Awesome story! : D

I recently found the chance to watch the Netflix Castlevania series, and now am looking for stories in that genre, this is very well written and I read it in one setting, I couldn't put it down

Oh no...
The anime that Netflix made just give me a déjà vu about this... Both made me burst into tears...
Soooo gooood...

Well, it finally comes to an end. I'm a bit sad to see it end, but all things do, eventually. I'm so glad I found this story because it was an excellent read from start to finish, and it was a rather fitting conclusion. I found it a bit funny how Mina explained how they obtained blood for Soma. I suppose he could also learn to drink animal blood, but that's beside the point.

The moments with Alucard were very touching and a nice way to wrap all of this up. I tend to think, looking at what he's done through the eyes of humanity, Mathias might regret it. As for Alucard's guilt, I think that's very believable. While I doubt he could have stopped his father from taking revenge, I can see him feeling guilty for not having tried. But as Soma said, he was too consumed by his own anger and loss to listen. Still, it does make me wonder if Alucard had stayed, could he have acted as a check? I doubt it, but it's an interesting thought.

It's interesting also that Castlevania has now returned. I imagine it will have to be kept secret, since even if Soma is willing to finally let go of all the hate and resulting destruction, I doubt others will not be able to remember the castle as anything but a terror, something that would bring only fear. But they're so far away from civilization, no one should ever know. Ironic as well that where Julius and the others would have once entered as enemies, they're now honored guests.

Be proud of this story. There is much to take pride in.

Well done. Well done indeed.

Well, that was quite the battle. It definitely was a legendary fight, with both Graham/Walter and Soma/Mathias giving it their all. Man, that would have been a fight to see, like Aria of Sorrow only way more tense and frantic. You definitely conveyed the urgency of this duel to the death, and I find it more than a bit ironic that after reawakening his power and memory as Mathias, Soma is wanting to fight for the very people who destroyed him time and time again. But it fits with the theme of this story, and I have to say, as evil as he was as Dracula, you do pity Mathias. This story really makes me wonder how things could have been if he'd taken different paths. It's too late for him to undo the past, but at the very least, he can do something for the future.

And now, I guess we'll see how it ends.

Well, I figured it was Walter, due to the name of this chapter, and I find this a very believable scenario. For one thing, yes, Walter was killed, but it makes sense that his soul would be held within the Crimson Stone. If Dracula could return, why not him as well? For another, I think that's incredibly creative to have him return as Graham Jones. I mean his character works perfectly, since Walter was once the one to rule the castle and the night first, and Graham was under the belief that he did as Dracula. But that is a twist I never would have imagined, and I have to say, it's one I can definitely believe. Lastly, his vendetta makes absolute sense, since he was as much a pawn in Mathias's scheme as Leon and Sara were. I'm sure he'd hate the idea of being used that way, so it makes perfect sense to have him want revenge.

I also think this will be a battle that can only be described as legendary. I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Well, I'm making a big push since there's not much more to go on this. So, here we go.

First off, I like the tension in that first scene, with Soma's transformation and the worry from both Mina and Julius. I think Julius' worry really comes through stronger for me because, friend or not, he is a Belmont, and I've no doubt he will do what needs to be done if Soma should become a threat. So good job writing that.

I also liked how Soma's memories just kind of float by in the darkness. I could imagine that quite well, so I'd say that's a testament to the quality of your work. While I don't personally hold to the theory that Lisa was Elisabetha reincarnated, that's not really relevant. It's your interpretation after all.

The last moments of the battle of 1999 were also quite well done. It's interesting that the first battle with Dracula and the last were so similar, in that they involved a Belmont, a Belnades, and Alucard. I also think it would have been interesting to see how Dracula would adjust to the use of firearms and heavy artillery with his forces. I mean, he's lived in an age of swords and spears, so I always wondered what it'd be like with him pretty much bringing knives to a gunfight. Since we'll never see that in a game, moments like this will do. And I think you did it well. I also like the last bit with Alucard reaching out to touch his father's hand one last time. I can't imagine what that had to be like for him, and I think you show the pain of having to see his father die once and for all well, and you couple it together with the knowledge that it had to be just as well.

I wonder how long Soma can keep his transformation secret. He can't hide his vampirism forever, and if anyone's bound to know, it would be Alucard.

That last bit, what a cliffhanger that was. I wonder who could have started that fire, and what will Soma will do to stop it. It seems like the past is one step away from repeating itself, especially with Mina in there.

Also, having recently played through Dawn of Sorrow, I thought it was funny at the beginning, Hammer convincing Yoko to go for a drive. Every time he mentioned his crush on her, I kept thinking, "get real, dude." I just thought that was funny.

Well done, as always.

Been a while since I read this. Well, I should say I read it before, but I just never reviewed it. But now, I'm fixing that. I knew the minute I saw the name of this chapter, it would be a difficult one for Soma, and boy, was I ever right. Of course, remembering the night Lisa was murdered would be difficult, and it showed.

I liked the foreshadowing at the beginning with Soma saving two children from a burning house. It really helped jar that memory back, and I'm sure it's a memory he would have rather not recalled. It wasn't just Lisa who died that night, but in a sense, Mathias died as well to become Dracula. I've seen this moment done before in other stories, but it never loses its potency, the loss of Lisa due to fear and hysteria and the loss of many out of hate and grief. It's sad for everyone involved.

