We walked through the woods for what felt like hours. So, I struck up an awkward conversation along the way. "Why do nature spirits, Dryads, and Naiads like me so much? Do you know?"

The elite dryad smiled and nodded. "Indeed, or at the very least, I have an inkling. It has to do with your anomalous birth. I am afraid I can't say more, but one of your parents was a high elf."

"Yes, though he died in the capital alongside my elder sister and mother."

"I am sorry for reminding you of such a grim subject. Would you like to change topics?"

I shake my head. "Please tell me what you know."

"As you will it, your grace, so it shall be. You were born to a vampire progenitor and a high-elf union. This is something that should have been impossible and only happened with the blessing of the gods. You are a miracle birth in the literal sense of the word, as you are both a pure vampire progenitor and a pure high elf. This is why your race is undefined. Or at least, that is what your soul tells me. It is genetically impossible for a vampire to interbreed with another race under normal circumstances."

"I... I don't know what to think and feel really weird about hearing that about myself. It makes me have intrusive thoughts like, 'I shouldn't have been born.' Or, 'What am I, some kind of chimera?' There are some really scary thoughts going through my head right now," I murmured.

The dryad lady stopped and then moved to stand in front of me. "No matter what you may be struggling through right now, it won't change who you are in this moment. You are both, Izuna Runelia, the queen of the vampires and a progenitor vampire, and..." She brushed my ivory hair away from my right eye, revealing its glittering emerald glory. "Our princess and guardian, a high elf of Mina. You will have a shoulder to lean on as long as you stay near a tree or body of water. Us dryads and naiads are only a single request away."

A comfortable silence filled the air for a short moment as I let her words sink in. Then I collapsed into her chest and started crying. My tears flowed freely as my sobs once more rang out. I clutched the dryad lady's body close, as if fearful that she would abandon me in that moment.

***

I never expected my lady to become so overwhelmed by her emotions like this. Even so, I still hugged her closely. I had to support Princess Izuna no matter what. She was our guardian and a noble being on par with our great spirit king. Despite that, I wouldn't be the first person to have personal reservations about her being a vampire; there is a fair amount of deep-seated hatred for pure vampires born of the long and storied history of our races. With that in mind, of course, I would feel conflicted, but at that moment, when she clutched me and started sobbing uncontrollably, I forgot all about her vampire heritage. My charge was suffering, and I had to help her.

"There, there, I got you; you're not alone," I speak calmly and slowly as if dealing with a frightened animal. I stroke her hair and rub her back as she struggles to draw breath, her sobs petering out from the overexertion. Not too long afterward, her soft, rhythmic breathing told me that she had fallen asleep.

"Oh, what am I going to do with you? The spirit king is an understanding man, so there shouldn't be too many issues with letting her rest. Though there is a limited time frame since she needs to reunite with her fellow adventurers," I whisper while I smile at Izuna warmly, continuing to stroke her silver hair as it glints in the moonlight.

A familiar voice sounds out from behind a nearby tree. "I never thought there would come a day where we would call a vampire our princess and guardian."

"What are you doing here, Dryas? I thought you were told to investigate the adventurers she was with," I speak up dryly.

"Oh, that? I already finished that; they were all clean, well-intentioned human adventurers with surprisingly high ranks. Her Highness will be in good hands if we leave her with them for now. More importantly, it's hard to see her as one of those soul-destroying nightmares when she's like this. There's something calming about her presence. What do you think, Kotoha of the 7th seat?" Dyas teased.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"You're still upset about that? Becoming a number isn't all fun and games, you know? We are sent to guard the high elves who leave Mina and protect them. I was assigned to Izuna, and you are my second in command. I expect you to follow my orders to the letter. If we hadn't failed to rescue her father, things might not have ended up like this. We owe her; I have zero intention of failing again."

"Kotoha, you need to learn to relax and take a joke; seriously. You're gonna give our poor charge a headache if you don't," Dryas joked again. "Anyway, I'll go ahead and let the Spirit King know that you'll be a little late."

