The next day I sat at the window of my room, I hadn’t even slept both unable to because of my thoughts and something else. I suspected it was some sort of effect of the Vampire Baron class that might have influenced the amount of sleep I’d require. I hoped.

The other thing that had kept me up was my thoughts on what had happened in the catacombs as well as what that meant for the future. I clearly wasn’t as put together as I had thought I was, my… episode last night just the latest of the evidence to that effect.

Well, that and my embarrassment over the choice of song I had sung during that… episode in my behaviour. I just had to sing some emo like stuff didn’t I? It couldn’t have been Ganjaman, or some other messed up song… noooo, it had to have been two wrongs by eight graves. I still felt my ears burn at the thought of what Morice had come upon when I had lost control. Heck, I still had a hard time remembering what or even how I had managed to kill off the rest of the ghouls in the chamber. Only snippets of it here and there.

I looked at one of the notifications I had gotten and sighed. At least something good had come of it, I had learned a skill called bone control. It’s something like a sister skill to bone crafting but much more violent and rough around the edges. Apparently I can cause the bones in a corpse to explode out of it or to come together and sprout up from the corpse in an instant. Of course, as a necromancer, this isn’t ideal as it both leaves the bones unusable for me to craft with but it also can destroy a corpse I use it on.

Upside you ask? Well, no one certainly expects that a freaking bone spike shoots out of the corpse under you or explodes with bone shrapnel shooting everywhere after all. I think it somehow falls into the same category that causes people to look up so rarely. Everything we need to focus on is in front of us or a little bellow that, never right under or above us.

Perhaps that only works for the people back on earth as this world has its share of rather scary areal predators that aren’t afraid to make a meal of any man, elf or dwarf they come across. Despite that, it might combine with Bone crafting or some other skill later down the line but I don’t think I’ll focus too much on it, it’s too… what is the word? Focused? Specialized? Yes, it’s too specialized of a skill to reliably use in combat. Not to mention its rather wasteful.

Once I had digested that notification I looked out the window again as Akasha let out tiny little snores as she slept on the bed. I looked over at her and sighed, last night had also been a wake-up call, I had to be better. In every way possible for her.. and for Morice. It’s the least I could do for the guy after he put up with a lunatic like me as a master. I hadn't even really trusted him with my phylactery when I had handed him a ring back there.

I had let out Ashes late in the evening and had her fly towards Veta to scout it out for me as it would take maybe a week or so to get there on foot. If I used my skeletal steeds I’d have to move through unused routes which might hinder or aid in the journey so I’d earn a day or three maybe if it worked out? No I couldn’t do that to Akasha, I don’t think she’s ever really ridden a horse save that one ride with Svadilfara when we left the catacombs after the Black market incident.

I sighed and placed my hand on my face to rub at the sides of my temples with my middle finger and thumb, causing most of my hand to cover my eyes. I’d need to rent a carriage or make one somehow, and if I wanted to get any head start on what I wanted both Akasha and Morice to learn I’d need a private one. I intended to teach them English as it was much easier than Icelandic to learn but I’d teach them Icelandic before long. I intended to have my innermost circle able to speak the language since no one else would be able to understand us. Well, the last time I had spoken Icelandic to a human in this world they thought I was trying to cast a spell or something of the sort.

Thinking about that though made me look through my memories, of my family and friends I’d never get to see again. Those moments you share but never really realize you should cherish before they are gone. I still didn't know why I kept going back to the people I'd never see again.

One specific memory suddenly came to mind. I was seven, maybe eight sitting up against the couch wrapped up in my bedsheets and watching an old black and white movie with my grandfather. Robinson Crusoe I think it was, or some survivor on an island type movie. I remembered when my grandfather had nudged my shoulder and pointed at the screen with that smirk of his. “You see that? He worked with what he had and thrived. You should take a lesson from that.” It was one of his most favoured sayings, work with what you have and thrive with it. That and find three hobbies, one to earn money with, one to keep you in shape and another to simply enjoy. I missed him but then again despite the fact I missed everyone back on earth I had to get over it. It’s strange that it’s coming back now… perhaps Aona had somehow suppressed that in me?

I had a sad yet fond smile on my lips as I looked out the window as I remembered the old man. Then his words clicked. I had the knowledge I had managed to cram into my thick skull while on earth, an imagination built up of all the visual and written media from earth that was well past most here on Astarune. Not only those two but the training I had gone through while in Aona’s service was still in my head and my body seems to half-remember the fighting style I had built up as well as the skill I had worked hard to manage. Heck, I had managed to beat Ragnar in a duel once and that man didn’t let anyone win no matter the occasion, of course, he then went on to beat me six consecutive times after that but there was a foundation there to build upon.

I also have the council to rely on when it comes to my skill training as well as learning magic that’s been lost for centuries already. And finally, I had time.

