"Very well, you can go now, but try not to strain your arm too much or you'll be back sooner than you think."
The man sitting across from me nodded uncomfortably, paying for the consultation before leaving my office. I sighed as the door closed behind him, put the coins in my purse, and the second half of the payment in a holder full of vials of blood.
Honestly, I expected a challenge, but most of my patients came with broken bones or illnesses so common and easy to cure that someone more educated wouldn't see the point in going to a doctor.
This country will not be saved if the population remains ignorant like this. If the enemy nations don't destroy Kazdel, then the Sarkaz themselves will.
I abandoned those thoughts, as I felt a headache coming on, readjusted my clothes, cleared my throat, and opened the office door, seeing the other patients waiting in chairs.
For a moment, I glanced further ahead, spotting Alden behind the counter, attending to what I assumed was a group of mercenaries. From what little I understood, he was talking about the various types of throwing knives available. At least someone was having fun.
"Next!"
As soon as I said that, a mother stood up, almost dragging her frightened son into my office.
I stepped aside, allowing them to enter, and upon returning to my seat, I offered a broad smile to both of them, nearly losing my composure when the boy began to cry.
While his mother tried to calm him down, I realized that spending the entire day in a doctor's office wouldn't be so bad after all.
-XXXXXX-
Time passed, and I continued my work until lunchtime, putting away the coins and vials of blood in my room before going downstairs, finding Alden saying goodbye to a couple.
I raised an eyebrow as they passed me, walking arm in arm, but while the woman grinned from ear to ear, the man looked like a living mummy, thin and withered as if someone had drained the life from him, and now he was being dragged along like a leaf in the wind.
"Hey, what's wrong with those two?" I asked, sitting on the counter and curiously watching them leave, but Alden only answered when they were out of sight, speaking in a tired tone.
"My stamina potions were created with combat in mind, giving warriors the chance to continue fighting in prolonged confrontations, however, news of their effects spread, becoming particularly popular with couples wishing to prolong their activities in bed. Let's just say many relationships have recently been repaired thanks to my products."
As soon as he finished speaking, Alden rested his elbow on the counter hard enough to shake it, and then his chin on his fist, frowning in frustration.
My eyes widened at his explanation. It took me a while to process his words, but when it was all over, I couldn't help but laugh with all my might.
"HAHAHA! PLEASE TELL ME YOU CHARGED EXTRA FOR THE SERVICE!"
"That's no laughing matter! Do you know how I feel when the fruits of my labor are used like that?! It's a waste of my skills!"
I admit, I jumped slightly on the counter, a little startled by his anger. I don't remember seeing him lose his temper, much less raise his voice like that.
However, a funny idea replaced what I was feeling. Despite trying to calm my laughter, I felt the corners of my mouth curling up. Let's see how far I can provoke him.
"Welcome to my world. However, it doesn't surprise me that your potions are successful; it's hard to maintain vigor as you get older."
"That I can't deny."
"I'm glad you know, most men aren't mature enough to admit when they can't keep up anymore."
For a moment, he stood like a statue, glancing at me before slowly turning with a serious face.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing, you don't need to be embarrassed, this kind of thing happens."
I shrugged, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught a metaphorical whiff of steam escaping his ears.
"Well, know that despite my age, I have the stamina and endurance of a beast; I worked hard for it! I rarely get physically tired, and if by any chance that happens, my stamina regeneration is extremely fast, allowing me to continue any strenuous activity for an extended period!"
"You don't need to lie, I promise I won't mock you or spread your secret. Perhaps we could find a beautiful mature woman for you? I've met some lonely widows in the capital waiting for the warm embrace of a strong and handsome man. I can introduce you to them. Rekindle the flame of passion, perhaps? Although you should tidy yourself up first, get a haircut, shave, put on some elegant clothes, and bring a gift, of course."
Alden looked like he was about to explode with anger, and I was ready to run for my life without regrets. However, he took a deep breath and sighed audibly, assuming a calmer and more controlled posture.
"I can't believe I was dragged into this by your provocations. I'm better than that. Your ability to irritate people is impressive."
"I pride myself on that talent. Nobles like to hide behind masks, and I love removing them to discover what's on the other side."
"Of course, of course, but you didn't come here just to provoke me, did you? Eat, you're less irritating when you feed."
He pulled up his shirt sleeve and offered me his arm. I licked my lips and didn't think twice about drinking his delicious blood.
"Tell me, do you need to make those noises every time you feed on me?"
"It's not my fault if the best wine is in front of me. I can look for other people if you want, but don't be envious when this vampire here finds a new favorite."
"Better not, otherwise I'd have to answer to the authorities about the trouble you'd get yourself into."
"Is it so hard to say you'd miss good young Warfarin?"
I sent a wink that would melt any heart, but judging by his lack of reaction, it seemed his heart was made of stone.
