt to take quick steps back.

What in heaven's name happened here?

You've never heard of Night Creatures doing this. Normally they'd devour the body into nothingness alive, or simply rip the guts out and watch. No, this...

...

Taking a deep breath you step closer again, finding the top of the head and finding where the wood sticks out. Swallowing, you follow how the body does not twist with the simple push or nudge, until just between the feet that same wood sticks to the ground. It's all too much how you were told Dracula displayed the dead, impaled upon spikes surrounding his castle... But Dracula was killed, wasn't he? So why would-?

Grrrr...

The sound snaps you momentarily out of your thoughts, but an all new fear - that of imminent death - strikes another chill into your chest. There's more than one source, as you can plainly hear, and... oh.

"N-Night creatures-!" You heave. And by the sound of it, you're almost surrounded, save for the castle just behind.

Rushing forward so you're no longer surely within reach, your body rams into something. Putting your hands up, you feel out the intricate detailing of... a pair of doors? The crease between implying they're separate helps you find something to open them with, but then you pause, your head turning back towards the growling that's growing louder as the pandering of feet is coming closer to you.

You're met with two choices: try and hold your ground against vicious beasts that vastly outnumber you and most certainly fail, or try your luck with the castle. Dragging a lip between your teeth one of the choices becomes painfully clear.

The sound of the growls becoming more ravenous rips your heart into your ears, and you find yourself screaming and pushing back, the two doors giving way and having you fall through. Without much, if any, consideration for your decision being a bad idea, you rush to close them again, and once they close they begin shaking with the sound of the creatures banging on them.

Slapping your palm onto the intricate detailing you hiss a spell, reinforcing them that you have time to run. Gulping harshly you turn on your heel and book it, the foot of your staff clearing obstacles in your wake and alerting you of walls an immovable impediments.

No matter how afraid you are, you have to act - if you don't, you most certainly will die. That is the law of this entire world now,  and that is what it shall be so long as Night Creatures prowl the soil and the rocks. So long as humanity will turn against even its own to survive, so long as the cattle are never safe, so shall it be you'll make not a friend in the world, running from shadows even when your purpose alights.

Almost bumping your nose many times, you push your way past corners, bruising your legs with the many times you trip over something and get up hurriedly to keep running. By now there's dull aches every which place on your body, most of all your arms, and you're all but running out of steam and direction-

"AACK!"

Your leg sinks below you, your body to follow. Before long you're tumbling down stairs, solid and long-reaching. With the solace of a landing you slide, shrieking as you're condemned to even more. Your arm twists with the descent, quickly shooting up to shield your head, your foot getting caught briefly in a banister and stretching your leg forcefully before you're on your back and sliding. A particular bump sends your leg up, your body flipping to and fro before finally you're on the floor.

For a moment the shock keeps you still, the rest being you simply being incredulous. If you had been more vigilant you'd have kept from falling... At least you have the dull aches to remind you that you're not dead. A few quick touches to your head confirming all you have are a few admittedly bad bumps. That's going to hurt in the morning for certain, but that's the least of your issues at this point.

"... Ow..."

For a moment, you remain completely still. Focusing on the silence, the chill of the floor beneath, and your own breathing, you clench your fists as you slowly begin calming down. There’s no noise, no detectable movement that can indicate you’re still in danger, and that in itself is relieving, but you’re faced with a new problem: You have absolutely no clue where you are.

Once there’s no longer a steam hammer in your chest, you roll onto your back, pushing down with both hands, you get back onto your feet, brushing off your clothes. With a soft incantation, you tap your staff to your legs, and the dull pain in them ceases. Sighing softly, you repeat this process a few times with the rest of you, too relieved at still being alive to care about what could happen in the next few minutes.

”Well, at least I’m away from those night creatures...”

Reaching your staff out, you feel around the floor, walking around until you again find a set of stairs. Wary, you ascend, keeping your ears open for anything that would think of jumping out at you. It’s almost cruelly ironic, how back when you could see you’d be able to do these things with more finesse, but now as someone adapting, not to say you can’t appreciate the meaning behind Master taking your sight, but...

Well, you can’t. This genuinely feels more like punishment, but Master taught you once that everything happens for a reason - so maybe the reason is closer than you think.

Your heart lurches when you reach your foot upward but only find that you've reached the top instead of more stairs, tumbling forward slightly as a result. "Wah-!"

Taking in some uneven breaths, the momentary panic eventually subsides. "Ugh..."

Swallowing, you open your ears and cautiously click your tongue again, making your way through not-so-narrow hallways. Some areas, the reverberation of your clicking is weaker, which means there's holes or worse somewhere. The knowledge came from some... rather unfortunate accidents where you admittedly almost died. In quite possibly the dumbest way, too.

Okay... where do I go? Because of your panic in getting as far away from the night creatures as possible, you've taken turns and gotten into places you didn't bother getting a feel for, which even in such a stupor would have been wise. However, you quickly forgive yourself for your lack of consciousness and do your best to retrace your steps. Sometimes your foot whacks something just right and knocks it over, freezing you in place for a few miserable seconds.

Though your stomach still twists with the anxiety - the  that something far worse than a night creature could be occupying this place, it doesn't take precedence as you can sense that right now, you're alone. You've learned to identify the breathing of beasts and humans alike, but sometimes you've been caught off-guard by someone vying to ambush you. It was... inconvenient, given you never carry anything you wouldn't miss, thus making a robbery completely useless, sometimes deadly, given your hand has been forced.

A pity that is how those would end here and there, but you take solace in that if you hadn't defended yourself worse would happen to you. Pacifism's very essence has fallen nil in these terrible times.

Your clicking starts to echo more, but grows weaker in your ears; a signification that you've reached a larger room. Switching to tapping your staff on the ground, you eventually find the other end, reaching out your hand to feel at a wall. Poking your tongue out to wet your lips, your brows furrow as you try to find the big doors that you previously came in from, or at least another way out.

thud

The sound has you whirling around, staff at ready. It's not a powerful sound, but one that signals you're no longer alone.

"Hello?" You call. "Wh-Whoever you are, come out slowly! I have a lowly sti- uhhh..." You hesitate, dragging a lip between your teeth. "... Weapon! And... And I'm not afraid to use it!"

Closing the distance between your legs to maintain balance, you clutch your staff tight to yourself. What follows is a stillness that keeps your hair standing on end, locking and unlocking your knees to its leisure. Every force that would see you in this moment is surely chuckling, for you're unaware and thus completely helpless of what exactly you're up against. Though you have fought plenty of humans and the rare Night Creature was slain after completely underestimating you, to not know what's lurking in this castle is... less than ideal, to put it lightly.

Then you blink, noting the minutes past of silence. "... Did I scare it?" A faint breeze.

A presence behind you. "Oh yes, I know I'm scared."

"AAAAAH!!!"

Chapter Text

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Desperately pushing past corners and furniture, noises of clanging and another set of footsteps reverberate through the halls and your head, your hair sticking and disconnecting from your face while standing on end. Hands reached out and shaky, you keep loudly clicking to keep some sense of where you're going, your staff having fallen from your hands from the surprise of someone suddenly speaking to you. And now that someone is right on your tail - or so you assume.

Silently pleading to Lady Luck, God, any otherworldly force to rescue you, you bump and injure almost every bit of you avoiding the resounding clangs, the sound of falling wood, and most importantly trying to pinpoint where your pursuer is behind you, if they're even slowing down.

Managing to pick up something in front of you, you jump, pushing over it with your hands. Feeling your noise growing weaker, you push past another wall and into another hallway, feet pounding down, and your heart leaping from your chest to your throat with each beat, the frequency almost rivaling that of a hummingbird at this rate.

Screaming for help solves nothing - it only attracts more Night Creatures. 

Though your pleas would only be heard by insects and night creatures, sometimes you had been rescued by a brave traveler hoping to take after the legendary Belmonts, or other reviled knights and warriors that specialize in rescuing people from certain death. Even better, the people that go after you because they believe your very presence holds secrets - and it does to some extent. There are many you will to the trusted until you cannot trust them to keep any that lie in the depths of knowledge.

Your clicks sound more broken now, going different ways. Just trying to survive, you instinctively dive to the left, hearing something behind you flying past just after. A painful shiver goes down your spine and propels you upward, forcing you to keep pushing your legs into a swift getaway regardless of their aching. There's no question of how bruised they are, not to mention tired from so much running, but you just have to keep moving. One wrong move, and whatever's here will...

Shaking your head, you keep furiously clicking, trying your damnedest to at least get at a distance where you'll be able to-

Your ankle harshly collides just right with something, and a strangled cry rips from your throat as you tumble over, erupting into a scream as it twists. A heightened sense of urgency brings you to try and wrench it from whatever has it caught, tears pouring down your face as it won't budge, but rather throbs from the panicked effort. From the shock your hand opens, the sound of your staff shattering on impact on the far side sinking your stomach.

"No-!" You sob. You can't make another one right now, and to walk without it is shooting in the dark without a light!

The overbearing notion that you won't get out of here alive, that you're going to end up like that poor person outside, has you curling into yourself. Bringing your hands up to shield your head, you shiver and close your eyes to prepare for the end. But eventually, it tightens your ribs, clutches your heart, and you're left gasping for air, swallowed whole by the terror that stole your screams. Your arms fall to your sides, and before you realize it, you're completely helpless.

Something grips your swelling ankle, and you all but squeak as it breaks it from where it was lodged with practical ease. Trying hard to get back straight, you try to move your arms, but there's no feeling,  and your eyes run dry of tears as whatever helped your leg is now right beside your head. Feeling your hands twitch, you try again to get at least into a crawling position, when your shoulders are suddenly gripped and you're lurched up. Suddenly your lungs open up, and your head tilts back as you take in large gulps of air, and slowly the feeling returns in your arms.

A rush of air, the sound of clanging, and with a few clicks, you realize you're once again alone.

Pushing until you're sitting up more properly, you keep breathing, only breaking it up with some coughing. Both of your legs ache and wobble, and the pain in your ankle is just going to make it harder to walk, but even so you reach and push down, getting one foot on the floor properly and then the other-

"Agh!" You cry, collapsing back onto your knees.

It left me alone... I have to get out-! Not even pausing to question the who or why, you get onto your hands and knees, promptly crawling to retrace your steps, hoping to find something to act as a walking stick at least. With one more push, you fight back onto your feet, angling one so you don't irritate it.

A gust of air, a chill in your face, and you scream as your head is smacked into the abyss.

You wake with a start, your racing heartbeat the only thing signaling you’re still alive. Given your state, your sense of urgency has all but dulled, and yet you can’t stop your horrendous quivers. A soft whimper upon each breath, you push down until you’re upright, and with the absence of your staff you’re forced to find alternative ways to identify your surroundings. Feeling around you realize with ease the dimensions of where you lay, shuddering with the dread and fear settling in your fingers.

You’re somewhere cushy, to be sure. Feeling layers of the soft cloth beneath you, and some other things to imply your initial belief, you confirm that you are indeed on a bed. It’s not yours, though; the fabric is too soft and nice. You’re used to felt or what can only be described as scratchy or even canvas. Not that you were poor - Magic’s are rich in their own rewards - but it was a humble life until now.

You put two fingers to your neck. “I’m alive...” A sigh of relief as you slide to the side and off the bed, your bare feet hitting the cold floor sending shivers up your spine.

Poking your tongue out to moisturize your lips, you feel for a wall, reaching your feet out with each step so you don’t trip. Eventually finding one, you feel around, trying to find a door or a window. Just something that would let you escape. To hell with your shoes... Oh.

Shaking your head, you retrace your steps, eventually tripping and falling back on the bed. Over your shoes. The irony isn’t lost on you.

Though preposterously counterintuitive, you fare well without your staff, getting back upright and slipping back into your stockings - stuffed unceremoniously in each shoe - and then into your shoes. With a sigh, you get your steps again and find the wall. Within minutes, you find a break, feeling the rectangular structure of a doorway, moving your palms to the metal knob. A heat in your ears, you grip it tightly and twist.

Locked.

A new sensation of dread washes over you, and your desperation leads you to keep trying, eventually throwing caution to the wind and stepping back after centering yourself. Taking a deep breath, you charge forward, ramming against the door with your shoulders. To your dismay, it makes a loud noise with you, but doesn’t budge. You repeat this a few times, eventually falling to your knees, gripping yourself where you’ve begun aching.

What kind of sick game is this...? You wonder, anxious. Whatever chased me back there... Was that a person? ... Dracula, perhaps? No, no, it couldn't be Dracula - I'd have never woken up. Could it be I found upon another adventurer trying to speak to me? Ohh, that means I ran for nothing... But that doesn't sound right either. Either way, I'd better not stick around to find out.

With nothing left to lose but time, you regain your footing, clicking and feeling about, trying to find something else to escape through. The odd frame gives way to canvas you're quick to yank your fingers from, and you feel around with your feet when you climb atop the odd piece of furniture... Right up until you realize you're climbing a shelf too late. Before you can quickly jump off or something you're falling backwards, shrieking.

In very quick moments you're on your side, your arm instinctively flying up as heavy trinkets fall around your body, the odd book falling onto your head before the sturdy shelves make the vain attempt to crush you. A tremble in your breath you regain your senses once more, managing to lift the heavy wood enough to relieve the painful twisting. Sighing in relief, you move your hands to grip it, pushing until it's upright enough to follow you onto your collective feet. The process is strenuous and demands all of your muscle - you tend to forego physical training since magic requires little of it - but you manage.

"Whew..." You brush off your clothes. That scared me pretty good... I feel a bit better now, though, oddly.

creak

Your heart sinks with the noise, drawn out ominously behind you, and your hands fall as your face grows clammy. One knee locks, the other is ready to give out. Every other sensation in your body has fallen numb.

”Hello there.” The voice from before... “Rather lively, aren’t you?” You gulp. “And step away from there, if you would. You’re close to stepping on that candelabra.”

Though your breaths are slow and shaky, and your very soul has accepted this is your end, you find it in yourself to take a few steps back, turning so you’re facing the voice’s source. Opening your ears widely you brace for whatever's coming. You're not as good with your hands as you are with a staff when it comes to your magic, but you still have enough strength in them to fight normally even if there may not be a chance of winning this time around.

”Here.” There’s a sound like a vase being put down or something. “You should eat something.” You hesitate, keeping your hands to your chest. “I know you’re hungry - you’ve been out for a while.”

This is where you find the nerve to speak. “What is it?”

”It’s fish.”

You poke your tongue out again. “With some human on the side?”

They - he - chuckles. “No. Fish and vegetables.” Wary, you begin making your way to where the sound he made is. “There you go... Come on, it’s okay.”

Your hands find a table, and feeling around more, you find a plate just as the aroma hits your face. “What sort of person are you...?”

”No one to be trifled with, I can assure you,” He replies as you find a utensil and take small, cautious bites that quickly evolve into ravenous gulps. It truly must have been a long time since last you ate. “Which you should know about before breaking into my home.”

You shake your head, cheeks slightly puffed from the meat in your mouth. “The night creatures didn’t give me a choice.”

”Such is a person’s basic instinct to survive.” His voice is exasperated. You find a glass and sip. It’s wine.

”Maybe.” You swallow everything in your mouth, trying to move your head so you can play it like you can see him. “... So what now? Are you going to impale me like those people outside?”

He snorts, as if amused by the notion. “I’d rather not.” There’s a pause. “ ... Tell me your name.”

”Does it matter?” You ask. “How am I supposed to trust you won’t kill me either way?” You pause your movements, frowning.

”Had I wanted to, you’d be dead the moment you entered this castle,” He hums. “The fact you’re still alive now should speak volumes.” Was this conversation entirely avoidable?

He isn't wrong. Either which way, even so, is a gamble. You’re risking your life in any way, so you’re met with two options: Refuse and die quickly, or go along and find a way out of here down the road if he allows you to.

Your bearings darken as your choice becomes clear. “... [Name]. [Name] [Last Name]. I’m from the Arcane in Wallachia. The people know not our faces but our deeds, and our talents are renowned far and wide. No one knows where we were or will be, for we eternally creep in the shadows.” A mantra spoken to visitors and initiates with certain promise. 

”And they didn’t used to hide, they only started when their numbers began dwindling when the night creatures showed up,” He continues. “There are few of you left, hence your recent communications with the Speakers.”

You blink. This is entirely correct, actually - the unwise and unaware were sadly laid to waste by Night Creatures and even fearful humans. Though no fault of their own, their guts were the mark signaling that the walk in the light was over. With you in tow your master, the Sage, commanded that no one would be to see the outside again unless otherwise directed: a decision made not out of control or fear, but rather a wish that no one else die. He was a kind man, an old dog that was coming time to bury the bone - and love you and the other members he did like family. Though to say he loved in the sense of a traditional father or grandfather would be... something of an overreach.

”That’s right...” There isn’t a morsel of food left on your plate, as you’ve discovered just now. “People like us are our key to survival, as with the preservation of our work and legacy.”

Silence.

Eventually, you can’t take it anymore. “I believe this is the part you introduce yourself, too.”

He laughs. “Yes, it is.” A momentary pause, as though he's taking a second to contemplate what to tell you. “Alucard.”

You open your mouth to question him, but then his hand, large and surprisingly warm, cups your chin. Sharply inhaling, your hands instinctively fly upward to protect your neck. However, all you feel is a few soft breezes on your face.

”Are you... blind?” He asks.

You shake, trying to resist the lulls of false security. “Y-yes.”

”Hn.” His hand falls. “You shouldn’t be out on your own, even with your abilities.”

”I don’t like company.” You grip your arms, to stop them from trembling. "... People like me are considered weak simply because I can't see. So, I am either an easy sacrifice or the last one to get a bounty, not to say I have the patience to bang my head against an inn wall, that is..." That is true. Blind paladins are held in high regard, but you don't aim to reach as high as them - your mission is much different than theirs.

”I see.” Alucard’s voice continues warm promises. “It is fascinating, however, that you’ve made it this long. Considering the choices you’ve made - choosing flight over fight - am I to assume you’re not that good at fighting?”

