Castlevania: Awakening

Introduction

In the original Castlevania: Lords of Shadow we learned that Gabriel Belmont - mightiest warrior of the illustrious Brotherhood of Light -  became a vampire in order to annihilate the greatest threat known to man – the demon known as the Forgotten One. Gabriel drank the blood of Laura, the cursed vampire, in order to be able to withstand and defeat humanity’s bane.

In this version of the story, Gabriel had simply been a Brotherhood warrior that was sent on a quest by Zobek, his superior, to defeat the Dark Lords. Having done this led to Gabriel's ultimate betrayal by Zobek who had only used him to acquire the powers for himself.

The majority of the first game’s adventures holds true but for one major plot variant: Gabriel was never married.
This alters the events of the Belmonts drastically as their story is now re-imagined - it begins 50 years after humanity’s salvation by the vampire’s hand. 

Gabriel is now an immortal being, residing within an abandoned castle high above a small mountain village.  
His days are spent in solitude as the mightiest vampire of all, Dracul, the Devil as the villagers call him. 

None had actually seen him in person or known him to approach the village but they were convinced his presence was the reason so much evil remained in their world. And while they knew of his exploits with the brotherhood, his brave and noble deeds were forgotten and even spurned in the light of what he had become. Many a brave ranger from the town had attempted to affront his castle but none ever returned. Most met their doom simply on the journey, for the heavy forest surrounding the village was plagued with lesser brute vampires and other monstrous creatures.

 There was only one brave and determined ranger by the name of Garrett Randstadt who had ever entered the most dreaded lair of the vampire. He also had never returned and many spoke darkly of the fate that had befallen him. He was their greatest man and his loss was a grievous blow to the town. 

He had left behind two young children, twins; a boy and a girl by the names of Laevon and Laeleth.
Their dear mother had been taken from them too soon during childbirth and now their father as well. The twins however had an indescribable bond – a friendship and love between them that none could match. 

Laevon quickly assumed the role his father had left as he had trained well with Garrett before his parting. At only thirteen years of age, Laevon had proven he was a man by caring for his sister and by his skills with the crossbow. He could put many of the older and more experienced rangers to shame.

This story begins when the twins are twenty-seven years of age. They occupy their parent’s home and Laevon is now the Captain of the town’s rangers. As hardship strengthened him he developed into a skilled, cunning and resiliently brave man. He quickly became the hero of the village as he always proved to be the most fearless of all. He inspired all his men to protect their livelihood and to never run from the home they all loved so dear. 

His appearance dark, tall and lean with rich brown hair long about his neck; his eyes that of the most splendid, snappy emerald. His face proud but incredibly compassionate for one who had seen so much suffering. He is a fair and honest man that thinks only of his family’s safety and honor.

It is always in his mind to find out what happened to his father and avenge him.

Laeleth is quite opposite in appearance to her brother.
Laeleth is also tall but quite graceful. She has kind, sky-blue eyes and long, wavy mahogany hair. She possesses a calm, quiet nature where she is much more inclined to bury herself away in books or the surrounding woods.
Laeleth loves the forest and all its creatures as well as herbs and ancient lore. She is quite feminine and of a soft and gentle beauty that balances out her brother's rasher demeanor. She has a very giving, compassionate nature in which she always sees the good in others. 

Despite her quiet solitude Laeleth is somewhat independent. While she loves and respects her brother she cannot abide being stifled within the village at all times and, much to Laevon's dismay, is usually trying to escape into the woods on some adventure to collect and explore.
Her brother would much prefer she assume a “normal” life of settling down and marrying some able and respectable man. But Laeleth has no such interest as the villagers are quite common and boring to her; her only friend being one of the priests, an ancient man by the name of Father Nicholas. He also shares her passion for lore and God's natural kingdom.
Together they spent many hours poring over the old tales and studying alchemy. Of particular interest to her were the scrolls recounting the Brotherhood of Light. She had read and re-read these tales many times and was greatly intrigued with Gabriel Belmont's history. 

Laeleth knew quite well what he had become and what people said about him regarding her father's disappearance; but secretly she believed there was far more to the story than the obvious. Surely a man of such great nobility and honor could not have so willingly given into the darkness?

 
The most unique thing about Laeleth however is her unusual visions and dreams. She is haunted most nights by premonitions she can't explain.
Not being able to understand or interpret them she has always been withdrawn from the rest of the village. People consider her strange but out of respect for Laevon they do not normally question her withdrawn personality. They suspect the trauma from losing her father could have been the cause of her peculiar nature. Even Laevon is unsure how to feel about his sister’s malady.
But despite this unusual affliction they had managed to live comfortably and quietly for many years.

And so life would've continued normally, uneventful and slowly, if it had not been for that one fateful day in late autumn.