Greendale looked exactly like the kind of town I had never been allowed to enter in my old life.
Stone walls, not very high but solid. A wooden gate reinforced with iron. Lanterns lit here and there as the sun dipped behind the trees. People moved in and out under the watchful eyes of two bored-looking guards.
As our carriage approached, the guards straightened, recognizing the banner on the side.
A silver leaf crossed by a green vine.
Alice: That is the crest of House Everleaf, Leo. A minor noble house, but well-respected. Their influence is strong in this region.
Good to know.
"Open the gate!" one of the guards shouted. "It's Lady Everleaf's carriage!"
The gate creaked as it lifted. We passed under it and entered Greendale.
Inside, the town was simple: narrow streets, wooden houses with stone foundations, chimneys smoking, the smell of stew, wet earth, and animals. Children stopped to stare at the carriage. Merchants watched with practiced eyes, already calculating if there was profit to be made.
I sat beside the driver, eyes scanning everything.
Old habit.
Alice: No hostile intent detected, Leo. Mana presence is low overall. This is a peaceful town.
For now, I thought.
The carriage rolled toward a large building near the center of the town – a two-story structure with a green-tiled roof and an old wooden sign swinging over the entrance.
A carved mug and a leaf.
"The Green Mug Inn," the driver muttered. "Same place as always."
The carriage stopped. The captain barked orders, and the soldiers began unloading some luggage.
Lady Elenora stepped out first. She looked around with calm familiarity. Alyssia followed, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
The innkeeper, a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard and pointed ears slightly shorter than Elenora's, came rushing out.
"Lady Everleaf!" he exclaimed, bowing quickly. "Welcome back to Greendale, my lady. We have your rooms ready as requested."
"Thank you, Garlen," Elenora said. "We had… a small incident on the road, but everything is under control now."
Garlen glanced at the soldiers, then at me sitting on the front of the carriage. His eyes lingered for a moment on my red hair.
"And this young man…?"
"Our savior," Elenora answered simply. "Make sure he has a room, a hot bath, and a proper meal. Put it on my account."
Garlen's brows shot up.
"Of course, my lady," he said immediately, his tone warming toward me. "Right this way, young master."
Young master, huh.
That was new.
I jumped down from the carriage and followed him into the inn.
The inside of The Green Mug was warm and noisy.
A big fireplace burned on one side, filling the air with the smell of wood and roasting meat. Several tables were already occupied by travelers, merchants, and a few adventurers in leather armor. A bard in the corner played a soft tune on a stringed instrument.
Conversations quieted a little when we walked in.
Two soldiers, a noble lady, a young elven girl, and… me.
Their eyes went to the crest on Elenora's cloak, then to my face.
I felt the weight of their stares but ignored them.
"Garlen," Lady Elenora said, "prepare a private table for us in the back. We will eat after we wash off the road dust."
"Right away, my lady."
She turned to me.
"Leo, you can bathe first. Garlen will show you the bathhouse. After that, come to the back room. We have some things to discuss."
"All right," I said.
The bathhouse was in a small annex behind the inn. Garlen handed me a rough towel and some cheap but clean soap.
"If you need anything else, just shout," he said. "And, uh… thank you for protecting the lady on the road."
I gave him a small nod.
The water was hot.
I sat in the wooden tub, watching the steam rise. For a long moment, I did nothing. No thinking, no planning. Just… breathing.
Hot water on skin that wasn't scarred, bruised, or burned.
This feels… strange.
Alice: Does it feel bad?
No, I answered. Just… new.
I washed the dried blood off my arms, my neck, my chest. The dagger lay on a nearby bench, within easy reach. Old habits didn't die just because my body was new.
I closed my eyes.
In my old life, bathing was a luxury. Sometimes, we went weeks without it. The smell of blood clung to everything. To have clean water, heat, and quiet…
This is what a normal person might call a simple day, I thought.
Alice: You can get used to it, Leo.
I leaned back against the tub.
"Hey, Alice," I murmured, voice low enough that only she could hear in my mind. "My race… if someone uses a spell to scan it, can they see I'm a vampire?"
Alice: Standard identification spells will see you as "Humanoid – Unknown Variant". Your Blood Emperor Lineage is mostly sealed. However, strong mages might notice something odd if they inspect you carefully.
"So I should avoid strong mages staring at me too hard," I muttered.
Alice: For now, yes. Until your position in this world is secure.
Position.
Life.
School.
Friends.
Words that had never belonged to me before.
I finished washing, stood up, and dried myself. Garlen had left a simple set of clean clothes for me – nothing special, just a plain shirt and trousers, but better than my travel-worn ones.
When I was dressed, I strapped the dagger back to my belt and headed inside.
The private room in the back of the inn was smaller than I expected.
A rectangular table, a few chairs, a window with the shutters half-open. A lantern on the wall lit the room with warm, yellow light.
Lady Elenora sat at the head of the table, her posture straight but relaxed. Alyssia sat to her right, hands folded in her lap. The captain stood by the door like a silent guardian.
On the table, plates of bread, roasted meat, vegetables, and a pot of steaming soup waited.