"Don't push your luck."
Laughing, I returned to my lunch, finishing minutes later. I healed the punctures caused by my fangs with my Arts and waited for Alden to return from the kitchen.
After a few moments of swinging my legs in the air, I saw him return carrying a plate with a mountain of salad.
"Are you on a diet now?"
"This isn't for me."
Alden placed the plate on the counter and removed something dark from his bag. To my surprise, it was an Originium Slug with brown spines protruding from its shell.
He stroked the slug before placing it next to the plate, where the animal began to eat at an absurd speed.
"There are better mascots than an Originium Slug, but having one isn't uncommon. What's its name?"
"It's called the Covetous Demon, because its gluttony disgusts me."
I raised a questioning eyebrow, trying to understand the connection between the name and the creature. I quickly realized the reason behind it, as the slug looked like a ball due to how much it had eaten. In a few seconds, the mountain of salad was reduced to less than half.
"That makes sense, but this slug is different from the others."
"Exactly, I'm feeding it an ore called titanite, perfect for forging weapons and armor, hoping to mine the material later. Of course, I won't use just one slug; if all goes well, I'll expand production."
"And what makes this titanite so special?"
"Well, legends say that this ore is a gift from the gods, used to forge divine weapons, and that the larger the piece used, the greater the power contained within, and this same power is passed on to the forged equipment. But perhaps that's just legend; however, it's still a really good material. If my plan doesn't work, I can try using bradden steel instead, but that's a completely different story…"
I nodded in confirmation, but I didn't take the part about gods seriously. There were many beings declaring themselves deities on Terra, but if they were really that powerful, I think they would have already solved all the world's problems.
So we continued our conversation, stopping only when the front door bell rang. What we thought was a last-minute customer turned out to be someone familiar, a one-handed vampire.
A sour expression immediately appeared on my face, and I had to raise my hand to stop Alden from crushing his skull with a mace he'd pulled from somewhere.
The vampire sighed in relief and approached with hesitant steps, reaching for the pouch at his waist with his remaining hand and handing me a letter with a wax seal I wished never to see again in my life.
"Your family's reply to your message, my lady. I will now take my leave, as your… Companion does not seem to like my presence, but if the words of this humble servant are of any use, I ask that you reconsider."
Then he withdrew, and Alden put away his mace, which, after a quick check, hung on a rack under the counter.
I watched the vampire walk past the front window until he disappeared, but he could have been a ghost, considering how much the letter he handed haunted me.
I dragged my fingers across the rose-shaped seal, then broke it and read the contents inside the envelope. However, the more I read, the more anger burned in my chest.
"So, what does it say?"
"Nothing."
I tore the letter into a thousand pieces and left the counter, ignoring Alden's words and retreating to my room.
-XXXXXX-
"DAMN IT!"
I found myself seeing the world upside down, leaning against a tree trunk with my legs dangling in front of my face. Alden approached and looked down at me with concern in his eyes.
"You're distracted in today's training."
"And you're rougher than usual. Is that because of what happened earlier?"
"What do you think?"
I stood with a painful groan, recovering Reduvia before assuming a fighting stance, but the man in front of me refused to raise his sword.
"What's the matter? Aren't we going to continue?"
"Not while you remain distracted. Whatever was written in that letter disturbed you, so we won't train until you resolve this matter, as it would be dangerous to fight with your mind elsewhere."
He sheathed his sword and sat on a nearby rock where he remained with his hands in his lap and eyes closed. I couldn't understand how he could stand still doing nothing; I would die of boredom if I were in his place.
"What are you doing?"
"Enjoying nature."
"You speak as if this is something rare."
"Well, it is for me. I have traveled through devastated lands full of dangers, so hearing the birds sing and feeling the grass beneath my feet and the refreshing breeze on my body is a novelty."
"What kind of things did you see?"
"Hm… How about a valley that had all its resources extracted, turning it into a dead land full of labyrinthine mines and poisonous fumes, with slaves still working after the death of their masters? Or a castle made entirely of iron slowly sinking into a sea of fire due to the arrogance of a king? Or a city built in a crystal mine whose population was wiped out by an army of spiders created by a duke? I have no shortage of stories of horrible places I've visited."
"Have you ever thought about writing a book? I don't believe what you said for a second, but it would make a good story."
"Writing a book… Doesn't seem like a bad idea. At least that way I'll have more records of my travels in case I lose my memories again."
"And more money too."
"Is that all you think about?"
"You can live without many things, but money isn't one of them."
"I can't disagree, I don't know what I'd do without souls and runes."
"There you go, making up stories again."
"Sorry."
Time passed in silence, but that didn't change the weight I felt in my stomach. I didn't know whether I should speak or not, but the words escaped my throat like a sob.
"My parents want to see me again."
