No need for lengthy speeches; under the spellcasting's group shock and awe, the city's defenders had scattered in all directions. A city without its walls was like a lamb to the slaughter, left utterly defenseless against the Northwestern alliance's taking.
The allied troops conquered the city without breaking a sweat and, after the Line Mage Corps demolished the remaining walls, initiated a surprisingly restrained form of pillage.
In this day and age, expecting soldiers to be paragons of virtue was a pipe dream, save for the disciplined elite troops like the Western Guards or the Northern Line Mage Corps. The rest, ordinary blokes of around level five, expected some form of reward after taking a city - scraping three feet deep into the ground if the chance presented itself.
This city was considerably larger than the last one they had encountered, so the soldiers were quite eager for loot. However, considering their rapid assault strategy, the Dukes hadn't allocated much time for the festivities - just a night's rest before the march resumed at daybreak.
---
As the Line Mage Corps made short work of the defenseless walls, Murphy detected a sudden shift in the flow of magical energy in the air. Despite being hundreds of miles away, his demonic sensorium picked up on the changes distinctly.
So, without alerting his unaware companions, Murphy subtly adjusted their flight path to hasten their arrival at the Northwestern alliance's camp.
The pilot of the not-so-merry band, Murphy, controlled their flight speed meticulously to maintain his mysterious character. Although the sun had already set, they had only just left the capital's boundaries.
It was during this stage of the journey that Eschell made a decision that defied tradition: she confided in her personal maid Anne about her vampiric nature.
Murphy had anticipated this. In Eschell's view, though Murphy saved her, he also transformed her into the being she now was. Pepe knew everything, being Murphy's apprentice, and since Eschell couldn't speak to her family about it, she had no choice but to share the burden with Anne and hope for her discretion.
Anne was a genuinely loyal maid, devoted to Eschell rather than the Western Duke. Though Anne revealing her strength beyond Eschell's expectations had initially caused a rift, fighting side by side and rescuing each other during brutal combat solidified their bond to a new zenith of trust.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
After Eschell gave Anne a brief rundown - conspicuously omitting the bit about signing a contract - Anne swore an oath before Eschell even asked for secrecy. She pledged wholehearted loyalty to Eschell Arwin alone, assuring her that she could feed on her blood at any time to stave off the vampire's hunger.
And then a new problem arose - Eschell hadn't the faintest idea how to feed as a vampire.
Traditionally, vampires turn those they find during their travels or hunts - individuals with exceptional gifts they find appealing. These newly turned vampires initially lack survival skills and require guidance from their "sire" before they can decide whether to stick together or part ways.
However, Eschell's absentee 'sire' Lily had since gone home, presumably for a family supper...
With a gentle nudge from Murphy, Eschell cast aside the stereotypical neck-biting feeding method for a blood-drawing approach.
After all, at her level, biting someone's neck could inadvertently turn them into a mindless, monstrous thrall.
A discussion ensued, with the young vampire finally settling on a feeding process: whenever Eschell felt hunger each month, Anne would make a small cut with a Wind Blade to collect a vial's worth of blood for Eschell's subsistence, with Eschell healing the wound with a low-level healing spell afterward.
Neither Anne nor Eschell had objections, and thus a new vampire growth plan was concocted.
Viewed from above, little seemed to change for Eschell - lifestyle habits notwithstanding. It's quite normal for a teenage girl to develop new routines after living alone for over half a year. Murphy was confident that Eschell could evade most advanced detection spells.
After a memorable night aloft, Murphy, with his trio of tagalongs, found themselves above the Northwestern alliance’s budding campsite the next evening.
Eric, reunified with his daughter (or granddaughter) after half a year's absence, showed a more profound elation than Old Arwin, both shedding the cumbersome nobility for a heartfelt reunion. Meanwhile, the Duke of the North simply slung an arm over Murphy's shoulder and ushered him out of the tent.
What followed was the much-anticipated family banquet, with only the Arwins and Anne present to assist inside the tent. Murphy retired with Pepe to a nearby rest area designed for them, preparing to 'stretch' limbs that weren't fatigued.
As Murphy predicted, after a little over an hour, the familiar-faced guard appeared at his tent entry, conveying that the Duke wished to discuss remuneration with Mr. Murphy.
Murphy pushed aside the curtain and entered the Duke's marching tent. There, he was greeted by a cozy scene of three generations and a guest seat prepared just for him, alongside an array of dishes set for a feast.
Eschell observed Murphy taking his seat, guided by Anne, her heart heavy with a sigh. Father, grandfather, don't let yourselves be bamboozled by him. The man may seem humble and polite, but he's invariably a true... Her thoughts tangled - was Murphy a bad guy? He seemed so, yet not quite. Then, was he good? Yes - but unconvincingly so.
The young girl, once again staggered by the adult world's complexity, fancied the implausible thought of remaining a child forever, relinquishing burdensome matters to others.
Yet amidst her thoughts, Eschell confronted an unsettling truth - as a being sustained by blood, she had already begun masquerading herself before those dearest to her.