It was a rare sunny day in Sylvannia. Triss was taking advantage of the sunlight, reading in her study on the second floor when she heard the doorbell ring.
"It's unusual for someone to visit at this hour. Who could it be?" Triss mused as she placed a half-read magic book down and instructed a servant to answer the door. The servants, recruited from the humans living in Sylvannia, promptly obeyed and soon returned to inform Triss of Norton’s visit.
"So it’s him," Triss thought as she closed her book and stood up, stretching lazily. At the door, seeing Norton waiting outside, she couldn’t help but smile.
"What are you waiting for? Come in," Triss called to Norton. "From now on, just come in without knocking."
She turned to the servants, saying, "This is Norton von Carstein, the eldest son of the previous Count von Carstein. Remember him."
"Yes, Miss Triss," the servants replied in unison.
Triss led Norton into the parlor. Thanks to the cleaning efforts of the servants, her villa was impeccably tidy. Norton had hoped to catch a glimpse of his teacher’s weaknesses during a surprise visit, only to find none, leaving him slightly disappointed.
Seated comfortably on a chair in the parlor, Norton was soon served tea and pastries. After some small talk, he explained his visit.
"Oh, I see," Triss nodded, realizing that four years had passed swiftly. "You’re eight now, time flies... Still, we can meet at school, so thank you for coming."
"No, I insisted on coming. You’ve taught me so much over these four years," Norton said.
Having undergone nearly two years of cultural education, Norton spoke and acted with more decorum, something he couldn’t have done two years ago.
"It’s your hard work that paid off," Triss replied. "And I’ve learned a lot teaching you." She smiled nostalgically, recalling amusing moments over the years.
After more chatting—mostly Triss speaking and Norton listening, due to Triss’s extensive experiences—Norton stood to take his leave.
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"I should be going; it’s getting late," he said.
"Wait, why not stay for lunch?" Triss offered, standing to invite him.
"Then I’ll impose," Norton agreed, turning to reveal a sly smile. He had planned his visit this way, knowing he’d arrive at Triss’s around lunch, expecting she wouldn’t cook herself but would provide a meal.
Norton and Triss moved to the dining room for guests, while his maid Maya was led elsewhere for her meal. Glancing back, Maya saw Norton chatting happily with Triss, which struck her as odd—she’d never seen him so cheerful talking to someone else.
"It seems the young master really likes this teacher, more than even being with the young lady and madam," Maya mused, feeling a twinge of discomfort that quickly passed. It was so fleeting that no one noticed, and even she dismissed it as a fleeting thought.
After lunch, Triss considered inviting Norton for afternoon tea, but he declined, feeling that spending the day like this was a bit mundane. They often had tea together, and he didn’t want to repeat daily routines on a rare outing.
"Alright, be careful on your way back," Triss said, slightly disappointed but understanding. She held his hand as they left, watching him board the carriage and waving goodbye before returning to her reading.
Once they left the academy, the ghostly coachman silently inquired where Norton wanted to go. After some thought, Norton decided to head into the city. The coachman flicked the reins, and the phantom carriage moved silently and swiftly. Norton took the opportunity to doze off.
After some unknown period, city noises grew louder outside the carriage. Norton awoke and peered out to find themselves amidst bustling city life—they had arrived in the city, moving down a thriving commercial street.
This was the only city of the Count von Carstein's domain, about twenty kilometers from Drakenhof Castle, also named Drakenhof. It served as the economic center for the territory’s hundreds of thousands of residents, who came to buy and sell goods. On weekends, temporary markets sprang up, drawing people with carts and wagons to sell for extra income, bringing the city alive.
Today’s fine weather made city dwellers appear upbeat. Long accustomed to this vampire-ruled land, the locals focused on everyday sustenance, indifferent to who ruled them. Norton’s spectral carriage, radiating undead presence, didn’t frighten them. They continued their business as usual.
Norton observed the bustling street, noting that food and essentials sold best. Bakeries and vegetable vendors were busy, and the salt shop’s clerks were particularly smug, considering themselves superior. Shops selling household goods also fared well, with customers for fabrics, cotton, spices, firewood, and alcohol.
Luxury goods shops didn’t do as well, given the rarity of wealthy vampires and even fewer affluent humans in Sylvannia. Spice shops, fine cloth stores, confectioners, and fancy wine shops were mostly empty.
"Economic conditions are so-so but could improve," Norton concluded, drawing the curtain closed.
He recalled Triss describing Marienburg, one of the Old World's most prosperous trading cities, with goods from Norsca to the north, Araby to the south, and even the distant island kingdom of Ulthuan. The city bo...