New Plan

-----Fabian's POV

Fabian: "So you're unable to heal the headmaster?"

Leon: "Yeah..."

We've taken up residence in Oakvale for now, along with the remaining soldiers from the army. I was shocked when they said they had 5 thousand soldiers with them, but now they only have about 300 left. They said that the vampire was behind all of the deaths which I found to be quite absurd. Sure I've never seen a vampire before, but what I've learnt about them in school is that they're not as powerful as the soldiers say. From what I recall, vampires are roughly 10 times stronger than humans, so surely an army of 5 thousand men would be too much for a vampire. When the prince pressed for information, we didn't really get that much since everyone who managed to catch sight of the vampire was quickly killed... Except for Lucien. However, Lucien is still unconscious, but thankfully he is still alive. As for me, my legs are still fucked up as before, but thanks to Leon, my leg's haven't gotten any worse.

Soldier1: "If all of what you say is true, then we'll stay here until Sir Lucien recovers."

We also gave the soldiers info on the state of the capital, speaking about a strong being even able to destroy the prince's barrier. Not to mention the elves working under her.

Leon: "But a wound like that..."

Soldier1: "All we can do it wait. We're also curious about this vampire. Lucien fell unconscious shortly after the retreat so we didn't get much information out of him."

Lucien: "Uhhh-"

Suddenly, the man in question slowly opens his eyes before slowly surveying the room. Just how is this man human? I'm still looking at his chest and I still can't believe he's even alive. Even now it's still drowning the bandages in blood.

Soldiers: "Sir!"

Leon: "Headmaster!"

Lucien: "Silence, ugh. Where, am I?"

Soldier1: "We're in the town of Oakvale, sir."

Lucien: "Oakvale... How long was I out?"

Soldier1: "Just under a week."

Lucien: "What?!"

He sits up at those words, before his face immediately begins to contort in pain as he grips hold of his chest.

Soldier2: "Don't move so suddenly! You're gravely injured."

Lucien: "Vampire... What happened with the vampire?"

Soldier3: "It ran away once we started to retreat. It hasn't shown up since."

With Lucien finally awake, I try my best to stand up. My legs feel incredibly weak and stiff, almost making me feel like I've aged 40 years or something, not to mention the pain.

Fabian: "Headmaster. Can you tell us about this vampire?"

Leon: "I'd also like to know as well."

Lucien: "Prince? Fabian? Shouldn't you two be at the academy?"

Fabian: "That's-"

We ended up explaining what has happened in the capital to Lucien. His reaction was much calmer than his soldiers, leaving me to believe that we can leave the retaking of the capital to him... That's of course when he's finished healing.

Lucien: "We only took a third of the army..."

Wait, so that means that those spiders wiped out 2 thirds of our army? And this is all that's left?

Fabian: "What about the vampire?"

Lucien: "Are you sure the vampire didn't go past us?"

Soldier1: "Yes, sir. The vampire headed further west, the same direction as the rebels."

Lucien: "So it didn't attack the capital?"

Is it just me, or is headmaster purposefully avoiding talking about the vampire?

Leon: "Headmaster. A mere vampire should not have caused you this much trouble. No one knows so would you be willing to tell us?"

But if it's the prince asking, I'm sure he's bound to speak up. But his face turned dire as Leon finished speaking, as if he really doesn't want to say.

Lucien: "You two know them."

Fabian/Lucien: "Huh?"

Wait, we know who the vampire is? What on earth is he talking about?

Lucien: "Actually, many of you know who she is. Her name's quite wide spread in the kingdom... But to think she was hiding right under our very nose..."

No, now it wasn't just us, but the soldiers all began to think as well, wondering who this vampire could be. Someone famous enough to even be known by the army... With everyone wracking their brain over who it could be, Lucien finally opened his mouth.

Lucien: "Kaede."

Leon: "What?!"

The prince was the first to react, but I'm still in the midst of processing it. Kaede... There's only one person I know by a name like that. Sure her eyes are similar to that of a vampire's, but she possesses light magic... Monsters are incapable of such things. This doesn't make sense.

Lucien: "I don't know what her motives are. But I certainly didn't expect such power to come from her."

Fabian: "I don't believe you. Kaede uses light magic. How can she-"

Lucien: "She also wielded dark magic."

What? That's preposterous. Light magic is used to counter dark magic. A being cannot wielded both light and dark magic. It's impossible.

Lucien: "...I saw it with my own eyes. The dark arts she used weren't that of any normal vampire. She's from an ancient family; royalty among vampires."

The soldiers began gossiping between one another at Lucien's words. Leon was taken aback as he falls into his chair next to me. Kaede... She's good friends with sis, could that all be a trap? I know vampires are quite cunning, able to manipulate people's minds, so it's very likely that Ellen is being wrapped around her finger. Is that why she tried to leave? To get away from her? And was the army just in Kaede's way?

This train of though fills my stomach with anxiety as I try to hold myself back from throwing up. I need to save her...

Lucien: "She's out of our hair now. What's important now is retaking Inasdale."

No... Before I would be all for going to retake the capital, but now all I want to do is try and save Ellen.

Soldier1: "Sir, you cannot fight in the state you're in."

Lucien: "I'm guessing you've already tried healing me?"

Leon: "Y-yes. Multiple times."

Soldier3: "If the prince is unable to heal you, then there's no way any of us can help."

Lucien: "...So be it."

He then moved his legs off to the side of the table before planting his feet on the ground, readying himself to stand up on his own two feet.

Soldier1: "Sir-"

Lucien: "Hands off me. I'm fine. The longer we wait here, the longer the kingdom is in jeopardy."

It's frustrating, sis... I would just storm off west in hopes to find you, but in the condition I am now. I'm relying solely on Leon to heal me. I really want to, but it seems like I have no choice...

...

We end up leaving the building just behind Lucien as many of the soldiers outside began to greet Lucien, however Lucien ignored them and proceeded to turn left, heading east, back to the capital.

Lucien: "!"

As I half expected, he collapsed to his knees with his hands holding him up from the ground. The soldiers rushed forward to help lift him up, but instead of seeing him agonizing in pain, the expression he was making was more so out of anger.

Soldier4: "You need to rest, sir. Build up your strength."

Lucien: "No. I'm not going th-"

He tries to continue in the same direction, but again, he stumbled as the soldiers manage to catch him once again.

Soldier5: "Sir!"

Lucien: "Curse you."

Why is he calling his soldiers like that? Why is he so angry all of a sudden? It doesn't even sound like he's in pain at all, but just pissed off. It was then that he quickly shifted his gaze in the opposite direction; west. His face was still out of anger, but he wasn't staring at anyone in particular.

Lucien: "So be it."

He then began to walk, heading west this time. Only this time, he didn't collapse at all and continued as if he wasn't injured at all.

Fabian: "What the hell was that about?"

I spoke in a hushed tone to Leon, not to be heard from Lucien or any of the other soldiers.

Leon: "I don't know. It was almost as if he was incapable of heading back to the capital."

Fabian: "That's what I thought too. But that's ridiculous, right? It's not like he'll feel better just by walking in a specific direction."

It sure is a bizarre turn of events that we just witnessed. Even when headmaster said "the longer we wait here, the longer the kingdom is in jeopardy," makes it sound like he's dead set to make his way back to the capital. But now we're moving in the opposite direction? Just what the hell is going on...