Eclipse: CH 8

Chapter 8

Lately, a strange air floats around the place. Even here where the number of cases is much more manageable compared to other regions; they still couldn't escape the effects.

Here in the Northern Church, they manage and preserve the largest, most extensive archive in the country. Naturally, all kind of news and updates reached them. Sometimes good news, sometimes less than favourable. But that is one of their duty - to keep their ears out and eyes open.

It's a hard work to keep the church running smoothly. And the papers piling on his desk never cease to exist.

Leaning back into his chair, stretching his limbs out. Looking out of the window; it's bright as always here. The church ground is busy as usual with the people coming and going. His job scope quite drastically changed after being instated as the Head Priest replacing his father a while ago. Sometimes he does miss the thrill of spending the night out hunting.

A deep breathe in; out. His work now is no less important anyhow.

Picking up a random document from the pile on his table - up until last week, they're getting frequent updates from the western and eastern region. The west is currently facing high frequency of attacks with the vampires reportedly being tougher than the common breeds. And the east recently reported an encounter with a pureblood, the first one in decades.

He's itching to go down there and investigate the cases himself. The Western Church seem to be handling their problem quite well, which likely owes to their scientific prowess. According to one of the reports by Head Priest Gamon, the head scientist is very 'enthusiastic and elated' over their latest discovery. 'A good challenge' he said. So, he supposes all is quite well on the western side. Well, not counting their other issue with a mysterious hunter running wild. Following that, they called for assistance from the eastern side to help identify the weapon used by said hunter. He's currently considering sending Crow over to investigate; he seems to know something about it.

For the eastern side, nothing much is coming up about their case. Which is decidedly odd. Around two weeks ago he received the full report of the encounter, including the tests that were run and the medical records. Apparently, the person reports of no other adverse effects than the standard anemia, fatigue and memory loss. Minor updates are still coming in, though nothing significant is noted.

Something is certainly off. Considering the person's track record, he doesn't seem to be the kind to lie or otherwise hide things. He needs to know what is going on but it's not easy to just leave his post.

How can he do it..-

 

His train of thought were broken when his office's door abruptly opens, revealing a fellow priest looking quite urgent.

"Head Priest, we found a fellow priest collapsed in the forests nearby. Please come and see."

 

 

He didn't know what to expect when the news came. He only wished that the priest was not badly hurt, or turned. Both of them rushed towards the medical bay where the man was sent to. He was found by Crow who were going around the place on his usual morning run.

 

He certainly did not expect for the source of his current dilemma to turn up at his doorstep.

 

"Is he from this area?"

"No, I'm afraid not. We've never seen him around here before. Outwardly there doesn't seem to be any grievous injuries. We suspect it was probably exhaustion."

At least that doesn't sound too bad.

 

They reached the med bay in no time, coming across Crow who is standing in front of the entrance way.

"Raiga-san, you're here."

"How is he?"

Facing back inside, "He's currently stable. The doctor said it was a case of exhaustion with moderate anemia."

"Did he got bitten?"

Crow shook his head in the negative, eyebrows drawing in. "Not sure. They're still investigating." Then he turned to face Raiga. "He's the one reported from the Eastern Church."

 

*

 

It's been a whole day since they found him unconscious. The usual tests were done and thankfully his blood is not contaminated, though his exhaustion is quite severe. As a result, he's still currently deep asleep.

He had taken to keeping an eye over the man while slowly working through his papers, simply out of concern more than anything.

The first recorded case of pureblood encounter and lived past it. They have records of past cases though none of them lived long enough to talk more about it. As a result, most of their data is unfortunately lacking in various aspects. He had chased after the elusive subspecies himself years ago.

Throughout his run, he had his fair share of close encounter and even direct clash with the much stronger high-level vampires. Out of that he can confidently say that there are much, much more of them hiding among the humans. And that the common low levels they usually hunts are nothing compared to them.

