Chapter 6

~Morgan Vales~

Inside the forest at dawn, King Vales and I, alongside our warriors, ventured forth, hunting down the blood-sucking monster that plagued our kingdom. With a vigilant gaze, King Vales scanned the surroundings while his right-hand man moved closer, whispering, "My lord, I see no activity in the forest."

Peering into the depths, King Vales directed, "Let's head over there. I sense an ominous energy, a harbinger of its presence. Today marks the end of this long battle between vampire and human."

His right-hand man nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my lord. Monsters often reveal themselves amidst hardship. As we usher in a new era, these remnants of the past must vanish."

With our wood fires illuminating the path, we treaded cautiously, the sounds of breaking sticks and the soft splashes of water accompanying our steps. Suddenly, a warrior spotted a figure in the distance. "Hey! What is that?" he exclaimed, pointing towards the sobbing silhouette.

One of our warriors hurled his wooden light towards the figure to get a clearer view. As the light hit her, the crying ceased, revealing a stunning lady. Yet, in an instant, her eyes transformed, blackening with bulging veins across her face. A warrior who met her gaze began to suffocate, his eyes mirroring hers.

The light fell as the entranced warrior turned on us, his body under her spell. Confusion and panic erupted among the group as he attacked his comrades, his eyes devoid of recognition. "What are you doing?" the others cried, attempting to restrain him, but it was futile.

The lady smiled wickedly as more warriors fell under her malevolent control. "He's under her spell, we must break this spell!" One of the warriors shouted, rallying those still unaffected. Weapons clashed, cries echoed, and the forest seemed to resonate with the chaos of the ensnared warriors.

Struggling against the mesmerizing power, I locked eyes with King Vales, his determination unwavering. "We can't let this darkness consume our kingdom!" he declared, leading the charge against the bewitched warriors.

But the lady’s power was overwhelming; more warriors succumbed to her control, turning against their brethren.

I looked on in horror as the once valiant warriors turned on each other, their swords clashing in a frenzy while the malevolent laughter of the lady echoed through the chaos. King Vales's right-hand man shouted, "Over here! The bloodsucker is here!"

Desperation in his voice, King Vales bellowed, "Halt!" His command fell upon deaf ears as the warriors continued their relentless assault, fueled by the monster's influence. "We are your fellow soldiers, stop!" pleaded the right-hand man, yet his words were lost amidst the clash of blades.

"It's the bloodsucking monster! It manipulates your thoughts, don't succumb to it!" King Vales warned, but his words were lost in the frenzy. Suddenly, one warrior turned on King Vales, aiming to strike him down.

Without a moment's hesitation, I emerged from the chaos, sprinting towards the monstrous lady. Grabbing a spear, I hurled it towards her. The weapon found its mark, piercing her flesh as a scream tore from her lips. As the spear struck true, the spell binding the warriors shattered, and they staggered back to their senses, bewildered.

Rushing to King Vales's side, I helped him to his feet. Yet, amidst the momentary relief, the sinister voice of the bloodsucker resounded once more. King Vales and I turned to see her approaching, her steps echoing ominously through the forest.

Others cried out in fear, their voices trembling, "The bloodsucker has revealed its true form!" Anger surged within me, propelling me forward. Gripping my sword, I charged towards her, determined to end this madness.

With a swift motion, I drew my blade, aiming for the heart of the malevolent creature. But she repelled me with an unexpected force, sending me staggering backward. Undeterred, I lunged again, the sword finding its mark, yet she pushed me away once more.

Refusing to yield, I switched tactics, plunging a knife into her neck. Despite the pain, she resisted, a relentless force of evil. I attacked relentlessly, determined to rid our kingdom of this vile creature once and for all.

I found myself thrown into the water, the chilling sensation awakening my senses. As I struggled to stand, she seized my hand, delivering a powerful blow. Her weight pressed down on me, initiating a desperate struggle.

In the midst of our fierce confrontation, I managed to sink my teeth into her ear, prompting a bloodcurdling scream. Her reaction granted me a momentary advantage. Swiftly, I retrieved my sword and thrust it into her, aiming for a decisive strike.

The battle reached its climax as I slit her throat, determined to end her reign of terror. Despite her imminent demise, her chilling words pierced the air. "You will repay. I'll remember your soul, and vengeance will be mine," she threatened.

Rage surged within me, fueling my final actions. With a stabbing motion, I ended her existence, her body disintegrating into ashes that vanished into the ether.

