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[center][h1]Flashback - Egypt[/h1][/center]

The soft padding of feet made their way across a cold stone floor by what could only have been described as a shadow. Moving through the darkness, weightless and silent steps danced through the palace halls shrouded by a moonlit sky. Making itself visible only when so desired, the shadowy creature gracefully moved from cover to cover, pillar to pillar in a deft fluid motion upon the sandstone. Swallowed by the heavy steps of palace guards, a shadow could move from point to point with incredible speed and accuracy. 

Wind licked the sea of endless sand stretching its massive form throughout the distance, flakes of sand and stone making their way towards the palace and further masked the shadow’s steps with their hallowed sound. 

Finally exposing its form for the eye to see, leaving the darkness of shadowy corners, this dancer of night was revealed to be a mere boy. Dressed in a shrouded, black tunic, this boy carried with him a weapon used only by those of unsavoury ilk. Curved and gilded with sapphires and gold, the boy’s blade would clearly note his royal status. A pretender? Truly, this boy could not be of noble blood, his wealthy appearance embracing him through the touch of coin rather than that of birth. A shadowy set of skills which brought him closer and closer towards the bedchamber of a nobleman, this boy named after the might of a lion found himself brought into light by a forced hand. Of course, no one else needed to die this night. No one but the target whose name was written on the contract would need to meet the Gods of the endless sky. However, as it was, guards were stationed to die for those they protected. Truly a sad ending for the otherwise innocent. [color=ed1c24]“Would you offer me passage…?”[/color] Light and innocent, the voice making its way towards the two guards spoke of anything but a threat. However, gazing upon this child caused conflict within the mind of a soldier. 

“What on earth…?” Taking a single step forth, the guard brought both hands to his halberd. “It’s a…!” Before the sentence would leave the man’s lips, he found the boy’s presence upon his skin with a bladed edge leaving a gaping wound across his throat. Such speed could never have been managed by mortal means, much less so by a slender, scrawny being such as the one who had achieved it. Through motions as fluid as a crashing wave, the inhuman boy evened the distance between himself and the remaining guard in but a moment, naught but a blurry after image remaining in place. This guard too met the sandstone and repainted the noble beige with death’s red kiss. 

[color=ed1c24]“Rest with the stars and the sun…”[/color] With a voice soft enough to caress the most savage of beasts, this child’s red eyes nearly glowed beneath the night’s cold sky. Human was not a word fitting his presence but rather vampire rang true. A small hand with fingers so thin gently pushed the gilded door open to reveal the bedchamber of his target, the revered councilman who had inquired the wrath of sins for his transgressions. Much like the path laid out for him, this boy moved with weightless and silent steps towards the large bed harbouring the hefty man whose riches could be weighed in girth and silk. A truly peaceful night he had, something he would now eternally embrace. [color=ed1c24][i]“As it has been written…it shall be done…”[/i][/color] With the grace of a cat, the boy moved his frame on top of the man, leaving his hand covering the councilman’s mouth before a pair of fangs sunk their way into his throat. [color=ed1c24][i]“Drain him of every last drop…tribute for the blood which he has spilt…as it has been written, it will be done…”[/i][/color] Twitching beneath the vampire’s massive strength, the target could do little but wait until his life faded into the snakelike fangs now bringing a cold, dark embrace to his final night. 

[center][h1]Camelot[/h1][/center]

Suddenly waking from his slumber, the vampiric boy shifted his eyes from left to right in a desperate attempt to pinpoint where he was, where he had woken from sleep. Yes, it was all a dream, a scene from past events playing out in his mind like an old ghost back to haunt him for his past misdeeds. Softly rubbing his face, Casper placed his feet on the floor just before laying notice to the kitten playfully jumping onto his thighs. [color=ed1c24]“Hey, Fang…”[/color] A soft smile managed its way across the boy’s thin lips, his fingers carefully scratching the small creature behind the ears. Casper had found the kitten abandoned on the streets, a tiny being that would surely be trampled by life if not taken into the arms of another. Unable to leave the poor creature to its fate, Casper decided to bring it into the castle with him. There were no rules or laws dictating that a servant was not allowed to have pets, and these two would remind of each other. Fang and Casper were indeed of two different species, but they had similarities. People had always said that a pet reflects its owner, no? Standing from his bed, the vampiric boy reached for his tunic and slipped it over his torso before covering his legs with a pair of cotton pants. His chambers were incredibly small with a mere window granting light but he thought it rather cozy. Casper was never a large individual in body or presence and he found smaller spaces more comfortable. They were easier to keep in check. 

