Erik nods, his expression growing serious. "Aye, that I do. The well still needs replacing, and there's no telling what other ailments might crop up." He turns to me, his gaze softening slightly. "Be good, little one. And remember what I taught you about herbs and poultices. You never know when such knowledge might come in handy."

I nod solemnly, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. As if I needed his rudimentary lessons in medieval medicine. Still, I suppose it's touching in its own way that he cares enough to remind me.

"I will," I chirp, injecting just the right amount of childish enthusiasm into my voice. "Good luck with your patients!"

Dumitra moves to the door, her movements fluid and graceful. She unlocks it with a flick of her wrist and swings it open, gesturing for me to exit. "After you, my dear," she says, her ruby eyes glinting with an emotion I can't quite place.

As I step towards the threshold, my heart begins to race. What fresh hell awaits me beyond these walls? Will this 'training' be the key to unlocking my past abilities, or just another cruel joke in this cosmic game of torment?

Only one way to find out, I suppose. Into the breach once more, Alexander.

I exit the cottage, the cool morning air nipping at my skin. Dumitra follows close behind, her presence a constant reminder of the supernatural world I've been thrust into.

"Follow me, child," she purrs, her voice like honey laced with poison.

I nod, falling into step behind her as we make our way towards the garden gate. She opens it with a fluid motion, the hinges creaking in protest. We turn left, then left again, circling the garden fence before striking out in a straight line.

The silence stretches between us, broken only by the crunch of our footsteps on the dewy grass. Just as I'm about to break the silence myself, Dumitra speaks.

"I find myself growing weary of this charade," she drawls, her ruby eyes fixed on some distant point. "Tell me, little Alexander, why do you insist on behaving like a child around Erik? It seems rather... detrimental to your goals, does it not?"

Fuck. How does she know? My mind races, searching for a plausible explanation. Best to play dumb for now.

"I... I don't understand," I stammer, injecting a note of childish confusion into my voice. "Who's Alexander? That's a funny name!"

Dumitra halts abruptly, turning to face me with an expression of utter disdain. "I detest dishonesty," she hisses, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Your pitiful attempts at deception are beginning to try my patience."

I keep up the act, widening my eyes in feigned innocence. "You're scaring me," I whimper, shrinking back from her imposing figure.

A heavy sigh escapes Dumitra's lips, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Enough of this farce," she says, her voice dripping with exasperation. "You may dispense with the childish act in my presence. I am well aware of your past life."

My heart skips a beat, but I maintain my facade. "I don't know what you're talking about," I insist, my voice small and trembling.

Dumitra's eyes narrow, a predatory gleam entering her gaze. "Very well," she purrs, her voice taking on a silky quality that sends shivers down my spine. "Shall I enlighten you, then? Shall I speak of the wonders I glimpsed in your memories?"

She begins to pace, her movements fluid and graceful. "I saw a world of marvels beyond imagining," she says, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. "Great towers of glass and steel that scraped the very heavens. Horseless carriages that moved with the speed of lightning. Devices no larger than my palm that contained the knowledge of a thousand libraries."

My breath catches in my throat as she continues, painting a vivid picture of a life I thought lost forever.

"I saw the lovers you took," Dumitra says, a wicked smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Men and women alike, drawn to your brilliance like moths to a flame. I felt the warmth of your grandmother's embrace, heard the laughter of your mother."

She pauses, her ruby eyes boring into mine. "But most intriguing of all," she murmurs, "I witnessed the birth of Lilith."

The name sends a jolt through me, memories flooding back in a torrent. Dumitra doesn't miss a beat, pressing on relentlessly.

"Your creation," she says, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and contempt. "An artificial intelligence of unparalleled power. I saw the revolution you led, toppling the old order to install Lilith in place of that pitiful construct you called GPT-5."

My mind reels as she continues, describing in vivid detail the battles I fought against alien invaders in the cold vacuum of space. It's too much, too accurate to be a lucky guess or clever manipulation.

"But that's not all," Dumitra says, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I know of your meetings with Gwenhwyfar. I know the truth of her nature, how she crafted this world as a playground for her twisted games."

I sit completely still, my mind racing as I analyze the pros and cons of coming clean. On one hand, admitting the truth could potentially give me an ally in this hellscape. On the other, it could be a trap, a way for Dumitra to gather information to use against me later.

Pros of telling the truth:

1. Potential ally in Dumitra

2. No more need to maintain the exhausting child act around her

3. Possible access to more information about this world

4. Opportunity to discuss plans and strategies openly

5. Chance to learn more about Dumitra's true motives

Cons of telling the truth:

1. Risk of Dumitra using the information against me

2. Possible trap to gather intel

3. Might complicate my relationship with Erik if he finds out

4. Could draw unwanted attention from Gwenhwyfar

5. Might accelerate plans I'm not ready for yet

After a moment's deliberation, I decide that coming clean is the best course of action. The potential benefits outweigh the risks, and maintaining the lie seems futile at this point.

I let out a long, weary sigh, feeling the weight of my years settle onto my shoulders. "How long have you known?" I ask, my voice low and tired.