”I didn't come in this place looking for a fight. I was looking for shelter." You twitch. "... I was outnumbered and outmatched out there. Is it not smarter to simply run from an unwinnable fight?" Then you blink again. "Wait a second, are you trying to trick me?"

”Now why would I do that?” He asks.

”... You were the one chasing me, weren't you?" That's when the fear settles in, your teeth chattering despite you now gripping your robes to stay calm. "You say you weren't going to kill me, but I still don't believe you-!"

”Poor thing.” His hand goes to your head, rubbing it. “Hey... it’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

Taking a deep, shaky breath, you nod, but find yourself curling up a bit. “Where’s my staff?”

”Broken.”

Your stomach hurts.

”It’s alright. If you want, we can find some way to fix it, or make you a new one.”

A drop of sweat falls from your brow.

”[Name]? Are you paying attention?” You can’t answer him. It's only when you feel his large hands on your shoulders that you snap back into alertness, even if minutely. Flinching, your hands go up, but stop short of any sort of movement.

"I... I..." You shudder. Eventually, it clicks that you won't get anywhere being scared, and you're powerless to stop death should it truly be waiting for you in this place. Grim acceptance loosens your lungs, brings warmth back into your hands, and helps you relax. "... Are you proposing I stay?"

Alucard chuckles again. "As much as I believe in how much use you put your legs to, it wouldn't be very wise to let a blind human out on her own." You're certain he notices you've begun to pout. "If you insist on leaving, I won't stop you. However, I think the both of us can agree you're better off here, at least until you've adapted."

Your brows arch. "I thought I have."

"You won't be able to survive on your own if you can't fight back against night creatures," He mentions. "I will give you credit where credit is due: you're able to feel out a room using touch and sound, so you've had time to adjust. So-"

"You didn't even ask me if I was born blind," You mention.

"I can tell, don't interrupt. Now, I have read stories of the Arcane, and in some cases of their missions, they would make their members blind as part of their practices," He hums, taking into account your interjection. "Not as a sort of punishment, per se, but like a lesson."

You nod. "One way to find answers to your own problems, is to help someone else with theirs," You say. "I need to help someone, whoever they may be, so then I can get my sight back."

There's an odd silence in the air, one that implies deep thought from him. (Whether he's wondering if you're completely insane or are actually just coming up with a fancy way to call yourself an orphan is unimportant.) He isn't alone: you're riddled with thoughts on what your mission could be. Whatever it is, you want to do it fast, so that you won't anymore live with the dread of never seeing again.

"How about I propose a deal, then?" He asks. "I help you adjust with your blindness, maybe find something that can teach you how to use attack spells, and in return you will stay."

Something's behind you. You can feel it, like an invisible warning upon refusing. It emanates an energy that you've only felt a few times, one that implies it isn't a person, but a weapon - an extension of him, even. You know enough about that.

"... Alucard, what is-?" Then it pokes you square in the base of your spine. "YOW!"

"Oh, you can sense it?" He asks, a chuckle in his voice.

"Yes I can - especially trying to poke me!"

"Touché." The smile is still palpable. "I'd make your decision quick so we can move this along."

"... Okay! I will, just... Just put it down." You try and reach behind you to feel where it is. "What is that, anyway?"

"It's a magic weapon."

 Your shoulders slump, lips pursing. Thank you, Captain Obvious. "Yea, I know what it is, but what is it?"

"A magic sword."

"Okay, I'm getting nowhere." You take a deep breath, then softly hold out your hand. "It's a deal."

His hand wraps around yours strangely perfectly. "Very good. Now, come this way."

"Where are we going?"

"First order of business is your staff. After that, we discuss your arrangements."

You swallow.

Alucard...

Chapter Text

"Explain to me how you can do that so well."

You pause your handiwork - whittling some sturdy oak wood into a new staff until it's either as good or better than the old one - to answer him.

"I've made staves before," You tell him. "It's not hard when you've had practice. This is just my first time doing it blind."

"And you haven't cut yourself before?"

"Yes I have." You feel out the wood to make sure it's smooth, and it is. Moving on to the ends, you keep at your method. "Sight or not, I'm still pretty good at it. Maybe I'll surprise you."

A moment of silence. Though you do accidentally nick yourself in your palm, it's nothing serious with a few licks and you're back to carving. The knife almost glides across the wood - a surefire sign you're almost done - within a matter of time and you're left smiling as you feel up and down your new staff.

Pausing for a moment, you click your tongue a few times, eventually reaching a bit as your head turns to and fro. "Alucard?"

"I'm still here," He replies.

"... Were you behind me the whole time?" You ask, referring to that first night.

"Hn?" You can hear him shuffle. "Oh. Well, yes. You're not the only one that can hear night creatures. But, with how those are, they're predictable at least. These days, it's normal people to watch out for. They'd be quick to send you to an early grave these days."

You shoot him a crooked smile. "I'm not exactly normal, you know."

He pauses, soon deciding to just get to the point. "I was moreso seeing if you were a threat. Given you seemed more interested in finding somewhere to hide until the sun came up, I figured it'd be best that you had no reason to wield your lowly stick... Excuse me, weapon."

You about choke. "How did I not hear you...?"

In some odd way, it's like you can hear him smile. "I'm rather good at hunting these days, sneaking up on someone is rudimentary." When you shudder, he chuckles. "I don't eat people, at least if they don't deserve it. I did come close one time, but that was a long time ago."

"... Do I?"

"Not at the moment."

"That's comforting."

”I mean it. You're likely not that tasty anyway.” You feel Alucard’s hand softly pat your arm to let you know where he is. He’s already picked up on you turning toward his voice so he knows you acknowledge him. "It'd do you good to have care, though. The castle has different twists and tricks that can be dangerous. Unless you're into that, which quite frankly is... weird."

You pout. "I'm not as helpless as I look."

"I understand. But, as brave as you are and as resourceful and smart as you are, that does not make you immortal." His hand goes to your head to pat it. "You have skill as a magician, but you have much to learn before you can fight on your own against such a sizable horde."

"And most of what I could learn is in books," You point out. "Which wouldn't be inconvenient if I could see."

"Oh. Yea, that's right." He chuckles under his breath. "I'm your eyes. If you'd like me to be, that is."

You mull over the proposition for a moment, then shrug. "No time like the present."

"... Which brings me to something else."

"Oh dear."

"Completely ignoring your self-sufficiency at the moment, I am wondering why your master in The Arcane would let you go out on your own without a guide or something. You surely haven't been blind for that long: the way you walk and interact with the world explains that much." You sense him shift a bit closer to you. "Did they intend to send you to your death or something?"

Momentarily, you shudder. "No! No, why would you say that?"

He chuckles, and his large hand lands on your head. Instinctively, you lean into his touch. "I'm joking... For the most part. It's amazing to me, though. Surely magic exists that doesn't require sight, right? That could've been taught before you were struck blind."

You shrug. "I wish I knew. Heaven knows it's frustrating."

It really is, despite your own attempts. It's not unheard of for mages of any class to attempt at creating their own spells - even younglings read books with their own little fireflies. But without a proper basis for such magic, which can also be one's creation but is usually horrifically difficult, you have way too little hope to count on. As though sensing your frustration Alucard's hand pats your head a bit more in solidarity, and you relax.

"Hence my previous statement on assisting you." With a few more rubs his hand is gone, and you pout. "So long as you're here, I will do what I can to help you further adapt. Such magic that can help you navigate the world surely exists, right?"

You poke your tongue out to moisturize your lips. "Surely so."

"So, if you'll have me, my friend gave me his family library a few months ago - or something - and-"

"WHAT?"

The ground vibrates a bit with his jolt. "What?"

"How does someone give you a library? Did he make it pocket-sized or something?"

There's silence for a moment, then he erupts into laughter, putting his hand back on your head. "Something like that surely exists, too. Anything is possible."

"It is?"

"Yes. Magic makes it possible. A friend of mine found a box full of spells for penises once, though I'm fairly sure it was under my other friend's childhood bed." He rubs your head a few more times before putting his hand down again.

"... Spells for..." You then shake your head, gagging a bit. "Nevermind, I don't know if I want to know."

He chuckles. "Come, we have some books to read if we're to make progress." He softly touches your shoulder, taking your hand and helping you upright. The next time he speaks, it's like he's lowered. "Here."

"... Uh."

"I can carry you."

You reach out, and accidentally poke the back of his head. "Oh."

Feeling out a bit more but managing to stop yourself when you feel the top of his pants, you try not to jump when you feel his hands come back and guide your arms, having you lean forward until you're practically on his back. With your arms around his neck and his around your legs, you tighten your hold a bit as he gets up, making sure you're positioned properly.

"You alright up there?" He asks.

"Yes I am," You nod, putting your head on his nape.

He snorts, something he usually does when he smiles, and the two of you are off.

Grinning a bit at playing piggyback, you swing your legs a bit. "Onward, my noble steed!"

With a chuckle, he adjusts you some more, and with a bounce in his step the two of you gallop back to the castle.

Considering your sight - or lack thereof - makes you regrettably useless at the whole "looking for just about anything" activity, so Alucard's keeping you close so he can make sure his eye's still on you as you explore the library while he looks for books that can find spells to better adapt to being blind. He's mentioned over the days that you're already doing a good job at it, but he's not about to let you walk away without learning anything.

It feels pointless to you, but you hope he finds some enjoyment out of it. And by the by, you're consistently thinking of ways to repay his unmistakable kindness. Given the magic in your arsenal it won't be hard, but there's no reason lately to use it aside from the corpses outside he won't talk about. (Not like you had the nerve to ask about them.)

Master's words echo in your head time and time again. "If you are to regain your sight, you must find that which needs your guidance, then you both may gaze upon the newly carved path." For some strange reason you can't picture anyone else needing you, even in a world where humanity's numbers have diminished; and their predators never sleep.

The Arcane and the Speakers became friends with knowledge of that very fact, but neither of you truly realize the depth of this cruel world regardless of what happens around you no matter what amount of insight you have. Ignorance is a plague upon man, one without a cure, and yet you lot have fought hard to overcome it for the sake of surviving and making it through what surely has been an effort from hellish forces to expunge humanity.

Managing to pry open a chest and thankfully not having creatures jump out to try and eat you, you poke and prod through it, amusing yourself even if just with the sense of touch. Sometimes Alucard will call for you just to know where you are, and if you fail to do so he just gets up higher and finds you. He tells you this, more so that you know where he is. (It matters because neither of you really enjoy being alone.)

"[Name]!"

You jolt. "Yea?"

"Theoretically, a spellcaster could use their shoes as a medium, much like a book or a staff. Am I to assume that's correct?"

"Is it in a book by an actual magician?"

"Yes."

"Then, yes, but I haven't heard of anyone that's tried that. It is possible, but the process of making shoes like that is tedious: we'd need to collect and synthesize the materials to make magic shoes, or use an enchantment spell on already made shoes." Then you blink. "And those are few and far between because not a lot of people are taught that magic at all."

"Hm. Which does prove something." Alucard's footsteps draw near. "You'll have to excuse me, but your master is a right asshole."

You chuckle. "He had his moments even when I was under his tutelage."

"Anyway." You feel him sit down near you. "Blind magicians existed, thankfully, and they had formidable spells that relied more on touch and sound - which is a given - that they cast through different tools."

"Like staves, books, or shoes."

"Like staves, books, or shoes. I suppose we could try to learn this together, and then should you be able to figure it out we'll train it. Then I can say you don't need to keep nicking your hands anymore." He sounds... happy?

"You're guessing, though," You point out.

"Not at all. Now, the question is what method do we use?" Then he taps your foot. "Unless of course we're a step ahead and your shoes are already enchanted."

This is weird. It shouldn't be, but this is so weird. You've never talked about shoes philosophically or otherwise with anyone else in your entire life. Who even talks about shoes these days anyhow?

"They're not," You say after a moment. "It never occurred to me I'd be learning that sort of magic." It probably should've, considering you don't know how exactly to fulfil the quest your master gave you - which you still haven't told Alucard about but you don't really reckon he needs guiding. 

"You're not the sort of person to be prepared for the worst or the best, I should think?" His voice hardens a bit, and you shudder. "[Name], as smart and as resourceful as you are, that doesn't mean you're rewarded with gifts of luck from the universe. There's plenty in the library for you to use, I should hope."

You scrunch your nose. "I've held books before... and... I gotta tell you, they don't exactly do it for me."

"Alright." He taps your nose. "The point is, above all else, we miscalculated just what this would take. But, we've all the time in the world to figure this out, so let's just take it a step at a time, unless you have a better idea."

You pout before sighing. "... I know an enchantment spell. I just need some time to cast it on these shoes."

"Hold on a moment."

You blink. "What?"

"I'm not sure you remember, but when you woke up a few days ago after trespassing into my home-"

"Alright, this observational jab has officially run its course..."

"-I'm sure you noticed you didn't have your shoes on at first. They come off very easily." He taps your foot again. "We'll enchant them for now to start you off with, but you won't be able to do it very efficiently since they don't fit correctly."

"... So are we learning magic or running a tailor shop- OW!" Him bonking you on the head with a book somehow hurts more than you would expect.

"It's almost time for dinner. In the meanwhile you can start casting, and tomorrow we can work on those spells." He softly takes your hand, helping you get up. "Sound like a plan?"

"It does," You nod.

Finding your new staff leaning against one of the nearby bookshelves, you pat Alucard's arm and allow him to walk in front of you as a guide, as he's done before. He doesn't hold your hand and lead you unless you ask him to, since he knows already how much that sort of thing bothers you given that you've adventured alone for the most part.

Departing with him through the room and up the stairs you've indeed fallen down, you keep your staff tapping just in front of you so you're not surprised again when you're at the top. When you are, though, you allow him to walk further from you as you come to a complete stop, feeling a shift in the air just behind you. In seconds our hair raises on end and your spine stiffens, legs planting into the floor in instinctive preparation.

Around you the air grows cold and stuffy, impossibly so, until you can hardly breathe. Time stands completely still a moment, preparing you for the worst, until the choking air fills with distant whispers and bodiless screaming of anger and fear. Many faces flash through your mind, all of them glaring straight through you or weeping hopelessly, with the occasional plea for a merciful release ripped into your senses.

The presence of enraged spirits... So that's the dark cloud over this castle.

Turning, you reach an arm out, sending a soft ripple of magic through the room. Suddenly your fingertips about freeze, as does your arm, the piercing chill ripping through your body and bringing you to curl into yourself as a sensation of someone putting their hands on your shoulders and someone else harshly gripping your chilled arm with both hands freezes your blood and stills even your breathing.

Lips that aren't there press to your ear, and a delicate yet menacing voice drips with a venomous hiss as a strong hand grabs your nape like a captured animal, "Go away."

Your own mouth opens to try and respond, but all that comes out is muffled groaning, until your ears pop, your body warms, and your voice erupts in a piercing scream as the phenomena ends as abruptly as it began.

"[Name]!" Alucard's back at your side in seconds, and the moment he touches you is when you throw yourself into him, clinging to him with trembling fingers. "What is it?"

Tears fall down your still cold cheeks, and you curl up still to guard what's left of your warmth. "So cold..." It's killing you to be too weak to give him a proper response,  but you can't help the crushing notion that he won't understand even if you tell him. No one, after all, truly understands the affairs and secrets of the dead, much less those that remain apprised in them and how to deal with them. Something in this castle, perhaps deep within, is drawing them here.

So this place truly is haunted... There's many spirits here that remain, but none are as close as... You felt two to be exact - two that were actively latched onto this place. Their rage, their hatred, was unlike anything you have ever felt. They... Oh, what choice do I have?

Your arms grow heavy, and you fall limp into Alucard's arms, losing your grip on the waking world.

Chapter Text

What awaits in the dream isn't a restful slumber nor the different repertoires of magical energy that you've become accustomed to. Instead, you only wake to the outlines of your surroundings, taking samples from your memory of sound and twisting it into shape to suit how you picture everything to look. Your bare feet touch nothing yet they stand on something as they guide you, as though having unlocked their own special power.

This is the castle. It has to be.

Pitter-pattering down the long hallways as though retracing your steps, you navigate the dream as a path slowly lights up: twin energies of red and blue, beckoning you to follow them. And you do, your upper lip firm as you walk with them.

You remember colors and shapes, and the combination of your powers within these dreams allows you to patch up a world full of them so you're not swallowed by the awaiting oblivion like so many. It's comforting, in a way, this twilight world of illusion; you forget your mission every time you enter it.

Finding someone to guide along a new path... It's a pipe dream, surely - who would let some helpless blind girl be their guide in life in a world that could easily conquer her given the chance? You'd have almost no chance, unless...

Your chest feels warm as you descend the stairs, and when you reach the bottom you're accosted by bright red and blue lights forming silhouettes of two people.

Both of these silhouettes have hair touching their shoulders, wearing what you can only assume to be dresses given how vague they are, and simply just floating and twirling, as though dancing. They're not focused on you right now, but when you step toward them in question their heads snap to you. The red silhouette floats closer to you - closer and closer and closer, until their face begins to take shape.

They're sharp in features and serious in how they fix their brow, their dark eyes piercing into you as they keep getting closer. Although the more subtle, even specific details are muddled, their rage and malice digs into you with bodiless claws. With your heart in a tight vice you're studied and prodded as though by an animal choosing which piece of you to eat first. Bar none, you've never been so terrified of a simple meeting with a pair of spirits.

You're stuck. Realizing this, you begin to sweat, trying to move so they're not scaring you so much. Even clenching your fists is impossible, and it becomes hard to breathe as they reach their hands out.

"No..." You whimper. "What do you want from me-? Who are you?"

Their - her - voice is like a vice. "Go. Away." It's a command, not a request, from a disgustingly hateful spirit.

Her hands approach your throat, when suddenly your chest warms again and your arm raises in a brilliant blue.

"GET BACK!"

