I felt a push in my rest and opened my eyes. In front of me was Mifune as usual, but I noticed the ceiling of the room seemed different. After a moment of confusion, my mind began running on overdrive and I remembered why I was here.

  Celine: Mifune, do you know where we are going today?

  Mifune: I have already pnned out the day today. I'll show you around the pces we did not get to experience yesterday.

  Afterwards, Mifune helped me to get ready for the day today. After washing up and getting changed we went downstairs to the dining hall of the manor and had a light meal before heading out.

  Today, Mifune led me to an important ndmark in any sword and magic world, the Adventurer's guild.

  The building in front of me was massive with fairly wide wings and a tall roof. After entering I saw that there was a couple people at a board on the wall. After looking closer, I noticed that the wall had various assignments pinned on it with a letter ranking determining the level of difficulty from F to C.

  I looked around some more and found that there were few people here in the morning. Mifune then led me to the main counter where we were met with a receptionist.

  Guild Receptionist: Hello Ma'am what do you need my assistance with?

  Mifune: I am taking my young dy around and want a tour of the pce.

  Guild Receptionist: Understood let me expin everything from the beginning.

  She then takes a breath before beginning the expnation.

  Guild Receptionist: Hello Guests, I am Mary and I will be introducing you all to the Adventurer's guild. Firstly, the guild is a highly reputable location and will receive any request as long as the requests are allowed by the ws of the nd. Adventurers are divided by the same ranks that divide the various levels of energy. It goes from Unrated adventurers to Bck Iron adventurers and so on till the rank of Ptinum. Higher ranked figures are cssified. separately and are not under the jurisdiction of regur Adventurer's guild protocol. Now, let me expin the requesting process. To file a request we need you to fill out a form that expins the request and to deposit at least half of the reward for the quest with us. Of the reward, a guild will take 5% of the proceeds for the request after completion. To take a request you will need to confirm that the difficulty of the task matches your adventurer rank.

  She pauses for a moment and looks to see if we were still following. With a sigh of relief she continues the lecture.

  Mary: Difficulties are rated F to S with F and E ranked tasks for Unrated, D for Bck Iron, C for Bronze, B for silver, A for gold and S for Ptinum. Difficulties are more of a bottom line ask of the requester and some may add other requests such as being a spell caster or swordsman to adjust the options. When signing up as adventurers, you will need to fill out a form with various information and to pass a regur examination. Adventurers who are underaged must undergo a special examination to test their qualities. Any other questions?

  After replying, I decide against going to be an adventurer. Although getting to explore the world as an adventurer seems like a great path, I am probably too young to do much anyways. All I have to do is to continue to get better and stronger until I find myself unable to progress further while only training.

  Saying goodbye to Mary, we left with not much of a fuss being kicked off. Strange, wasn't there supposed to be someone interrupting or something like that? After shaking my head to disperse my scattered thoughts Mifune continues to bring me around.

  We next encounter the Merchant's Guild. Unlike with the Adventurer's guild, it seems the guild here is more of a marketpce as there was a whole section open for people to buy things. After getting curious, I asked Mifune how the stalls here are different from stalls outside.

  Mifune: The pce in the guild is a marketpce that foreign merchants like to sell things. Selling under the roof of the Merchant's Guild can ensure the safety of the merchants at a small price to set up the space. The stalls outside are under the jurisdiction of the city owner. They usually belong to local groups selling and buying. They are more familiar with the location and people so they feel they don't need the Merchant Guild's protection.

  We walk around the Guild's marketpce and look at the various goods sold. Today seemed to be different as the guild's marketpce was quite bustling.

  I browsed through the various objects and took note of what interested me. The goods varied from stall to stall and they were all various objects of various price points. In one stall I saw a young human selling various unique looking pnts. After looking at their bels and comparing them to what I knew from reading, I knew that all of the pnts on the stall had no effect on vampires like me.

  I looked through the goods until I found a stall with an old man selling various books. What interested me was a specific book on the stall. The book had no name on it and was more of a magazine in length.

  Probably noticing my attention, Mifune asked me a question.

  Mifune: Do you want it? I can help you buy it. Your dad gave me a certain amount of funds for this trip and we still have plenty excess.

  After nodding in response she went to negotiate the price with the old man.

  Speaking of prices, the currency here is mainly in metal coins like in most fantasy styled stories. Apparently, in other worlds there are records of the existence of something like paper money, but there is no unifying force here that can stabilize the value of currency in the dark nds.

