Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: The Dog and the Wolf

Thunder resounded on a cloudless dusk.

The horned ox-like creature rampaged through the ruins, barreling through walls and trampling supplies. The animal tossed his head and bellowed a deep reverberating moo. Everyone dove, avoiding being gored horns or being trampled underhoof.

"Lyudmil, call your damn cow off!!" Vance quickly shifted into a bat flapping madly out of its path.

"I can't it won't listen to me!" Lyudmil ducked and covered.

"You summoned it, send it back!" Vance shouted after landing, shielding Tera and Maria.

"I'm trying!" Lyudmil screamed, pursuing the bovine. What a mess! He blamed Juste. It was all because the old man challenged him to another match that he happily accepted. They sparred once again in the ruin's training field, with Juste wielding his entire arsenal of vampire-killing weaponry against him.

Well if he could use all of his weapons to his advantage, so could Lyudmil. He sensed the creature ramming against the veil between realms, desperate to break through. Lyudmil smirked summoning whatever beast could run to his aid. The massive horned ox came barreling through with the full intent of trampling Juste into dirt.

"No stop! I don't want you to kill him!!" Lyudmil jumped in front of Juste waving his arms at the beast. Juste pulled him out of the way and the ox went rampaging past them towards the ruins, apparently confused by his master's command.

"Hesat's teats!!" Lyudmil snarled, pursuing the ox while screaming at everyone to duck and cover.

"Lyudmil!!!!!"

"Nan get out of the way!!!"

Amalie stood steadfast and unflinching in front of the charging ox. She put her hand out ready to bellow a divine command when Lyudmil jumped in front of her. "Lyudmil get the f-!!" He grabbed the ox by the horns and with all his might, flipped it over on its side. It crashed against the wall, lying motionless until it stirred onto its feet with a shake of its horns.

Lyudmil heaved, catching his breath. Quickly he opened a portal. The ox plodded through with its head hung low as if in shame. It mooed as the door closed.

Lyudmil helped Amalie up, mentally asking if she was okay. Amalie nodded with a shaken smile.

"Well that's one way to do it. Talk about grabbing the bull by the horns." Juste coughed, appearing from behind the rubble. Vance, Tera, and Maria emerged from hiding, giving Lyudmil. questioning looks.

"I'm sorry Juste. I believed I could use my abilities to my advantage, exactly as you did."

"I've years of experience Lyudmil, you don't." Juste crossed his arms, looking at Amalie.

"I don't understand, I could control my other-."

"Just because you can command a few rabbits doesn't mean you have mastery over more powerful creatures." Maria darted in, glaring furiously at Lyudmil. "It takes years. You better learn that quickly before you get everyone killed."

"Maria!" Tera scolded her.

"No, she's right." Lyudmil rubbed his shoulder mortified. "I assumed too much. I'm sorry." He shrunk back from the eyes bearing down at him, quickly retreating.

Amalie sighed heavily. "I'll talk to him." She found her grandson huddled dejectedly in the corner by the well, petting his trusty steed as she lay next to him."Lyudmil."

The vampire lifted his head. "Don't try to make me feel better, grandmother. You know I screwed up."

"You did." Amalie stated point blank.

"Wait." He blinked disbelieved. "You're agreeing with me?"

"Yes." Amalie said honestly. "You overstepped your capabilities and it backfired . You screwed up. But guess what? Every mage does at one point. It's how they learn. You learned from this little mishap, didn't you?"

"I did." Lyudmil wrung his hair. "I learned I'm an absolute failure! I failed as Shaft now I'm failing as Lyudmil. And I nearly got everyone killed because of it! Maria's right, I'm nothing but a burden. Everyone's better off without someone as useless as me."

"Nonsense." Amalie firmly held his hands in hers. "Listen to me, Lyudmil. You are not useless. You are not a burden. You're still learning, and on top of that, regaining what you once lost. No one expects you to recover in a day, so please stop beating yourself up over it."

She pooled her calming aura over him. "Look what you've already accomplished. You're the only vampire with Arcane powers. You're an adept swordfighter backed by divine magic. You can utilize your familiars in ways not even Maria can! You're a fast learner, persevering despite the setbacks. And the biggest one? You've befriended a Belmont! Juste likes you! He keeps sparring with you not only because it's kicking him back into shape, but because he wants you to succeed."

Lyudmil wrinkled his lip. "I find that hard to believe. Juste's an insufferable ass."

"He's a Belmont." Emma waved. "That's how they show affection." She locked him into her gaze. "Joking aside, stop thinking about your failures and start focusing on your achievements. Mistakes will happen. You're going to fuck up, but guess what? Everyone does, even angels. And we learn from them."

Lyudmil gave a weary sigh. "Nan...I."His voice trembled. "Thank you....."

"Think nothing of it, my dearest." Amalie said lovingly. "We're family. We support each other. Normally I'd give you a big angel hug, but I don't want to overstep."

The corner of Lyudmil's mouth creased into a smile. "I would very much like a hug."

Amalie brought him in for an embrace and Lyudmil hugged back, taking some comfort from her presence and words."Thanks Nan. You always knew when I needed that."

"You're welcome." Amalie kissed his cheek, startling him. "Come along." She stood up and tugged his sleeve. "We've got important work to do."

"What are you talking about?" Lyudmil stood. "Haven't we done enough? We've enhanced the ward and gathered numbers on night creatures, what else is there to do?"

"Build your confidence." Amalie answered.

"You've already accomplished that with your pep talk." Lyudmil remarked.

"No. You need to understand what you are capable of. Come along, I know a place where we can begin."

Lyudmil rolled his shoulders, puzzling what his good old granny had in store.