" Eren do you mind going over to marcs, he forgot his lunch."
" Sure." Eren was really annoyed, this was his life now.
It has been four days since their heartfelt talk, Eren couldn't be a good advisor to help this couple achieve their goal of having complete family with few babies playing in house and thus He was manipulated for his guilt into staying here for time being.
Marco and jasmin wanted nothing but for him to live with them, and eren was swayed into their trap.
They were good people. Marco, as he said was an psychiatrist. He had a clinic in shopping district which he had recently started after graduation. Which means that he was only 23 this year and had stable income.
His wife, jasmin was not just a mundane vampire, she was green rank cultivator.
Unlike past where cultivators were just fighters, this new era asked much of them.
Jasmin held authority over element of water. new and developing civilization produced various jobs, one such job was water turbine workers.
As the name suggested, they were tasked to use their elemental water authority to perform laborous task, which in return produced electrical energy. She worked in private company but as she held superior position after years of experience, she earned a lot.
And with marco's increasing reputation, their life were becoming far easier.
But they, or rather Marco was still quite easy going fellow. He laughed at serious matters and often forgot minutely important task which earned him earfulls from jasmin.
Just like now, he had forgotten his lunch despite jasmin repeating it several time.
But eren was fairing just fine with this people - though bit annoyed, He was mostly home alone as both Marco and jasmin were busy.
His alone time was spent in meaningful task, he wished to learn about this new world. Natalie's way of the describing the new technology, new way of life and new neighbourhood seemed out of this world, atleast to eren who came from smalltime trapped village.
So he wanted to explore and that's what he was doing. He was using a thin rectangular shaped metalic appratus that was parted open, Upper inner surface grew bright with light while other had dark elevated keys with symbols written on it.
It was laptop. Connected with internet, it was devastating weapon of knowledge.
When Eren first learned of this artifact he nearly tripped, Eren expected surprise afterall he did pay lot of attention to Natalie's words - even though he didn't understand half of it - but no amount of preparation would've been enough and he knew it.
Screens that display the visuals of faraway and it is being broadcasted through artificially created machine- Satellite - that circles the orbit of this planet.
Internet, adynamic force of molecular waves that makes the search of everything very easy on the suitable instrument called computer or laptop or smartphone.
And it provided every kind of knowledge one wanted, however one wanted- Either it be audio, video or just text - whenever one wanted.
It was bewildering, even now eren's face failed to hid the surprise.
And the way it sounded awesome, it was really that awesome.
Eren learned to use laptop but how it's mechanism functioned was hard for eren to understand.
Great thing was that he surfed through the internet just fine, No.. actually he surfed way too much.
He was curious boy, wanted to know more things And wanted to satisfy his curiosity, Like how come Marco was vampire despite not being a cultivator?
" So that's why, Though awakening of core and bloodline is very similar and most of the time happens at the same time due sudden mana impulse, it's not linked and one could happen before or after Than other. Ofcourse usually it occurs at the age of 12 to 15." Eren was deeply engrossed, he didn't even realise that he had said that out loud.
It was truly bewildering to him, The world he knew was too small, after meeting Alena that spectrum had widened a lot, In theories atleast.
He learned about continents, their habitant dominating races and their characteristics, he learned about cultivation, learned about strength and means to achieve it. He learned about many more things, but all those were just that, knowledge written in pages. He had no experience in those things, he hadn't lived in it.
Just like this computer and internet, vast amount of data was stored in one simple flat screen. And It took eren only several seconds to search through it without ardous task of rummaging through multiple material books. It was easy and much more vast.
He knew about internet or rather once heard about it from Natalie but simply knowing and experiencing were too different things.
" Knowing without experiencing is almost like not knowing at all and that's terrifying." Eren quoted winston smith the philosopher, as if this few words carried lot more wisdom now than it held before when he first read it.
Still as of now, even as he learned the ways of new world, he was still a country bumpkin. Perticularly his humour which was not upto the modern age.
But he was managing it, learning slowly and surely.
There was another thing he was curious about, who were the rulers of this 5 continents?, Would he be able to see their images? And how strong are they?
SMACK...
Of course his sweet time to indulge in delicacy of knowledge came to an abrupt stop with punch in the head.
" Get going....Now." jasmine shouted and walked away, picking up another bowl that needed to be washed.
It hurt, Hurt like a huge hammer fell on his head but it was his own fault.
' I deserved that.'
putting his wondrous intrigue and laptop on which he was reading about the vampire continent aside, Eren picked himself up and left the home with small lunchbox.
