In the far Northern reaches of the Aelindeer Forest, a rge gde stood its ground alongside a creek - running northwards - situated towards the gde's east. The short, green grass surrounded by tens-of-metres high trees had been trampled by both heavy and light footsteps, while it had been capituted to witness a bloodbath. A snuffed fire stood at the gde's centre; surrounded by sixty corpses, of regal, white elves with pointy ears and combat kits; armed with bows, swords and anything that could be made a weapon; lying with pale, blood-leeched skin. A band of eleven elves - seven males and four females - currently stood there, investigating the massacre that had transpired; a massacre crammed with mysteries.

  The investigators were armed with diverse weaponry, and wore clothes suitable for varying circumstances. These elves were rather young, and equally elegant.

  The leader of the eleven - armed with two thin swords slung across his back and two short scimitars strapped to the rear of his waist, wearing some choice armour-pieces - addressed a question to the elf who was kneeling on one knee - studying a body - beside him.

  "So, what do you think, Lorfindal?" asked Legulus.

  Lorfindal - the vampire specialist - was quiet a bit, intent on his examination.

  "It seems strange, don't you think, the way they have been killed." expressed Lorfindal, a long scythe strapped to his back. "This is not the typical attacking routine of vampires, for they prefer to snap their enemy's neck before sucking their blood. But these elves have been stabbed and hacked, draining them of their precious blood drastically. Even if a vampire is forced to hack their enemy down, they wouldn't hack so much, a single fatal attack and then they leech."

  "It sure seems fishy," said Marry, joining in. She was armed with a specialized bow strung to her back and a hunting knife strapped to her waist; wearing a breast-pte and shin-guards.

  "Not to mention the fact that vampires prefer the internal jugur vein in the neck, while in this case the bites are all over the body, and are highly less messy than a vampire-leech," added Lorfindal.

  "I noticed," said Legulus, moving between the bodies.

  Suddenly, Zranduil's right ear pricked up. He wore choice-armour and had an adorned broadsword and shield slung across his back; two Sai were strapped on either sides of his waist.

  "ATTACKERS!!!" roared Zranduil, unsheathing his sword and freeing his shield before he had even finished the word. A second ter, every single elf had their primary weapon drawn and had started moving into a tight, back-to-back circle.

  Another second ter, out of the tenebrous shadows of the undergrowth, twenty figures emerged; dressed in bck, light-weight armour; wielding thin swords, long scimitars, short sickles, dual-tipped spears, etc. After which, a taller figure emerged. Mary switched her target.

  "My name is Val'rize. I am the head of the Vampire Elite Forces." said the newcomer. "I am here to deliver a message, 'All is not as it seems

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