It's been 2 weeks since Y/N helped find the Legacy of a False Idol and things have been hectic for him to say the least. Between Balthazar and Melchor trying to translate the tapestry, trying to figure out what the item means, and where they need to go next, Y/N was mostly left to his devices. Mitch was kind enough to help him learn the language of old Vampires so he could read a spell book due to Melchor pestering him about being "more useful" in helping. Y/N picked a random book in their library and started reading about it, which was about something called Sanguine Sable.

Y/N: Ugh, feels like school all over again.

-Y/N pov-
As I focused on this black ink shit, there was a knock at the door. Groaning a bit, I dispelled the Black Blood and opened it to see the resident nun.

Y/N: Oh, hey Nexomoria.

Yeah this is Nexomoria. She's a nun from the church that reports directly to Balthazar. She's also something of a maid that brings me food and clothes when I don't leave the room. I can never tell what she's feeling or thinking, she always wears this blank mask on her face. It's kinda creepy honestly, but I've learned to deal with it. Her voice is nice though, she always talks politely even when I'm a brat or stressed from this whole adventure or this stupid book.

Nexomoria: Good day sir, I brought breakfast for you.

She walked past me, placing the plate of food on my desk before opening the curtains to let sunlight in. I walk over to grab a slice of bacon.

Y/N: Thanks, Nexomoria.

Nexomoria: You're welcome, sir. I hope you enjoy your meal.

I took a bite of my food and hummed in appreciation before asking her.

Y/N: Nexomoria? What do you think about this whole situation? 

Nexamoria: Pardon?

Y/N: The royal family drama, this crusade for the Skarlet Feast, Melchor's obsession, everything.

Nexomoria: If I may speak freely, sir?

Y/N: Yeah, you can.

Nexomoria: Very well, sir. I think that this quest of yours is...interesting, even if it's a crusade for my faith.

Y/N: Huh? Interesting? Why's that?

Nexomoria: Because I've seen many in your place lose themselves to power, Vampire or not.

Y/N: Ah.

Nexomoria: But you are different, sir.

Y/N: How so?

Nexomoria: Because unlike my fellow Nuns, you do not wish for power solely for your own gain, or even power in general. Both the king and queen of Sylvania have offered you many things for helping them: power, land, magic items, artifacts, even a harem of loyal slaves at your beck and call, yet you denied all of them.

Y/N: Well......I just want to go back to Hell with my friends and lovers. I know they're worried sick about me and everything they tried to offer ain't as appealing as home.

Nexomoria: That makes sense, sir. And because of that, I find you interesting.

Nexomoria walked over to my desk and grabbed my plate after I finished eating.

Nexomoria: May I ask why you're studying Sanguine Sable, sir?

Y/N: Well at first it was because of Melchor. He wanted me to be useful while he and Balthazar translated the tapestry to find out the next item. After that, it was mainly boredom mixed with curiosity because I never really got exposed to magic like that.

Nexomoria nodded and headed towards the door.

Nexomoria: If you'll excuse me, sir, I'll take my leave now.

Y/N: Alright then, thanks Nexomoria.

She bowed.

Nexomoria: Anytime, sir.

She left. About an hour later, I got called to the meeting room again. When I went there, Melchor was with Balthazar and a few servants and scribes. The guy that caught my attention though was the guy dressed like some kind of cop or officer. He seemed pretty young or getting close to middle-aged with a sharp mustache and a monocle.

Balthazar: Ah Y/N, I apologize for calling you out of the blue like this.

Y/N: Well I did agree to help you guys with this ritual-

Melchor: You're not helping us with that right now.

I raise an eyebrow.

Melchor: I sent Cadular to an ancient library to find the next item; the Truth of the Warden.

Y/N: So then why did you call me?

The cop didn't take too kindly to my tone and grabbed his sword until Balthazar gripped his shoulder.

Balthazar: Calm yourself, Fergus, he is a guest and a helper. Y/N, Fergus here is the warden of the Black Rock prison, a heavily guarded prison that holds the most notorious and heinous of criminals. There's a problem in the prison and I think someone of your skills may be able to sort out.

Y/N: What's going on?

Fergus: Dammit Balthazar, don't tell him! If he knows, then he'll run!

Balthazar: Fergus, let go.

Fergus dropped Balthazar and paced back and forth, looking more agitated by the minute.

Fergus: Fine! If you really wanna know, then listen! A group of prisoners have escaped, and they've taken a few guards hostage!

Y/N: Hold up. They broke out?

Fergus: Yes they did! And they're using magic to prevent us from entering their cell block!

Y/N: Magic huh?

Melchor: That's where you come in Y/N.

Y/N: What?!

Melchor: We don't know how powerful those prisoners are, so we figured it'd be best to send you instead of wasting our knights. You have experience dealing with hoodlums like this and you have some level of skill and strength.

Y/N: Well, okay. But how am I supposed to get in? You said they're using magic to keep you out, right?

Melchor: You'll have to figure that out yourself, I have to decipher this next text. Fergus, take Y/N to the prison so we can get this sorted out.

