The next morning simply wasn’t possible. According to Titus, the instructors were already previously engaged for the day, and wouldn’t be available for at least two more, leaving me with three days before my ‘instruction’ began.

This marked the first time since arriving in this world that I was truly at a loss for what to do. Titus, Ophelia, and Lena were all out, taking care of some family business that couldn’t wait. Because I was yet to be officially inducted, I wasn’t able to come with them, leaving me the day to myself.

I spent the first hour after they left exploring. The manor was enormous. It was four floors tall, and laid out over a large portion of the available land. And this was the smallest of the homes, given to the least accomplished family. I could have likely spent most of the wandering around, but it felt empty, and most of the rooms, while not empty, were clearly unused. It seemed like the houses were built to hold a rather large number of people, and perhaps servants as well.

Besides myself, there really wasn’t anyone home. The cook was preparing a meal, and there was a doorman, but both were members of the overarching house, just from lesser families that didn’t have a manor in the gated community. Frankly, just thinking about their structure made my brain hurt. 7 Main branches, and a multitude of offshoot branches formed when a branch had a schism internally. And yet all of them were of the same overarching line. They could each trace their heritage back directly to a progenitor.

From what Ophelia had told me, the demi-vampire status was relegated to the main branches, a gift given at birth rather than a directly inherited trait. So while the side branches were of the same line, none of them were demi-vampires. They were just normal people who all shared a secret, and hoped to join one of the main branches, or bring enough fame to their house to replace a main branch and in turn receive the family legacy for themselves and their children.

I didn’t really understand why, and Ophelia had brushed off the question at the time. Apparently, all of that was something I would be taught by the house’s tutor. It was too much. I needed out. Needed fresh air, or something.

I donned my robes, grabbed my hat and the small sack of coins that I had left, and went into town.

Walking through the city from the posh district that Ophelia lived in was a different experience compared to coming through the main gate. The moment I left the community, I could see out over the south side of the city, straight to the wall that rose high above every building down there. It was obvious that the city was tiered, and I wondered if it served a defensive purpose. Perhaps so that arches placed on roofs deeper inside could always see out over the ones in front? Or maybe it was just because of how the ground sloped.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure it mattered too much. The walls were so high and thick that I couldn’t imagine a monster realistically making its way inside, and the city was so remote that even if an army did manage to reach the walls, it wasn’t likely they would be in a position to do anything effective. I couldn’t imagine a weeks-long march across frozen, open ground to be good for morale.

I walked the city streets, garnering an occasional look for my strange attire, though nothing unexpected. I wasn’t the only one dressed in clothes that didn’t seem fit for the weather, which led me to believe that enchanted clothes must not be overly unusual here. I was just happy that the robes kept me warm, even the parts of me exposed to the air, while cold, weren’t frozen.

The layout of the city was fairly easy to understand. The further north you got, the nicer the city was. Against the northern wall were the fanciest residences and a few high end shops that catered to clientele who spent money in gold coins, instead of silver and copper. Towards the center of the city, the residences became shops, schools, and government buildings like city hall and the courthouses. Further south were low income homes, and houses of ill-repute. Brothels, shady taverns and the like. The western wall had the residences of the council members, in addition to Ophelia’s family, and the eastern wall had greenhouses.

Those I found intensely interesting. We hadn’t passed any farms on the way into the city, and the trade coming in from Maugdlin wouldn’t have been enough to feed a city of this size, not by a long shot. Which had led to some intense curiosity about how this city even functioned. The greenhouses were the main answer. They had an entire district of the city devoted simply to growing food.

Walking through the greenhouse district was the first time this world had truly awed me with something grand. The wall had been impressive and intimidating, but this was a feat of engineering that I couldn’t even imagine happening on earth. Entire structures made of glass, filled to the brim with green crops of all kinds. Each building was in a different stage of growth, so there was always work to do between planting, harvesting, and tending. There were greenhouses for fruits, vegetables, even trees. Plots for herbs sprung up anywhere there was room, and not an inch of space was wasted.

I wanted to learn more about how this was all possible, but I couldn’t find anyone to ask. The citizens walking about said that plant related focus cores did the hard work, but nobody had specifics. It was normal to them, so I suppose they didn’t worry to much about how it worked, so long as it did work.

On my way out of the greenhouse district, I found a stall selling the days excess fruits, and purchased a few things I had never seen before. Everything I tasted was as good as anything grown on an organic, all natural farm back on earth, and for once, I knew where it had been grown and when it had been picked, which was neat.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Outside of the greenhouse district, the eastern wall was primarily industrial. All the mining operations, forges, smiths, woodworkers, and every other trade a city needed to function had their largest buildings there to process things as they came in through the gate. While the west and north walls didn’t bother with large gates, having only small single person entrances, the south and east gates both had access for wagons so that goods could be brought in and out. While the south gate handled most of the traffic for trade, the eastern gate led into the mountains. Apparently, there was plenty of high quality metal to mine, as well as a proper dungeon out that way. The city also hired monster hunters from the population, sending them out to cull the creatures that threatened its walls, as well as bring back the nutritious and apparently delicious meat they had. It was apparently a well paying job, but it also had a high fatality rate, with rookie hunters dying off at astounding rates.