The rattling of chains; he cries of her and her companion; it's quiet - excruciatingly quiet. Taking a deep breath there's a weight in your body, pulling you back, until at last you topple. Beneath your weight the floor shatters like glass, and you breathe an icy cold as you plummet into the abyss.

"...me...?

[Name]?

[Name]!"

"[Name]." You're tugged upright by a pair of strong hands, the wrenching from the dream world bringing you gulping down whatever air you're able to get.

Coughing and sputtering, you grip your spinning head, your stomach ready to send whatever food you'd eaten these past few days back to the surface. One of the hands begins patting your back, helping you get your dry heaving under control as you try to calm your racing heart. The moment you do, you reach up to your face, your fingertips getting warm and wet before the unmistakable coppery scent assails your nostrils.

"Alucard?" You ask.

"I'm here."

"Ungh..." You curl into yourself, clutching your throbbing head. The steam hammer in your chest isn't helping your cause, but even that subsides with time. Before long you slump, before Alucard's hand at your stomach keeps you from falling off the bed.

There's no escaping explaining this, of that you are certain. As with many things, however, you're not sure you can help him to understand. But then again, it's probably not the weirdest thing that you're a mage that can communicate with the dead... sort of. It's more appropriate to say that magic and one's spirit are hand in hand, and by that link is how some spirits are capable of supernatural abilities like making things float or spontaneously combust.

And yet, I...

His hand goes to your head. "You mumble in your sleep." His voice isn't just soft, but it's aware. Aware of you, that something isn't right. "... I hate bad dreams."

You wipe at your forehead, cleaning off the cold sweat. "Me too..."

"Here." His arm goes below your knees, and he picks you up like a bride. "The night is young still - you haven't been out for too long, thankfully. I'll go magic us up some stew." What.

In no mood to question the joke, you nod, leaning into him a bit. As he carries you, you notice something in his hold. His fingers are trembling slightly, and his arms aren’t so tight as to imply he’s upset with you.

He sensed you. He must have.

 Maybe he’s saving this for dinner conversation? No matter the case you doubt you’re ready to tell him everything. Not the full extent of your power, not the nature of your mission, not anything close. Something nags at you from the pit of your stomach, telling you he would not receive it well.

There's something in Alucard's heart, you can feel it; like a raincloud, or an infection. While prevalent in his mind, it's emanating from a churning sea within him. He and this castle are connected, something genuinely common among people you've met, and yet this and these past few days you've found yourself in the cold landscape of a surely dampened and distorted spirit. It's just now, however, that something has emerged from it.

Twin spirits, lurking within, yet seeming to seek something other than him despite clearly feeding off this castle's negative energy. And that isn't even the worst thing you feel here.

No... the source of all this is powerful - dare you say something more powerful than you'd ever imagined or experienced. Not to say this is your "first rodeo" as some put it - you've dealt with people like this alongside master whenever he'd make personal visits. But, that was before the mess with Dracula began.

You swallow, and just when you're truly caught in your musings you register being put down in a chair, jumping at a clanging noise just behind you.

"Alucard?"

"I'm here."

"... What exactly were you doing in my room?"

He half-chuckles. "I can hear just about everything here - including you whimpering and thrashing about. Almost made me think you were being ravaged by ghosts."

Your face goes cold. "I'm cursed with terrible nightmares." The convincing sound of your voice is somehow calming. At least, your face is warming again.

"Aren't too many of us." He hums, and you hear him put something down before his footsteps approach you, and his hand falls on your head, eventually sliding down to your forehead. "... You're cold."

As if on cue, you shudder. "It happens." Then you raise your head a bit, trying to find his voice. "Can I help you?"

"It's alright," He responds, wandering back to the side of the room. "It's just us two, it's not much work."

You pout. He chuckles, but then there's a shift in the air.

Maybe it's sleep creeping up on you as you fold your arms on the table and rest your head on them, or maybe it's just that Alucard doesn't feel like talking anymore, but you take comfort in that this shift isn't to imply he's upset at you or anything, but something tells you he's very aware something's going on and he isn't in on it.

Is not telling him a mistake...? You can't help but wonder.

He's been so kind to you, allowing you to stay and learn new magics, and you can feel that the two of you are slowly beginning to bond. Yet, you can't really bring yourself to let him in on just why you're out by yourself, or how you can sense the spirits and energies in this place. Either he'd think you'd lost your mind and kill you out of mercy - something you know all too well - or he would toss you away. Or, there'd be a third unforeseen outcome where he believes you.

There are many with connections to the spirit world, willing and realizing or not. Those who are consumed by negative emotions, of which are so populous in what little humanity there is left after the tragedy of months ago, have evil spirits drawn to them. These spirits prey on anxieties, guilt, and fears, sucking the life out of their victim until their goodness has been expunged. These people are already far-gone when there's only a smidge left - your magics would only destroy them then.

Magics of you and your master's caliber come with terrible consequences, but the positives far outweigh the negatives on the occasions they succeed. The Arcane takes these very seriously, hence why they're a legend even with living followers still growing by the few.

You had the blessing of being born into the Arcane, your father being one of your master's treasured pupils and your mother just being welcomed as a result of the union. However, the joy was short-lived, as they are lost to you now. Being only a child, you don't remember how: all you remember is the stench of blood and ashes.

With this, your master took you in and raised you as his own, but forbade you to call him father or grandfather.

You miss them terribly, but missing them won't bring them back.

Then you pick your head up. "Can I ask you a weird question?"

"Better than anyone I know."

You chortle. "... Can I call you Lulu?"

There's a pause, a long one, and then his hand presses your head into his stomach as his free hand puts a plate - or bowl, the sound is hard to differentiate still - in front of you.

"Yes."

The two of you eat in silence.

A dreamless sleep awaited you last night, a miracle in disguise, and the curtains opened to a blissful day. (You can say blissful as you can feel the sunshine on your face.)

Because of your restlessness lasting a while, you went ahead with enchanting your shoes. It didn't take long considering the simple materials, but Alucard was very insistent on finding materials to make better-fitting shoes. The notion is weird to you still but it gives him something to do, you suppose.

As for right now, you're standing a good ways from the castle, and Alucard's reading the spell from one of the books in the library he found. One of them, well... from a stack almost as tall as you, as he made the courtesy of mentioning. Working you like a horse, for the moment, is the goal, but it's effective so far. To put it another way, you'd have mistaken him for a hidden teacher for monster hunters.

"The main thing with this spell is to keep calm," He reads. "Uncontrolled thoughts and feelings won't allow the spell to be done properly." Standard protocol for any spell, really. "Concentrate your energy to your feet; visualize them infused with your magic, and take a step."

You take a deep breath, and through your blood the magic concentrates into your feet, until it's like you can feel every seam of your shoes, even the grass below the soles. Exhaling, you take a step forward, and the magic pulses out, the light glowing blue through your blindness, rippling like water until it reaches Alucard's shape along with the books, feeling them out and reaching a bit further and then fading.

A warm feeling in your stomach, then your chest, and suddenly you burst into a giggling fit, half-stomping your feet in excitement and sending more ripples out by accident until you can't anymore, turning to him.

"Lulu, I did it!" You grin. "I can see you!"

He snorts: a smile, and claps his hands. "Alright. You catch on quickly - I'm impressed. But, let's see." There's a breeze. "I'm going to move around. Turn to me should you be able to see where I am."

Nodding, you hold your arms in, and prepare.

A moment. "Alright, moving." There's a few breezes following the alert, which you turn your head towards, until finally they pause. "Now."

You raise your foot, concentrating, and take a step. The blue ripples out, your magic feeling over the grass like millions of extra fingers, until they climb a figure just behind you to the left. Grinning, you turn that way, and he claps again.

"Good job. Now, two more times, then we'll get to the more difficult part of the lesson," He praises.

You nod, enthusiastic and bouncy. "I'm ready!"

"Moving."

You wait a moment, noting he moves fast. Another step. You ripple, and turn to the right.

"Good! Moving again."

You repeat the process, and are surprised when his shape is right in front of you. As if on cue, his arms go around you and you overcome your surprise to reciprocate the contact as one of his hands pats your head.

"Well done, student," He teases. Your face beams with pride, and you try not to be disappointed when he lets go. "Now, see if you can maintain your magic's reach, and track my movement."

Nodding, you take a step, pressing your foot deeply into the earth, and your magic reaches to its limits of detection, and Alucard begins walking. At first you can "see" him walking in circles around you, which you track with your head, and then he takes different steps in different directions as though dancing.

"Someone's light on his feet," You tease. "What do you call yourself among students? The Fancy Dancer?"

It's easy to track him, but then he stops.

"Alright, we're done with that." He says, and approaches you as you drop your spell. Gently, he pushes a small vial into your hands. A mana potion, something he's smart enough to know is essential to you for magic's sake.

You almost down it in one gulp. It feels like milk, but the taste is like sucking on a rock. (Talking from experience.)

"Are you up for one more challenge?" He asks.

You're too excited about learning it. "Oh yea."

"Alright. For our final challenge, I'll be hiding somewhere. Find me three times, we're done for today," He instructs. "Can you do that with the spell?"

You nod.

"Alright. Now, let us begin." Following his voice there's a breeze, signaling him moving at the sound-resistant speed he does now and then. (An unfortunate incident involving you getting lost in the lower levels made you aware of this little quirk.)

All is quiet, and the challenge begins. Smiling with joy and excitement, you take rippling steps through the woods, "seeing" everything as the blue light feels for it. The trees, tall and proud, make no sound but the occasional creak, and the leaves crunching from below your feet do little to inhibit you.

Your foot catches. "AAAACK!" Your spell dissipates and you fall flat on your face. "... Hi, ground, didn't miss you."

Getting back up, you continue your little adventure. It takes some time, but then with some turns you feel his energy, and then in some trees your magic finds him. Smacking your hand on the tree bark just as he ducks behind it, you lean around as his energy dulls with your momentary exhaustion.

"There you are, Lulu!" You smile. He claps like before.

"Well done. Now, two more and we're finished."

And like that, he's gone again.

Giggling a bit, you turn on your heel, deciding to backtrack a bit before you wander too far from the castle. Before you know it, though, you've become lost in the accomplishment of learning the spell, and completely forget your objective. How had you not known this magic even existed? Even as an Arcane fated to lose one of your senses, wouldn't master have let you be at least aware?

More playing hopscotch than walking, you hop on one; then two; then one foot again, grinning at how it feels like you've in some way regained your senses and can finally be somewhat normal again.

But then...

You blink, realizing your error.

"... Lulu?" You call, maintaining your ripple for just a moment before continuing walking normally, pursing your lips. "Ah..."

Hasty. Far too hasty. In your excitement you stopped paying attention, and now the castle is far beyond your range. Dragging a worried lip between your teeth you wander, a hurried pace in your step. 

Wincing a bit, you use more mana than you should to reach out further, and keep walking with that although it weighs you down all that much more. All you're worried about is making it back, lest you wander too far and get an earful from him. 

Eventually, the castle's shape is "visible", as are the two- wait, three? - shapes in front of it.

"Lulu?" You ask. "Oh... Is it over already? I'm really sorry, I just got lost, and..." You trail off, noticing a shift in the air, in him. The energy inside him is emanating and reacting to your magic, and suddenly the corpses on either side of him glow red and blue, even beginning to 'smoke', and his aura becomes a malicious purple. 

Your body grows cold, sensing what must be coming now.. "... Lulu...?" Something's wrong. Very wrong.

His sword's shape enters the boundary, and it becomes all too clear what is happening as his malignant purple hue bleeds redder, and he clutches the loyal blade tightly.

"Lulu, what are you doing?"

...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"

Chapter Text

With what can only be described as raw luck at its finest, you throw yourself beyond certain death. Your cheek is sliced into a curtain of red as a momentary sacrifice, but otherwise you lose no limbs or hair. Gulping harshly you roll and tumble out of the way of more swings and stabs, the convulsing, strobing lights making up Alucard's form signifying a deep conflict within. The second he stills, the sword falls to the ground, but it raises back up again when the red and blue overtake his before splitting.

One forms perfectly even with your eclipsed eyes, her face a malignant scowl among the scarred elegance of her features. A simple look into her eyes shows that she was once a calm, stoic woman, but years of forceful servitude - no doubt another vampire overlord - have tempered her deeper, darker emotions into a roaring flame that burned away her kindness. The other is a man, his glare softer but holding malice all the same, that could not possibly have been kind. If anything he seems little more than a blank slate, following the woman's direction without hesitation. Neither of them seek civility, nor do they have any intention of letting you leave this situation unharmed.

This is by no means a new situation: you've dealt with aggressive spirits like this before. But then there's the issue of this practically being a three against one battle.

A step, a ripple, and suddenly the two merge into Alucard's shape, and his purple aura threatens to swallow you whole. Beads of perspiration fall onto your quivering hands as he grips his sword tightly in his hand, but you make sure to gather your bearings and stand correctly, holding a hand up as a light gold suppresses their advance.

"Who are you?" You ask, unwavering. "What are you doing here?"

No response. You yelp when Alucard lunges forward, narrowly dodging his attacks - not an easy feat considering his sword about mimics your height.

"Who. Are. You?" A second time, a well-timed shield ricocheting a slash. "Why are you here?"

"We told you to leave." Alucard's voice is mixed with her's - that girl from the dream. "You'll pay for your meddling..."

"What is your name?" You ask, cringing as the shield begins to crack.

There's a pause. "... Will you be needing it when you're dead?"

"Wrong answer." You drop your shield and, with a quick incantation, send an outward pulse that sends him back. "I will ask you again: What is your name?"

She growls. "... Sumi."

"Mhm. And your friend is?"

Then the other voice - the man that hadn't made a peep all this time - takes her place. "Taka."

Sumi and Taka... Hn. That's two faces to two names - at least it's a place to start, if this runs as deep as you think it will.

"What are you doing here?" You demand. "You've been here all along, I know it. And you haven't been after me until now so why are you here?"

"Shut up," Sumi hisses. Her voice mixed with Alucard's sends chills down your spine.

"You stand before someone who's dealt with ghosts, the pair of you," You tell them. "I know very well already what lies beneath."

Cupping your hands, your staff comes to you like a loyal friend, and becomes an extension of your arm as you grip it in your fist, your mana channeling through it. There's no holding back here; this is a pair of spirits gripping your dear friend very tightly and refusing to let him go. So... While it pains you to bring him harm, you have no means to free him without harming the physical body. If the vessel is drained of strength, it cannot be puppeted any longer.

"Alucard, if you can hear me, I beg for your forgiveness."  The magic he taught you ripples to and fro, seeming to strengthen with thanks to your tethers falling away. "It pains me to have to do this."

Then you sling your staff around, kicking up your magic into masses to send at his possessed self.

"Come!"

The both - haha - of you lunge at each other. Just as Alucard's arm raises in a swing you vault out of range, leaving a magical decoy in your place to regain your footing. A swift strike to the middle of his back sends him forward, the two voices wrestling with his and crying in the strain. At first you wince, unwilling to hear his voice this way, but you force yourself back into focus and put up another shield on either side to ricochet another blow.

You can't rely on the ripple spell anymore. What you need is something else, but right now...

Something grazes your arm, and something warm pours down to your wrist. Sustaining another injury at your cheek you throw yourself back, rolling and putting down a sigil, sensing each movement and maneuvering as best you can. Admittedly you're slowed from having let your guard down so long, but you can still fight well.

Suddenly it's quiet.

"... No..." Alucard's voice comes out in a soft whimper. "Stop it - she didn't do anything to you-!"

You put down a foot to ripple, and his shape is twisting with his hands tightly clenching his head, trying to keep his blade pointed down.

"Lulu-?" You ask, foolishly, but squeak and recoil just in time before he almost drills the blade right into your stomach. "Ah, shit!"

This is not going to be easy. The fighting part is just you running around and putting down sigils - the actual hard part is what the sigils are for. This time, it's the first time you've ever had to do such a thing. Spirit banishing is not complicated in terms of how the ceremonies are performed, but the efforts of these spirits to remain attached to the world make it one of the most challenging and perilous of those whose curiosity persists.

His sword swooshes and thrusts unending with the spirits' fury, all while you can hear him, perhaps deep within, fighting and pleading for them to stop. Angry spirits can suppress even the strongest souls; he'll need your help to remain above water.

You blink when something falls in your eye, the roar of pouring rain surrounding the lot of you not long after.

Pursing your lips, you dash, intending to place the third sigil, when suddenly-

"Aaah!" You scream as his blade goes right through your shoulder, and suddenly is pulled right out and dropped. You press your foot down to get upright and ripple: the three sigils are in a perfect start of a circle, with Alucard in the middle of it, back to hunching over with his head in his hands.

His shape's hand trembles as it holds the sword, flickering between the malicious purple aura and his glorious gold. 

Then it softly turns to you, almost whimpering like a puppy. "[Name]... please..." He follows this with throwing himself into the ground, banging his head into the soil to keep his golden hue. Realizing the urgency in his plea you nod, and get to work.

Without a moment more to lose, you push yourself upright, and hurry to place the two other sigils around him as the rain beats down on you, though your arm near-dangles at your side. Though determined to rescue him, even you can't deny your body's limits; spirit alone won't be able to help you against this lot. It may have helped the first few spirits you banished, but you've never been one for luck anymore. Now it just needs to be all skill, that you never have someone's life dependent on a gamble.

Fourth sigil... then the fifth.

The air leaves your lungs, and you collapse.

...

"[Name]."

You lurch.

"It's not time... not yet."

...

The shrill sound of rattling chains tug you from the abyss. Though they echo not, they still resound within your head. Pushing yourself onto your feet - you can feel Master's power strengthening your body even if just for the moment - you send a ripple, and just as you had hoped Alucard's flickering form is being held by the spell cast by the five sigils. It flashes gold, red, and blue in pulses, but it shows strongly how hard he's fighting to make sure your spell works.

"Lulu, forgive me..." You say softly, finding his chest and head with each hand.

