Prologue "Reunion"

Rain clouds announced the approaching evening, while the sun still gave the last warm rays. The inhabitants of Francollarts slowly finished their work on the fields and retreated leisurely and full of fore fires into their cosy parlours, where they already smelled all kinds of tasty food. Of course Est Est or Erveluce had to be drunk to the meal. In the course of the evening candles were lit to light up the living areas and the shutters were closed until night finally fell and a peacefully silence stopped in the village.

If one left the village in eastern direction the path led into a dense mixed forest. None of the villagers dared to set foot in this habitat. This forest was cursed and supernatural beasts lived there. Beasts that seemed to come directly from a nightmare. Hellhounds, foglets, umbras and all sorts of other monstrosities. But that's not all! It has been rumored that a beast was mischievous in Beauclair. Righteous knights were murdered cold blooded and not even a witcher seems to be up to the task. After a meeting the beast could flee and the long lost sister of the queen was killed during the escape of the monster. Witnesses even claimed that the witcher had let the monster go! An affront!

But besides the gossiping village people, there were also a handful, who only perceived it in the background and continued to enjoy their comfortable lives to the fullest. This was mainly true for the men, but also for the young alchemist Livia Moreau. During the day, there was a constant hustle and bustle in her studio and the wishes of her customers covered a broad spectrum, while she mostly made and simmered the mixtures in the evenings. Next to her house in Francollarts, she also owned a small hut at the entrance to the cursed forest. Her alchemy skills were known throughout Toussaint and even from Beauclair she regularly received commissions, so it is not surprising that the inhabitants of Francollarts advised her several times to move her alchemy laboratory to the village or at least to the edge of the village. However, this had never been a serious option for the young woman. She loved to be on her own now and then, and this laboratory already belonged to her parents. In this laboratory her father had taught her how to distil potions and her mother showed her how to use the kettle and the ingredients properly. Now her parents tried to build up a second atelier in Kovir while she ran the business in Toussaint. She loved her job, not only because of brewing, but also because of some special customers.

She was lighting the first candle in the laboratory when a raven hammered against the window. Already on her way to the door a small smile lay on her libs.

"Regis! It's good to see you again. You have hardly changed your appearance and apparently still prefer to visit your friends in the evening".
"In the late evening, most people prefer to spend time with their family. A useful peculiarity when you want to visit someone without attracting much attention. And especially at this moment it is very important that our conversation only remains within these walls."

Livia truncated and looked the man insistently in the eyes. "That sounds like a serious problem."
"Indeed, and I would like to mention that I even brought this problem with me."
The young woman raised her eyebrows in surprise and took a closer look at her friend. "You don't look cursed to me. I can't even see wounds at first glance."

"Thank you very much for your concern. My wounds have already healed completely on the way here. I would prefer to discuss everything else over a warm cup of tea. I once heard that it is human conventions when," Lavinia interrupted Regis and already turned to boiling water.
"Yes, yes. I already know Regis. Tea calms the mind and relaxes the mood a little. But your way of expressing doesn't quite achieve the effect you want." The vampire had to smile. "Thank you for your hospitality."

When they both sat down at the small round table and the tea in the pot was pulled through, Regis began:
"How long have we not seen each other? Was it four or five years?
"For a vampire this time seems to be as short as a blink of an eye, but for us humans four years is a lot. I am now 21 and officially no longer a child. I am allowed to continue my parents' business independently and trade with others."
"My dear Livia. I hope you will excuse my little joke. Of course I know it's been four years since we last saw each other. Unfortunately, I didn't make it in time for your birthday, which was exactly a week ago, but I still have a present for you."
Regis pulled a small parcel out of his pocket and handed it to Livia. With widened eyes she took it and looked at the parcel silently for a while.
"Is there something wrong with the gift?" Regis looked at Lavinia anxiously and bent slightly forward. He pushed his elbow slightly against the saucer of the cup.

"No! I haven't even opened it yet." Livia laughed and looked at the package devoutly. "It is only, how should I say ... a strange feeling as a person to get a birthday present from a higher vampire that is also beautifully wrapped." Calmly Regis let himself sink against the back of the chair again and smiled at her. "My dear Livia, you should know that I am very interested in human customs. Contrary to expectations especially the art of gift wrapping has given me a lot of joy. I just like to apologize for the slightly musty smell on the paper. The last weeks I spent in a crypt near Beauclair. Unfortunately it was not possible for me to visit you during this time."
"A crypt? Sorry, but don't you think this kind of place is too clichéd? Did you also hang garlic at the entrance and scatter holy water?"

Regis cleared his throat and looked seriously at Livia. I'd love to continue talking to you about this subject and amuse myself, but unfortunately we have to slowly come to something more serious."
Livia still held on to the wrapped gift and turned her eyes to Regis. He continued immediately. "You must have heard about the current events in Beauclair."

Livia put the parcel on the table and took a sip of tea. "Actually yes, but you should know my clientele as well. Most of it is gossip about the heroic deeds of the travelling knights, the upcoming knights tournament and that once again some wine cellar was infested by vermin. You have to imagine, recently a merchant came to Francollarts and told everyone that Beauclair was attacked overnight by a horde of vampires. Countless casualties are said to have taken place and the queen's personal knights were scared to death sitting in the castle. The culmination of this whole story is the mysterious appearance of the queen's older sister. She is said to have died in all the turmoil." Livia took another strong sip of the tea. "The people in Beauclair should be taken away the wine, so that they come to their senses again."
Regis sat silently at the other end of the table and listened to Livia's summary, his head resting on his hand, with a frowned forehead. When she ended, he gave a heavy sigh and stood up. He moved slowly to the window and looked out into the young night.
"Regis? Please tell me this was just some drunken merchant's nonsense."

"Those who fight with monsters may see that they do not become monsters. And when you look into an abyss for a long time, the abyss also looks into you. An extremely fitting quote from a human poet and philosopher. Maybe you know it?"

"Regis. I don't feel like philosophy now. You come to me late in the evening and greet me with the words that the coming conversation must not have any witnesses, that apparently a catastrophe has actually happened in Beauclair and that you have a problem with it. What exactly is going on here?"

Regis was still looking out the window.
"That my dear, I would now like to explain to you in detail."
The rain started and shouldn't stop the whole night.