And he made sure to duck his head on his way out.
This particular area which he was residing was in fact a colony named dark realm, eren looked at hoarding board that pronounced it's magnificent yet creepy name with red and black colours.
This type of smaller colonies were all around in residential area, Perticularly this area was very much closer to shopping district. System of differentiation like shopping district and residential area was made so that people could live in home that wasn't disturbed by noice, pollution and especially peoples.
But this was a vampire continent, Place where everything normal was considered abnormal. There were no instances where there was no incidences, especially at night. And So merchants and shopkeepers were unable to distance themselves from their possession, their shops.
So in a way shopping district was no different than any other colony, It was even more densely populated and lot more noisy.
Eren slowly walked on the shopping district, his eyes wandered everywhere.
Currently he was in the Aston city of state wasper, Obviously of Ravenvale kingdom.
Eren was surprised because Wasper is neighbour state to bloodvale - capital of Ravenvale. Bloodvale is far to the north of Ravenvale kingdom and wasper was just below it. Yet it did not make this place any safer, It was developed but dangerous with law fails to protect inocent.
But despite that what he saw didn't appear that much dangerous, first reason was that it was day time and second because he had some good memories of this place now.
Afterall on his first day, Marco and jasmin were kind enough to give him a tour of neighbourhood.
Marco considered Eren's situation with great in depth perspective and came to conclusion that a tour in the city would be both informative, fun and would make eren more comfortable in this environment.
But eren suspected that they just wanted to get close to eren.
And in a way, it worked as well.
Eren was surprised, little wary as well because Marco's behaviour seemed almost out of world, atleast to him. The guy practically convinced his wife to let someone unknown stay at his house, went out of his way to prepare a day picnic just to make that person comfortable and all that without expecting anything in return.
If that is not stupidity then what is?
Eren didn't knew wether he was that naive to believe in everyone or just him?, if so then why? Did he have an ulterior motive?
Eren had no answers.
But Marco had already planned everything, unaware of his question and doubts.
Short day picnic started slow and uneventful, It would have been more less unnerving if peoples weren't staring at him but after few short moments, he was already adapting and ignoring. Besides he didn't had time to pay attention as well, afterall Marco had planned out everything and the First thing on the list was clothing.
Eren's clothings wasn't bad but Marco and jasmin both were little reluctant to express their honest opinion.
They avoided the matter with one sentence and a forced smile, " Why don't you try something new, something modern."
After that, eren didn't knew what kind of fortune he was born with, or misfortune.
Eren didn't care much about his appearance but playing the guest role, he was forced to surrender to their suggestions.
He had to try multiple clothes, ranging from classic to modern, casual to luxury but only good stuff. Jasmin picked out few that suited eren the most, eren didn't complain. Not because it was their money, sure that was one reason but jasmin's choice was good, much to his liking and surprisingly unreliable Marco's pick was also very fine.
Eren was really shocked, so much so that his expression made jasmin laugh. But only after such comical event that he realised, marco's way of clothing, His choice of colour and suitable watches made him quite an enchanting figure.
He was handsome men and the clothes inhanced those charms even more.
At the end despite his reluctance, they bought him few pairs of shoes, dozens of clothes and even nice set of watches to go along with it.
Next was lunch. Jasmin knew of a cafe which was new and tasteful to both tongue and eyes.
Everytime eren thought that now he knew this world better, there were always things to make him speechless with surprise. Experience in cafe was one of such events, lively and lovely. Comfortable even in soft murmur of crowd, with delicious snacks and drinks to go along with.
But even such delightful place left bitter taste in his mouth, why?
Because he tried coffee for the first time.
"What the fuck is this?" Such were his words after spitting out bitter black coffee on marco's face.
Which did ended with a smack on the head from Jasmine, that's how smacks began in the first place.
Eren had earned himself and earful, much like Marco and it wasn't pleasant.
" If you think that was all of it, Then you're in for a big surprise." Marco wisper sounded ominous.
Eren knew the way Marco enjoyed being funny and making fun of other but frighteningly, eren couldn't really humour this part in context of fun.
Hearing marco's timid voice shake in his ear, eren felt tingling sensation running through his spine.
Though after this Eren's conduct of speech became much polite, he was taught well by alena but instances where that noble persona crumbled were there.
But now eren tried twice as hard to maintain it, besides now he knew to not invoke the wrath of demoness.
