Master Fu, invited Mordax into his home for tea. Mordax, still wary but intrigued, nodded and followed.
Inside, the house was traditionally Japanese—quiet, clean, and filled with the scent of incense. He sat cross-legged on a tatami mat around a low wooden table. Master Fu shuffled off toward the kitchen.
"Green tea or Acacia?" Fu called out.
"Acacia," Mordax replied, eyes scanning the room. Something felt... off.
As he looked around, an odd sensation crept over him. It wasn't fear—it was a whisper. A pull.
Standing up, he followed the invisible tug until he noticed a strange, ancient lantern. As he lifted it, a faint click echoed through the quiet room. Turning around, he noticed the table had shifted. Beneath it was a small dug-out compartment.
Inside sat a geometric prism-shaped box, etched with symbols and softly glowing patterns. Mordax knelt and opened the lid. The top compartment revealed a collection of odd accessories—brooches, earrings, pins, rings.
One ring caught his eye: a thick black band with a circle top, surrounded by four pointed diamond shapes. In the center glowed a chartreuse green cat paw print.
Before he could touch it—
"That," Master Fu said from the doorway, "is a Miraculous."
Mordax turned, surprised but not shocked. "What the hell is a 'Miraculous'?"
Fu stepped forward slowly, setting the tea tray down.
"Magical jewelry," he explained. "Each Miraculous grants power when bonded with a Kwami. They transform the wearer into an animal-themed being of power and purpose."
Mordax narrowed his eyes. "Right. And what's a Kwami?"
"Spiritual beings. Cosmic entities," Fu said. "They embody abstract concepts and allow the bearer to channel great power."
Mordax scoffed. "The only thing close to magic I've seen is this—"
He raised a hand, summoning a flickering fireball. It pulsed in his palm like a heartbeat.
Master Fu didn't flinch.
"Come," he said, his voice calm. "Charge at me, boy."
Mordax's eyes narrowed. He dashed forward, fist cocked, flame trailing behind.
But in a blur—Fu vanished.
Before Mordax could react, he felt a breath on his neck.
"You're not the only vampire," Fu whispered.
CRACK.
A swift chop to the neck dropped Mordax to one knee, dazed.
"Lesson one," Fu said, stepping past him. "Never assume you're the strongest in the room."