《Tensura: The Count of Tempest》


 Death and Rebirth

    ¡°What¡¯s that sound¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it¡­¡±


    ¡°A siren?¡±


    ¡°Was somebody hurt?¡±


    These thoughts drifted into the mind of one Jonathan Mueller as he sat in the seat of his car. He looked around, or tried to at least, but his head felt heavy for some reason. And there was a sharp pain in his neck.


    He reached up, feeling the spot where it hurt the most. When he pulled it back, it was covered in red. That¡¯s when the memory of what just happened.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. I was hurt.¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Skill Acquisition: Pain Resistance]


    [Success]


    He was in a car accident. Someone rammed into his vehicle while he was driving down the freeway. But it wasn¡¯t just him. Several cars were also subject to the collision, creating one great big pile up.


    ¡°Man, that¡¯s a lot of blood. Can¡¯t be good. Bet it would make a great feast for a vampire though. Too bad I¡¯m not one,¡± he thought, staring, almost mesmerized, by the amount of blood coating his hands.


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Searching for race: Vampire]


    [Success]


    Looking out at the panicking people dragging others from the cars, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle morosely. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them? Why are they so scared? Perhaps the better question would be, why aren¡¯t I?¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Skill Acquisition: Fear Resistance]


    [Success]


    Looking down at the passenger seat, he saw a few books scattered across the floor. The one he could see the clearest read, Castlevania: The Original Malice.


    ¡°Origins, huh? That¡¯s right, it was all about Dracula and how he became known as the impaler and the first vampire. Kind of a dry read, actually.¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Searching for the origin of the Vampires]


    [Success]


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t those belong to the library? Crap, that¡¯s right, I was returning them, wasn¡¯t I? Well, at least I don¡¯t have to worry about any late fees.¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Skill Acquisition: Library of Alexandria]


    [Success]


    Jonathan watched as someone approached his vehicle, but a gust of flame made him flinch back.


    ¡°Can¡¯t blame him for that. It is pretty hot in here. But strangely enough, I feel¡­ cold. Is that normal?¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Skill Acquisition: Heat Resistance]


    [Success]


    [Skill Acquisition: Cold Resistance]


    [Success]


    [Acquisition of Skill: Heat Resistance and Acquisition of Skill: Cold Resistance has generated a new Skill]


    [Skill Acquisition: Thermal Fluctuation Resistance]


    [Success]


    Jonathan watched as the flames neared the gas that had spilled on the ground. People fled the scene, not wanting to get caught up in the impending explosion.


    ¡°Guess this is it.¡±


    His eyes shifted down to the book once more, remembering something about it, and the main character, Dracula.


    ¡°He was quite the ladies man, wasn¡¯t he? How big was his harem again? It must have been pretty huge to sire the entire vampire race all by himself. Lucky bastard.¡±


    [Request Acknowledged]


    [Acquisition of Skill: Ladies Man]


    [Success]


    [Skill: Ladies Man can Evolve into Skill: Alpha Male]


    [Skill Acquisition: Alpha Male]


    [Success]


    ¡°What¡¯s that voice? Alpha male? Who? What is it talking about?¡±


    Those were the last thoughts of Jonathan Mueller, as the gas tank caught on fire, causing a massive explosion. The news would report only one casualty from that day, which some called a miracle.


    But the true miracle was for the one who died.


    ***Line Break***


    High on top of a mountain overlooking Lune, the Capital City of the Holy Empire of Lubelius, sat a large temple, sacred to the people down below. According to scripture, it is the place where their goddess, Luminous, resides. It is considered blasphemy for anyone to approach without the Church''s express permission.


    Many who do not adhere to this religion believe these claims to be false, and that the temple was built to enact a mummer''s farce. But unknown to them, the claim is not nearly so exaggerated.


    The only difference between what those of the faith believe, and what the truth is, would be the person who resides in the temple herself. While not a goddess, she could certainly pass for one, with her lustrous silver locks and heterochromatic eyes, one blue, shining like the brightest of sapphires, and the other red, shimmering with the brilliance of a ruby.


    Her skin was pale, and her form slender, without an ounce of unnecessary fat. Her breasts, while not overly large, hung high and proud on her chest. Her backside was pert and round and her hips were wide compared to her petite frame, her form a perfect hourglass.


    Yes, any person alive would have no problem believing she was a goddess. But in truth, she was a vampire. The oldest and most powerful in existence, having lived for over 20,000 years. She has seen the rise and fall of every civilization the world has produced, including her own.


    Luminous Valentine, that was her name. She currently stood on a balcony overlooking the city she built down below, watching with intense eyes as the humans went about their morning.


    She found them fascinating, though this was a fairly recent passion of hers. If you consider 2,000 years to be fairly recent. Back then she met someone, someone who changed her life and the direction the world would take thereafter.


    Her name was Chloe Aubert, a human from another world who could traverse time itself. It was the meeting with her that gave Luminous the inspiration and passion to build the city below, and to consider humans as more than just livestock, as so many of her brethren did.


    Vampires needed blood to survive. Specifically, human blood. Only the strongest could go without. Blood from other species may fill their stomach, but it did not contain the nutrients necessary for survival. Eventually, they would become malnourished and starve, no matter how bloated they were.


    So by forming a city, and by creating a religion, she was able to collect the human blood easily and safely, distributing it amongst her people. To do this, she also created a massive underground city, named Night Garden, where the vast majority of the vampires lived.


    It was a fairly good system, one which has not only survived for 2,000 years, but thrived. The humans below didn¡¯t know about the vampires living beneath them, and that was for the best.


    Their entire religion held the belief that monsters were evil and needed to be exterminated. So if they ever discovered the hidden city below them, it would likely end in a bloodbath.


    She idly wondered what they would do if they found out she was a monster. They would probably deny it and proclaim her a heretic. The dogma of monsters as the root of all evil didn¡¯t come from her, but was something that developed naturally with the humans some 1,000 years ago, when they formed an order of priestly knights they called the Crusaders.


    It was all highly entertaining to watch. The way humans went about their lives with such self importance as to change her religion to suit their own needs. She did keep them on a rather tight leash, and the higher ups knew about her true identity of course, as most of them were vampires themselves.


    Though, she did find their disdain for monsters useful, as it allowed her to unite them under the cause of defeating the dreaded Demon Lord Valentine, who was also one of her subordinates.


    ¡°My lady,¡± said someone from behind her, bringing her out of her reverie. She turned and saw her oldest subordinate, Gunther, bowing his head.


    ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I have finished drawing your bath my lady.¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± she said with a smile. She began walking through the delicately carved stone walls of the temple, heading for her personal bath inside of her room, Gunther following along dutifully.


    Once there, she disrobed, Gunther waiting outside of course, revealing her body in all of its perfection. At one time in the past, when she was far more arrogant than she was now, she had a servant disrobe her. But over time, she worried she was getting too lazy, and feared she would get fat if she had people do everything for her. So now she only had them doing some things for her.


    Luminous sunk into the steaming waters with a sigh of contentment, enjoying the way the heat seemed to unravel the knots that had formed in her muscles.


    She laid there in her claw foot tub for nearly an hour, eyes closed and humming songs long forgotten by even the elves. But all good things must come to an end, and she was getting all pruny, so she decided it was time to leave.


    She stood up, the water cascading down her body as she stepped out of the tub. She dried herself with a delightfully fluffy towel before throwing on her bathrobe. She exited the bath to see Gunther waiting.


    ¡°How was your bath, my lady?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Perfect as always Gunther. Thank you,¡± she said, walking past him, the light smell of her perfume tingling his nose.


    ¡°There is no need to thank me, I am merely doing my duty,¡± he said.


    ¡°If you say so,¡± she said with a hint of playfulness in her tone. It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯ve had this conversation, and by now, it was mostly just a game between the two.


    ¡°Do you require anything else?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No thank you Gunther. I believe I will sleep for a bit,¡± she said. Vampires like her did not require sleep. But sometimes, she just wanted to turn her brain off for a while and forget the world. Something she tended to do at least once a month, for her mental health.


    ¡°Very good my lady, then I shall take my leave,¡± he said, swiftly spinning on his heel and exiting her chambers.


    Luminous smiled and faced her enormous bed, one that could easily hold a dozen of her. The covers were thick and the color of pure amethyst, with magic woven into every fiber and every stitch, to ensure she was never too hot or too cold. Just right, as some might say.


    She pulled the blanket back, revealing pure white sheets, made similarly to the blanket. They were so soft, with a thread count so high it made her feel like she was sleeping on a cloud. Well that, and the extraordinary softness of her mattress. It was truly a bed fit for a goddess.


    She pulled back her robe, allowing it to fall to the floor, leaving her in the buff once more. Why would she wear clothes when her bed was the softest, smoothest thing one could have against their skin? Anything else would just feel rough by comparison and ruin the experience.


    That was her excuse anyway, but she just liked to sleep in the nude. It was just more comfortable that way. She leapt into her bed with the dignity and grace of a teenage girl, giggling slightly as she drew the covers over her body.


    Luminous sighed in content, feeling her whole body relax. This bed and her bath made the perfect combination to restore her body to 100%, the perfect way to end a long night of working.


    She channeled magic into her brain to slow it down and allow her to slowly drift off to sleep. But as she did, she never noticed the extra occupant that lay sleeping next to her, who seemingly appeared out of thin air.


    ***Line Break***


    When Jonathan heard the explosion and felt the heat burn his flesh, he was certain he was going to die. And to be honest, the jury was still out on that one, for the place he found himself was so ethereally strange that it couldn¡¯t be anywhere in the real world.


    So he must have died, and he was in some kind of purgatory. ¡°But what purgatory looks like a library? Is it because of the late fees? I didn¡¯t think that was such a serious offense,¡± he thought, as he continued his journey through the seemingly endless library he found himself in.


    First of all, it was tall, easily ten stories high, with pathways twisting and turning above him. It was like seeing the interstate from the sky. And above that he could see a massive glass expanse with a bright silver moon shining light through it.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Then there were the bookshelves themselves. Each one was carved into pure stone, and everything had a yellow tint to it. Jonathan took some of the books off the shelf, but he didn¡¯t see anything special about them. They were just books, albeit in the world''s biggest library.


    So far, he has found books on several different topics, such as architecture, history, geology, autobiographies and more. It seemed like there was a book on just about every topic imaginable.


    Though, when he found the manga section, he was sorely tempted to remain. But he knew he needed to find out where he was, so he reluctantly departed. But after traveling for several minutes, finding numerous dead ends, he was beginning to wonder if this place had an exit. Was he going to be forced to wander these halls for all eternity?


    Just as those thoughts crossed his mind, he saw in the distance what appeared to be a large opening. Thanking his lucky stars, he quickened his pace, hoping to find someone there who could help him.


    But once he reached the open area, which looked like a hub of some sort, he immediately noticed the lack of any sort of employee. Sagging his shoulders in despair, he sluggishly continued into the area.


    In the center were two large, half moon desks, forming a circle with an opening on two sides. Between the desks, right In the middle was a raised podium with a single book resting on top.


    Large comfortable leather couches and chairs rested on opposite sides of the desks, with coffee and end tables around them. Jonathan didn''t know why there was a need for so many tables. Not like he¡¯s seen anything to put on them besides books.


    Looking forwards and backwards, it seemed like the whole library was divided into two separate sides, one with a yellow tint and one with a blue. He thought at first it may have been divided by fiction and non-fiction, until he remembered the manga section he ran across.


    So if that wasn¡¯t the case, then why was it divided in such a clear and obvious manner? Maybe he should check out the suspicious looking book clearly and obviously on display?


    Walking over towards it, ignoring the echoing of his footsteps along the stone floor, he scooted past the two desks into the opening, and found himself standing in front of the book. What he saw shocked him.


    Autobiography of ?Jonathan Mueller?


    ¡°What¡¯s with the question marks around my name?¡± he thought. But his curiosity needed to be sated, so he opened the large, leather bound book with some trepidation. Reading the first few pages, he felt the contents may be a bit dubious. Or perhaps he just didn¡¯t remember those formative years of his life. But he was sure, at no point, did he poop on a priest.


    But as he continued to read, he found many of the passages coinciding with his actual memories, giving the book some credence after all. Especially when it got to his high school years.


    He skipped over prom night. No need to dredge up those memories.


    But the most curious part was when he got to the end, or what he thought was the end but was really only the halfway point. It was the part about his death.


    ?Jonathan Mueller? died in a car accident at approximately 12:45 P.M on April 19th when the gas tank of his 2008 Camaro caught on fire, resulting in the explosion that took his life.


    That part, while somewhat depressing, he understood. He died, no going back. It was the next part that really shook him up.


    After his death in Earth Satellite world 419, ?Jonathan Mueller? was reincarnated into the Central World as a vampire. Before his awakening in that world, his mind was first transported to the Library of Alexandria, where he wandered aimlessly for a time, getting thoroughly distracted by the section designated for manga. He managed to find his way to the central hub of the library, where he found a book detailing his previous life and the start of his new one.


    That was a lot to take in. ¡°And what does it mean by, I¡¯m a vampire?¡±


    Looking at himself as best he could, all he saw was his same old self. Which was disappointing on a few levels. Mostly because he was a 5 foot 5 manlet. But he also didn¡¯t feel any fangs in his mouth and he certainly didn¡¯t thirst for blood.


    Could the book have been lying? That was one possibility, but considering the details it had on his previous life, it seemed unlikely. Perhaps the book had the answer to his question.


    ?Jonathan Mueller? Attempted to discover if the claims made by the book he found were true. Discovering that he didn¡¯t feel at all like a vampire, he hoped the book would provide answers.


    ¡°Well, that was useless,¡± he thought to himself. Flipping through the pages in the book, he noticed some at the end that weren¡¯t blank.


    ?Jonathan Mueller?


    Race: Vampire


    Age: 27


    Current Skills


    Pain Resistance


    Fear Resistance


    Library of Alexandria


    Thermal Fluctuation Resistance


    Alpha Male


    Steel Strength


    Charm


    Coercion


    Paralyze


    Transform


    Shadow Motion


    Self-Regeneration


    Blood Raise


    Former Skills


    Heat Resistance


    Cold Resistance


    Ladies Man


    He blinked a few times, rereading the list. Was he in some sort of video game? Or was this just one of those worlds that had game-like mechanics? It was strange, he had to admit, but part of him also felt excited.


    If it was true, and he really was in a new world, then he had the chance to become something more than what he was now. He could be the person, or vampire in this case, he always wanted to be.


    But just what did these Skills do? Some of them appeared to be fairly self explanatory, but others, not so much. Was there some way he could find out? He turned the page, hoping to find some sort of explanation, but alas, blank paper.


    You¡¯d think a book that had Skills by name would have an explanation, but apparently, that was too much to ask for. Luckily he was in a massive library, which he assumed was the Library of Alexandria, given what the book said, which would hopefully contain the information he needed.


    Looking around, he tried to find some kind of information pamphlet, or another book that would describe the library in detail. He checked the drawers, the tables, in between the couch cushions, but was unable to find a single thing.


    But just as he was about to give up, leaning back on one of the horseshoe desks, his hand grazed something, a little half round thing that was completely smooth to the touch and looked to be made of obsidian.


    When he did, a yellow hologram appeared, startling him. He stepped back, unsure of what he was seeing, but when he noticed what it was, he edged closer, intrigued.


    It was a map, detailing each section of the library. Or at least, half of it. Specifically, it was the half he just came from. That was neat, but it didn¡¯t answer his questions. But that¡¯s when he noticed the title of the map.


    Library of Alexandria: Earth Satellite World 419.


    Jonathan thought it was weird how it specified which world it was. Was the other side different? ¡°Come to think of it, didn¡¯t my autobiography mention something about a Central World? Could that be the other half?¡±


    Making his way to the other side, he found the same smooth, round device as on the other side. Touching it, he was rewarded with another hologram, this one blue. But it was the title that made him grin.


    Library of Alexandria: Central World


    Judging by that, this side must contain a whole lot of books about whatever this Central World is, and the other half must be from his original world. So that means he had access to two worlds worth of knowledge?


    They say knowledge is power, then he just gained one hell of a power boost. But it wasn¡¯t just that. This basically confirmed multiverse theory, and if that''s the case, was it possible to expand the library to include other worlds as well?


    Because the library belonged to him, didn¡¯t it? At least according to the Book of Jon. ¡°Might need to workshop that name,¡± he thought wryly.


    Looking at the hologram, he wondered if there was some kind of directory, or a list of books the library contained. He began swiping at the mechanism on the table, hoping it might change the screen in front of him. When that didn¡¯t work, he tried using the hologram like a touch screen, and to his shock, it worked.


    The screen shifted to show the categories he could choose from, such as history, philosophy, science, art, and so much more. What really made him giddy was the listing for magic.


    He suspected as much, given the situation, but seeing it confirmed brought a rush of excitement to his being. After all, who didn''t want to learn magic?


    But what he needed right now was information on Skills, and possibly vampires as well. He still wasn¡¯t convinced about that part, but better safe than sorry. So he began selecting the categories he believed would have such information. It took him a while, but he managed to find two books to start with. One was called, Denizens of the Dark: A Guide to the Monsters Masquerading Under Moonlight.


    Bit of a mouthful that one. The author was probably one of those self aggrandizing types who thought they were so much better than you.


    The second one was rather simple. Your Skills and You.


    After selecting the ones he wanted, the map lit up and marked their location. And that was it. No bringing them here with some kind of teleportation, no light that appeared to show him the way, just a waypoint on a map that he couldn¡¯t take with him.


    It turned out it wasn¡¯t as bad as he thought it would be. He got turned around once or twice, and passed the books he wanted the same amount of times, but he did manage to find what he was looking for. The real hard part was finding the stairs, as both books were both on different levels.


    FYI, they were in the back.


    But there was one strange thing that happened. When he was reaching for the second book, he felt a peculiar sensation in his hand. It was sort of¡­ soft and rubbery, with a good amount of bounce to it.


    Not only that, but it felt like half of his body was warmer than the other, with a similar sensation to his hand. The strangest part was the side of his chest, which felt like two round bags of jello pressing into it. That wasn¡¯t entirely accurate, but that was the image that came to mind when he thought about it. Jello, jiggling around.


    And ever since then, the sensation has refused to leave. He didn¡¯t know why, but he enjoyed the feeling. So he walked back to the central hub area with a spring in his step, carrying his two books with him.


    Once he was there he chose to sit in the large recliner, sighing in content as he sunk into it. Once he was nice and settled in, he opened up the first book, the one that should hopefully tell him about vampires.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ Goblins, no¡­ Ogres, nope¡­Daemons, maybe later¡­ Aha, vampires!¡± he exclaimed, having found the section for the terrifying bloodsuckers. It was toward the middle, surprisingly enough. You¡¯d think it would be at the end, considering the alphabet and all that, but apparently, the author of this book didn¡¯t give a fuck, writing what he wanted, when he wanted.


    Vampires, unholy abominations that feed off of humans by sucking out their blood. Unable to tolerate the sun, they skulk about during the moonlight hours, seeking their next victim.


    Boasting an overwhelming amount of magical energy, their flesh will never rot or decay, granting these monsters eternal life. Add to this their ability to regenerate from nearly any injury, it is no wonder they have been called immortal.


    They appear similar to humans, but make no mistake, they are nothing but Majin. There are several distinctions which sets them apart from humans. Their eyes are usually a piercing red, or some other unnatural color. Their fingers end in claws, and they have elongated canines they use to drain a victim of their life. They have the ability to procreate, just as humans, but typically abstain from doing so. It is unknown as to why.


    Though extremely powerful and dangerous, there are ways in which to kill one of these foul creatures. As mentioned earlier, they cannot tolerate sunlight, and will burst into flames should they be exposed to it. Decapitation will also work to kill them, as will piercing their heart. Any attempt that does not cause immediate death will likely be healed within moments.


    Vampires who have lived long enough or have consumed blood from a sufficiently powerful source may evolve into what is known as a Surmounter. These creatures are vastly superior to their lesser brethren, becoming immune to the effects of the sun and overcoming their need for blood. Their ability to heal is also boosted to such a significant degree that killing them is almost impossible.


    There are rumors of even more powerful vampires, but these claims have not been substantiated. Supposedly one of these creatures ruled over a kingdom of vampires thousands of years ago, until they ran afoul the mighty storm dragon, Veldora. Now all that remains of their empire is dust and ash.


    Vampires are highly proficient in Blood Magic and boast several Intrinsic Skills, many of which are known. Such as Steel Strength, Self-Regeneration, Charm, Coercion, and the worst, most egregious Skill of all, Blood Raise.


    With this, it is possible for a vampire to bring the dead back to life. However, what is usually returned is a ghoul or a wight, a mockery of what existed in life. These poor souls are forever enthralled to the vampire, forced to do their bidding for all time.


    By the grace of our goddess, Luminous, may these foul beasts be struck down and cleansed from this world. Amen.


    Jonathan stared at the page for a bit, assimilating the knowledge he just read. Well, knowledge might be putting it generously. It read more like propaganda. But still, the information was likely to be at least somewhat accurate.


    Sighing he put the book down, looking himself over once again. No claws, no fangs, and though he couldn¡¯t see his eyes, he doubted they were any different. So why did that book claim he was one?


    Not that he would be upset if he was. The passage he just read about them sounded pretty good to him. Immortality, Self-Regeneration, and more. The only downsides were being weak to the sun and having to consume human blood. But that could apparently be mitigated by evolving into something called a Surmounter. If that was true, he¡¯d have to make that his top priority.


    The book also mentioned several of these Skills, but only really went into any detail about one. Blood Raise sounded pretty cool, something to keep in mind if he ever wanted to start the zombie apocalypse or take over the world.


    Hopefully the second book would provide some answers about these Skills. Setting the first book down on an end table, he carefully opened the second.


    Skills are, for a lack of better terminology, powers engraved onto the soul in recognition of some kind of personal growth. This is not always the case, as you will discover as you read, but widely, this is the accepted definition of what a Skill is.


    Skills come in several distinct classes. These are Intrinsic, Common, Resist, Extra, Unique, and Ultimate.


    Let us start with what is known as Intrinsic Skills. Broadly speaking, there are three types of categories these may fall into. That being species based, bloodline based, or individual based.


    Species based are inherent to the biology of the species itself, most notably seen in those of a monstrous origin. Increased strength, regeneration, resistances to certain elements are just a few examples.


    Bloodline based are tied to the, as you may have guessed, bloodline of families. These most notably appear within the ruling class, kings, queens, emperors and so on. They used these Skills to forge a dynasty, and they have been passed on from generation to generation.


    Individual based are not tied to bloodlines or species, but the singular person themselves. It¡¯s possible that it can become a bloodline Intrinsic Skill, but this is not guaranteed.


    However, though they are called Intrinsic, this does not mean they are Unique. Though some are, many of these Skills fall under the Common, Extra, or Resistance categories, and can be obtained naturally.


    Next let us speak of Common Skills. These are the most numerous type of Skill, and though they are the easiest to obtain, that does not mean they are useless. While only providing simple or singular powers, this comes with the benefit of them being rather easy to learn.


    One such Skill is Strengthen, a favorite of soldiers in every country. Its effect is quite simple, it strengthens the body past its normal limitations, allowing one to run faster, hit harder, and even take more damage. I¡¯m sure you can see the benefit this would have on the battlefield. This Skill can also evolve into more powerful versions, such as Enhanced Strength, Steel Strength, or Divine Strength.


    After that we have Extra Skills, a step up in power from the Common ones. The pinnacle or power that can be reached through effort alone. Some of these Skills can even equal or out match those of Unique Skills, while some are barely any better than their Common Counterparts.


    Unique Skills are, as you may have surmised, unique to certain individuals, perfectly tailored to them and cannot be obtained by regular means. These Skills may awaken when one has overcome a great trial, or pushed themselves beyond their limitations. One theory suggests that these Skills are born from those with strong desires and emotions, and the World itself responds to their wishes.


    Whatever the case may be, those who obtain such Skills are truly blessed. It has been noted that those who are summoned from other world¡¯s often cross over with a Unique Skill. The reason why is unclear, but the rate in which this occurs is worth noting.


    These Skills have also been known to evolve overtime, growing with the one who possesses them. Some even become Ultimate Skills.


    The pinnacle of all Skills are known as Ultimate Skills. The reason should be self-evident. They are the most powerful of all Skills, with some even allowing the user to alter the fabric of reality. It¡¯s said that the hero who sealed away the storm dragon Veldora did so using an Ultimate Skill, proving just how powerful they are.


    How one obtains an Ultimate Skill is unknown, but many theorize they are granted to those of extraordinary ability and character, such as True Heroes or True Demon Lords. However, this is mere speculation, though the theory does hold more than a little weight to it.


    The last category of Skill are those that provide Resistances to certain things, such as heat, cold, poison, fear, and so on. The most powerful of these Skills grants total immunity.


