Chapter 4 (The Great War)

He finally arrived at his seat, settling into the depths of the classroom. Like echoes in the night, vampires conversed with an air of clandestine charm, infusing the space with an aura of amusement park.

Within this nocturnal congregation, the tapestry of relationships unravelled before his eyes. The entwined pairs, or couples of the class exuding an electric magnetism. The popular students, their presence commanding attention like stars in the velvet sky, basked in their ephemeral glory. The solitary souls, their isolation a weight upon their shoulders, sought solace in the corners of the room. And among them, the weary ones, their gazes longing for respite from the endless class that held them captive.

Kwan thought how hastily he had judged these vampires as lifeless spectres! In the ethereal symphony of their conversations, he discovered the depth of their existence, their souls interwoven with passion and intrigue.

The teacher, with nimble fingers and reverence, anointed the stone with blood.

As time progressed, the crescendo of voices swelled, a whirlwind of chatter enveloping Kwan's senses. Fragments of hushed conversations floated through the air, tantalising his ears like fragments of a haunting melody. Amongst the chatter, murmurs of his presence circulated, reaching his ears making him feel curious.

The classroom stood cloaked in darkness, its windows shrouded by heavy drapes, shutting out the outside world. The seats, adorned in shades of deep red or crimson, absorbed the very essence of shadows. Attires worn by the vampire assembly echoed this darkness, a symphony of sombre and muted hues. Yet, above them, a constellation of soft blue and tender pink lights adorned the ceiling, casting a gentle glow upon the room. These ethereal hues, embraced by the vampires, painted the space with an otherworldly charm, casting an enchantment that adorned the otherwise gloomy atmosphere.

Amidst this evocative tableau, his gaze was drawn to a solitary figure. A girl, seated beside him, emanated an air of isolation, a quiet tempest within her own universe. It was evident that she stood apart from the rest, forsaken by companionship. In a classroom abuzz with chatter and gossip, her seat remained untouched, a silent testimony to her secluded existence.

Her very aura seemed to radiate an enigmatic energy, drawing him further into curiosity. She appeared weary, as if wearied by the clamour surrounding her, yet her expression held a defiant resolve.

Kwan's eyes wandered to her right arm, adorned with a tapestry of tattoos. Amongst the intricate inkings, a singular design stood out—a man, mirroring the Christ pose, imbued with profound symbolism. Runic symbols and enchanting spells adorned her skin, intertwining with the image. There was an air of mystery and ancient knowledge etched upon her arm. Her boredom was evident, her demeanour chilled, accentuated by her pale complexion and slender frame. Skinny legs peeked through knee-high socks, the dark red skirt barely grazing her knees. Her top, akin to Kwan's usual attire, matched the colour scheme of the room—dark red, mirroring the shades of passion and secrecy.

Adorning her dark wolf-cut hair, a collection of hair jewellery caught the eye, standing as beacons of individuality. Rings adorned with blue stones delicately embraced strands of her hair, a subtle but captivating detail. The edges of her hair bore the vibrant hues of purple and pink dye, adding an element of whimsy to her appearance. And her eyes were mesmerising like a kaleidoscope a fusion of indigo and pink, creating an iridescent gaze that held both depth and allure.

Black boots complemented her ensemble, mirroring the darkness that enveloped the classroom. Aligned with her knee-high socks, they accentuated her confident stride, adding a touch of rebellion to her demeanour.

Kwan found himself completely absorbed in observing her, taking in every detail of her unique style and captivating presence. There was an ineffable quality about her that intrigued him, preventing his gaze from wavering. His habit of silently judging others momentarily suspended as he became immersed in deciphering the enigma before him.

In the midst of her enigmatic aura, she was engrossed in drawing on a sheet of paper. Dark and red stoned rings adorned her hand, a reflection of her affinity for the mystical and the enigmatic. And as if pulled by an invisible thread, her gaze met Kwan's penetrating stare. Instead of averting her eyes, she reclined in her seat, arms crossed in a stance of defiance, and fixed him with a sarcastic stare.

In the dimly lit classroom, Kwan, true to his nature, scrutinised her with a piercing gaze, his arms crossed firmly over his chest, and a rather ludicrous expression etched upon his face. In response, a smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, and soon both of them found it impossible to suppress their grins. Drawing closer, she leaned in, her eyes widening to their fullest extent, and Kwan mirrored her actions. The room resonated with their boisterous laughter.

With just two seats separating them at the back row, she inched nearer to Kwan and took a seat beside him. Locking eyes, she questioned, "Why were you staring?"

"Because your head seems strangely misaligned with your body," Kwan retorted, a smile playing on his lips as he chuckled. He knew he was jesting, and she immediately caught on to his humor, bursting into laughter.

