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Thank you, Dr. Gavial.

I feel a little better now.

Sorry... This is all I can do.

It's okay. Not like there's a cure for Oripathy. Every day I live is a bonus.

I'm new in town. Is there a doctor here who's knowledgeable about Oripathy?

What is it?

Well, a Sarkaz doctor came here a few months ago and bought out some ruins on the west end.

She told people she had candy that could cure Oripathy.

She handed it out in exchange for a test tube's worth of blood.

People believed that?

Not in the beginning, but some were desperate enough to send their children there. When the children actually started getting better, people started to believe.

Normally, that would have been the end of the story...

But there have been rumors in the slums about a missing child.

Missing... you think that doctor did it?

The last person who saw the kid said she went to the doctor.

Why didn't anyone confront her?

We're afraid... Those who have been to that place say it's full of blood bags.

She's a nasty character, too. Feels like she could start killing people any time.

Why not report her to the lord ameer?

...The nobility couldn't care less about a homeless child gone missing.

I'll go, then.

Are you really going?

I want to see if that doctor can really treat Oripathy.

If she's a fake who's been kidnapping children... she'll get what's coming to her.

The room is so decrepit that Gavial thought she had come to the wrong place at first.

No, there's a smell...

This is...

The smell of blood.

She takes one step forward and kicks something.

She looks down.

It is a shoe, without a doubt that of a child.

There is a pool of dried blood next to it.

She feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

What happened here?

She bends down and sniffs the blood.

This is real blood, alright.

Did a kid really die here?

She notices a candy next to the pool of blood.

Is this the candy that the doctor's handing out?

It's... a plain old ordinary candy.

Tricking kids with candy, huh...

Who's there?

Gavial looks up to see a girl standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at her.

Hey, kiddo. Can you tell me what happened here?

Wait!

Hmph—

Just what is going on here?

You again?

Wait!

No need to be scared! I'm here to help you!

...I see.

Are you the doctor who lives here?

Gavial has no time to be surprised at the blood bags hanging everywhere, for there is a Sarkaz with white hair and red eyes standing in front of her.

A Vampire. She remembers reading about them in a book.

A tribe of the Sarkaz, as powerful as they are infamous.

They walk in shadows, feeding upon the blood of others. There is no murder they will not commit, no evil they will not stoop to...

Y—You're a Vampire?!

I get it now. You use candy to lure children here so you can feed on them!

And who might you be?

I'm Gavial. Doctor Gavial. I'm here to expose your evil plot!

I don't have time for you right now. Sleep.

What... did you... do to me...?

Just fiddled with your blood circulation.

Be a good girl and nap for a while.

I... I feel like I'm burning...

You're still standing after being hit by my Arts.

Intriguing.

Who are you?

I said... my name... is Gavial...

That's... Doctor... Gavial...

I came to save this girl—argh!

You broke free. Most intriguing...

Most intriguing indeed.

What I wouldn't give for your blood—

Let her go?

As you wish.

The Vampire's hand brushes against top of the girl's head, and she immediately loses consciousness, collapsing by the Vampire's feet.

What did you do to her?!

I'm saving her for dinner. Don't worry, she won't feel any pain.

You... you monster!

If you want to save her, we can make a trade.

A trade?

Yes. You let me draw your blood in her stead, and I'll let her go. How about that?

Sure.

That was fast.

She might get hurt if I fought you right here.

But you'd better keep your promise and let her go.

Otherwise, I won't ever forgive you, even if I die here today!

How do you plan on not forgiving me when you're about to die?

The tribe shaman says that when the heroes of Acahualla die, their souls go back to Acahualla's lakes.

'My soul shall be cleansed by the lake and become the wind in the trees, the rain in the sky.'

It's you who should be afraid, Vampire scum.

You'll remember me when the wind brushes against your face and the rain falls upon your shoulders!

The tribes of Sargon have such delightful traditions.

But you don't understand the Vampires.

The wind is averted by the smell of blood, and the rain turns to blood that nourishes me.

Your soul won't harm me in the slightest.

Seething with rage, Gavial closes her eyes, ready to meet her death.

Before she left the jungle, Gavial thought the most glaring thing that existed was the sun.

Once, she mustered the courage to stare directly at the sun, and it burned her eyes, leaving her seeing double for days.