"Sit, Leo," Elenora said, motioning to the chair across from her. "Eat. We can talk while we do."
I didn't need to be told twice.
The moment I took a bite, my eyes widened.
The meat was simple, but it tasted better than anything I'd had in years. The bread was fresh, the soup hot and savory.
So this is what food tastes like when you're not eating between missions…
Alice: Your vampire body processes food normally, although blood will be a much stronger source of power. For now, this is good for your human appearance.
Right. Human.
I forced myself to eat at a controlled pace, not like a starving dog.
Alyssia watched me curiously over her cup.
"So, Leo," she began after a while, "where did you learn to fight like that?"
I swallowed.
"I just… grew up in a rough place," I said. It wasn't a lie. "If you don't learn to fight, you die."
Her expression softened.
"That's… sad," she murmured.
Elenora's eyes stayed on me, sharp and evaluating.
"Are you truly a peasant?" she asked. "Or is there more to your story?"
I met her gaze.
"I'm not nobility," I answered. That part, at least, was true. "I come from a small village far from here. When I realized I had talent with mana, I decided to try for the Academy."
"And how did you find out?" she pressed. "Did someone test you? A village mage?"
"I… felt it," I said. "When I was young, I could sense things. Move mana a little. But there was no one to teach me. Recently, I learned how to use it better. That's all."
She studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Fine," she said. "I won't pry more for now. Everyone has secrets. Even nobles."
Alyssia let out a small sigh of relief.
"Mother, you're scaring him," she said lightly.
"I doubt it is that easy to scare him," Elenora replied.
She wasn't wrong.
Elenora set down her cup.
"Leo, the Royal Magic Academy of the Elven Kingdom is not a simple place," she said. "It has strict rules, strong teachers, dangerous training, and students from powerful families. You will need backing, or at least a reason for them not to crush you."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I thought the Academy existed to teach talented people, not crush them."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"In theory, yes. In practice, it is a nest of politics. Talent draws attention. Attention draws envy. Envy can be deadly."
"So you're saying I should hide how strong I am," I said.
"Until you understand the rules of the game," she agreed. "Show enough talent to pass the exam and receive proper guidance. No more."
Alice: She is correct, Leo. Exposing your full power too early will complicate your plans for a quiet life.
Quiet life.
I nodded.
"I understand."
Elenora relaxed a little.
"The Academy entrance examinations will begin in about two weeks," she continued. "We will reach Lethrion in three days. You will have time to rest, buy proper robes, and read about the Academy's structure."
"Two weeks, huh," I said. "Plenty of time to get used to this world."
Alyssia leaned forward, her eyes shining.
"I've been studying for the exam for months," she said. "I know the basic structure! They test your mana capacity, control, theory knowledge and… a little bit of combat."
That last part made her squirm slightly.
"You don't like fighting?" I asked.
She hesitated.
"I… don't like killing," she said. "But I know how to defend myself. Mother made sure of that."
"As any noble heiress should," Elenora added calmly.
Alyssia lifted her hand slightly.
"Um… Leo," she said, a little shy, "can you use any spells yet? I mean, actual named spells, not just mana circulation?"
I thought of the blood arrow that had pierced two trees in a row.
"Some basic things," I said carefully. "Nothing impressive."
"Would you show me?" she asked, eyes bright. "Maybe tomorrow, outside the town? We could trade spells! I can use basic wind and light magic."
Alice: This could be a good opportunity to see the average skill level of noble mages in this world.
Yeah, I thought. And a chance to practice not looking like a monster.
"Sure," I said aloud. "Tomorrow."
Alyssia smiled, and for a second, she looked less like a noble young lady and more like a normal girl excited about sharing a hobby.
Something inside my chest moved strangely.
I wasn't used to that feeling.
After the meal, Elenora stood.
"Garlen arranged a small room for you on the second floor," she said. "The soldiers will sleep in the common room. Alyssia and I have our usual quarters."
She paused at the door and looked back at me.
"Leo. Whatever your past is… you have a chance now to build something new. Do not waste it."
I held her gaze.
"I don't plan to," I said.
She nodded once and left with the captain.
Alyssia lingered by the door for a second.
"Good night, Leo," she said.
"Good night."
Then she was gone too.
I sat alone in the quiet room for a moment, listening to the muffled sounds of the inn outside: laughter, music, footsteps, clinking mugs.
A normal night in a normal town.
For most people.
Alice: Your heartbeat is slightly elevated, Leo.
I'm… just not used to this, I answered. People talking to me without giving me orders or running away from me. It's weird.
Alice: You will adapt. That is one of your talents as well.
I snorted softly.
"Let's go see the room," I muttered.
The room Garlen had given me was small but clean.
A single bed with a straw mattress, a small table, a chair, and a narrow window looking out into the alley. A candle burned on the table.
I closed the door behind me and sat on the bed.
Alice: Do you want to train more tonight?
"Yeah," I said. "But outside. I don't want to break the inn by accident."
Alice: There is a small patch of forest behind the town, beyond the back gate. Few people go there at night.
"Perfect."
I waited a bit, listening to the footsteps in the corridor. When they faded, I slipped out of the room and down the stairs.
