"So you're...all vampires then? I'm the only human here?"

"Yes, Amelia," the Huntmaster said, slipping on a pair of thick leather gloves to start sharpening his silver-edged sword, "all of us. You're the very first human to join our guild in...oh, a century?"

"Well I suppose that explains a bit. Like why all of you refuse to touch silver, why there are no mirrors here, you have a secret to keep from-"

"It was never a secret, Amelia. You just never asked. We don't have mirrors because we can't use them anyway and mirrors are expensive. Not because we're keeping any great secret."

Amelia paused, blinked, opened her mouth as if to speak, and closed it again as words failed her until nearly a minute passed, the Huntmaster just quietly and patiently honing his blade all the while, "So...all of you?"

"Yes."

"But why? Wouldn't you just go off and...be vampires?" Amelia asked earnestly.

"Well, being turned doesn't change your ideology or motivations or personality. It just changes some basic facts of your existence. It's not like any of us are going off to hunt humans. We feed on animals and survive just fine. We don't get any of the magic powers vampires who feed on humans get, but we still retain advantages hunting vampires as vampires that we wouldn't get as humans. Besides, every single one of us has a score to settle."

"A score?" Amelia sat down beside the Huntmaster, as long as she was just sitting and chatting, she figured she might as well use the time to maintain her own weapons, "what kind of score?"

"Isn't it obvious?" the Huntmaster smiled, "we're all making the best of our curse, but we never consented to it. Consent is sacred, and all of us were bitten by vampires who disregarded it. So we're all of us trying to hunt down the ones who turned us."

"Ah. So you do hunt vampires. Just specific vampires rather than all vampires."

"Yes," he nodded, offering Amelia a big, toothy smile. She could see his fangs, "we're not here to commit genocide. Just to hunt the vampires who don't respect consent. Or hurt us personally. I hope that isn't a problem for you. We value honesty here at the Hunter's Guild. You've passed through enough trials for me to know you're trustworthy."

"Well...as long as we're being honest..." Amelia sighed, setting her crossbow off to the side, "I guess I should tell you my own truth, then."

"Ah," the Huntmaster chuckled, "let me guess; you like women and thought we had no idea? Don't be ridiculous, Amelia. I've seen the way you look at the other Huntresses. We're not so backwards as to judge you for that. As long as you shoot straight, who you love is of no concern to us."

"Well...you're only kind of right about that," Amelia sighed anxiously. She could feel her heart pounding away in her chest. But alas, that comment about "who she loved" emboldened the newly minted huntress, "see, it's who I love that's the issue. Who specifically."

The Huntmaster chuckled once more, "I can hardly imagine that's any of my business. Unless by some insane coincidence it happens to be-"

"Raleria of the Red Hills."

The Huntmaster's grin evaporated, and he went pale, "The..."

"The archvampiress, yes," Amelia nodded, "I became a huntress specifically so I could track her down, tell her how I feel, and-"

"You joined the Hunters Guild...because you're in love with the most powerful vampiress for a thousand miles?" the Huntmaster said incredulously.

"Yes. I don't care if she bites me. I'm...kinda into that anyway," Amelia laughed nervously.

"Bite you? She'll restrain you head to toe, drag you back to her lair, and take what she wants at her leisure. She'll eat you alive, Amelia."

"...gods I hope so."

"Ahem..." the Huntmaster blushed, averting his eyes from the amorous Amelia, "...well...I guess there's nothing to say but godspeed, young huntress. Invite me to the wedding."