    After reading this, Jonathan was able to categorize, at least somewhat his own Skills. Or at least the ones his autobiography said he had. Flipping through the book some more, he was able to find essentially a glossary of known Skills. This let him know, for the most part, what they did.


    Pain Resistance (Resist Type)-Dulls the sensation of pain to the physical or material body up to a certain point.


    Fear Resistance (Resist Type)-Lowers the effect of Skills that induce the feeling of fear. Reduces the sensation of fear itself.


    Thermal Fluctuation Resistance (Resist Type)-Reduces the effects of temperature up to a certain point.


    Steel Strength (Intrinsic Type)-Greatly increases the physical capabilities of the user.


    Charm (Intrinsic Type)-A form of hypnosis that allows the user to temporarily control the target as well as alter memories. For vampires, this is done using the eyes.


    Coercion (Intrinsic Type)-By using their voice, a user can induce a feeling of pressure against a target to intimidate them and force them to comply.


    Paralyze (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to paralyze a target.


    Transform (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to alter their appearance. Not limited by form, the user can change their physical shape into other things, such as a wolf or a bat.


    Shadow Motion (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to access Shadow Space and travel between shadows.


    Self-Regeneration (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to heal from nearly any injury so long as they have a material body and sufficient Magicules.


    Blood Raise (Intrinsic)-Allows the user to bring back the recently deceased by utilizing their own blood. Can also be used to create ghouls and wights.


    The last two were a bit tricky, since the book doesn''t list them, but I can hazard a guess as to what they do.


    Alpha Male (Extra Type)-Judging by the fact that this evolved from Ladies Man, it probably allows the user to more easily seduce women, perhaps even making it possible to obtain the dream of all men, a harem. May also make men want to follow the user or obey commands. Needs testing.


    Library of Alexandria (Unique Type)-Creates a massive library which contains all the knowledge of the worlds connected to the user. Need to explore to find out the extent of the knowledge contained.


    After gaining the knowledge from the book on Skills, Jonathan checked out his book and found out that it updated again to show what the Skills do, or at the very least, what he thinks they do. Wasn¡¯t that handy?


    Laying down on one of the couches, he rubbed his forehead thinking about everything that had happened. It was overwhelming, to say the least. He felt his eyes drooping down, exhaustion rearing its ugly head. But rather than fight it, he embraced the feeling.


    He was just so darn comfortable. And the feeling of heat across one half of his body didn¡¯t help. If anything, it only added to the comfort.


    So he let himself drift off. Allowing his consciousness to fade away.


    When he next opened them, he found himself in a whole new environment. He was laying down, so that part was the same. But everything else was completely different.


    He was no longer in his library, and part of him was relieved by this. He had no idea how to get out of there, but apparently all he had to do was fall asleep. Good to know. But that didn¡¯t help him figure out where he was now.


    He was in a bed, the most comfortable bed he¡¯s ever laid on. Part of him never wanted to leave. The room itself reminded him of a castle, or a French mansion with how it was decorated.


    Ornate would be the word he used. Fancy would be another. Every detail was exquisitely and carefully crafted. The crown moldings looked hand carved and so elaborate it must have taken years to finish.


    There was a vanity on one side, again extremely well made and detailed, with a large mirror wrapped in silver. There was also a dresser, almost certainly made from the finest wood, along with various paintings hanging from the walls, each one a masterpiece, placed inside frames that looked like they were made from pure gold.


    So caught up in looking around the room, he failed to notice that he was not alone in the bed. Not until it moved at any rate. Confused by the sensation, he looked down to see what it was, and his eyes widened wider than they¡¯ve ever been.


    It was a woman, but more than that, she was hands down the most beautiful woman he¡¯s ever seen. Her hair appeared to be made of moonlight, and her body was as soft and smooth as pure silk. Her eyes were closed, and she had a peaceful look on her face, her pouty, pink lips curled back in a small smile.


    So mesmerized by the sheer ethereal beauty of the woman, the fact that she was naked didn¡¯t register in his mind until she shifted once more, her leg entwining with his own, and her arm reaching across his chest, and pulling him close, making him shiver from the feeling.


    That¡¯s also when he realized that he too was naked beneath the covers.


    ¡°Well, that explains what I felt in the library,¡± he thought, realizing the heat he felt in there was the same one he felt now. Looks like it wasn¡¯t jello pressed against his chest, but her breasts, which was far better in his opinion.


    But there was one sensation he still couldn¡¯t figure out. The one he felt from his left hand, which was the side the woman was on.


    His fingers dug into the soft object, squeezing and kneading it, feeling how round and firm it was. It was softer than silk and decadently supple, with a springy bounciness to it that made him want to spank it. It was also somewhat familiar, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it. Not literally, as he had all five of his fingers on it, whatever it was.


    His actions were rewarded with the woman releasing a small moan. It was the single most beautiful sound he¡¯s ever heard, one he wished to hear over and over again. Reacting to his desire, his hand continued to massage whatever it was, eliciting more musical whimpers from the woman.


    As he performed his experiments to discover the mystery sensation and hear his new favorite melody, a certain part of his anatomy seemed to awaken from its slumber. Looking down at it, he felt himself panic.


    ¡°No, what are you doing!? It¡¯s not even morning!¡± he mentally screamed at the overly excitable fellow. But it seemed he was being ignored. What else is new?


    ¡°..se me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. As long as she doesn¡¯t wake and see a strange, naked man popping a boner, you should be fine,¡± he thought, his hand still going to town on whatever it was.


    ¡°...cuse me?¡±


    ¡°But even so, maybe it would be better if I found a way to escape. I mean, this is a weird situation all around, but I doubt I can just come out and say I¡¯m from another world and this is how we say hello. Nobody would believe that,¡± he continued thinking, not aware of the fact that his music has stopped playing.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± he asked, confused. He turned to look at the woman, who was clearly now awake, staring at him with the most gorgeous pair of eyes he¡¯s ever seen, one red and one blue. Eyes that held more than a little confusion in them, along with a steadily rising anger.


    ¡°Would you mind telling me what you''re doing in my bed, with your hand on my ass?¡± she asked, and though her tone was pleasant enough, there was a hard edge to it that made him gulp.


    ¡°Her ass?¡± he thought to himself, his hand giving another involuntary squeeze. Her eyes narrowed when she felt that, and Jonathan felt his breath hitch at realizing exactly what he¡¯d been fondling this whole time.


    He knew it felt familiar, but it felt too perfect to be an ass! How was he supposed to know one that flawless existed? It was like taking a math test in English class, not fair at all!


    ¡°Um¡­¡± he eloquently explained, moving his hand, reluctantly mind you, from her exquisite derriere to her curvy hips instead, making one of her eyebrows raise in question.


    ¡°Well? I¡¯m waiting.¡±

 Bedroom Talk

    Luminous couldn''t remember the last time she slept so comfortably. WIth how luxurious her bed was, she''s never had a bad night''s sleep, but they couldn''t compare to the comfort she currently found herself in.


    The whole front of her body was warm. Not in an unpleasant way, quite the contrary, the heat making her wish to snuggle deeper into it, even in her sleep. She pressed herself against it and tried to pull it as close as she could, a feeling of safety resonating throughout her being as she did so.


    That being said, there was a sensation her unconscious body couldn''t figure out, though it was enjoyable all the same. Like her front, there was also a pleasurable warmth settled right on her backside. But more than that, it felt like getting a deep tissue massage.


    On her ass.


    She should have found it strange, but her subconscious mind leaned into it, desperate to feel more of the warm and slightly rough sensation kneading into her sensitive flesh. Small moans began to leave her lips, as her body squirmed in place, a new kind of heat entering her form.


    A particularly loud whine caused her to rouse from her slumber. Heterochromatic eyes opened slowly, blinking away the drowsiness she felt. She wondered how long she''d been asleep for, given how groggy she felt.


    She yawned, deciding she wasn''t quite ready to get up and greet the night, or whatever time of day it was, and snuggled closer to the warm, hard form laying next to her, closing her eyes in content. It took her longer than she''d like to admit before she realized something was wrong.


    First, there shouldn''t be anything hard in her bed, especially not something that felt like this. Second, while the sensation of her rump getting the rub down felt phenomenal, it was also something that shouldn''t be occurring. And third, she should not be able to hear a heartbeat coming from her pillow, no matter how soothing the rhythm might be.


    Opening her eyes again, this time with perfect clarity, she looked at the hard, body shaped form next to her. It was a man, and a rather handsome one at that, with a chiseled jawline and long flowing hair of spun gold.


    His eyes, like most vampires, were a deep crimson. Except she could also make out flakes of orange and gold sparkling in their depths, reminding her of fire crackling in a hearth.


    His hands, however, reminded her of a dirty old man.


    She couldn''t see his body, as he was under the blanket with her, but from what she could feel, he was completely nude, just like her, and he was highly muscular with little to no unnecessary fat on his body. Her hand, which was across his torso resting on his collarbone, slowly slid down his brawny chest, resting right above his heart, ready to pierce it should she find need to.


    "Excuse me," she said, raising her head from his shoulder and staring at his face. But it seems he was either ignoring her or so distracted by his thoughts that he didn''t hear her, continuing to fondle her left cheek like it was his job. Either way, it irritated her to be ignored.


    "Excuse me?" she tried again, even louder. But still she was ignored. No matter how attractive the man may have been, this was unacceptable.


    Luminous Valentine was not used to being ignored. She was worshiped as a goddess, even if her followers didn''t know it was she herself they revered, and when she gave a proclamation, thousands gathered to hear it, even if the words themselves came from another''s mouth.


    Her commandments may have been given through her most loyal subjects, but still, they were her words they gathered to hear, even if they were said from a mouthpiece. This man was lucky she was so curious about how he managed to sneak himself into her bed, or she may have just done away with him.


    "Excuse me?" she said, and you know what they say, third times the charm. The man stopped his massage of her posterior, and turned his gaze towards her, eyes widening in a variety of emotions. Shock, awe, fear, curiosity, lust; all swirling in a vortex as he gazed into her eyes.


    "Huh?" he asked, in a fairly deep, and dare she say it, suave voice. The deep tenor sending pleasant vibrations through her body. But she wouldn''t allow that to distract her.


    "Mind telling me what you''re doing in my bed, with your hand on my ass?" she asked, gazing intently into his sparkling, sunstone-like eyes.


    "Um¡­" he stated in a less than eloquent manner. She felt his hand once more give her backside a squeeze, causing her eyes to narrow at him. He must have realized what he did, as he gulped and finally removed his hand from her firm and bubbly cheek.


    And slide in right onto her hip. She raised an eyebrow at that, part of her impressed that he had the gall to keep his hands on her. The other part was pointing its claws towards his heart.


    "Well, I''m waiting," she said, hoping he had a decent excuse for his actions. Or at least an interesting one that she could recount with humor in the future. Though, he likely wouldn''t be around to hear it.


    "I''m not sure where to begin," he said after a moment. She could see the honest confusion behind his eyes, making her even more curious about his appearance here. It didn''t seem like he intended to creep into her bed, but still, that''s where he ended up and she would find out why.


    "Perhaps at the beginning," she suggested lightly, a hint of tease behind the steel in her voice.


    "The beginning, right¡­ Well, I was born 27 years ago in Dallas, Texas. Mom said I was an easy birth, probably because I was so small. From there I was taken to my childhood home, a quaint, two story house in the suburbs-" he started, but was interrupted by an annoyed voice.


    "Not your beginning. I don''t care about your birth, I wish to know how you came to be in my bedchambers," she said, glaring lightly at him.


    "Oh, right. Sorry. Um, let''s see¡­ I guess it started when I got into that car crash," he mumbled, eyes glazing over as he recalled what brought him to this place. Hearing about a car caused Luminous''s eyes to widen in shock.


    "Is he an Otherworlder? But I''ve never heard of a vampire reincarnating into this world, though I suppose it isn''t impossible. Until now, they''ve always been humans," she thought to herself, listening as he explained how he came to be here, becoming more and more intrigued as he continued.


    "And then I read this book, which was apparently my autobiography, and it claimed I was a vampire. Which is weird, because as far as I know, I''m human through and through," he continued, rambling a bit. But his claim caught her attention.


    "One moment. Are you telling me you''re human?" she asked, voice tinged with disbelief. He stopped talking, looking her in the eyes.


    "Um, yeah. As far as I know anyway," he said, feeling nervous by the look on her face. It wasn''t exactly threatening, but he felt a bit like a mouse in a lab about to be injected with something.


    "Hmm, is that so¡­" she muttered, leaning up further on her right arm, causing the blanket to slide off of her petite frame, revealing the perfection that lay beneath. But she wasn''t paying attention to where he was looking or the dumbstruck look on his face, too interested in the revelation she just heard.


    "Could he have really been human? But the way he looks¡­ Perhaps I should find out for sure," she thought, reaching towards his face. Jonathan was snapped out of her trance when he felt her soft and delicate hand on his jaw.


    A hand that also felt like a vice. The strength of which she grabbed him was surprising, as he didn''t expect such strength to come from someone so svelte.


    "Now, say ahhh," she commanded, and he felt himself obey, his mouth opening wide. She gazed into his mouth, and gently rubbed her fingers over his teeth.


    "Those fangs don''t look very human. Neither do your eyes. Are you telling me the truth?" she asked, a bit of steel returning to her voice. Confused, he used his tongue to feel around in his mouth. Eyes widening when he felt the sharp, elongated canines he was sure wasn''t there a moment ago, he reached up a hand, the one that wasn''t holding onto Luminous, and began prodding them.


    "What the hell? Where did these come from?" he asked, perplexed. Luminous stared into his eyes, noting the genuine confusion in them. If that was his reaction to a couple of fangs, how would he react to seeing the rest of him?


    Curious, and feeling a bit mischievous, Luminous decided it was time to leave the comfort and warmth of her bed. Feeling her movement, Jonathan was shocked, and exhilarated, to see her rolling over and climbing out of bed, showing him exactly what he had been fondling just moments prior.


    All thoughts of his fangs and what changes may have happened to his body fled from his mind as he stared at her. There were no words he could use to accurately describe just how sublime the woman in front of him was. She made supermodels look plain by comparison.


    She wasn''t just a 10, she needed a whole new system!


    Luminous stretched, amused by the gobsmacked stare she could feel roaming across her body. Men were such simple creatures. Show a little flesh, and they lost all sense of reason.


    She turned back to him, a coy smile on her face. "Well, what are you waiting for? It''s time to get up. Follow me," she said, walking towards her vanity with grace that would shame a ballerina. But Jonathan stayed right where he was, noting a certain part of his anatomy refused to stand down.


    "Um, I might need a minute¡­" he said, pulling the covers over himself like a shy maiden. Luminous stopped and turned to look at him, raising one of her delicate brows. But when she saw the way he was sitting there, trying to hide the obvious tent, she couldn''t help but giggle.


    "There''s no reason to hide. If what I felt earlier is any indication you have nothing to be ashamed of," she practically purred, which did not help his situation any, as he let out a strangled gasp.


    With a beat red face, he raised the covers up and took a look for himself. "...Huh, how about that," he muttered. Luminous snickered as he did this. This man was simply too funny.


    "You can say hello properly later. Now, get out of my bed," she ordered. Jonathan slammed the blanket back down, looking at her embarrassed, practically begging her to let him wait. But judging by the expectant look in her eyes, he wouldn''t be getting his wish.


    "You got this..." Jonathan said to himself, taking in a deep breath, his eyes closed. "You''re a big brave boy. This is nothing, just a little nudity in front of the most beautiful woman you''ve ever seen, no problem. On the count of three. One¡­"


    Luminous eyes shone with mirth as she listened to his every word. He probably thought she couldn''t hear him, but she had excellent ears. She did feel a bit flattered by his compliment, not that it wasn''t one she''s heard before, but he sounded so genuine about it.


    "Two¡­"


    "Three!" he shouted, opening his eyes and flinging the covers off of himself, revealing his own glory to the world. He climbed out of bed, standing there confidently as Luminous drank in his form.


    She was right about his muscularity, his abs were clearly defined, his shoulders broad, and his chest wide and thick. His arms looked strong enough to bend steel, which they likely were. His legs were long and muscular, and she could see his veins running through his quads.


    And of course, there was the thing between his legs as well. Just as she thought, he was quite well endowed, without a single hair to hide it.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    She smirked as she watched him stand there, squirming. He was clearly uncomfortable with her gaze, looking like he was trying to decide whether or not he should cover up or make a break for it.


    He was also trying very hard not to look at her body, which only amused her more. After living for 20,000 years, she didn''t care overly much for modesty. She didn''t show her body off to just anyone though, but for some reason, she didn''t mind him seeing her. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it.


    "Well don''t just stand there, come on," she said, making a come here gesture with her index finger. Jonathan gulped at seeing the flirtatious look in her eyes, but complied all the same.


    She smirked as he neared before turning on her heel and making her way towards the vanity. Stopping in front of it, she gestured to the mirror with one hand on her hip. He tilted his head in confusion, looking like a confused puppy, before he walked in front of the mirror.


    "Tell me, what do you see?" she asked. That only confused him more.


    "Huh? But I thought vampires didn''t have reflections," he stated, doing his best to look her in the eye. Which was very difficult considering the view he had.


    "And why would you think that?" she asked, amused. He looked unsure of himself, debating whether or not he should say, but decided, "Fuck it, what''s the worst that could happen?"


    "Well, because they have no souls, right? And mirrors reflect the soul, or was it because of the silver¡­" he said, tapering off at the end. Luminous raised an eyebrow at that, having never heard something like that.


    "I assume that''s a legend from your world? Interesting, by why don''t you find out for yourself," she said, indicating the mirror.


    Having nothing better to do he gazed deep into the mirror''s reflection, only to see some dreamboat pretty boy looking back at him, with long golden hair, chiseled everything, and completely nude with a raging hard on.


    Was he some kind of pervert or something?


    "So what, this mirror shows you a tall, handsome guy? What''s the point?" he asked, frustrated. But when he saw her appear behind the guy in the mirror, wrapping her dainty hands around his waist, pressing her sinfully soft body against him, he couldn''t stop the choking gasp that left his mouth.


    Because he could feel it. He could feel her body against his and he knew it was hers because it felt the same as when they were laying in bed. And the guy in the mirror looked just as surprised as him. But that didn''t make any sense. A dude like that should be used to feeling women all over him, so why would that shock him?


    "Have you figured it out yet?" Luminous whispered in his ear, enjoying the way it made him shiver.


    "I¡­ not really, I mean. Does this mirror show you your ideal self or something? Or maybe, what you desire most?" he asked, though the sensations made it difficult to think.


    "That''s an interesting idea. Are you saying this is what you desire most?" she whispered, her hot breath tickling his neck as her hands moved up his body to his chest, making him whine.


    "I¡­ maybe? I don''t know," he said, doing his best not to make any more weird sounds. Luminous smirked, feeling his heart beat a mile a minute. She didn''t know what it was about this strange boy who found himself in her room, but she couldn''t help but tease him.


    "Well, let me tell you, that mirror is just a mirror. It doesn''t show you anything besides a plain old reflection," she said, pressing her cheek against his back.


    "That can''t be true. I mean, there''s no way that''s me. It''s impossible," he muttered, staring at the reflection in awe. She had to be messing with him, right?


    Reaching up, he tried to feel the long, silky hair he could see cascading down the man''s impossibly sculpted physique. To his immense surprise, it was there. He held his hand out, staring at the golden sheen inside of it, not able to comprehend what he was seeing.


    "Is that¡­ Can it really be me?" he asked, hating the hope and desperation he could hear inside of it. The woman holding him from behind heard it too, as she stepped away. Turning to look at her, he saw a more genuine smile on her face, rather than the teasing one from before.


    "It''s really you."


    Turning back to the mirror, he couldn''t help but marvel at his new self, hands roaming over every inch of his body, feeling the hard, rippling muscles beneath the skin. Turns out, dying was the best thing that ever happened to him.


    "So, um, what now?" he asked, using the mirror to look at the beautiful, silver haired woman beside him.


    "Now, I''m going to get dressed. We can discuss more afterward, and maybe even get you some pants. I''ll only be a moment, try not to make a mess while I''m gone," she said, making her way towards her massive, walk-in closet.


    He watched her disappear before turning back to the mirror. "I can''t believe this is real¡­ If it is a dream, I hope I never wake up."


    Thirty minutes ticked by and Jonathan was starting to think he''d been abandoned. However, the prolonged absence of the beautiful woman did allow him to calm himself down, so that was a plus.


    But still, did she have to take so long? Just what in the hell was she doing in there that required this much time to get ready? Clothes didn''t take that long to put on, did they? Not for him, he knew that much, or was it different for girls?


    He''d gotten bored staring at himself in the mirror after about 20 minutes, give or take, so now he was sitting on the bed, waiting for¡­ Hang on a second¡­ "What was her name again?"


    That''s when he realized he didn''t know the woman''s name. He shared a bed with her, and he didn''t even know her name! He was becoming the type of man grandma told him to never become! Oh how she would be ashamed.


    Good thing she was dead.


    "...Wow, I''m a dick."


    What he meant to think was that he was in another word and safe from her nagging. Yeah, that''s what he meant.


    Regardless, the fact remained that he didn''t know his host''s name, and that wouldn''t do. He should ask her if she ever gets out of the closet, and no, he did not mean it in that way.


    Honestly, he was kind of surprised he wasn''t killed right off the bat. Judging by the room he was in, she had to be pretty rich, and rich people could get away with basically anything. Hell, she could have him hunted for sport and no one would probably say a thing.


    "I wonder¡­ is it because of my Skill: Alpha Male? Is that why she hasn''t had me killed yet?" he thought. It made sense, if that''s what the Skill did. Hell, if that''s all it did he''d chalk it up to a win.


    Because he got the feeling she wouldn''t need anybody else to end him. She didn''t look very threatening, but for some reason the thought of angering her made him shiver. He wasn''t sure, but he thought he felt something pressing down on him when he first realized she was awake. Like an invisible power trying to crush him, and he had a feeling it came from her.


    If that was the case, then Alpha Male was the best Skill ever! Or was it because he mentioned being from another world. She did seem surprised by that fact, though for some reason he doubted it was for the reason he was thinking. In fact, she was more surprised by the fact he claimed to be a human, rather than from another world.


    Actually, come to think about it, she wasn''t scared in the least by the fact that he was apparently a vampire. Was it just because she was that powerful, or is it because she''s just a pampered princess who can''t imagine herself ever being in danger.


    "Or is it because she''s also a-" His thoughts were interrupted by a somewhat chipper voice.


    "I''m back. Did you miss me?"


    Turning his head, he saw what took her so long. She was wearing a gothic style black dress that had a high, white collar. The bottom of it was composed of several frills, appearing like layers, reaching just past her knees.


    The shoulders were also frilled, but made out of a see through lace, coming to around her biceps. On her forearms were pieces of black cloth with two strips of white strings going around the top and bottom to keep them on. Jonathan had no idea what they were called, but they reminded him of vambraces.


    Her boots were tall, reaching past her dress''s hemline, likely all the way to her knees, held on by numerous shiny, silver buckles. A piece of cloth, or maybe a hairband, wrapped around the top of her head, keeping her hair in place, with four bow-like pieces flaring out, reminding him of a flower.


    All in all, she looked like a goth princess, and he was all for it. The only thing missing was the black lipstick and eyeliner. Actually, he didn''t think she was wearing any makeup, her face looked exactly the same as it did before.


    Not that he would say anything. He didn''t know much about women, but what he did know is that if they took the time to put on makeup and you say their face looks the same, your balls were in for a world of hurt.


    "I was starting to think you''d abandoned me. But it was worth the wait," he said, looking her up and down. She smirked, putting her hand on her hip, an air of smugness around her.


    "Is that so? Even though you''ve already seen me naked?" she asked, a coy smile gracing her lips. His mind flashed back to her nude form, and he had to force the memory away, lest it causes the south to rise again.


    "Being naked doesn''t require any effort. That looks like it is required quite a bit," he said, gesturing with his head to her outfit.


    "Well, aren''t you the charmer?" she said, walking up to him with a wicked grin, placing her hand on his chest again.


    "Gah, what''s with this woman!? Why does she enjoy torturing me like this!?" he screamed in his mind. Her smirk grew even bigger, like she could hear his thoughts.


    "Ah, well, you know¡­ vampires are supposed to be charming, aren''t they?" he asked nervously, trying his best not to think about the soft hand rubbing his new, muscular chest.


    "Hmm, I suppose so. Now, I think it''s time we find you some proper attire. One moment while I call a servant," she said, taking a step away from him, which was both a blessing and a curse.


    She then pricked her finger with her¡­ claw? How did he not see that before? She then gathered the blood leaking from the wound and formed a circle in the air, until both halves connected.


    "W-what is that?" Jonathan asked, staring wide eyed at the blood hovering in mid air.


    "Oh, just a simple Vampire Blood Art, one used for communication over distances. This one is called: Blood Mirror," she explained. A feeling of shock coursed through his system.


