I woke up at night with a sense of anticipation. I knew I would be learning something new about this world I found myself in, something I was not familiar with. A part of me was scared, another part curious, so with mixed feelings, I stepped out of my room in the inn I stayed at, went down the steps, and ventured outside. It's a beautiful night, I thought to myself as I stared at the starry skies. Strange how I hardly noticed such things before, huh? Yup, it's really strange. I had always been a fast walker. I remembered the times I got separated from my brothers because of it. One time at the market, another at the subway, but tonight... I was taking things slow.

  What does he know? I wondered, and how much of his information was trustworthy? If the Marquis isn't human, what is he? And what does that mean? Thoughts like these occupied my mind until I found myself there, almost unbeknownst to me.

  "Trying to figure it out, huh?" A familiar voice called out to me. I turned to its source and found Hertz sitting atop a nearby tree at the entrance to the forest. He must have spoken to the guards beforehand, as they didn't bother me on my way out. Perfect, I thought as I went out to start climbing up the tree. What's that? He could have come down to meet me? That's too easy! Besides, exercise is good for the body, I thought as I got to the branch where he was seated.

  "What? Didn't think I'd be able to climb a tree?" I asked, trying my best not to sound like a brat.

  "No, uh, it's... you seem to have some unusual experience for someone so young. It's something I and the others have noticed." At this, I smiled, looked up at the night sky, and expined to him,

  "I used to live in the forest before coming here."

  "Really? For how long?"

  "I can't tell. All I know is that one day, I was separated from everything and everyone I knew and loved. I have my regrets, but at the same time, I am gd," I said with a sad smile. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss my mother, brothers, and friends. How I would have loved to at least say my goodbyes, but I wasn't even given such a luxury. Why was I brought here? It was a hard question to ask and one even harder to answer, but it echoed in my mind every once in a while. I tried not to think about it too much, though, as I felt it could drive me insane if I weren't careful. "But that's enough about me," I said, bringing things back to where they were supposed to be.

  Hertz nodded silently with a somewhat sympathetic look in his eyes. I'd like to believe he'd seen a new side of me, but maybe I was just imagining it. "Camelia is a strange pce," He began. "It's known as one of the mightiest human kingdoms to ever exist in the annals of history, but there's a secret they have kept hidden from the masses, a rabbit hole that only goes deeper and deeper the more you look into it." He paused and looked like he was deep in thought for a few moments before turning to me and asking, "Are you sure you want to learn about this?" with a concerned look on his face.

  "Yes," I said, my voice full of conviction.

  "Okay," He said with a nod. "The Marquis isn't human. He's from a special race of vampires known as the Dhampir, notorious for their shape-shifting abilities." What?! A shape-shifting vampire?! "And it doesn't end there," He said with a complicated look on his face. "It's not just him."

  "You mean?"

  "Yes, several upper-echelon nobility have been confirmed to actually be Dhampir. They control politics, the military, and businesses, their reach extending even to the criminal underbelly of society."

  "What about the king?" I asked, trying to grasp at a sliver of hope

  "He's dead." No way! "The 'king' we have now is nothing but an imposter. His sudden and unexpinable change in behavior is what spurred my comrade Liliana to investigate. She was a royal spy like no other, probably among the best in the world, as she uncovered all of this in just a matter of weeks but at a hefty price."

  I patted Hertz's back, saying to him, "She must have been a good friend, huh?"

  "Yes, she paid the price in blood for this information, and that's why it can be trusted," He said to me with pure conviction in his eyes. "Camelia is a kingdom ruled by monsters. We know nothing of their motives or what they're after, which makes it all the more terrifying. Our days could very well be numbered, as no one can tell what truly goes on in the minds of the highest csses of monsters."

  "Highest csses?" I asked. Did I just hear that right?

  "Yes, some Dhampir are known to be on par with dragons." Yikes. I really am unlucky.

  "We need to get stronger," I said with a sigh. I was hoping I could take things easy and slowly grind my way up, but now, I feel like I must look for better, faster ways to level up myself and the party. Hertz, probably noticing my worried expression, pced his hand on my shoulder and said,

  "I understand that it's worrying, but... I try my best not to let the fear get to me. After all, if my life were ruled by fear, I wouldn't truly be alive, would I? And Liliana wouldn't want to see me like that, so what I'm trying to say is..."

  "Thanks," I said with a smile. In his own way, he tried to help. I appreciated that, but I knew I couldn't take things easy. Especially not now that one of these Dhampir has taken a liking to me... Hertz soon returned to where he was staying while I stayed up all night, pnning and strategizing.