Sliding into his boots, the boy tucked the bottom of his pants into them and carefully placed a hand beneath the little feline. [color=ed1c24]“Time to work…”[/color] Not the best job in the world, a servant’s duties were at the very least peaceful. He didn’t have to kill anyone or fight on a daily basis. 

Of course, Casper would never lock Fang into his chambers, but rather allowed the cat to roam the castle freely. No one appeared to have issues with such a decision and the vampire had noticed how the bookkeeper’s cat had taken a liking to the kitten. It was good that Fang acquired friends within the walls of Camelot for he appeared to have a few. 

Opening the door to his chamber, Casper stepped outside and placed Fang on the floor. A new morning, a new day that the vampiric boy would need to prepare for. Reaching his hand forth to a bottle containing a curious red liquid, Casper uncorked the glass and placed the neck of the bottle against his lips before consuming its contents. [i][color=ed1c24]“Thanks, Gwen…”[/color][/i] Without his friend Guinevere, maintaining his presence in Camelot would be so much more difficult, an inconvenience, truly. He owed the woman a lot, he knew that much. He owed her a lot and he would eagerly repay her kindness with whatever request she inquired. 

[color=fff200]“Casper!”[/color] Upon leaving the small closet like room connected to his chambers, Casper walked into someone he had grown used to meeting in the mornings. Aiden, the healer shone like a bright sun no matter the time of day. He was Camelot’s own little ray of sunshine, wasn’t he? 

[color=ed1c24]“Aiden…”[/color] Casper returned tiredly, turning his eyes to the kitten approaching the blonde boy. 

With a bright smile, Aiden lowered himself to his knees and embraced the feline lovingly. [color=fff200]“Hehe, good morning, Fang. Are you prepared for the tournament, today?”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“Tournament…?”[/color] Casper raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly in confusion. Was there something else he had forgotten? Truly, his old age came with having to remember quite a lot. 

[color=fff200]“Yeah!”[/color] Aiden responded, his bright smile ever present on fair lips. [color=fff200]“Don’t tell me you forgot, Cassy!”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“Might’ve…”[/color] The vampire returned, softly scratching the back of his head as he watched the healer stand with the kitten in his arms.

[color=fff200]“Hehe, you have to remember these things, otherwise they’ll be displeased with you.”[/color] A stellar healer and physician at such a young age, Aiden was just like Gaius a respected part of the castle due to his trade. 

[color=ed1c24]“Wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s happened to me…”[/color]

[color=fff200]“Hehe, maybe not but it’s better to avoid it!”[/color] Reaching his free hand towards Casper, the healer gently patted his shoulder and motioned towards the corridor beyond. [color=fff200]“Want to walk there with me?” [/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Sure…gotta’ make sure none of the kids cut themselves on the weapons…”[/color] Casper finished, lowering his gaze to the floor as the boys started their journey across the corridor. It was quite the marvellous event, something Casper wished he could be part of. After all, no deaths were to be expected, it was all a display of skill and was more akin to a sport than anything else. Alas, as a servant he could not expose those skills to others. 

[color=fff200]“Don’t let the knights hear that.”[/color] Aiden giggled before playfully hitting Casper’s arm. [color=fff200]“Can I come with you to the armoury?”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“Alright”[/color] 

[color=fff200]“I’ll try not to cut myself.”[/color] The healer giggled once more before the two made a left towards the armoury. Without Casper there to supervise the combatants, they’d probably walk over themselves in search for the right weapons. They needed to get their hands on specific weaponry this day, after all. It was Casper’s responsibility that they did. Every participant needed to be signed into a ledger after they had acquired their equipment. Only a fool would believe that a royal tournament such as this went by without any structure or paperwork.