    "So does that mean she really is a¡­"


    But his train of thought was once again interrupted by a new, elderly voice. "Yes my lady? How may I be of service?"


    Appearing in the mirror was the face of an older gentleman with gray hair and a big, gray mustache. He had a monocle over his left eye, and his right eye was a dark, crimson.


    "Ah, Gunther, how are you?" Luminous asked.


    "I''m doing well my lady," he responded in a respectful tone.


    "Excellent. I need you to come to my chambers. There''s been an interesting development and I could use your assistance," she told him, which piqued his curiosity. Not many things garnered her attention these days.


    "An interesting development you say?" he repeated, which caused her to smirk.


    "Indeed, but I won''t spoil the surprise. You''ll just have to see for yourself."


    "As capricious as ever my lady. I shall be there momentarily," he said with a resigned sigh before cutting off communication. Jonathan, who was listening, felt a bit bad for the old timer. He imagined this was a somewhat common occurrence, given the woman''s apparent whimsical nature.


    "And that takes care of that. Now we just need to wait. You''ll be wearing pants again before you know it," she said, turning to face him with a small smirk on her face.


    "Ah, that''s good, I guess," he said, making her raise an eyebrow.


    "Unless you wish to remain in the nude? I personally don''t mind, but I''m not sure about the others," she said with a teasing smile, causing poor Jonatahn to blush.


    "No, no! I''d like some pants please," he stated quickly, causing the woman in front of him to pout.


    "If you insist¡­"


    They stood in somewhat awkward silence, mostly on Jonathan''s part, as he was the only one without clothes. And the teasing looks she was giving him did not help matters.


    "So¡­ I know this is a bit out of order, but¡­ mind telling me your name?" he asked. She looked at him with confusion, before her eyes widened in realization.


    "My, how rude of me. A man shows up naked in my bedchambers and I have yet to introduce myself to him. How scandalous," she said with mocking distress.


    There wasn''t much he could say to that. If someone showed up in his bed like that, he would hesitate to tell them his name as well. Unless they looked like she did, of course. It wouldn''t take long for him to spill the beans if that were the case.


    "Ah, right. I understand. I am a stranger after all," he said, disappointed. He hasn''t been this disappointed about a rejection since that time he asked out a cheerleader in high school.


    Luminous, who was watching his expression, softened her own. "That''s right, you are a stranger. So let''s fix that, shall we? It would be weird for two people who''ve seen each other''s dirty little secrets to not know each other''s names. I am Luminous Valentine, a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she said, holding out a hand for him to shake.


    He looked down at it for a moment, not quite believing it. But after a moment, he hesitantly reached out for her hand, hoping she wouldn''t pull it back at the last second. When he took her hand in his, he almost leapt for joy.


    "I''m Jonathan. Jonathan Mueller. It''s uh¡­ nice to meet you too," he said, shaking her hand. But Luminous had a curious depression on her face as she stared at him.


    "Jonathan you say? Are you certain of that?" she asked, tilting her head.


    "Um, yes? Pretty sure, anyway," he said, confused himself. Luminous hummed and her eyes started glowing, and he got the distinct impression she was staring into his soul.


    "Ah, I see. Jonathan was your human name. But seeing as you are no longer human, that name is no longer so attached to your soul. How interesting¡­" she said after several seconds.


    "And what does that mean exactly?" he asked. Her eyes stopped glowing, and she looked at him in contemplation.


    "Names are powerful things, especially for monsters like ourselves. Most never receive one, remaining nameless their entire lives. Humans and demi-humans are a bit different in this regard, but still, names can hold powerful meanings for them as well," she said, making him even more confused.


    "I don''t get it. Why don''t they just name themselves then?" he asked.


    "Hmm, how to explain¡­ Naming someone takes an enormous amount of power. You are literally inscribing their name into their very soul. Most monsters do not have the power to name their own children, let alone themselves," she explained.


    "Huh, that''s¡­ different. And you say my name is no longer my name?" he asked. If that was true, then the question marks next to his name in the book made sense now. It''s literally because that may or may not be his name.


    "It''s still attached, though barely. It would be easy to overwrite it with a new one, unless of course, you''re attached to it?" she asked, her eyes shining with something akin to eagerness.


    Jonathan thought about it for a moment. "Am I attached to it? I mean, Jonathan was kind of a pathetic guy, all things considered. No friends, no girlfriend, crappy job, shitty apartment, short as hell with a tiny¡­ not important. But this guy¡­" he thought, looking back into the mirror, seeing his new appearance looking back at him.


    "This guy is anything but a loser. I mean, look at him! I''m not gay, but he probably could have made me experiment in college, just to make sure. Jonathan was the old me, and I want to be the new me. The me I see staring back at me right now. I can''t hold on to the past, I have to embrace this new future. And if that''s the case, then¡­"


    "No, I''m not attached to it at all," he said, firmly, with conviction. Once he did, he felt something change within him on a fundamental level.


    "Excellent! If that''s the case, then¡­" Luminous said, making the now nameless vampire stare at her. Her eyes were alight, shining brighter than ever before, and her grin was big enough he could see her gleaming, pearly white fangs.


    "...would you like me to give you one?"

 A New Name

    Gunther led the, as of now, nameless vampire through the halls of the temple. When his mistress informed him of an interesting development, a naked young man is not what he was expecting to find.


    And yet here he was, taking him to the room where they kept various spare wardrobes. His lady always liked to be prepared, or perhaps she merely liked to collect clothing. Regardless, they had garments to spare and that was a good thing at the moment.


    The less time he needed to spend with the naked man, the better.


    While they were walking, the nameless one was contemplating what Luminous told him, that she would give him a new name for his new life. She suggested he think of any that caught his fancy, and as such, he was doing his best to come up with something.


    Considering he was now a fanged creature of the night, some names immediately came to mind, such as Dracula or Alucard, but those didn''t feel right. He wasn''t either of them, and naming himself after one of them is like trying to say he wanted to be them, and not himself. It would be like running away in a sense, from the new him he could become.


    And yet, he couldn''t think of much else. He was shit with names! He named his dog Spot for crying out loud, and he didn''t even have any spots! What was he supposed to name a vampire?


    Bob? Vampire Bob? Could you imagine introducing yourself as vampire Bob? He''d be the laughing stock of the blood sucking community.


    No, it was probably better if he let her give him a name. That way if it''s stupid, he could pass the blame onto her.


    "We have arrived," Gunther said, interrupting him from his thoughts, which was probably a good thing.


    Gunther opened the door to reveal a lavish room. It wasn''t nearly as fancy as Luminous'' but it still looked like it belonged to the queen of England. No Name entered the room with awe, looking at all the fancy furniture.


    Gunther ignored his wide eyed stare and made his way towards the closet. The man formerly known as Jonathan following behind. Once there, the butler opened the doors, revealing a massive walk-in closet filled with hundreds of articles of clothing.


    Mouth open, No Name couldn''t help but marvel at the size. It was bigger than his entire apartment. And this was just a spare room of some kind? "Is this the mindset of the rich and fabulous?" he thought with some amount of incredulity.


    "You may choose anything within you wish to wear, just make sure it covers everything," Gunther said with a mild glare, eyes tailing down the younger man''s body. If he didn''t know any better, No Name thought he was jealous. Not that he intended to mention that, at least not to him, as the butler was already a bit frosty with him.


    No need to stoke that fire. Or would that help, considering how cold the older man was being?


    "Um, thanks," No Name said, feeling more than a little awkward standing in a closet, buck ass naked, with another man. It was somehow worse than traveling through the hallways.


    "No need for thanks, I am merely doing my duty. Now, if you''ll excuse me, I must discuss something with Lady Luminous. I shall return before long, so do not dilly-dally," he responded, before leaving the room.


    "Dilly-dally? Who says dilly-dally?" the now solo vampire thought. Shrugging, he turned his attention to the clothes.


    "Man, did she buy out the whole mall or something?" he asked, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount that was there. "Do they even have malls here? Whatever, let''s see what I can find."


    Gunther, who just closed the door leading into the room, disappeared into the shadows. Using the Skill: Shadow Motion, he reappeared next to Luminous, who was sitting in a room, drinking a bit of dark red tea.


    "Hello again Gunther. Tell me, how is our guest?" she asked, taking a sip. Gunther placed his hand over his chest and gave her a bow.


    "He is by all accounts, overwhelmed, my lady."


    Luminous hummed in thought at that. She had gotten the same feeling. Not that she could particularly blame him, if his story is true. Dying, then transmigrating to another world as another species, finding yourself in bed, naked, with a woman who could disintegrate you¡­ Yes, that would be quite overwhelming indeed.


    Or perhaps he was overwhelmed for a different reason? He did seem rather fond of her nubile form. Could that be the reason for his distress? If so, perhaps she shouldn''t have teased him so much¡­


    If only it weren''t so much fun.


    "And what about the boy himself? What did you think of him?" she asked next, giving her servant a curious look, not showing any of her inner thoughts on her face.


    "Unremarkable in every way my lady," Gunther replied, getting a musical laugh from the silver haired woman.


    "Is that right? Or perhaps you were merely distracted by his state of undress?" she asked, giving him a smirk.


    "I believe you are the one who was distracted," he replied blandly, getting another small laugh from her.


    "Perhaps you are right," she said, taking another sip of tea. The boy did have a rather remarkable body, it was only natural she took the time to appreciate it. In fact, it would have been wasteful of her not to!


    "My lady, tell me, what is it about that boy that interests you so?" he asked after a moment.


    "Besides his body you mean?" she asked with a grin. Gunther merely stared at her without responding or changing his expression, making her pout.


    "You''re no fun," she said with a long, suffering sigh filled with exaggeration. "But to answer your question, it''s because he is a curiosity. He claims to be a human who came here after dying in an accident."


    "Preposterous," Gunther stated.


    "I thought so at first as well, but I didn''t sense any deceit coming from him. A normal Otherworlder retaining all of his memories after Transmigrating here is already a rarity in and of itself, as very few have a soul strong enough to bear the burden, but to become an entirely different race is unheard of," she informed him, getting an excited glint in her eyes.


    Gunther pondered her words. If true, then the individual searching for pants to hide his indignity would be a unique existence indeed. It would make sense then, for his lady to take such an interest in him. However¡­


    "If that is true, then where did his new body come from? A monster may be born from a sufficient amount of Magicules, but where would he-" Gunther said, before realization dawned on him. "Don''t tell me¡­"


    "It''s as you say. His body was likely created using my own Magicules as a source. I cannot prove this, of course, as if that is what happened I have since recovered whatever may have been spent. But it does make the most sense," she stated, adopting a contemplative look on her face.


    Indeed, if he was in fact born from her own power, it would stand to reason that was the primary determinant factor that caused her to spare him. Even if she wasn''t aware of this fact, she likely sensed it on an instinctive level. He was, in some way, a part of her.


    Gunther was similarly considering the ramifications of the revelation. If true, he would be the first monster in history who was created using his mistresses power. There was no telling how powerful he could become. He may even have the capacity to evolve into a High Blood like her.


    No wonder she took such an interest in him. Even Gunther was becoming curious about the potential of the young man.


    "If that is true, my lady, then what is it you wish to do with him," Gunther then asked after a few minutes of silence. Luminous thought about it for a moment, before a somewhat eager smile stretched across her face.


    "I wish to see what he is capable of. Humans have managed to surprise me in the past, but nothing like this. What can a human turned monster accomplish? What power can such an individual amass? It''s quite exciting to think about, no?"


    "I see. Does that mean you intend to train him?" Gunther asked. Luminous nodded her head. "Indeed. Though with how busy I am, I believe I''ll have to employ several trainers as well. Perhaps Hinata will agree to teach him how to swing a sword¡­" she said, thinking of who she could ask to teach him.


    "If you ordered it, I have no doubt she would agree," Gunther admitted. If he was honest with himself, he was not overly fond of the human woman, but at the same time, knew she was completely loyal to Luminous. So for his lady''s sake, he tolerated her.


    "Hm, I suppose you are right. Well, that can wait for another time. I believe she is out on a mission somewhere anyway. For now he will need to know the basics of the world he''s in as well as how to use his vampiric powers. Before you go to fetch him, please bring up a bottle of Sanguis Virginis. That should serve as a good first taste for him," she commanded, receiving a bow in return.


    "As you wish. I shall return shortly," he said, before disappearing into the shadows once again. Luminous watched him go with a small smile, her mind wandering to what the future might entail.


    *Line Break*


    A certain blonde haired vampire was in the closet. No he wasn''t hiding from his sexuality, but he was admiring the handsome man staring back at him in the mirror.


    "Oh yeah, that''s it. Work it girl, unh," he said, twisting and turning to get the best view of himself. He paid particularly close attention to his supple ass as it was framed by the black dress pants he had on.


    It took him an embarrassingly long time to find an outfit he liked, mostly because there were just so many options. Analysis Paralysis they called it. But eventually, he settled on something he liked, if for no other reason than his fear of what the butler might do to him if he returned and saw he was still naked.


    As mentioned earlier, he was wearing a pair of midnight black dress pants made of the softest material you could imagine. As were the wine red boxers he had on underneath. He was actually a bit surprised they even had them, but was immensely grateful he didn''t have to run around in tighty-whities.


    He probably would have just gone commando if that were the case.


    His feet were covered in glossy black shoes that had the appearance of scales. It made him wonder if dragons were a thing. His socks were pure white and felt as if he wasn''t even wearing them.


    He wore a white dress shirt with a black vest over top, both of a similar material to his pants. The top of the shirt was unbuttoned, showing off part of his muscular chest. To top it all off, he wore a long, black cape that was jet black on the outside and blood red on the inside.


    All in all, he thought he cut the figure of an aristocratic vampire quite well. He pulled the cape up over his mouth, leaving only his eyes visible. "I''ve come to suck your blood, bleh bleh-bleh," he said, trying to get his eyes to perform an act of hypnotism.


    "Ahem," said an elderly voice to his left, startling the poor, no named vampire.


    "Ah!" he screamed, jumping back and getting tangled in his cape until his head was completely ensconced within. "It''s dark! Somebody, help!" he shouted, making Gunther sweat drop.


    This was the man who so captured his lady''s attention? Releasing a long suffering sigh, he made his way to the panicking individual and disentangled him from his apparel.


    "I can see! Thanks for that," the golden haired vampire said, patting Gunther on the shoulder. The older vampire was not impressed, pushing the hand off of him and wiping what he perceived as filth off of his shoulder.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Think nothing of it. Now, I see that you have clothed yourself in the proper attire. Good," Gunther said, looking the man up and down to judge his appearance. Seeing nothing immediately wrong, he gave a nod.


    "Lady Luminous is awaiting your presence in the parlor. If you would follow me," he ordered. The former human''s eyes widened, and an excited smile lit up his face.


    "Well why didn''t you say so? Come on!" he yelled with eagerness, rushing out of the room. Gunther watched with a raised eyebrow as he calmly left the closet. Once inside the room proper, he saw neither hide nor hair of the young man until his face appeared in the doorway leading into the room.


    "Uh, yeah¡­ I have no idea where I''m going," he said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head.


    Gunther sighed once more.


    *Line Break*


    Luminous'' ears perked up as she heard footsteps approach. One pair she recognized. How could she not? The person they belonged to had served her for thousands of years. It was the other pair she didn''t recognize.


    But that didn''t mean she was unaware of whom they belonged to. Who else could it be besides her most interesting of guests. She found herself sitting up straight, trying to look as prim and proper as she could.


    There was a knock on the door, and Luminous bade them enter. The door to the parlor opened and she saw her dear friend Gunther enter first, giving a bow. "My lady, I have brought our guest, fully clothed, as requested," he stated.


    With him in a bowing position, she was able to get a decent view of the nervous young man behind him. She had to admit, while the sight of him completely nude was rather titillating, he cut a fine image decked out in his noble attire.


    "Thank you Gunther. You may return to your previous duties now," she said with a smile. Gunther nodded, giving his ward a warning glare before departing. The doors slammed behind him, leaving the blonde haired man alone with a girl too beautiful to exist.


    "Well? Don''t just stand there, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair opposite of her.


    "Oh, right," he muttered, walking over and sitting down, unsure of how to properly sit in front of who he imagined was royalty. Or did it even matter at this point, considering how they first met.


    She watched him sit down with a smile, which turned a tad mischievous when she noticed him trying to sit properly. "There''s no need for that. Sit however you like," she said. He seemed to deflate a bit at being caught, sitting with a slight slouch.


    She didn''t mind his posture at the moment, but he would need etiquette lessons if he was to fit in with the rest of the vampire nobility. They could be a stuffy bunch.


    "Good. Now, before we begin, I imagine you must be a bit hungry. I had Gunther bring up some Blood Wine called Sanguis Virginis. It happens to be one of my favorites," she mentioned, grabbing a bottle and popping open the top.


    "Blood of the Virgin?" he muttered confused. But when the scent hit him, his stomach let out a gurgling rumble, and he had to swallow the drool that started to form.


    "I''m impressed. Most wouldn''t be able to translate that," she mentioned, pouring the two of them a glass. She then casually slid his glass over to him with a small, amused smile. She absolutely heard his stomach, and she could see the bits of drool he couldn''t quite swallow fast enough.


    "Thanks," he muttered, staring at the deep red liquid. Hard to believe he was about to drink blood but surprisingly, the thought didn''t repulse him. If anything, it only made him more eager to drink.


    "It''s important for a lower class vampire such as yourself to feed regularly, lest you lose control and go on a bloodthirsty rampage. If that happens, I would be forced to stop you, and that''s not an outcome either of us would prefer," Luminous said with a happy smile.


    But the man across from her could only give her an incredulous look. "How can she say something so damn scary with such a cheerful smile on her face?" he thought.


    Picking up the glass, so he wouldn''t be fixated on the threat to his life he just received, he watched as the red, viscous liquid slowly churned around. It was definitely thicker than wine.


    "Go on, don''t be shy," she said. Giving her a nervous look, he brought the glass to his lips, taking a small, conservative sip. Flavor immediately exploded into his mouth and it was all he could do not to chug the whole thing.


    The taste was hard to describe. The only taste he recognized was the alcohol as it burned his throat going down, but other than that it was a mystery. Wasn''t blood supposed to have an iron-like taste? Or is it because he was a vampire now?


    "That''s¡­ wow," he said, unsure of what else to say. Luminous gave a musical giggle at his face, taking her own sip, savoring the rich flavor as she did so. She may not have needed to eat to survive, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t indulge herself once in a while.


    She was a goddess after all. If she wasn''t allowed to enjoy life''s pleasures, then what was the point?


    "I take it, you approve?" she asked. He took another, bigger sip, doing his best to enjoy the full depth of the flavor this time before swallowing.


    "Hell yeah! That was the best thing I''ve ever had. Way better than pizza," he exclaimed. She smiled at his enthusiasm, glimpsing his real personality for the first time. Sure there was some mixed in with the nervousness and the awe of his transformation, but it wasn''t quite the same. This was him, unburdened by fear or anxiety.


    "Pizza¡­ I''ve heard of this dish before, but I have never tried it. Perhaps you can show it to me some time," she suggested.


    "I''d be happy to Luminous," he said with a grin. A part of her was thrilled by the utter lack of respect he showed. No, that wasn''t quite true. It wasn''t that he lacked respect, the part that was missing was the deference. It was¡­ nice. Not many people spoke to her in such a manner, and those that did were usually on her list of enemies.


    "Now," she said, pouring him another glass, "You mentioned being in a library. Would you mind continuing your tale?" she asked.


    "Oh, well¡­ there''s not much to tell really. Once I realized that my so-called autobiography didn''t tell me what my Skills did, I went looking for books on the subject. I found one on Skills called Your Skills and You, and one on vampires called Denizens of the Dark: A Guide to the Monsters Masquerading Under Moonlight," he said, getting an intrigued look on her face.


    She knew of both those books. The one on Skills was pretty basic, an introduction at best, and the other was filled with anti monster bias, written by one of her own followers. The information wasn''t all bad, but it was clear the author was trying to paint them in a negative light.


    "And what Skills do you possess, if I may ask?" she questioned, taking a sip of wine. He thought about it for a moment, unsure if he would be able to remember everything, but to his surprise, he could recall it with perfect clarity.


    After listening to him recite his Skills, Luminous hummed in thought. She recognized most of them, of course, but she was surprised he had so many that were not Intrinsic to the vampire race. Most of them weren''t anything truly special. Useful, for sure, but nothing to write home about.


    Then there were the other two. The Extra Skill: Alpha Male, piqued her interest. She''s heard of it''s predecessor, Ladies Man, but never this evolved form. She wondered just what it was capable of.


    But more than that was the Unique Skill he possessed, The Library of Alexandria. She''s never heard of such a place, but perhaps it was relevant to his world? It seems like he wasn''t so different from the rest of the Otherworlders after all. Each of them possessed a powerful Unique Skill as well.


    "I see. Tell me, what do you suppose this library of yours contains? Is the name significant in your previous world?" she asked, leaning towards him with curiosity.


    "I don''t know a whole lot about it, to be honest. The library of Alexandria was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. Or was that the lighthouse¡­ Anyway, it was said to contain all of the world''s knowledge, or at least a vast majority of it. But it was burned down around two thousand years ago during an invasion. Supposedly, that event set mankind back centuries from the loss of knowledge," he explained, enjoying the way her eyes lit up at the information.


    "Fascinating. Judging from that descriptor, your own library must contain a gratuitous amount of information," she said, thinking about the ramifications of such a Skill. While it wasn''t good for combat, the utility of having access to such a vast amount of knowledge couldn''t be underestimated.


    Knowledge is power after all.


    There was also the fact that it was destroyed around two thousand years ago that caught her attention. It was the same as her previous country, one that was brought to ruin by that stupid lizard. Was it merely a coincidence, or was it something else?


    "Oh that thing is huge. And it looks like it holds information on both worlds. This one and my old one, though I don''t know the full scope of it. I imagine with it being a library it contains information that''s available to the public," he said, getting a nod from her.


    "A good guess. Even if it doesn''t contain any secret knowledge, it''s still a valuable resource. You''re getting more and more interesting," she said with a coy smile, making him blush slightly, taking a rather big gulp of his wine.


    "Um, so¡­" he said, unsure of how to broach the next topic. Luminous raised a curious eyebrow, amused by his reticence. Hard to believe he was the same man who was so eagerly fondling her rear earlier, without a care in the world.


    "Yes¡­" she goaded.


    "It''s just¡­ the other Skill. Do you know about that one?" he asked, not able to look her in the eyes? She was confused for a moment, as he mentioned several Skills to her, but she figured there was only one Skill he was truly curious about.


    "Oh, and which one would that be? Be specific," she asked.


    "The, you know, Alpha Male," he nearly whispered, getting a chuckle out of her.


    "And why would you be interested in that one?" she asked with a simper.


    "No real reason," he said, far too quickly to be believable. "It''s just, that''s the only one I don''t have much of a clue about."


    "Is that all?"


    "Yes, that''s IT!" he shrieked, feeling something rubbing against his leg, surprising him. Looking down, he saw a dainty foot going up and down his leg, teasing him. He gave her an incredulous look, which she returned with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.


    "Are you alright? Is something the matter?" she asked, moving her foot up a little higher. He thought about asking where her boot went, but found he didn''t really give a damn.


    "Nope, I''m fine. Never b-e-tter," he stuttered, voice raising a pitch on the first e. The smirk never left her face as she watched him try and control himself.


    "That''s good. We wouldn''t want you to be uncomfortable now, would we?" she asked, her toes barely scraping against his thigh.


    "No, that would be terrible," he said, gripping the table tightly.


    "To answer your question, I can''t say for certain, however, judging by its predecessor, I assume it allows you some Skill with women. Perhaps this one will even help you attain that which men have desired since their creation," she said in a low, husky voice. He knew she was just teasing him and that his balls were going to be a few shades of blue darker, but still!


    "And, uh, what is that exactly?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, even as her foot came tantalizingly close to the piece of steel in his pants.


    "Why, a harem of course," she said, taking her foot away from him. Even if he knew she was just teasing, he couldn''t keep the disappointment and betrayal off of his face. Luminous had to cover her mouth, lest she burst into laughter at the sight of it.


    "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he said, turning away from her with a pout. She may not have given a full belly laugh, she couldn''t prevent the cascade of giggles that left her mouth.


    "Forgive me, but I was serious about the Skill. I know those with the Skill: Ladies Man are known to be quite the pick up artists. However, they are unable to form a happy union with them. This Skill might just allow that."


    "Really," he said, almost eagerly, causing her to raise a brow.


    "Already you''ve seen me naked and yet your wish to pursue other women? Does your lust know no bounds?" she teased some more.


    "If the Skill does what you think it does, then you should have no problem with that, right?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest, feeling rather smug about his comeback.


    But he should have known he wouldn''t get one up on the teasing master herself, a woman who embodied ara ara energy.