Inhaling deeply, you concentrate your energy into him, and clutch Taka and Sumi tightly with millions of tiny little hands.

"Eliminate the unclean." You can hear Alucard finding the awareness to fight with you. "Cleanse the contaminated-!"

You bring your hand up. "Evil-" and back down, harshly- "BEGONE!"

Their - the twin spirits' - voices scream, the rain falls harder, and suddenly all is quiet as the spells wear off, and you can no longer sense the two here. Your legs quake and collapse like stone pillars, your hair sticking to your skin; you can't feel your arms. What remains of the mana in the air fades back into nature, returned to its source. As you tremble in the wet leaves carpeting the earth, you try to move your arm with only a little feeling reminding you you're still alive. You don't know if your shoulder still bleeds, though you taste the iron on your tongue and pain continuously throbs through your ribs.

Though the air had been stolen from your lungs and you can feel blood stubbornly stuck to your skin and clothes, the peace and serenity in your surroundings almost purges it from memory. It's the leftovers of an exhilarating yet horrific bout, the fruits of your labor. Yet something feels... out of place, almost.

Poking your tongue out to wet your lips, you gather your strength.

"Lulu...?"

Nothing. Your breath hitches.

"... Lulu..."

...

"... I'm here."

Relief overwhelms your senses, and finally you feel you can breathe. As air is gulped down into your lungs, your fingers tingle in reclaimed life, only for your consciousness to fade as you're lifted and carried.

...

"There are no innocents! Not anymore! Any one of them could have stood up and said 'No, we aren't going to behave like animals anymore...'"

"I grieve with you - but I won't let you commit genocide..."

...

"... Lisa... I'm killing our boy... We painted this room, we... made these toys. It's our boy...! Your greatest gift to me, and I'm... killing him..."

"... I must already be dead..."

...

"You won't teach us magic. You haven't moved the castle."

"..."

"You're already dead."

The voices muffle together, some whispering, some screaming, but they leave you with nothing to reach and touch.

But suddenly, your lips open.

"Lulu...?"

...

"Lulu?"

...

"LULU!!!"

Like some twisted sense of deja vu, you wake with a start, cold sweat on your brow before the searing pain in your shoulder and the cuts you'd sustained send you into clarity. Gulping down what air you can, the frenzy your dreams sent you in has your hands trembling, until familiar, large ones hold them, squeezing them tightly.

"Lulu-?" You breathe.

"I'm here." He strokes the backs of your hands with his thumbs

Sighing heavily with relief, you lie back down, his hands moving away before coming back to your shoulder with a rag. Each dab stings terribly, but at this point you're happy that he's still intact. One of your hands falls onto your stomach, and you note the unfamiliar buttoned shirt - one shoulder exposed for treatment obviously - that smells of... burning leaves.

"On earth am I wearing...?" You ask.

"I managed to stitch up your clothes. Haven't done it in such a long time I've almost forgotten how." It's clear by his voice that he's almost perfectly fine, but with that same awareness as before. "Can tell they'll be hard to find, though - you don't necessarily dress like a townsperson or a Speaker."

You rub your eye, then turn your head towards his voice. "What happened?"

He pauses. "What happened is, you got rid of them." His hand goes to one of your cuts, dabbing it. "I can't hear their voices so clearly anymore... if at all." Then he just lies his palm flat, using his other hand to check your pulse. "... You're no ordinary magician. You're something more entirely, aren't you? Anyone else would have been overwhelmed - now I see you're not just anyone."

Giving him a guilty smile, you put your hand over his. "Lulu... I'm sorry I haven't been honest with you."

"No need. We all have our secrets these days. I'm surprised - I'd have expected you to boast about your abilities with each passing hour."

"Ah... sarcasm." You pout.

"If you didn't think it a good time to tell me, then surely you had reasons to do so." He continues dabbing your wounds. "... However, you will have to explain to me how a person can have the ability to banish spirits. And how you seemed to be able to do it with such ease."

"What a terrifying thought, that you consider such a strife 'easy'." You chortle. "... Though, Lulu, I'm afraid our troubles with them have only just begun."

"... Explain?"

"Those two have their influence split, with two separate ties. One's to this world, the other is to your mind. Way in the back, at least," You explain. "If you want to be rid of them for good, then I can help you. Though, I will require a few complicated spells to do so."

"But are you in good health to do such a thing?" He asks. "Even if you insist, I worry more that using so much mana in one day will kill you. If you want to, I won't stop you, but you'll have to wait until you can actually stand and your shoulder's healed."

You frown. "But Lulu-"

"No buts." He taps your nose. "I can deal with nightmares. Right now you need to worry about your health."

Pouting, you reach and scratch an itch on your head. "Okay..."

"Meanwhile, it seems like your legs are alright. Can you walk?" Then his voice changes from being serious to playful, a tone he uses often with you. "Or do I need to carry you again?"

Immediately, you grin, sitting upright and putting your arms up. "Carry me!"

The both of you erupt in laughter, and he pulls you in and gives you a hug. He's careful, avoiding your injuries and being mindful of his inhuman strength. Newly instinctive, your arms go just as gingerly around his neck, and you snuggle your face into his neck as his hand softly strokes your hair. His natural scent of wine and crisp autumn air relaxes the mind and steadies the heart, and in that moment you all but forget the earlier strife.

After remaining like this for a bit, Alucard breaks the silence. "... [Name]?"

"Mmm?"

Softly he breaks from you, surely to get a better look at you. "Thank you... for saving my life."

You can't help but chortle. "... You're welcome."

There's a shift in the air. One that isn't malicious or uncomfortable as it was before, but rather one that whispers something inside him. Like something is beckoning you to never let him go; that you are meant to be here. As if on cue, his touch goes from protective and soft, to strong yet tender.

His one hand falls to your back, the other softly holding your face; you lean in and he pulls you closer. With a softness you hadn't known in forever, he invites you further in, until his soft lips touch yours. For a moment it's startling, not that you would reject him, but that it would be so soon... It implies a lost connection his mind is pleading to regain, and a feeling now far beyond his reach being tempered once again. You don't know, even for a moment, if it is a yearning for you at all.

All the same, you let him in, his vulnerability opening widely to you.

His skin is warm yet chills you to the bone, his kiss sweet and yet somehow spiced. With each taste of him your heart skips a beat, until there is no one else in this world but the two of you. Even in the darkness cursing your eyes, it's as though his own heart is like a guiding light, piercing through and warming you with its gentle glow. Through your palm on his chest, you can feel his heartbeat, growing faster until it beats with yours in perfect harmony.

Shifting, he moves so he's sitting with you, his knees on either side of your leg, softly easing you down and moving so he's over you, but then he pauses, as though realizing it, and pulls away.

"I'm sorry..." He whispers.

You tilt your head softly. "Why are you apologizing?"

He's quiet for a moment, only prompted to move again when you softly stroke his forearm. One hand moves below your head, the other holding your waist but still maintaining his gentility.

He pulls away again, but moves down to your neck, giving it small nibbles - mindful of his fangs -  and kisses. In what feels like a moment, his breath and body begin to quiver, until he strikes. An uneven gasp tears itself from your lips at his teeth, and his hand instinctively reaches yours and holds it softly, squeezing in an obvious attempt at comfort. It tells you what he can't say with his words lest you believe them lies: "I would never hurt you."

With a deep breath, you relax, feeling your blood pulse through both your bodies, your heartbeats in complete sync. After a moment, he ceases, giving small kisses on the marks he left and just resting there with you, his hand falling and simply holding you.

Something wet falls on your unmarred shoulder.

You blink. "Lulu?"

His face snuggles back into your neck. "I'm sorry... just for a moment."

Both your hands go to his back, rubbing in soothing circles as his tears fall on you. Your emotions collide and mix together, until your tears collide with his. Not in sorrow, but in a longing you can never quench. Yet even that seems impossible, for the warmth in your heart inspires a brighter day in your dreams.

Distant, comforting visions...

Chapter Text

Following the events of a few days ago the two of you had much to discuss. Moreso what your powers are and are supposed to accomplish, but also the fact the whole thing had a bigger effect on him more than it did you.

To make the explanation itself short, the twins had managed to worm their way into Alucard's heart, and that was their connection to this world. Bonds of hatred can burn like those of love, and tie any spirit to this world through any subject. Now that you had severed that connection, the void they left - even with the horrific final memories he had of them - was a dreadful one even with how small it was in comparison to the rest you had seen inside him. That explains the kiss, at least: there's no real guarantee he actually feels anything like that for you.

In summary, his heart yearns the affection he thought they held for him, and in your innocence you didn't think twice about providing him succor. But you can never truly give it to him, for someone like you isn't meant to be loved. Before long, you'll need to find more people to help, more cities to cleanse... and then return to your people, and undertake a heavy mantle.

Does that thought sting? Yes it does.

"... So let me see if this is right." Alucard's piggybacking you through the castle, as you'd spent the entire day talking and it was time for the night creatures to come out and play. "If you line up a person's points of spiritual energy and connect with it, you can heal the soul...?"

"Right. That's called Channeling."

"And the art of cleansing the mind, you call that... Fluxing?"

"Right again." You tighten your arms around his neck a bit and swing your legs. "Though, our magic's drawbacks become stronger the more invasive it is. That's why only the best of the best are taught to use it; it's like surgery."

"There's more though, right?"

"Always," You chuckle. "There's no need to go further into it, though, unless you want paragraphs upon paragraphs of knowledge."

"... Actually I do."

You pause.

Noticing your silence, he adjusts you so he can better hold you. "I enjoy our talks. You talk more than I possibly could in a lifetime, and you use words even I don't understand, but you're a welcome talker."

Pursing your lips, you tilt your head. "... I suppose so, then. Though, there is something important I have to tell you."

He stops walking.

"I sensed something in you - in this house. It's powerful, but also brings me to tears each time I come close to it in the dream." You explained a good while ago that lucid dreaming is an ability that took actual years for you to learn. "You're greatly connected to this place, and it shows, but just as it holds many joyous memories it holds unrelenting sorrows."

He doesn't reply. You tighten your grip on his shirt just a smidge.

"It's not a particular point in this castle I feel this clash of energy, however - it's whenever you're inside it," You continue. "So at some point in time, I suggest once we're relaxed, I do some Fluxing."

He snorts, and you blink.

"I have no idea how that is funny when you use it as a verb." Alucard pauses, then groans, and for a moment you wonder if you had said something wrong. "... Nevermind. I know someone that'd find that hilarious."

"Oho?"

"Mhm. I have a few friends still. They've gone off on their own adventure, and since then I've been waiting to see them or for them to send for me." The walk continues. "One's more stupid than mud and the other's smarter than everyone, or so she likes to think."

"Sounds a lot like Gresit," You chortle. "I've seen enough of it - and I can't even see!"

"Do the Arcane travel like the Speakers?" His head momentarily rests on your arm.

"We do, just not in covered wagons. Rather, we prefer to dress normally and travel like normal people do, so as not to rouse suspicions," You hum. "They usually make no fuss if you do no harm, but if someone makes a problem with you, that's when you use touch-oriented spells." With a mischievous grin you hold up two fingers to emphasize the point. "We know a handy spell that makes people vomit."

"Now that I have to see... just not feel, if you'd please."

You can't help but laugh, throwing your head back a bit and quickly recovering when he struggles a bit. "It's alright, you won't."

"... But if you want a guinea pig, I'm sure my friend Trevor will make a nice one."

There's a pause, just for a moment, then the both of you erupt in laughter. But then, his laughter fades a good amount of time before yours does, and you notice him begin to tremble against your palms. Realizing the shift in the air, you slide down and onto the floor, circling around to hear him more clearly. Ears perking, your head instinctively tilts back, mimicking how you imagine it'd be to look him in the eye.

A cold whir freezes your ears when you hear him sniffle, your reflex to comfort him guiding your hand to him. As his tears fall onto your wrist, you find his larger, soft hand within yours. You squeeze it tightly.

"... Thank you, [Name]." His voice is soft, gentle.

Then his hand escapes yours, moving to your shoulders and pulling you in, his other arm wrapping around you as his hair blankets your nape. Just like before, his tears wet your clothes, but this time around his crying has more behind it. Like a raincloud that keeps getting more despite what it releases; an unstoppable infection of despair.

In a matter of time, it connects to you, and your heart is overwhelmed by the sadness within his. Your fingers begin trembling and your heart falls to your stomach, and you close your eyes tight while curling into him, and the two of you just stay like that. There's no words or movement, just silently crying into each other. But for you, you have no idea why you are - you've never felt anything this strong.

"I'm so sorry." You don't know why you're apologizing. Something in you just tells you that you have to. "I'm so, so sorry, Lulu."

He snorts softly, reaching and petting your hair. "You don't need to cry for me, you know."

You just nod, even as he backs up a bit to wipe your cheeks.

Just as any time, his touch is sweet and kind. It isn't proud or condescending, but it calms the tumultuous sea within your heart, until the raging currents are merely still tides. Though your lip trembles a bit with the contact, when his palm rests against your cheek, you can't help but lean into it. And in that moment, something changes.

Your heartbeat syncs with his just like before, and his feelings pour into you again. But, instead of the rapids of grief and despair that had you crying for him, there's only a gentle rain, giving way to an almost grossly incandescent light in your soul. It warms you, and in that moment you about forget you'd ever been sad.

It's the very image, you feel, of what sunlight would be like. And it's so ironic because the seasons are getting colder.

The silence is strange. "... Lulu?"

"I'm here."

"I have to finish what I was trying to say." You gently put your hand over his. "This castle is your heart and mind, anchored. Not so much to the structure itself, but what it carries within." You poke your tongue out to moisturize your lips. "Memories. Emotions. All of these things, good and bad, can be great tethers. Be it for the living or dead, it's hard to let any of it go. Taka and Sumi were merely samples: they were more connected to you than the castle itself, but they were trying to establish a connection to it as well."

"And...?"

"And now that they're gone, there's a more pressing issue at hand." Your hands fall but he refuses to let go, so you suffice to just hold it between the two of you. "Connected to you and this place, I can see into it-"

"See."

You frown. "... Okay, don't be a dick."

All he does is laugh.

"And now that I'd begun to use my powers, it's clear that I have to finish what I started. This place - you too - must be allowed to rest."

"... Are you trying to say you're going to kill me?"

You're quickly hurled into alarm, your shoulders hunching up and your jaw clenching. "No! No, why would you say that?"

"Well, you know... People have tried."

"Well I won't. And I get the feeling you don't wanna kill me either."

"Please, if I wanted you dead you would be already."

"Let's just move this along..." You rub your temples. "Anyway. What's left for me to do is look within your heart, which is why the both of us need to be relaxed."

"I would think it'd be easy to just reach in and cleanse it, considering you're rather powerful."

"It's not that simple." You sigh. "The mind is the easy part, which is why the twins were so easy to get rid of. They're a cancer in your body - excising them or perishing are the only two options. But, the heart is not so easily changed."

"So you might need to look inside my heart while I sleep, so you can work easier," He concludes. "Something tells me that there's something else you can't tell me."

"It's more of a hunch, but if I look inside your heart I might find the source of all of this. Then I might be able to expunge it." You pause. "... You know. Like a tumor."

"But what happens if you fail?"

You purse your lips, rubbing your arm. "If I should fail, I risk my own life and sanity as well." You put your hand up, noting him move a bit closer to you. "Before you start, I've done this before. I'll be fine. I'm just taking a look - nothing more, nothing less. If it is what I think it is, we'll talk about it in the morning."

Silence.

There's an odd shift in the air, heavy like fog. Both of you have things to say but nothing sufficient.

"... Lulu?" You ask.

"I'm here."

"If you have something to say, say it now."

His hand scoops yours up again. "We need to talk about that night."

"Which one? There was a lot of them." You know what he means, it's just that you don't know if you're ready for this conversation.

Please don't say it... I'm begging you, please don't say it...

"I mean that kiss."

"Oh." You awkwardly scratch the back of your head. He said it... "Well, that one's a first. You see, nobody's kissed me before. And to be honest, you don't have to say anything."

"What?"

"That kiss just solidified what exactly your connection to the twins was." You fold your arms, to stop them from shaking. It's the only thing that'll keep you level now. "Clearly you three had... well, that kind of connection. So when I banished them, it's only natural you'd crave that sort of affection again."

"[Name]."

"Lulu, whatever you might be feeling for me, it's not real." You bite your lip. Saying this hurts, but it is the truth to you. "It's the memory of touch, before the horrific odor of betrayal. It's not love for me, it's love for the-"

"[NAME]!"

You jump, eyebrows raised, but can't bring yourself to stop.

"If you want to insist, then I won't stop you, but..." There's a cold twist in your chest. "I..." You feel choked up. "... Dammit. The hell is this so hard?"

"Do you think it's possible it might be real?"

"... That's enough."

"No it's not." His voice is stern, as if telling you to give him a word in edgewise. "[Name], do you?"

"You're not in love with me," You say softly. "After some time, you'll forget you even felt this way."

"... [Name], your legs are shaking."

You put your head down. "What's your point?"

"Do you not believe in love?"

"... I believe it's a thing," You elaborate. "Lulu... Normal people are so lucky. They have someone to go home to, a reason to go or stay somewhere. Troubles rested at the door and all the sadness melting away in someone else's love for them." You purse your lips. "That's the life most blessed... it's just not my life."

You clasp your hands together. "Though, to be fair, I don't really think my existence is solely to seek out someone to share it with." You tremble despite everything. "But in the end, I'll be happy, whether someone is there with me throughout this magical adventure or not."

Your tears fall down your cheeks and onto your wrists, before Alucard's hands softly take yours, warming them as you feel him get a bit closer to you.

"But if what you feel for me is real, then..." You don't know if you can go on.

"It's okay," He says softly, tugging you back into his chest. "I understand."

"... I'll keep an open mind, and we'll see." That much, you feel, is truth. "If your love is real, I'll accept it... and hopefully, I'll be able to return it in full."

He softly smiles against your hair. "That's enough, then. For now, at least."

