Jun Mochisuki's fantastical world of The Case Study of Vanitas is filled with magic and vampires - but not just any run-of-the-mill vampires. Dracula and Edward Cullen will find they have a few disadvantages compared to the residents of Altus Paris.

The creation of vampires does not relate to divine punishment or demonic ambitions in The Case Study of Vanitas. Instead, it was a result of a science experiment. An alchemist by the name Paracelsus conducted an experiment in order to prove his World Formula Theory. This was the idea that the world could be broken down into simple equations that could then be changed in order to alter pieces of reality. An example would be if someone had the plague, one could theoretically tamper with their formula and rid them of the illness. However, this experiment failed, resulting in an incredibly widespread backlash that interfered with reality itself. This became known as the Babel Incident, and through it, a new element known as Astermite came into being - as did vampires.

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Noe Archiviste's Red Eyes

Noe's Red Eyes

Vampires were once humans, but their formula was changed. In the immediate aftermath of the Babel Incident, people would go to sleep humans and wake up as vampires. The first vampire, known as the Vampire of the Crimson Moon, was Faustina, who became the vampire queen. It has been implied that because of her status and power, other vampires are not able to refuse her orders, and Ruthven has confirmed that if anyone ever insults the queen, most vampires fly into a blind rage. The vampire queen has retainers known as Beastias, or the Queen's Fangs, who are strong warriors that protect her and fight in her name. Two known Beastias are Veronica de Sade and Loki Oriflamme.

Vampires have the ability to influence the World Formula directly because of their ability to see it with their red eyes, and many use it in combat such as Dominique de Sade and her family creating ice, Lord Ruthven using fire, and Noe Archiviste walking on walls. Additionally, vampires possess 'true names' that they are told never to share with anyone else because their true names are a direct link to their very existence. These names can be corrupted through meddling with the World Formula, but there are only two known beings with the skill to do so: Naenia and Vanitas. These true names seem to consist not only of a name itself but also a title. An example would be Amerlia Ruth's true name being Florifel with the title She Who Guides Spring. These names seem to hint at the vampire's personality and preferences as seen with Chloe d'Apchier's being Canorus, She Who PLays Snow Crystals and her companion, Jean-Jaques' being Aprix, He Who Nestles Up to the Last Snows. Vanitas has often commented that a true name suites the vampire who possesses it.

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The vampires of The Case Study of Vanitas follow some classic vampiric staples such as increased speed, strength, and healing, but the usual draw back is gone: vampires do not need blood to survive. Blood, either from a human or another vampire, for these bats serve as a boost of magical energy, allowing them to easily refigure formulas or heal from injuries. After the Babel Incident, humans and vampires had devolved into a war which resulted in vampires consuming more blood for healing than they normally would have taken, stirring up fear and prejudice.

After the war with humans, vampires removed themselves to another dimension named Altus which reflects the human world. There, vampires developed their own culture and politics, but they are not completely separated from the human world. They still hold some administrative positions and some vampires choose to live among human. There are, in rare cases, vampire and human coupling which result in dhampir, half vampires. These dhampirs are not completely welcome in either world and are more likely to group with other dhams. The information broker Dante and his companions Johann and Riche are such examples. Nowadays, blood is seen more as an indulgence, like wine. Some vampires can become addicted to blood, however, which leaves them with violent cravings. Some vampires even have a special skill in relation to drinking blood like how Noe possesses an Archiviste bloodline ability that allows him to view someone's memories through drinking their blood for the first time.

The Vampire of the Blue Moon's Mark of Possession

mark-of-posession

There are specific rules to blood drinking in The Case Study of Vanitas. Noe has stated that it is illegal to drink blood from someone unwilling, and vampires can leave a bit of their power with people they've drunk from. If a vampire drinks enough blood and has an intent to drink again, they can leave behind something called a mark of possession. This appears as a small mark unique to the vampire, somewhat like a tattoo, on a person's body, although it is unclear if a mark of possession only works on humans since there has yet to be a vampire bearing one. Vanitas is the only person we've seen with such a mark, one on his neck from Jeanne that looks like a thorny rose, and one on his wrist from the Vampire of the Blue Moon, also known as the original Vanitas or Luna. The latter seems to spread, forming what appear to be cracks down the human's arm the more he invokes Vanitas' power.

The Vampire of the Blue Moon serves as a boogeyman figure to vampires of the crimson moon. The Vampire of the Blue Moon was an outcast among the other vampires, and it is said because of this isolation and ridicule, they crafted a magical grimoire called the Book of Vanitas. This book has the incredibly terrifying power to actually access a vampire's true name, mangling it completely. Doing so curses vampires, leaving them bloodthirsty and aggressive with the desire to kill everyone in their path. Their name is converted into something called a malnomen, and this is the fate that vampires fear more than anything else.

There was only one way to stop a curse bearer, and that for a Bourreau to kill them. A Bourreau is a vampire who is paying for the crimes of their family; they are reduced to being nothing but emotionless killing machines under the control of the vampire senate. The Hellfire Witch, Jeanne, is one such executioner.

A malnomen by the name of Naenia, or Charlatan, personally sets out to corrupt true name, and while some vampires consent to becoming curse bearers, like Jean-Jaques and Loki Oriflamme, many are helpless against her attacks. But once a human appeared claiming the name Vanitas and wielding the blue moon vampire's book, things changed drastically. Vanitas uses the book's abilities to access a vampire's true name in order to heal malnomens, and that is where the anime starts.

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