I had almost easily a century to build up a foundation, to build forces, skills and the knowledge I’d need to utterly crush the entirety of the Wolfsgarde empire. I didn’t care about the people of the empire any more, knowingly or not they were complicit and wouldn’t really function all that well in an actually racially diverse culture unless humans were at the very top of some misguided hierarchy. I laughed to myself, thinking of how much of a cow those idiots screaming for diversity back on earth would have if they came to this one. Then I frowned, they’d probably try to do something similar to Wolfsgarde’s current culture because in the end all that talk of diversity was aimed at isolating culture groups into their own niches. At least that was my take away from the whole debacle during the late 2010’s but then again I hadn’t paid it much attention.

I shook my head, I needed to prioritize, plan and stick to said plan. First things first, get my corruption looked at and healed if possible. Doing so might be easier in Veta as it’s supposedly a huge city with a prestigious number of schools and academies. Not only a magically and martially active capital but its religions standing was large, it has Aona’s followers there as well. If I can trick one of their more gullible but high ranking members to look at and possibly cure me then I won’t have such a tight time frame to work with. I’d never be able to even travel to Wolfsgarde in under three months.

Imerith is a huge continent, from here to Wolfsgard it’s like… walking from the southwesternmost tip of Spain to the very northern tip of Germany. If I had to guess this continent is about the size of Europe with parts of Siberia and the middle east thrown in.

So then what I’ll focus on is trying to find out more information about and hopefully manage to cure my corruption in Veta. From there I’ll gather every scrap of knowledge I can get my hands on from architecture, engineering, war, economics and magic I can get my hands on.

Despite my own mind, the people of this world aren’t stupid, after all, they managed to summon beings from other worlds on their own and have kingdoms and empires all of their own. Idiots wouldn’t have been able to have them last for so long after all and neither would they be able to use magic as they do.

The kingdoms were also usually ruled by a very strong king or queen which not only have the smarts but raw power needed to keep the nobility in line. I needed to learn everything I could, I needed to know how to act like a noble, a king even. I needed the knowledge to build castles and fortresses on par if not better than what the other kingdoms can bring to bear as well.

Say what one wants about democracy, monarchies usually get shit done, almost no matter how horrible the person at the top is or their intentions on how to govern are.

I think I’ll focus on quality now rather than quantity. Build up my inner circle, make the prototypes to the types of units I’ll have made en masse. The rank and file and their commanders would need polishing. Tactics using the strengths of the undead, build up spy rings maybe a few cults to do my bidding to disrupt a territory before I invade.

I’d require all sorts of magic as well, hmm perhaps I’d make small demon like undead to go around the continent and copy any grimoire or books I’d require. If I do that I’ll have to make sure I have a rather huge library wing in the place I end up having as my base of operations. Perhaps I’ll have to make several extra bases were I’ll have copies of my library within.

I had stood up by this point and was almost pacing back and forth in the room as I thought. Then a soft inhale and exhale from Akasha made me halt. “I guess I’ll also have to learn how to be a proper noble parent as well don’t I?” I muttered to myself as I rubbed the side of my face and sighed.

The future is bright and the future seems boring at the same time. Then another memory came to mind. One of my conversations about elves I had with Silv before her death. Elves can take up to two to three times longer to grow up into adults than it takes for humans. Depending on the sub-race of the elf in question they age 1 year for every two or three until they stop ageing at the apparent age of twenty.

Though I look twenty-five or six years of age… and I’m a Dökk Alfur. An elf of my race would only age one year for every century or so that might mean those that know about elves would think I was at least five or six hundred years old. Damn it, another thing to learn to act like, it just keeps piling up, doesn’t it. Wait, wouldn’t that mean Akasha’s at something like twenty years old already?

(Akasha Von Carstein)

She sat before him, his nose buried in a book with strange symbols all over them and a depiction the outline of a human body sitting cross-legged. He’d barely touched his food and she’d even managed to steal his plate without him even realizing it. She looked over to Morice who looked at Vlad… no her father, something she hadn’t gotten used to thinking just yet, with a strange look in his eyes.

“Father.” She asked in a small voice and flinched a little involuntarily as his eyes turned from the book to herself. His eyes had a flash of red in them before they turned to his normal light grey hue. She swallowed a little and then rubbed her neck. “Aren’t you hungry?” She said as she pointed at the clean plate bellow the book in his hands.

“Hm?” Vlad let out as he closed the book, his thumb still inside it to keep his place. “I hadn’t noticed...” He muttered and then looked genuinely worried as he moved his freed hand down to his stomach and a strange look come over his face.

Without anyone being able to react he reached over and stole the last piece of toast on Akasha’s plate and placed it into his mouth. “Oh thank fu- er… the gods.” He let out in a sigh of relief. “I can at least still taste.” He said and let out another sigh of relief.

Morice seemed to know what he was talking about and pointed at Vlad. “That class you got in the catacombs right.” He asked and a nod from Vlad made him take on a pensive look. “Anything else that’s strange?” He then asked.