You nod. "We'll see what happens..."

There's nothing between you and being able to stay awake until Alucard falls asleep, and so when you steal into his bedchambers, it's an easy maneuver to his bed considering the Pulse spell he taught you. Climbing on, you're careful when approaching him, his stable breaths like a lullaby but also a clear message of trust.

Your heart is warmed as you rest your hands on either side of his head, pressing your forehead against his.

"This won't hurt a bit, Lulu..."

What you hear first within the dream is the soft rustle of trees. Pulsing reveals the wooded landscape, much like what surrounds the castle but deep into Winter. The surrounding air bites your skin and brings tears to your eyes from the chill, and it definitely does not smell just like snow, but it does smell like nature all the same.

Nature interfered, to be fair.

It's definitely disorienting for someone who doesn't know what they're doing, but this isn't your first time doing this sort of thing, so you're fairly focused. And given your mortal tethers aren't as strong, you're able to use your magic more freely here, so given your navigation relies on magic you have a good amount more security.

Alright, inside with no incident - let's see where this goes.

Taking a deep breath, you traverse through the woods, the leaves crunching below your shoes, the owls hooting above you before flying off. It's not a foreboding atmosphere - far from it, actually - but it's actually calm. Might be because you're inside Alucard's heart, or to make it simpler, a dream. But, you like to think it's because you generally like nature, although you've been attacked among trees more often than stone.

"Hm?"

The trees begin swaying, before the ground below you churns and shifts like water, before the next time you pulse they form a path, with some shapes in the distance you can hardly make out even with the spell. Realizing what may have happened, you chuckle, shrugging, before moving forward.

The realm of one's mind is ever-changing even when they don't realize it. What can be a welcoming home can be a terrifying monster in the very next breath, and an innocently shadowed forest can be a foreboding prison. They can be in the form of a recurring dream or a far-off memory the owner can't seem to let go of, or a childhood bedroom or home they can never return to. You find the latter to be the worst of them, for it signifies nothing good ever happened since leaving that place, and the safe space eventually becomes one's personal hell. It's all too common in someone who's been subject to unthinkable abuse.

What awaits you in the clearing is a cottage. It's not a brick walls and hay roof kind, but a right and proper stone that holds essence of a home picked up and carried from say, Wallachia. A beautiful piece of architecture, with flowers and cobblestone pathways, exuding welcoming light and life the moment you take a breath. In a crashing wave of nostalgia you're left speechless, the scent of strange herbs and fresh bread wafting into your senses.

Wait, this place... You instinctively lift your foot to avoid a potted plant knocked asunder.

"I've been here before!" You realize, aghast.

Before you can even begin recalling why, the ground starts to violently quake, knocking you off your feet, and giving way, the resulting hole swallowing the house, and the warmth is gone.

The air shifts and churns. It becomes menacing and fearful, downtrodden and rotted. All is still, before something reaches out from the hole.

A tendril-like arm reaches and climbs, the ground splitting beneath the spindly claws, with more coming out of the rift before the menacing behemoth climbs up from the abyss. Even blind and only being able to see the silhouette, it's a grotesque, unsightly beast; a great terror that looms above you and the forest itself. It's lanky yet strong, each breath it takes more serpentine and demonic, yet you can hear a weeping cry within it.

Once completely emerged, the creature turns its head to the sky, jaw unhinging and chest shaking in a bellowing roar that nearly rings in your skull, before the body snaps downward. Angry and malicious its eyes dig right to the bottom of you, the jaws surely dripping with saliva.

Your blood curdles.

"... Oh, fuck."

Chapter Text

"OH FUCK!"

Rolling to the side to quickly get onto your feet and dash, you're out of the way in time for the creature's palm to slam down on the ground you just were on. Noticing, the creature lets out a menacing, resounding growl, flicking its palm and swinging its arm, sweeping you right back off your feet and sending you right into a tree. The pain snaps into your back and pulses outward, white hot and sharp.

Gritting your teeth, you put a hand down and stomp your foot to ripple again, jumping and blasting a bolt into the ground to propel yourself upward as the beast sweeps again, it growling in frustration and growing more ferocious the more you move.

Curses...! You're many things to be sure, but even you can't deny how powerful this abomination is.

"So this is what lies beneath..." You muse. "... So be it. Lulu, I won't let you down-!"

Leaping from your perch, you put down a sigil, dashing around and rippling as you go, feeling it bash the ground around you in vain attempts to smash you like a bug. Once you're near its side, you thrust your hand into the dirt, gripping a chain originating from the sigil and ripping it out, cracking it like a whip before swinging it at the creature's arm. Feeling it successfully wrap around it, you pick your feet up and swing, sending magic through your shoes to propel you until you're on its elbow.

Biting your lip in concentration, you clap your hands together once and slap one into the skin, sending a spell to stun it. With a grin at your success, you raise your arms to cast another spell toward its head - when it comes to far too soon, roaring and bringing its palm down on you. In moments you're on your stomach, and you cough something warm all over your face before you're swept off, landing harshly on the ground.

Bringing your knees up, you fling yourself back onto your feet, backing up and sending healing pulses to your damaged back, taking breaks between to dodge different slams and attempts at your life.

"Fuck you!" You shout, managing to heal enough to move about more freely, but not completely. Ducking below another sweep, you send a chain from your palm, grappling its ribs and sending yourself closer.

Gripping the chain with both hands, you send a spell into the beast's body, intending to damage it from the inside.

The thing here is, you've fought these types of creatures before. The upside is you know what to do, but one thing you genuinely did not count on - curse your ignorance - was having to fight one so colossal. So in the end, it looks as though you might have your work cut out for you.

Stomping to ripple, you feel the creature's body, noting it beginning to reach. Quickly, you kick off its side, wrenching the chain with you and feeling it dissipate in your palms. But just like before, it follows a slam with a sweep, sending you off your feet with a harsh slap. Dashing just out of reach, you evade another attack, finding yourself able to catch your breath for just a moment before you're caught with a quick maneuver.

Rolled harshly between the ground and its hand, every bone in your body threatens to twist and snap, and like a helpless caterpillar you find yourself vomiting before you're lifted by your waist between two enormous fingers.

"...

... [Name]!"

Huh?

"...no...

... Stop this...

I don't want to see this..."

As though responding to the disembodied voice, the creature screams, becoming stunned for a moment and letting you slip from it. Landing onto your face, a searing pain shoots through your body, momentarily keeping you still. Though you wobble with the effort and your body is threatening to give up, you push yourself back up, managing to heal quick enough to roll out of the way of another attack.

Swallowing more vomit threatening to erupt, you shudder, "This is bad-!"

Reminding yourself again how you've never fought a monster this big, you dash out of arm's length of the beast, you find yourself being rushed, just narrowly missing its hands slamming down in a clear attempt to maul you to death.

A piercing scream rips from your throat, and you dash - unwisely - through its legs, sending a chain spell forward and yanking yourself to safety. In growing anger and frustration, it throws its head back to roar, whirling back to you. Before you're able to get back out of arm's length again, you're scooped right up and held tightly in its fist as it holds you god knows how far above ground.

Your arm twists, the beast's fingers threatening to tear you apart, before you begin slamming your palm down into it using a shockwave type spell.

"Get." Slam. "Off!" Slam. Finally, after what feels like an agonizing eternity, you're able to muster the strength to actually hurt it.

Its hand jolts and its fingers open. Then you realize.

"... Ah shit."

You slide right out of its palm, and you scream as you plummet, when what hits your back isn't the harsh ground, but a pair of arms quickly scooping you up midway. The creature screams one more time, and it's quiet, as though time itself froze for your sake.

"You are strong, Arcana." It's a completely foreign voice of a man. His tone isn't mockery but genuine respect and... relief? "Surely you're able to slay this terrible beast... Both of you."

The beast screams again, and a sound like crackling glass fills the air. Once your feet touch the ground, you ripple, and find that it had been encased in what feels like glass or crystal.

Well, that wasn't me...

"I beg of you, this parasite within my boy... must be stopped," The voice pleads. "You must leave, and fight again another day, little one."

But, if I do that...

"You don't stand a chance... not yet."

Familiar hands grip your one tightly, and you're yanked back upward, sleepiness beginning to overtake your senses.

Dammit... this battle must have been more for me than I thought.

"Just a little longer..."

...

"...me...

...[Name], can you hear me?

[Name], wake up!"

"Until then..." Suddenly he stirs you back awake, and your senses snap back, even more powerful somehow. "Do not let this monstrosity win over you. My strength is yours."

Power surges through your blood: a strange power you'd never felt before. It collides with yours and synchronizes with it, partnering with it and the combined force being more powerful than you'd ever dreamed you'd become. Chains rattle in the air, the monster begins to whimper - it's almost over.

Maybe I can't kill it, but...

You lift your hand, the power concentrating to your palm. "The days of you leeching off Alucard's soul are numbered."

The strange man's large hand rests on your shoulder, a show of support and magical assistance.

"I will inflict his suffering upon you a hundred fold!" You shout, and cast your spell. "Glass Cage!"

It's silent, once again. The creature is contained, you can feel it. At last, it's over - for now.

"Well done, young lady," He says. "Now go. It must be killed, but there's more to do. May you find the answer outside..."

Upon waking up, the first thing you feel is your entire body being held, your skull eager to burst. Your chest and jaw have been wrenched asunder, and the newly formed injuries within you make you nauseous. A crude mixture of revulsion and terror rip you upward, and your hands go up and push at anything nearby, screams threatening to erupt from your mouth and through your ringing ears.

Twisting and convulsing this way and that, you flail helplessly until feeling creeps back into your legs, the first thing you do being standing up before being restrained.

Your one leg gives out, and you tumble down before being hurriedly pulled back up and laid down again, only becoming more delirious by the minute.

Eventually, however, the ringing fades little by little, until you can hear Alucard's voice.

Even so, you try to scream, hot tears pouring down your cheeks.

"Don't fucking touch me!" You plead, your limbs locking and unlocking like wood, pushing at whatever is trying to restrain you.

"It's okay-!" You can register him talking more clearly now. "[Name], it's me-!"

"NO!" You cry, twisting some more before his large hands softly cup your face. Your body stills.

"It's okay, it's me!" His voice is clear as rain now, and finally the aches and numbness completely cease. "It's me..."

"I... I couldn't..." You whimper.

He tugs you into his chest, holding you protectively. "Oh, my dear..."

"Lulu..."

"I'm here..."

The fish is a bit spicy tonight, something he says will help you get some clarity.

"So what was that?" He asks, this time next to you so you can lean on him if need be, which you've been doing a few times throughout the day. (He'd skipped out on lessons so he could ensure you were in good health; you don't know how to feel.)

"I've met one of those a few times before, though not as big," You explain, softly. "They're amalgamations of a person's negative emotion. Trauma, sadness, anger; the darkness within eclipses the very soul, and from those shadows those beasts are born. They oft feed off of that emotion, becoming stronger the deeper that darkness goes."

"What do you call them?"

"We call them Amygdala. They're spiritual leeches, in a sort of way, though this depends on what books you read." You sip some wine to moisturize your throat. The alcohol helps you keep calm right now. "Some view them as someone's guardian beast within their heart, but that just makes them sound livable. What they actually are is the lingering pain wrought of emotions and memories. I've met a good few with Amygdala in their hearts, though I've never met one that big."

"And you'd fight them often?"

"Mmm, not often, but we do know how." You swallow a bite of potato. "Sad to say that now that I've aggravated yours, I can't let it stand. Lulu, this isn't a guardian beast inside you - it is a cancer in your body."

"Meaning we remove it or we risk destruction, I'd assume. That sounds lovely."

"... Ahh. Sarcasm. But yes, excise the beast, or perish."

"So why couldn't you kill it then?"

You have to resist the urge to smack your head on the table.

"I never fought one that big. Had it not been for that presence I will have never been able to make it out alive. And there's another roadblock: You. More specifically, the fear inside you." You wet your lips with the tip of your tongue. "You've witnessed and experienced great terrors and grievances, and they haunt you still. Taka and Sumi were just the beginning - this is worse. Much, much worse."

"... So what should we do?"

"In order to slay the Amygdala, you must be willing to face your fears. Only then will the Amygdala's weakness manifest, and then it can be killed. Once you are, you will be able to accompany me in the Dream, and finish this once and for all." Your food's all gone. "Master had a way of putting these things, so he'd have something profound to say that'd inspire you, but even if I had his vocabulary I don't think it'd be that much help."

"And this... Amygdala? Were Taka and Sumi connected to it?"

"Strangely, no. I'd have expected it, but I suppose the mind and heart work in strange ways, much like many things in this world." You pout. "If it were so simple I'd have every answer down to why a man's..." Realizing the rest of that sentence is a bad idea to say, you swallow. "Er, nevermind..."

He snorts, and his hand falls onto your head again, rubbing it. "You have to be one of the strangest people I've ever met," He mentions. "Ever since you trespassed into my house-"

"Oh, come on!"

-"it's been an adventure." Then he pauses. "... Tell me. When all of this is over, will you be able to get your sight back?"

You blink. It'd been such a while of adjusting that you'd adapted to being blind. Not only that, but you've spent so long with Alucard that it completely slipped your mind that you'd wanted to get your sight back.

Pursing your lips, you shrug. "To be honest, Lulu, I'm not sure. I mean, the purpose of me losing my sight was so I could "guide someone to the light" and "traverse the new path forged", and as it stands I'm not sure where that might be." Then you realize what else he might be saying. "... If you're asking if I plan on leaving when this is over, I think I'd like to stay for a little while, though."

"Oh, good." Alucard gives your head some more rubs. "I don't really want you to run off just yet."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your presence breaks the silence around here, and it's nice to have someone here that hasn't tried to kill me," He chuckles. "In all seriousness, though, I'm sure you'd be much happier being with something not trying to kill you for once."

You mull over the whole thing, your cheeks growing warm. "I have gotten pretty used to sleeping in a bed that isn't in an old shack or an inn..."

A moment of silence, then for the first time in what actually feels like forever, the two of you break into laughter. You laugh and laugh until your stomachs hurt, then you find yourself putting your head on his shoulder.

"... So after all of this, would you like to stay with me for a little while?" He asks. "Sightless or no, you're good company."

"... I'd like that very much, Lulu."

Your dreams are invaded by a vibrant memory, one that you still vividly remember to the point you forget your blindness in the waking world, even if just for a moment.

"I hereby anoint [Name] as my successor." Master taps his index into a bowl of ashes thrice, before drawing a symbol on your forehead. "Henceforth she shall carry the Arcane's hold upon the world, and its magic never forgotten, nor thrown into the hands of evil."

Cloak-donned fellows applaud you, their smiling faces obscured by torch-cast shadows but enough to be visible to you.

You remember how cold your feet were despite the rug underneath, how your memory was still plagued by the blood and guts that used to form your parents. Then you recall how proud you felt them become even then, despite being as young as you were at only eleven. It still makes you happy, how far you've come since then.

True to your word, you became someone worthy of Master's mantle.

"[Name], within your blood is the magic of your ancestors, and your soul burns bright with the blessings of this world." His ashen hand rests on your shoulder. "May you be one with the ether forevermore."

Then he turns to the audience, and holds your nervously clenched fist high. "Hail, [Name]!"

"Hail, [Name]!" They shout, applauding you once more.

Warmth, pride, humility, responsibility. It fades to the shadows as the torches go out one by one, and your hand reaches out to hold the light, the last thing you see.

Your eyes fly open, to those same shadows. The dream has ended, leaving you alone, cold and confused, but only for a moment.

It's clear now, the path and actions you must take. Maybe your greatest challenge of all, awaits you in this castle.

Perhaps this...

... This...

This is your mission. Alucard is your mission.

Reaching up, you touch your forehead - Master's touch still lingers - and set your lips in a firm line.

"I understand," You say softly, and your hand falls back beside your head on the pillow. "Master... I've found him. I found the person that needs me." You clench your fist, fingers trembling in your other hand. "... I won't let him down."

Chapter Text

"What exactly are you doing?"

You raise your head, but don't remove your hand from the floor lest you lose your place. "I'm placing books on the floor."

"Well I know, but what is it for?"

"They're markers." You find another book and move a few steps elsewhere. "If I'm to perform this spell, I need to know where to go to draw the circles."

"Circles? Plural?"

"Did I stutter?" A phrase you picked up from him over the course of time.

"No." You feel him come closer. "But I am curious."

"The way this spell goes is we sit in separate circles, connected by one that's bigger. I will infuse it with my power, and with it I will prod into you. Or more specifically, your memories." You pause. "It's an intrusive spell, one that's rather... controversial."

"... Explain."

Putting down another book, you sit down properly, keeping your head toward his voice.

"So the spell I'm going to have to do requires me to go poking around in your head. I need to go through each of your memories until I find what the Amygdala is feeding off of," You explain. "They won't be hard to find but there's no doubt it'll be painful."

Doesn't take being able to see to know what look he's giving you.

"What makes this important is that the Amygdala feeds off of fear, sadness; anger, death; literally any negative emotion you can imagine. Now given how big yours is, it wouldn't surprise me this will be difficult," You sigh. "Believe me, I don't want to invade your deepest darkest memories, but if we want to get rid of it before it completely takes over you, this is our only option."

"And you've done this before?"

"Yes I have, but not as often. Usually I can take an Amygdala down by myself, but this one's too big and too powerful." For a moment, you pause, feeling betrayed by your own mouth for reminding you that you're not powerful enough. The price to pay for hubris, you suppose. "Finding out what it's feeding off of and cutting it off from it will help us tremendously, but there's one more thing I need to cover before anything."

"I'm listening." You hear him approach a nearby bookshelf, surely to lean on it.

"In order for me - or anyone for that matter - to do this magic efficiently, a great bond of trust has to be established," You explain. "If you don't trust me enough to let me do this, it'll repel me - injure me, even. And if it's like that, not only will we not be able to kill the Amygdala this way, but... Well, you know."

"So if I don't trust you, you die?" He sounds... alarmed.