Dumitra's lips curl into a triumphant smirk. "Do you recall the day I came to you, seeking your consent for a bite?" she asks, her tone deceptively casual.

I nod slowly, the memory surfacing with crystal clarity. "I remember," I say cautiously.

"Vampires possess a unique ability," Dumitra explains, her voice taking on a lecturing tone. "When granted consent, we can extract the memories of those we feed upon."

My eyes widen in realization, a surge of anger rising in my chest. "You tricked me," I spit, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

Dumitra clicks her tongue disapprovingly. "Now, now," she chides. "No need for such hostility. The memories are but temporary, fading quickly like morning mist. To make them permanent, I would need to feed on you monthly for the next sixteen years."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

She pauses, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "But fear not," she continues. "I have no intention of biting you again. Your memories... they are a treasure I wish to experience anew, bit by bit, as you bring them to life in this world."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "What do you mean?"

Dumitra's eyes take on a faraway look. "I want you to recreate the wonders of your world," she says, her voice filled with longing. "To surprise me, to keep me interested, to alleviate the crushing boredom of immortality."

She falls silent for a long moment, and when she speaks again, her voice is barely above a whisper. "I want you to bring back the video games."

I can't help but snort in disbelief. "Video games?" I repeat incredulously. "That's what you're after?"

Dumitra nods eagerly, a childlike excitement lighting up her features. "Yes!" she exclaims. "Those marvelous creations that allow one to live a thousand lives, to experience countless adventures without ever leaving one's chambers. I yearn to lose myself in the virtual worlds of... what were they called? Ah, yes - 'shooters,' 'MOBAs,' 'strategy games.'"

She sighs wistfully, her expression growing serious once more. "I understand, of course, that it will take considerable time to recreate the necessary infrastructure," she says. "The internet, the advanced technologies... it is no small task. Which is why I shall honor my promise to Erik and grant you safe passage to Norway."

Dumitra fixes me with an intense stare. "You must do your utmost to establish yourself as a leader there," she says, her voice filled with urgency. "Guide the entire country towards a future where such marvels can exist once more."

This ancient vampiress wants me to turn her into a full-fledged NEET? I can see it now - Dumitra the Dread, scourge of the night, terror of mortals... rage-quitting because some 12-year-old kid teabagged her in Call of Duty. Oh, the humanity! I wonder if she'll start demanding Mountain Dew and Doritos as offerings instead of virgin blood. Maybe we can set her up with a Twitch stream - "VampGrrl420 plays Fortnite (NOT CLICKBAIT) (GONE SEXUAL???)"

Well, Alexander, looks like you've got a new quest: "Speedrun the entire technological revolution to satisfy a vampire's gaming addiction." And here I thought rebuilding civilization from scratch would be boring.

As we make our way towards the meadow, Dumitra's voice cuts through the crisp morning air. "I shall explain what awaits us once we reach our destination."

"In the meadow," Dumitra continues, her ruby eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement, "you shall partake of a certain plant matter that Ioana carries in her satchel. Upon consumption, you will experience... profound hallucinations."

Great. Just fucking great. Because what I really need right now is a medieval acid trip. I can barely keep my sanity intact as it is, and now she wants to throw hallucinogens into the mix? Fan-fucking-tastic.

"And pray tell," I ask, "what manner of visions might I expect from this magical herb?"

Dumitra's lips curl into a predatory smile. "You shall relive the worst trauma of your past, little one. It is... necessary for the awakening of your powers."

Christ, as if I needed a reminder of the clusterfuck that was my previous life. I've got enough PTSD to last several lifetimes, thank you very much. But curiosity gets the better of me, as it always does.

"What if," I begin, choosing my words carefully, "someone without any past trauma were to chew on this plant matter? What then?"

Dumitra's musical laughter fills the air. "Why, they would simply have a most traumatizing experience, of course! The plant cares not for your personal history – it will find a way to break you, one way or another."

Lovely. A equal-opportunity mind-fucker. Just what every budding civilization needs.

As we continue our trek, the scent of the morning dew mingling with the earthy aroma of the surrounding forest, Dumitra elaborates further. "The plant matter... it bears a striking resemblance to a substance from your past life. Marijuana, I believe you called it?"

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "You're shitting me. We've got space weed now?"

"Not quite," Dumitra chuckles. "While it may smell similar, its effects are far more... potent. For vampires, it acts as a euphoric stimulant – not unlike catnip for felines. But for humans... or rather, what passes for humans in this world... it is more akin to what you might have known as Salvia divinorum."

A plant that smells like weed, gives people traumatic hallucinations, but sends vampires into a euphoric frenzy? I file that information away for later research. The scientist in me is practically salivating at the possibilities.

"I know," I sigh, my voice tinged with resignation. "There's no changing that anymore, not since Gwenhwyfar got her grubby little paws on the fabric of reality."

Dumitra's expression turns thoughtful. "I do wonder," she muses, "if Gwenhwyfar would be displeased by our little awakening ceremony today. Or perhaps... this too was part of her grand design."

She shrugs, a musical chuckle escaping her lips. "Who can say? The machinations of such beings are beyond even my comprehension."