    "Nope. The more the merrier," she said, finishing her glass of wine. But he could only stare gobsmacked.


    "Did she just¡­ give me permission to form a harem?" he thought to himself. It wasn''t like they were actually going out or anything, but still, her words made his heart beat a million times faster.


    With that one line, she was immediately relegated to best girl. All waifus must henceforth pay homage to her superiority.


    "Now, on to more important matters. Namely, your name. Have you decided on anything, or shall you leave it up to me?" she asked, eyes losing their mirth.


    To be honest, he kind of forgot about that entirely. Her playing footsie with him drove all thoughts about that out the window. But even so, he knew what his answer was.


    "I want you to do it," he said, tone completely serious. She gave him a nod, but couldn''t help but ask.


    "Why?"


    He looked down at the empty cup in his hands, idly fiddling with the thing. "I guess, if I choose a name, it will be like I''m holding onto the old me. And if I do that, how will I ever become the person I want to be? This is my chance to become someone truly different, so I think, if I want to change, I can''t be the one to name myself. That''s just how I feel. That''s not crazy, is it?" he asked, looking into her eyes again. Only instead of the usual mischievousness in them, all he could see was sincerity.


    "No, that doesn''t sound crazy at all. In fact, I believe I have the perfect name for you. Are you ready?" she asked. He sighed, feeling a bit nervous.


    "Yeah, I''m ready. Let''s do it!" he shouted, pumping himself up.


    "What an eager boy you are. Alright then. From this moment on, your name shall be, Vincent Valentine!" she proclaimed. A golden glow illuminated his body and he could feel something change within him. It must have been the name being engraved onto his soul.


    Once the light died down, he looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching them. "I don''t really feel different," he muttered. He certainly felt a change occur, but other than that, he pretty much felt the same.


    "That''s because I performed an Equal Naming, rather than a Master-Servant Naming. An Equal naming does not confer much in the way of power, but it does establish us as equals," she informed, watching him check himself over with a smile.


    "Equals, huh? Wait a minute, Valentine? Isn''t that your last name?" he asked, giving her a confused look.


    "Indeed it is. Is that a problem?" she asked, a bit of steel entering her voice.


    "No, not at all. I was just, confused is all. Are we like, married or something now?" he asked. Part of him was thrilled with that idea, especially since she already gave the green light on the harem. But another part was kind of freaked out by the notion.


    They just met after all! Sure part of that meeting they spent naked in bed together and his hand knew the shape and feel of her ass intimately, but they were still practically strangers!


    "Sorry to disappoint you, but no, we aren''t married," she said with mirth, the edge leaving her voice. "I gave you my last name because I believe your body was formed using my Magicules."


    "Wait, does that make you my mom instead!? Do I have an oedipus complex or something?" he said, freaking out. She watched this for a bit, amused, before she decided to mess with him a bit.


    "Oh, and what''s wrong with me being your mother? I am over 20,000 years old you know so I''m certainly old enough to be," she said, making him stop.


    "Damn, you aged well. But no, I''d rather the first thing, actually," he said. Once he realized he did, his face took on a dark, red hue.


    "Oh, is this a proposal? My, my you work fast. But I''m afraid I''ll have to decline at the moment," she said, standing up, somehow having both boots on.


    "At the moment¡­" Vincent muttered to himself, causing the woman with excellent hearing to smirk.


    "Come along now, Vincent. Now that you have a name, it''s time to begin your training," she said, exiting the room with him following along, ready to begin his new life as...


    "Wait a minute¡­ Vincent Valentine? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

 Training Day

    Luminous led the now named vampire down the gilded halls of her temple. "So, where exactly are we going?" Vincent asked, memorizing the structure of the building. He was surprised to find how easy it was to remember just where in the winding halls he was and where he''s been.


    "I''m taking you to see your trainers. Immortal we vampires may be, but I don''t see the point in wasting time," she responded without looking back at him. Vincent could freely admit he was more than a bit nervous.


    In his past life, he wasn''t exactly the most athletic person around. He was the type of person who got picked last for team events. Hell, he was so bad he didn''t even qualify for a participation trophy.


    He tried to keep himself in shape, even if he didn''t see the point of it, and found himself delving more and more into anime and video games, seeking an escape from the real world.


    He certainly never expected to find it after a car crash, but he wasn''t exactly complaining about it. Waking up with the body of a Greek God next to a shockingly beautiful woman was his every fantasy made real.


    And now he was going to embarrass himself completely in front of said woman. He could feel the cloud of despair hovering above his head as his shoulders slumped forward. If his performance was so pitiful, would she cast him out? The thought was almost too much to bear.


    "No! I won''t let that happen! I''ll impress her so much that she''ll be practically begging me to stay. And maybe, just maybe, I''ll get my hands on that booty again!" he thought, psyching himself up as much as he could.


    "What''s got you so excited back there?" Luminous asked, turning to see her newest ward with his fist raised in the air and an eager look, his face red and snorting like a bull.


    "I um, what? Nothing. Why?" Vincent responded rapid fire, making Luminous quirk an amused eyebrow at his attempt to deflect. A coy grin slid across her face, "Oh really? You had quite the naughty look on your face. Care to share?"


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about. My thoughts are as pure as the driven snow," he claimed. But the fact that he couldn''t make eye contact told a very different story. Besides, her backside was literally pure perfection so that counts as having pure thoughts, right?


    "Hmm, if you say so. Anyway, we''re here," she informed him, making him snap out of his delusions. He looked past her to see that they were walking towards a set of large, metal doors with ornate, gothic carvings on them.


    Actually, if he looked closely, it appeared as if a woman was standing over the corpse of a massive dragon, holding a rapier to the sky in a victory pose. The woman had a striking resemblance to the one in front of him.


    Did she not like dragons, or was the one depicted in the carving special in some way? Like some ancient evil that plagued the world and she defeated it.


    "Um, nice doors," he stated lamely as they neared, fishing for information without flat out asking.


    "Yes, I''m quite fond of them as well. I can''t help but smile everytime I see them," she stated, in a tone that made him think she wasn''t as happy as that statement suggested. Her voice held an edge to it, and he could feel a pressure weighing down on him, making him sweat slightly.


    But it didn''t last long, and soon enough the pressure abated like it was never there in the first place. Luminous casually opened the door like they weighed less than a feather, when Vincent knew they must have weighed a couple tons. They looked like they were completely solid chunks of steel. Just how strong was she?


    "Ah good, you''re both here," Luminous said as she entered the room, Vincent trailing behind her. Looking to see who she was talking to, he spotted a pair of what he assumed were vampires.


    The first one appeared to be a young woman in her twenties, but he knew looks could be deceiving, especially with creatures who could stay young forever. After all, Luminous still looked like a teenager, and she was over 20,000 years old! For all he knew, she was thousands of years old and held an untold amount of power.


    She was wearing a fairly stereotypical maid outfit that reached down to her ankles. Her hair was long and tied off in a ponytail, with two bangs falling on either side of her face and a white bonnet on top of her head. Her eyes were a bright red, gazing at him with a stern expression.


    The man standing next to her was the most intimidating person he''s seen so far. He was fairly tall, at least as tall as he was, with dull red hair that fell between his eyes, which were red, like most vampires, holding a gaze even more serious than the woman''s.


    But that wasn''t the intimidating part. That part was reserved for the blood red armor he was wearing. He looked like a knight that decided to dye his armor with the blood of his enemies. And for all Vincent knew, that''s exactly what he did.


    The chest piece was thick, and looked far heavier than any human would be able to wear. But with a vampire''s strength, it probably didn''t weigh much by comparison. The pauldrons and gauntlets appeared similarly sturdy, and each held intricate designs carved into them. What they were, Vincent couldn''t really tell, but their design appeared religious in his eyes.


    An armored piece fell on either side of his hip, and the bottom flared out in what looked like a black dress or a robe. He imagined there were some armored greaves and boots beneath, but he couldn''t make them out. Beneath the armor was thick, black cloth.


    As he and Luminous entered, the knight kneeled while the woman curtsied. "Of course we are milady. Where else would we be after being summoned?" asked the maid, her voice slightly deep, and held a slight playfulness to it that belied her stern expression.


    "We are yours to command," stated the knight, his own voice sounding quite young, and given that he didn''t appear much older than the woman, it made sense.


    Luminous smiled as she turned to the blonde haired vampire behind her. "Vincent, allow me to introduce you to your trainers, Leliana and Isaac," she said, the two returning to a more casual stance when she said their names.


    "Leliana will be teaching you proper etiquette, while Isaac will start you on your combat training."


    "So he is the one?" Leliana asked with an unimpressed tone, looking him up and down. She frowned as she approached, and Luminous took a couple steps back, a small smirk on her face.


    It set Vincent on edge.


    "Um, hello. My name is-"


    "Swine! No slouching, stand straight!" she interrupted, pulling out a paddle from nowhere and smacking him on the rump with it.


    "Yeow, what the hell lady!" he yelled, jumping into the air. He walked a few steps away from the crazy chick, rubbing his sore backside.


    "Lady Luminous has instructed me to teach the proper ways to conduct yourself in front of the nobility, and that is exactly what I intend to do. I find the best way to impart knowledge is through pain. That way you remember it," Lelian responded, smacking the paddle into her palm.


    Vincent''s disbelieving eyes turned towards Luminous, who was snickering behind her hand. "That little troll! She knew what was about to happen, that''s why she stepped away. Well, two can play at that game," he thought.


    "Lumi, the mean lady hurt my bottom. Can you make it feel better?" he begged, giving her the puppy dog eyes. Luminous raised an amused eyebrow at the nickname, feeling somewhat pleased by it. She can''t remember anybody having given her a real nickname before, not like this at any rate.


    However, there were two people in the room who did not appreciate his words nearly as much. "You dare speak to our Goddess in such a manner?" questioned the knight, eyes boring holes into the back on Vincent''s head.


    "Truly a boorish man if ever I''ve seen one," muttered the maid, grabbing the paddle so hard it was a miracle it hadn''t shattered.


    The man in question went rigid, feeling the bloodlust emanating from the two behind him. Perhaps that wasn''t the best idea. But what did they mean by Goddess?


    "My Lady, you wish for me to train this man than allow me to ascertain his current combat abilities," Isaac requested, fist over his heart and bowing. Vincent looked nervous at the notion, but Luminous had a contemplative look on her face.


    "I can answer that for you. It''s zero. Literally never been in a fight before in my life," Vincent said, trying to avoid the brutal beating he knew the other man wanted to give him. But judging from the look in Luminous'' eyes, he had a sinking feeling he knew which direction she was leaning.


    "Hm, I don''t see a problem with that. I''m sure the knowledge will prove useful in your attempts to train him," she said, much to Vincent''s despair. He wanted to impress her earlier, but it seems like that hope was getting thrown out the window.


    The booty was getting further and further out of reach.


    "Thank you my lady," Isaac responded, a satisfied grin on his face. One that was mirrored by the maid. Given their previous stern countenances, it didn''t seem to fit them.


    "Guess I just bring out the best in people," Vincent thought, rather sardonically.


    "However, refrain from the use of weapons for now. Stick to unarmed combat and Blood Arts," Luminous commanded with a serious look. Isaac immediately nodded his head, unwilling to make a counter to her commands.


    "Excellent. Well, I see no point in delaying. Let us begin, shall we?" Luminous said.


    "I see plenty of points in waiting! Just look at that guy, he clearly wants to break every bone in my body. In fact, that''s probably what he''s going to do!" Vincent thought in mild panic. But there wasn''t much he could do about it. Sure he could refuse to fight at all, but he somehow doubted that would go over well.


    The two took their places several feet away from each other, one looking impassive, yet eager at the same time, while the other was a bundle of nerves.


    "Are you ready to learn some proper manners, knave?" questioned Isaac, glaring at Vincent.


    "I thought she was the one who was supposed to teach me manners?" Vincent said. Luminous snickered slightly, causing Isaac''s frown to deepen. A red aura seemed to emanate from the angry vampire, making Vincent regret his choice of trolling.


    "May we begin, my lady?" Isaac asked, making Vincent take up a basic defensive stance. Or at least what he thought was one. He''s seen some MMA and fighting anime, so he had a pretty good idea of what it was supposed to look like.


    Luminous looked at the two combatants, a small smile on her lips. "Alright. You may begin."


    Almost immediately, Isaac was in Vincent''s face. It was like one second he was across the room and the next he was right in Vincent''s personal bubble, making his eyes widen in shock. "You''re open," Isaac stated without emotion, delivering a punch towards the other man''s face.


    But to his, and Vincent''s surprise, the newly named vampire was able to tilt his head to the side, barely avoiding a broken nose.


    "Beginner''s luck," Isaac said with a frown, launching his next assault. He stepped forward, launching a haymaker towards Vincent, who dodged backwards with a panicked, "Woah!" Isaac''s fist missing him by mere millimeters.


    This is how their battle continued, with Isaac launching attacks and Vincent bumbling out of the way. Leliana was honestly, though only mildly, impressed that the man hadn''t received several broken bones yet, but then again, Isaac was still taking it easy on him. As irritated as he was by the other man''s rudeness, it would reflect poorly on him to eviscerate someone Luminous seemed so interested in.


    At least, too soon.


    Both of them wanted to see just what it was about the man that caught her interest. So far, while he was able to avoid damage, nothing else has been impressive. But as the battle continued, Luminous made an approving hum.


    Leliana turned towards her mistress, seeing a small smile gracing her lips. "What are you smiling for, my lady? I thought you''d be more upset by the boy''s rather poor performance," she asked, confusion lacing her tone.


    Luminous switched her attention to the maid, even as Vincent dodged another attack with a yelp. "Poor performance? I''m not sure what you''re referring to. Perhaps you should observe more closely," she responded in a knowing tone.


    Even more confused now, Leliana did as her mistress bid, trying to see just what she was talking about. It took her nearly a minute, but in that minute, it became abundantly clear the reason for her smile.


    "It seems you''ve noticed," Luminous said, returning her attention to the fight. Leliana could only watch flabbergasted. "B-but how? He''s but an amateur."


    "Perhaps, but I suspect there''s more to this amateur than meets the eye."


    Back with Vincent, it was safe to say he was not having a good time. Issac was relentless in his desire to enact violence upon him. But to both of their surprise, he has yet to be able to land a hit.


    The blonde haired vampire watched as Isaac''s fist came towards him, but rather than the blistering speed he assumed the other man was capable of, it almost seemed to come towards him in slow motion.


    Not only that, but it seemed as if he was able to predict more and more of his enemy''s attacks. A twitch of muscle here, a glance of his eye there, the slightest intake of breath; there were so many little tells that it was hard not to notice after a while.


    The battle continued, with Vincent becoming more and more at ease with the conflict. His movements even began to mimic his opponent''s. When Isaac launched another haymaker towards him, Vincent was able to see an opening, and for the first time, retaliated with his own attack.


    Mimicking the way he saw Isaac throw a punch, Vincent sent his own towards the man''s face. He couldn''t exactly aim anywhere else, as the man was decked out head to toe in armor. Come to think of it, that really wasn''t fair in a hand to hand fight.


    Isaac however, was no amateur, unlike his opponent. He saw the attack coming, and easily danced out of the way, gaining some distance from his opponent.


    "What''s wrong? Can''t handle someone going on the offensive?" Vincent mocked, which wasn''t very threatening as he was completely out of breath. Isaac however, wasn''t breathing hard in the slightest. In fact, it didn''t look like he exerted any effort whatsoever.


    Not rising to the provocations of his blonde haired opponent, Isaac merely made a "Come here" gesture with his hand. Growling, Vincent did just that. It was his turn to go on the offensive.


    Though his form was somewhat sloppy, it was clear that he was imitating the way Isaac fought. Seeing this intrigued the older vampire, who had his suspicions for a while now, but this only seemed to prove it.


    He was learning as he fought.


    Most fighters did this to some extent, or at least the good ones did. Studying the way your opponent moved, the way he breathed, patterns to his attacks; all ways to learn how to defeat him or even improve yourself.


    But the man in front of him was doing so at an exceptional rate. He went from never throwing a punch to being at a basic recruits level after a month of training in only a few minutes. He was beginning to see just what his Goddess saw in him.


    Too bad he had such a disrespectful attitude. If not for that, he would make an ideal candidate for the Blud Knights. As it was, he was expected to train him to a basic level of competence before being handed off to more exacting trainers. Likely Gunther for hand to hand combat, Roy and/or Louis for Blood Arts, and the human woman, Hinata Sakaguchi for Swordsmanship.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    But he would not allow the man to make him look bad. He would train him until he was a match for any regular member of his holy order, of that, he would promise.


    After defending himself from Vincent''s onslaught, Isaac had enough. Showing that he had been toying with the man the entire time, he casually caught his fist, making the newbie vampire stare in shock.


    "Um, not the face?" he begged.


    "As you wish."


    With that, Isaac punched him in the stomach, sending him flying to the other side of the room, crashing painfully to the stone floor beneath him. He lay there, groaning in pain. He barely even saw the other man move. Was he really taking it that easy on him?


    "I mean, I didn''t think I''d be able to win, but sheesh. This guy is on another level. And I get a feeling that Lumi is on one even higher than him," Vincent thought to himself, as he forced himself up, holding his stomach. Thankfully, due to his ability to regenerate, the pain was rapidly disappearing.


    "It seems you have a knack for hand to hand combat. But let us see how you handle the Blood Arts," Isaac said, after waiting for his opponent to recover. This was meant to test him after all. If he just kicked the shit out of him while he was lying there helpless, that would be much of a test now, would it?


    Fun, certainly, but not a test.


    Isaac then held his left arm out, and using the claws on his right, sliced into his wrist through a gap in his armor. Vincent watched this with big, worried eyes as the blood began to pool beneath the older man.


    "Blood Art: Pack Hunting."


    After calling out the technique''s name, the blood began to morph and shift, before it eventually settled on the form of a pair of large wolves. The crimson constructs looked around curiously, sniffing the air almost like they were real wolves. It was fascinating to watch.


    But that fascination soon turned to worry when they zeroed in on him and began to growl. He backed away from them with a nervous smile on his face.


    "Um, good doggies. Nice doggies. You wouldn''t hurt me, would-oh shit!" Vincent yelped, as they charged towards him. He immediately sprinted away, the blood hounds, literally in this case, chasing after him, barking and growling.


    "I think this is excessive!" Vincent yelled, leaping out of the way as one of them tried to take a bite out of his backside. He just got this thing, he did want to lose a chunk out of it already!


    "There are only two of them, I hardly think that is excessive," Isaac countered, enjoying the way the other man flailed about, trying to avoid the wolves. It was a basic technique, all things considered, though controlling such constructs became more difficult the more numerous they became. Isaac himself could control about two dozen fairly easily, with his upper limit being around 40.


    Luminous could control thousands.


    As Vincent avoided another nip at his heels, his mind raced with thoughts of how to beat these things. Could he create his own animal to fight them? Technically yes, he could, but having only seen it once, and from a distance, he didn''t think he''d be able to. It was just too complicated of a technique.


    So that was out. "Think, think, think! There has to be something I can do!" he shouted in his mind. Distracted by these thoughts, he didn''t notice himself running straight towards the wall. He nearly panicked at that realization, when it gave him an idea.


    Luminous watched with some amusement as her newest resident fled from the simple wolves, screaming his head off. He wasn''t in any real danger, of course, so she could take some enjoyment from his panic. However, she became curious when she noticed the confident smirk make its way onto his face.


    "Just what are you planning?" she mumbled to herself, getting a glance in her direction from Leliana. She too was enjoying the spectacle, though for different reasons from her mistress.


    Vincent increased his speed, dashing towards the wall, much to everyone''s confusion.


    "Has he gone mad?" Isaac muttered, watching this. He had put on a decent showing so far, but it appears as if his inexperience is now showing.


    However, as the blonde haired vampire neared the wall, he gave a great leap towards it, landing in a crouch a dozen feet above the ground. He then jumped off the wall, speeding directly towards the wolves, claws extended.


    That''s when they realized his plan. The wolves attempted to bite him, but his claws went through them like wet tissue paper, making them explode in a shower of blood. Vincent stood up, flicking the blood off of his hands, panting from the run.


    "Well, what''s next?" he asked, cockily.


    Luminous chuckled at the surprised look on her subjects'' faces. Apparently they didn''t believe Vincent capable of defeating the wolves. She personally didn''t believe such a simple attack would be the end of him, and she was glad to be proven right


    "I must admit, you''re doing better than I first thought possible. However¡­" Isaac said, holding out his right arm, palm facing towards himself, fingers curled inwards, pointing directly at him as well.


    "Don''t get cocky. You''re a hundred years from being my equal. Blood Art: Gathering of the Infinite."


    Vincent watched as the red began coming off his armor, almost like something sticky was being ripped off. Thick strands or red clung to it, desperate to not let go. Not only that, but the puddles of blood form the wolves shot towards the growing crimson orb above Isaac.


    After several seconds of this, his armor was no longer red, but silver. That''s when Vincent realized what the other man was doing. Somehow, his armor was coated, or saturated perhaps, with blood, and that technique was to remove it and gather it all up.


    He was just joking about that! He wasn''t serious when he said his armor was coated in the blood of his enemies! What the hell!?


    Vincent took a step back in fear, staring at the massive ball of swirling blood Isaac had gathered above him. "You''ve got to be kidding me¡­"


    "I assure you this is no joke. Now then, how will you handle this?" Isaac asked, as strands of blood started to form around the ball, making it resemble a morning star. Vincent wasn''t sure what was about to happen, but he did know it did not bode well for him.


    "I''ve got a bad feeling about this¡­" he muttered.


    "Now then, let us begin. Blood Art: Ten Thousand Spears."


    As soon as he said that, one of the spikes sticking out of the ball shot towards Vincent at a blistering speed. It was still connected to the ball, making it look more like he was being attacked by a tentacle monster than having spears thrown at him.


    He''s seen enough hentai to know where this is going and he was not ok with it!


    As the first blood, spear, tentacle thing reached him, Vincent managed to sidestep it, only to find himself needing to duck the next one. Spear after spear came racing towards him, making Vincent take off at another sprint to avoid being impaled. They slammed into the wall and floor where he previously stood, creating craters in the stone.


    Unfortunately for him, they simply kept coming. Wasn''t this supposed to test him on how well he could use these so-called Blood Arts? So why was it that the Bloody Baron over there was just sending attacks his way? Shouldn''t he explain how to use them or something?


    But Vincent didn''t have the time to voice this complaint, not at the moment at least, too caught up in making sure his body remained pure and unpenetrated. As he was running, he saw from the corner of his right eye, another spare coming towards him, so he leaned backwards, slinging under it on his knees like he was playing a twisted game on Limbo.


    Once he was clear of that, he had to immediately jump into the air, a strand of blood sailing underneath him. Once he landed, however, he realized the trouble he was in. Dozens of spears were heading right towards him, to the left and right, preventing his escape.


    But Vincent wasn''t ready to throw in the towel just yet. As he was running for his life, he happened to notice something about the blood. It wasn''t liquid, it was solid. As it sailed toward him, it crystalized and hardened, which explained how it was able to pierce into the stone.


    So, with another smirk, he ran towards the oncoming assault, once more shocking his audience. Or at least, two of them.


    When the spear was nearing him, Vincent leapt into the air, doing a somersault for flair, and landing on the strand or crystalized blood, before running directly towards Isaac.


    "Clever, but that won''t be enough!" shouted the Blud Knight, as even more spears came hurtling towards him. Vincent leapt off the strand of blood towards another, using it as a springboard to avoid the storm.


    Grabbing hold of another, he performed an act of gymnastics, spinning around the strand of blood like it was an uneven bar before placing his feet on top of it and jumping away, using another swing himself.


    This act of extreme parkour continued for some time, with Vincent becoming more and more accustomed to the way his new body moved. "Man this new body is something else! I feel so light!" he thought with a grin. But Isaac took his smirk the wrong way.


    "Think this is funny, do you? Well, why don''t we kick it up a notch!" he shouted. For a moment, nothing happened, confusing the new parkour enthusiast, when he saw a thorn appear on the strand of blood he was about to grab hold of, one big enough to pierce through his hand. His eyes widened, and he let out a yelp as he moved his hand out of the way to avoid it being impaled.


    This, of course, caused him to fall, but luckily there was another bloody perch below him that he landed on. Looking back up and all around him, he saw more and more thorns appear all over the strands of blood.


    "Well, that''s unfortunate¡­" he mumbled, unsure of what to do. His was the only one without the thorns, a courtesy of Isaac, and one that likely wouldn''t last very long. He probably just wanted Vincent to feel despair before taking away his last bastion of refuge.


    "I admit, you''re quite the squirrely opponent, but how will you get out of this one?" Isaac taunted, making Vincent grind his fangs. He was getting pretty tired of the other man''s smug look.


