A few minutes before the vampire girl appeared and attacked the three cardinals, Kael was carrying Renar across the rooftops, the torrential rain soaking their hair and cloaks. He muttered under his breath, both tired and annoyed:
"Really… why does fate keep piling disaster after disaster… and now the rain… it's like it wants to ruin everything."
Suddenly, a voice shouted from behind:
"Stop!"
Kael turned and realized a night watchman had climbed onto the rooftops, chasing them. Not wanting further trouble, he increased his speed and changed direction towards his own dwelling. They raced near the edge of the city, in a secluded area where lights were sparse and no one else was around. When Kael glanced back near the city wall, the watchman's voice rang out:
"Don't you know how to choose a path? Such a waste of effort…"
Before he could finish, a terrifying **snap** sounded. Kael and Renar froze as they witnessed the impossible: the watchman's arms, legs, and head were blown apart, moving so fast their eyes perceived everything in slow motion, his body emitting a survival alarm, an extremely urgent danger signal.
Then, a savage laugh echoed through the air. A creature appeared, arms outstretched, deep red claws glistening, still smeared with the flesh and organs of the assaulted watchman. Kael swiftly drew his sword, standing in front of Renar, ready to defend.
The vampire girl laughed maniacally, her voice booming in the rain:
"Oh, how rude of you! Pointing your sword at a young girl like that, and not even thanking me for helping you and… the boy. I saw from afar that you were being chased; I only did what was necessary."
Kael growled, narrowing his eyes:
"You… you're a monster, without humanity! Worthless!"
The girl's expression darkened, she lowered her head, voice faint:
"Why… why… must it be this way…?"
Then she lifted her head, a repulsive grin spreading, eyes cold:
"I am not human like you. Humanity? None of it!"
She lunged, hands filled with razor-sharp claws. Kael silently cast a spell, *Trảm Thủy Mặc* — the rain poured down. His sword flew at super speed, stabbing repeatedly. She sneered, lightly leaping behind Kael, raising both hands, a wave of dark purple energy like lightning shot through Kael. He screamed, falling unconscious.
She landed gracefully, looking at Renar with a wicked smile. She spoke, thrilled:
"Now, it's your turn, boy…"
Terrified, Renar suddenly saw in his mind a vivid reel: scenes of his parents when he was small, moments of happy meals, the village being destroyed, Felina's care, Kael taking him everywhere… and now, Kael lying defeated on the ground. A surge of anger and helplessness rose.
"No… I must… I must be stronger… to protect what's important… to lose nothing more…" Renar thought, each fragmented memory fueling him.
Renar's entire body blazed with light. He stood up, voice strong:
"I will be stronger… to protect everything I love!"
A beam of light shot forward, piercing the vampire girl's right arm and part of her body. The light soared into the rainy sky, bright enough to be seen across the city. When it touched the clouds, a patch of darkness was blown away, revealing a starry sky.
The girl was shocked, eyes wide. The scene triggered vague memories: a silver armor with floating weapons, hands pointing at her. A powerful energy coursed through her body, but the wound healed instantly. She leapt, striking the armor; the weapons flew back toward her, a spectacular scene with memories and reality intertwined.
Back in the present, her wounds healed, she looked at Renar kneeling, depleted of magic. Her thoughts emerged: *"The boy has heroic potential… capable of high-level magic… if this seed grows, could he defeat me…?"* Excited, she soared into the air:
"Child… show me your growth when I return!"
Beside her appeared a dark aura, dropping a pendant with strange symbols, not magical runes, right in front of Renar. She vanished, leaving Renar and Kael unconscious.
Not long after, adventurers arrived, running to the scene…