"No..." You purse your lips. "Or at least, I'd hope not, I've never done this spell that often. It'd be foolish to."

"You're making assumptions, though," He points out. "You haven't done this spell enough to be sure of the results. Are you certain you're putting your faith in the right course of action?"

"Lulu, we're about out of options," You tell him. "We're running out of time, and I'm starting to get desperate."

"But why go this far? If you fail at this-" A cold whir in your ears at his words- "you can just move on, try again." Stop it... "You're a powerful Arcana, you'll find your mission even if it's not here-"

"... Dumbass."

Of all the words you didn't expect to come out of your mouth, that leaves them all behind.

"Look at me," You continue. "I went - and still am - above and beyond because I believe in what I'm doing here just as I had before. Your Amygdala is huge but am I going to let you down just because you think you'd be another log on the fire? I've seen enough of that shit - and I can't even see!" You lift your hands to stretch your eyelids, to emphasize your point.

"I've watched people that could've been saved fall to their traumas, to their fears- all because of some war brought on us by those monsters." Your voice is trembling. "Realizing that we had the cure for it, I did my best in the Arcane, even sacrificing sleep and meal to hone my magic... And it paid off. Here I am, heir to Master's magic - and his legacy. With powers like no other, the two of us granted relief for those who would have otherwise gone mad..."

There's a hot bubbling in your chest, and your lips curl.

"So if you think for a single goddamn moment I'm gonna let you die or succumb to this beast, I'm afraid you're more hollow-headed than you realize-!" You're trying hard not to shout, hot tears slipping down your cheeks. "Even if you aren't my mission, it doesn't matter - I'll spend my life this way if that's the price to pay!"

"That's just foolish."

"Dammit, why can't you understand?" You ask, hands shaking. "Lulu, I... I..."

"..."

A pause, and suddenly you're not sure you want to drag this out. "... So do I have your blessing? I'll be happy if I can save you from the Amygdala, regardless of what happens to me." Then you shake your head. "No... Forget that. I don't want to die, so I won't. Both of us are making it out alive."

"How are you so sure?"

You lift your head, not having realized before you'd hung it. "... I swear it. We'll make it. If there's a winding path, we'll cut through it; we'll knock down anything in our way. I've done this all before - who's to say I won't succeed now?"

"... Fair, but, there's just one more thing I want to ask."

Tilting your head, you fiddle with one of your shirt sleeves. "What is it?"

"What will you do, even when this is over? Whether or not you get your sight back, will you move on? Or would you like to stay with me, and... Well, learn." There's something off about this. You can't explain it, but there's something on the tip of his tongue he can't quite bring himself to ask.

"I think I'd like to rest, actually," You hum. "Or rather, I'd like to stay here with you. You're quite the individual, after all."

"Oh?" He sounds more sultry now; you can hear him smile.

"You're capable of doing so much, and yet you settle for a quiet life. And despite everything that has transpired, you don't hate the world and everything in it. To put the cherry on top, you could have killed me, and not because of the Amygdala, but because you wanted to shield yourself from someone that could bring you further harm," You explain. "You... You wanted me here. And dare I say, you've grown to also need me."

"I do."

Your face lights up. "Huh???"

Through soft ripples, you can 'see' him approach you. "It wasn't clear to me at first. All honesty, I'd thought you a bumbling Magician who ignored every warning sign that being here meant you would die."

"Are we just completely ignoring the fact I was being chased by Night Creatures?"

"... But as we went along, you proved to be quite the individual. Standing strong in the face of someone who could have killed you, banishing Taka and Sumi, surviving being blind in such an unforgiving world. I'm not easily impressed, but you're much stronger than I - or anyone, for that matter - gave you credit for."

Your face feels hot from the praise. Yes, you're strong, and definitely not too modest, but it does feel nice to know you live up to your mantle.

"And with that I think I'm beginning to see you're not going to give up until the Amygdala is dead. You won't let anyone die." There's a smile in his voice. "Is that right?"

Conviction unclenches your stomach, and your upper lip is stiffened as your tears cease to form.

"That's right," You nod. "Whatever the risks are, I'll face them, and overcome them. You're not dying and neither am I - I swear it."

His large hand falls on your head, giving it a rub. At first you flinch, but lean into the contact.

"Then I guess there's no point in arguing," He hums. "My memories are yours... Just don't dig too deep unless you want to see me naked."

You purse your lips, furrowing your brows. "Oh no! What a nightmare!" You put your hands up to add effect.

"Sorry."

Sitting down cross-legged, softly placing Alucard's head in your lap, you interlock your fingers, bowing your head. "Let us begin."

Taking a deep breath, you begin the incantation.

"Adsum, cor unum, crescente luce.

Ecce homo, fons et origo; fundamenta inconcussa.

Hinc illae lacrimae, hora somni, lux, veritas, virtus."

The magic circle - which he admittedly helped you draw under his bed by actually lifting the bed up with both arms and signaling when you're straying - begins to glow.

"Mens rea, memores acti prudentes futuri. Misere nobis - noster nostri, per aspera ad astra."

Your hands fold onto Alucard's forehead; he's fallen deep asleep.

"Per multum cras, cras, crebro dilabitur aetas. Stamus contra malum - succisa virescit. Tuebor... meus amor aeternus.

Audio hostem de integro. Dei gratia, munit haec et altera vincit."

Your magic flows into Alucard's body, tenderly wrapping around his heart and resonating with his soul. Even in his sleep you can feel him relax, comforted by your presence. Much to your surprise even now, the link between the two of you - the great amount of trust that is required for this spell to work seamlessly - connects, unwavering. The feeling brings tears to your eyes even as you curl up, as though protecting him with your body.

“Cleanse the soul and free the mind. End the destiny wrought of despair, and break the shackles of sorrow.” You place your hand over his chest, and it opens up wide for you as he drifts into slumber. “Let this suffering be no more...”

The spell is complete, and you fall over his sleeping body, feeling his heartbeat against your cheek.

The journey to the house among the forest isn’t a long one by any means, given the path was laid out on your first visit. But, it remains nerve wracking now that you can feel the Amygdala’s presence. A quick pulse from your foot - you can sort of see in this little world but not well - and it’s back below the house, still encased in your Glass Cage. However you can feel it cracking; it’s become angry enough to inch closer to breaking out.

But where is...?

Looking around, you eventually feel something crash hard into the ground just behind you. Turning, you see a man’s silhouette pressed into the ground almost comedically.

There he is.

Approaching, you kneel down as he pushes up. The tendrils of hair dance around his shoulders as he gets onto his knees to be at level with you. Whilst his figure has nothing to speak of in terms of color or features, being that pure magic is an admittedly shoddy replacement for natural eyesight, you can tell that he is indeed as tall and intimidating as he sounds in the waking world.

”You okay?” You ask.

”Uh...” He looks around, palpably confused. “Where are we?”

”This is the landscape of your heart, Lulu,” You explain. “It can take many different forms with certain people and sometimes never stays the same... But that’s not important right now.” You help him stand. “The dearest of memories take root in these places, and form them. Like a castle for a young squire, a garden for some lovesick prince, a boat for a seafaring old man...” You turn back towards the house, feeling the Amygdala begin to stir. “Or a house, for a child much beloved.”

”That’s...” He passes you in a slow approach to the house. “That’s my house...”

”I had to see each memory as I went forward looking for the Source,” You continue, walking at his side. “I only saw glimpses of these ones, since I knew that memories so thick of joy and love couldn’t possibly sustain the Amygdala.” The warmth of those memories spills from that house as it takes better form upon coming closer, before you stretch your arm to stop him. “Lulu.”

”Let me...” He quivers. “Please, I have to...”

”I fear unintended consequences.” You’re not in the waking world anymore and this is not a game - you have to do your absolute damnedest to make sure Alucard remains safe. “I know you wish to touch them again, but it’s not safe for you to get any closer.”

He shakes a bit more, before stilling, nodding. “... Where is it?”

”Right below that house.” You summon your staff, holding it tight to yourself. “It’ll wake at any moment, and regardless if you’re ready or not you’ll have to fight.”

He’s quiet for a moment, even breathing in such a way that you can’t hear. Swallowing, you ripple to be sure he’s there, and he is, just excruciatingly quiet. Before you can ask if he’s alright, he turns toward you, indiscernible by his shape but you can feel that he’s close to weeping.

“It’s alright,” You assure, “I’m here.”

”I know.” His large hand moves to your head, rubbing it as it has many times before. “I just want you to know... I think you’re a wonderful person.”

You want to laugh, more out of nervousness than anything, but you can only manage a halfhearted smile. “Don’t start talking like one of us is dying here.  Because of everything that has happened between us... I’m going to make sure both of us make it out alive.” You reach and put your hand over his wrist. “I swear, by the blood in my veins.”

His touch softens, and it shows that your words have, even if only slightly, have comforted him.

...

”Hm?”

You blink, sensing a disturbance. Looking around, your hair stands on end, and you quickly raise and slam your staff down, sending you and Alucard back a good distance. Landing perfectly on your feet, you try not to rub your temples at him not landing so gracefully. Peering upward, your body goes cold at the descending figures glowing a menacing red and blue each.

”Lulu... So they weren’t just...”

Feeling him tremble through the dirt, you swallow as the figures land, one brandishing a sword and the other a bow and arrow.

Taka and Sumi.

”How many times must we tell you?” Sumi growls, her deep red aura ever ominous. “Your meddling is only going to end in your death. Both of yours.”

”This world will seal your fate,” Taka adds, his voice oddly less emotional than his compatriot’s. “Alucard... And you, foul Arcana.”

Stepping forward, you only briefly remember the stab wounds and the near-death experience as you prepare for another fight. However, you blink when Alucard’s hand falls onto your shoulder to stop you. Turning, you blink at his figure moving past you, his sword appearing before him in a brilliant gold flash.

This is the world of his heart... So perhaps he’s ready now.

”[Name], stay back.” He grips the blade tightly. “I can handle these two alone.”

Given the depth of your relationship, whatever it may be, your first instinct is to protest, to tell him it wouldn’t be right to leave him to face these two alone. The primal fear in that memory, where they held a dagger over his chest after so cruelly entrapping him, burns brightly still. But now that you’ve stopped yourself, you can feel it: that flame is beginning to sway and dwindle, as if being swayed by attempts to put it out.

He’s ready. A proud smile stretches your lips.

”As you wish.” You hold your staff close, stepping back. “May you be unharmed.”

Stepping forward, Alucard is in stance in a moment, lunging the next, missing Sumi’s chest by a hair with thanks to her footwork. Taka pulls three arrows into his bow and lets them free, only for them to be sliced in half in one swing. Inhumanly fast and unlike any swordsman you’ve had the pleasure or displeasure of knowing, you can hardly make out where one figure ends and the other begins, as befits the shortcomings of optical magics. Even so you’re vigilant, wishing to help Lulu should he decide he needs you still.

”It never was my wish to do this to you.” Alucard’s voice is thick with sorrow and remorse. “You came to me, wishing to be monster hunters... Where could I have possibly gone wrong?”

”You lied to us!” Taka shouts, firing another arrow to be sliced to ribbons. “I told you, you never taught us magic or moved the castle. What right do you have to even ask that?”

”I never lied to you...” Alucard lands a good slice on him, but nothing that’ll make much difference alone. “I taught you what I knew, and I made clear the castle couldn’t move.” Slowly his sadness lifts from his voice, falling deep into his heart; a painful reminder of what could have been. “The two of you were dear to me. Quick to learn, strong in arms, keen in wit, as the best hunters-to-be are.”

Lulu...

”... Which is why here and now, I will put you to rest, for good.” He begins to glow the same hue as his blade, if more brilliantly. “So, Taka, Sumi - I will destroy you!”

There’s no need to interfere. He’s got this.

Sumi holds her own well, even you can see. Not by any means a samurai, but she fights more like a musketeer. A pity, then, to have turned around and betrayed Alucard; she’d have made a fine swordswoman. Under different circumstances the two of you would have made good rivals, or perhaps even friends.

But... Would you and Alucard have even met, if Taka and Sumi hadn’t done what they did? Or would fate have found another way to bring you together? Whatever the case may be, there’s no changing what has happened. There’s nothing left to regret, now that you’ve been allowed here to fight his Amygdala. And for him to be with you here, means he is ready to do so, truly.

Blinking, you hear a faint woosh, before suddenly you’re struck in your side. An uneven yelp tears out from you, and you collapse onto your knee. Just as you reach and feel the arrow, it fades into dust, leaving only the pain inching toward your heart.

”[Name]!” Alucard shouts, followed by more clanging. “Dammit all-!”

”I’m alright!” You pant. “Combat in this world isn’t the same as the real one-!” You lift a hand to where you were struck, and with a pulse of magic you can heal no problem. “But damn if that doesn’t hurt-!”

”You... You...” His glow is like the sun, eclipsing the red and blue in moments. “You will pay-!”

...

”My son... my dear, dear son...”

A dark grey figure appears just above the battle, turned halfway towards you.

”Finally, the time has come... Please, come and help him.”

You nod. “I understand.”

Hurrying to Alucard despite your limp, you find a moment where Taka and Sumi are perfectly placed. Lifting your hands, you create a triangle with your fingers and blow through it, sending small blasts of air at them and knocking them down. Swiftly, you wave your arm to and fro, bright green glowing chains shooting from the ground and trapping them together. Quickly losing their strength, their weapons fall from their hands, and they can only stare at the pair of you.

One strike will touch their hearts, and banish them. And so...

”Lulu, together.”

You raise your one arm, where it meets his sword arm. Wrapping your fingers softly around his hand, you feel your magic flowing into the sword, the two forces seeming to match with the very harmony you and Alucard have yourselves. Taking a deep breath, you clench tightly.

”Eliminate the unclean.” You're ready to strike.

”Cleanse the contaminated...” He’s regretful of this turn of events.

“Evil,” You both thrust, “BEGONE!”

Their screams pair together like their bodies once did, bringing your ears to violently ring as they break apart into simple aura. But, your heart sinks when they reform, not inside Alucard, but kneeling, facing the house, as they’re fading away.

Sumi’s giggling is diabolical and Taka’s chuckling is monotonous; a fearsome pair from the cradle to the grave.

“Oh Amygdala, oh Amygdala!” They chant, as the house sinks into the ground.

The gaping hole ever grows, before the colossal limbs crawl out of it, the familiar creature screeching as it emerges, ever enraged by its entrapment.

”Have mercy on the poor bastards!!!” Taka and Sumi fade at last, their crazed chant the only thing left as the Amygdala fully stands above the pair of you.

A pair of arms wrapping around your shoulders, a feeling like a pointy beard tickling the top of your head.

”I must thank you, truly, for your gentle hands upon my beloved son.” That voice... “I believe, with all my heart, that you can save him... Just as my dear Lisa saved me.”

The Amygdala growls, raising a limb.

”May you both be victorious!”

Chapter Text

"Lulu." Your power stirs within your heart, spreading to your fingertips. "This fight will be unlike any you've ever faced."

"I'm ready." His sword sits ready in his fist.

"By my honor as an Arcana, heir to my master's power, I will help you." You furrow your brow as the Amygdala rears its head. "Now, let us begin."

Dividing to dodge a slam, the two of you make a beeline to the more passive arms loser to its hips, your power echoing through the air so you can more accurately target them. Sensing Alucard on the other side you swing one arm, summoning chains burning with your power to wrap around the creature's, it eliciting a beastly screech as it attempts to throw you off.

Biting your lip you grip the chain tightly, slowly crawling up as it begins to spin, repelling Alucard as well as attempting to hurl you about across the plane. Arms shaking from the effort you climb still, until after many painful seconds you feel its holey skin under your palm. Pulsing your magic through it, you grip tightly as another chain spell reaches its heart.

"The weight of the world, measured by sin and vice," You murmur, "I bequeath to thee this burden, that this earthly scourge swallow thee whole-!"

The chain wraps around and squeezes tightly, and with a horrid yell the beast collapses, flinging you to the ground after a brief jolt. Rolling violently until your back hits a tree, you quickly relax yourself, your lungs opening up just as Alucard rushes to you.

"[Name], are you okay?" He asks, helping you up.

"I'm fine," You assure, "but this thing won't die so easily - be ready for anything."

As if on cue it shoots right back up, turning towards the pair of you and alongside a screech brings down two hands. Hurriedly Alucard loops his arm around your waist, about teleporting behind it. Delicately putting you aside on your feet he charges, leaping on different protruding bones and slicing where it forgets to guard. Truly unstoppable, he be, but it will take more than even just him to fell this creature.

That's why you're here - this is why your power exists.

Master... Even if this is not my mission, I pray you look down with proud eyes.

"Don't count me out yet!"

You charge forward, spinning your staff in circles as you strafe between the Amygdala's legs. Waving you wrap chains around each ankle, feeling it burn as its screams threaten to rip your ears to shreds. Biting your lip you pull, pulsing more power through.

"This isn't going to last much longer..." You murmur. "But at least I can buy you some time, Lulu."

Driving your staff into the ground, you raise your hand high. With a yell you feel the sky swirl, sending down the stars to batter the Amygdala, some turning to comets merely because of good luck in your genuine inexperience with this particular spell. It's a starfall spell, definitely in your repertoire but also not one you bothered practicing - which it would be good to mention Master did indeed tell you to.

Blindness took more than you thought, but that isn't important at the moment.

"Lulu! Are you okay!" You call, sending sharp pulses of magic at the creature in swipes.

"I'm alright!" He replies. From where he sounds in your head it feels he's on top of the Amygdala; you briefly imagine him stuck hanging onto his sword driven into its back but he's stronger than that. "Some help would be lovely, though!"

"I'm on my way!"

Not wasting time you summon another chain, reflexively finding an arm before it swings upward, using the momentum to leap upward-

"... Shit."