    But there wasn''t much he could do about it at the moment, because he had bigger problems to deal with, namely, the blood thorns. Looking at them now, he didn''t see any way to avoid taking damage.


    But then again, did he have to? Vampires could regenerate, couldn''t they? So why was he so hesitant to get hurt? Was he that afraid of pain, or was it something as simple as his leftover humanity?


    Either way, perhaps it was time to start fighting like a vampire. Not everything was as hopeless as it looked. The giant ball of blood was, in fact, getting smaller. It was about a quarter of the size it started as, so that means he had a limited amount he could use. So all he had to do was wait out the clock before launching his attack.


    He could do this!


    Vncent once more began charging towards Isaac, sprinting down the only remaining strand of blood without anything on it to stab into him. Of course, that didn''t last long, as spikes began popping up, starting from the ball and racing towards him.


    But Vincent didn''t stop, even as the first thorn pierced into his foot. He winced and grit his fangs, but pushed past the searing pain and kept running. Issac, Luminous, and Leliana were all surprised by this, not expecting the former human to simply tank the damage.


    Seeing his opponent''s flabbergasted look, Vincent gave him a savage grin. "What''s wrong, you look surprised. Thought I couldn''t handle a bit of pain? This is nothing!" he shouted.


    His words and thoughts, however, were not in sync. "Ow fuck that hurts! This was stupid idea! What the hell is wrong with me!"


    Even with his Pain Resistance Skill, it still hurt like a bitch.


    However, to his surprise, Isaac didn''t send anymore of his creepy ass tentacles at him. Instead, he watched Vincent approach almost impassively, which made said man wary. But there wasn''t much else he could do at the moment, and so he soldiered on, intent to see the battle through to the end.


    However, as he got within 30 feet or so, Isaac lifted up his arm, Vincent narrowing his eyes at him. "Just what are you planning now?"


    However, Isaac''s plan would take poor Vincent completely by surprise. Before he could reach his enemy, more stands of blood appeared, though they weren''t aimed at Vincent. They appeared from the strands already created, connecting to each other and forming a barrier, preventing Vincent from getting close.


    The blonde haired vampire stopped right in front of the blockade, which looked like dozens of bars crisscrossing with each other. However, that was only the beginning of Vincent''s problems. All around him, more and more stands of blood connected with each other, trapping him inside of a cage.


    "And so we come to the conclusion. You did well, but this is where our battle ends," Isaac stated, walking up to the imprisoned vampire, lowering the cage to the ground. Vincent growled, swinging his claws at the cage bars. They cut deep into it, removing large chunks, and for a second, he thought he just might be able to escape.


    However, they mended themselves almost as soon as he damaged them. He tried again and again, but it was useless. He simply couldn''t do enough damage before they fixed themselves.


    "It''s pointless. You can''t escape. Now, I shall show you one more technique of the Blood Arts. Lady Luminous has commanded me to not use any weapons, so this will have to suffice," Isaac said, using his blood to create¡­ a screwdriver?


    "...Is this your way of saying you want to screw me? Because look, I''m flattered and all, but-ah!" Vincent yelled, as the screwdriver pierced through his hand, continuing until it was stuck in a cage bar, with Vincent''s hand being stuck between the bar and the screwdriver''s handle.


    Maybe Luminous should have named him Ethan Winters.


    "Fuck that hurt! Can''t you take a joke?" Vincent said, reaching up and trying to remove the screwdriver from his hand. But unfortunately for him, it wasn''t budging.


    "I''ll have you know I have a remarkable sense of humor. You simply aren''t funny. Now, prepare yourself. Blood Art: Puppetry."


    As soon as Isaac muttered those words, the screwdriver made out of his blood began to force its way into Vincent''s body, making him scream in pain. It felt way worse than having a spike go through his feet or a screwdriver through his hand.


    Before long, the entire thing was inside his body, and Vincent could feel the blood squirming around in his body. Looking at his arm, he could see it moving around beneath his skin, like those beetles from The Mummy.


    "What the fuck did you just do?" Vincent yelled, glaring at the man while cradling his arm in agony. But his question would soon be answered. Not with words, but with actions. The arm he was holding onto suddenly shot towards his throat, grabbing hold of it and squeezing.


    "What the hell," Vincent choked out, using the hand that was within his control to try and remove the other. But it was no use, it was latched on too tight.


    "I''m sure by now you''ve made the connection, but allow me to explain anyway. This particular Blood Art allows me to inject my blood into someone and control their actions. I only used enough to control one of your arms, but that should be more than sufficient to end this fight," Isaac spoke, getting a glare from Vincent in response.


    He continued to struggle to remove his own appendage from his throat, but no matter what he tried, he simply couldn''t do it. Soon, his vision started to darken. "Is this it? Am I really going to lose choking myself out? Man, how pathetic is that?" he thought, eyes drifting towards the spectators, or more specifically Luminous, who had a resigned and disappointed look on her face.


    And that hurt most of all. That was the look of a woman who would not be allowing him access to her backside anytime soon. The thought of this pompous asshole being the reason infuriated him to no end.


    With a renewed determination, Vincent took his right hand and used his claws to pierce into his own flesh, stabbing himself in the side. Issac watched this with a raised eyebrow, "What is this? Some last ditch effort to defeat me? Well, whatever it is, it won''t work," he said, forcing Vincent''s hand to choke him even harder.


    But Vincent didn''t respond to the provocation, mostly because he couldn''t. Hard to be a smartass when you''re being choked out. He''d just have to let his actions speak for him.


    He raised his now bloody hand, concentrating. He only had one shot at this. Slowly, the blood formed into a dagger, making Issac raise an eyebrow. "And just what are you planning to do with that?"


    His question would be answered as Vincent raised the blade between the arm Isaac controlled and his own body, bracing himself for the pain that was about to come. With only a moment of hesitation, he sliced off his own arm.


    It hurt. Dear god, did it hurt. That was just about the only thought going through his mind. The sheer, utter agony of having your limb cut off. No amount of preparation could have prepared him for it.


    Everybody''s eyes widened in shock at the insane action. Isaac was so surprised that he lost control of Vincent''s arm, allowing him to take a deep, ragged breath.


    "Are you out of your mind!? What in the world would possess you to do such a thing!?" Isaac shouted, losing his composure.


    Vincent gave him a grin, "That''s easy, isn''t it? To impress a pretty girl."


    Isaac couldn''t quite process his words. He wanted to impress some woman? But who could be so important? That''s when he remembered who exactly was watching, and he turned to look at the only woman he could be referring to.


    Luminous Valentine.


    He wasn''t sure if her expression could be considered impressed by the move or not, but he had her attention if nothing else. Something he knew people would kill for.


    With Isaac distracted and flummoxed by his actions, it was now or never. His Pain Resistance Skill and the shit ton of adrenaline coursing through his veins were about the only things keeping him from passing out at the moment, but they wouldn''t last forever.


    Looking down, he smirked. Isaac made a big mistake by wanting to show off. With the cage close enough to the ground, he could try and use another Skill he had, Shadow Motion. He hasn''t actually used the Skill before, but there was a first time for everything, right?


    Besides, it was a Skill inherent to his very biology. How hard could it be to figure out?


    Reaching his foot through the bars and into the ground, Vincent willed himself into the shadows created by the cage. It took him a few moments, but his instincts kicked in and he felt himself submerge into the shadows.


    By the time Isaac looked back into the cage, he was already gone.


    "Where did he go!? How did he escape!?" he yelled, looking around for the missing vampire.


    "Right here, asshole!" Vincent shouted, appearing from behind him. Isaac turned to see Vincent leaping out of his shadow. "I see, so he used Shadow Motion to escape. How clever," he thought.


    Vincent then placed his one remaining hand against his profusely bleeding wound, gathering up a good amount of blood in it. "Take this! Blades of Blood!"


    After shouting this, Vincent swung his arm, sending dozens of crescent shaped blades of blood towards the surprised Isaac. But even if he was taken by surprise, it wasn''t enough to damage him. He swung his own arm, and the last remaining blood from his giant orb in the sky raced forward to create a wall of blood, blocking the attack.


    "Not bad. I confess, you surprised me with that one. But this fight is over, it''s time to admit defeat. You are clearly unable to continue," Isaac said. But Vincent only grinned at him, even while wobbling on his feet.


    "I''m not so sure about that. Why don''t you look behind you?" he said, making Isacc raise an eyebrow. With the wall of blood in front of him, there was little he could do anyway, so he decided to humor the man.


    Turning around, his jaw was immediately met with a fist. "Gah!" he yelled in surprise, staggering back more due to shock than pain. Looking to his left, he saw Vincent''s severed arm flying towards the blood wall he erected, hitting it before falling to the floor.


    "Your arm? You actually managed to control it?" he said, completely shocked. He raised a hand to his lip, surprised to see his fingers with blood on them.


    His blood. "He was actually able to make me bleed?" Isaac thought in disbelief, turning to look at the man standing on uneasy feet.


    "Yeah! Not so¡­ tough now¡­ are ya¡­? Hoo boy," Vincent said, before collapsing forward, unconscious, officially ending the fight. Seeing this, Isaac dispersed his blood arts, gathering up the blood and returning it to his armor.


    Luminous and Leliana approached, with the oldest vampire''s face curved into a smug grin. "Well, what do you think? Better than you thought, no?" she asked. Isaac sighed, unable to refute her claim.


    "Indeed my lady. I see why he''s caught your interest. Given enough time, I believe he will equal the likes of Lord Roy or Lord Louis," he said, giving her a bow. She had a contemplative look on her face as she considered that. Both of them were strong enough to be considered Demon Lords in their own right, so having another under her employ of that caliber would be a great boon indeed.


    However¡­


    "I do believe you are selling him a bit short, Captain. I have a feeling he''ll surpass them both," she said, shifting her gaze towards the unconscious man. Both of her servants looked surprised by the claim, but neither one refuted it.


    Luminous made her way over to Vincent, collecting his severed arm as she did so. That move really threw her for a loop. Sure he could recover from the wound easily enough, but the fact that he went so far to impress her gave her a fluttering feeling in her chest.


    She wasn''t a stranger to people doing stupid things to garner her favor, but they wanted the attention of the Goddess Luminous. They weren''t doing it solely for the sake of a "pretty girl" as he so eloquently put it. In other words, he didn''t want the attention of Luminous the Goddess, but rather, Luminous the woman.


    And that made all the difference.


    She smiled as she placed the severed arm against the stump, using her own power to accelerate the healing. Soon, his arm was reattached, without so much as a scar. Sure, he would have regrown the arm soon enough, but this was the least she could do for him, after going so far for her.


    "Good job. You''ve exceeded my expectations. I think that deserves a little reward," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. This made him smile in his sleep, trying to lean in closer towards the sensation. "Lumi¡­" he muttered, making her giggle, running a hand through his hair, a soft smile on her face.


    "Sleep well, Vincent."

 New Skills

    The last two weeks passed by in a bit of a blur for one Vincent Valentine. His days were spent learning how to fight with Isaac and learning how to not be a slovenly pig.


    Leliana''s words, not his.


    Honestly, the lessons with Isaac weren''t that bad. Sure he was strict but he was also surprisingly patient with him, taking the time to explain how to properly execute a move and what he was doing wrong. He was a bit of a perfectionist, so Vincent wouldn''t be allowed to leave unless he got the move down to his standards. Afterwards, they would spar for an hour or so, which greatly improved Vincent''s combat abilities.


    But again, that wasn''t so bad, and he was learning a lot. The real issue at hand was Leliana and that damnable paddle of hers. She had the accursed thing enchanted to nullify, or at the very least, drastically weaken the regeneration capabilities of anyone who was hit by it.


    And Vincent was hit a lot by it. If he thought Isaac was a perfectionist, he didn''t hold a candle to her personal brand of OCD. His poor bottom was sore all night long, which really sucked as the pain transferred to him even when he was in his library.


    That freaking paddle should be banned!


    But even with all that, he was moderately content with his new life, and that was only because Luminous was far too busy to make time for him most days. He understood why, of course, she was the ruler of two entire countries and a religion, but that didn''t mean he was happy with her absence.


    He''d just have to make sure to study hard and impress her even more the next time he did manage to spend any time with her. Just thinking of the woman made him bring his hand to his cheek, but he had no idea why.


    But that brings him to his current situation, walking down the hall with a blindfold on. His trainers decided to give him the day off, in respect for how hard he''s been working. Or to get away from him for a day, it''s a tossup really. But just because he had the day to himself, didn''t mean he was going to take it easy. In fact, it was the perfect opportunity to try and learn some new Skills.


    During the night, or technically the day as he was a vampire now, he went into the Library of Alexandria to learn all he could about the world, spending about six hours a day in there. His first project was to make a list of interesting Skills he could try and learn, which is exactly what he was trying to do now.


    The Skill was called Magic Sense, or Mana Perception, and it let him see the world through the lens of magic by sensing the Magicules in the surrounding area and how they interact with sound and light waves to create a 360 field of vision.


    It sounded like an awesome Skill to have, one that would allow him to function without the use of his eyes should it be needed. And Issac proved it would be needed, by using his blood to blind him.


    It was gross, but it did teach Vincent a valuable lesson on combat. You can''t always rely on your senses. They can and will fail you. So, that led him to searching for a way to combat having at least one of his senses taken away. Arguably the one he uses most while fighting.


    But learning at was harder than he thought. The book made it sound so easy. Just concentrate on the Magicules in the air and expand your senses to cover it. What a load of crap. He tried that, meditating for days to try and figure it out, and while that was good for learning how his mana moved around in his body, it did not help him figure out how to use Magic Sense.


    So, he decided to take a page from the illustrious worlds of anime. Take One Piece for example. When Luffy was learning how to use Observation Haki, Rayleigh covered his eyes and whacked him with a stick until he got it down. Now, Vincent didn''t want to be smacked with a stick, Lelian''s paddle was more than enough for him, but he felt the principles were the same.


    In order to see without eyes, he must take away his eyes.


    Speaking of One Piece, there apparently was a Skill called Haki. While not quite the same as in One Piece, it would allow him to use his own aura to dominate an opponent''s will. It was also apparently the evolved form of Coercion, which he already had. It wasn''t at the top of his list, but he did want to learn it.


    Walking down the hallway, holding his hands out in front of him, he slowly made his way towards what he believed was the parlor, the one he had wine with Luminous in. He didn''t really need to go there, but having a destination in mind kept him motivated, especially a destination where a beautiful woman flirted with him. He could have gone to the training grounds, but didn''t want to risk running into Isaac or any of the guys who came around to spar with him sometimes.


    They would enjoy his blindness a bit too much in his opinion.


    Once he reached the door leading into the room, he slowly opened it, hearing barely a squeak as he did so. The staff who took care of the temple took great pride in their work, and wouldn''t allow a creaky door. They barely allowed a speck of dust.


    Luminous, who just so happened to be taking a small break from her duties, looked up as she heard the door open. A smile lit up her face when she saw who it was, only to tilt her head in confusion as she noticed the blindfold.


    "Ok Vince, you made it. Now if I remember right, the table was somewhere in this direction," he mumbled to himself, stumbling around in his blindness to find what he was looking for.


    That''s when she remembered what he was doing. He told her of his plans to learn some new Skills, and this must be his attempt to do so. With a mischievous grin, she silently stood up from her seat, making her way over to him quiet enough to make a ninja jealous.


    She snuck up behind him, watching as he bumbled around. His leg hit one of the extra chairs in the room, making him swear as he hopped up and down, holding his foot. It was likely more of an instinctual reaction than anything else, as his Pain Resistance Skill should have nullified pretty much all of that pain.


    It was like when you bump your head sometimes. Your first instinct is to say, "Ow," even if it didn''t hurt.


    Once he was done with his impromptu dance session, he once more started walking around the room. She wasn''t sure what Skill he was trying to learn exactly, but his attempts were entertaining if nothing else.


    He eventually managed to stumble his way to the table, letting out an excited, "Aha!" as he did so. She giggled silently at his enthusiasm. His hands swept the table, bumping into her still hot tea.


    "Huh? What''s this?" he asked, flinching back as his fingers grasped the hot porcelain cup. "Ow, dang it. Why is this room so dangerous?" he groused. But then his body seemed to go rigid.


    "Hang on, if there''s a hot cup in here, then that means¡­ Hello?" he asked, turning around, with Luminous dancing out of the way. She smirked as his entire posture showed how nervous he was. No better time to tease him.


    She floated into the air, due to how tall he was, and blew gently into his ear. He gave a high pitched yelp at the sensation, jumping about a foot in the air, spinning around again, "looking" for whoever was messing with him.


    "I know you''re there! Stop hiding!" he demanded, making her quirk an eyebrow. "Did he forget he was blindfolded?" she thought with some amusement. After all, one could hardly call what she was doing hiding.


    But seeing as he hadn''t tried to take off the blindfold yet, she blew into his other ear, grinning as she saw him shiver. She wasn''t surprised, vampire ears were sensitive.


    "Alright, who''s there?" he asked, flipping around once more and lunging towards where he thought the person was, his arms outstretched to capture them. To his slight surprised, he managed to do so, wrapping his arms around the perpetrator


    "Gotcha! Now tell me who you-Lumi?" he asked, his face buried into two soft globes. But that wasn''t what tipped him off to her identity. It was his hands, grabbing onto something firm, yet soft and pliable. It was something he was very familiar with, a sensation that haunted his dreams.


    "So, you can recognize me by the feel of my backside alone, can you? Not sure if I should be impressed by that or not," she said, the levity in her tone showing that he wasn''t about to have his balls ripped off.


    She reached out and pulled off his blindfold. He blinked the spots out of his eyes from the sudden influx of light. Once he could see properly, he found himself staring directly into the vampire goddesses heterochromatic eyes.


    "What can I say? You have a very memorable ass," he joked, getting a snort of amusement from her. He was confused as to why his face was planted into her breasts, as she was a fairly short woman, until he realized she was floating.


    "Do I? Good to know I suppose," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.


    "What are you doing here? I thought you were busy with work?" he asked, making her sigh. Running a country really took it out of her. Two countries, technically, and a religion. Sure the system worked pretty well, but it was exhausting to maintain, even with help.


    "Yes, I was merely taking a bit of a break. But then someone came along and interrupted my peace and quiet," she said.


    "Ah¡­ my bad," he said, getting another small chuckle out of her.


    "Not at all. You proved a most entertaining distraction. But tell me, what Skill are you attempting to teach yourself?" she asked, curiously.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Oh, it''s one called Magic Sense. Thought it sounded useful," he said, making her hum in thought.


    "I see. Yes, it is a very useful Skill to have, but I don''t believe this is the best method to learn it. As a vampire, your other senses are far greater than they were as a human, so even if you don''t realize it, you''re taking in a lot of information to help you get around," she said, making him slump.


    "Aw man¡­ And here I thought I was so clever with my idea," he putted, making her pat him on the head to console him.


    "There, there¡­ It wasn''t a bad method, and if you were still human, it would have been perfectly adequate. But as a vampire, you need to limit your other senses as well," she explained, getting his attention.


    "Hm, guess that makes sense. So I just need to plug my ears and nose. Easy enough," he said, face adopting a thinking pose.


    "Yes. If you would be so kind as to put me down, I would be glad to help you learn this Skill of yours. Unless you''d rather keep feeling me up, that is," she said, getting a confused look for him.


    That is, of course, until he realized he was still holding her up by her ass. Once he did, it took every ounce of willpower he had not to squeeze. It was so hard to resist, but he managed to resist, going against every instinct of his body.


    "Right, sorry about that," he said, gently placing her on the ground.


    "So, are you ready?" she asked, taking a few steps back. Vincent''s fiery red eyes lit up with eagerness. If she was willing to help, he''d probably get it down within the hour.


    Hopefully.


    "Are you sure? Don''t you have to get back to work soon?" he asked. As much as he wanted her aid, and to spend more time with her of course, he didn''t want it to come at the expense of her getting her work done. That would just mean she would have to make it up later.


    "Don''t worry, I have some time left to spare. Now then, let us begin," she said, stabbing the middle of her palm with one of her claws. A small drop of blood squeezed out, one that she grabbed using her powers and shaped it into a pair of earmuffs. She repeated the process to make a clothespin.


    "Alright, I''m going to place these over your ears and nose, so the only senses you''ll have are touch and taste. All you have to do after that is find me. If you can touch me within the next 30 minutes, you win," she said.


    "Really? What do I win?" he asked, joking. But Luminous seemed to think it over, placing one of her dainty fingers to her chin in thought.


    "Let''s see. If you win, I''ll help you learn another skill. One that requires skin on skin contact," she said in a low, husky tone, giving him a suggestive wink. Vincent gulped, his mind wandering to some rather, risque places.


    "And, uh¡­ what skill might that be?" he asked, feeling his mouth going dry. She smirked at him, reaching up and bringing the blindfold back down.


    "If you want to know that bad, I guess you''ll just have to find me," she whispered in his ear, making him shiver from her hot breath.


    After that, she placed the earmuffs on him and pinched his nose closed with the clothespin. Once she was certain that he couldn''t see, hear, or smell her, she jumped back.


    "Lumi?" Vincent asked, reaching his hands out once again. But the beautiful vampire woman was nowhere to be found. Hopefully she didn''t just bail on him and leave him to stumble around the room looking for her. Be a real dick move if she did.


    He took a step forward which was more difficult than he expected. Turns out having nearly all your senses taken away made simple things like walking a pain in the ass. It was abundantly clear that he wouldn''t be getting his hands on that sexy body of hers like this. His only hope was to learn that Skill.


    And this time, he had some real motivation. Whatever skill she was planning on teaching him, he wanted to learn, even if he suspected she was being a bit of a troll. He just really hoped the other skin he would be touching wasn''t some hairy dude''s.


    He''s already experienced that trick in college, thank you very much, he didn''t want to do it again.


    With that in mind, he began thinking of Luminous. Her long, silvery hair, her red and blue eyes, her petite, yet powerful frame; he began to visualize everything about her in his mind''s eye.


    Too bad his mind was such a pervert, because she was totally naked in there.


    He then started feeling for his own magic, trying to bring it to the forefront. Once he could feel that familiar tingle, he sent a pulse of it outward in all directions, getting a brief flash of what the room looked like.


    He tried to do this before, but as Luminous said, his other senses kicked in, so he was really just listening and smelling everything that was going on around him, rather than feeling it with his magic. But with these senses turned off, more or less, it allowed him to feel his magic on a deeper level.


    Luminous watched as he stood there, gathering the magic within him and releasing it from his body. He had the right idea, merely lacking the control. Perhaps she should give him a little help?


    She released her own aura, just a little bit, in order for his magic to have something to properly latch onto. That should help him get a feel for what that''s like. Once he can do that, feeling the Magicules in the surrounding air shouldn''t be too difficult. All he really had to do was stop overcomplicating things.


    She felt his magic pulse wash over her and she smirked when he leapt towards her. She gracefully danced out of the way, watching as he crashed into the floor. That was a good start, but she would call what he did Magic Sense. More like, magical echolocation. All he needed to do now was keep the flow constant, rather than simply releasing it in a wave, and he''d have it down.


    This continued for some time. Vincent would release a pulse of magic, find where she was, and charge at her like a bull seeing red. But no matter how fast he moved or how hard he tried, he couldn''t get his hands on her.


    Panting, he stopped, thinking about what he was doing wrong. The Skill description said it used the Magicules in the air to send feedback about the light and sound waves around him. But that wasn''t what was happening. He was just sending out magical pulses that picked up on Lumi''s own magic.


    So, what if he didn''t do that? He had been thinking in terms of sonar, like a submarine pinging away, but what he should really be thinking of is making a map. The blip of a sonar scan only lasted a short while, and you had to constantly emit more and more pulses to keep getting an image. But if he thought about it like he was creating a 3d map instead¡­


    Concentrating once more, he started to release his magic into the air. But rather than sending it out, he imagined it more like a bubble, one that he was slowly filling with air. As this was happening, he could "see" for lack of a better term, the room around him.


    It took him some time, but he was eventually able to expand the bubble across the entire room. Everything looked more or less the same as when he was using his own eyes. The colors were actually more vibrant, making him look around in awe as a voice resounded in his head.


    [Skill Acquisition: Magic Sense]


    [Successful]


    After hearing that, he found, to his surprise, his nose started bleeding, and his head started pounding. Luckily his healing kicked in, so that didn''t last long. The description did say it could be overwhelming, and it did not lie.


    Seeing everything in 360 degrees was weird. But with that, he started looking around for Lumi. Seeing that she wasn''t exactly trying to hide, finding her was rather easy.


    She was standing near the table, taking a sip of her tea, which was somehow still hot. He took a step back when he saw the amount of power she was leaking, feeling a bead of sweet fall down the side of his face. It was enormous, shooting up towards the sky like a beam of light. He didn''t get a very good picture of it when he was sending out waves, but now, with his magic sending a constant stream of data back, he couldn''t but stare in awe.


