[SCN: at the entrance to a large castle, in the middle of a mountain forest range. viola, a golden-haired woman with a bandaged up eyepatch approaches, a shadowy orb perched atop her shoulder, as a large maiden, hidden under a robe and bundles of white hair, is not too far behind]
Maiden:
So, this is Dracula’s castle, then.
Viola:
Looks like it.
You sure I have to do this?
Viola Sigrun Vinter
Age: 28
Height: 159cm
Maiden:
You, of all people,
are not granted the privilege of a choice.
…Besides, I’m still woozy.
Viola:
I said I was sorry!
Maiden:
Apologies will not make wounds heal any faster, you little—
(CRASHHHHHH)
Ciliary:
!!!
[Ciliary, the shadowy blob in question, starts hopping around in a panic as the castle starts to shift]
Viola:
What the hell!?
Maiden:
The castle’s growing in strength as we speak.
That’s not a good sign.
Viola:
Dracula’s castle can do that? How!?
Maiden:
That’s a very good question.
Perhaps if you bother to enter, you’d find out.
Viola:
Guh… fine.
[viola breaks into the entrance, going through skeletons in the courtyard, until getting into a lobby whose contents is still ever so slightly moving away…]
Viola:
This place is still shifting now.
Kind of unsettling to look at.
Maiden:
An equivalent exchange host still feels fear?
Odd one, aren’t you.
???:
Hiyah!!!
Viola:
!?
[reveal another man ahead of them, an old musclefreak in tights and a leather jacket, wielding a whip, having just defeated a behemoth]
???:
Good lord, these beasts truly are as powerful as they say.
I must remain on my guard—
Eh? Other humans are here?
You fools, do you realize where you are?
This is Dracula’s castle!
Maiden:
We’re aware, thank you very much.
???:
Then why would you—
Hold.
I smell the blood of an inhuman beast.
Viola:
Huh? Why’s your eyes on me?
[the old man inches closer, focused on Ciliary]
???:
Demon woman…
Viola:
Oh.
W-wait, okay, uh, I can explain—
???:
SILENCE! How dare you bring a civillian into danger like this!
Never fear, tall maiden, I shall deal with this posthaste!
VAMPIRE KILLER, SHOW YOUR POWER!
[a tutorial fight, viola uses the powers of ciliary, her familiar, to defeat the man. upon defeat:]
???:
Ghh!!
No, I mustn’t die yet.
The legacy of the Belmonts depend on this whip!
You, demon woman! We shall meet again!
[a smokebomb sets off, and the man disappears by the time it dissipates]
Viola:
That guy has the legendary Vampire Killer!?
Who even let him have it?
Maiden:
That must have been Quincy Morris.
He’s as dramatic as word of mouth described him, I see.
Viola:
H-hang on, don’t act so casual!
You know he was smelling your blood!
Maiden:
And whose fault is it that I am bleeding, precisely?
[SCN: fade into the outside of a quaint cabin home, wherein the maiden can be seen, staring off into the distance, with viola.]
Maiden:
…
(rustle rustle)
Maiden:
…
I can hear you.
Viola:
Tch. Cocky.
Maiden:
No, not cocky.
Simply used to the skittering of assassins.
Voila:
So, you know why I’m here?
Maiden:
How much are they paying you?
Viola:
…What?
Maiden:
If you answer correctly, I will die willingly by your blade.
Tell me.
Viola:
…
Twenty.
Maiden:
Dollars?
Viola:
That’s correct.
Maiden:
And you know who I am?
Viola:
A dhampir.
According to the locals, you’re the cause for dozens of women disappearing.
Maiden:
Do you believe them?
Viola:
Not my job to care.
You could be a saint for all I know,
but they see you existing as a threat to them.
Maiden:
…
Viola:
Am I wrong?
Maiden:
I’ve only ever had one request for those who want my head.
I will allow myself to be killed, if the one who kills me is paid well.
I only wish for someone to benefit from my death,
and yet, they only gave you a pittance for me?
Viola:
Is that a problem!? Don’t judge me!
Maiden:
You must not be given many jobs with good pay,
if you were willing to take this up.
I will warn you now…
[with lightning speed, the maiden turns around and attacks the assassin with a fire spell, putting the two at a distance away from each other, before dropping the hood, to reveal wavy, silver hair and an androgynous face]
Maiden:
This will be a struggle.
[the tutorial fight for the maiden, they can use great mobility through their magic, alongside a very normal weapon for an old grandma-type to wield in the form of a heavy medieval chain mace. upon defeat:]
Maiden:
Are you done yet, assassin?
Viola:
…
Maiden:
Unlike the stories your stingy employers give,
I’m actually quite generous.
Run away now, and I’ll act as if you—
[with a sudden SLASH, viola’s familiar takes belmont in the back with a wooden stake]
Maiden:
Gh—
Viola:
Heheheh.
It’s not good to keep your guard down around an alchemist’s familiar.
Maiden:
This weapon…
Why do you have this?
Viola:
I always make sure to follow my client’s orders.
Now, I’ll be taking care of you—
[the wooden stake… leaves the maiden’s body, and begins to float in the air]
Maiden:
You fool!
Do you not realize what they had given you!?
Viola:
What!? That was just some fancy stake!
[with a blinding flash, the stake suddenly shoots up into the sky, leaving behind a red pillar of light]
Maiden:
No, no no no no no…
[RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE]
[pan up… to reveal a massive castle, appearing in the distance]
Maiden:
Dracula’s castle…
lives once more.
[SCN: back in the present, where the maiden and viola are still in the lobby]
Viola:
So I have to do this.
Maiden:
Correct.
Viola:
There’s a man who clearly knows what to do, here.
Can’t I just let him?
Maiden:
You know what? Sure, you can leave.
And then, when Dracula has razed all the land,
and you live within the very apocalypse itself,
I’m sure you’ll feel very guilt-free about it, won’t you.
Viola:
Gaaaah, fine!
Who the hell even are you, anyway? Why do you know all this?
Maiden:
The latter question requires an explanation we don’t have time for, unfortunately.
As for the former, I suppose Belmont will do.
Viola:
Belmont? Like the vampire hunting clan?
You’re not seriously getting me to believe a dhampir would be one of them.
“Belmont”:
I will not be giving you another name, woman.
Speak with that, or speak with discrimination.
“Belmont”
Age: ???
Height: 182cm
(207cm when stood up straight)
Viola:
Sheesh. Alright then, “Belmont”,
are you going to help, or not?
“Belmont”:
Hmph.
One moment, then.
[“belmont” goes up to the defeated behemoth… and starts taking blood from it]
Viola:
So you really are a bloodsucker.
You do this often?
“Belmont”:
Not… without a great of nausea involved, no.
[sigh] I suppose I feel fit to fight, at least.
Let’s get going, then.