Chapter 22: The Training

It was just then that she felt so down and helpless. Since her friend was attacked on that ball, she suddenly realized that she was of no help to him at all. Why does she feel useless?

"That's not true." Said the priest, "You're always there for him when he needed you."

She was reminded of all the things happened ever since she met Rae.

Sure, her life turned upside down. Her ordinary and boring life was no more. And she never once regretted a single second whenever she's with him.

"You see, miss Yana, you play a much important role than you could ever imagine. Don't be too hard on yourself." The priest added as he smiled brightly. And that gave her a familiar feeling.

"Rae needs you more than anyone. You are his strength. That's what friends are supposed to do, right?"

Tears welled up her eyes. It was touching and true.

No matter how much she told herself not to blame herself for what happened, it seems like she needed someone who would tell her she's more than enough. And it was Father Stephen who clearly lifted the heavy weight from her chest.

If he's not a priest and has a family of his own, for sure, he'll be a great dad. How nice it must have been if that happens.

The priest blinked, "Is there something on my face?" He asked noticing how the lass has been staring at him too much.

Yana blinked and shook her head, "N-no... I just, realized something, father... You have such beautiful blue eyes, like the ocean." She said and blushed when she suddenly realized what she said.

"I'm sorry! I don't mean to be rude!"

The priest chuckled, "It's nothing. Truth be told, you're the second person who told me about my eyes." He smiled.

"I-is that so?"

'Get a grip Yana! Why did you suddenly remember Rae in times like this? Do you miss him that much that you remembered him while looking at Father Stephen?!' The lass thought and glanced at the priest once more.

Indeed, they both have ocean blue eyes, deep and mysterious. Not to mention, the priest has two moles on his right side. One beside his eye and the other, under his lips.

As for Rae, he has a small mole too on his left side, under his lips. But what's the most intriguing part is... both of them often smile in the same way. And when they did, it feels like your heart is melting as you forget your worries away.

But of course, how can Rae and father Stephen have any connection? One is a vampire while the other is a hunter.

'There's no way they're related, right?' Is what she thought.

Everyone's wide eyes gazed at the least vampire who they would expect to say those words. Should they go and see an ear doctor and get their ears check or they might be hearing things the wrong way?

"P-pardon, young master?" Calcifer nervously asked.

"Please, give me a glass of blood." Rae seriously said.

They glanced at each other. They all heard the same thing.

"A-are you sure, young master?" Primo asked.

"Did you hit your head or something?" Ren raised an eye brow.

Rin hit her arm, "That's not helping at all!" She whispered.

"I've already pinched myself, and it seems like this isn't a dream." Ran said with her usual stoic face.

"It doesn't look like it!" Primo scolded.

"Everyone, calm down." Rae called and they all stopped from arguing.

"Can't I have a glass of blood now?" He reminded.

"I-I'll bring it right away, young master!" Calcifer said and rushed towards the kitchen.

"What's the commotion all about?" Damien asked who just woke up from sleep.

"It's a big news! The young master finally decided to drink blood!" Rin announced.

Damien blinked and finally realized the lad's hesitation back in the ball.

'So that's how it is, huh?'

Not for long, Calcifer came back with a glass of blood on a tray.

"Here you go, young master. I've already fermented this chicken blood so you can rest assure it's clean." He said and handed the glass to him.

Rae took the glass and stared at it.

'Here it is... I've never thought a day would come where I'll drink this disgusting beverage in my own will.' He thought.

"Young master, you don't have to force yourself too much..." Calcifer said noticing his hesitation.

The lad shook his head, "No... I have to do this... It's for the training."

'Training?' The gentleman echoed.

Rae took a deep breath before gulping it all down in one drink.

It's salty. It smells like rust and iron which you can taste the metallic flavor. If it's just a drop, it would be fine. But since it's a whole glass, the strong salty taste lingers within his mouth. That made him tremble. He wanted to spit it all out but he can't. He must endure its taste, or else he won't become stronger.

"Are you alright, young master?" The triplets asked.

Rae covered his mouth, preventing himself to vomit what he just drank. He swallowed all the remain blood in his mouth and gasped.

