Chapter 103: The Vampire in the Shadows

The next afternoon, Mulan, Handel, and Faroling formally bid farewell to Baron Shahr. Shahr rode with them in the same carriage and personally escorted them to the train station.

As the carriage swiftly moved along, the group remained mostly silent aboard the train, each gazing out the window.

“Shahr, from now on, aside from living your normal life, you must constantly reinvent yourself when it comes to the supernatural world. Though it may be tiring at times, this will actually benefit your path in the extraordinary. Sometimes a career is simply a form of performance.”

“I understand. I’ll be cautious, but not to the point of nervous tension. I’ve already begun to get the hang of it.”

Fear arises from the unknown. For someone like Shahr, after acquiring some foundational knowledge—though he couldn’t possibly understand everything—having a basic grasp of the supernatural world, especially vampires, greatly reduced his fear.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the station. The previously damaged train had been removed, likely to be repaired elsewhere. Now, an empty train with two carriages was stationed there, specifically to pick up the remaining passengers.

The carriage halted right beside the platform. The driver opened the door, and one by one, Mulan and the others disembarked.

“Shahr, thank you for your care during this time. If you ever come to Digo and I happen to be here, I will surely host you properly!”

Mulan smiled warmly as she bid farewell, and Shahr returned the gesture with the customary noble smile, shaking her hand.

“If I visit the imperial capital, I’ll definitely seek you out. To know the Queen’s Guardian Knight and the heir of the great Thirteen Knights family, Lord Jonst, is an honor!”

“Ha ha ha, until we meet again!”

“Safe travels to you! And may everyone have a smooth journey!”

Shahr didn’t forget to say goodbye to Handel and Faroling. Then, he watched as Mulan and the others turned toward the train carriage, waving from afar toward the door and then toward a window.

The passengers who had stayed behind gradually approached as well; those who hadn’t likely intended to remain for a while longer.

Once all the passengers had boarded, the train waited another ten minutes before slowly pulling away.

“Toot—”

“Clang, clatter...”

As the train gained speed and departed from Shahr Station, Shahr’s cheerful expression began to waver, his eyes fixed on the train while his peripheral senses remained alert to his surroundings.

His right hand, tucked in his trouser pocket, clenched slightly, fingertips rubbing the palm as if tracing the mark of dawn. Shahr knew from this moment onward, everything depended on himself.

At that instant, his outward composure contradicted his inner state. As the train disappeared into the distance, his body sagged, and he pulled out a handkerchief to slowly wipe his brow, muttering to himself.

“Finally gone. What a terrifying fellow. Luckily, he didn’t discover my condition...”

Shahr nearly turned away, weary, hastening toward the carriage while shielding his head with the handkerchief as if sunlight had become unbearable. Once inside and the door closed, he relaxed somewhat.

Back home, Shahr appeared visibly more at ease, though a faint trace of worry lingered on his face.

—

That night, in Shahr’s study, he chose not to use an oil lamp but instead lit a single candle, reading a book by its flickering light. The book detailed strange occurrences and contained much knowledge about the supernatural world.

Due to his physical condition, Shahr felt more alert as night deepened. It was already late, and the servants in the baronial residence had long since retired to bed.

Suddenly, the candle’s flame flickered wildly, causing the light on the pages to dance erratically.

Shahr instinctively glanced toward the window and found one of the fully closed panes now ajar, swaying gently with the night breeze. Frowning, he stood and approached the window, peering outside before looking suspiciously inward, then slowly closing it.

“Could the wind have blown it open? Did I forget to lock it?”

Just as Shahr closed the window, a low, hoarse voice suddenly came from behind.

“Are you afraid? Are you lost?”

“Who’s there?”

Shahr spun around but saw nothing. The candle flickered continuously, illuminating only the area around his desk; much of the study remained shrouded in shadow. The voice seemed to shift position.

