The café was filled with customers at this time. It was between afternoon and evening time so people just left work for a trip outside with their families. One table was filled with maids. There were five of them excluding Johan. Enjoying their coffees and cakes, they talked about the dresses that they had bought.

"I think we should go for the white ones. They are so pretty!"

"No, no, they are going to get dirty immediately. We are maids not doctors. Let's pick the black one."

"How about we just take the classical maid outfit and that's it?"

They kept arguing for a while. Johan in contrast was chilling his ass off. After the training with Hwaa and the girls he wanted to think about the upcoming days. Not only would he go to his grandfather's house but he also would have to learn the skills he would get to see from him. That was if he approved him coming over in the first place.

"Btw Lord Johan, what do you think? What outfit should we choose?"

The girls looked at him, attentively. They all wanted to know what their master wanted for them.

"Hmm, let me think."

He already knew what he wanted for them but acted like he was checking out the uniforms.

"I think I know what I like the most."

He wanted them to wear something simple. It should represent the house of von Parseval, so a simple but elegant outfit was suiting.

"You guys represent the house 'von Parseval', yourselves as maids and me, the Lord of the house you're working for. So all in all it should be something elegant. I will wear a black shirt with black pants, while you will wear a simple white dress. I will let the von Parseval logo be imprinted on it."

The maids nodded.

"Also I will be leaving now but you guys make sure to get clothes for everybody that they will wear casually."

"Yessir!"

When Johan left the café he received a call from an unknown number.

'Hmm? I don't think I gav-'

He immediately picked up the phone.

"Grandfather!"

"Johan. It's been a couple of days. How have you settled down?"

"Everything's fine over here. I got everything from the family and even my own maids. School has also been great."

"I'm glad that that's the case. Now tell me what do you need?"

"Grandfather, I need some... advice. It seems like I've hit a wall and I couldn't think of anybody better than the patriarch himself."

"You've hit a wall? But you just started. It's literally the second week. What happened?"

"Well, I've got a training partner who keeps beating me. Her abilities are amazing. I've tried many times but she always adepts super fast. Like a snake. She's very nimble."

"Ohohoo. A girl you say. That's interesting for sure. I mean it's the age for thes-"

"Grandfather! That's not the case at all! We're just training partners."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Sure, sure. That's what they all say. Anyways, it seems like you're behind in terms of skills and the usage of combat techniques. No worries, though, your grandfather will take care. Come over tomorrow, I'll show you some things."

"That's great. I'll be there. Thanks a lot."

"Nothing to thank. I'm your grandfather after all."

Johan ended the conversation on a high note. The rest could be discussed when he met him.

...

Trimur was talking to the Prince of Darkness in a little cave. After he took the blood, Hdrees had ordered to him to go a forest in northern Germania. It was quite a bit away but with the conviction slowly building inside of him, he decided to do that. When he arrived there, a bunch of animals tried to attack him. From hornets to bears everything was involved. He had to fend of all of these creatures to get to a certain cave. Hdrees called it the 'Cave of Rituals'.

The cave had nothing in it other than a fireplace and some drawings on the wall. When Trimur arrived in the cave he immediately leaned against the wall. Although nothing was there, his head started spinning. After a few seconds he grabbed his pocket. Something was taking insane amounts of energy away.

'Sh#t! The ring I got from the Prince of Darkness feels like it's ripping me apart.'

He grabbed the ring and almost threw it away when he heard someone talking.

'Don't throw it away. Take the syringe I gave you and put the needle into the tiny hole where a crystal usually sits. Let a drop of it out.

Trimur recognized the voice and did as was demanded from him. The drop fell into the hole. For a while nothing happened until the drop slowly disappeared. Or rather it got sucked in.

'Repeat what I just said and do it until the ring doesn't suck in anything anymore.'

After doing it for a while, the ring finally stopped sucking in blood. While doing that the colour changed completely as well. Now it was a darker red since it had mixed with the black of the metal.

'Fabolous! It looks amazing. Just put in now.'

Giving it a glance, Trimur put the ring on his ring finger. The other ones were to small or big. WHen it touched his skin it pulsated. The moment it went on his finger completely, his head started aching. The pain worsened by the second.

"Aargh...!"

'Don't worry, Trimur. This nothing. In a moment it will be gone. Just wait for it to adjust to your body.'

It felt like an eternity for Trimur but in reality only two minutes had passed. When the headache slowly went away, his body started warming up or at least it felt that way but actually it getting colder. Bit by bit the blood in his body started to freeze.

'Wha-..., What is hap-... I... don't...'

'Good. It turns out to be exactly like I imagined it to happen. You're doing great, Trimur.'

At some point he fell to the ground and couldn't move anymore. His body had a slightly blueish colour to it. Everything was frozen. Except for the ring. It was burning like fire.

'Uff, it seems like he's finally done for. Stupid idiot. Took me long enough to come to this world but this idiot took so long to run away from some bears. What a waste. Well, it was bosses idea anyways, so who cares.'

Hdrees was looking at Trimur's body from his consciousness. Even though he couldn't do anything from the outside, from the internal whatever was on Trimur, he could take. That's how he gave him the ring and syringe. Now that he accomplished what he was hoping for, he grabbed his hand and tried to take off the ring.

'Ugkkh! Why isn't it coming off. Damn thing!'

'What are you doing?'

'Huh? Who-...Trimur? You're still alive?'

'Why? Am I supposed to be dead?'

'No, no, I just thought... I mean I saw you fall down and just wanted to make sure you're alright.'

'I see. Can you let go of my hand, now?'

Hdrees looked down and immediately let go of his hand.

'Of course.'

Trimur stood up slowly. His body started to regain form. The ice was starting to melt and the ring slowly calmed down. His look had also changed. He seemed more relaxed.

'Now that the ring is finished I think we should say goodbye.'

'Wait. What are you talking about?'

'You really don't know? Well, I mean why would you know. Your boss seems to want to get rid of you. He told me to tell you that you did great for the organisation but that's it for you.'

The Prince of Darkness opened his eyes.

'Wh- What? The boss?'

'Yup, the boss. When I was busy fighting the animals, someone came up to me and gave me a letter. He was dresses like a hunter but in secret he was working for your boss. When I read the letter it told me about you and your plan. You want to come back desperately, don't you? Well, too bad.'

Trimur looked at his hand and then gathered energy in his hand. It had a reddish colour to it. Just like the blood he put in the ring. The red became brighter and with a flash he casted it towards Hdrees. The latter didn't know how to respond and just pulled his arms up.

'Aaaaarghh! Stop! Plea-'

The strike took him down in a second.

'Woah! This is insane. So powerful.'

The letter included the facts that Hdrees was trying to get hold of is body and that if he wanted to live he should act like he died but when the moment is right he should strike. Wow that rhymed!

On the ground only a clump of black goo was lying while the ring was glowing even brighter than before.

'It seems like it takes the energy out of things. Interesting.'

...