With a sigh, Fergus and I go to the prison.

Timeskip
I made it to the prison and it looks.....like something out of a dark urban fantasy game. It was a massive cinderblock and concrete building surrounded by a tall fence topped with barbed wire. The surrounding area looks kinda crappy compared to the rest of the kingdom, but it's not like a slum or anything, it's just not as well maintained as other parts. Fergus leads me through a gate and to the main building.

Fergus: This is as far as I can go, the prisoners have all of the guards held within cells.

With a nod, I turned into my wolf form and ran off. On the way here, Fergus gave me a map of the prison and I opted to travel through the sewer. As gross as it sounds, it's the best bet to stay undetected while moving fast. Plus the sewer has a sidewalk within the large pipe I have to go through so I won't be touching any sewer water. When I finally made it through the sewer, I got flushed out by a wave of water. It didn't flush me out of the sewer, but it brought me to the lowest cell block where the worst of the worst are held. I get up and groan in pain and annoyance.

Y/N: Fuck....

I get up and look around. Each room in the cell block was a heavily reinforced door, making the place appear as a long hallway with a multitude of different rooms. Though from what Fergus told me, this cell block is next to empty as there's only a handful of prisoners here. As I walked through the hallway, I heard the clacking of chains. Curious, I approach the door and look through the slot to see a guy that looks like some kind of Werewolf or Hellhound. He had silver-gray fur and gold eyes with a few scars on his face and muzzle. He had on nothing but a pair of tattered pants with his arms, legs, and neck restrained by shackles.

???: Is it feeding time? Or are you just gonna sit there and laugh at me? 

I grabbed the key from a hidden slot. Yeah for more safety and less of a hassle, the cells in this block have their keys hidden somewhere around the doors. When I opened the door and walked in, he looked surprised.

???: Huh? You're not that stupid Warden or any of those sadistic guards. You a new guy?

Y/N: No, I'm here to crush whatever rebellion these prisoners got going on.

He started laughing.

???: So Fergus was so desperate to cover his own ass he called some random guy? Fucking hilarious!

Y/N: Yeah well don't get too hot and bothered buddy I'm here to do this quickly.

???: Huh, so you like doing things quickly?

Y/N: Things that get on my nerves yes.

???: So you into feminists?

Y/N:....

???:.....

We both suddenly start laughing at one another. It's refreshing to meet someone with a bro mentality in this uptight place.

Y/N: I like you wolfman, what's your name?

???: Zanden, Monster hunter turned monster.

Y/N: Ironic title but I'm Y/N.

Zanden: What brings you here anyway? A little young to be a terrorist, serial killer, or some kind of heinous criminal.

Y/N: Well I AM supposed to squash the rebellion as I said earlier, but I want to get it over with. That creep Melchor wants me to help him get the Skarlet Feast, whatever that is, so I gotta help him get something called the Truth of the Warden. I don't know what it is, but it's probably here somewhere.

Zanden's grin started growing into a smile.

Zanden: Truth of the Warden you say? Well, I might know where it is.

Y/N: Huh? Really?!

Zanden: Of course, I'll help you if you help me.

Y/N: So freedom in exchange for a cryptic ass item? I can work with that.

Getting the key, I release him from his shackles. He got up and rubbed his wrists, clearly sore from being in chains.

Y/N: So what do you think the Truth of the Warden is?

Zanden: An eye.

Y/N: An eye? Seems plausible.

Zanden: Wait you believe me?

Y/N: The last thing I got was called the Legacy of a False Idol and that was a Cult leader's skull. At this point, I'm pretty sure half those items are symbolic and literal. So, what kind of eye do you think it is?

Zanden rubs his chin as he thinks. We also started walking as we talked.

Zanden: Hmmm.....it may be the eye of the Eternal Watcher.

Y/N: The what?

Zanden: The prison is divided into 5 levels for 5 different prison dangers called Stakes. Stake 1 is for petty criminals that really aren't a threat to the point where many get let off with good behavior or by doing work around Sylvania. Stake 2 is for kinda violent but not really criminals that are put to work, but it really isn't demanding. Stake 3 is where the violent criminals who need a decent amount of security measures go, like mass murderers or something. Stake 4 is basically worse than Stake 3 with most rooms being designed like a solitary confinement. Stake 5, where we are, is for people that are a danger to Sylvania......or people that know the secrets or dirt on Nobles.

Y/N: Really?

Zanden nodded and looked down a bit.

Zanden: Yeah. I've seen the most innocent of people get sent down here because they have dirt on Nobles like conspiracies, hidden riches, ties to their enemies, a lot of shit that would get them executed or thrown in here.

Y/N: So why are you here?

Zanden: Remember how I said where I'm a Monster hunter? Well Fergus captured me and did some experiments on me......which is why I look like this. It's not all bad though, I'm stronger and faster with better control over my Hemocraft, but we're getting off track.

We made it to a room and Zanden changed into what I assume is his original outfit and puts his sword on his back.

