Oban's heart just would not chill out. Crazy fast—like, full-on sprinting in his chest—as he trailed behind Amrin through all these curvy, labyrinthine streets. Okay, technically, the brutal hunger wasn't chewing him up anymore, but it left this surreal, razor-sharp alertness in its wake. Every little sound, flicker of movement, throb of world-magic felt about ten times louder and weirder than back on plain ol' Earth.
Amrin? She didn't just move—she glided. Seriously, the way her jet-black hair whipped behind her? She looked like a walking shadow, with these piercing violet eyes that caught every drop of bloody moonlight and spat it right back out. She swiveled in front of him, arms folded, gaze like a scalpel.
"So, you're the new bite around here, huh?" Only, her tone was so chill it was freezing. "Brand-new vampire, waltzing through Eclipsara. I'm guessing you have zero clue what's what. Or, you know, where the hell you're going. Maybe you should just stick with me. For a bit."
Oban, still a hundred paces behind in his brain, managed a wonky, "Uh... so I'm a... vampire now?" Like he wasn't sure if he was allergic to the word.
Amrin broke into a wicked smile—fangs and all, flashing like white knives. "And what if you are?" she teased, lips curling. "I am too, smart guy."
Oban kinda froze; there was this vibe, like she somehow had seniority over the very air. "Wait, you're—?"
"Hold. My. Hand," Amrin said, way too in control as she shoved out her hand, all bony and commanding. He barely had time to flinch before some invisible static wrapped around them, fizzing purple sparks everywhere. Oban shivered—bone-deep, almost deliciously cold—like the universe dropped ice cubes down his shirt.
The street blurred. Reality just spun and oozed into one big purple-and-black swirl. When the world reassembled, Oban was suddenly standing at the foot of a castle so massive it was almost rude. Like, skyscraper-huge, but Gothic—black stone that ate the moonlight instead of reflecting it. Spires stabbing right into the clouds. All draped in these crazy banners that flapped like they were alive.
He gawked, straight-up cartoon jaw-drop. "W—what… is this place? It's… massive!"
Amrin's eyes twitched with something like amusement. "Welcome to where the vampires hole up," she purred, spreading her arms. "Home sweet home."
Two guards—gaunt, armor sticking to them like tar, faces hollow as bad dreams—wordlessly parted the castle gate. Their voices: dead and distant. "You may enter," they chimed, like sort of haunted speakers.
Inside? Even worse. The hallways stretched forever, vaulting to infinity with these glowing, runed arches. Shadows didn't play by the rules here—they writhed and twisted like they were almost alive. Every step echoed way too loudly, like the stone was making fun of him.
While they walked, Amrin side-eyed him. "You're not gonna find any mortals here, just so you know. This is vampire-only turf. Humanity's got no clue."
Oban blinked. "There's… how many, uh, vampires in here?"
Amrin cackled, pure delight echoing down the stones. "You really think it's just a castle? It's called The Castle of Foreverness. No end. None. It stretches on—rooms on rooms, chambers past counting. Literal infinity, newbie. Not even most immortals get the full tour."
Oban just went blank for a second, brain rebooting. "Wait, then… how many vampires live here, exactly?"
Her grin went full Cheshire. "Six hundred seventy million."
He made a little squeak. "Six-what? Six hundred seventy million?!"
Amrin shrugged, looking almost proud. "Don't act so surprised. I can read your mind, you know. Everyone here, we all have some weird talent. I'm a sound specialist." She tapped her throat and, weirdly, the air around her vibrated just from the touch.
Eventually, they tumbled into this freakishly big room—vaulted ceiling lost to black, endless doors crowding every inch of wall. Each door? Grotesque, ornate, smothered in runes. Oban picked a random one, tried the handle (more out of awe than intent), and slipped inside.
Dozens of vampires. All eyes on him—predatory, calculating, not exactly friendly but not ready to pounce, either. Amrin strode in like she owned the place.
"Hey everyone, this is Oban. Fresh meat. He's one of us now."
Some low electronic hum rolled across the crowd, but nobody protested. Oban just felt—what, judged? Scanned?
One whirlwind of halls later, Amrin led him to the throne room. Pretty much the architectural boss battle—gargantuan doors, rune-carved and buzzing with magic. Inside, serious grandeur: black stone, heaps of silver, shadows swallowing the corners.
And on the throne? Some guy who looked like he could command armies with a stare. Aijack.
And that's where things got really interesting.
The guy Look at Oban and Amein whispered Its Aijack The Co-Head of This Castle
Then with motion spees he come behind Oban and said A new vampire huh..
Amrin said Um Yes he is new here
Aijack said Well since You are newly vampire Then i give you 2 choice
1)Stay here or you can say join this castle
2)Leave this castle if you want
Without thinking,Oban said Im ok with it
Then the system Showed up
[Accepted=Join the Vast Castle]