I sat in front of the ancient old man, looking him dead in the eye. "What exactly do you know?"
"Well, I know that you're a lesser vampire, I know that you're only a few hours old, and I know that you've no name. Ah, I also know that you were not born here."
"That's... a good bit. You're not going to attack me?"
"No, being an undead isn't in and of itself a crime, and it would appear that you haven't gone on any sort of spree just yet, so I've no reason to."
"So I'm safe in this city then?"
"No. While being an undead isn't a crime one cannot kill that which isn't alive can they?"
That statement made my whole body clench. While he might not elect to harm me, he also wouldn't act to protect me, and any and all could just kill me without any major legal issues. Staying hidden would remain paramount.
"What do you want to keep what you know to yourself?" It wasn't a theoretical question, he really could do just about whatever he pleased here.
"I do not generally share the private details of victims with others. There is nothing more required than that. Now, I do wish to know how you came to be in this place and what has happened since."
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So I told him my story. Well, most of it. I did leave out the voices talking to me and giving me advice in my head, I also left out the little fact that I wanted to eat Kale at the nearest possible junction. No real need to give him those little tidbits. Finally I helpfully forgot to mention messing around with his spell circle.
"That's most of it then, any specifics you would like more on?"
"Hmm. It does seem that you were summoned here without consent of permission. Do you have any magical capabilities?"
"I've got a few minor spells."
He nodded, but didn't ask me to go any further on that. "I see. Then you should know that under our laws you are entitled to recompense for the accident in which you were involved. While your unlife may not have much value due to precedent, all sapient beings are entitled to recompense for wrongs made against them."
"So somebody could kill me if they felt like, but if they just beat me up I can what... sue them?"
"Yes."
"That's incredibly stupid. It doesn't even make logical sense."
"Ah my dear, you see my job isn't to enforce sense, it is to enforce the law. Sadly the two do not always meet. I could go into details about poorly written statutes and seemingly conflicting legal precedent, but do you really care?"
"Mmm, no, not as such. I am entitled to something for being brought here though?"
"You are, if the story you told me matches up with those I get from the others. Particularly you may seek recompense from young mister Kale, as he cast the spell which brought you here, and the Magical Institute of Evonia. The latter because they've been given guardianship over him, and therefore are 'supposed' to keep him from doing things like this. Unsupervised casting is exceptionally dangerous to those not trained in proper methods."
"What will I receive?"
"Most likely money. Though if the Magus knows of your spellcasting abilities he may offer you a place at the school under their standard tuition. It is far cheaper to take on a new student than it is to pay a large sum of cash."
"I see."
"If you've no other questions then miss, then please step out and send in mister Kale. Ah, and if it's not too much trouble, do try to think of a name for yourself, it will make filling out the necessary paperwork quite a bit easier for myself."
I nodded and made my way out to the hall. Kale still looked like he'd fallen down a flight of stairs and by the look the other two were giving him I guessed that he wouldn't be offered any kind of special healing.
"The Lawspeaker said he would see Kale next." I told them as I came out. There were a number of nice seats in the hall and I tiredly flopped down on one with a 'Ooof' closing my eyes and trying to think of what I wanted next.