“Silvermane dying in such a place, at the hands of an unknown figure, is quite unexpected. Even more surprising is that you managed to deceive that person. It seems you restrained your desire well before, avoiding the taint of blood—otherwise, heh heh heh...”

Hearing this, Shahr’s face showed a mixture of fear and a strange joy—an expression of paradox that perfectly reflected his state. He cautiously asked into the dim room:

“Are you Sindro? I’ve been trying to find you, but when Lord Jonst arrived, I instinctively felt fear, unwilling to reveal myself or appear too unusual. When I learned he destroyed the werewolf lair, I constantly feared I would be next... Sindro, you promised me you wouldn’t...”

“I am not Sindro. That fellow has vanished without a trace; I fear his fate was grim.”

“Not Sindro?” Shahr’s face turned pale with terror.

“Then who are you? When did you arrive? Before or after Lord Jonst left? What should I do?”

“You don’t need to know who I am. I came before that knight departed, but his presence exuded a dreadful aura, and his perception was keen—I did not approach too closely.”

Shahr’s gaze swept the room, then he spotted a figure emerging slowly from the shadows by the desk—a man cloaked in black. Without a hood, his face was pale, and his eyes glowed faintly red. Had Mulan been here, she would have exclaimed this was Voldemort with a nose—a striking resemblance.

Shahr instinctively stepped back two paces, pressing against the windowsill.

“Don’t be afraid, Baron Shahr. I know you were powerless against the destruction of the werewolf lair. Sindro didn’t share much with you. Your ignorance and composure saved your life. Compared to Sindro, I have greater hopes for you!”

As he spoke, the cloaked man suddenly appeared beside Shahr before he could fully register the movement.

The man patted Shahr’s shoulder, causing him to shudder slightly.

“Inviting Mulan Jonst over was a clever tactic. Showing yourself in sunlight and masking your disgust with ease and comfort—rare indeed!”

—

Shahr forced a smile.

“I know Lord Jonst is formidable. He is the Queen’s Guardian Knight. The more I interact with him, the more I feel this, and I become increasingly cautious. I’ve learned some truths about the supernatural world from him, confirming my previous suspicions. I dare not make mistakes.”

His expression held a trace of sarcasm and anger.

“Sindro deceived me—lied about many things. I’m not as well as he promised, especially my aversion to sunlight. I know that drastic changes invite suspicion. I endure the discomfort under Lord Jonst’s gaze, pretending to be normal, always at risk of being found out! But this is not what I want!”

His voice grew a bit heated.

“Sindro told me I would become more elegant, stronger, healthier, and longer-lived! But now, I only become more dangerous!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha...”

The man laughed.

“I assure you, Sindro’s promises will come true!”

As he laughed, the man seemed to move effortlessly through the darkness, suddenly by the desk, snatching up the book Shahr had been reading.

“You actually found these books?”

“Hmph, they came from Lord Jonst’s set of information. It’s laughable and absurd. Sindro never told me these things. I had to risk my life to ask a powerful being who might kill me at any moment...”

“Ha ha ha ha, admirable courage. Sindro, in contrast, was probably just scheming how to run away. That’s likely why he perished.”

With that, the man reappeared before Shahr, his nose barely a centimeter from Shahr’s face, eyes glowing a ghostly red, staring unblinking.

“Remember, you must always restrain your craving for the hunt. Only then can you walk in sunlight and use this connection to approach the Black Castle. It’s difficult, but achievable.”

“Must I remain so weak? Where is my power? Sindro promised!”

“You will have it. Not hunting does not mean not feeding. Even without feeding, strength can be gained. Or... hunt in another way. For example, by directly sucking the essence from vampires. I will arrange it for you. The night is full of useless beings, heh heh heh heh...”

The man before Shahr seemed to fade, merging into the shadows. A gust of wind stirred behind Shahr; he turned to see the window had mysteriously opened again.

When Shahr looked back, the study was silent and still.