Hurriedly you send another out another magical... blade? Even now you don't know what to call it but it is reminiscent of water running inhumanely fast. It intercepts the same arm coming to swat you like a fly, Instead weakening it to where you can land on it and jump down to Alucard so as to protect your ankles. Accidentally bonking him with your staff you put a hand onto his back, pulsing a small heal spell - you're not good at those either - through him. His energy shifts as he goes upright, sword tugged, reeking of blood, from the creature.

"Don't exhaust yourself too quick," He tells you as you grip your staff tighter. "We can only stand a chance if we stay together."

"You're learning." You grip his hand as the two of you retreat from the Amygdala's back. "This place is a nexus of magical energy - with how compatible it is, it's a constant store for me. That said, if ever I need to replenish, I'll need you to cover me."

"Got it." He takes a moment to rub your head. "It's getting tired - focus on its head, that seems to be where its power is concentrating."

You nod. "I'll use the bondage spell I used back then. That'll give you time to weaken it some more. Once it's weak enough I can use a restrictive spell to finish it off for good."

"I sure hope you know what you're doing..." He murmurs, before you both charge.

Wholly you understand that his whisper isn't a question towards your competency. Rather it's him being worried about you, that you dispersing the Amygdala will backfire on you, dragging you down with it. In truth you can't even say if this worry is unfounded, as it weighs on your conscience as well. You don't want to die, even in a place like this, but you've been prepared to die since you were anointed.

So... You'll fight tooth and nail to ensure this does not happen. Both of you will make it out alive; you promised this to him back then, and you always keep your promises.

Digging your staff into the dirt, a quick invocation puts down the first stake. Momentarily you recall having to perform this spell on Alucard... it's truly a miracle the process didn't hurt him. Perhaps it's fate, then...

Maybe...

Your eyes go wide despite their sightlessness, you putting another sigil down.

... This, this is your mission. Alucard is your mission.

With that resolution your blood begins to boil, and a faint pink energy begins to grow within your chest. A sensation like pins and needles courses through you from head to toe for a moment, but only for a moment. Afterwards it leaves a sensation like you're being bathed in a gentle moonlight, the beams giving you their power as if to resonate with you and whatever emotion is stirring deep within.

"In the name of the Arcana!" You shout, rushing and invoking another sigil; two more to go. "I will slay you, scourge of minds!"

Fatigue lifts from your legs, and you rush to put another down, though you're abruptly stopped by just barely making it between the Amygdala's fingers at it slaps down. Jumping, you swipe with magic, giving it a slice that forces it to recoil, hurriedly putting the fourth sigil down and rushing out of the way.

"Lulu!" You shout.

"I know!" He calls back. "It's rabid - it won't let us kill it so easily like this!"

"I just need a bit more time!" You rush to optimal position. "Please just hang on a little longer!"

As if on cue the Amygdala screams again, slapping its back as Alucard jumps around,  less focused on you again and giving you the time and space you need.

The fifth sigil is down. Grinning you slap your hands together, five large chains shooting out and locking beneath the creature's skin. Feeling Alucard land beside you, you focus your magic, feeling it climb up the chains and toward its innards. Something warm flows down your cheek as you collect it all within, before harshly gripping your hands together, and with a sound not unlike the biggest pumpkin being smashed open it roars a pained roar, collapsing.

It grows quiet from here - painfully quiet. The chains fade away, having served their purpose, leaving only the beast to lay there, radiating a faint black mist. Biting your lip you carefully step closer, attempting to discern the different energies through the growing darkness - the environment's help, not yours - but finding nothing indicative of victory or failure.

As much as you want to call this a job well done, it doesn't feel like one. There is indeed a relief allowing you to take a breath, but there's also an underlying dread that won't let you relax what power is concentrated.

"[Name], it's over, isn't it?" Even Alucard sounds unsure.

A flicker like a small black flame, and your hair stands on end. "... Get back..."

"What?" You feel him reaching out to you, somehow.

Feeling the flame begin to surge, you whirl around, hand out for a quick protective spell. "I SAID GET BACK!!!"

In many quick movements the Amygdala screams, thrashing about like an injured animal prepared to drag whatever's nearby down to the depths with it. Frazzled by the suddenness of the action, even if you'd expected this to be too easy, you find yourself too slow to act. While only being able to process Alucard, you try and protect yourself, until the wind is knocked from your body as you're caught in a sweep, a resounding 'snap!' sounding beside you until you're tossed into the air.

"Huh...?"

Time seems to slow down, leaving you to softly touch your cheeks. One fluid feels hot and thick, the other just as warm but also more like water.

"... Oh... So this is how it feels, huh..."

A cruel acceptance relaxes your muscles as you're dragged back down, the soft glowing ground closing in.

"I never thought... That my death would be like this..."

...

"You shouldn't be out on your own, even with your abilities."

...

"So long as you're here, I will do what I am able to help you adapt."

...

"You haven't died yet!"

Wincing slightly, you open your eyes, the landscape's energy illuminating through... a silver dome-like shield...? What is this-? Surely Alucard doesn't know this sort of magic...

Propping yourself up on your hands, you make out the silhouette of a man and woman- well... The man is familiar enough, with a pointy beard and cloak. His presence is defining as ever, and now he stands, one hand up and the other fending off the Amygdala - Alucard's figure is dashing about nearby - as the woman softly approaches you.

Her energy is a gentle rose gold in your eyes; a pure heart wrapped in the scent of motherly love. For a moment when you look at her, you forget the battle, forget your troubles - forget you coming as close as you did to a horrible death. Almost prepared to abandon everything just to bathe in this feeling a bit longer, you bring yourself back into focus when she extends a kind hand.

"Come. There's much for you to do yet." Her voice is soft, her aura like a gentle sunlight. You take her hand and let her help you stand.

Reaching back, she tugs out a staff - mixed with her aura's color and your own, a light green - and holds it out to you. Hesitation fading from your heart you take it, blinking in surprised recoil when her soft lips press to your forehead. With that kiss you're revitalized, daresay feeling even stronger. As the shield begins to fade the man approaches you as well, putting a strong hand on your shoulder.

"We can't do this much longer, Lisa." He tells her. "Not if this is our wish."

"I know." She brushes your hair behind your ear. "We will do what we are able, but in order to fulfill this you must press on. Don't give up, please..."

"Help him, help our boy." ... Dracula. This man, he's Dracula. You've known all this time, but you couldn't fully realize who he was. Not because you live in fear of Dracula anymore - his era is long gone - but because you just could not believe that a man so kind and gentle as Alucard could be brought to this world by the king of vampires himself.

"My intention is to do just that," You tell them, resolute. "Don't you worry... we're almost done."

"Thank you." They say in unison.

Before the shield fades, Lisa gets in one last thought. "Just as I hoped, he's found a fine young woman, at long last... Someone who could accept him and adore him as we did. Now please, save him."

You prepare a spell, and charge, reentering the fray.

"Godspeed, [Name]!"

Grabbing the Amygdala's attention with a quick chain attack to an attacking arm, you manage to pinpoint where Alucard is. Biting your lip you keep focused, narrowing your eyes and fighting more limbs, until it completely focuses on you to the point where the sound of his sword grows louder and louder.

"Lulu! I'm here!" You shout.

"My god..." He's quiet, but you can still detect him. "I thought you'd died!"

"Me too!" You grapple onto its neck and swing, managing to go upside down and wrapping the chain around it. "I might not be part vampire myself, but I'm not frail, you know!"

"I believe it!"

Rushing about, you slice at the arms and legs with your magic, but from the sound of the flesh it isn't deep enough. You should be back in fighting shape after Dracula and Lisa saved you, so why...?

Your face goes cold, and you narrowly avoid a sweep. "Lulu! It's come back stronger! It won't fall so easily this time!"

"Agh, fuck!"

"Me too!" 

With more swings from your staff you send more magic attacks, some at the gashes you've begun to make so you can cut the bone. It's not by any means fruitless but this beast refuses to hold still, in that it consistently tries to slap or crush you in its vast, unrelenting rancor. Even Alucard can't distract it for you. What moments he can, however, are short-lived... And that's because the Amygdala has learned: You're the bigger threat. So long as you're lending support to a fighter obviously stronger, the two of you will eventually best it.

Swallowing, you decide to be brave for a moment and hold still, driving your staff into the ground. Bowing your head you furrow your brows, expecting pain as you prepare a spell.

"Cover me!" You shout, the magic circle slowly lighting up beneath your feet. Perspiration pours down your face as you focus more and more magic, feeling it grow and spin in symbols intended to make a hard-hitting spell.

You've done this particular spell only once before, in a very similar situation.

An amygdala inside of a past man of the church, having abandoned his practices when the night creatures appeared. In actuality he came to your master, pleading for help. He brought the priest - or was he a cardinal? - back to your dwelling, where he brought you inside the realm of his heart. There Master taught you this spell, and together with him you obliterated the poor priest's Amygdala in one fell swoop; that's how powerful Master was.

Now, you're his heir apparent - and you're going to make damn sure you earn that mantle.

"Blessed stars of life and light..." You begin. "Eclipsed by the shade of malice and night. Encase us in glorious white, bracing stars so bright-!"

The landscape becomes eclipsed by a bright white gold from above, and you close your eyes tightly, focusing deep within.

"Burn away this strife, and let our hope ignite-!"

"[NAME]!"

The air is pierced by the Amygdala's horrible screams, and just as before it thrashes about, the light fading as it stops itself from collapsing. From the energy you 'see' once you open your eyes you can tell you've done your fair share to it, and Alucard can more easily fight it.

"Hm?"

You look to the side, seeing what look like fireflies but much brighter slowly approaching the scene. One's glow is an almost heroic blue, the other a stalwart, hopeful orange. By what little you can feel from them, you can tell they're just like Dracula and Lisa-

"OOF!"

Alucard hurriedly dives to you, intending to take you out of the way, but you both get caught in another desperate sweep, launched into the air again and flung away.

In what little time you have, you reach out your hand to the sprites, narrowing your eyes. "Phantoms of the afflicted, brightening as you come..."

The two of you hit the ground, and your strength is sapped once more.

...

Alucard lifts his head, tugging you into his chest for protection, when the light of the sprites enters his eyes. By their glow, a realization pulls him upward, and the two sprites approach him, as if greeting a longtime friend.

The bright blue one takes the form of a man, slightly shaggy and perhaps more rugged than heroic, making him look like a lucky drunkard with his adventuring days long past rather than a legendary hero. However, when his countenance is realized his appearance cracks open, revealing the ever-burning soul of that very hero. A pair of whips, one leather the other of chains, are tightly held in his fists, him ever ready for the battle ahead.

As for the orange, it shapes itself into the phantom of a woman, calculated and measured but just as fiery as the man beside her. Dressed in the blue regalia of the Speakers she stands proud, a smile of "I'm here" on her lips. The scars on her shoulder are but a hint to what horrors she has witnessed in her time, the other mementos or what they could possibly be resting just behind her eyes. Prepared, she brings up both hands, two fingers instruments of her magical might.

"Ah..." Alucard smiles from ear to ear. "You were at my side, all along." He stands. "Trevor. Sypha. My dearest friends; my greatest companions."

In his other fist a golden shield - a woefully fleeting product of his mind - materializes, ever ready to serve, and the three face the creature. 'Trevor' is the first to charge, 'Sypha' right behind him, briefly turning to urge Alucard to fight with them before continuing forward.

Some place, perhaps deep within, you sense not only his joy in seeing his friends again, but also his fears and anxieties fading away. Reflected in how the Amygdala shudders he has overcome all obstacles in his mind, his greatest foes no more than fleeting memories and broken nightmares. Finally, he is ready.

...

Watching through your lashes, you yourself try to stand, when there's a sensation like familiar, warm, wrinkly hands on your shoulders.

"You are ready." Master! "You've done well thus far - be wise to not disappoint me."

You raise an arm. "I think I can do it, now." You're lifted into the air, both arms spread out as though you're prepared to receive an audience, a message from the stars, or something far, far greater.

The hands over your eyes, pointers joined just at your forehead.

"Blood of the wolf, soul of the lion, heart of a swan," He chants. "Formed within she who shall carry within herself my blood's secrets and psalms."

You bring your hands up, pressing your two fingertips together with the other fingers curled into an incomplete fist.

"Arcanian Ether, Ultimatia." Your blood surges with a power greater than anything you've ever learned about or felt.

"Ascension!"

Your magic burns a brilliant gold, collecting in a magic circle at your back. Holding both hands out, your staff reforms itself into one not of frail wood, but by almost indestructible metals twisted into sigils and forms only you yourself can name. In your other hand materializes a sword, a direct replica of Alucard's in appearance, only that it is solid magical energy alone.

This sword will only exist in this world, not because it is the far extent of this new power, but because Alucard's heart has truly opened to you in this moment. His desire to protect you, whilst wishing to see you be the protector in turn, materializes in this brilliant magical blade. Not by any means the only one of its kind, but to you there will never be another like it; both it and him are that special.

Opening your eyes, everything is so much clearer. The battlefield below you is in perfect definition, the ominous black shape making every rib, elongated limb, and grotesque form the Amygdala, with the other three colors the perfect shapes of Alucard, 'Sypha', and 'Trevor'.

This is Ascension. This is the ultimate power of your people.

This is the mantle you bear - this is Master's final blessing.

Diving in, you soar through the Amygdala's body with a thrust of this sword, catching it off guard enough for 'Sypha' to barrage it with fire and ice alike. Holding your sword and staff together you repeatedly thrust, sending the attacks in magical pierces into its chest. As it screams and flails, 'Trevor' restrains an attacking arm with both whips, having the strength to force it to kneel-

Shrrrriiip!

The very arm it had tried to attack you with, 'Trevor' rips clean off, eliciting the stench of blood and rot as well as the piercing screams of the Amygdala. Enraged it whirls to him, attacking with frenzied bloodthirst as 'Sypha' freezes one leg in place. The force of trying to hurl itself to 'Trevor' has it underestimating itself, and with another wretched tear it loses that very leg.

Diving again, you roll and dive below various attacks, lacerating its flesh with each swing of a sword, finally able to predict where it will strike next accurately. Furrowing your brows in concentration you move out of the way as Alucard leaps past you, plunging his own sword into its back and ripping it down its spine. It takes only the sound and smell to know not only is there blood pouring from the creature, but also its guts are threatening to cover the ground.

'Trevor's' whips wrap around its spine, and he pulls with all his might, seeming to drag the Amygdala about before with a harsh 'SNAP' the bones break, and with a weak howl and some more ice magic from 'Sypha', it is still.

"[Name]!" You turn your head towards Alucard as he approaches you, still floating with your magic. He offers his hand to you. "Together!"

You nod, looking towards the other two. "You two as well."

Nodding, they gather with you, and with a quick incantation and a joining of hands upon your sword arm's wrist, you float high above the Amygdala.

"Eliminate the unclean." Your voice and 'Sypha's' join together.

"Cleanse the contaminated." Alucard's and 'Trevor's'.

"Evil," You all join together as you plunge the swords, joined together into one glorious claymore gleaming sacred gold, into the Amygdala. "BEGONE!!!"

It screams one more time, before it goes limp. After a brief moment of contemplation it dissipates, the hiss of its ashes disappearing into nothingness broken up by your and Alucard's heavy breathing. Swallowing saliva that had gathered under your tongue, you feel your power come to rest, gathering back into your heart, and the danger is finally gone.

Looking up at 'Trevor' and 'Sypha', you can't help but smile at them as Alucard approaches them.

"Thank you, Sypha." Alucard briefly holds 'Sypha's' hand, after a moment looking towards 'Trevor'. "You too, Trevor."

'Sypha's' laughter is soundless, bouncing her chest as 'Trevor' facepalms, dragging his hand down his face to reveal an amused smile. Briefly patting Alucard on the arm, he gives him a nod, as if to say a brief farewell.

"Goodbye for now... I hope to see you soon..." Alucard's voice becomes somber as they fade away. You can hear his breathing begin to stutter, and softly approach to put a hand in the middle of his back.

"It's okay to cry," You assure him.

After a moment of silence he nods, turning to you and enveloping you in his arms, holding you tightly as he cries into your neck. Clearly he's trying to control himself so as to not get you dirty with snot and tears, but the tears are leaking through and the snot will clean off. Revulsion isn't stopping you from embracing him - to suggest one's grief and joy are wrong in some way is a worse thing than heartbreak.

Softly rubbing up and down his back, you feel the atmosphere around begin to brighten. Sunlight, though merely a reflection of his heart, begins to slowly peek over the trees, and you can faintly hear the birds begin their morning song.

You smile. Master... We did it... We did it-!

The two of you break apart, however, when the ground begins to quiver. Whirling around in different directions, newfound dread settles into your stomach as the ground below begins to crack.

The trees turn their natural color; the blue returns to the sky; the sunshine tries to blind you; the grass is homey and welcoming.

"Lulu-!" You cry out, whirling in his direction. His silhouette mirrors this motion perfectly. To your shared dismay the ground gives way, and you plummet, his hand missing your sleeve by a mere hair.

You can't even hear him calling your name through your screams.

Turning onto your back, you sling an arm over your eyes, the blinding white piercing through your skin and stinging your eyes. Your body feels a bit sore, but otherwise you feel as though you'd never had a fight, like you never even exerted yourself as you did. As if you're...

"Heaven...?" You whisper, slowly removing your arm. A bright blue sky greets you, the clouds beneath you a fine pillow to cushion the fall you'd taken.

Wincing, you put your hands down, pushing until you're sitting up, looking down at yourself.

Where your robes were once clean they're stained and ripped asunder, understandably given the strain. Blood, dirt, the whole nine yards, obscure even the threaded designs and colors. You can hardly make out the sigils, but you do recall what they look like.

Your eyes fall to your palms. Though your skin is paler than you recall it to have been, it's still a relief to see. Even the small blemishes here and there are an absolute blessing - a reprieve.

"Hello, [Name]."

Pulling your head up, your eyes go wide at the three people standing just nearby.