Which brought him back to his present concern. How?

Glancing towards the slumbering man, looks like he has to wait until the man wakes up. Hopefully he could help connect the missing dots, and Raiga in turn would help the man in whatever way he may need.

The soft sound of the door opening pulls his attention away.

"Raiga, how is he?" In came Mayuri, stopping on the other side of the bed.

"Still sleeping. So far, the doctors didn't say anything yet. Hopefully he'll wake up soon."

His eyes flick upward towards his long-time friend and close partner, silently observing her expression.

"I can feel something from him. He feels similar to you."

He looks back towards the sleeping man. "So, you did too. Crow said the same thing earlier."

"He might be the one you've been looking for."

Perhaps. But of course, it can only be confirmed by the man himself. For now, he needs to be patient, and wait.

 

*

 

Each and every time, the same dreamscape greets him; a dark plane with a bright point of light ahead. And as of late, the light is a lot closer than it used to be. However, this time, there was neither urgent howling nor anything closing in from behind. It is just him and the long stretch of dark tunnel.

How long has he been walking? He doesn't know. He simply keeps going on. He still doesn't have the slightest idea of what all of this means but he knows he has to get to the end. So, he did.

 

And finally, he reached it.

 

For a moment, he was bathed in blinding light; bright enough he had to cover his eyes. Slowly blinking them open, he looks around him finding himself now standing in an entirely different place. A place that is familiar to him. Somewhere he hasn't been to in a really long time.

He opens his eyes and he found himself standing in the old chapel nearby his childhood home. It remained unchanged from how he remembers them. Probably the only time he can see it again considering how the actual place had perished years ago.

The wooden benches. The warm and cosy feeling. The stained-glass windows adorned with gladiolus flowers.

Looking ahead towards the tall stained-glass pane behind the altar with its ever-present guardian etched into it - a figure of a golden wolf. And then it hit him.

The howling. But how?

As he was facing the tall figure, it slowly turns dark.

 

 

When he woke up, he was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling; painted a soft caramel instead of the usual white. The sounds of clutters, the soft mattress is however similar though not completely the same.

Where am I? What happened?

"Are you awake?" A gentle but foreign voice broke him out of his reverie. Looking to his right he sees a young man dressed in white coat with golden cross embroidered across the chest sitting in a chair with a bundle of paper set on the table nearby.

"..Where is this?"

"The Northern Church, more specifically the med bay. How do you feel?"

"Heavy, sluggish. But there's no pain. I'm fine, I guess." He replied at the same time he tried moving and flexing his hands. Felt like he just ran a marathon across the entire country. He looks up towards the other man. "..-How did I get here?"

The man appeared shocked by his question, clearly did not see that coming. "You don't remember?"

He simply shook his head. Everything felt hazy.

"I don't know too. My friend found you passed out in the forest nearby and took you in. Otherwise we didn't notice anything odd."

Momentary pause falls in between them; mind running miles per hour within the heavy silence. And suddenly it is broken by the other man lighting up with a different idea.

"Ah, excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Saejima Raiga, the Head Priest as you can readily see." He appears somewhat sheepish at the last line. He is rather young for one, though.

"Dougai Ryuga of Eastern Church. I actually intended to come here for a reason."

"Is it about your encounter?" He knows? His shock must've been quite obvious it got the man clearing it up quick. "We received official reports from the church for archival purposes, so..-" He calms down towards the end, regaining his composure. "-Actually I was going to visit myself, didn't expect for you to get here first. But first, can you tell me what happened?"

Ryuga turned his gaze elsewhere, wrecking his brain for any semblance of a memory.

He did remember the library. The day after. The repeated encounter. And-

 

"..Then, just do it."

"As you wish, priest."

 

He swallowed hard. He couldn't even tell how long ago was that. What else happened that he couldn't recall?

"Ryuga?" He looked back to see the other man looking at him worriedly.

 

"-I..ran away."