After following a satisfied-looking Plain back to the innkeeper, we arranged for a room to be reserved and ordered some food. While we were waiting, the innkeeper seemed to want to be polite. I can't complain because he told us everything that we needed to know about this city. Mostly because I grilled him like a salmon.

The city was a huge circle/oval, depending on how stuck-up you were, and within the first and largest wall lay two others. The ring all the way to the outside was known as the peasants pit, which seems kind of self-depreciating, since that was where we currently were. After that, there was a smaller version of the outer wall, which seperated the wealthier citizens from the poor. Within that was the core, and it was usually referred to as "The bastards ring" because that was where the nobles lived. Outside the wall, beggars would set up little shelters leaning against the wall, since they couldn't afford the entrance fee.

The big boss around here was known as King Renard Sternfall the III. Although he was not loved by his people, he was respected as a man who saw what needed to be done, and did it. In my opinion, this marks him as one of only a few intelligent people. Instead of pandering to the people and bribing them, he instead let his actions speak for him. From what little the innkeep told us about him, I got the feeling he was a man I could respect. Well, the only man I could respect. Everyone else I knew was dead.

Still, I got the urge to play a game of stones with him. I don't know why, but I wanted to. I would never so much as see his bodyguards, but I still felt that if the chance presented itself, I would take it.

Second up on the list of important people was the kings only child, a pansy by the name of Nele. Honestly, just hearing about him made me want to punch his lights out. Hearing things like "Curly brown hair that is soft as silk" and "A face so perfect you'd think he was an angel" really got on my nerves. Aparently, he regularly went out into the city to recieve priase from the poor. If I ever saw him, I'd give him something to remember me by. And by "something" I mean a scar. A really long one, preferably across his face.

Whew, this is the first time I've instinctively hated someone. It felt good, for some reason.

As the innkeep finished telling us about all this, the waitress came by and dropped off four plates of cheese and bread. I smiled wolfishly and pointed out the tree in front of the inn to the two Jo's when their gaze lingered on the woman's backside a little too long. Of course, I enjoyed the view, but that was different.

Because I had no need to eat, I surreptitiously sneaked the food onto the others plates, making sure to lick every bite. I know it's childish, but hey. The church says that all should be innocent like children, or something. I always fell asleep after a couple minutes of religious sermon, so I wasn't so clear on the doctrine.

Hearing the creak of a door, two strange people walked in.

One was a tall woman, who stood nearly as tall as Plain, and her pointed ears and cold, pale face made her race obvious. Beside her stood a tall, green haired man, who was passably handsome. I say passably because I have no idea what women use to judge men, so I can't really say for sure. When I was still, well, male, I think the women thought I was above average. But, that was before whatever happened to turn me into a little girl.

The man called out to the innkeep, and after arranging for lodging, he looked around. Spotting my group, he did a double take after seeing me. For some reason, he looked above my head with an incredulous look. Walking quickly over to us, he bowed politely.

"Excuse me, but would you mind if I sat with you?" He said, while looking at Plain.

As one, the two Jo's and Plain looked at me with a questioning look. Chuckling quietly to myself, "Fufufu, I've trained them well."

Looking up at the green-haired man, I gave a nod. He looked relieved, and pulled over two chairs for him and his companion. He was dressed in partial armor, and he held a long sword and sturdy buckler. From the haphazard equipment and well-used gear, I guessed him to be an adventurer. The elf beside him was gripping a silver bow just a little too tightly.

Well, it is to be expected. Elf's are very sensitive to life, and to mistake me for a living being would take a gods' intervention. Smiling a little, I leaned forward and showed off my teeth tot he elf. Seeing her squirm gave a gratifing feeling. Elf's were also quite sensitive to the strength of living and non-living beings, so the fact that she was intimidated showed that she was weaker than me. Or, at least she believed that.

Turning to the grass head once again, I suppressed the urge to tease the elf. Seeing a cute girl squirm was just too tempting. "So, what can I do for you? And, I would like to ask you how much you know."

he looked at me in shock for a second, but quickly recovered. "Ha! It's to be expected, after all. As to how much I know...nothing, except that you are the most powerful person I have ever met." He finished sincerely.