  The currency is split into Copper coins, Silver coins, Gold coins and Ptinum coins. 100 copper coins equals 1 silver coin and 100 silver coins equals 1 gold coin and so on. Although there is no unifying currency, each coin is standardized by the various races here so that each race uses the exact same kind of coin.

  After negotiating, Mifune finally defeated the old man in the negotiation and got the book at a lower price than offered. After looking around once more, I didn't find anything that attracted me as much as that book did.

  We left the guild and headed on out to visit the few remaining shops that we hadn't visited. Although it was interesting to wander about, my curiosity about the book still lingered in the back of my mind until we left for the manor.

  When we returned, Mifune went and took out the book. She first casted a spell on the book. A wave of energy flowed onto the book and as a result, the book didn't make any unusual reaction.

  Mifune: How strange, if this book attracted your attention, I would have expected it to be a magical book.

  She then casted a few more spells while scrutinizing the book. After a while she sighed and passed it over to me.

  Mifune: I didn't find anything unusual about the book. It should be safe to hand it over to you.

  After passing the book over, I took the book into my hands and looked through it. The text on the book was made using a different nguage from the ones I knew.

  Celine: Mifune, do you know what nguage is written there?

  Mifune: Language? Isn't that a bnk book?

  We both looked at each other in confusion. After a while Mifune reaches into her pocket and pulls out a mini notebook and pen.

  Mifune: Maybe write what you see and I'll see if I recognize it.

  I take the notebook and pen and transcribe the first sentence exactly as I see it. Then I hand the notebook and pen back for her to look at. After looking through it she wrinkles her brow and shakes her head.

  Mifune: Although it resembles Ancient Abyssal it also has various features in dragon tongue as well as a few unknown nguages. I'm soft, we might have to ask your dad about something like this. He has adventured all over the pce and might know the nguage shown.

  She puts the notebook and pen back before telling me to go back to my room to rest for the journey home tomorrow. I oblige and return to the room.

  After returning I proceed to open and look through the rest of the book. The whole book is full of that unknown nguage and was completely indecipherable for me. I put the book on a desk before finally deciding to rest for today. These past two days I have been all over the city shopping and I have started to grow a little bored of exploring the city. I have already walked through most of the city and mostly went looking through the stores and have seen most of the stuff I wanted to at the beginning.

  I quickly went to shower before finally flopping onto my bed and falling fast asleep.

  The next day quickly started as I heard some clutter around the manor. I groggily woke up and found the servants here were packing our stuff for the trip back home. I then look for a while before I found Mifune also helping pack things.

  Celine: Mifune! Are we going home?

  Mifune: Celine, did we wake you up? Apologies. We are packing up for the trip back home and it will still take a while longer. You can either go back to sleep or clean up and prepare for the trip back.

  Afterwards, I follow what Mifune says and wash up and prepare myself for the trip back home. Although it was cool to explore the city here, I kind of want to go back and restart my training in full.

  Although I can stay here, the facilities at home are far superior to the situation here. I then headed on over to my room to await the time of departure. After waiting a while, one of the servants handed me a meal to eat on the go and lead me over to the carriage we came here on.

  I then went into the carriage and waited for Mifune to come up and start the carriage. After a little more waiting, Mifune came up the carriage and pnned the route back.

  After inputting the route onto the projection once more, the carriage started and we went on our way back.

  While we were going back, I asked about a question I have always wanted to ask Mifune.

  Celine: Why did you choose to work for our house?

  Mifune paused for a short moment before a look of reminiscence showed on her face. She sighed and then looked straight at me.

  Mifune: I am saying this only because you are my eldest dy, so listen to my story. Once when I was young I decided to go out and explore the world. Ever since I heard those stories full of splendor in the books I read, I couldn't stop that urge to travel the world. It was then I decided to leave that I ran away from home and explored the world. I originally didn't live here in this world of Astera. I remember it like it was just yesterday when I was going on a mission. Me and my team at the time went and did a mission for the adventurer's guild. It was... in that mission that I met your mother.

  Mifune's eyes showed a glimpse of sadness. She waited for a second to compose herself before continuing.

  Mifune: In that mission we were supposed to fight a Blood Rose Spirit. You probably don't know of it. It is a monster originating from a farther world and only grows under very specific conditions. Your mother hired us to help contain it to obtain a certain item from it. What we didn't know was that the Blood Rose Spirit had mutated and evolved to a far more terrifying state...