Murmuring, Alden slightly opened one eye, looking at me intently and gesturing for me to continue.
"They didn't apologize, ask if I was okay, say they missed me or anything like that, they just invited me to another stupid ball full of pompous vampires. It's as if nothing happened, as if I hadn't yelled in their faces and run away from home that same night. Now they want me back."
"Well, I admit they could have been more considerate, but a matter as complex as a family feud isn't something you resolve by exchanging letters. You two should meet face to face and resolve it from there."
"I know, but what if it's some kind of trick? What if they don't care? What if they try to lock me in the castle?"
"Castle? You're a noblewoman?"
"More like a princess, although that title only means something to vampires."
"So I've been keeping company with royalty all this time."
"You'd better not treat me any differently after this, or maybe you should. I don't mind being spoiled."
"In your dreams, maybe."
We exchanged a quick laugh, but silence returned, only to be broken again.
"You shouldn't run from your problems, Warfarin, because it's only a matter of time before they catch up with you."
"And you speak from experience?"
"Yes, there's a knight in black armor being carried by a giant hawk chasing me around the world. I didn't kill him when I had the chance, and now he's stronger."
"Strangely, that's the most believable thing you've said so far."
"You'll see I'm telling the truth when he arrives."
"HA! You really think I should go?"
"Yes, even if it's just to insult everyone and then leave. Your parents invited you for a reason, didn't they? It would be good to find out so you don't regret it in the future."
"And you're coming with me?"
"They gave you permission to bring a friend?"
"No, but it's not like I care about their opinion."
"Then you can count on my presence, and if something happens, I can always create a way out."
Alden snapped his fingers, and the flame in his hand burned. I couldn't help but return the mischievous smile he sent me.
"Alright, if you're going to accompany me, then now's the time to look your best. Put on your rings and bracelets and bring your staff; vampires value reputation above all else, and you'll have to look as flashy as possible to be taken seriously. Although, some new clothes and a haircut would do you good."
He stared at me curiously, while I internally celebrated, ready for another session of annoying my business partner.
-XXXXXX-
"WARFARIN, STOP!"
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SHOULD STOP! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TOOK CARE OF YOUR HAIR!"
"I NEVER HAD TIME FOR THAT KIND OF THING!"
"THEN YOU BETTER START BEFORE YOU GO BALD!"
After much struggle and protest, I convinced Alden to let me take care of his hair, beard, and mustache. I bought some hair creams in the capital, making his red locks shine.
I'll never admit I felt envious when I saw that silky red mane flowing in the wind. While I have to use fifty different things to keep my hair acceptable, his looks like a prince's after using the cheapest product I could find.
Now I used a comb and scissors to give it a noble appearance.
I cut his hair to chin length and combed it back, transforming it into a red waterfall that touched the back of his neck. Then I thinned his mustache and slightly curled the ends, and finally, I trimmed his beard, following the line of his jaw until it took on a triangular shape, with a red stripe connecting to his lower lip.
I stepped back when I was finished, allowing him to stand and see his new look in the mirror. Meanwhile, I examined his tailored clothes.
A long black tailcoat with sleeves full of ruffles the same color as his white gloves, a white shirt with a ruffled collar and a bow tie, black trousers as well as his polished shoes, and a gold scarf around his neck.
Aside from that, he wore his silver and gold bracelets, a ring on each finger, each with a different design, and had traded his silver staff, which he called the Sunset Staff, for a dark one with a huge blue jewel at the tip, the Staff of Wisdom.
Simple, but efficient, not to mention, of course, that the outfit subtly accentuated his muscles. Oh, he'll certainly attract attention at the ball.
I left the question of why he had so many rings and staffs for later and checked my makeup one last time with a pocket mirror.
Red lips, accentuated eyelashes, mascara and rosy cheeks, everything in its proper place. My outfit and hairstyle, however, were the most inconvenient part.
My hair was styled in a Victorian cut that made me look taller than I was, my dress, red and covered in white ruffles from head to toe, had a corset that made it difficult to breathe and a skirt large enough to make me look like a bell.
The gloves, white high heels, and the purse slung over my shoulder were the only parts that didn't bother me.
"Ready to go?"
"I think I should ask that, after all, you look like you're about to tear your clothes off."
"Everything is tight and itchy. If it weren't for how much I paid for the dress, I would have thrown it away already."
"That would be a waste, it suits you."
"How charming. You should wear more colors."
"I like black, but I've recently acquired an appreciation for gold."
With that done, we left our house, getting into the carriage that awaited us outside. The coachman, clearly a vampire, shuddered as Alden approached, smelling the delicious scent of his blood.
We heard the snap of the reins and the neighing of the swift beasts as they headed towards the dance, yet I couldn't shake the anxiety I felt, for I couldn't imagine what I would do when I saw my family again.
END OF CHAPTER