"Delta is good. There are rumors about it being the most populated with vampires, but the city is peaceful."

Mr. Salacosa gave a sideways glance to his son, Arthur, who was in the passenger seat. The boy had his eyes closed, head leaning to the window, but he was surely awake and listening. The proof would be his fluttering eyelashes.

"Were you able to say goodbye to your friends?" Mr. Salacosa asked.

Art, his nickname, sat properly and sighed quietly upon hearing his father's question. He absentmindedly answered, "I said my goodbyes to the dean." Then shifting in his seat, he continued, "I heard that there are many social clubs in City D. I'll look to see where I can sign up. Are we not there yet?"

He knew his father was only going to keep talking about him making friends. Being a single father with an only child son, of course he would be worried about him. He feels guilty about leaving his son alone and not spending enough time with him due to work. He will be comforted to know he is not going to lock himself up at home anymore.

The father also knew how his son deliberately evaded the topic, so he did not push it. This is a usual and endless talk they always have every time they meet. They are both letting each other off easy, a truce because they did not want to ruin their first day at Delta.

Mr. Salacosa pointed a finger in front and slowed down the car as they took a turn.

"Almost there."

Art followed his father's line of sight and saw that as they made a sharp turn, a long, wide road appeared in front of them. The sunset could be seen to their left as they exited the dark forest, and hues of orange and yellow rays pierced through the car windows. They were met with a vast land of green grass. There were wildflowers as well and birds flying home to hide before dark. The view was so magical that it seemed like they entered a portal to another world. However, what caught Art's attention were the gigantic gates at the end of the road.

His eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't help glancing back at his father with questions in his stares.

"Yes, this is Delta," his father said.

Art immediately asked again, "Is it because it is teeming with vampires so they built those gates and walls?"

Mr. Salacosa laughed and shook his head. "No. Quite the opposite. In the past, it is because there were humans that the fortress was built. Anyway, that was then, but now it is much different. Humans and vampires can co-exist peacefully at present."

Art looked at the gates that were getting bigger and bigger as they drove towards it. His father saw a rare glint of excitement in his eyes that Mr. Salacosa could not stop from hoping and praying. He convinced himself that this was the best decision for both of them. There was no going back now.

Art thought that with these huge walls and gates that the security would be a little lax. However, contrary to his thoughts, the security here was even tighter. The car was scanned, his father gave their identification cards, and their recommendation and entry letters. When everything was confirmed after a full ten minutes, they were finally able to pass through the tunnel.

"What's with the security?" Art asked as he watched the bustling crowd in the streets. He lifted his chin and played alone, challenging himself to successfully count how many floors the tall buildings have before the car whooshes by. He stopped when he failed.

"The director," Mr. Salacosa started but quickly changed his words when he realized something. "I mean, the son of the director."

"What about him?" Art situated himself comfortably on his seat, attentively listening to his father.

Mr. Salacosa shrugged his shoulders. "He is the Montessori heir, an aristocrat. You know that vampire aristocrats didn't mix themselves in the human crowds, right?"

Art slowly shook his head when he failed to recall ever knowing about such a thing. His father's eyebrows raised a bit, finding himself guilty again for not even teaching this basic stuff to his son.

"The aristocrats were the most affected by the Eternal War. When the human and the vampire species reached a consensus, the vampires did so because of the common ones. But the aristocrats hid and rarely showed. Only the Montessoris of the Delta City are out in the open, but they have always been here, so the aristocrats only sent this security to be rest assured."

Mr. Salacosa's explanation did not make much sense to Art, who has never studied about vampires and only heard some rumors. But he was still able to grasp the big points. Like how an aristocrat is a noble, considered to be one of the important people, so they should not be unguarded.

Art was only curious about one thing. They were vampires. What is there to be afraid of? Humans? Heh.

"They don't teach you this at school?"

Art gave a dumbfounded look at his father. "Why would they teach about vampires at school? At most, there is gossip and some unbelievable legends."

It was his father's turn to be surprised as he slowly parked to the side of the road where a young boy was waving at them. He glanced at Art to answer him, "This is my mistake. I did not check which schools you enrolled in." Then he swiftly rolled down the window to his side and greeted the boy who was wearing a bright smile.

On second look, he did not actually look young. He was just short and skinny, but he seemed to be in his early 20s already. He waved the envelope in his hand and greeted them with a welcoming smile.

"Hello, Mr. Salacosa! Hello, Arthur!" He stared at Arthur and handed him the envelope he was holding. He said, "Arthur, don't forget to attend the welcome party later."

Arthur creased his forehead and reluctantly took the envelope from him. He came and went like air. He was quickly gone after that, and the father and son could only look at each other.

Mr. Salacosa began driving again while Arthur inspected the envelope in his hand. It was pure white, neat and smooth, with a gold plain seal. Art opened it and carefully took out a golden paper. It was just like the envelope, thin, neat, and smooth. Art felt some bulges at the back of the paper so he flipped it around.

Written on it were three golden words that were elegantly calligraphed with a black outline: Welcome to Delta.