Lisa, a beautiful woman with wheat hair, staring at you with kind eyes. Her almost wine red dress doesn't give her an air of mystery or perceived slyness. Rather it alludes to her kind nature, a very symbol of her very self: a soul wrongfully torn from the realm of the living. Very briefly, looking at her brings a smell of flames that fades as it blows through, leaving only the smell of herbs and the hearth.

Dracula. A towering creature... no, man. He does not stand above you to look down upon you from his nose, rather his shadow envelops any who he decides in the loving embrace of a father, a husband, whom lost everything. His pale lips are in a kind smile that would invite you to know what his hold is like, but his eyes remind you that there is business here to be done, and there is no time for such things.

In the middle of them, closer to you, Master.

Truly imposing to those who would stand against him, he is a mighty old man with a beard thicker than fog, his great fist holding a staff that could end the world as you know it. But, to you, he is a protective, king-like man, capable of matching Merlin in strength. Beneath his robes, tearing with age and use, is the scent of grandfatherly love. In his eyes is the very same, that warmth greeting you with pride that solidifies you in his eyes. You're deserving to be his protégé, his heiress - his pride and joy.

"Am I dead, Master?" You ask.

He shakes his head. "Nay. This is simply something I conjured in the moment, that we may speak properly. I felt it too cruel to hang onto the limitations of your physical self, which is why you are able to see now." He taps his staff on the ground. "You've Ascended, something very few of us are able to do. My heiress, my student..." His eyes crinkle with a smile as his free hand strokes his beard. "You've become so very powerful, just like your mother did. You bring me great pride."

You blush. "My work has not yet begun."

"Oh but it has." He waves his staff, and the clouds between you part to show a scene.

Alucard. Though the room is dark, you know it to be him. He's on his side, curled up, sobbing, whilst surrounded by a pair of corpses...

Your eyes narrow. "Taka and Sumi..."

"What you see now is a broken man. His life torn from him, his friends left him behind, and finally his beloved pupils turning and betraying him, blinded by bloodthirsty ambition," Master explains. "Because of your efforts on this day, [Name], the sadness, the despair, all of this can fade from him, as the agony of every tragedy well should."

"Forgetting pain is convenient." You remember this adage.

"Remembering it, agonizing." Master does too.

"But recovering the truth is worth the suffering," You finish together.

"But this brings me to what I've called you for." Master dissipates the scene, and the clouds remain. You return to looking up at him. "You've completed your mission. What I've set you out for, to help someone in need despite your blindness, has been fulfilled, and now your trial is over."

Your heart flutters.

"However, do not think your life as an Arcana ends here," He warns. "As my heir, it is your responsibility to use this power not in evil or misjudgment. This power is to serve what remains of humanity, of any creature in this world that needs it. Do not bury it now that you've accomplished what you have."

You place your hand over your heart and bow your head. "I would never dream of such a thing."

"Very good." You raise your head again as Master steps back. He looks between Lisa and Dracula, nodding. "Now, you said you had something you wished to tell her - say it now, for it may be a good while before you get another chance."

Lisa is the first one to step forward. She approaches you, gently scooping your hands up in both of her's. They're warm and soft, reminiscent of times long past.

"[Name], ever since Adrien took you into his protection, I knew very well that you could help him, sew his mind back together." You love her eyes so much... "I felt it, deep within. While all of this happened so quickly, you had the strength to save him, and you did... And for that, you have my eternal gratitude." She gently pulls you into her arms. The contact has your eyes welling up, chest warmer than you'd ever felt it become. "Thank you... And please, take care of him."

You nod. "Don't you worry... I will," You sniff.

She breaks from you, smiling sweetly, and steps back while Dracula approaches in her place.

"Only a few times in my life have I seen power like yours," He tells you. "As Alucard's... As Adrien's father, I hoped he would one day find someone like my Lisa. Someone that would teach him love, teach him humanity itself... And [Name], you are that someone. You are the one for him, I'm certain of it." His lips rise into a smile, flashing a brief memory of your own father's into your mind. "If you would grant me the pleasure of calling you my daughter, I will happily watch over the two of you, knowing that the two of you can do anything."

Turning alight, you nod, nervously fiddling with your robes. "It would be my honor, erm... Lord Dracula...?" You didn't mean to squeak his name; he's so huge and imposing that your innate bravado quivers.

He chuckles, placing a hand on your head and ruffling your hair. "Please, [Name]... For this moment, please, just once... Call me 'dad'."

Fidgeting with excitement, you can't help but smile, a single tear falling from your eye. "Yes, of course... Dad." Your heart flutters.

Snorting with amused pride, he smiles, using both hands to smooth your hair back, softly holding your face. You close your eyes softly as he leans in, kissing your forehead.

"Will that be all?" Master's voice is thick with very badly hidden irritability; he'd expected this to go quicker.

Lisa simpers as Dracula - hesitantly - breaks from you. "Yes, that will me all... Thank you, Maestro."

"Anytime." Master strokes his beard, closing his eyes to hide his exasperation at this dragging out. Not unexpected, he's always hated being in one place too long. "Now then. I'm sure none of us can wait for this new chapter to begin."

"Right." Lisa smiles. "[Name]... See you again soon."

"Take care of yourself," Dracula nods. "We will be watching over you, always. If ever you need us, we will be there."

You nod, smiling. "Thank you... All of you. I will make you proud."

Master taps his staff on the ground, and the clouds beneath your feet part. For a moment you pause, not even feeling gravity reaching up towards you. However, once it grabs a hold of you, your eyes go wide.

"Oh, dear..."

Again, you plummet, screaming.

Chapter Text

The very moment you're awake you're not greeted by gentle sunlight kissing your eyes, nor the gentle breeze carrying the morning dew. Rather it's a violent stinging in your eyes, as though someone threw sand in them while you were fighting for Alucard's mind against the Amygdala. Not to say your eyes themselves are injured but heavens, if it doesn't hurt.

Hands flying to your eyes you find yourself writhing, the pain enough to shake your arms and send shivers down your spine, rendering you almost completely unable to move otherwise.

As you're whimpering through your hands you feel Alucard stir beside you, before he moves swiftly in alarm.

"Are you alright?" He asks, audibly a bit frazzled by this being the first thing he wakes up to. "... Oh." He puts a hand over yours and softly pats your arm so you can quiet down a moment. "Wait here, I think I know what to do... I sure hope I do anyway."

And in that instant he's gone.

Inhaling sharply through gritted teeth you try to wipe at your eyes instead. You do feel some grit with some swipes, but your fingers alone won't do. Even with your measly attempts at rubbing off on the cloth of the sheets or blankets nothing's coming off. Rather it's just making everything worse.

Curling up on your side you keep trying, expecting to feel a worm in each eye or something or start crying so the tears will wash out whatever's bothering you. None of this happens, but not for lack of trying, obviously. After a moment you resign yourself to holding still, trying to bear it while Alucard's not here.

This is the cruelest joke that the universe has ever played on me... I can handle being tossed around by a gigantic monster, but this happens and this-? Really?

Swallowing, you let out a sigh of relief when the door opens again. "Lulu?"

"I'm here." You feel him crawl onto the bed, lifting your head with one arm and resting it in his lap. "Hold still now."

With a  free hand he scoops up one of yours, and with the other begins softly wiping at your eye with a warm, wet rag. At first jolting with surprise, you relax into him, smiling softly at how he strokes the back of your hand with his thumb. Swallowing you rest your one hand on your stomach, comforted by the fabric of one of his shirts on your skin.

"Am I dreaming?" You ask softly.

"I should be asking that," He responds. "Believe me, after last night I was willing to assume so."

You snort lightly. "You know, out of context it sounds like we..." Your cheeks heat up, and you relax again. "Well, let me just stop."

"Aren't you cheeky this morning." He softly pinches your cheek and pulls it, finishing with one eye and working on the other. "... [Name], I do have something I want to ask."

Your face falls into a serious line. "It's about Trevor and Sypha, isn't it."

"How did you know?"

"Woman's intuition." You squeeze his hand slightly. The rag's starting to feel a bit cold. "I've seen that happen before. The simple explanation is that they're essentially the polar opposite of what Taka and Sumi were. Rather than specters poisoning your mind and heart, they're phantoms of good friends, called forth when you beckoned."

"I shudder to think what the long explanation is," He jabs. "Even so, it brings me great joy to have gotten to see their faces again, even in the midst of our fight."

You smile. "Such a friendship is hard to find."

"Indeed it is." He ceases his care of your eye. "I think I've gotten everything... The rest I'm hoping you'll be able to wash out on your own."

Swallowing, you nod, reaching up and wiping at your eyes. "... Lulu, I'm scared..."

"Why?"

"If I open my eyes... I don't know if I'll still be blind or not."

You've found comfort in sightlessness; comfort in judging one's heart solely; comfort in not having to care how you looked. An honest anchor to this world, that obstacle you'd once tried desperately to overcome. Now that you can feel it's gone, feel that your task is finally over, the foreboding future in a world of colors and shapes is... mortifying. Even with Alucard here, you're not sure you'll be able to relearn this beautiful, complicated world.

"I'm here. You'll be alright, I promise." His one hand falls to your head. "Here."

He softly begins guiding you, you following his movement, until you're up on your knees, feeling them softly touching his. Then he scoops both of your hands up in both of his, holding them tightly. The feeling of his skin spreads that soft warmth you adore through your bones, echoing into your heart, and helps you relax. Poking your tongue out to moisten your lips, you swallow, holding his hands tightly even with the reassurance.

At first peeking through your lashes and promptly blinded by unfamiliar light, you recoil slightly. Twitching with each attempt your breathing begins to stutter, until you can stand your eyes being narrow. Bringing one hand up to rub them, the initial soreness is gone, leaving just one thing left.

Taking one last deep breath, you slowly begin to pry them open, until finally you've had enough of self-anticipation and open them entirely.

At first it's unclear what you're staring at, being colors and lines blurred by the sunshine outside leaking in, With a few blinks it's becoming clearer, which is a relief, but...

One last blink, and the world is finally revealed to you. 

In front of you is a beautiful man, hair a perfect materialization of sunlight itself cascading in elegant waves, amber gold eyes, gleaming in the light of dawn, crinkled in a smile slightly revealing pointed teeth. He's clothed in a simple white shirt, frilled because he has refined taste, with his bare legs crossed. (You shyly try not to focus on his thighs.) Overall everything you'd have pictured a hero prince to look like is wrapped up in this absolute beauty, exuding pride, confidence, but also a kind, gentle countenance.

"... Lulu?" You ask softly, feeling yourself begin to quake.

His head cocks slightly to the side, his smile growing. "I'm here."

Softly reaching out, you try to keep your upper lip stiff as you palm his face. His skin is just as soft, daresay even more so; supple, even. Running your fingertips to and fro in your amazed curiosity, you're enamored by how even underneath he feels so perfect. From his gentle eyes to how his sharp features would suggest him being far from kind, everything is just... sewn together with such finesse, bringing you to briefly wonder how anyone in this world could bring such a being to existence.

Settling your hand on his cheek, you hardly notice yourself falling apart.

That is until his face falls, and he tilts his head more. "[Name], why are you crying?"

Just when he finishes saying that do you realize the tears pouring down your cheeks. Pulling your hands up, you try to wipe them away, to assure him that you're alright. But the tears keep coming back, and your voice only comes out in unstable, weak attempts at whimpers. Eventually you can't even try, opting to just hurl yourself into his chest. Wrapping your arms tightly around him, you bury your face where his neck meets his shoulder, sobbing violently as he softly strokes your hair.

What's weird, really, is that you're not sad. You're not afraid and you're not angry. In actuality you're crying because, in all honesty, he's absolutely beautiful; the first thing you got to see for real. It's utterly overwhelming, at first lamenting the comfort of your blindness to feeling absolute joy at getting to see Alucard's face after all this time.

"You're-!" You choke. "You're so beautiful... You're so damn beautiful, Lulu-!"

He chortles, holding you a bit tighter. "Yes I am."

Eventually your crying stops, and you break away, wiping away the tear stains. "Sorry, I..." You can't really finish. But, one look at his smile and you completely forget about it.

After a moment, he breaks into laughter, and all caught up in your emotion you can't help but join in, wrapping each other in a joyful embrace. His arms are strong, yet tender; his smell oddly like linen and wine despite all you've done here. Even the way he feels and smells is perfect, as if he himself is perfection. And to you, he is just that.

Opening your eyes, watching the curtains above blow in the soft breeze and the sunlight poking through them, you smile from ear to ear.

Lulu... We did it. We did it, Lulu!

In a matter generally uncharacteristic you've spent a good portion of the morning dashing about, exploring the castle now that your sight has been restored. You haven't been so energetic since you were a child, and yet here you are running to and fro, down hallways and around large rooms as though you'll never have the chance to ever again.

There is a part of you that misses blindness already, even if it was to be the catalyst for great change. Blindness brought you to Alucard, brought you a deeper understanding of this world and the forces that lie therein; brought you a peace you hadn't known existed. But at the same time you're overjoyed to experience this world's true beauty, to be introduced by sight rather than touch.

Most of all, though, you're overjoyed anytime you stare into Alucard's eyes. Of every one of this world's many blessings, those eyes are all you want to behold. Everything else could honestly just fade away and you wouldn't even notice; you're that weak for those beautiful golden eyes.

Along with your magic, used to slay the occasional night-creature since Alucard dislikes going out much, you learned to cook without setting things on fire. This was more you demanding him teach you, as opposed to him making the meals all the time.

"If I can see I can damn well cook an onion," You remember you said.

There was still fire.

But a more important topic needs to be discussed at the moment - Taka and Sumi.

Their bodies were on stakes for the world to see - Taka's smeared from you having put your hands on him when you first came - and slowly decaying. Not to say they weren't terrifying by touch, but their expressions of desperate horror would have been burned into your memory if you'd stuck around in the memory of them. Still you wanted to vomit; the stench assails your senses that much.

With your help, he'd come to a peaceful place with them, so with some small rituals the pair of you buried them properly. Despite the initial dread it wouldn't come to be, you found yourself praying for their souls' deliverance.

But overall, life now feels... weirdly happy.

...

"[Name]."

You yawn, stretching as you sit up from laying down - his request - while he comes in with a tray. It's a bit more arduous which is why you prefer being propped up on some pillows, but that's solely when you've been up walking around. In your condition he doesn't feel comfortable when you're walking or running about, but you want to get as much exercise in before you can hardly do much else.

Sitting beside you he scoops some oatmeal up, you blinking in relief at him having a bowl himself, and holds it to your lips after blowing on it. "Open wide, now."

You can't help but chuckle. "Lulu, I'm not so encumbered that I can't feed myself."

He smiles at you. "This is just something I like, alright?"

Deciding to humor him, you open your mouth widely. "Aaah~!" Once the oatmeal's in your mouth you try not to inhale it through closed-lip laughing.

Leaning forward, he kisses your forehead, scooping up another bite as you swallow. This process continues for a good few minutes, him making sure not to choke you, until you assure him that you can eat on your own and pretty much pleading him to eat his before it gets cold. Nobody likes cold oatmeal.

Putting aside your empty bowl you adjust the blankets, leaning and resting your head on his shoulders. Once he finishes his in turn he adjusts, laying down beside you as you swallow the remnants, laying back down as well. It's not as though you're overtly heavy just yet, but your back still hurts when you lie down after being upright. (Almost like a jerkish predecessor of what's to come.)

You slip your hand into his. "This feels like it happened so fast, huh." It's only been a good few months... Or has it been a year? Neither of you have the concept of time, it's just been paradise since the Amygdala was destroyed.

He slides down, resting his ear on your belly. "Can't say I regret it, though."

"Me neither." You rest your hand on his head, petting his hair as you close your eyes. "... You know, when this gets too big I won't be able to fight with you. You know that, right?"

"I do." He exhales softly through his nose. "But it'll be alright, darling. I can protect you."

You smile. "I'm glad. But promise me you will take care of yourself."

"When have I not?" He opens his eyes at the same time as you and realizes his mistake. "Alright, alright. But you're an odd one if you think this is less reason than any to come home alive."

Simpering, you put your free hand on your belly, him putting his hand over yours.

"You know, we never talked about names for them." You've been so preoccupied lately that it hadn't crossed either of your minds.

"True. It'd be odd if they went around simply named 'Boy' or 'Girl'." He chuckles. "Would we begin with boy or girl names?"

"Girl, please~" You sing.

"Hmmm... Juliet's a lovely one, but more fits a waif. Cosmos, like the flower, Maria, Viola..."

"... I like Adella." You do. "But if it's a boy we could have Adrien Fahrenheit Tepes II."

"Not happening." Despite this he breaks out in momentary laughter. "... I like Richter for a boy."

You blink. "You mean like Richter Belmont?"

"Like Richter Belmont."

Smiling, you nod. "Adella or Richter it is, then. Agreed?"

"Agreed." He sits up halfway, leaning and kissing your forehead. "They'll be so strong, like both of us, I'm sure."

"We are pretty amazing." You puff your chest. "Vampire blood and Arcane blood in the same veins... They'll be able to protect humanity, just as we could have ever hoped for."

"I'd hope we can fight with them. I still have some left in me - not to say a newborn baby could do much." He accompanies this with a mischievous grin, patting your leg. "Get some rest, alright? If I see you pick up one more book I'll put them all on the floor so you can't bend down to get them."

"Oh, good lord, you're vile!" You cackle, stretching out before settling down. "... I hope I'm a good mother."

"You'll be the best," He assures. "... Just so long as you don't pass the baby to Trevor."

"Oh, come on!"

The world is still crawling with madness, death, and scourge. People are still dying from night creatures, even each other, in the depths of deepest madness brought by the cloak of moonlight. Many are still reeling from the war on humanity Dracula had brought upon the world, from losing so much over so long; from having to watch their children abandon their innocence to keep safe.

But even so, the pair of you will pursue this happy life, blessed by the Arcane and even Dracula in the hereafter. The spirits of the dead will guide you both along, Trevor and Sypha soon to follow, as friends to.

And this mad world, and its suffering, will eventually give way to something warm and new.

Be one day a fond, distant memory.