The stench of blood and decay clung to me like a shroud. It was a familiar scent, a comforting one. It meant I was doing my duty, fulfilling the oath I swore to the Noctis Order – to rid this world of the vampiric scourge. They were monsters, nothing more. Beasts with a thirst for human blood, leaving nothing but death and despair in their wake. I had slain hundreds, maybe thousands, and felt no remorse. Each one was a victory, a step closer to a world cleansed of their taint.

But then, there she was.

Chained in the depths of a crumbling dungeon, a creature so unlike any I'd encountered before. Pale skin, fragile frame, eyes wide with terror. No snarling, no lunging, no bloodlust. Just a whimper that escaped her lips as I approached.

She was weak, starved, and utterly terrified. Her fangs, though present, seemed more like a cruel mockery than weapons. This creature hadn't fed in ages, that much was clear.

Why?

Every instinct screamed at me to end her, to drive my blade through her heart and be done with it. Yet, my hand hesitated.

Damn it. What was wrong with me?

Curiosity, a weakness I rarely indulged, gnawed at me. I needed answers. I needed to understand why this vampire was so different. With a grunt, I hauled her up, ignoring the way she flinched at my touch.

"Get up," I growled, the command more forceful than necessary.

She stumbled as we walked, the forest floor uneven beneath her bare feet. The chains were gone, but she was weak, her steps faltering. I kept my gaze forward, refusing to acknowledge the struggle behind me. Until she nearly fell.

"Damn it," I muttered, catching her before she crumpled to the ground. She tensed, bracing for a blow that never came. Instead, I steadied her, a scowl etched on my face.

"Don't be stupid," I snarled, the words harsh, but my grip surprisingly gentle.