  She stops the story there with a mencholic expression on her face. She probably lost all of her friends there judging from how sad she was.

  We both sat there in silence for a short while. It was then that I heard an unusual sound in the distance outside of the carriage.

  My alertness seemed to arm Mifune as she stood straight up and casted a spell. After it was cast she showed an ugly scowl and began preparing.

  Mifune: Young dy, it seems we are ambushed. Stay in the carriage, it has magic to keep you safe and I will come back soon after I finish cleaning the garbage here.

  Mifune then teleports out of the carriage while casting and instantly unches a spell. From the carriage I could here the name of the spell as it was casted.

  Mifune: Spirit Fmes!

  Then, beside Mifune, a group of unusual blue fmes were sparked and then unched into the nearby woods. After a fiery explosion I could hear the hurried escape of a group of people. After looking out of the carriage I saw the group of attackers.

  There was a group of folks in ranger like attire wielding crossbows. In front of them was a trio of prideful folk with what looked like overgrown hair.

  Mifune: Three werewolves and a group of vampire hunters. You sure put a lot of effort into hunting down a lone vampire. It would be a shame if all of your pns failed.

  Werewolf leader: Mifune of the Blue Embers. Step aside from the carriage and you will be spared. We are only after the vampire child.

  Mifune then scoffs and her eyes glow a faint azure.

  Mifune: And if I don't?

  The werewolf leader then points his cws out at her and the trio of werewolves completely transform. The color of their fur was a mix of bck and gray in waves.

  Werewolves: Then you will die here!

  The three then pounce at Mifune while the vampire hunters fire at her. Mifune gives a quick gnce at the hunters before instantly casting her spell.

  Mifune: Spirit Summoning - Fme!

  She summons a group of three bigger fmes that she then orders to intercept the arrows. The fmes the expand into a barrier that melts all of the arrows at once. They then go straight towards the hunters while they are still reloading.

  Meanwhile, Mifune then casts a spell to block the three werewolves going after her. She then creates various weapons made of fmes that shoot out towards the werewolves.

  The werewolves dodge the attacks while trying to get closer to Mifune. Mifune then smirks and raises her hand upward as a hidden magic circle suddenly glows under the werewolves. Before they can react to block, a sudden confgration of fmes bursts out from underneath them. They burning continues as harsh howls of pain scream out from the werewolves. When the fming bombardment was over, I saw the burnt bodies of the werewolves ying out on the floor. Although burnt, I saw that they were slowly recovering from their injuries.

  In the time of the burning, Mifune had already been preparing her next spell. She began making several spears made of the same blue fme that she has been using and aimed them at their approximate location.She then fired the spears as they were recovering from their burns.

  Although the spell was quick, the leader werewolf was still able to react and dodge out of the way. The other two were less fortunate.

  While they were confronting, I gnced over to see how the summons that Mifune had called were doing. I saw that most of the hunters were only charred remains with a few stragglers hanging on. That battle would end and the summons would be able to go back to help Mifune.

  When I realized this and look back, I saw that the werewolf had already rushed toward Mifune. Although he was fast, Mifune still had the time to cast a barrier of fmes and began preparing a counterattack. The werewolf tried to rush through the barrier and cut into it with his cws, but was simply blocked. As if sensing danger, it immediately jumped back as a group of fming projectiles rushed towards him. He then dodged the projectiles while rushing back to the barrier.

  This time, a cold glow shone on the cws of the werewolf and a cold flying ssh of energy was emitted from its cws. Before it arrived, Mifune had already cast a wall of fmes infant that weakened the cold light before it completely disintegrated when it came into contact with Mifune's barrier. It was then that Mifune could tell who the attacker this time was.

  Mifune: Lester of the Cold Bde. What are you doing here? Why are you here delegated to simple assassination rather then preparing on the front lines?

  The werewolf, Lester, chuckled and gave his answer.

  Lester: I simply disobeyed orders and started to kill. What's wrong with killing a few vampires? Because of a war treaty I have to start suddenly not killing on site? Nonsense! So I disobeyed and was caught to do menial work like this. Although I never expected to face someone like you here.

  As he said this, both parties were secretly preparing a big move. After a few seconds of a stare down, Lester immediately swung his left cw which sent out five sword like sshing projectiles. In response, Mifune yelled out her attacks name.

  Mifune: Blue Star Barrage!

