“Wake up, Selene.”

I hear Mary’s voice, prompting me to wake up from my nap. I slowly sit up and stretch.

“Mmmh...haaaah.”

“Here, let me help you.”

Mary took out a handkerchief and wiped my eyes for me. While she was doing it, I notice that we stopped moving.

“Thanks Mary!”

I try to rush over to the window to see the scenery outside. However, Mary caught me before I could.

“Selene, you’re a young lady now. Please mind your appearance.”

I felt my hair to realize that it poofed up from my nap. For some reason, after I became a dhampir my hair has also become more unruly than ever. It used to stay straight so easily.

“Oh, sorry Mary, I forgot.” I said in a small voice.

Mary gave a small sigh but didn’t look particularly upset.

“Anyway, come here” Mary says tapping the seat next to her.

I instead move over and sat on her lap like I usually do. Mary gave a short chuckle saying, “My my, I’ve spoiled you rotten.” I sit still as Mary fixes up my hair.

A moment later, Mary tapped my shoulder indicating that she was finished. I got up and posed for her, after careful examination she gives me a satisfied nod. My hair was now tied up in a neat high ponytail. The curls make it so I can't leave it straight perm anymore, so tying it up makes it look nice.

“Now, let’s go. The mistress is waiting for us.”

“Okay!”

Mary stood up and opens the door to the carriage before stepping out. I follow behind her, reaching my hand outward so she can help me descend.

I look around to see that we are now right outside of a white mansion. I further examine the surroundings, it’s not as big as teacher’s place but it has a nice feel to it.

The entire premise is enclosed by a tall aluminum fence. I also see a couple vampires walking about the front yard garden. Turning back to Mary, I see her talking with miss Sylvae. She notices me looking at her and beckons me to come over.

“Where are we, Mary?” I ask after walking up to them.

“This is the home of Marquess Vrynn. We’ll be resting here for a day before continuing to Amarande,” Mary explains.

“Sylvae, we’ll be entering now, good luck.”

“Affirmative, I’ll give you a detailed report about the incident later.”

With that, Sylvae suddenly jumps high into the night sky, leaving a slight trace of wind following in her trail.

“Whoa! What was that, Mary?!”

“Sylvae is a 6th tier wind magician. That was a 1st tier Wind Burst that she used to aid her jump. She also used the 3rd tier spell Air Barrier. It’s usually meant to be a shield against wind magic but Sylvae modified it to prevent wind resistance as she moves.” Mary eloquently explains.

“Wow! I want to learn to do that! Teacher says I have an affinity with wind too!”

Mary gives me a soft smile and says, “Maybe later. I’ll ask her about it.”

“For now, let’s go in.” She says with a smile.

Mary took my hand as we walk into the mansion. Upon entering, I see tons of servants moving about.

A young butler with blond hair walks up to us and greets us with a bow.

“Welcome. Master Vrynn and Duchess Babylon have been expecting you. Right this way.”

Mary responds with a neat bow. Together, we follow the butler into a wide inner hall right in the middle of the mansion.

Unlike Teacher’s home that has big stairs right in the middle, this place has spiral staircases on the left and right side, with a pathway deep into the mansion in the middle.

A couple of doors down, the butler stopped and knocked on a pair of double doors. It opened from the inside and then he turns to us with a bow.

“Please enter.”

Entering through the large double doors, I see the large dining room within. Seated at the front of the rectangular table is teacher, with papa standing not far behind her.

Near her was an old man with grayed hair and mustache. He has quite a large build with a lot of muscles.

“Ah! Mary, Selene! Come, over here!” Teacher exclaims.

While walking over I notice that there’s a girl about my age seated next to the old man.

She had shoulder length braided brunette hair neatly resting upon her left shoulder and brown eyes. Mary pulls a seat out for me when we arrive next to teacher, I move to sit down and rearrange my skirt.

Mary walked over to teacher and then backed away to where papa was, he flashed me a smile before returning to his work expression.

I turn to look at teacher who has a dignified smile on her face, she looks around the table at me, the young girl, and the old man.

“I believe introductions are in order.” She says to all three of us, then motions to the man.

“Selene, this is Marquess Vrynn. He rules over the town of Luna and was quite a well known warrior in his prime.” She says with a noble expression.

I peek at the old marquess, he looks even bigger up close.

“Sir Vrynn, this is my student I was telling you about, Selene McDowell, daughter of my knight, Abel McDowell.”

“Hoho, Is that so?” The old Marquess glances at papa.

Papa bows his head in response to the Marquess’ gaze.

“Also, Duchess Babylon, I am but a retired knight. I fear that your praises will hold no credibility with the youngsters.” The old man says with a hearty laugh.

“And please call me Alphonse, I no longer serve the kingdom. You know as much as I do that the title is just a formality.” He tells Papa before looking at me, making me nervous.

“That goes for you too young Selene. There’s no need for formalities here in my home.” He says with a soft smile.

I silently breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing the smiling expression of the old man.