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I twirled the knife the waitress had given us to cut the bread with in my fingers, and smirked. "You haven't been around a lot, then. If a little girl is the most powerful being you have yet to meet, you must be one wimpy guy."

He shook his head. "No, you are really strong! I mean, it would take me years to reach your level..."

I just snorted. "Me? Strong? Hah! You haven't seen a paladin yet, have you?"

He got a look of interest, and quickly leaned forward. "Paladin? What's that?"

I smiled, and replied with "They are the most powerful warriors on the continent. Less than a hundred exist, and their mere presence can crush the life out of a man. So, tell me two things. First, tell me where you come from, as you are obviously a foreigner, and secondly, tell me how you came to the ridiculous conclusion that I am stronger than you."

He opened and closed his mouth, seeming to be at a loss. Finally, after seeming to have an inner battle, he seemed ready to speak. "If I told you the truth of where I come from, you wouldn't believe me. Just know that I am from far, far away. Secondly, I have an...ability, you could call it."

"Hoho, an ability? What does it do?"

He looked slightly embaressed for some reason. "I can tell a persons fighting ability via numbers above their head."

I looked at him, then shook my head. "What kind of stupid lie is that? Are you going to insult me, or tell me the truth?"

He hurriedly held up his hands in a calming gesture, and hurried to explain. "No! I'm telling the truth! You see, I'm level seven, and the other people in this inn are level one and two. The short beard and Goatee are both level fifteen, and the tall gentleman is...level forty-seven."

I looked at him curiously. If he was telling the truth, this was quite an interesting ability. I had never heard of it before, either. "So? What level am I?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Well, you are kind of strange. The numbers above you head say that you are level three, but then there is another number that says you're level twenty-seven, and another one that says you are level one, and another one that says you're level thirty-six. And, right beside it is a question mark, as if something is hidden. Plus, it says something about you being sealed, or blocked, or something."

I thought about this, then motioned with my hand to have the two and Plain follow me. Getting up from the table, I waved goodbye to the innkeep, and led the two adventurers to a back alleyway behind the inn.

Turning around, I reached up and grabbed grass head by the throat, and pushed him against the wall. Pressing my face close to his, and applying pressure with my knee into his pelvic region, I whisper into his ear. "How much do you know about me?"

He gasps for air, and the two Jo's have to hold back the elf and cover her mouth to stop her from screaming. I give him just enough room to breath, and listen intently. "I-I know nothing except for what the numbers say! I swear! I'm not trying to hurt you, please believe me!"

Looking deep into his eyes, I brush a finger against his cheek. He flinches at the cold, and before he can react I stab a fingernail into his neck. His eyes pop out, and he looks scared enough to faint, but he doesn't. Instead, his face hardens and he looks at me straight in the face. Pulling the bloodied fingernail out, I smile.

Then I lick the blood, and taste the salty texture. Putting my lips up to the small hole in his neck, I catch the stream of blood spraying out. I am a half, after all.

Once I had gotten enough, I pressed a finger to the hole, and just like that, it closed. Most vampires like to sink their teeth directly into the victim, but I don't think I'm ready for that. Besides, who knows when he last washed his neck? I'm not putting something like that in my mouth. Still, I had enjoyed the feeling of drinking something. Even though I didn't need to, because my original body had perished, and thus the disease of vampire was no longer with me I could still absorb blood. My mana had now fully recovered, and one other thing had been achieved.

Letting the green-haired man fall to the ground, I pressed my finger against the back of his neck. Where my finger had pressed, a small symbol appeared, nearly too small to make out. And so, I had my first thrall. I let him keep his will, and the only commands I issued were that he can, under no circumstances, tell anyone else about me. Then I told the two t let the elf go, and explained that he was still alive and nothing had changed, except that he can't talk about me. If he tries to, his throat will block up, or he'll cough, and in extreme cases, he could temporarily lose his voice.

Walking out of the alley, I stretched. So many interesting things had happened today! Now, I wanted to see a little bit of the city. As I was leaving, I heard a mutter from the alley. It was the green-haired man's voice.

"Damn...who knew a loli could be so scary?"

I wonder what a 'loli' is? I've never heard that word before...maybe it was from where he came from?