    Seeing this, Luminous quirked an eyebrow. "I take it you succeeded then?" she asked. He was a bit surprised he could hear her, but as the Skill mentioned sound waves as well, maybe he shouldn''t be.


    "I think so. That''s what the voice in my head said anyway," he stated, staring down at his own hands. He probably looked like a pothead right now, staring at his fingers while high as a kite.


    "I see. In that case, what are you waiting for? Come and get me," she said, curling her index finger in a "come here" fashion. And who was he to deny the invitation of such a beautiful woman?


    He sprinted towards her, but she once more danced out of the way. But this time, he could follow her every movement. But even so, she didn''t make it easy for him, jumping and dodging every attempt at laying his hands on her.


    "You better hurry, you''re running out of time," she teased, jumping away again. She landed some way away, with barely a sound.


    "I won''t let you get away!" he shouted, turning to face her, lunging towards her, his hands making squeezing motions as he did so.


    "Oh my! What are you planning to do to me? Where exactly do you plan to grab?" she asked in a false, frightened tone while laughing internally at the desperate face he was making. He really wanted to touch her that badly, didn''t he?


    "You''ll see! Just hold still!" he yelled, making her laugh and dance out of the way. Vincent was getting frustrated by how difficult she was being. Looking at the clock on the wall, his heart nearly stopped when he saw he only had a minute left. He could practically feel his chances of learning whatever skill she wanted to teach slipping away.


    "No! I refuse to give up! I''ll get my hands on her no matter what!" he thought, an aura of determination surrounding him, making Luminous look at him with intrigue. This time when he leapt toward her, he was much faster than before. Not only that, he was beginning to anticipate the way she would dodge.


    "Thirty seconds. Don''t you want to learn that skill? My teaching method is very¡­ hands on," she teased again, making him snort in excitement. He really was too easy to rile up.


    They continued to move about the room, their forms a blur as they did so. But he was getting closer and closer to his goal, nearly grazing her with his clawed hand. Seeing this, Luminous decided it was about time to end this. As he leapt at her one final time, she merely stood there, allowing him to grab her wherever he wanted.


    His arms wrapped around her, right as the big hand hit the 3, and the clock began making its hourly chime noise. He then proceeded to pick her up and spin her around, much to her surprise. She thought for sure he would use the opportunity to grab his favorite part of her, namely her rump.


    "Woo, I did it! You''re all mine now Lumi!" he shouted, making the vampire goddess giggle at his enthusiasm.


    "Oh, and what do you intend to do with me?" she asked in a husky tone, making him shiver, his whole body going stiff. She smirked, enjoying how easy it was to get a reaction out of him.


    She then removed the earmuffs and clothespin, returning the blood to her own body, before removing his blindfold. He looked down at her smirking face, noting how close they were.


    Again.


    "I''m never going to let you go," he found himself saying, completely mesmerized by her beautiful eyes. Luminous found herself blushing against her will, eyes gaining a softer, less teasing quality to them. Her left hand rose to cup his left cheek, and Vincent found himself with the blush at the look in her eyes.


    "My, what a silver tongue you have," she said with a coy smile, before planting a soft kiss on his right cheek. Vincent stood rooted to the spot, his entire body going rigid once more.


    She really was too good at this.


    "But I''m afraid you aren''t strong enough to say those words to me. At least not yet," she said quietly, snapping him out of his trance. But rather than be offended, he became inspired.


    "In that case, I''ll just have to get stronger," he told her, determination overflowing from his body. She smiled, glad that he didn''t become discouraged, and found herself resting her head on his shoulder. She was definitely going to keep him.


    "I look forward to it."


    After spending some time in an intimate embrace, Luminous gained a mischievous smirk on her face.


    "You know, I thought for sure you were going to squeeze my backside again," she said, wiggling her hips, laughing silently as she heard his heartbeat quickened and the blood rush to his lower extremity.


    "I do have some self control," he claimed.


    "How much is some?" she asked, wiggling some more. His hands grabbed her tighter as she continued to tease him, her hot breath on his neck and the smell of her perfume driving him to the brink of insanity.


    "Not that much," he growled out.


    "I see. Guess I better stop then," she said. She almost couldn''t contain her laughter when she saw his devastated face.


    "Wha-but-I-you," he babbled as she leapt down from his embrace.


    "Sorry, but I have to return to work now," she said, walking past him. He could only stand there, frozen solid, unable to do a thing to ease the tension she left him with.


    "Oh, come to my room tonight if you wish to learn that skill I promised you," she said with a wink before exiting from the room. Watching her go, Vincent wasn''t sure if he lost the battle or won the war.

 Leaving the Nest

    The hour was late, the sun ready to rise at any moment. This is the time of day when a normal vampire would be getting ready for bed. But for one Vincent Valentine, this time of day has been allotted for a specific purpose.


    "Mmm, you''re getting pretty good at this," Luminous moaned. She had a satisfied grin on her face as she enjoyed Vincent''s delicate touch. His hands roamed across her soft and smooth flesh, kneading out knots that had been there for centuries.


    "That''s because you guilt trip me into doing this for hours," Vincent quipped. Not that he particularly minded his new duty. Getting to rub oil on a very nearly naked goddess wasn''t exactly a hardship, no matter how hard his ship got. But when she told him she had a skill to teach him, this isn''t what he had in mind.


    "Would you like to stop? Before ever obtaining your prize?" she asked, wiggling her shapely rump at him. But that act only frustrated him more. Normally such an action would excite him on a primal level, stimulating his lizard brain, but Luminous, being the tease that she is, used her powers to create a chastity belt made out of blood. Only when he could remove it would he be allowed access.


    "You''re evil. You know that, right?" Vincent commented, making her chuckle.


    "So you''ve told me, repeatedly. And yet, you continue," she said, turning her head to give him a knowing look. He just grumbled under his breath, complaining about sexy know it all teases. She could hear every world, of course, but there was no need to remind him of her advanced hearing at the moment. She would much rather lay there and enjoy his ministrations.


    "You have tomorrow off, I believe. Any plans?" she asked, sighing as he shifted his focus to a particularly tense muscle. That one had been bothering her for a while. You''d think having regeneration of her level would prevent her muscles from bunching up, but nope. If anything, it made it worse.


    "Not really. I don''t really want to spend another day learning a Skill either. I''m afraid of what training Isaac will put me through if I do," he said with a shiver. That damn sadist was more than happy to help him train his skill with Magic Sense, which turned into a terrifying game of dodgeball.


    "Hmm, yes he can be a bit¡­ enthusiastic," Luminous mentioned as Vincent poured a bit more oil onto her back. It was the kind that warmed up while it was rubbed in. Luminous had it specially delivered after their first session and it quickly became her favorite.


    "That''s one way to put it. He didn''t have to look so happy about me getting nailed in the balls though," Vincent griped, making Luminous chuckle again. He moved onto her legs, taking a moment to appreciate how toned they were before delving in.


    "I''m sure he meant nothing by it," she said, enjoying the new sensation of his hands on her thighs. While not nearly as taut as her back, it still felt good to have her muscles worked over. She was quite eager for him to reach her feet.


    "If by nothing you mean, thoroughly enjoying my pain then yes, I agree. Absolutely nothing," Vincent mumbled, reaching her calf.


    "Mmm, well if you don''t have any plans, might I make a suggestion?" she asked.


    "Shoot," he replied, his hands finally reaching her feet, sending Luminous to nirvana. After her back, her feet were the arts of her that needed a good rub the most.


    "Gunther is heading into town tomorrow to oversee some projects that need doing in Night Garden. You may accompany him if you wish," she said, her words coming out as a breathy moan.


    "Hm, I don''t know. Gunther''s not exactly my biggest fan¡­" Vincent said, trying not to think about the sounds Luminous was making. He was already harder than a steel beam, no need to temper that metal any more.


    "Perhaps not, but I think getting out of the castle would be good for you. The city itself is relatively safe, save for some rabble rousers, so you shouldn''t be in any real danger. And according to Isaac, your skills in combat have reached the level of a fully trained Blud Knight. He was grudgingly impressed by the feat," Luminous said. It wasn''t a lie either, he was genuinely impressed by Vincent''s progress. He accomplished in a month what took other''s ten years or more to achieve.


    Luminous felt quite smug after that conversation, as she was the one who insisted he be trained.


    "I guess. I am pretty interested in the city you''ve built. Fine, but don''t blame me if something goes horribly wrong," Vincent said, finishing up her second leg.


    "Wouldn''t dream of it," she claimed, before turning over, giving him a sultry look. "Now for the front."


    Vincent stared at her, or more accurately, her chest. It too was covered by a protective layer of blood, preventing him from reaching them. Oh he could try, but he''d probably just break his hand again.


    "Have I told you lately that you''re evil?" he asked.


    "I think I''ve heard you mention it once or twice."


    *Line Break*


    Vincent woke up the next evening feeling a cornucopia of emotions. He was excited for his excursion into the outside world, but that excitement was tempered by nerves. He had no idea what to expect, and while there was some level of thrill in that, the unknown was still an ever looming source of fear.


    But beyond that, he was also severely frustrated. Given the severity of teasing Luminous subjected him to on a daily basis, that shouldn''t be too hard to imagine. Even after taking some extra time to wash his hair in the shower, he could still feel the pent up energy.


    But there was no time to dwell on that, mostly because if he did he would need to take another shower. He had to get ready to meet Gunther, who was a stickler for punctuality. If he was even a minute late, Vincent knew he would be in for a 40 minute lecture, bare minimum.


    He would like to avoid that fate.


    Looking at the time, he saw he had about an hour before they were supposed to meet. Plenty of time to grab a quick breakfast, brush his fangs, and pick out an outfit. Considering how big his damn closet was, that could take awhile. Even after a month of living there, he still hasn''t gone through everything.


    Vincent flung his blanket off of him before leaping out of the bed. He stretched his arms above his head, groaning at the satisfying pop he felt in his vertebrae before racing towards the door.


    Swinging it open, he was met with the stern face of Leliana, making him stop in his tracks. "Oh, hey Lil''s, what''s up?" he asked. She raised a brow at him before her eyes traveled lower.


    "If I might make a suggestion, Master Vincent? Perhaps you would like to wear something more appropriate than your birthday suit," she suggested. Confused, Vincent looked down.


    "Ah, whoops¡­" he said, rubbing the back of his head. Ever since coming here he''s been sleeping in the nude, which he kind of forgot about. He blamed Luminous, as she also had the habit of sleeping in the buff whenever she actually slept. He most likely got it from her when she named him. Or because his body was formed from her Magicules.


    Either way, her fault.


    "Yes, whoops indeed. As much as Lady Luminous might appreciate the sight, I can assure you, Lord Gunther does not share her opinion," she said.


    "What about you? Whose opinion do you share?" he asked, leaning on the door frame, giving her what he thought was a charming, suave and dare he say it, debonair smile.


    "I share the opinion that you need to get dressed. Lady Luminous is waiting to have breakfast with you before you leave, do not keep her waiting," she said, slamming the door in his face.


    Guess he wasn''t nearly debonair enough.


    "Geez, she is so uptight. When''s the last time she got any?" Vincent grumbled, making his way to the closet. Once there he picked out a simple pair of black pants as well as a nice white shirt. He says simple, but considering what the material felt like they would have probably cost hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars in his old world.


    Once that was settled, he swung his favorite cape over his shoulders. Wearing a cape in his previous world would have been met with ridicule and possibly an ass kicking, depending on the person, but here it was a viable fashion choice.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Taking note of himself in the mirror, he nodded in satisfaction before heading out of the door. Once there, Leliana gave him a once over before nodding in approval. Or something close enough to it at any rate. She then spun around and began walking down the hall with Vincent rushing to keep up.


    "Ah, you''re here. Thank you Leliana, you may go," Luminous said with a smile. Leliana bowed before leaving, closing the door behind her.


    "Morning Lumi. Or is it, good evening?" he said, walking over to her. He still wasn''t used to the shift in time. Vampires weren''t typically awake during the day, but he was so used to saying good morning it just kind of slipped out.


    "I believe evening is more appropriate. Though I suppose that is morning for those of our kind. Something I haven''t really thought about before," she said, smiling at him as he sat down.


    In front of him was a plate of waffles, eggs, and blood sausages. Next to the plate was a glass filled with a dark, red liquid. The smell of the food made his mouth water. Sure, vampires didn''t need to eat food to survive, as it provided literally no nutritional benefit, but it still tasted good.


    "All this for little old me? You shouldn''t have," he said, fluttering his eyes at her. She chuckled, knowing how much he actually appreciated eating human food. He still wasn''t used to life as a vampire just yet, so it helped with the transition.


    "Of course. I did take you in. That means I''m required to feed you, clothe you, and take care of you," she said, a small smirk on her face.


    "I''m not a dog, Lumi," Vincent said with a deadpan, giving her a blank look.


    "Oh? And here I was, planning to give you a bath later," she said.


    "Yeah, I''m not falling for that. With all the teasing you do, I need those showers for me time," he said, starting into his breakfast.


    "Me time, huh? And what exactly does that entail?"


    "You know damn well what that entails."


    "But I would love to hear it coming from your own mouth."


    "Well too bad. I''ll just leave it up to your imagination."


    "Are you sure that''s wise? I have a very vivid imagination, you know."


    "Good. Maybe you''ll need some me time of your own."


    "If I do, would you like me to tell you all about it?"


    "...No?"


    "You don''t sound so sure."


    "Well I am!"


    "Hm, if you say so."


    "I do! Now can we just eat?"


    "Very well. You know, I have a certain way I like to eat blood sausages. Would you like to see?" Luminous asked, stabbing a fork into her own sausage. Against his better judgement, Vincent watched as she brought it up to her mouth before slowly sliding it in. Inch after inch of the long, thick sausage disappeared past her full, pouty lips, her eyes never leaving his own.


    He watched, mesmerized as her throat bulged from the piece of meat lodged inside. He felt himself gulp as she held it there for a few seconds, making him realize she had absolutely no gag reflex whatsoever. Then, she gently bit it, moaning as it slid down into her stomach.


    "Mm, tasty," she claimed, licking her lips. Vincent wasn''t sure what to do. He sat there, rigid, his perfect memory replaying the event over and over again in his mind. He thought having such a good memory would be a blessing, but right now, it was proving to be a curse.


    "Something wrong, Vincent?" she asked, fake concern in her voice.


    "N-no, ahem. No, not at all," he said, cursing himself when his voice cracked.


    "Oh, that''s good. Perhaps then, you would be interested in seeing my favorite way to eat a banana next?" she asked, her tone as innocent as could be. But her eyes told a different story. They were filled with mischief.


    "No, I think I''m good. Thank you for the meal, but I think I hear Gunther calling me. Don''t want to be late. See you!" he yelled, chugging down his glass before darting away. Luminous chuckled as she watched him sprint, grabbing her own glass and leaning back into her chair, feeling immensely proud of herself.


    *Line Break*


    Vincent followed behind Gunther as they traveled down the corridors to the transport room. According to the ancient butler, they used a teleport circle to travel to certain predesignated areas, such as the mayor''s office in Night Garden.


    "Now, I''m certain I don''t need to tell you to behave, do I? You now represent Lady Luminous and I will not have your actions reflect badly upon her. Do I make myself clear?" he asked in his usual gruff, slightly condescending tone, turning to give his ward for the day a glare of warning.


    "Aye, aye, sir!" Vincent chirped back, giving him a salute. He sighed with irritation before deciding to let it go. It wasn''t like Vincent planned to cause a scene in the first place. If you asked him, Gunther was way too uptight. He idly wondered if that was where Leliana got it from.


    "Could they be related," he thought to himself, the image of the two side by side causing him to shiver. It made way too much sense for him to be comfortable with.


    It didn''t take them long to arrive at their destination. The doors leading into the room were quite large, much like the ones leading to the training room were. But instead of showing Luminous triumphing over a dragon, this one depicted a beautiful castle with a full moon shining overhead.


    "Woah," he murmured, staring at the double doors.


    "Indeed. That was made to look like the Lady''s previous home. It was destroyed by that cur, Veldora," Gunther explained before opening the doors. It was almost comical, given the size of the things compared to Gunther''s relatively small frame. Vincent knew he was packing some serious power in it, but he still looked like a frail old man.


    But if anime has taught him anything, it''s that seemingly frail old men were the most dangerous of all.


    The blonde haired vampire followed the butler into the room, marveling at it. There was a large, intricately designed magic circle carved into the floor. Several torches lined the rounded walls, all shining different colors. Vincent didn''t know if they were necessary for the spell to work, or if it was just showmanship. Either way it looked cool.


    "Come, stand in the center of the circle," Gunther said, with Vincent jumping to follow. Last thing he needed was to be left behind or get sent somewhere else by not being in the appropriate spot.


    Once he was in position, Gunther raised his arm, using one of his claws to cut open his thumb, allowing a drop to fall directly onto the circle. Once that happened, it immediately started glowing an ominous red. The whole thing made Vincent feel like he was taking part in some cultish ritual to summon a demon. Which was terrifying, because he knew demons actually existed in this world.


    The light on the floor continued to grow brighter and brighter, with the flames along the walls doing the same. Once they apparently reached a crescendo, Vincent shut his eyes, unable to tolerate the blinding light.


    After a few seconds, when it appeared that the light died down, he slowly opened them, blinking away the spots. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, they were the same color as the flames from the chamber they were in.


    Once the spots were gone, he looked around to see where he ended up, relieved it wasn''t some kind of freaky sex dungeon. The room itself was rather opulent, looking like it came straight out of the Victorian era. Instead of large, burning torches there were small, flickering candles, each one a different color.


    "So, did we make it?" he asked, turning towards Gunther. Just because they were somewhere new, did not mean they were in the right place. Better to ask to make sure.


    "Indeed. Follow me," he said, walking ahead of the much younger vampire. Vincent quickly followed, the two of them leaving the room. The double doors here were made out of wood, rather than stone, and they didn''t have anything in particular carved into them. But they still looked like they cost more than he made in a single year.


    Gunther led them towards his office, a young looking male vampire waiting by the door. He wore a suit similar to Gunther''s, only a bit more modern, with expertly coiffed dark blonde hair, along with an Imperial style mustache and beard.


    "Welcome back, sir," he said, giving a bow.


    "Thank you, Reginald. Please have some alcohol brought to my office. I have a strange suspicion I''m going to be needing it," he said, giving a not so subtle glance in Vincent''s direction, who tried to look as innocent as possible, whistling a tune while not meeting the older man''s eyes.


    "Of course, sir. Right away," Regional said, giving Vincent a dirty stare before he left. The newbie vampire was starting to think people didn''t like him.


    "Before I let you loose upon the village, come inside. Lady Luminous has set aside some funding for you," he said, walking into his office. Vincent shrugged, following him inside. He honestly hadn''t even thought about that, figuring he was just there to sightsee, but he wouldn''t turn down money. He''d have to get her something as thanks.


    Gunther''s office was just as extravagant as the rest of the manor, perhaps even more so. It practically screamed, "I''m better than you!" While Vincent could appreciate some tasteful decor, this was going a bit overboard. But who was he to judge? Especially when the rich people were going to give him money.


    Gunther sat down behind his desk, reaching into one of the drawers and pulled out a sack before throwing it on the table in front of Vincent. It hit it with a dull thud, the coins clanging together inside.


    "There, that should be more than sufficient for your foray into town. Now remember what I said, don''t cause any trouble, do you hear me?" he said. Vincent rolled his eyes before snatching up the pouch.


    "Yeah, yeah, you don''t have to keep reminding me. Learn to lighten up a bit, would ya? All that frowning can''t be good for your health," Vincent said, getting a huff from the older man.


    "As long as you understand. Now leave, I have work to do," he said, shooing Vincent away.


    "Alright, see ya later pops," Vicent said, giving him a backhanded wave as he left. Gunther sighed as he watched him leave.


    "I hope your next charity project isn''t so frustrating, My Lady," he said to himself. But with that irritation out of the way, it was time to get to work. He had to look over several proposals, most of which were sent by petty nobles looking to expand their influence. Those he could ignore, but the ones that were for the genuine well being of the city, those would need special attention.


    Stepping out of the manor, but not before giving Reginald a jaunty wave, Vincent was surprised by what he found. "Woah¡­" he mumbled, staring straight up. He wondered, when he learned about the underground city, how they were able to see. Sure vampires had excellent night vision, but they still needed some light to see.


    Well, now he had his answer.


    Crystals, great big crystals of every color imaginable hung from the ceiling, looking like jeweled stalactites. The shone with a dull brilliance, illuminated the spectral world below. Vincent assumed there would be magic involved, just not like this. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, right behind a naked Luminous.


    With a grin, he made his way towards the front gate, eager to explore the city. It was guarded by two Blud Knights, each decked out in full regalia. Once he approached, they used their magic to open the gate, not saying a word.


    Guess they knew he was coming. He didn''t recognize them, so they weren''t any of the members that tortured him while calling it training. Maybe that''s why they looked so pissy?


    As Vincent made his way into the bustling city, he was unaware what fate had in store for him. His life, and the life of another, was about to change forever.

 Her Hero

    Vincent wasn''t sure what to expect when he first began his exploration of the underground city, but the decidedly mundane nature of it kind of threw him off. After all, it was an entire city filled with vampires! So why was it so normal?


    Sure the fact that it was basically a medieval fantasy town come to life was interesting for a while, but the mystique didn''t last too long. Seeing a weapons shop selling swords and spears along with suits of armor was cool, but once the hype around pointy objects wore off, he realized it wasn''t much different than visiting a gun store.


    Then there were all the food stands. Most of them sold normal food, like fried chicken, burgers, and hell, even hotdogs. That part threw him for a loop. No one expects to see a hot dog stand in their fantasy city. Sure there were some very vampire-esque treats as well, like Blood Apples and Blood Pops, but they were surprisingly few and far in-between.


    They sure were tasty though. When he asked the lady selling Blood Pops why there weren''t more vendors catering to vampires, she told him that making them was very difficult, so most don''t bother. Not to mention the price tag. If everyone was making something like that, the prices would be driven so low due to competition that there wouldn''t be enough profit, and most would start to sell other things, bringing them back to square one.


    There also wasn''t much of a demand for it, apparently. Most of the vampires seemed to enjoy indulging in what was essentially junk food. Sure the Blood Pops were about as sweet as can be, considering they were essentially candy, but for a vampire they still had quite a lot of nutritional value.


    Unlike the hotdogs. Guess vampires really aren''t so different from humans after all. Both of our species preferred to shovel shit down our holes rather than eat what''s good for us. It made him shocked that he hasn''t found an obese vampire yet. Maybe their regeneration worked to keep them slim? Something to ask about later.


    Quite frankly, the whole trip had been underwhelming so far. Not that he wasn''t enjoying himself, but he had hyped his visit up so much in his mind that reality was pretty dull by comparison. That''ll teach him to get his hopes up.


    Sitting down on a bench overlooking a busy street, Vincent decided to people watch for a while. Or was it vampire watch? Either way, he was observing them go about their daily lives.


    In a totally non-creepy way of course.


    Most of what he saw was underwhelming. Just regular people doing regular things. Even the random scattering of weirdos made everything seem perfectly mundane. Just like in his old world, there was always a free spirited wackadoo or two walking around without fucks to give.


    Such as the lady wearing a very uncomfortable and unfathomably poofy looking dress with makeup caked on so thick you''d need a chisel to find skin. Add in the powdered wig, and you got one hoity-toity noble lady straight out of Victorian London.


    Now, he could have forgiven her for her abysmal sense of fashion. Everyone had their own personal style, you know? But what he didn''t understand was the fucking parasol.


    They were underground!


    Sure if they were topside, he could imagine why a vampire would want a fancy umbrella. When the sun is a literal deadly laser, you needed some protection. But when that deadly laser didn''t have a snowball''s chance in hell of reaching you, it seemed rather pointless.


    Besides, he doubted the sun was much of a threat to that lady, considering just how much makeup she was wearing. It would probably act as a highly effective sunscreen. Hell, it even looked like it, given how white it was. Vampires were normally fairly pale but that took the cake!


    But it wasn''t like she was the only odd one he''s seen. Apparently, vampires had mimes. It was perhaps the most horrifying thing he''s ever witnessed. Actually, scratch that, the vampire clown had the mime beat.


    Literally, in this case, as the two started a fight in the middle of the street, and that clown whooped his ass. It was¡­ something. Vincent wasn''t sure what, but it was certainly something alright.


    Maybe he should ask Gunther if there was some kind of clown vs mime gang war going on, or if this was just two street performers duking it out over territorial rights.


    Weird either way. Almost made the naked guy running away from the guards seem normal.


    Almost.


    But it was after that rather odd series of events that Vincent noticed something from the corner of his eye. Among the hustle and bustle of busy vampires going about their daily lives was a small, dirty girl sitting against a shop wall.


