Human myth mentions that the vampire is also susceptible to various other items, including such disassociated objects as crosses and wooden stakes and even venturing to such absurd lengths as garlic and “holy” wafers. However, most of these myths are merely that, and only one or two hold any real truth. The wooden stake, for example, is believed to be fatal to the vampire once plunged through its heart—but the same outcome would naturally be expected if one stabbed any living creature in the same location. Likewise, legends that an arbitrary herb or other foodstuff possesses the ability to subdue a creature for no discernable reason are almost certainly derived only from pagan rituals and lore; the concept of crosses, or “holy” water or wafers, bringing the vampire harm is also pagan in root, having become inextricably entwined with Judeo-Christian beliefs during the Catholic empire in the millennia following the fall of Rome.
      The myth of the vampire’s aversion to crosses does hold a kernel of truth. Numerous cases of vampires recoiling from or being burned by certain crucifixes have been documented and verified, but the reason does not lie with the notion of divine blessing or the power of faith since there have also been recorded instances where such objects elicited no reaction at all. Instead, the truth in the myth is held in the material which makes up the item: silver.
      Vampires are essentially humans who have partially crossed into the dimension inhabited by the shinigami—also dubbed the ‘spiritual’ realm—and because this state is unnatural their core being draws heavily on the energies of that realm in order to sustain them. Silver seems to act as a ground for this draw of energy, causing it to be dispersed back into its natural environment without being absorbed by the vampire, should a vampire come into contact with it. This siphoning-away of energy is harmful to the vampire, and manifests outwardly in severe burns at the point of contact, even occasionally through articles of clothing, and prolonged exposure is thought to be fatal.
      Silver also seems to react violently with the vampire’s blood, disintegrating and oxidizing within seconds of exposure and preventing the vampire’s blood from carrying oxygen to the rest of its body while still acting as an energy ground. The reason for this reaction remains unclear; perhaps the transfer of ‘spiritual’ energy acts as a catalyst for the chemical process, but again, no significant studies have been done concerning the matter.
      The last of the vampire’s physiological changes were the canines, or fangs. Contrary to popular culture, a vampire’s canines are not obviously lengthened, but merely sharpened to fine points that extrude a few millimeters beyond the normal plane of the teeth. The difference is almost imperceptible, and only those who know what they are looking for may see it—and sometimes the change escapes even them.
      The purpose of the unique canines is, naturally, the means to satisfy the mythical bloodlust. As has been mentioned before, the vampire’s body draws heavily upon the energies of the ‘spiritual’ realm for sustenance; however, the relationship is more akin to breathing than actual feeding. To continue its survival, the vampire requires another form of ‘spiritual’ energy: one found almost exclusively in the blood of humans. A vampire may be able to go a span of some years without ‘feeding’, as they call it, but unless its hunger is at some point satisfied it will gradually become more sluggish, and its body will weaken to a degree.
      As of now, no records exist of any vampire succumbing to starvation from blood, but the possibility has not been ruled out.