Nightfall: Last Call

Chapter 5 - No Margin for Error

04:50 AM, April 5th 2026 - Training Chamber, The Howler

Lucia circled Ren slowly, her sharp eyes never leaving him. Her movements were deliberate, graceful, almost predatory, like a shadow stalking its prey.

"You think strength alone is going to save you?" Lucia's voice cut, soft but deadly. "Against vampires, brute force is a fool's weapon. They're faster, stronger, and deadlier than you in every way. If you try to fight them head-on, you'll die."

Ren swallowed hard, his fingers clenching the dagger in his hand hard. 

"So how do I win, then?" Ren asked, his voice steady despite the tension in his body.

Lucia's lips curled into a faint smile, though there was little warmth in it. "You win by being invisible."

Without warning, Lucia lunged forward. Ren barely had time to react before she was behind him, her cold breath brushing against his ear, a dagger pressed lightly to his throat. "You didn't even hear me move," she whispered, her voice like silk. "And if I wanted to, you'd be dead right now."

Ren tensed, his heartbeat hammering in his chest. He didn't even seen her coming.

Lucia withdrew the dagger and stepped back, her eyes gleaming in the low light. "That's what we're going to change."

Ren took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He turned to face her, watching as she flicked the dagger effortlessly between her fingers.

"Stealth isn't just about hiding in the shadows," Lucia continued, her voice cool. "It's about becoming one with your environment. Vampires rely on their heightened senses—sight, sound, even smell. If you can move without alerting them, if you can become nothing more than a breath of wind, you'll have the advantage."

She crossed the room to a table where a row of small, metallic objects sat—bells, barely bigger than Ren's thumb. She handed him one, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Put this on."

Ren turned the small bell over in his hand, questioning in his head what is going on.

"You're going to learn how to move without making a sound," Lucia said, stepping back to observe him. "If I hear that bell, you fail. Again and again, until you understand."

Ren slipped the bell onto his wrist, securing it tightly, the small object feeling far heavier than it looked. He took a deep breath, nodding. "All right. What do I do?"

Lucia smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Simple. You're going to cross the room and retrieve the dagger over there." She pointed to the far wall, where a single dagger lay on a stone pedestal.

Ren glanced at the distance, his mind racing. It was about fifteen feet, but the ground was uneven, with scattered debris—broken glass, loose stones, everything designed to trip him up. He swallowed hard, focusing on his breathing.

"You have one chance," Lucia said softly, her voice like a whisper in the wind. "Move."

Ren crouched low, taking his first tentative step forward, trying to keep his movements slow and deliberate. The bell remained silent, for now, but the weight of it hung heavy on his wrist, a constant reminder of the challenge.

He moved again, carefully placing his foot between two shards of broken glass, his heart pounding in his chest. He could sense Lucia piercing eyes digging into him from behind, but he forced himself to focus, to ignore the distraction.

One step. Another. The bell stayed silent.

He was halfway across the room when, suddenly, he heard it—a soft, barely audible chime. Ren froze, his breath catching in his throat. The bell had rung.

Lucia's voice cut through the quiet, sharp and unforgiving. "You failed."

Ren clenched his jaw, glancing back at her. She hadn't moved, but her eyes were locked on him, unreadable. She gestured toward the starting point.

"Again."

Ren exhaled, a slight relief entered his chest that was full of nerves. She lied about it being just one chance. He returned to the starting point, trying to shake off the tension in his body.

"You're thinking too much," Lucia said, watching him carefully. "Your body is too rigid, your mind too focused on avoiding failure. You need to let go of the fear."

Ren didn't respond, but her words echoed in his mind. Let go of the fear. He crouched low again, his muscles tense but his mind quieter this time. He took a deep breath, allowing himself to feel the room around him—the air, the weight of his body, the ground beneath his feet.

He moved, more fluidly this time, keeping his steps light and steady. One foot in front of the other, not rushing, not hesitating. His mind focused not on the bell, but on the flow of his movements.

The bell stayed silent.

He made it past the halfway point, his breath coming slow and even. The dagger was just a few feet away now. He reached out—

Chime.

Lucia's voice was firm. "Again."

Ren swore under his breath, his frustration spilling over. He turned to face her, the bell still ringing faintly on his wrist. "How am I supposed to do this if I can't make a single mistake?"

"You don't get to make mistakes in this world, Ren," Lucia replied, her eyes narrowing. "Not with vampires. A single sound, a single misstep, and they'll be on you in an instant. You won't get second chances."

Ren ran a hand through his hair, his breath coming in heavy bursts. His mind raced, frustration gnawing at him, but he knew she was right. There was no room for error.

Lucia stepped closer, her voice softer now. "I know this is hard. You're human, and humans rely on noise to ground themselves. But if you want to survive, you have to learn to think like a shadow, not a man. Be silent. Invisible. Only then can you outsmart them."

Ren's eyes met hers, something fierce sparking in his chest. He nodded, swallowing his frustration, and returned to the starting point once more.

This time, when he crouched low, he emptied his mind. There was no bell, no dagger, no room. There was only him and the silence. He moved with the rhythm of the air, his footsteps light, his movements smooth.

One step. Another.

The bell stayed silent.

Ren's heartbeat steadied as he neared the dagger, his focus sharpened. He reached out, his fingers brushing the hilt of the blade. The bell remained quiet. In one swift motion, he grabbed the dagger and stood, the metal cool against his skin.

Lucia smiled, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Better," she said softly. "Much better."

Ren exhaled slowly.

Lucia stepped closer, her expression serious again. "Remember this feeling, Ren. This is what it takes to survive. There will be no forgiveness in battle. No margin for error."

Ren nodded, still catching his breath. "I understand."

Lucia tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment. "Good. Because next time, I won't be going easy on you."