The flaming sword illuminated the dark house. Inside, there were countless small iron cages.

Siderus hurled the flaming sword toward the cages. Inside were small animals. Some were dead. Some were alive.

Siderius ignored the animals and continued walking. The house was full with medical instruments, even as barbaric as they were. Some herbs and bandages.

"Xonder isn't here."

Siderius sheathed his sword. He then approached the cage of a dead animal and took it out to examine.

There were bite marks on the neck of the rabbit. Its body was drenched of any remaining blood.

"We've found our secret monster. But where is he now?" Siderius left the body of the rabbit on the floor and got out of the house.

He looked around the house and spotted a small trail leading into the woods. The grass on it was dead because of repeated tramples.

"The vampire must be going inside the woods to catch animals. He used animal blood as substitution. But a vampire craves human blood. It can lower his addiction for a while. But animal blood cannot replace human blood."

Siderius followed the trail leading to the woods. He was expecting to find the vampire inside.

Deep inside the woods, next to the river. Priest Xeros sat on the river bank, his eyes were dazed.

In front of him, Xonder, a frail middle-aged man, was looking in Xeros' eyes.

"Who was the witch?" Xonder asked.

"Lord Nyx."

"Did the Royal Court send him?"

"No." Xeros blurted out the answer. He was not in control and willingly spilled the secrets. "He and Rea are only travelers."

"Travelers? Pft! What kind of travelers go to our town? Everyone knows this place is cursed. Why did he want to meet the Bailiff?"

"He wanted a reward for killing the night creature."

"Why don't you just leave us alone… We never kill more than we need."

Xonder clenched his fist. He sighed deeply and recomposed himself. His twisted expression relaxed and he put back the endearing smile that he always showed to the villagers.

Xonder tapped Xeros' shoulder, snapping him out of the hypnosis.

"I… What…" Xeros looked around.

"Coming to the river so soon, Priest Xeros? Has the church run out of water, already?" Xonder said.

"I think? What was I doing here again?" Xeros scratched his head.

Xonder shrugged. "Hell if I know. I will be returning to the village now. You're coming?"

"Ah. Yes. Bailiff Xarles should be checking the villagers now. We should join them."

The pair stood up and walked back to Pannitha. Xonder's house was at the edge of the woods so they would need to cross his house first before entering the woods.

"I heard there is a high lord that came to our town yesterday?" Xonder said.

Xeros nodded. "His name is Nyx. He is really eager to deal with the monster. He is very confident too. I just hope he can bring peace back to Pannitha."

"Do you trust him?"

"I don't know. It is too soon to tell. But he did say he won't ask us for any reward before dealing with the monster."

"What does he look like?"

"He wears a mask at all times so I don't really know. He does have very long white hair.

Oh?! Actually, why don't you look for yourself."

Xeros pointed in front of them. On the opposite side of the trail, Siderius appeared. His hand placed upon the sword on his hips.

"Lord Nyx! You're up early!" Xeros shouted.

The priest and the healer walked over a beam of sunlight. Both of them didn't react to the sun at all.

Siderius squinted his eyes. "The matter seems to be more complicated than I thought."

"It actually isn't that early anymore, Priest Xeros." Siderius smiled.

"Oh, is it?" Xeros looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was already high. "That's weird… I remember it was just sunrise when I left the church."

"Priest Xeros. Please come to me. I have some matters to discuss with you." Siderius maintained a friendly attitude, hiding his true intentions."

"Yes?"

Xeros got closer to Siderius and farther from Xonder.

Suddenly, Siderius pulled Xeros to his side and drew the Blazing Sword at the same time. The flaming sword caught on fire.

He aimed the sword directly at Xonder and striked.

"Lord Nyx! What are you doing?" Xeros shouted.

"Just watch, priest!"

The flaming sword pierced through the air and reached Xonder. How, he didn't seem to panic one bit.

The village healer leaned to the side and used his bare hand to push the blade away from him.

"Lord Nyx. It is considered very rude to attack a stranger." Xonder smirked.

Siderius didn't answer. He concentrated on the blade and struck again. The flaming sword painted an orange fan in the air and aimed for the neck of Xonder.

Xonder's brow furrowed deeply. He once again tried to use his bare hands to block the strike.

However, Siderius suddenly activated <Esturo>. The world started spinning and Xonder lost all control of his body. He froze in place.

The flaming sword smacked Xonder's neck, breaking his neck bone.

Xonder slumped to the ground. His eyes opened wide.

"Lord Nyx!" Xeros screamed. He quickly got over to Xonder and checked his breath.

The man was dead.

"How can you do this, Lord Nyx!" Xeros growled. He held Xonder's cold hands.

"He is the monster that has been eating the townsfolk, Xeros." Siderius simply said.

"Xonder? It can't be! He always tries his best to help the villagers. Our health is better because of him."

"Maybe. But aren't you already forgetting what I told you about vampires?

They are no different from an ordinary human. I found a lot of animals in his house that got their blood sucked out of them."

"Then why did he help us?"

"The better your health is, the more delicious you are. You wouldn't want to eat a sick pig, would you?"

Xeros' lips trembled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing but if what Siderius said was true, those animals were irrefutable evidence.

"Xonder… I can't believe he is the monster. He has been here for decades."

"Come on! Help me carry this bastard back to town."

Siderius and Xeros carried Xonder by the limbs.

There was still something bothering Siderius. He saw Xonder walking through sunlight. There weren't a lot of vampires that were able to withstand sunlight.

Those that did were much more powerful than Xonder was.

"I'm missing something…"

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