It was noon, and a class at the academy had just ended. Norton and Annie climbed to the top of the tower, setting up a thermal barrier with a flick of their fingers to ward off the chill and strong winds at this height. Then they sat down to enjoy lunch. It consisted of dishes and white bread Annie had learned to make. The flavor was average, but quite commendable for a beginner.
Since Annie had moved into his home, Norton almost always shared lunch with her. After all, nurturing their relationship was important. Other cousins respected this and typically left them undisturbed during their lunch breaks.
During these meals, Norton would tell Annie about various matters, both to facilitate communication and to help her grow into a competent partner. The aim was to prevent situations like the recent battle with the Strigoi rebels, where she had unintentionally caused more trouble than help.
With that conflict settled, albeit with lingering regrets about being unable to capitalize on the southern turmoil, Norton pushed the thought aside. In just a few months, he'd turn fourteen and begin his adventures. The world would be his to explore, and he would no longer be confined to the limited lands of the Kastan County.
This prospect filled him with excitement. His voice carried a tone of eagerness, and the more he talked, the more exhilarated he became. His plans grew ambitious, even fantasizing about turning the world into a vampire empire in thousands of years. But then he noticed something was off—his sole audience, Annie, seemed distracted, not really listening.
"What are you thinking about?" Norton asked, frowning slightly.
Caught off guard by his question, Annie blushed and waved her hands frantically, trying to indicate it was nothing. However, she ultimately confessed:
"Nothing really—well, I'm just thinking...um, those girls from the Nilakoczy and Lahmia families should be arriving soon, right?"
"Oh, right... possibly," Norton shrugged. The journey was long, and delays were possible. Though they hadn't arrived yet, border reports confirmed their progress, estimating they would arrive within days.
"I see..." Annie replied, slightly disappointed. She wanted to say more but hesitated. She sat sulking instead—truthfully, Norton was the best man she had ever met—not just in looks or manners, but his family, Aberlachin, valued martial prowess. In both personal combat skills and strategic military command, she had never met anyone among their peers as capable as Norton. Not even close.
Stolen novel; please report.
Since their first meeting and their joint fight against a ghoul king, Annie had completely accepted Norton. Through subsequent conversations, duels, and mock battles, she became utterly infatuated.
"Why is there such a perfect vampire in this world? His martial skills are superb, his magic exceptional, and his leadership skills equally outstanding. If even he were to be rejected, who else could possibly be my husband?"
With these thoughts, Annie had quickly embraced her role. Their recent interactions had been genuinely enjoyable. It was no wonder she was unsettled by news of potential rivals arriving.
Seeing her like this, Norton couldn't help but laugh. He ruffled her short orange-red hair playfully.
"You're overthinking things, you little fool. If all vampires were like you, we'd never accomplish anything. Save those thoughts for later—ten or twenty years down the line. We have plenty of time, so focus on what's important now. Understand?"
"...Yes." Annie smiled at his words, "I've been trying to switch to using a saber instead of a longsword. But it seems impractical—while it's better for slashing, it lacks thrusting ability and adaptability compared to a longsword. For cavalry battles it's alright, but for infantry combat, it's less effective."
Norton nodded in agreement. Their conversations frequently revolved around warfare and combat, subjects that interested him greatly.
"I've thought about that too. I believe if we adjust the saber's curve, keeping it within a certain range, it could balance the advantages of both swords and sabers."
"Really... maybe we should experiment with that."
Thus, the young man and woman exchanged ideas, losing track of time as their lunch break ended. That afternoon, Norton had chosen a class on the comprehensive knowledge of the northern Dwarf Kingdom. Intrigued by this powerful nation that spanned the Endless Mountains and fortified much of the world's mountain regions, Norton wanted to delve deeper into their society. Bidding farewell to Annie, who was headed to equestrian and mounted combat courses, Norton made his way to the sixth-floor classroom.
The class on Dwarven culture was taught by Professor Hazel, a 272-year-old in his prime. He also served as a senior engineer at the Kastan family armory and taught courses on Dwarven rune magic and alchemical crafting. Known for his rigorous and meticulous nature, his lectures were somewhat dry and wooden, yet his expertise in dwarven studies made his classes quite popular.
As the afternoon class was about to start, Norton took his seat, greeting a few classmates and nodding to Professor Hazel before settling down quietly.
Seeing that it was time, Professor Hazel began the lesson. His voice was steady and unemotional, dry as dust: "Alright, students. In our previous classes, we covered the history of the Dwarven race. Today, we will discuss the organization of the Dwarf Kingdom’s military forces."