    Her dark hair was a frazzled mess, and her clothes looked like they were mostly made of mud and holes. It was a good thing the temperature of the underground city was so stable, else he would worry about her freezing.


    But it wasn''t her state of dress or unkempt hair that drew his attention, it was her eyes. Or more specifically, the filthy cloth covering them. Was she blind? He could think of no other reason she would be wearing it.


    Unless she was trying to learn Magic Sense as well, but he somehow doubted it.


    He continued to watch her for a bit, frowning as everyone walking by ignored her existence entirely. Whenever someone approached, she held out a small, dirty red bowl, likely begging for food.


    His stomach twisted in knots as he observed. The girl was clearly homeless and hungry and yet not a single person bothered to lend a hand. Vampires really weren''t any different from humans, no compassion whatsoever.


    The one lady, the one with all the makeup and the stupid parasol, made a disparaging remark when the little girl raised her bowl towards her. "Ugh, how disgusting! To think our beautiful city must be besmirched by retched urchins like you. If you had any class at all you would disappear. No one wants to look upon something as unsightly as you."


    Vincent''s fists clenched tightly as he attempted to control his rage. As much as he would like to run over there and piledrive the bitch, he couldn''t. His every action reflected on Luminous, so he had to be careful about the way he acted.


    Didn''t make him feel any better about himself though. He remembered being bullied as a kid (and as an adult, truthfully) all because of his, as that bitch would put it, unsightly appearance. Although, the anime obsession probably didn''t help much either.


    Didn''t mean he deserved the swirlies. Or the wedgies¡­ Or the titty twisters¡­


    Shaking those thoughts from his mind, he saw the poor young thing flinch back, trying to make herself as small as possible. It was hard to believe that a grown ass woman would get her rocks off by verbally assaulting a child. Back home, they had a word for people like that.


    Cunts.


    And it seemed like this cunt wasn''t fixing to stop anytime soon. It was starting to look like he was going to have to do something after all. But what? As satisfying as it would be to superman that hoe, he needed a way to diffuse the situation and chase off the lady without resorting to his pimp hand.


    Looking around, scoffing at all the pissants just standing around and watching, he spotted a familiar stand. That gave him an idea. With a smile, he set off to kill two birds with one stone.


    *Line Break*


    "Well, what do you have to say for yourself!? Looking at you has ruined my shopping trip! How will you make it up to me?" screeched the woman, glaring down angrily at the poor girl, who, not for the first time, lamented her sightlessness.


    She was certain if she had the ability to see, she would have never offered her bowl towards the lady. But seeing as she couldn''t see, she basically begged anyone who came near her, holding up her bowl, hoping for just a few drops of blood to get her through the day.


    It wasn''t easy, living off the kindness of others. Most people weren''t very kind at all. But at the same time, some people were. It was the only reason she survived this long after all. If there weren''t kind people in the world, she would have died long ago.


    Maybe she should have. She honestly wasn''t sure what the point of living was anymore. Everyday seemed to be more difficult than the last. It''s been days since she''s had even the smallest amount of blood, the pain in her stomach was becoming unbearable.


    As the woman kept screaming about how she ruined her day, the blind girl cast her "gaze" towards all the people she could hear around them.


    "Why won''t they help me?" she thought dejectedly. It wasn''t the first time she''s asked herself this question and she doubted it would be the last. Was she cursed? Is that why she had to live this way? Is that the reason her mommy and daddy had to die?


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Was it all her fault? Was that the reason no one helped her? Because she didn''t deserve it?


    The whispers of the people started to surround her, their words cloaking her in despair. It choked her like a poisonous fog, stripping her of breath.


    "Look at her."


    "Disgusting."


    "Filthy."


    "What a disgrace."


    "Hey, are you ok?"


    That last one made the rest of the words stop. They still surrounded her, waiting to strike her down, but they seemed¡­ hesitant. Almost as if they were afraid. But why? What could stop them from continuing their assault?


    She "looked" up, not knowing what to expect. What she "saw" however, left her breathless in an entirely different way. The person in front of her was so bright, it was almost blinding.


    And no, the irony was not lost on her.


    Not only that, but the presence was so warm and soothing it drove away the despair like it was never there. The poison filling her heart cleared, and her rapid breathing evened out.


    Who was this person?


    "And just who do you think you are!?" shrieked the woman, her banshee-like voice causing the young girl to flinch back. But the man''s aura, the one with the kind voice, wrapped her up in a protective cocoon, driving back the spike of fear that penetrated her heart.


    But rather than answer the annoying woman, he once more spoke to her, like she was more important. It left a weird feeling in her chest.


    "Hey, you''re ok. I saw you from across the street and you looked pretty hungry, so I went and bought you this," he said, confusing her. He bought her something? Why? Because she looked hungry? That didn''t make any sense. People don''t buy her things.


    Part of her thought this was some elaborate scheme, that his aura was only there to trick and deceive her. But as her stomach growled, threatening to eat itself, she found she didn''t care. Even if whatever he was offering to her was poisoned, it would be worth it to end the gnawing pain.


    One way or the other.


    She reached her hands out, slowly, unable to stop them from shaking. She felt his own hand gently grab hers. It was soft and warm, like his aura took physical form just to comfort her even more.


    Then he placed something in her hand, something that felt like a wooden stick. It confused her, and she involuntarily tilted her head. She heard the man give a chuckle at that, his deep, smooth voice reassuring her.


    "It''s a Blood Pop. I had one earlier, they''re pretty good. I''m sure you''ll like it," he said. His hand left hers, and she lamented the loss of warmth. But the sudden weight in her hand took precedence.


    She reached out her other hand so she could feel the object she was holding. It was smooth, and just a little bit sticky. The whole thing was bigger than her hand, and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. If it really was what he said it was, then this would be the most food she''s had in months.


    She''d heard of Blood Pops before but she''s never had one. How could she? Not like there were people lining up to give a homeless girl like her an expensive treat. But hearing children yell about how yummy they were made her wish she could try one of her own, but she figured she''d never get the chance.


    But now, apparently, she would. Hard to believe she was getting yelled at not even a minute ago and now a lifelong dream would be realized. She could feel her saliva thicken as she opened her mouth, tentatively taking a lick.


    "So good!" she thought to herself, a happy grin stretching across her face. It was so wide it made her cheeks hurt, but she couldn''t stop. The Blood Pop was just so sweet! It was everything she expected and more!


    "See, I told you it was good," chuckled the kind voice.


    "Ah¡­ ah," she agreed, unable to speak. But in her mind, she was shouting loud and clear.


    "Yes! Yes! It''s so good! I love it! Thank you so much!"


    But of course, the universe conspired to snatch away any brief happiness she could find.


    "Excuse me!? I asked you a question! Who do you think you are!?"


    It was her again, the mean lady. But this time, the blind little vampire didn''t flinch away. She had no reason to. Even if she couldn''t see, she could feel the sheer presence of the man shielding her from the woman''s venomous words.


    "Who, me?" asked the kind voice, confused. She felt him stand up, turning to face the angry woman and the crowd of curious onlookers.


    "Yes! Who else would I be speaking to? Do you even have a name?" the woman huffed, her question full of smugness. After all, not many monsters had names, and many of the vampire nobility preferred it that way. Kept the riff raff from getting too much power and thinking they can stand beside their betters.


    Like equals. The very thought repulsed her.


    "You know, it''s considered impolite to ask for someone''s name before giving yours," he responded. While the little girl couldn''t see it, she imagined the lady''s face turning bright red from anger.


    "Who do you think you are, lecturing me!? Do you have any idea who I am!?" she shouted.


    "How could I? You haven''t told me your name," replied the man, sounding like he was speaking to a child. It was almost enough to make the blind girl giggle. But she knew if she did, the lady''s attention would probably return to her, and that''s the last thing she wanted.


    "Very well, if you must know, I am Baroness Iriella," she responded, in a haughty, superior tone.


    "Baroness? Kind of a weird name¡­" he muttered, infuriating the woman even further.


    "Baroness is a title you uncultured swine! It means I am part of the upper class! Nobility! You should be on your knees thanking me for the privilege of speaking to me!"


    "Oh, well I''m Vincent. Nice to meet you," he said, doing his best Luffy impression. The kind that said he didn''t give a flying fuck about who she was. But there was someone who cared a great deal about who he was.


    "Vincent? That''s his name?" the little vampire girl thought, finding she liked the name. She liked it quite a bit. She''d remember it for the rest of her life, no matter how short a life that might be.


    As for the man in question, he was having a wonderful time. The lady in front of him looked like she was about to lose her shit. Hopefully not in the literal sense. He wasn''t entirely sure this was a good idea, but he somehow doubted Luminous would be upset about him giving candy to a little girl.


    An action that, for some reason, infuriated the psycho in front of him.


    "I see, Vincent," she drawled, like saying his name left a bad taste in her mouth. "I''m willing to forgive you this transgression if you divest that filthy urchin her sustenance this instant."


    Vincent couldn''t believe the audacity of this woman. This was the absolute pinnacle of pettiness. In fact, he was so astounded by her order, that he simply had to ask for clarification.


    "Let me get this straight. You want me to take away the food I just gave her?"


    "Are you deaf? Yes! And be quick about it, I have things to do today."


    He was quiet for a moment. But just a moment.


    "...Are you retarded?" Vincent asked in disbelief. He didn''t exactly mean to sound so rude, given the lady was nobility, (or so she claimed) he didn''t want to create any headaches for Luminous. Even if she was the biggest tease in the world, adding extra stress to her life was the last thing he wanted.


    But this lady in front of him was just too much. She actually thought that he would turn around and just yoink the food out of her hands, all to appease her. Not to mention the sheer arrogance to say she had things to do, when she was the one to stop and terrorize a blind child!


    If she wasn''t at least a little retarded, he would be very surprised.


    "I beg your pardon! How dare you say such a thing to me! Do you have any idea who I am!?" she shouted, spittle flying from her mouth.


    "Geez lady, say it don''t spray it," he commented, cleaning out one of his ears. If she continued to shriek like that, he might find himself with tinnitus. Hey wasn''t sure if vampires could even get tinnitus, and he didn''t particularly wish to find out.


    "And yeah, I know who you are. You just told me. Is your memory that bad, you old hag?"


    "Old-old hag! How dare you! Guards, arrest this man!" she shouted, looking towards the crowd. To Vincent''s surprise, there actually were some guards watching. Lovely. They must have caught the naked man.


    "What are they going to arrest me for, feeding the needy? If anything, they should arrest you for disturbing the peace," Vincent shot back. She returned her glare to him and he was sure if he were a lesser man, he would have flinched back.


    There was an awful lot of hatred in those eyes for someone he barely met.


    But thankfully, he was not a lesser man, and he would not back down from this woman, even if it killed him. So as one of the guards tepidly approached, he stood tall, projecting an air of absolute calmness.


    "Um, forgive me Baroness Iriella, but the man is correct. He has committed no crime," the guard simpered, flinching back as her gaze shifted to him.


    "What!? I don''t care about any crime! Just do as I say, arrest him!" she yelled, making Vincent sweat drop. Did she really want him arrested for committing no crime at all? Did she not know how the law works, or did she think she was the law?


    Actually, considering she fancied herself a noble, that''s probably exactly what she thought.


    "I''m sorry ma''am, but there''s nothing we can do," the guard stated. So encompassed by her blistering anger that the make up she troweled onto herself started to melt. It was like looking at a wax figure under a heat lamp.


    "You heard the man, there''s nothing he can do. So why don''t we just go our separate ways and enjoy the rest of our day, hm?" Vincent asked, trying to be the voice of reason.


    Unfortunately for him, he wasn''t speaking to someone reasonable.


    "I''ll make sure you regret this, do you hear me!? Just wait until my husband hears about this!" she screamed before turning on her heels and storing off.


    "What a pleasant lady¡­ Name should be Malfoy though," Vincent muttered under his breath. Once the crows realized the show was over they dispersed. Damn jackals.


    He turned around, giving a soft smile towards the young girl. He knelt back down as she "stared" at him with curiosity.


    "Sorry about that. Some people are just the worst, aren''t they?" he said. The little girl in front of him didn''t say anything, and he wasn''t sure she could. A blind mute girl alone on the streets¡­


    "How the hell did this happen?" he thought. Luminous didn''t seem like the kind of leader who would let something like this stand. She was too kind for it. Or perhaps, that was just the way she was with him and those closest to her?


    Either way, he would have to make sure to talk to her about it. So far, she was the only homeless person he saw, so maybe there was something else at play here. Given she was pretty hands off with the whole, ruling thing, he wouldn''t be surprised if someone was taking advantage of that fact.


    And this little one suffered for it.


    Yes, he''d speak to her as soon as he got back. He''d call her now using Blood Mirror, but he knew she was busy. Besides, this might be a conversation to have in person.


    "Well, it''s about time for me to get going. But you enjoy that Blood Pop, and take care of yourself, alright," he said, rubbing her head affectionately. She made a soft noise, seemingly enjoying the attention, before he stopped, standing back up.


    "See you around kid," he said, before turning around and leaving. He wanted to tell her that he was going to get her help. That everything would be alright, but he couldn''t. He didn''t want to give her any false hope. Better it be a pleasant surprise.


    For now, he had a few more hours to kill before he needed to return, might as well go back to exploring the city. Who knows what other trouble he might get into? And he hasn''t been to the park yet, so maybe he would check that out.


    As he left, the small girl reached out her hand, desperately wanting him to come back. To stay. She could feel that warm, comforting aura of safety slowly disappear as he moved further and further away, making her shiver at the sudden feeling of cold.


    But as much as she wanted him to come back, she knew it was better if he stayed far away from her. He already did so much for her, giving her food and standing up to that mean lady, she didn''t want him to suffer because of her.


    Because she was cursed, and if he stayed around for long, he would only be met with ruin. And she didn''t want that for someone who was so nice to her. The best thing was to let him go and simply enjoy the treat he got her.


    But she would make sure she never forgot him either. The nice man named Vincent.


    Her hero.

 Taken

    He wasn''t exactly sure what he was expecting from an underground vampire park, but the sight in front of him exceeded all expectations. It was beautiful in an almost eerie, otherworldly way.


    First was the grass, which came in a few different colors. The spots where people could walk on said grass was red. Blood red, if you couldn''t guess. Some other parts, such as the garden area, had grass of pure white, like it was covered in snow.


    The bushes as well had purple leaves and black stems. Then there were the trees, which also came in a multitude of colors. Some had white bark, others had black, and some even had pink.


    Hell, a few even seemed to be made of crystal!


    And the leaves were all just as strangely colored. Coming from a world where bark is brown and leaves are green, it was a very strange sight indeed. Vincent took care to see as much of it as he could.


    The water was about the only thing that was normal, if you didn''t count for how clear it was. He''d heard of waters described as crystal clear before, but this is the first time he''s actually seen it.


    As he continued to marvel at the scenery, he eventually came to a peculiar sight. It seems like there was some kind of rally going on. Ok, perhaps it wasn''t that strange, but given the lack of people he''s seen so far, it took him by surprise.


    Or maybe that''s why there wasn''t anybody in the park. He couldn''t imagine why it would be so empty otherwise. Perhaps, unlike him, they were simply used to the sight and didn''t feel the need to fawn over every little thing.


    As he approached the rally, he could hear snippets of what they were saying. Strange, he should have been able to hear them from much further back. Were they muting the sound somehow? If so, that didn''t really bode well for what it was about.


    "Why should we be forced to live underground while the human livestock flourish in the world above!?" shouted the speaker.


    Crap, looks like he was right.


    Vincent casually placed himself within the crowd, hoping to blend in. Luminous has told him that not everyone was on board with her rule, and it looks like he walked right into the middle of one of their gatherings.


    Wasn''t he lucky?


    "For two thousand years we''ve been forced to hide, living off the scraps of blood given to us by the humans, as if we were their pets! But is that who we are? No, we are vampires! Noble and powerful creatures of the night! The moonlit world is our domain, and yet those beasts claim dominion over it! Well I say, no more!"


    Vincent was a bit nervous at seeing some of the crowd nodding along, a few with bloodthirsty, in more ways than one, grins on their faces. He''d give the man this, he was a good orator.


    Fuck, did he just bump into vampire Hitler?


    "Luminous, our so-called queen, cares more for her precious humans than she does her fellow vampires! They worship her as a god, and her ego has become inflamed and engorged by their adulation! She has grown fat and complacent appeasing the vermin, simply due to their numbers! But no matter how many cockroaches there are, they stand no chance against superior beings such as ourselves!"


    Fat? Has he ever even seen Luminous? As someone who has had the incredibly good fortune to feel her up on a daily basis, he can assure them that she is anything but fat.


    Sure, her ass may have fit the definition of junk in the trunk, but it was flawless! All round and firm with more bounce than a trampoline. The ultimate in spankability, it is a work of art! A jiggly national treasure! Perfection given form!


    ¡­What was he doing again?


    "So we must rise, my brethren, and throw off the yoke of our oppressor! It is us, not the humans, who should have control of the world! We are the superior beings! Gifted with immense magic and eternal life, it baffles the mind why we are not the ones in control! I ask you, does it make sense that our food are the ones who may live as they please!?"


    Oh right, vampire Hitler¡­


    Vincent wasn''t sure but they seemed almost hesitant to verbalize their agreement, a murmur of assent sweeping through the crowd but little else. But it seemed as if that wasn''t good enough for the speaker.


    "Do not be afraid to shout the truth! Luminous is too limp wristed to enforce any true punishment, further proof of the failings of her decadent rule. So I ask you again, brothers and sisters of the night, does it make sense!?"


    "No¡­"


    "Louder! Let your voices be heard! Let not the truth linger in the shadows of falsity!"


    "No!"


    "You can do better! The livestock shout their joyous piety loud enough to shake the foundations of the earth, don''t let those inferior creatures outdo you! One more time! Does it make sense that we live underground, afraid of the world we are owed, while those that provide no value beyond being our sustenance control the surface!? Answer me!"


    "No!"


    "That''s right! Don''t be afraid of the truth! The time of our dominion has come! Spread the word and increase the number of the faithful! Those who believe in the sovereignty of our own species! Let our time be now! Let this be the beginning of the era of the vampire!"


    The uproarious approval that reverberated throughout the park at those words filled Vincent with more than a little trepidation. Not everyone was cheering of course, but the amount that were was cause for concern.


    He vaguely recalled a statement he heard from his past life. Twenty percent of people are easily swayed, twenty percent can''t be swayed at all, and the other sixty percent fall somewhere in between. Judging by the crowd, that statement was proving to be startlingly correct.


    Out of the close to 80 people in the crowd, about twenty of them were screaming with fervor, fist raised to the sky. The amount wasn''t anything particularly worrisome by itself, but the near manic devotion that he could see shimmering in their eyes was.


    On the opposite end, only around 10 showed signs of disapproval, but they sure as hell weren''t saying anything. Not that Vincent could blame them, given the crowd, but the amount that were in disagreement was what had him concerned.


    And the rest were about as you could expect. Muttering and murmuring to themselves about the state of their species. Most of them, however, seemed convinced that something needed to be done. They didn''t necessarily agree with the speaker, but they wanted change nonetheless.


    Hopefully they could be convinced of more peaceful methods, rather than the extreme violence of the speaker. It was pretty clear that if he got his way, the streets would run red. Millions would perish.


    He did have one major point going in his favor, one that was more likely to convince the others of his grand plan to appoint vampires as rulers of all. That was the religion centered around Luminous herself, one she allowed to hate monsters and hunt them down.


    Vampires, if you didn''t know, were absolutely considered monsters. Majin, specifically. Monsters with intelligence. But why wouldn''t the humans consider them to be monsters, considering they preyed on them? Their blood was sustenance to most and a pleasurable beverage to the rest.


    If there was any point to hammer home about the inequity of her rule, that would be it. But it seems like he didn''t touch on that point very much, focusing more on their own superiority over the human species. It didn''t make much sense.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Was he playing more into their ego as opposed to using logic? Vincent would think they would be pretty upset by her allowing her human subjects to hunt them, but apparently that wasn''t a hot button issue.


    Or was it because of that belief in their superiority that the speaker believed it didn''t matter. After all, if you were the apex predator, why would you fear your own prey? So even if she did allow it, it wasn''t much cause for concern, because as a vampire, the humans wouldn''t be able to do much anyway.


    It made some sense, if that''s how they viewed it. A lion isn''t concerned about the gazelle killing it after all.


    Vincent stayed listening to the drivel until it was time to depart. He would have loved to leave earlier, but he didn''t want to get noticed. Last thing he needed was vampire Hitler there calling him out for leaving early. But he was able to get some good information, and with his memory, he would be able to point out everyone there should it be needed.


    But with that little side quest finished, it was time he continued with the main one, namely, finding a gift for Lumi. It was much harder than it looked, considering she was already extremely wealthy and could afford anything she wanted.


    His first thought was jewelry, because if those commercials from his old life were to be believed, a diamond is a girl''s best friend. But then he remembered that she didn''t wear much jewelry to begin with.


    He also doubted he would be able to procure anything of significant quality with the funds she allocated for his use. So that was out. But as he continued to frequent the various shops around the city, one in particular caught his eye.


    It looked like one of those Asian stores you''d find in a mall. You know, when people still went to the mall. Those little shops were always interesting, even if what they sold were cheap knockoffs built with the tears of children laboring in a sweatshop.


    Hopefully that wouldn''t be the case here.


    As he entered the shop, the smell of incense immediately assaulted his senses. Normally this wouldn''t have been a problem, but a vampire''s nose was quite the sensitive organ, so it felt like getting punched right in the face.


    Holding onto his nose, he casually looked around the store, seeing the multitude of curious items for sale. None of them looked like they belonged with a vampire, but perhaps that was the appeal. Different strokes for different folks, or something like that.


    Here''s hoping the smell didn''t give him a stroke.


    There were sculptures made out of numerous materials, like marble, granite, quartz and various other stones, and most were shaped in the form of an animal. There were paintings of various creatures hanging from the wall, such as dragons, mermaids, unicorns, ect¡­ There didn''t seem to be any cohesion between them, likely put there simply because the shop owner thought they would sell.


    Or because they looked cool.


    Speaking of the owner, he wondered where they were. So far, he hasn''t seen anybody. Weird that they would just leave their shop unattended like that. Maybe they were in the back?


    "Hello there. How may I help you?"


    Speaking of back, Vincent jumped about a foot in the air from the sudden voice coming from behind him. Turning around, he searched for whoever spoke to him, only to see nothing but empty air.


    There was nobody there¡­


    "Crap, don''t tell me this place is haunted. Last thing I want to deal with is a ghost," Vincent said aloud as a small, nervous bead of sweat traveled down his face.


    "Hoo-hoo, I may be old but I''m not a ghost just yet. Try looking down, sonny," suggested the same voice. Doing as it said, he was rewarded for his efforts with the sight of a little old lady, emphasis on the little.


    She was about two feet tall with hair as white as snow. She wore a black dress over her hunched form, with a cane in one hand. Her deep red eyes stared up at him with amusement and dare he say it, mischief. The look almost reminded him of Luminous. If he didn''t know any better, he''d think this lady was her grandmother.


    But seeing as Luminous was the oldest of the vampires, that wouldn''t make much sense at all.


    "Oh, sorry. I didn''t see you there," Vincent said.


    "Obviously. Now, what can I do for strapping young lad like yourself, hm?" she asked, eyeing him up and down like he was a piece of meat. The way her eyes glowed made him want to cover himself, like she was looking through his clothes at his most intimate areas.


    But he didn''t. He weathered the perverse storm with the grace and dignity of a ship captain.


    "Well, I''ve been looking for a gift for someone," he said, getting the old lady''s attention, causing her to stop staring at his junk and look him in the eye.


    "Oh ho, a gift you say. For someone special, yes? A lady friend perhaps?" she asked, staring into his eyes with a fierce intensity. He couldn''t help but back up a bit from the look.


    "Um, yeah, you could say that. I, uh¡­ don''t suppose you have any ideas?" he threw out there. As much as he wanted to flee for his chastity, he hasn''t found any shop so far that gave him the slightest idea of what to give her. Might as well take the chance with the creepy old lady, right?


    He really hoped he wouldn''t regret this¡­


    "Of course I do, my dear boy, but first, tell me about this special lady of yours. What''s she like?" the old lady asked with a suspicious glint in her eyes. Vincent got the impression she knew more than she was letting on but quickly shook his head of that notion. How could she possibly know about him and Lumi? He was just being paranoid.


    Vincent gained a thoughtful look on his face as he thought about the woman in question, with the old lady waiting patiently.


    "Let''s see, for starters, she''s the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen, and the margin isn''t even close. Her body is the literal definition of perfection and the memory of her naked body haunts my dreams and my showers," Vincent started to say, his eyes taking on a glassy hue as he did so, words spewing from his mouth almost without conscious thought.


    Otherwise, he never would have mentioned the shower. But for some reason, he just felt like he could tell the old lady anything. No, it was more like he should tell her everything. So that''s what he did.