After that jasmine's demeanour instantly changed from hellspawn demoness to sweet loving angel.
She even ordered milk coffee, with exta cream and sugar. Eren didn't wanted to try anything which had name of coffee, but jasmine's insistence forced him to do so, it was still little bitter but contrast to before, now tingling bitterness was blended in soft smooth sweetness.
It was shoching to say the least.
Jasmine even ordered few pastries, pieces of cakes and chocolates, only for eren who appeared to have sweet tooth and eren enjoyed everything blissfully.
Eren was content. He had his very own guardian angel, who gave him home to live, expensive clothes to wear, delicious food to eat and showered him with love.
After that, They went to movie theater and watched a movie called ' deity of crime.'
It was one of the most harrowing experience, Movie had few conversations and rest of was just crime.
Eren knew that all that was just fictional but a part of him felt scared watching that film.
Why?
Because widow woman was blackmailed into performing inappropriate acts of infidelity against her will with the leverage of her daughter's life. But the same daughter was later raped and killed brutally, widow took it upon herself to take revenge, and god....the massacre she unleashed.
she tortured her victims, made them watch as their woman and children were raped, burned, tortured.
She cut more than just throats, Eren instinctively covered his crotch for more than few scenes.
" This movie specifically promotes the woman empowerment but more than that, it's one of the best work of madrid lincher, you know the director.
The storyline, pace, cinematography and my god the VFX.
You know what's the best part so far, It shows how kind mind develops into chaotic killing machine.
Depiction of that change of character, the growth in emotions and the way lead actress portrayed it masterfully.
It's one of the best movies ever made...." Marco continued his rambling for another five minutes but Neither eren nor jasmin were in mood to say much.
Afterall suggestion for this movie came from marco, Eren was more than little baffled after watching it.
Only after coming out of theatre that he read what was written as guidline.
" Restricted for those under age of 18."
He looked at jasmine, validating his concerns and jasmine looked at Marco. She wasn't smiling, her face was stern and looking at her face, Eren couldn't help but remember that widow.
He surely was relieved that he wasn't on the opposite side of that monstrous gaze, but simply imagining what will be left of marco afterwards made eren gulp with terror.
' What did that widow said, May your soul rest in peace..Marco.'
After movie, it was time for shopping. Window shopping to be exact.
So rest of the evening was sobering and gentle.
On the surface atleast, Eren knew there were turbulent time ahead as it was just a calm before the storm. In a way he was responsible and he felt bad.
Walking across the crowded streets, bathing in the radiant glow of golden orange sun, eren initiatively suggested to buy few jewelleries for jasmine. He went as far as to say that he'll choose something good for both of them.
' That should smoothen the tension, Right?'And it did.
Simply his heartfelt suggestion was enough to ease the mood, no it did more than that.
If before their attitude was like watching their adult boy growing up with smile then now it seemed as they were about to spoil their newborn baby with every bit of money, fame, riches and boundless love.
It was seriously diabetic, their boundless love.
Eren felt instant regret, he wanted to end awkwardness and also wanted to save Marco but in doing so he had done something terrible.
He regretted it but luckily or unluckily he didn't had time to dwell in it, once the dam of restraint was broken, uncontrolled current was sure to drown everything and everyone.
As such he had no hope to escape their glimmering eyes, after that even he didn't knew what sort of messed up ride he was riding.
" On such auspicious day, let's buy some gold." That's it, Just few words like that, somehow eren ended up in a jewellery shop.
Jasmine bought a pristine gold necklace with diamonds embedded in them and Marco bought a golden ring, all of Eren's choosing.
They went as far as to buy a golden ring for eren, Eren didn't even knew what to make of it.
Rest of the evening was spent strolling leisurely as they enjoyed the beautiful sunset.
' They're smiling, That's matter.. I guess.' That was a consoling thought and he wasn't wrong.
Last thing was dinner.
So jasmine bought exquisite ingredients to prepare dinner, eren didn't knew what those ingredients were but he sure knew that they were way too expensive.
And they came back home. Marco and eren relaxed while jasmine prepared them dinner.
" I know it's not too much but please enjoy Eren." It was too much.
Chicken soup, pixiu nuggets, chicken burger, veg sandwich, monster meat curry, biryani and expensive wine of Eren's liking too.
It was more than too much.
Eren smiled with pleasure and savoured every bit of it with delight, he genuinely never had something so delicious in his life.
He even realised that he liked spicy foods as well, not just sweet.