"I'm fine... I.. did it..." He mumbled with a faint victorious smile.

Just when they sighed in relief, the lad suddenly stumbled and collapsed.

Looks like a glass of blood is too strong for him.

When Rae opened his eyes, he was in pitch darkness. He can see nothing but black. It was a matter of time before he realized that this empty space seems familiar.

When he turned around, he saw a figure of a man, with his familiar bloody red hair.

"You..!" He called.

The figure turned around with a smirk on his face.

"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" His vampire self asked.

Instead of answering, Rae retorted with a question.

"Where have you been all this time?"

Vampire Rae raised an eye brow, "Ha? What are you talking about?"

"I called you several times but I didn't transform. What's the meaning of this?"

He scoffed, "Isn't this what you wanted? To get rid of me? Now that you have the control over your vampire self, why are you still looking for me?"

Rae remained silent. There's nothing wrong in everything he said. But...

"It's true... I've hated you and your guts. I've hated how strong you are. I've hated your confidence. And most of all, I've hated the fact that I rely on you whenever I wanted to save Yana." He seriously said.

"But... no matter how much I've hated you, I can't bring myself to get rid of you. I didn't even wish for you to disappear. Because... you and I are the same. I am you... and you are me." A smile slowly drawn on his lips.

All of a sudden, vampire Rae just laughed, "Hilarious! You're not joking but that made me laugh!"

"H-hey! There's nothing funny about it!"

Vampire Rae chuckled, "I know. But it's... still amusing to see how you've finally become honest with yourself."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Think whatever you want, but let me tell you this..." Vampire Rae placed his hand on his shoulder.

"You're on your own now. It's time for you to save that girl on your own. But, if you wish me to stay, I won't be gone. I'll keep pestering you with that power. After all, I am you, and you are me." He grinned and raised his fist.

Rae stared at it for a moment. And then, bumped his fist to his.

"Right, I'll keep protecting the ones I love whether you like it or not." He smiled full of determination.

It's been so long since he had this heart to heart talk with himself. And that made his heart and mind at ease.

Rae slowly opened his eyes. He was in his bedroom, he can tell. All the anxiety, the palpitations, and tiredness were gone. It feels like he's been refreshed. Does this mean he has finally accepted his vampire self?

When he looked at the mirror, his white hair and blue eyes have returned. His long sharp nails and pointed ears are no more. The trace of his fangs can no longer be found. He's human once again!

Even he's back, it's obvious that he felt something change inside him. His senses became keener. He can hear everything. The horns of vehicles running, the neighborhood gossips, and the chirping of birds from afar. But it doesn't bother him at all. Since that dream, he can feel the full control of his power.

His sense of smell became stronger as well. He can tell that one of his neighbor will have eggs and bacons for breakfast. The other, will have porridge. And as for Yana...

The lad glanced and walked towards his window where he can see Yana's house from the other side.

"I miss her..." He mumbled. But he can't go yet. Not so fast. He has to go to that vampire first.

"Wait for me, Yana. I'll become stronger to protect you." He said, hoping the lass would hear him.

With that, he went downstairs to meet Calcifer and the others.

"Cal, I'm going out."

"Where are you going, young master?"

"For training. Don't worry, I'll be back in a while." He smiled and left.

"He didn't even eat something for breakfast." Calcifer sighed and then glanced at Primo.

Knowing what he wanted to say, the boy sighed in defeat.

"Fine, I'll follow him." Primo said and turned into a small bat, "Make sure to give me a nice meal for this!" He demanded before he left.

Rae came back to the woods. He found Ash on the same spot where he was yesterday.

"Looks like you've passed half of the first test." He smirked upon seeing his human form.

"I'm now ready for the other half." The lad said with seriousness in his eyes.

Ash grinned, "That's more I like it!" He suddenly rushed towards Rae and attacked him.

He blocked his attack with his arm but he never thought it would hurt so much.

"Tch!" Rae jumped and spun around. He tried to kick Ash's head but he managed to dodge. So, he swung his other leg but Ash managed to block it.