    "Her eyes captivate me every time I see them and I never know which one to focus on. One is like sapphire and the other like a ruby. I''m convinced her hair is made of pure moonlight as there''s no way it could possibly be that silky otherwise," he continued.


    "She sounds like quite the woman. What else, sonny? Anything besides her body? Tell me what she''s like," asked the old woman, gently coaxing him to say more.


    "She''s kind, and patient; always willing to make time for me, no matter how busy she is. She gave me a place to stay when I was a complete stranger and never asked for anything in return. She has a mischievous side to her, enjoying pranking and teasing me. Perhaps a bit too much¡­" he mumbled the last part, getting a cackling laugh from the woman.


    "Teasing huh? Are you pent up sonny? Want granny to help you with that?" she asked, giving a crooked smile, revealing a toothless mouth save for a single fang.


    "Um, no that''s alright," Vincent said, backing up, some of the brain fog dissipating from his mind.


    She gave a shrug at that. "Your loss. Tell me, what do the two of you like to do together?"


    "Um, we mostly just talk, I guess. She''s helped me learn some new Skills as well. And lately, well¡­ I''ve been giving her massages. She seems to really enjoy that," he told her, mind wandering to their Skill learning sessions, as Luminous liked to call them.


    He once more cursed that foul chastity belt. Something as cruel and evil as that should be outlawed.


    The old lady gained a thoughtful look at that, unaware of Vincent''s internal turmoil, rubbing an ancient, wrinkled chin in thought.


    "Massages eh? I might have just the thing for you kiddo. One moment," she said, hobbling towards the back of the store. With nothing better to do, Vincent settled in to wait. He watched as the old woman began tossing items this way and that, seemingly uncaring about what happened to them.


    "No not here¡­ That''s not it¡­ Nope¡­ Hmm, I could have sworn¡­. Aha! Found you, you little bugger!" the old woman cheered. Curious, Vincent made his way towards the old woman, who now had an ornate purple bottle in her hands.


    "So, whatcha got granny?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and giving her a dubious look. The bottle looked like it came out of a sleazy sex shop, with the shape of the glass resembling a buxom woman.


    "Massage oil, kiddo. The kind that drives the ladies wild. This little beauty will increase her sensitivity by 300%, guaranteed," she claimed, wiggling the bottle in her hand. Vincent was obviously skeptical of such a claim, crossing his hands in front of his chest with a raised brow.


    "Uh huh¡­"


    "I can see the doubt in your eyes boy, but you can trust granny. With this, she''ll be the one left with blue balls, ehehehehe," she called again. Now that did interest him. The chance to one up her in the teasing game was almost too good to pass up.


    "Right. Well it''s not like I have any better ideas. Guess I''ll take it. How much?"


    After paying the old woman who was giving him that knowing grin, he quickly made his way out of the store, speed walking out of there. Not that the old lady was bothered, giving him that near toothless smile as he fled.


    Leaving, Vincent couldn''t help but shiver. He sincerely hoped he would never run into that old lady again.


    What he didn''t know was that as he turned the corner to get the hell out of dodge, the shop itself shimmered and warped, until it disappeared entirely, leaving nothing but an empty lot behind. The only proof of its existence lay in Vincent''s hands.


    "That takes care of that. Now I just have one more stop to make before going home," he said, picking up the pace. He wanted to check in on that little girl and make sure she was doing alright. Hopefully she enjoyed that Blood Pop.


    However, as he approached the area he had seen her last, he noticed some peculiar behavior coming from the people around him, especially the stall owners.


    They refused to look at him.


    Every time they so much as glanced in his direction, they would quickly look away. It was hard to tell, but they almost appeared¡­ ashamed. Like they had done something wrong. But they were also afraid.


    The looks, coupled with who he was going to see, formed a pit in his stomach. Feeling restless, he quickened his pace even more, his speed, little more than a fast walk to a vampires, would have put Olympic athletes to shame in his past life.


    Unfortunately, it wouldn''t be fast enough. When he arrived, she was nowhere to be found. All that remained was a bowl and a shattered Blood Pop.

 Ask Forgiveness, Not Permission

    Locked within a cell in an unknown location, a young girl shivered in terror. She was suspended in the air with her hands locked in uncomfortable, metal shackles, the sharp edges digging painfully into her wrists. She could feel the small droplets of blood leaking down her arm from her earlier struggles.


    "Why?" was the thought that constantly crossed her mind. "Why are they doing this to me? What am I being hurt?" These thoughts echoed across her mind in an unrelenting scream.


    Perhaps she really was cursed. And to think, her day had been going so well too. That nice man, Vincent, had given her the most delicious treat. And for the first time in so long, her tummy didn''t hurt. Sure there was that scary lady, but she was used to people like her.


    Maybe not as loud, but certainly just as mean.


    She was about halfway done with her Blood Pop, having taken the time to savor each and every lick, when two men appeared. In retrospect, she should have known better and eaten as quickly as she could.


    She couldn''t see them, due to her being blind, but she could feel them. Like big, blotchy colors, shimmering in front of her. She couldn''t actually see these colors, but that''s what it felt like.


    And these men had very dark colors.


    They asked her what she was doing here, and of course, she was unable to answer. She tried, hoping the attempt would appease them, making little, "Ah," sounds. It was about the only vocalization she could make.


    But her hopes were dashed. They grew angry at her response, slapping the Blood Pop out of her hand. It had hurt, but she wasn''t thinking about that at the moment. Her only concern had been on the act of kindness that had been taken from her.


    She could hear it land some distance away. Her eyes might be gone, but her ears worked quite well, thankfully. So she tried crawling towards it, uncaring of the men laughing and mocking her while she did so. All she wanted to do was protect her happiness for just a little while longer.


    But the universe had other plans. Right as she was reaching out for it, one of the men stomped down, shattering it into a million pieces. As if that wasn''t bad enough, he smeared it into the ground, making it so there was no possible way she could enjoy it any further.


    She wanted to cry. To scream. To do¡­ something! But she couldn''t. Those abilities were taken from her by men like these. People who enjoyed the suffering of others. She couldn''t fathom how anyone could be made so happy by the misery of someone else.


    As she lay there, cradling her lost joy, one of the men grabbed her by the hair and pulled hard. The remains of the Blood Pop fell to the ground as she tried to scream. But she couldn''t. And even if she could, who would care?


    "Vincent."


    The thought came unbidden, but thinking of the man and how warm he felt ignited a spark of hope. If he was here, surely he would help her. He would protect her and keep her safe.


    "Then where is he?"


    Those thoughts drew her up short. That''s right, he wasn''t here. He left, just like everyone else who was ever nice to her. And just like them, she would probably never see him again.


    And just like that, the spark of hope failed to ignite, dropping the little blind girl into a pit of despair.


    The men then dragged her off, taking her to places unknown. No, that wasn''t entirely true. She knew where they were taking her, or to be more precise, to who. That woman from earlier. According to the men, she hired them to take her.


    But why? The little girl couldn''t understand the reason. The mean lady said she hated her, that she should just disappear. So why was she being brought to her? It didn''t make sense.


    The trip was long and excruciating. Being dragged across the city by her hair was not something she was keen to experience again. And it looks like she wasn''t going to.


    Iriella, the mean lady, was overjoyed to see her. But for some reason, the young girl didn''t think the reason for her happiness was anything good. There was another man there as well, someone she called darling, who didn''t seem to care one bit as she was taken away.


    After that, she was placed in her current lodgings. She tried to get out of the painful shackles, but that just caused her more pain, so she inevitably gave up.


    She didn''t know how long she was forced to wait. Twenty minutes¡­ Thirty minutes¡­ Longer? It was impossible to tell. But eventually, her long wait was over. She heard the telltale sign of a lock being opened, drowning out the constant drip of water that had been her only companion until this point.


    The door squeaked open and the chilly air seemed to freeze over. That was probably a bad sign. The door then slammed shut, and she could hear it being relocked. Only now, she wasn''t alone.


    "Well, how nice to see you again, you filthy little urchin," stated a familiar voice. It was none other than Baroness Iriella. The dangling blind girl lifted her head to face the woman, even if it wouldn''t do any good.


    In fact, it was a very bad idea.


    "Ah!" she yelped as a sudden pain exploded across her cheek. Iriella stood there, seething in rage, the hand she just used to slap a small, defenseless girl raised in the air.


    "How dare you look at me you mongrel! Who gave you permission!?" she snarled. The small girl would have loved nothing more than to inform the insane woman that she was, in fact, blind, and therefore could not look at her. But she had a feeling that even if she could, it would only end poorly.


    So she remained silent, trying to stifle the sniffles. It wasn''t as bad as being dragged by her hair, but it still hurt.


    But her silence seemed to please the insufferable noble. "Good. You can learn. Now, I bet you''re wondering why you''re here, aren''t you?" she questioned, her tone of voice snide and condescending.


    The little girl had to admit, she was curious. But she made no motion to show her curiosity, fearing another slap.


    Or worse.


    "Well, I couldn''t just let that humiliation from earlier slide, now could I? No, an example needs to be made. As a member of the upper class, it falls upon me to educate you uneducated swine about the truth of this world. That man, Vincent," she ground out, like she had tasted something foul. "Must learn his place. And you are going to help me enlighten him of this truth. Doesn''t that make you happy? Your worthless life will finally have meaning. Really, you should be thanking me."


    But she didn''t feel very thankful. The exact opposite, if she were honest. She would enjoy nothing more than to leave this place and never return. She could find meaning herself.


    Or could she? Did life even have meaning at all? What use does the world have of a small, blind and mute girl?


    None. The world had no use for someone like her. So maybe, it really would be better if¡­


    Thankfully, her self-deprecating thoughts were interrupted once more by the woman who enjoyed the sound of her own voice a little too much.


    "That''s right little one, you have been selected for glorious purpose. Once the day is through, that man will know not to interfere in the business of his betters. It took me some time to properly decide on how to go about this, but then I had a wonderful idea," Iriella said, pacing around the small girl.


    "You see, it''s almost time to feed my precious little puppies, and they are oh so hungry. So why not kill two birds with one stone? I can feed them and send the appropriate message, all at the same time. I truly am a genius," she continued to inflate her own ego.


    But the blind girl did not like where this was going. Not one little bit. She was afraid of dogs on a good day, ever since she was attacked by one some time ago. Thankfully someone had actually decided to help her that day, or else she would have been that dog''s¡­


    Lunch.


    Unaware of the mounting trepidation from her victim, Iriella continued with her monologue.


    "I''ll send you his head, and my sweet babies can have the rest of you. They do so love the taste of the lower class," she mentioned, sending the girl a smirk. Not that she could see it.


    Having her worst fears confirmed, the little girl started to panic, using what little strength she had in her body to try and free herself. She knew, deep down, that even if she could, it wouldn''t do any good. The door was locked and she was trapped inside with a much more powerful vampire.


    She had no hope of escape. Her chances were an absolute 0. But even so, she couldn''t help herself. Even if there was no meaning in her life, even if she was a cursed child, she still wanted to live.


    Iriella was positively thrilled by the fear she could feel wafting off the girl. It was like walking into a restaurant and smelling the finest, rarest steaks hot on the grill. It was intoxicating!


    "Now, now, none of that. You should be happy that your worthless flesh will be given a higher purpose. But¡­" she frowned, reaching out to violently grab the girl around her ribs.


    "Ah!" she yelled in fear and pain, trying in vain to move away from the woman.


    "It''s just as I feared. Your muscles are far too tough. But what else should I expect from something like you," she said with a sigh, releasing her hold on the girl, much to her relief.


    "We can''t have that now, can we? Think of my poor little babies who have to eat you. You wouldn''t want them to hurt their wittle jaws now, would you? Of course not. So I suppose I''ll just have to¡­ tenderize you," she remarked, almost off handedly. It was like she was speaking about the weather.


    "Oh dear, it looks like rain."


    "Oh dear, I have to torture a child."


    Same exact tone.


    The frightened little girl listened as Iriella rummaged around for something. She heard the sound of metal, but she wasn''t sure what she was doing. Nothing good, obviously.


    "Ah yes, here we go. This should do nicely," she said. In her hands was a studded paddle. She gave a few test swings, smiling in satisfaction. She then turned her attention back towards her guest, slowly approaching her, drawing out the misery for as long as she could.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Hearing footsteps closing in once more, the little girl could only squirm helplessly. "No, please! I don''t want to die! I want to eat more tasty things! I want to meet more nice people! Somebody! Anybody! Help me! Vincent!" she wailed in her mind. She knew nobody would come and save her, but still, she begged the universe for a miracle.


    "I see that you''re ready. Let''s begin, shall we?" Iriella said, drawing her arm back.


    *Line Break*


    Vincent Valentine held the remains of the Blood Pop in his hands, fury and regret raging inside of him. His mind wandered back to the small girl, the way she lit up upon tasting the overly sweet candy. How she smiled and made little noises of joy.


    And now she was gone.


    "Goddamnit! What the hell is wrong with me!? Why didn''t I take her with me? I could have had Gunther look into it, he''s in charge of the city for fuck''s sake. But no, I wanted to explore some more, figuring I could just deal with it a little later. Well, it''s later now you fucking asshole, and look at what you''ve done!" he berated in his mind.


    He knew he hadn''t actually done anything truly wrong, and if he had brought her to Gunther and he said there was nothing that could be done, or worse, if Luminous had said those words, the devastation would have been incalculable.


    At least, that''s what he told himself, the logic he used to avoid responsibility. But he knew the truth. Even after a month of being in this new world, even after all the power he''s gained, deep down, he was still the same pathetic sack of shit he always was. He didn''t take her with him because he didn''t want the responsibility, simply deluding himself into believing that was the best action he could have taken.


    But it wasn''t, and the proof of that was staring him right in the eyes. Did he just make everything worse by playing hero and pissing off that woman? It made him feel pretty good at the moment, but that was just his damned ego. He could have just let the woman scream until she was satisfied and helped the little girl afterward. But he just had to show himself that he wasn''t who he used to be.


    But he was. Nothing has changed. Not a goddamned thing.


    Growling at his own utter weakness, he was about to stand up when he spotted something on the ground. It was a small bit of blood. Looking at it, he couldn''t help but clench his fist in anger. There was only one person it could have belonged to.


    But seeing it jogged a memory, one of his and Lumi''s talks. She told him of a secret Blood Art, one used to see the memories contained within the blood itself. It was apparently a notoriously difficult thing to master, and she only explained how it was performed, never doing it herself, but maybe¡­


    Maybe he could do it. Maybe there was something he could learn by delving into her memories. It was worth a shot.


    Holding out his hand, he used his own Blood Art to take control of the blood, making it rise up off the ground. There were only a few small drops, but the sight still pissed him off. But right now, he didn''t need the anger, he needed to be in control. Taking a deep breath to center himself, he attempted the technique.


    "Blood Art: Memory Walz."


    Having said the technique''s name, the blood took on a shiny hue, letting off a small glow before it floated into his mouth. The effect wasn''t immediate, and for a second, he thought he had failed. But then it hit him, like a jolt of lightning. His back arched and convulsed, eyes rolling into the back of his head.


    And just like that, he was in her memory.


    It was a bit strange, being in the memory of a blind person. The way Luminous described it before, it sounded more like a Pensieve from Harry Potter. But he supposed if the person couldn''t actually SEE what was going on, it made sense. He could certainly hear what was happening well enough, but more than that.


    He could feel it. He could feel every emotion she was feeling at the moment. And what she was feeling in the memory was content and joy. Could something as simple as a Blood Pop really make someone that happy? Apparently yes, it could.


    And it made him feel all the more guilt for his inaction.


    He felt the pain in her stomach slowly dwindling as she happily licked the treat. If it weren''t for the current circumstances, he would have been happy about that. But it was hard to be happy when she was in the hands of a psychopath.


    He didn''t have proof yet that Iriella was involved, but who else would want to take her? Even if it turned out to not be her, he had every intention of making the perpetrator suffer.


    He heard the two approach and felt everything that sweet little girl felt. The absolute despair when they destroyed the Blood Pop, the pain as they grabbed her hair and dragged her off.


    But the worst part was what he felt about him. Abandonment. There was a brief flicker of hope before it was extinguished. Brutally squashed down by the lesson''s life has forced her to learn.


    The last thing he felt before he was expelled from the memory was her biting her lip as they hauled her away. He sat there, tears of shame and regret cascading like a waterfall down his face.


    "Pathetic. I''m so damn pathetic," he chastised himself, uncaring of the people who watched him. He allowed the feelings to wash over him before violently punching himself in the forehead, his cape billowing behind him from the force of the blow. A small trickle of blood leaked down his face before his regeneration kicked in and healed the wound.


    But it was enough to clear his mind. Wallowing in self pity wouldn''t help anybody, least of all the one counting on him. She may have felt in that moment that he wouldn''t come to save her, but he would prove her wrong.


    And he knew exactly who had her, just as he suspected. Those two who took her were a couple of Chatty Cathy''s. That noble bitch should have sprung for some henchmen with more brain cells. You get what you pay for, and apparently, discretion cost more than what she was offering.


    Now that he knew who to blame, all he had to do was find out where she lived. The memories stopped long before she ever reached her destination, not that it would have helped much anyway with her being blind and all.


    He doubted it would be hard to find out, given that Iriella was a noble. All he had to do was ask the right person. Looking out at all the people who refused to make eye contact, he had a feeling one of them would know something. He may have fucked up earlier, but that doesn''t mean he couldn''t make up for it now.


    Come hell or high water, he would save that girl. It was time to let Jonathan die, so Vincent could fully live.


    *Line Break*


    Luminous Valentine sighed as she looked over some building project for the city of Lubelius. Normally she would leave such decisions to Louis but when it involved something such as restructuring part of the sewer system, well, she had to step in. Mostly to ensure the plans didn''t interfere with any structures involving Night Garden.


    At least she was done with the taxes. Dealing with that had to be the most tedious part of the job.


    However, it seems her boredom was about to end. She felt a pressure on her magic, signifying somebody attempting to contact her through a Blood Art. And if she wasn''t mistaken, it was Vincent.


    Yes, that would make for the perfect distraction from the humdrum of sewer architecture. But before that, she quickly checked her appearance in a small mirror, making sure she was presentable. Once she determined she was, she answered, creating her own circle of blood in the air.


    After a few seconds, she could see the familiar face of her¡­ what exactly were they? Not quite lovers but certainly more than mere friends. They weren''t exactly in an official relationship and yet he caressed her naked form on a near nightly basis. Hmm, she''d have to give it some more thought at a later time.


    "Vincent, I didn''t expect to hear from you so soon. How goes the-is something wrong?" she asked, noticing that he had an unceremoniously serious look on his face. There was no excitement upon seeing her, which he was normally eager to do, only what looked like regret, shame and barely contained fury.


    "What could have happened to put that look on your face?" she thought, waiting for him to answer.


    "You can say that. Quick question, how do you feel about Baroness Iriella and her husband?" he asked, much to her confusion. She leaned back in her comfortable and opulent chair, contemplating the question. If he was asking this, he must have had a run in with the woman, something she does not envy him for.


    "If you wish for me to speak honestly, they are completely insufferable, looking down on everyone and everything beneath their lauded station, even though they are amongst the lowest of the nobility. Why do you ask?"


    His face seemed relieved by her words, which only served to confuse her more. Did he think she would approve of people like them?


    "I see. That''s good. Look, the reason I''m calling is¡­ well there''s no real easy way to say this, so I''ll just rip the bandaid off. I''m about to storm their manor and slaughter everyone who stands in my way," Vincent told her.


    "I''m sorry, could you repeat that please. I believe I misheard you," Luminous replied, giving him a blank look. Did he really just say what she thinks he said?


    Vincent sighed on the other end, giving her an apologetic look. "Look, something happened and it''s kind of my fault so I have to make things right. So I''m just calling to apologize beforehand for any problems this could cause you."


    So she did hear him correctly then. Looking at his face, it was set as hard as stone, a mask of absolute determination, eyes hardened with resolve. She had to admit, she found the look highly attractive.


    "I see. So you aren''t calling to ask permission, but forgiveness. Do I understand you correctly?" she asked, not allowing him to see how turned on she was right now. She clasped her hands together and leaned forward on her desk, giving him a stern look in response.


    "That''s¡­ about the jist of it, yes. Sorry Lumi, but this is something I have to do," he said, unwavering.


    "Hmm, and what exactly happened to cause this unexpected slaughter of nobility?" she questioned. Given who he asked about earlier, she assumed that annoying woman had something to do with it, but that didn''t exactly narrow things down.


    "I¡­ there was this girl. Maybe 5 or 6 years old. Blind. Homeless. That woman, Iriella, started to harass her for simply existing it seems like. So I interjected myself into the situation and turned her attention towards me, hoping to spare the poor thing. She just looked so¡­ afraid. I couldn''t help myself," he said, his voice taking on a somber tone.


    Luminous frowned at the information. This was the first she was hearing about a small, blind, homeless girl. Someone should have taken care of her or informed the proper authorities. Vampires didn''t have many children, so hearing of one in such a state was concerning to say the least.


    "I take it that had consequences you didn''t foresee?" she questioned further. He made a grimace, and Luminous knew she hit the nail on the head.


    "Yeah, you could say that. Once the lady ran off, I gave the little one a Blood Pop. She looked half starved, and that''s me being generous. After that, I left, planning to talk to you about it later. But when I returned, she was gone," he finished.


    "And you believe Iriella is responsible?" she asked. He nodded, not a single hint of doubt in his eyes.


    "I don''t just think that, I know that. I used that technique you told me about, the one that uses blood to view memories. There were two men that carted her off, and they mentioned Iriella by name," he assured, completely confident in his assessment.


    Judging from the tone of his voice, he blamed himself for what happened to the child. From a certain point of view, he wasn''t wrong. Had he never placed himself between the child and Iriella, she likely would have grown bored eventually.


    But at the same time, she had information that he didn''t. Knowledge of what those two were really like.


    "I understand. Do you need directions to their manor?" she asked in a nonchalant tone. Vincent''s eyes widened a bit, not quite believing what she just said.


    "Um, no. I''m outside their home already. Wait, are you saying it''s ok what I''m about to do?" he asked. He honestly thought she would be a bit more upset, but it seems she isn''t all that concerned with his plan of action or whatever fallout this would bring.


    Luminous sighed and leaned back in her seat. "To be honest, those two have been on my radar for some time. There''s plenty of nasty rumors about them, and some I''ve even been able to confirm myself. I was only waiting to obtain a bit more evidence before moving on them anyway, so this just moves the time table up a bit."


    "Really? Small world. But what kind of rumors are we talking about here?" he asked. The tension and guilt he felt about causing the woman speaking to him trouble evaporated like the morning mist. Good thing they were such terrible people.


    "Some things are better left unsaid, but if you really want to know I can tell you a couple. Supposedly they like to kidnap the poor, vampires without many friends or family to feed them to their pets. Only rumors, of course, but the missing vampire reports confirm the disappearances, at the very least," she said, a much harder edge to her voice than earlier.


    But her words caused a surge of panic to well up within him. If that was true, then he needed to move, and fast. He was initially planning a stealth mission, but it seems he''d have to make some noise to distract them. Force their attention on him, rather than the little girl or any other victims they might have.


    "That''s¡­ pretty messed up. If it''s true, then I need to get going before she''s turned into dog food," he said after digesting her words for a moment. Her eyes softened a bit at the worry he was displaying.


    "You likely have a bit of time, as Iriella is known to be quite sadistic. I doubt this girl would embrace death before being sufficiently tortured first," Luminous said. She meant for her words to put him at ease, at least somewhat, by telling him that she was probably still alive.


    Hurt, but alive.


    However, it seems her words have caused even more worry to spread across his face.


    "Shit, you''re probably right. She did seem like the type. Sorry Lumi. I hate to cut this short, but I need to get going," he said, preparing to end the "call" as it were.


    "Wait one moment. Before you go, a little warning. Those two are desperate for power and status, and that makes them dangerous. Not because they themselves are overly strong, but because they crave it. There are few lengths they wouldn''t go to achieve this. Baron Tremel is also a highly skilled swordsman. Be careful," she said. Vincent nodded, giving her a hopefully reassuring smile.


    "Thanks Lumi, but I don''t intend to lose to people like that."


    "Nobody does. I''ll gather some of my forces and back you up. Now, go and save that little girl," she commanded.


    "Yes ma''am!" he said, giving her a salute. She gave one last chuckle before cutting off the connection, the alley he was in going quiet. Vincent sighed, taking a deep breath as he centered himself for what he was about to do.


    This wasn''t a training exercise, this was war. A battle to the death where only one would survive. His hands trembled at the thought but he clenched them tight, his claws digging into his skin, the blood pooling in his palm bringing some clarity. Once the wound sealed shut, his trembling stopped, and he faced the mansion with cold, determined eyes.


    "Alright Vincent, let''s do this."