That's how day ended,
Next morning Marco and jasmine both were ready to plan out another trip. Eren suspected this would happen and so this time he was already ready to give them and earful of convincing argument.
" You two morons spent entire month of salary just yesterday and you want to go again."
" But-"
" No buts, you're going on your jobs." With that eren threw them out of house, So much more convincing argument.
But eren knew, They were hard bunch to handle. Eren had fair share of those knuckleheads in his life and he knew how to handle them.
But that didn't make his life any easier, everyday was a struggle. Struggle to remain unaffected by their way too loving antics but he was managing.
But as of late, his minds was occupied with thoughts that seemed to be too unbelievable, it only began as spec of doubt and didn't take long to settle deep in heart.
Eren didn't believe it, he didn't wanted to yet he couldn't ignore them either.
But Eren had no answers and so he sighed again, which he did often nowadays. This thoughts kept him unnerved and with no answers to his question, it only grew more and more.
Eren sighed again and walked over the scarcely filled streets. He saw vampires everywhere.
he was little nervous and mostly surprised because unlike what he knew vampires were quite normal.
Streets were lit with morning sunshine that slowly warmed up the cold ravenvale.Shops were opening one by one, atleast those which weren't before.
Because unlike the myths that vampire only ventured in night and hid in daylight, most vampires loved to bath in warm expanse of sun, especially since this continent was much cold. This only applied to society that was much more sophisticated and noble.
But the myth wasn't entirely baseless, there was other side as well.
If there is day then so there is night as well, if there are good, law abiding citizens then there are bad, lawless scoundrels as well.
They were scums of vampire society, junkies who loved to drown in ecstacy of drugs, alcohol and women.
So nights were always chaotic and annoyingly loud. Eren had trouble sleeping few days as well due to that, there were other reason as well like being wary of others and such.
Eren was surprised to learn that government had approved of this nocturnal debaucherous activies brazenly, more than that he was angry.
He knew that those of night weren't just partying, drinking and prostituting, there were those who also enjoyed assaulting innocents. What followed after assault was a chat of tomorrow, whether that vampire was man or woman?, was he or she raped?, was he or she just got robbed and nothing else?, managed to run away!!! what luck!, was that even a vampire?
It was because of rumours that flowed around city like wildfire that eren knew that what had transpired last night, what was transpiring around, everynight.
It was both disturbing and realistic, This is how he knew the vampires from the very beginning.
Eren was angry, angry that nobody did anything to prevent this. He was angry, angry at his own self for not standing up. He don't even know what is really happening, afterall he only knows rumours.
But that gave him insight on the people as well.
It's not that those of who despise the criminal conducts aren't doing anything, Law abiding revolutionary tries to consult the judiciary system. If system doesn't help then Vampires marches and protests.
And those who doesn't believe in law also tries to change the world, in their own way which might not be legal but is somewhat effective.
But even then nothing changes, Simply because there are those who does not partake in any side. They are neither malevolent evil of society nor the revolutionaries who fights it for rectification.
They are neutral parties, who show no care what happens to people, to neighbourhood, to state, to country and certainly not to strangers. Their life is stagnant, doesn't matter whether they are rich or poor. Only thing is that they do not want to trouble themselves with others mess.
Contemplating about such thoughts eren sighed again, because he was also one of those neutral parties and without any shame it felt easy.
" Hey annoyingly handsome prick who goes around eating without paying." Such Words took his attention to a vampire who was unreasonaby jealous and did not leave any opportunity to express it.
" Hey there jerkface who goes around tricking people to eat for free, then embarrass them before others to make them pay none the less." Eren was mentally exhausted, irritable, marco and jasmin was largely responsible for that but this guys also had his small but unforgettable contribution.
" And I already paid unemployed jerk." His words vividly expressed his resentment.
Eren didn't wanted to spend a second with this guy, he didn't look at him and outright ignored his face, his shop and walked away.
" Hold it weird half bred vampiric dragon guy, who says I'm unemployed.
This is my job and I earn my share through effort, unlike you who tricks innocent vampires with charming face and makes them pay your bills." Vampire guy was angry and at several things but mostly at Eren's face.
Eren nonchalantly ignored him and his rhetorts. He could try to explain his situation, as a matter of fact he did in the past but stubborn vampire was in no mood to listen and Watching him now, like this again it seems that he never is.
" Hey Eren, Don't take vito seriously. He's just joking." It was the next shop worker, neighbour to vito and only nice girl in the vicinity who did not have few screw loose.
Amelia rhoades.