“Just follow my lead, okay?” Inks said as the four of us walked through the stone castle.

I didn’t want to, but what choice did I have. I needed to know enough about this world to survive, and she was currently the only mentor I had. Whether or not I’d want her to be my only mentor, I’d have to say a resounding no.

Teia followed after me like a stray dog who’d found someone to follow, while Diane took the rearguard, anxiously checking doors left and right to us in case something jumped out.

As we turned the corner, two halberd-bearing guards, a man-sized Mouse and Squirrel, stood to attention at the doors of the Throne Room.

“Ma’am!” The Mouse said, correcting his posture in front of Inks.

“Pavel! How’s the family doing?”

“Just dandy, Ma’am! Me young’un’s ‘bout to have a young’un of her own soon enough!”

“Pavel…” The Squirrel grumbled, “We’re supposed to be guards…”

“Aye, Yakov! We’re guarding the door!”

“You’re chatting with the idiot who’s summoned an idiot… again.”

“That was… Empress’ Tits, that was a decade ago! Oh how time flies…”

“Yeah, and she’s done it without permission this time!”

“Well it worked-”

Then the doors opened a tiny bit and a guard on the opposite whispered, “Let them in you daft twats.”

The Throne Room was packed with Human Knights and an assorted Castle Staff of mostly Mice and Squirrels.

And, at its center, was a Throne upon which Lord Vladimir sat with a gaunt face, jet-black beard and tidied, wavy black hair that flowed down his shoulder.

All of them were looking in our direction, ready to judge the four of us.

And then Horyz walked out in front.

Teia hurried in her steps to shield herself behind me.

“My Lord Vladimir, as I have explained-” Horyz started his condemnation of us.

“YOU FOUR!” King Vladimir roared at us, “On your knees.”

We obeyed instantly.

Lord Vladimir rose from his throne, unsheathing his blade.

“As I understand it, Captain Horyz, there are three points of contention.”

“One,” Lord Vladimir said, leveling his sword at the profusely sweating Inks, “Lady Seraien here has conceived a Vampire without Approval.”

“Two,” Lord Vladimir then leveled the sword at me, “Lady Seraien has summoned a Quasyn without Approval.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Three,” Lord Vladimir then leveled the sword at Diane and the terrified Teia behind my back, “Lady Seraien has taken Two girls for herself and the Quasyn before they swore their allegiance to this Castle and its inhabitants.”

For an eternal moment, the four of us shuddered at what might happen, our eyes transfixed to the blade pointed at us.

Then the sword drooped.

“As far as I’m concerned, Captain Horyz, it appears the one at true fault here is Lady Seraien.”

“Y-Yes, my Lord, but what about-”

Vladimir walked right up beside Inks, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Inks,” He said, “No more side projects.”

“Y-Yes, my Lord.” Inks stammered her way into an understanding.

“Your allowances will allow these other three to stay here until this crisis clears. Then we will find them their place.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Inks replied with a drooped head. Vladimir patted her on her shoulders hard before moving on to Teia and Diane.

“Owls!” he said as he pointed with his blade towards them, “Where do your allegiances lie?”

Teia looked back and forth between her sister and me, but Diane quickly realized what she had to say.

“With you, Lord Vladimir, and all those of this Castle.”

Teia gulped before repeating the lines of her sister.

“A quick learner I see… Now, kiss the flat of my sword.”

Diane nodded, and moved to cradle the blade slowly with her wing-hands. She carefully moved the flat steel to her mouth and kissed it. Lord Vladimir nodded his approval, before moving it in Teia’s direction.

Teia was more anxious than her sister, but she managed to kiss the blade regardless.

“Good. The two of you will be under the service of Lady Seraien for the time being, alongside…”

Vladimir pointed the blade at me now.

“You, Quasyn. Who are- No, rather, who were you?”

I glanced at Inks very quickly. She nodded me on.

“My name is A-Ash, my Lord, Satoshi ‘Ash’ Amaiishi. I-I was a Real Estate Agent.”

“Real… Estate…?”

I glanced back at Inks again. She was shaking her head frantically, warning me not to say what I would say. I glanced down. I needed to say the truth. I needed to speak the truth for once.

“To speak the simple truth, my Lord, I-I sold houses.”

I looked up. Vladimir’s gaze seeped with contempt.

I looked around. Many other faces were lathered with the exact same contempt.

“ELVISH POPPYCOCK!” An aging guard piped, and a snicker cascaded through the crowd.

Oh. Oh…

I shouldn’t have said that, I should’ve lied like Inks said.

“And this ‘House’?” Vladimir asked, beckoning my downcast gaze back up to him with the flat of his sword, “Will you sell this ‘House’?”

“No, my Lord, I will not.”

“Will you Serve this House and its inhabitants?” Vladimir asked, his sword guiding my gaze towards Diane and Teia.

“Yes, my Lord, I will.”

“Have you ever been in a fight?”

I thought about that for a very long moment.

“My Lord,” Horyz said, trying to step into the conversation, but Vladimir warded him away with a wave of his free hand.

“I-I have, my Lord.” I said.

“How did it turn out?”

“I hurt someone, my Lord, and I paid the price for it.”

“Hmm…” Vladimir blinked with pleasant surprise, “I don’t expect you to know War. Captain Horyz!”

“Y-Yes, my Lord?”

“You don’t have many assignments for your Squad, do you?”

“Y-You want me to train him?”

“Lady Seraien has made him a Vampire, a New Vampire. You trained the last Quasyn very well too.”

Horyz winced at the dig to his honor.

“Very well, my Lord.” Horyz bowed, “I will train yet another Quasyn.”

And then Horyz glared daggers at me.

“I will prepare him for War.”