Bryn stood as still as he could, not wanting to provoke the creature that had locked eyes with him.  He hadn’t paid too much attention during his research to the section about true vampires.  They were supposedly as smart as people, a bite can turn anyone into a spawn, and they were rare, usually moving from place to place. He also knew was that they were powerful enough that a quest involving one normally required a group of at least 3 blue class adventurers.


    It looked like a gaunt, yet handsome man was the one responsible for crushing his windpipe.He didn’t even realize what had happened to get him here. One moment he was about to get up after cutting off the spawn ears, the next he was up against this door.He felt his assailants boney elbow dig into his throat further, and he could feel himself begin to lose consciousness.Before he could, he felt the pressure on his throat relax slightly, and saw a potion bottle roll on the floor.He uses what little vision he still had to look over at Bryn, who had just thrown that bottle.


    He crashed to the floor, coughing and wheezing as he landed.He looked up just in time to see a potion in midair and Bryn on the floor having narrowly dodged the vampires strike.


    As it landed in Jordan’s hand, the monster began its 2nd attack on Bryn.Jordan didn’t know what infusing den into a potion would do, but he had no time to question it.If he didn’t do something immediately, they would be dead within a matter of seconds.He gripped the potion tightly and attempted to pour all of his remaining den into it.The energy flowing through his body felt like lava, and the potion become painfully hot immediately.The last thing Jordan remembered seeing was the vampire land on Bryn and an explosion of blinding white light.


    He attempted to look around, but couldn’t move his body at all.All he could see was darkness, but he was conscious.Was he dead? That seemed possible based on what just happened.


    It sounded like a man around his age, thought the voice seemed quite tired.


    “This is what’s important: you and the people you will meet are too important to be this stupid.I would advise less stupidity in the future, or this city will be in flames within the next 5 years.”The voice said.


    The first thing he noticed was the pain in his arm.He looked down and saw his arm had been bandaged heavily, and he felt like he had been asleep for days.Looking around the room he saw he was on the couch in the Everwatch break room.He had gone in here once before when he was onboarded, and it was as plain as he remembered.No decorations on the wall, two couches, a coffee table, and a single window opposite the door was all that was in the room.


    Jordan got up and poked Bryn’s forehead a few times, but he lightly slapped his finger away and rolled over.Jordan then grabbed the glass of water on the table and lightly trickled it onto Bryn’s face.He finally stirred, wiping the moisture off his face in confusion as he sat up.When he saw Jordan standing, a look of surprise and relief washed over his face.He paused before saying anything, and gave a sarcastic smile as he spoke.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The vampire had slammed his back right on the doorknob and he could still feel the bruise.“So what happened? The last thing I remember the potion you gave me blowing up” he said.


    “That was a theory I was working on.Alchemy at its core is mixing ingredients to make something new.The more volatile an ingredient, the more intense a reaction is.I’ve had several experiments that bubbles over making a huge mess, and I even had a couple explode on me.I figured that there wasn’t a more volatile ingredient than den, and we didn’t have any other chance so I risked it.” He said.Jordan couldn’t believe this guy.In the middle of a battle they were badly losing, he did a live experiment that worked.He wasn’t just resourceful and good at strategizing, he might be a genius at alchemy.


    The reaction caused an explosion like I thought it would, but it was the sunburst potion so it hurt the vampire way more than us.Unfortunately, you couldn’t get out completely unscathed” he gestured to Jordan’s bandaged arm. “But better than being dead” he said.Jordan thought back and he didn’t even realize when he caught the potion that it was the sunburst.Bryn had said we probably wouldn’t need it, did he just have it in case of something like this?


    He was only dazed for a few seconds, but it let me get away from him and grab you.Once we got outside I knew we were safe since the sun was still out.A couple of the local guards saw us and helped us back to the guild.Once we got here, one of the clerics patched up your wounds, it just needs a little time.The intensity of the explosion was about the same as a level 8 fireball, so you were lucky there wasn’t any permanent damage”. Bryn said looking slightly guilty.Even though he had saved their lives, he was also confident when tossed the potion that it might do a lot of damage to Jordan.


    You came in clutch Bryn.You saved my life and held your own against insane odds.I hope I can become as good of an adventurer someday as you were in that house.” Jordan said proudly.


    He didn’t take compliments well.“No problem, I’d be dead if I didn’t do that so it works out for both of us.By the way I chewed out that annoying manager Ernie.Have you ever met him?” He asked.


    He was a short, round human man that was easy to hate on sight.Jordan could never figure out why, but he hated that guy.“Yeah Ernie’s the worst” he said with disdain.


    After I handed you over to the cleric I asked him why a monster 10 levels above us was at the job.He told me it was a mistake with their scouting spell and that a blue party would go take care of it. He tried to give me some sort of corporate nonsense after that, but I eventually got him to properly compensate us.” He said, pulling out a brown cloth sack and dropping it on the table.It landed with a thud, the jingling of coins revealing the contents within.


    He hadn’t ever had that much money at once, and he was salivating at the thought of the snacks he would be celebrating with.“A master negotiator too I think I’m falling in love.I can’t believe you talked that cheapskate down, I just hate him so much.” Jordan said shaking with excitement and unfounded rage toward Ernie.


    Jordan was so caught up in the moment he forgot this meant that Bryn would be going home tomorrow.The thought saddened him, but he made sure to put on a happy face when he talked.“Let’s celebrate with an actual dinner before you head home, my treat.Even if it’s money you got for us the thought still counts as far as I’m concerned” Jordan said laughing a bit too loudly.


    As he sat forward, he looked Jordan in the eye and he could see the excitement going through Bryn’s mind.