  A group of blue star-like projectiles appear around her and fire at slightly different intervals. After half of the stars collide with the five bdes and burst into smoke, the other half stay on course towards Lester. Lester then begins running around to dodge it, but the projectiles seemed to have a mind of their own and homed in on him. He sshes his right cw and another five sshes were sent out to destroy the remaining stars.

  Lester then balls his fists and punches the air in front of him in rapid succession. A series of shockwaves were released with each fist and all were targeted towards Mifune. She then releases a series of barriers that weaken each shockwave till they become negligible. She then put her palms together in front of her and chants in an unknown nguage. Sensing danger, Lester tries to interrupt the casting by rushing towards her.

  Before Lester got there, the spirit fmes that Mifune summoned have caught up and entangled Lester for a few seconds. In those few seconds, Mifune finished her casting and casted what she had been preparing during this time.

  Mifune: Bzing Witch's Night!

  A sudden blue ring of fire expanded from her palms to the entire battlefield. After the carriage was also involved, I could sense that this spell was just like my own technique, a domain.

  When the ring of fire stopped expanding, groups of fmes appeared all over the domain that the condensed into various animal like forms. These animal fmes immediately rushed towards Lester and released various fire element spells. Seeing this, Lester suddenly stopped and his body started expanding. His fur turned from gray to a bright silver as he called out his own technique.

  Lester: Silver Moon Awakening.

  As he said this, a burst of wind was sent out all around that repelled all the the fmes and he took out a talisman from what looked like nowhere.

  Lester: You won this round Blue Ember Witch. Next time, I'll bring an official hunting party to take you down. Till then, you better keep your neck clean.

  As he said this, he pinched the talisman and a portal appeared where he was that he plunged into and disappeared. The portal also disappeared as he escaped.

  A sigh of relief exhaled from me as I calmed down from the fight before me. Although he left, Mifune made sure to keep a few spirit fmes around to keep watch as she received her domain back and returned to the carriage. Seeing her, I gave a round of appuse at the marvelous duel that appeared before me. She grinned happily as she restarted the carriage back home. Before departing once again, she sent a message through the projection before sitting back down.

  This time there was no interruptions as we finally arrived back home. When we arrived at the mansion, I could feel my body rexing and a wave of sleepiness rushed over me. I fell asleep in the carriage as we were headed in. Mifune took out a bnket cover me before heading back into the carriage.

  In my slumber I had a dream once again. This dream was familiar as I found myself once again in the scarlet pins that I encountered when I had awoken my technique.

  There I saw myself in front of a familiar face. I could tell it was my skeleton swordsman, but there was a few differences. The skeleton body looked a lot stronger than before and the armor was less unkempt. Finally, the biggest difference was the sword. Unlike before, the sword was now a lot sharper and much scarier to the eyes.

  It seemed like there was a beast trapped in the bde that wanted to sh out at anything around it. After a few seconds of silence, I heard a voice echo around.

  ???: On the Throne of Blood lies only one ruler. I have pced my hopes and wishes to you. At the cost of myself and my squad, I hope you may grow to be able to cim that seat and become ruler of all life.

  As I heard this, the pins around me started to crumble.

  ???: So it is already time... No matter. I have conveyed their wishes and will. Whether you can fulfill it is up to you. Your journey is uncertain. But, that is why we can pce our trust in you. Only a variable can lead us to the end of all things. May the flow of blood ever flow through our bodies and may our wills st forever.

  As he finished, the pins instantly crumbled and I woke up from my sleep.

  After taking a second to breathe, I noticed that I was already back in my room. After waiting a second, I called a maid over to take care of me. After calling, the door opened and Mifune walked in.

  Mifune: Dear Celine, were you calling?

  She said that with a cheerful expression. It seems that Mifune has gotten back to her usual self after venting.

  Celine: I just had a weird dream and I want to take a bath.

  Mifune nods and goes to prepare everything for my bath. After a few minutes she then leads me to the bath.

  Although it is not the first time I'll take a bath, but every time I look into a mirror and see this face I am reminded that I am truly in this world and not from my previous world. After some small chat and cleaning up, I finally finished my bath and left for the dining room. There, I saw both of my parents and the old maid waiting for my arrival.

  After I sat at my seat, we began eating and in the middle of eating my parents began asking about how I felt in this trip.

  Warren: How did you feel on your trip around the city?