"I must say, new boy, I appreciate your vibe. What's your name?" she asked, observing the chaos of the class in front of them, where a cacophony of voices filled the air.

"Kwan! Kwan Yoon," he replied with an uncontainably bored expression.

"Already bored, are you?" she remarked, her gaze fixed on the unruly classroom.

"No, just not exactly thrilled," Kwan replied, his expression tinged with sass. A smirk crept across her face, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"You certainly possess an attitude, and it's rather amusing!"

"And what might your name be?" Kwan inquired, both of them still giggling.

"I'm Yuju, and some people have the audacity to call me a bitch. But well, that's their problem," she quipped, a hint of amusement in her voice. Kwan found her intriguing and his smile widened. As they delved into conversation, it became evident that they were destined to form a friendship.

"So, what's the deal with all this blood magic? Can vampires really perform magic? I always thought that was the realm of witches," Kwan asked Yuju, his curiosity evident.

"Well, it appears you're an ignorant vampire, or perhaps you're simply uninformed. Either way, it doesn't matter. Let me enlighten you. First and foremost, vampires are incapable of wielding magic. Secondly, blood magic isn't exactly synonymous with magic itself. It has a complex history and encompasses a multitude of elements," Yuju explained, her tone laced with a hint of condescension.

"Fascinating! Could you elaborate further?" Kwan inquired, his interest now piqued.

"Well...since you're so eager to know, it all begins with the Great War among witches, vampires, werewolves, and demons. Back in the old times, they were nothing like they are today. Constantly at each other's throats, fighting relentlessly without respite or peace. Werewolves, in particular, were far more dangerous back then, and witches indulged in dark arts as if it were part of their daily routine. It wasn't just about making potions or casting harmless green witch spells. Their evenings were filled with summoning dark entities, partnering with demon tribes to wreak havoc upon vampires and werewolves. Meanwhile, werewolves were more interested in fighting vampires rather than banding together against the witches. Everyone was essentially self-absorbed, caring only for themselves. In the midst of all this, vampires grew weaker, far too weak. Despite our heightened senses granting us immortality, speed, strength, and keen hearing, it all crumbled when faced with the entities unleashed by witches and werewolves. We had no means to defend ourselves. And then, there was The Caster...but never mind, I can't divulge that to you right now. Let me get to the point. Vampires were hunted relentlessly until one day, a vampire was bleeding profusely, and somehow, the blood that flowed from his body accidentally formed a runic symbol. Astonishingly, his body healed rapidly, defying the norm. While vampires can typically heal minor wounds quickly, being torn apart by a werewolf would have been beyond their capabilities. This vampire took note of what had happened, extracted some of his blood, recreated the runic symbol, and suddenly found that he could heal his friends as well. This discovery led to further experimentation, ultimately revealing that vampires could perform a form of blood magic by utilising runic symbols or symbols for specific purposes. This revelation shocked not only the various tribes of witches and werewolves but also the vampire community itself. Since then, vampires have developed their own repertoire of runic symbols. Nowadays, we no longer need to invent new symbols, as many of our required symbols are already documented in ancient books found in vampire libraries. Whenever we require them, we can simply consult those texts. Not every vampire can create all the symbols, though. Some ancient symbols are sacred and not to be tampered with. Today, it is our first class on this subject, so don't worry if you don't grasp it fully yet. The teacher is about to conduct an experiment to help us understand, and here's the interesting part: we have invited werewolves from the neighbouring wing to partake in this experiment."

"Wait, what? I'm at a loss for words. This is truly unbelievable. Vampires can create symbols with their blood and perform magic with them? Why did my parents never tell me about this? Oh, wait... I think they did mention it, but I simply didn't believe them. For some reason, they allowed me to hold onto that disbelief rather than teaching me all of this," Kwan exclaimed, his astonishment and amazement evident upon hearing the tale of the Great War between vampires and the other tribes. It felt like an entirely new world opening up before him. He eagerly anticipated witnessing the experiment the teacher had in store, despite carrying the seemingly insignificant stone they were instructed to bring along.

"So, pretty boy, who are your parents?" Yuju inquired, her expression unusually serious.

"The Yoons!" Kwan responded.

"Oh, I think I know of them. Are you the son of Minhyun Yoon?"

"Yes!"

"Oh my god...!" Yuju's face suddenly contorted in a shocked expression, causing Kwan to inquire further.

"What's wrong? Is something amiss?" he asked, sensing that Yuju was hiding something behind her facade.

Quickly brushing it off, Yuju replied, "No, no...nothing important. It's all good."

However, Kwan could see through her pretence. It was clear that she was concealing something significant, and he couldn't help but wonder what it could be.