Garlen was busy at the bar and didn't notice me leave by the back door.
The night air was cool. A few lanterns glowed softly, but most of the town was already dark. I moved silently through the alleys, following Alice's guidance until I reached the smaller back gate.
It wasn't even guarded, just barred with a wooden beam and a simple lock.
A moment later, the lock wasn't a problem anymore.
I stepped out of the town and into the trees.
The forest behind Greendale was nothing like the deep woods where I first arrived. It was thinner, more open. Crickets sang, and the moonlight filtered through the leaves in silver patches.
I walked until the town's lights disappeared behind me.
"All right," I said quietly. "Alice, let's test a bit more seriously."
Alice: Understood. What do you want to focus on?
"Control," I said. "If I'm going to hide my real strength, I need to be able to limit output."
Alice: A wise decision.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Mana flowed easily through my circuits now. I guided it down into my blood, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my veins.
I lifted my hand, and a thin strand of blood seeped from the tip of my finger, swirling in the air, vibrating with power.
"Let's try this," I murmured.
I shaped the blood into a small arrow—much smaller than the one I had used in the forest before. The pressure behind it was a fraction of what I knew I could unleash.
I pointed at a tree trunk and released it.
The arrow flew silently and sank into the bark with a soft thunk, piercing only a few centimeters.
"There," I said. "Something a normal gifted student could maybe do."
Alice: Correct. That level of output would be considered "talented but not monstrous" for an apprentice.
I nodded.
"Now," I said, "let's try full power again. Just so I remember the difference."
Alice: I will calculate a safe direction and distance to avoid drawing attention.
A faint line appeared in my mind's eye, showing a direction deeper into the forest.
I gathered mana again, more this time. It flowed into my blood, heating it, thickening it. I felt my regeneration working to keep up with the loss.
The blood sphere that formed in front of me was denser, darker. It pulsed like a living heart.
I aimed at a thick, old tree.
"Blood Arrow," I whispered.
The sphere stretched into a long, sleek arrow and vanished from my hand.
A split second later, the tree exploded.
Wood shattered, fragments flying everywhere. The trunk split in half, crashing to the ground with a deafening crack.
I shielded my face with my arm as splinters flew past me.
When the dust settled, I whistled softly.
"Yeah," I said. "Definitely shouldn't do that in front of the examiners."
Alice: Agreed.
I examined my hand.
A small cut on my fingertip was already closing.
High regeneration, I thought. Nice.
For a moment, I just stood there, looking at the fallen tree.
In my old life, power like this would have meant more missions, more killing, more chains.
Here… it might mean freedom.
School.
People.
Maybe even… friends.
The word still felt foreign.
I turned my back on the destroyed tree and walked back toward the town lights.
As I approached the back gate again, I froze.
Someone was standing there, half-hidden in the shadows.
Alyssia.
She was hugging a cloak around her shoulders, eyes wide in the moonlight.
"How long have you been there?" I asked, my hand instinctively moving closer to my dagger.
"Not long," she said quickly. "I… I woke up and couldn't sleep. I sometimes come out here to look at the stars when we stay in Greendale."
Her gaze shifted past me, toward the distant trees.
"I heard something," she admitted. "Like a tree falling. Was that… you?"
For a second, I considered lying.
But I could see it in her eyes: she already suspected.
"I was training," I said. "I went a little too hard."
Alyssia bit her lip.
"Is it… blood magic?" she asked softly.
My muscles tensed.
"Why do you think that?" I asked, my voice low.
She hesitated, then pointed at my hand.
"There's still a little," she said.
I looked down.
A tiny streak of dried red clung to the side of my finger.
Sloppy.
I wiped it on my trousers.
"And if it is?" I said calmly.
Alyssia looked nervous, but she didn't step back.
"I've read about it," she whispered. "In old books. They say it's dangerous. Forbidden in some kingdoms. But… I also read that in the oldest times, great heroes used it to protect their people."
She looked up at me.
"Are you… dangerous, Leo?"
The question hung in the cool night air.
I thought about my past life, about the way I had killed those bandits without blinking, about the tree that had just exploded in the forest.
"Yes," I said honestly. "I am."
She swallowed.
"But," I added, "I don't want to live as a monster anymore."
Her shoulders relaxed a little.
"Then," she said quietly, "I won't tell anyone."
I blinked.
"Just like that?" I asked.
She nodded.
"You saved us on the road. You didn't kill anyone in the town. And… you're going to be at the Academy, like me. If everyone knows you use blood magic, they'll try to use you. Or destroy you."
Her fingers tightened on the edge of her cloak.
"I don't like either option."
For a moment, we just looked at each other in the moonlight.
"Tomorrow," she said, forcing a small smile, "we'll practice our spells like normal students, okay?"
Normal students.
"Okay," I said.
Alyssia stepped aside to let me pass through the gate.
"Good night, Leo."
"Good night."
As I walked back to the inn, Alice spoke in my mind.
Alice: You have acquired your first ally, Leo.
Maybe, I thought.
I looked back once.
Alyssia was still there by the gate, looking up at the stars.
Maybe this school life won't be so bad after all.