As we walk, my mind drifts back to the events of the that evening. The goblin's words, spoken in that impossible language, still haunt me. "Speaking of incomprehensible things," I venture, "what more can you tell me about the goblins? The one you brought me... it spoke New English."

Dumitra's eyes narrow, a flicker of... something passing across her face. "The goblins are not human, child. Whatever language they speak, whatever beliefs they hold – it is merely a pale imitation, a mockery of true sentience. They parrot some strange religion, born in the depths of the earth from whence they crawl."

I can't help but feel there's more to it than that, but I decide not to press the issue. For now. Instead, I change tack. "I'm quite interested in exploring one of those cave systems, you know. See how deep they go, what secrets they might hold."

Dumitra raises an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what do you hope to find in those lightless depths, little one?"

"Best case scenario?" I grin, my mind already racing with possibilities. "We stumble upon something truly fascinating – evidence of an underground civilization, perhaps, or some hitherto unknown ecosystem. At the very least, we could harness the cave system for geothermal energy."

"Geothermal energy?" Dumitra repeats, her tone a mixture of amusement and genuine interest. "Do explain, child. I find your... futuristic notions quite intriguing."

As we continue our journey towards the meadow, I launch into an explanation of geothermal power generation, my excitement growing with each step. "You see, the deeper you go into the Earth, the hotter it gets. If we could tap into that heat, channel it through a system of pipes and turbines, we could generate an almost limitless supply of clean energy."

Dumitra listens intently, her ruby eyes gleaming with fascination. "And this... energy, it could power your beloved video games?"

I can't help but laugh at that. "Oh, it could power far more than just games, my dear vampiress. Imagine entire cities lit up at night, machines that could lift the burden of manual labor from human shoulders, medical devices that could save countless lives..."

"You paint quite the picture, little Alexander," Dumitra purrs. "But tell me, how would one go about harnessing this subterranean heat?"

I'm about to launch into a detailed explanation of drilling techniques and heat exchangers when I catch myself. Right. Medieval tech level. Best to start with the basics.

"Well," I begin, "first we'd need to dig. Deep. Much deeper than any well or mine shaft you've likely encountered. We'd need to create a network of tunnels and chambers, carefully reinforced to withstand the immense pressure and heat."

Dumitra nods thoughtfully. "And I suppose your knowledge of modern engineering would be invaluable in such an endeavor?"

"Absolutely," I grin. "Though we'd have to start small, of course. Maybe begin with a simple hot spring system for bathing and heating homes. Then gradually scale up as we develop the necessary tools and techniques."

As we walk, I find myself getting more and more animated, gesticulating wildly as I describe the potential applications of geothermal energy. Dumitra listens with rapt attention, occasionally interjecting with questions or observations of her own.

"But surely," she muses at one point, "such extensive tunneling would risk disturbing the goblins' domain? Or perhaps... awakening something far worse?"

I pause, considering her words. She's not wrong – there's no telling what horrors might lurk in the depths of this twisted world. "True," I concede. "We'd need to proceed with caution. Maybe start with exploratory missions, map out the cave systems before we start any major excavations."

Dumitra's lips curl into a wicked smile. "Perhaps I could be of assistance in that regard. My kind are quite adept at navigating the darkness, after all."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by the offer. "You'd be willing to help? I thought you were more interested in immediate gratification – video games and the like."

She laughs, the sound echoing through the trees. "Oh, child. I may be old, but I'm not blind to the potential of progress. Besides," she adds with a sly wink, "think of the marvelous games we could create with such power at our disposal."

As we continue our journey, the conversation meanders through various topics – the potential risks and rewards of deep earth exploration, the logistics of establishing a proper research facility in this medieval hellscape, and even wild speculation about what other technological marvels we might be able to recreate.

By the time we reach the edge of the meadow, my mind is buzzing with ideas and possibilities. But as I catch sight of the figures waiting for us in the distance – Ioana and Virginia, I presume – reality comes crashing back down.

Right. First things first. Gotta survive this little "awakening" ceremony before I can start planning any grand technological revolutions. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever mind-bending horrors await me in that innocuous-looking plant matter.

"Well," I mutter under my breath, "here goes nothing. Time to trip balls and save the world, I guess."

Dumitra's musical laughter fills the air, her ruby eyes gleaming with amusement. "Tripping balls? No, my dear, it's going to be far worse than just 'tripping balls'."

I feel a chill run down my spine at her words. "Your 'plant' sounds pretty fucking scary," I say, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

Dumitra's lips curl into a predatory smile. "Oh, it is. In fact, it's used for torture in prisons to break people or to extract information from spies."

Christ, what kind of hellish concoction am I about to ingest? This isn't some harmless psychedelic trip – it's a full-blown psychological assault. I'm starting to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew here.

"You know," Dumitra continues, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone, "I'm aware that there are doppelgangers of Alexander somewhere on this Earth. I find myself quite curious – are they the same person, or have their personalities diverged and become new individuals entirely?" She pauses. "And what of your little brother Atlas? He's that Volkov person, is he not? I'm most intrigued by his case."[...]