I smiled at that. "Thank you; please do."

Dryas then melted into the nearest tree and vanished on her way to inform the spirit king of the unexpected delay.

***

"Nnarragghh," I woke up with a great yawn and stretch, then turned over.

"Good morning, my lady. How do you feel?" A familiar voice spoke from beside me.

I yawned, stretched once more, and then looked in the direction of the voice. "I slept we-" my voice cut off as I realized where my head was and my memory of the night before returned. "S-sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to fall asleep," I quickly sat up and glanced around. "I am gonna be so late. I hope Athena doesn't get mad at me."

The dryad elite chuckled and then reminded me there was one other person I needed to worry about. "She's not the only one you should worry about, if you remember, the spirit king has been waiting this whole time."

"E-eh? Oh gods... that's true," I gasped. "I hope I can make it up to him."

Lady Dryad giggled. "I was only teasing you; the spirit king is very understanding of your situation. So, you have nothing to worry about," She assured me. "Let's go, avance, Irshella, je t'appelle!

A magic circle appeared, and from it, a majestic albino tiger was formed. "Grawr," The beast made an affectionate growl and rubbed its broad head against the dryad's outstretched palms. She spoke. "Would you be so kind as to take us to the spirit king's castle, my dear Irshella?"

The beast, Irshella, turned its head and glanced at me. It proceeded to lower its head as if bowing in greeting. "Thank you, my dear; let us be off," The dryad climbed onto her summon and then reached down to me. "Come on already, my lady; we shouldn't keep him waiting," I accepted her hand, and soon we sped off into the depths of the ancient forests.

***

"It looks like Izuna is going to catch up later," Athena grumbled in a gloomy tone. "Pack up camp and prepare for guard duty; we'll be one short today."

"Yes, ma'am!" The Silver Owls sounded out.

"Did something happen to the high elf lady?" the head merchant of the caravan asked.

Athena thought for a moment, then responded. "Izuna is fine; she had to run and help a few dryads with an errand. She should have caught up with us tomorrow at the latest, or as early as tonight."

The merchant nodded. "High elves do care for their people. I know they have a symbiotic relationship with dryads and nature spirits. I can't help but wonder if the little miss can handle herself; she looks incredibly young for one of the elves."

You have no idea. Athena thought to herself. She would still be considered an infant by other long-lived races. "You would be correct, sir. Izuna is only 16 and was orphaned while abroad. We are taking her to the Mystical Forests of Mina while teaching her how to protect herself," She fibbed; it wasn't like she could speak the truth in this instance.

The merchant's eyes widened. "Oh my, I didn't expect such a dark background or for her to be so young. I will have to give her a gift in the hopes of brightening her day when she returns."

As they headed down the path, the carriages rattled, and the horse's hooves clacked against the ground. They have been traveling for three or so hours without a break. That was when a hoard of ogres and goblins rushed out of the woods. Iris sounded the alarm. "Prepare for combat; ogres and goblins are incoming from the left!"

"Roger that~" Hecate called out, preparing a multi-target spell. "Sortez et réduisez mes ennemis en cendres, lance de feu explosive!" Seven raging fire spears formed in the air before her staff; then flew forth toward the swarm of monsters. Exploding in a wide inferno that faded, leaving only the goblin's ashes, the surviving ogres burst through with only mild burns.

"Good shot, Hecate, Peirce mes ennemis, flèche wolfbane!" Artemis complimented her as she fired a poisoned magic arrow. As it flew, it burst into a rain of arrows and caught the ogres in the chinks of their armor, but it only killed two.

Iris followed that by charging in. "hâte-moi, accélère!" She rushed in with her knives, beheading two more, then leaped away as the final ogre slammed its mace where she just was. "Whew, that was close, Tranche d'ombre!" She chanted as she spun around, slashing her knife in the air. The blade's shadow seemingly elongated as it cut the remaining ogre in half.

Athena grinned at that. "Good work! Let's gather the corpses and burn them. If we leave them, they will become zombies," She ordered.

"Yes, ma'am!"