I had a feeling I’d be joining their ranks sooner or later, but I stayed away from the hunting hall for now. No point in getting my name out and about at least.

By noon, my legs were hurting from walking through the city. Just walking up and down the slopes and steps was a workout on its own, and one my newly strengthened body just wasn’t ready for. Even though my body score had gone up, and I had certainly gotten more physically fit, it didn’t quite cut it for essentially spending the day on a stair-master.

I figured I’d take a break, and made my way into a tavern nearer the south gate. It was a decent enough looking place from the outside, with a sign that read ‘The Frosty Hog’ and had a carved picture of a pig in a block of ice. At least, I think it was supposed to be a block of ice. Hard to tell without paint. The inside of the tavern was decent enough as well. Men and women stood around small circular tables, eating and drinking and talking. A fire raged in the corner, giving the room a pleasant heat, and the bartender seemed happy to take my money, if disinterested in me personally.

All in all, it was a restaurant in a city. I don’t know why I expected it to be different. Perhaps too much time spent playing video games. I figured I’d see a bar fight happening, or the bartender might randomly offer me some gossip. Instead, nobody cared that I was there, and I was given my food and a mug of ale and sent on my way. Even in another world, city life could be quite lonely, no matter how many people there were.

I didn’t spend too long there either, eating my fill and heading back out into the cold. I had gotten to know the city, but the day had been mostly boring. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to do. I had a day off, and not a single idea how to spend it. Or when I would get another one. So… I went back to the place I was staying.

The trek back to the west side took me through alleys and stairways, between buildings and into more than a few dead ends where the streets led right up against buildings that started a few feet higher than the current walkways. The city could be beautiful, but it was also a maze. And, just as I was getting lost and trying to figure out where the hell to go to get up higher, the girl from the day before dropped in front of me.

Clarise Tellus, sister to the current head of the family, dropped lightly to the ground in front of me. Her feet made not a single noise as she stared at me from under her red hair, a tight lipped smile on her face.

“Lady Clarise?” I started, dropping into the manners Ophelia had drilled into me. “What are you doing here, is there something I can help you with?” Well, most of the manners. I wasn’t supposed to so openly address someone of the head branch of the family, but damn it, I’m not a servant by nature anyways.

“Cousin Eliza has requested your presence. She asked me to find you.”

I stared at her for a moment. She seemed happy to wait, a gentle smile on her face and her posture relaxed. She didn’t seem too worried about what I might do next.

“Lady Ophelia is certainly waiting for me, I should return and inform her before I go anywhere else.” I was cautious but curious. Was this a request, or a demand. It felt like a demand. But it seemed worth trying to talk my way out of.

“Cousin Ophelia and Uncle Titus are indisposed at the moment. House business and all. I’m afraid they won’t be back until late, and Eliza is so eager to meet you!” She let out a soft giggle and stepped towards me, her hips rocking and shoulders rolling. At first, it seemed a strangely feminine thing to do, until I noticed her knees were bent, ready to launch herself at me if I made a movement.

I think I understand it now. Eliza was the head of the family, and in need of a new personal attendant. She also knew Ophelia’s situation, and that anyone she brought back would be unique in one way or another. And if not unique, they would have had to be excellent. That had put a target on my back. Okay…

“Lady Clarise, would you please convey my apologies to Lady Eliza? I really can’t be late returning to the manor.”

“I can’t. Sister was quite insistent that I bring you to her as soon as possible.” She took another step, then stopped. Just about six feet away.

I decided to use my PSD and check her out, hoping for some useful information.

Name: Clarise Tellus

Race: Elf (Demi-Vampire; Sanguinus)

Age: 31

Focus Core: Gravity

Level: 1

Oh that couldn’t be good. That really couldn’t be good. I swallowed and tried to plan a way to escape. I really didn’t want to reveal my actual abilities here. But… No. I knew I wasn’t good enough to actually fight her.

Fight all out and hope to draw attention, but reveal myself. Run, but likely get caught as the only way out of the alley was past her. Or give up. Three options. And they all fucking sucked.

I sighed. “Alright then Lady Clarise. Please, let's go see Lady Eliza then.”

Immediately, her posture relaxed and she straightened up. A gently, happy giggle left her lips and she nodded. “Yes! Let's go see my sister. Thank you for being so understanding, I know it must be difficult to have your plans changed so suddenly!”

I really hated that kind of attitude. She made everything seem so reasonable, so easy. It pissed me off and left me with a heavy rock in my gut. I started to follow her, but she slid her arm through mine, as if I was her escort. But her grip was like iron, and I couldn’t get my arm out, no matter what I tried. I even ‘tripped’ over a rock, but she just held me up, never letting go as she marched me back the way I had come, down towards the south side of the city, closer and closer to the wall.