  Celine: ... I think it was quite good. I saw so many different things. We mostly went shopping around and I even got a sword and a book with an unknown nguage.

  Hearing this, my parents was a little intrigued and dad asked to see it after our meal was finished. I nodded and we proceeded to eat our fill with some small talk interspersed in the middle. I even told him about our attack by the werewolves.

  Warren: I know. I already have people working on the situation. You won't need to worry about the situation that will happen next. You just need to focus on living your own life and any problems will be left to your parents to deal with.

  Melissa: Your dad is right. Even if things escate we can still take care of the situation.

  We then finished our meal and I lead my parents to my room and asked Mifune where the bde I got as well as the booklet were. After a second to think she went to grab a box and brought it over. In the box was all the things we bought on our trip and at the top were the bde and the booklet.

  I took out the bde to show off to my parents first. After waving it around a little, I put it down and took out the booklet. After I took it out, I opened it to show to my parents.

  After gncing at it, met father thought for a second before he said his answer.

  Warren: Is it... blood text? Maybe. Celine can I borrow this booklet for a while? I'll give you back one transted so you can read it.

  Celine: Sure dad. Before, I showed Mifune and she said she couldn't see it. Is it strange?

  Melissa: Blood text is a special way of recording things usually used by intelligence organizations among vampires to hide information. It was developed so that only vampires of a certain blood level can see it. It is understandable that she can't understand it.

  After a little chatting, I was finally left alone in the room. I sat on the bed for a little while before finally deciding to go practice first.

  I went ahead towards the training grounds like usual. Today there was fewer people than usual. I went to a more deserted space and once again activated my technique.

  Celine: Sanctuary of Blood.

  My pseudo domain expanded and the scarlet pin overtook the area around me. Compared to before, my domain seemed more real. Although the range hasn't changed, the domain feels more physical.

  After studying it for a bit, I finally decided to summon my skeleton swordsman. After a second, the skeleton rose from the ground. Like I thought, his appearance has now changed and became like in my dream.

  Celine: So do you grow as I grower do your changes depend on other variables?

  After thinking for a bit, I decided to stop thinking and begin practicing. After swinging my sword a few times, I noticed that the skeleton summon seemed different from before. I then decided to see what has changed for my skeleton summon.

  I called one of the stronger guards to test the strength of my new changed skeleton. I can now see that the changes on my summon is not just in appearance. Compared to before, the swordsman now officially has fighting spirit in it. Not only that, the weapons and armor have been updated and now the skeleton can now even use its own skills.

  I saw with my own eyes, the skeleton and guard both focused on the csh. Suddenly, a yer of light glowed on the bde of the skeleton. Originally, the bde was already coated in its fighting spirit, but now the spirit is transformed in appearance to a light like form. This change extends the reach of the bde as well as it's sharpness and also can be shot out as a homing ranged attack.

  After a long fight, the guard finally concedes due to exhaustion and the skeleton puts back its fighting spirit and weapon. After thanking the guard, I go back to practicing my blood sword as well as using my new secondary sword to compete with my new skeleton summon.

  Lots of losses ter I decide to finish my training and to return to my room. Although exhausted, I felt that it is only right to work hard. After seeing that battle between Mifune and that werewolf, I finally felt like I saw the danger in this world. Full of thoughts, I decided to sleep it all over and fell once again into a slumber.

  This dream, unlike before, now a normal dream of growing stronger and seeing more of what this world had to offer.

  ...

  While I was sleeping, over at my Father's side, my dad had began deciphering the booklet I had received.

  Warren: Emergency report.... action.. werewolves. Alliance? Werewolves have allied with a certain race as well as the vampire hunters to hunt down lower css vampires. I see.

  Warren then pointed to an empty space in a circle appears suddenly.

  Warren: Blood Oath - Summoning.

  From the circle a portal appears and small bck crow appeared before him. He then made a pulling motion towards his head and a light appeared from his head. After a little kneading he turned it into a paper like form and rolled it before getting a rope to tie the paper to the crow's foot.

  Warren: Send it to his majesty. You should know the coordinates.

  With a quick nod, the crow disappears into a cluster of feathers and the magic circle fades away.

  He sat there in calming silence before muttering aloud.

  Warren: It sure is an eventful season.

  Going to his desk, he presses a bell and the old maid appears holding a tea cup and warm teapot. She silently pours him a cup before stepping back.

  Taking a sip, he quietly thought about what changes he would need to do deep into the night.