The Obvious Choice

[Vampyre - You will gain access to blood control, your fangs will become more prominent, and you will be able to learn magic. Blood Frenzy becomes more potent.]

[Dhampir (Requirement: Avenge the death of a living being you've compelled.) - Half human, half vampyre, they blend into society easier with retractable fangs, immunity to sunlight, and a lesser weakness against holy magic. Their need for blood is less significant.]

"It's not like I wanted to avenge that madman, but is there even a choice? I want to live."

[You wish to evolve into a Dhampir?]

"Yes."

Instantly, he felt as though the light of the crystals inside the room dimmed; his tattered body, damaged from weapons and magic, repaired itself, his skin lost a little of the pale sheen it had, and his fangs retracted.

"This actually works out well. It's probably daylight outside, and as a lesser vampyre, I would have either been hunted to death or burnt to a crisp by the sun."

Gerard wiped his bloody hands on the robe of a dead researcher.

[Lesser Compulsion has been promoted to Compulsion.]

*Status Screen.*

[Gerard Blythe - Level 10 Dhampir]

[HP: 207]

[MP: 85]

[Strength: 21]

[Dexterity: 29]

[Defense: 19]

[Resistance: 75]

[Mana Conductivity: 300]

[Skills: System Access, Evolutionary Tree, Mind's Eye, Leech, Blood Frenzy, Vampyre Regeneration, Acquisition, Divine Ray]

[Spells: Compulsion]

[Resistances: Sleep]

[Weaknesses: Fire, Holy Magic (Lesser)]

[Immunities: Poison, Disease, Fear, Paralysis, Decay, Confusion, Blindness]

[Acquisition - By watching magic be cast and then being struck by it, you may discover how to use the magic yourself.]

[Divine Ray - A divine magic provided to the devout of this world. It damages undead and evil beings.]

"Uh, I'm not a masochist. Why can't I learn the magic by reading books or getting a trainer or something? And isn't it cheating to know that spell?"

[Most undead can't learn skills or magic like humans do. It's the way of the world. Without System Access, almost all undead would never learn magic or skills except by accident. Even then, they wouldn't know they acquired it.]

"Yes, yes, you're very handy, Sprite."

Gerard felt as though Sprite smiled.

*Maybe one day I'll figure out how to give Sprite a body. I owe her for the last few years...*

He directed those thoughts as internally as possible, hoping Sprite didn't hear them.

[Be aware that you will be required to eat and drink as a half-human being, but you no longer need blood to survive.]

"I'll need an income one day, then. Now, the most important question is: can I leave the building safely?"

[I'm unsure.]

"That's okay, Sprite. I don't expect you to hold all of the answers. I am worried, though. These researchers sounded as though they were pillars of society and wore finer clothing than those in the village. I've just massacred the lot of them, and not only do I not feel guilty, but I see it as a nuisance because I might have a hard time dealing with the consequences."

Gerard removed the robes from a low-ranking researcher. He pulled it over his armour and cloak and ensured he looked the part.

He stepped over several corpses and stood before the giant doors. He pushed, but they would not budge.

"I should be strong enough... Maybe if I use my mana, as Addis did with the door to his secret lair."

He called upon the memory of how it felt to receive mana when ingesting blood. Instead of inward, Gerard focused outward. After several minutes, he felt a rush of energy flow through and exit his body. The doors glowed blue.

The doors opened, and dozens of soldiers stood in plate armour, spears and swords at the ready.

"Wait! Wait! I'm a researcher! Help!" Gerard's fake tears slid down his face.

The sun's light touched Gerard's face, he winced in preparation for his skin to sizzle, but the rays provided only gentle warmth. He ran down the steps to the building, arms up, his body covered in blood.

A helmetless soldier with armour fancier than the rest lowered his weapon and approached Gerard.

"What happened in there, boy?"

"Addis, one of the researchers in there, went crazy and killed many of my fellow researchers. He had a vampyre with him that killed the rest, even after Addis died. Luckily, I pretended to be another corpse after the head researcher protected me from the magic that Addis cast at me."

"You're safe now. And this vampyre, do you know where it went?"

"I'm sorry. I don't. I just waited for my chance to escape. Please, take me away from here; I don't want to be anywhere near the institute ever again!"

The soldier waved some men over, who grabbed Gerard and led him away from the building.

*Maybe I'm a natural-born actor. I might have missed my calling in my last life.*

Gerard stifled a laugh as one of the soldiers led him through the streets. Two others trailed behind them, watching the roads while they walked.

Compared to the ruined city he started in and the village he visited, the capital city bustled with life. People of all kinds walked the streets, in and out of buildings, with purpose. The men wore long-sleeved tunics, stockings, and the occasional hood, whereas women wore the same yet had short-sleeved tunics.

Few people stood out amongst the masses, wearing dresses and tunics of higher quality and elegant colours, as opposed to the greys and browns of everyone else.

A woman walked by Gerard and the soldiers with skin as pale as snow and long, pointed ears.

"An elf?" Gerard's eyes widened as his gaze followed her.

"You haven't seen one before, lad? New to the city?" The soldier beside Gerard smiled.

"Yes, I got here a few weeks ago, but I spent all of my time in the Research Institute."

"Well, elves are quite rare, even here. Most just stick to their forests. You might see a few dwarves here as well. Some peddle their wares, work in the smithies, or are here to buy materials. Solares is the centre of the continent, after all."

"Dwarves, too? Amazing."

"For a researcher, you sure are clueless."

Gerard faltered. Momentary fear set firmly on his face.

*Compel!*

"I specialised in... antidisestablishmentarianism."

The feeling of mana being depleted struck his body.

"Ah, yes, that makes sense," the guard spoke confidently, as though he understood.

"Come on, come on. We're almost there." The soldier laughed heartily and pushed Gerard softly along.

The other two soldiers looked at each other before following.

*In front of the platoon of guards at the church it might have been dangerous, but with just the three of them, Compel shouldn't draw too much attention to me.*

After some more walking, they arrived at a two-storey building.

"This is the main barracks for the city guard. You'll be safer here than anywhere else in Solares, except maybe the castle." The soldier looked up the street, and on top of a mountain inside the city, behind thick walls, the tip of a castle-like structure poked out.

"Ah, you're just the city guard? Not soldiers?"

"The royal military can pull us from our positions and place us in their ranks in wartime. Normally, though, that's the role of the royal military."

*They must have ample resources to equip the guards with quality armour and weapons.*

The barracks, fashioned mainly of timber, looked newer and out of place against many of the stone buildings in the streets.

The soldier caught Gerard examining the building.

"Ah, you noticed? They renovated it last month. It used to be a merchant's building, but they went bankrupt, and the king designated it for us since the city guard had to expand after the recent increase in demonic activity. Gotta protect the citizens of Solares, right?"

"Right."

*Demons? How can a city this large prosper with monsters and demons in the world? I wish I could meet this king.*

The guard ordered the other two to wait at the entrance and led Gerard inside. Three paths branched off at the entryway. The left resembled a mess hall; the right looked like an office, and a wide staircase led to the second floor straight ahead.

"You're welcome to wait amongst the other guards in the mess hall. Have a bite to eat. We'll let you know when it's safe to leave." The guard waved towards the room to the left.

"After witnessing such a horrible thing, I'm afraid I've lost my appetite. I'll accept your offer to wait here, though."

Filled with the blood from countless researchers, the thought of eating anything brought a severe feeling of nausea.

"I understand. Seeing all of your friends killed like that would be horrible. We'll be back."

The guard turned and exited the barracks. Gerard sat down in the mess hall in the corner, far from the other guards. They paid him no attention, but some glanced over occasionally.