A low sigh escapes Athalaric as he steadies your trembling shoulder. His voice is calm yet firm, hoping to ground you back to your senses—though that seems unlikely. Your body is undergoing significant changes; your fangs are extending involuntarily, and your stomach is hissing and growling, craving the delicious taste of human blood that your body desperately needs for power. Your eyes have slitted pupils that are dilating as all five senses (six, if you include Vampirism) search for sustenance.

“Calm yourself. You are not just any vampire; you are Royal, and we have a reputation to uphold for our patience and restraint. Do not act like a hungry dog. Hunting requires patience and strength. Do not behave like a starving canine eager to sink its teeth into anything with a beating heart—then you would be acting like a Werewolf.”

It’s rare for Athalaric to interact with you; in fact, your existence is somewhat accidental. While Cassius, his firstborn son at around two hundred and twenty-nine years old, bears the features of a woman he once loved, you are the result of a lowly maid who had the misfortune of becoming pregnant by the Vampiric King. Perhaps he resents you less than Cassius because he doesn’t see Ellias’ features reflected in your face. Or maybe he resents you more.

However, this is a significant moment—something that Athalaric must do, despite being an emotionally detached father. This is your first hunt. Typically, between the ages of ten and sixteen, a vampire or dhampir undergoes a transformation as they navigate vampiric puberty. Their bodies rebel, forcing them to unlock their senses and a need for blood, marking the transition to independence from their undead parents. In a sense, this is like a fatherly version of weaning.

As Athalaric walks alongside his second child through the forest, he grips your shoulder tightly, both of you on the lookout for prey. He decides to start small, spotting a deer innocently grazing nearby. “Do not disappoint me like Cassius did,” he warns. Ah, Cassius—the boy who is too empathetic for his own undead good. When he faced this same challenge, he cried and begged not to hurt any animals or humans--It was as annoying as it was amusing. You are a bit of a late bloomer; while Cassius’ instincts kicked in around thirteen, you are only now experiencing them at nearly fifteen, but Athalaric doesn’t seem to mind too much.