“Yes, mister Alphonse!”

“Hohoho, good. An energetic response! Now, some introductions of my own.” He says then motions his hand over to the girl.

“This is my granddaughter, Astrid. Say hello Astrid!”

The young girl stands up and does a curtsy to me and teacher.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” She says in a melodic voice still curtsying.

“My name is Astrid Vrynn, first daughter of Lord Acheron Vrynn and Lady Amaya Vrynn.” She finishes then sits back down.

“My, what a well mannered child,” Teacher compliments.

I inwardly nod at her flawless manners, she’s a lot better at this sort of stuff than me.

Suddenly I feel someone’s gaze on the back of my head, chances are it’s Mary. I can already imagine her giving me another lecture on manners with Astrid as an example after this...

“I hear that young Selene will be attending the Noctus Royal Academy soon, what a welcomed coincidence.” The Marquess joyfully states.

“Astrid here will be doing the same as well!” He proudly says.

“Really now, will Astrid be attending as a first year as well?” Teacher asks curiously.

“That is correct. She just turned 10 years of age last spring.”

“My, what a joyous occasion. It seems you’ve just met your future classmate, Selene.”

I look over to Astrid and grin. She calmly smiles back in response.

“Hohoho, Duchess Babylon, might I propose a suggestion?” The old Marquess respectfully asks.

“Oh? Of course, allow me to hear it.”

“Since young Selene and my Astrid will be attending the academy together, why not give them a day to get to know each other?” My eyes lit up upon hearing the suggestion and I looked to teacher in anticipation.

She doesn’t notice me and has a pondering expression seeming to consider the offer.

“We would love for you to stay at least until dinner tomorrow night as well!” The Marquess adds.

Teacher responds to this with silence glancing at me she takes note of my pleading eyes and wryly smiles back at me.

She raises her right hand, signaling Mary over.

“Mary, why don’t you go inform Sylvae of our new arrangements.”

“As you wish, mistress.”

With that, Mary steps backwards and to the side, before making her way out the door we entered from.

I notice Astrid discreetly stealing peeks at me so I look her in the eye and smile curiously at her.

She slightly blushed in embarrassment, no doubt at me noticing her stare, and looked down at her hands awkwardly.

“Well, let us feast!” Our host suddenly yells almost making my shoulders jump in surprise.

After that energetic declaration, the Marquess clapped his hands and dishes began to be brought in by the butlers of the house.

I try my best to keep Mary’s lessons on table manners in mind while I eat. I’m still not used to it yet so while we were eating, I stole side glances at Astrid and tried my best to copy what she was doing.

Reaching the end of the meal, conversation began to pick up again.

“Now before I show you to your rooms, may I be presumptuous enough to make another bold request Duchess Babylon?” The Marquess suddenly asks with a serious tone.

Teacher merely nodded in response.

“I fear that retirement has left me with few opportunities for proper exercise. May I ask for a sparring match with your knight, Sir Abel?”

I look over to teacher in surprise upon hearing the Marquess’s request. It felt like it came completely out of nowhere.

Then it occurred to me, I’ve never actually seen papa fight before. He also mostly trains early in the morning before I wake up.

Teacher wasn’t fazed by the question at all, almost as if she expected it.

“What say you, my knight?”

“Mistress, I am always prepared for battle,” papa promptly responds with a slight bow.

“Well then, I look forward to the evening’s entertainment.” She says with a slightly smug smile.

“Hohoho! Let us depart for the training ground out back, we have a nice wide open space used for sparring there.”

With that, we all got up and followed the old Marquess through the mansion. The Marquess and Astrid led us in front while teacher and I walked behind them, with papa tailing behind us. I lightly tap teacher’s hand to get her attention.

“Hm? What is it Selene?”

“Teacher, did you know he was going to ask you for this?” I ask quietly.

“Fufu, yes, of course. The Vrynn household is a family of warriors and knights, and even among them Sir Vrynn himself was famous for his vigor. I expected that he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to duel with Abel.” Teacher whispered back.

Surprised by teacher’s answer I take a closer look at the old Marquess, and can totally see it!

Although he’s big and muscular, his body is extremely fit and he walks with a grace and balance that somehow resembles papa.

A few moments later, we arrive in the backyard. I immediately see a big open dirt field upon exiting the mansion.

The arena is lit by the bright moonlight of the full moon, not that I need it. I’ve noticed that after becoming a dhampir I can see way better now in the dark, almost better than during the day.

“Hoho, why don’t we warm up first. Pick a weapon of your choice, Sir Abel. We shall begin in 5 minutes” the Marquess says.

I nervously watch papa as he picks out a wooden sword from a barrel of training weapons when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“Don’t be so nervous, your father, my knight, is not a weak man,” teacher reassures me over my shoulder.

I nod absentmindedly still watching papa as we walk to the back of the mansion. Exiting it, a large training field can be seen, with various training equipment propped up upon stands can be seen near the dirt field. This will be the battlefield for the two.