The last glow of sunset had faded in the distance, and the train traveled through the dim wilderness. In a carriage near the front, the conductor sat by the window beside an oil lamp, nodding off. He had not turned a page of the Gospel of Holy Light in his hands for a long time.
Mulan and Handel had left the last carriage and were heading toward the front. They had searched the luggage and sundries at the rear but found no coffin.
To Mulan, that made the vampire's condition fairly clear. He certainly could not be powerful enough to truly withstand sunlight. Most likely, he had not yet fully transformed into a vampire. Daylight made him uncomfortable, but exposure to it was not impossible.
His preferences were obvious, however. Generally speaking, he was unlikely to board or leave a train in broad daylight.
"Professor, are you saying he isn't actually all that powerful?"
Handel had been tense the entire time, one hand resting on the grip of the gun inside his coat. Mulan walked ahead with his cane. They had reached their destination.
"Yes. There are different types of vampires, too. The most powerful are the supernatural beings on the Different-Blood path. Historical sources and research records indicate that they are the true progenitors of vampires. The Holy Temple's blacklist includes two such supernatural beings. Their evolutionary stage is Night Nobles, meaning they are at least sixth-order, perhaps even seventh-order beings."
Mulan spoke casually, glancing back at Handel with a smile.
"This one, however, seems to be a Blood-Taker. They grow slowly, and his current stage is at most a second-order Blood-Seeker. But that doesn't mean we can underestimate him."
Mulan's relaxed smile eased much of Handel's nervousness. His body loosened a little rather than remaining constantly taut, which