I also like what I would call regret from Soma. I know some have said Dracula deserved his revenge after Lisa died, but I like that Soma looks back, and I think he even realizes what he did was wrong. Yes, it was wrong what the villagers did, but just because they did wrong, it doesn't make what he did as Dracula right. They say that an eye for an eye makes the world blind, and it seems Soma is realizing that for the first time. Now, maybe he could be just struggling with the return of his memories, but it really seems like he's showing some remorse for the lives he ended both then and in the centuries to follow.

Excellent work. This continues to be one of my favorite Castlevania pieces.

What a beautiful ending to this story! I absolutely loved the ending, and felt it really special that Adrian returned to his father in his natural form instead of as Genya. Thank you so much for writing this!

Hey Buddy I put your story on tv tropes under general fics

Well, reading the next chapter took longer than I would have liked, but in my defense, I've had my own project I'm working on. It's not Castlevania related, but perhaps someday. But I digress.

This was another very well done chapter. I like the interactions between Soma and Julius, and I'm impressed he could hold his own, even at his age. Of course it was a practice fight and let's face it, he's a Belmont. The only thing that could probably stop a Belmont is extreme old age. Then again, Julius was no spring chicken in Aria of Sorrow either. I also like that he's actually found out about Soma's secret, but that both have still made peace with each other. You'd think Julius most of all would be wary of Soma in this state. After all, his family was the one who held Dracula back. That last line really drove it home, how the war seems to have to come to an end.

Of course, the story being incomplete for me, being that I'm only on chapter 10, who knows if that war will not rage again. I doubt it, but one never knows. I still look forward to finding out.

Well done.

Been a while, but still moving forward. This is still definitely one of the best Castlevania stories I've read and once again it's written so well.

I find the memories to be some of the best moments, mainly because we see them through new eyes but still the same set of eyes. The first confrontation between Dracula, Trevor, Sypha, Grant and Alucard was excellent. It's something the NES game really wasn't able to elaborate on, how hurt Dracula must have been to have his own son oppose him, and yet he is fully correct in opposing him. I also really enjoy how Adrian calls him out on it, by mentioning how this is not what Lisa wanted. I think it's a truth Dracula always knew, but he is so blind by his own hate, he refuses to accept it. And really, he seems to forget that he is killing people who may, in essence, become another Lisa, someone warm and caring as she was. Rambling I know, but still that description of the first battle was excellent. I found myself hoping that Dracula would listen, even though I know from canon that he will never listen, even years later.

The moments with Soma are also quite well done as we witness the difficulties between who he is now and who he once was, as well as with Alucard. It's clear Soma is burdened with the knowledge of what he's done, and Alucard is struggling with wanting to tell Soma everything but afraid that it will rob Soma of a life free from that knowledge.

As slow as I am, I'll keep reading until the end.

Well, this just got even more interesting. The meeting with Death was certainly a turning point, and it makes sense that he would be able to come and go between the real world and the eclipse. After all, death continues on, so it makes sense that its personification would still be around even after Dracula's defeat. I'm wondering who this figure could be. I know some reviewers speculated Walter, which would be an interesting twist. I mean, I'm sure to kill Dracula, Julius would have had to damage the Crimson Stone in some way. I always held the theory that it was the stone that allowed Dracula to return, as it pretty much causes his power to loop around back to him, given its function. So, both that and his defeat, it would make sense for Walter's soul to have somehow been set free, and I don't imagine he's any too happy about being manipulated all those years ago.

Of course, I've also seen some readers speculate that it could be Galamoth, which would also be interesting, as I doubt some of Dracula's minions served him entirely faithfully. But we'll see.

I also like the little moment with Soma and Mina on the tour. While you didn't elaborate, I kind of wonder if some of the stories Soma might have heard were about himself. The flashback to his holding Adrian was also very sweet. It goes to show that, even though he was undoubtedly evil in his deeds, there was a soft spot with Dracula for his family. We know he's capable of love, even as he's also capable of doing terrible things, but really, that's true of anyone. Still, I find myself hoping that Soma doesn't fully remember Lisa, but he's sure to, just because the memories might be too hard to bear.

Great chapter.

Slowly but surely. I have to say I really enjoy the internal conflict raging within Soma, remembering all these bits and pieces of his past, the 'islands' as you called them. I also like how it's becoming more personal, the past he shared with Alucard. We know he was probably a loving father once, but the scars on Alucard's heart run deep. Aside from his identity, I think he might be a bit envious that Soma has a chance to forget all the hurt and pain that he can't forget himself. Thinking about everything he's seen, his mother burning in front of him, the hate and sorrow that turned his father into a monster, and the suffering of the innocent, I definitely get the idea he wants Soma to forget because it's the one thing he can't do. It's hard enough for Alucard to bear these memories; it makes sense that he wouldn't want Soma to have to bear them as well. Even worse for Soma because it was all his doing.

Your descriptions of the in-game moments were also very well done. I think these were prime examples at how to show instead of tell. We really see it as Soma does, and I like that some of the memories and names are still so vague to him, especially memories of Lisa. It makes sense that his memory is more in fragments rather than all at once, and the most powerful one of all, the woman he loved centuries ago adds something rather strange. I actually found myself hoping Soma would not fully remember Lisa because I think it would be beneficial to him. Dracula's hate is fueled by his inability to let go. He couldn't let go of Elisabetha, and that led him to become a vampire. He couldn't let go of Lisa, and the world paid for it.

Once again, I'm amazed by your level of work in this piece. It's Castlevania fan fiction at its finest, and I don't say that often.

I really enjoyed the story and i loved the ending this one if the best castlevania fanfics ive reaf