The Broken Vampire System

2

~Laurent

For a moment, my hand stayed glued to the Obelisk Crystal, my fingers trembling as the black light dimmed. I just stared at the crystal with disbelief. Hoping and praying that my eyes were playing tricks on me but it wasn’t. I was really an E rank.

Suddenly, the Obelisk itself groaned.

The surface webbed with cracks, light bleeding through as if the crystal had decided it had had enough of this world. The sound echoed in the silence of the hall—like ice splitting on a frozen lake—and then… snap. A jagged fissure split right beneath my palm.

The crowd erupted.

“What the hell—!”

“Did the Obelisk just crack?”

“This has never happened before!”

Before I could blink, three robed officials scrambled onto the stage, panic etched across their faces. One grabbed my wrist like I was holding a live grenade and dragged me.

“Get him away from it!” someone barked.

Another official practically shoved me toward the back, eyes darting between me and the fractured crystal.

“There must be something wrong with his system,” one of them muttered, as they dragged me away. “Something like this… this has never happened before.”

The whispers spread through the hall like wildfire. I could feel hundreds of eyes burning holes into my back. I didn’t know what was going on in their minds but it was definitely not anything good.

This ceremony was over for me.

The robed officials didn’t let me breathe until I was halfway across campus, my arm locked in the grip of a broad-shouldered teacher with thinning hair.

“This way,” he said, his tone clipped.

He took me to the director’s office and knocked. When a response came from the other side, he walked inside.

“What have you come to bother me with today, Mr. Smith.” The director sighed, placing a document on his table.

“This boy cracked the Obelisk.” The teacher said without stopping to catch his breath.

“He did what?!” The director snapped. “How did it happen? Is the Obelisk okay?”

“The Obelisk is fine, director. We were able to take him away from the Obelisk before he could cause further harm.” The teacher said, drawing a sigh of relief from the director. “We believe his system is broken. This has never happened before so it’s the only explanation. What should we do, sir? Should we send him away?”

The director exhaled. “We can’t send him away because he has a system now. Even though it’s defective, he still needs to be trained on how to use it if not he’ll be a risk to everyone and himself.”

“He’s just an E rank sir. He’s no better than a human.”

“The differences are little but he’s still slightly stronger than a human. We gave him a system so we’re responsible for him now.” The director stiffened. “Show him around the school and assign a dorm to him. Just make sure you keep an eye on him so that the Obelisk event won’t happen again.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Good. Now get out of my office.”

We passed wide green fields where students would later spar and train. A cluster of fresh initiates were laughing together nearby, already making friends while I was being paraded like a criminal.

“This,” the teacher said, pointing at the massive stretch of grass, “is the main training field. All combat practice and rank evaluations happen here.”

I nodded, pretending to care.

Then we came to a towering white building with sharp spires that glittered like they were dipped in sunlight itself. It looked way fancier than the rest of the academy.

“Why’s that one separate?” I asked before I could stop myself.

The teacher’s jaw tightened. “That is the S-rank tower. Only those of the highest rank are permitted inside. Their training… differs.”

We kept walking until we reached the dormitories: long stone buildings with wooden doors and the faint smell of too many sweaty teenagers crammed into too little space.

He shoved open a door and gestured. “This will be your room. Make yourself comfortable.”

I wanted to say something but the teacher had left before I could voice anything out.

Inside were two boys, already mid-conversation. One was built like a barrel with arms—Titan, obviously—loud voice echoing as he bragged about some feat he’d probably exaggerated. The other, wiry with nervous eyes, clutched a book like it was his lifeline.

Neither even glanced at me.

I dropped my bag onto the empty bed and started unpacking. Before long, I was settled in and ready for the new chapter of my life to begin.

The next day, classes began.

The lecture hall was enormous, rows of wooden desks fanning out like an amphitheater. A tall woman in deep blue robes stood at the front, her presence commanding instant silence.

“Welcome to Elarion Academy,” she said, voice crisp. “Here, you will learn the foundations of your systems, magic theory, and combat application. Some of you will rise to greatness. Others…” Her eyes lingered on the back row where I sat, “…will fall.”

She paused as if expecting a remark from us but got none so she continued. “It is impossible to increase your rank but it is possible to become stronger within your rank. So it is our duty in this school to make you the best versions of yourselves.”

She launched into the first lecture: differences between the ranks. I scribbled furiously into my notebook, determined not to miss a word. Maybe if I did well in class, I’d get the respect I craved so much.

“As you know, there are six ranks and seven systems. S to E rank. S ranks have power equivalent to that of armies, almost limitless while rank A to D have very specific powers. E ranks on the other hand…”

She paused, lips thinning. “…exist.”

“Can S-ranks really destroy a city with a single spell?” Someone asked from behind me.

“Yes.” She replied simply.

“What about Titans—can they lift mountains?” Another asked.

“Depends on their rank.”

“Apart from the six ranks. We have seven systems. The arcanist system that cast spells, the psychokinetics who move things with their minds, the titans who have super strength, the necromancers or who can talk and summon the dead, the celestials who control the elements of nature, the shifters who can turn to any creature and lastly, the vampires who have increased durability, speed and endurance.” The teacher said. “We will stop here for today but ensure to make further research on what we’ve just discussed. Class dismissed.”

Class ended and I slipped out, clutching my notes like a shield. The campus spread wide before me—towers, statues of legendary heroes, sprawling gardens humming with magic. For a moment, I forgot about everything else.

Maybe… maybe I could fit in here, somehow.

I was so busy gawking like a tourist that I didn’t see the group of boys until I slammed right into them.

“Watch it, freak,” a deep voice growled.

I blinked up. Broad shoulders. Cruel grin. Black hair falling into eyes that glinted with something sharp.

Behind him, two other guys snickered, arms folded, like his personal entourage.

“Look who it is,” The guy in the middle said. “The boy who broke the sacred Obelisk. What are you gonna break next, huh? The toilets?”

Laughter. His friends howled like hyenas.

My mouth opened, then closed. My brain screamed say something witty! but all that came out was: “Uh.”

His grin widened. He reached out, grabbing the front of my shirt, yanking me up so my feet left the ground.

“I’ve been skipping my boxing classes but I believe you can be used as a suitable punching bag.” He said, making his friend giggle. “Let’s see how many hits you can take before losing your consciousness.”