(here Alucard offers a bit of exposition as to what it is to be a vampire.)
"Do you know why a Vampire is considered the most dangerous of the monsters of Nocturna, boy?" Alucard asked, deftly parrying his trainee's sword strikes.
"they're cunning? Because they are the most intelligent of the monsters? Capable of hatching plans and running empires?" the boy, Alex, asked, thrusting out only to have his blade knocked aside.
"That is truly something to fear, an intelligent beast, but not quite." Alucard said, tapping his blade to Alex's in a succession of strikes. "The answer is simple."
"Because of their power?" Alex asked, striking from a diagonal point.
"Yes, you've hit the nail on the head." Alucard said, his own blade just barely turning his trainee's wide.
"The Vampire is powerful beyond belief. Anyone whose soul they drink up gives them another life to spend in battle. They do not age, and conventional weapons are incapable of taking one of their many lives. Anyone they drink from and do not kill becomes a loyal servant, either in the form of a ghoul or another vampire. But a vampire is not without weakness. Cut off its head, and no matter how many lives it has, they will all be extinguished. Pierce its heart, and the same is true. But only with blessed weapons. Try and hack off a vampire's head with an ordinary Iron sword, and they'll simply get back up. Magic, holy sanctity, and Silver are their only weaknesses that men can use as weapons against them."
All throughout this speech Alucard was deftly dueling Alex in a prolonged fencing match.
"But the most terrible power of the vampire is its ability to read its opponent. they delve deep into the mind of their foe and sense his killer instinct. They feel his thoughts and move to dodge his attacks before they even begin. That is why we teach young Monster Hunters like you in the way we do. Strike a whole plane, not a single point, do not let emotions make your decisions. Move strategically. Know where a vampire is, and where he's going to be, and plan your attack accordingly."
Alex's blade slipped past Alucard's own and embedded itself into his chest with a sickening thunk. The blade sank deep into his heart and he fell over.
"M-master!" Alex yelled, surprised that Alucard hadn't stopped the blow like all the others.
"Ah-hahahaha." Alucard said, sitting up, much to his student's surprise.
"M-master...You...You're..."
"I'm fine, Alex. An excellent blow, but it will take more than that to fell me. had your blade been made of silver, you'd have slain a normal vampire. But i am no ordinary Vampire." Alucard said, pulling the sword out of his chest. Alex was at a loss for words. His master was a vampire, the very creature his kind were sworn to kill.
"Don't conflict yourself with reasoning between me being a vampire and you being a hunter." Alucard said, reading his thoughts. "I am a Monster Hunter first and foremost, no matter what form of man I may be, living or undead."
Alex clenched his jaw for a moment, before he nodded, his face returning to a smile as his master reasoned his doubts away. "Thank you master. It's good to know we've got such a powerful vampire as one of our greatest members."
"Indeed. You're now privy to a secret that not many know. Keep it well, lest there be trouble. Not everyone sees as clearly as you." Alucard said, ruffling Alex's hair.
"Of course, sir." Alex said, nodding. "Not a soul will know from me."
"Good lad. Now, let's go and see what the headmistress is cooking." Alucard turned and began to lead Alex to the kitchen.
"Umm..Master, if you're a Vampire, do you really need to eat?" Alex asked as he followed behind.
"No, but it doesn't mean I can't eat, even if only to keep up appearances. Besides, even if it is animal blood, meat-juices are savory and delicious." Alucard said, flashing a smile that showed the row of sharp fangs his teeth could become at will. Alex wasn't even phased by this, he was too happy that his master wasn't dead.