Zanden: Between Stake 4 and 5 is a chamber where a monster guards the entrance to both floors. Prison staff that gotta go between each floor have this special charm but we don't.

I sighed as we made it to the elevator.

Y/N: Of course there's a boss fight in the beginning.

After a few minutes, we got out of the elevator and went into a massive room with stone walls and a floor littered with bones. In the middle of it was a motionless Cyclops thing standing there. 

Y/N: So....how do we go about this?

Zanden: I'll distract it, you kill it.

Y/N: Sounds simple enough, let's go!

Zanden charges at the Cyclops with his sword drawn. It snaps awake and swings its hammer at Zanden who dodges and weaves around its attacks. I charged at it, my horns glowing red as I head straight for its stomach. It tries to swing its hammer at me but I jump away from its attack and jump back onto it, slamming my horns into its stomach. It grunts in pain before grabbing us and throwing us away like ragdolls.

Zanden: You have a fucking sword why the FUCK did you headbutt it?!

Y/N: Less talking more fighting!

We both got up and charged at it. I charged at its arm, slamming my horns into its arm and breaking it. It roared in pain before swinging its hammer at me with its uninjured arm. Zanden grabs its arm, using his Hemocraft to restrain it. I took this opportunity to shoot a javelin of black blood at it, taking its arm out. It roars in pain, dropping its hammer and swinging wildly at both of us. Zanden shot a bolt of lightning at it, stunning it before we both went in with slashes from our swords.

Y/N: You can shoot lightning?!

Zanden: Sigil of Sparks, a basic but versatile spell.

It roared in pain as it vomited acid, making us dodge and look at the melting floor. The acid eats away at the stone floor and melts into the chamber below. When we looked back up, it swung its uninjured arm at us, and Zanden got hit. He was sent flying into the wall, forcing me to fight by myself for a bit. Thinking quickly, I turned into a murder of crows and started pecking at it from all angles, some of the crows imbued with Hellfire and Demonic Lightning. It roared in pain as I flew above it before flying towards it, changing into a giant crow made of Hellfire before slamming into its back, engulfing it in Hellfire. The acid melted the floor under it and it fell, giving me an opening. I turned into my wolf form and, with Baskerville at my side, bit its good arm and ripped it off completely. It screams in pain as I change back into my wolf form and slash its throat. Though it's already undead and didn't suffocate, that didn't deter me. I turned back into a human and summoned BALROG I and shot at its knees and legs, blowing them up and mangling them. When it fell to its knees, I shoulder bashed it and summoned THANTOS 9 and cut it down the middle before summoning CROW 9 and grabbing its eye. Without an ounce of hesitation, I ripped the thing out of its socket. It screamed in agony as it fell over dead. I walked over to Zanden, letting him use me as support as he used his Hemocraft to heal most of his wounds.

Zanden: Thanks. You're more skilled than I thought. 

Y/N: Don't push it old man, now let's get out of here.

Rolling his eyes, Zanden and I walked to the elevator and went to the first floor. Once there, we're met with prisoners holding a multitude of weapons.

Y/N: You thinking what I'm thinking?

Zanden: I've been needing a way to stretch.

We both jump with our swords held high, ready to rip and tear any and everything to shreds.

Timeskip
We made it back to the Wallacia castle covered in blood and some entrails. We were both hurt but alive. When we walked inside, we were met by Balthazar and Melchor who had a bunch of guards around them.

Y/N: Hey Melchor, I got the item.

Melchor: Then hand it over.

Ignoring his rudeness, I threw the eye over to him. He grabbed it and examined it.

Balthazar: Excellent. I'm sure you and your new friend are exhausted, follow me.

We followed Balthazar and he led us to a large bath chamber.

Balthazar: Ophelia has arranged this for you Y/N, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind your friend joining you after helping you find the Truth of the Warden. Balthazar handed us some robes and left. Zanen and I stripped and put away our dirty clothes before going into the large bath, which was pretty soothing. It was a weirdly comforting feeling, having a bath after a fight like that.

Zanden: You know I think this is the best thing that has happened to me since becoming a prisoner.

Y/N: Same here, it's been awhile since I had a nice bath like this.

Zanden: Who are you exactly?

Y/N: Well I'm a Hybrid, part Incubus and part Hellhound.

Zanden: That explains why you have horns and act like a dog.

Y/N: Yeah, but before that, I was raised in a freaky ass cult.

Zanden: What kind?

Y/N: Doomsday Christian.

Zanden: Oof. Not one of the worst but it's there. 

Y/N: You have no idea. But hey, I enjoy being in Hell.

There's a comfortable silence for a few minutes.

Zanden: What about after? What's gonna happen when you finish helping that weird guy?

Y/N: I'm going back home. I'm sure my friends are worried sick about me and shit like that.

Zanden: That sounds nice, but do you ever worry that you'll miss this place?

Y/N: A little. It's a nice place and all but Hell is where I belong.

He nodded and sunk into the warm water, prompting me to do the same. He reminds me of Ethan in a way.

(A/N: Sorry if it's bad, I kinda burned out and couldn't think of anything else to do.)