He grabbed the lad's leg and threw him on a tree that collapsed because of the impact.

"What's wrong? You're not gonna transform?" Ash scoffed.

Rae slowly got up. As he concentrates, voices from his memories suddenly echoed in his mind.

"You're special, Mr. Helsing. And no one can take that away from you." *

"I never once regret the day I met you, Rae." *

"For me, a king is someone who has a heart." *

When the lad shot his eyes open, he transformed into his vampire form. He bit his thumb and used his blood to form crystal arrows. Then, he shoot it all to Ash.

But, he managed to break those arrows when he swung his arm. The lad glared at him and rushed in front of him. With one blow, he delivered a strong punch to Ash's stomach.

Much to his surprise, nothing happened. He didn't even flinch nor groan in pain. The one who's feeling the pain is him.

'W-what's this?! His body... is so hard!'

Ash smirked, as if he knows what he's thinking.

When it's his turn to deliver a punch to Rae's stomach, it feels like he's been hit by a big barbel that made him vomited blood. Then, Ash swung his arm and hit Rae's face as he was sent flying on the other side of the woods.

But that wasn't enough to take the lad down. He quickly got up, took the blood from his mouth and turned it into a crystal spear.

'If his body becomes hard, then I have to attack with something harder.' He thought and charged once again.

He swings his spear but not a single scratch can be seen on his body.

"Is that all you've got?!" Ash raised his arm and was about to hit Rae when he used the spear's handle to defend himself. It broke so easily like it was just a mere stick.

Now that it was torn into half, he used its sharp edges and tried to stab it on Ash's waist. But it was useless. It broke like a thin mirror.

"Tch!" Knowing that Ash is going to attack next, the lad bit his thumb once again and blocked Ash's punch using his hand, spreading his blood on his fist.

But he was much stronger that he flew from the impact of his punch. This will do. He has to use this as an advantage.

'I'm sorry, dad!' He said to himself before performing what he's planning to do.

Then, he closed his fist. Ash noticed the blood from his fist glowed, and all of a sudden, it exploded! Thick gray smoke spreads around the woods.

"Did I get him?" Rae mumbled and tried to pay close attention to Ash's location.

Just then, he noticed a shadow jumped from above. It was Ash delivering an attack towards him.

Rae was about to dodge him when he got tripped by the thick roots and fell on the ground. He closed his eyes when Ash's fist went closer and closer.

The ground shakes from the strong impact of his punch, but the lad didn't feel anything.

When he opened his eyes, Ash's fist landed at the right side of his face where it created huge cracks on the ground.

He gasped, the lad thought he's going to be killed! There's no doubt about it. He saw no hesitation in his eyes. He's not planning to kill his son, right?

Ash got up and brushed the dust off his hands.

"Not bad." He chuckled and helped him get up.

"But... I wasn't able to defeat you."

Ash scoffed, "If you manage to defeat me earlier, then I guess I don't have anything to teach you, right?"

Rae blinked, "I guess you're right." He chuckled and rubbed his nape.

"Now you can control your transformation, that's a good start."

At his will, the lad managed to go back to his human form.

"Thanks, uhm..." He paused, "Can I... call you Dad?" He blushed bashfully.

He always dreams the day will come where he'll call someone on that.

Ash blinked few times. Then, a smile slowly drawn on his lips.

"Sure, why not?"

Rae beamed, "Thank you, Dad!"

"But that doesn't mean I'll go easy on you in our training, okay?" Ash reminded.

The lad nodded, "I know."

Now that most of his power is back, Primo managed to hide his presence as he kept watch Rae from the shadows. Good thing, they didn't reach him when they fought. He doesn't want to get involve.

"So this is his training, huh?" He mumbled and glanced at Ash.

"Where have I seen his face before?" He narrowed his eyes and tried to recall.

He heaved a sigh when he can't remember. Looks like he has to wait for another Red moon to recover more of his memories.

***

Author's Note:

*A line from Father Stephen on Chapter 12.

*A line from Yana on Chapter 16.

*A line from Calcifer on Chapter 16.