The warriors erupted in shouts, celebrating the victory. "He killed the bloodsucking monster again! The commander has slain the bloodsucker!" Their chorus hailed me, chanting my name, "Morgan! Morgan!"

Leaving the scene behind, we set up camp nearby, preparing to honor our fallen comrades. As we mourned, a warrior approached the right-hand man, suggesting the fallen warriors be buried in their hometown instead.

The right-hand man explained, "It is the law to burn those murdered by the monster."

"But the monster didn't kill them; we did," another warrior interjected. "We wielded our swords against our comrades. We're no different from monsters."

The right-hand man who wanted to depart, pause and stepped forward, and say, "No, he's the real monster. Look at him. The deaths of those soldiers don't affect him."

I walked by, pretending not to hear, sensing the accusation directed at me. The right-hand man continued, "He only cares about killing monsters. It's in his blood, his destiny."

Another warrior spoke up in my defense, "But without him, we would all be dead!"

The man rebuffed the warrior, his voice rising, "He's of lowly birth! He has been cursed by an evil spirit."

I stood amidst their gaze, feeling the weight of their silent judgment. The right-hand man's words pierced the air, "How could people of high status like us be under him?" The warriors exchanged surprised glances, unsure of how to respond to his outburst.

Ignoring the brewing tension, I walked into a nearby camp house, intent on tending to my wounds. Stripping off my armor, I began cleaning the injury. King Vales entered, catching me in the midst of this solitary act.

"What are you doing here alone?" he inquired, concern etched in his voice.

"Nothing," I replied, trying to downplay the severity of my wound. King Vales approached, inspecting the injury, realizing its gravity. "This is serious. Your life hangs by a thread. Be cautious," he advised, a mixture of worry and disappointment in his voice.

My attempt at a smile was feeble, reminiscent of King Vales words about such vulnerability being pathetic. Observing the wound again, King Vales questioned my choice to tend to it alone when I had subordinates who could assist.

"I prefer to do it alone," I explained, revealing the underlying isolation I felt among the warriors, akin to their fear of monsters.

Seating himself beside me with a somber expression, King Vales offered advice. "You must learn to get along with others. Success requires people."

"I've never been interested in success," I confessed, focused solely on eliminating the monsters.

King Vales expressed disappointment, reminding me that as his only son, such indifference was disheartening. As I dressed my wound, I assured him, "I'll be done once we rid ourselves of all the monsters."

Surprised by my determination, King Vales inquired about my thoughts. I met his gaze, sharing a concern I'd harbored, "I've heard that monsters seek revenge when holding a grudge."

He contemplated my words, pondering aloud, "Are you worried that the monsters you slay in this life will seek revenge in your next?"

I found myself at a loss for words in response to King Vales. "I wish... not to be born again," I murmured, a heavy weight in my heart.

Sensing my distress, King Vales spoke with sadness in his voice. "If that scares you, in your next life, be born as my real son. I'll protect you, my son."

His words softened my heart. King Vales had always treated me as his own, despite our differences. He touched his arm, acknowledging, "You saved this old man's life. If not for you, I'd have been devoured by the bloodsucker and ended up as its waste."

Attempting to lighten the somber mood, King Vales suggested we should find reasons to smile, celebrating the eradication of the last bloodsucker from our land. But I interjected, "Not yet."

Perplexed, King Vales questioned if I referred to the Imoogi Vampire. I confirmed his suspicion, "Yes," and he elaborating on the monster. "The Imoogi Vampire sucks humans' blood and destroys their souls. It's soulless, making it indestructible."

I was confused and King Vales clarified, "However, it's a mere figment of fear, a monster created by people's dread. No one has actually seen the Imoogi Vampire."

I revealed my birthmark, a mark supposedly connected to the Imoogi Vampire. "Anyone who sees the Imoogi Vampire meets their fate," I explained, recalling the prophecy from a shaman. "The curse of the Imoogi Vampire won't end until I die."

Interrupting my thoughts, King Vales sought to dispel the myth. "Morgan," he said, gripping my hand. "The Imoogi Vampire doesn't exist. Our monster-hunting days are over."

I averted my gaze, unable to shake off the weight of the prophecy. King Vales insisted, "You must let go of your past with the Imoogi Vampire."

Speechless, I struggled to find the right words. King Vales held my hand firmly, seeking assurance. "All right?" he asked, searching my eyes for a response.

Unable to voice my inner turmoil, I nodded in acquiescence, uncertain of how to release the grip of the prophecy that seemed etched into my very existence.