Rayleigh and Alex were halfway up the stairs when Alex spoke.
"So, are you going to do it? Are you going to turn Bram into a null entity?"
Rayleigh wasn't sure. He felt bad for Bram and wanted to help, but he also didn't want to kill him. Rayleigh, remember what Uldess said about making null entities? He finally understood what he meant.
"I mean, I'm still thinking about it. I am not sure I would be able to get over the guilt of killing him, even if he is asking me to do it."
Alex put his arm around Rayleigh.
"Whatever you decide, I will be there with you."
Rayleigh was thankful for Alex saying that. Though he teased Rayleigh constantly, small stuff like this showed how much he cared about him. As they reached the top of the stairs Veygra looked up at them.
"Whers's the master?"
Rayleigh had trouble looking at him. He felt the pang of guilt as he tried to tell him that Bram and Uldess were still down in the arena, properly saying goodbye to each other. Alex stepped forward.
"Bram and Uldess are still down in the arena, Rayleigh did a number on Bram."
Rayleigh was thankful that Alex was there with him. Alex was always good at confrontation. He had gotten himself and Rayleigh out of plenty of trouble.
"I see, so that means that you have obtained The Alucard, I assume."
Rayleigh was about to try say something when Uldess and Bram appeared. Rayleigh could see that both of them had been crying, and he could smell alcohol.
"Master, I am sorry that you have lost."
Bram walked over to a chair and sat down. Rayleigh could see that he had a slight limp.
"Veygra, I have something I need to tell you. I want you to take over the shop."
Veygar looked like he was about to faint.
"Why do you want me to take over the shop? Are you going somewhere master?"
Bram winced in pain as he moved around on the chair trying to get comfy.
"I am planning on becoming a null entity and accompanying Rayleigh and the others as they try to find Rayleigh's soul forged weapon, and to teach him how to use The Alucard."
Veygra looked around at the others trying to see if what Bram said was a joke.
"But why? Why do you need to go with them and leave me here? Why not let me go instead?"
Bram stood up and walked over to Veygra, and hugged him.
"I am sorry Veygra, but I am the only one who fully mastered The Alucard, and also you can see it, can't you? My body is finally breaking."
Veygra pushed Bram away and Rayleigh could see the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I thought you were a dhampir. You are able to live forever, right?"
Bram looked away, not trying to meet his apprentice's eyes.
"You know that is only true for proper dhampir's. I am an artificial dhampir, I am nothing more than a disgrace to the vampiric council."
Veygra stepped forward and held Bram's hand.
"Is there any other way?"
Bram held Veygra close and Rayleigh could see that Bram was now crying again. Rayleigh wished he could disappear. Why did this have to happen?
"The only other way is if I could get golden blood, but the vampiric council are the only ones that can make it and they refuse to acknowledge artificial dhampir's"
Rayleigh saw Uldess look away, though he tried to hide it Rayleigh could see his lip quiver.
"There is one thing I need to know before I transform. Do you forgive me? Do you forgive me for killing you parents and the rest of your clan?"
Rayleigh was surprised by what Bram just said, but he then remembers that The Alucard could make its users go insane. Veygra looked up at Bram.
"Of course I forgive you. You saved me from a life of despair, I was arranged to marry someone I didn't want to, I was abused almost regularly by my parents because I didn't reach their standards. You saved me, master, and for that I am entirely grateful."
Bram looked like he had a huge weight lifted off him.
"Thank you Veygra, if it weren't for you I might have just stayed in a cave and waited for my body to break down."
Bram let go of Veygra and walked over to Rayleigh.
"Listen Rayleigh, I need you to picture me as a null entity that is there to heal you, I don't care what name you give me or what element I have, just make sure I can heal people."
Rayleigh nodded and walked over to Veygra.
"I am sorry that I need to do this."
Veygra nodded.
"No, it's fine. I knew that something like this would happen eventually. I have made my peace with what is about to happen and I will not let myself go, master has put me in charge of the shop, and I feel like you are going to need my help."
Rayleigh felt a bit better, knowing that Bram and Veygra had said goodbye seemed to make it easier for him to go through with the transformation. Uldess stepped forward.
"Are you going to need my help or are you going to be fine?"
Rayleigh shook his head, he had realized something.
"I'll be fine, Uldess, and I have decided something, if I have to kill someone, I want them to at least say goodbye to someone they care about."
Uldess smiled.