“Well I didn’t manage to get a wink of sleep last night.” Vlad replied as he sighed a little. “Now I don’t really feel hungry but I can eat… food at least.” He said almost grimacing.

Akasha looked between the two men and then pouted. “It’s not nice to keep secrets.” She huffed as she looked at Vlad with a lopsided frown, which made him stifle a laugh with his fist to his lips.

“Its something that neither myself nor Morice have gotten any proper information about.” He said as he grew a small but kind smile. “I wouldn't want to tell you something that might not be true in the end so I’ll tell you when we have it figured out all right.” His voice made her breathe out her nose as she leaned back into the chair she sat on.

“Then what about that book your reading? I’ve never seen that language before.” Akasha said grumpily as she pointed at the strange book in Vlad’s hands, it didn’t look leather bound at all like most books did. It was like a wooden board had simply been used as the cover and lightly painted.

“Hm? This?” Vlad said as he raised up the book and at both Akashas and Morice’s nods he cracked a humorous grin. “I’m researching some stuff to teach the both of you at a later date. I think it’s a better way to...” He paused as he looked from Morice to Akasha then shook his head. “No, I’m going to have to test if any of this stuff works before even thinking about teaching it to you two.” He said shaking his head as if he had way to many problems to deal with.

“Hey.” Both Akasha and Morice said in unison as they half glared at Vlad. “I’m already thirty years old you know.” Morice said as he crossed his hands over his chest. “I’m not some kid that you have to baby, what are you researching?” He said and Akasha had to keep her own giggle in check as Morice did look rather a lot like one of those kids that had thrown a tantrum when she had gone out shopping for clothes with Vlad a few days ago.

Vlad had a knowing smirk on his lips before he opened the book were he had his thumb still inside of and showed both of them. On the opening was a very detailed diagram of a human body with strange tubes moving from small circles dotted around it. “Can you understand what this is?” Vlad asked Morice with a little grin on his lips.

“Uh… n-no.” Morice said dejectedly after looking over the open book.

“Its something related to Ekusuth, the most eastern continent of this world. They managed to somehow turn the ambient mana in their lands to some sort of spiritual energy and use that to imbue and empower their own bodies alongside martial and magical type skills. I’m trying to figure out a way to do that with mana itself, something like what I think the magic knights do with their spells but permanent empowering.” Vlad said while Akasha’s head spun a little.

“Wait Ekusuth? I thought Imerith was the only land on Astarune and whats a continent?” Morice said with a confused look which only made Vlad give them a sad yet strange smile.

“I’ll teach that to you when we are on the road. We’ll need to hire a private carriage for our journey to Veta. We also require some clothing fit for nobility…” He paused as he stared at Morice for a moment. “Should I pass you off as my oldest son while there?” He then asked as he looked Morice over.

“You do look a little like father and son, you know but only look wise.” The voice came from behind Akasha and she arched her head back to look behind and up at Leila standing there behind her with a plate of food for Akasha and two mugs of ale for the men.

“I think maybe the two of you are related way back in your families.” She said with a smile as she put the plate and mugs down before going off to serve others.

Morice and Vlad looked at one another and Akasha thought of the fantastical story Vlad had made up when telling Morice about himself. Though she had been too focused on eating at the time so she hadn’t heard much of it. She still found it very hard to believe, after all the gods didn’t interfere with the mortals in this world. Otherwise she wouldn’t have had to be born and live as a slave for almost eighteen years before Vlad took her in.

“You did mention you had no idea where you got that body from right?” Morices question caught Akasha off guard, did he believe the story Vlad had told him.

Vlad nodded a little. “I did, maybe there is some truth to it? But anyway we’ll need aliases for when we are in Veta. I’ve been careless in using the Von Carstein name up to this point and I feel we’ll need an alias to go by while in Veta for our protection later on.”

“Aliases? Is that like a fake name or something?” Akasha asked before Morice and got a smile and chuckle from Vlad as he reached over the table and ruffled her hair. Something she was not at all happy with.

“That’s right, I think passing us all of as a family of nobility from some lost or unknown land might work. We’ll have to figure out the names as well as the family crest… and I still haven’t even gotten the crest for the Von Carstein’s done yet either.” He explained before leaning back and sighing heavily. “It just keeps piling up.” He muttered as he rubbed his forehead.

“We can take a break you know, just relax for a few days while we get everything sorted.” Morice said as he chuckled at Vlad’s tired appearance.

“Yeah I’m going to have to cram some of the etiquette lessons I had into the two of you as well.” He said with an almost growl like sigh before he retrieved a small bone from thin air and shaped it into a small thin and flat shape that fit perfectly in between the pages of his book that he then made disappear as well.

“But first, food.” With a clap of his hands, he smiled at Akasha and the two had to fight over the last plate of food while Morice laughed at their antics.

By the time they had left the inn, it was already an hour or two till midday and Akasha let in an excited breath as she was placed on Vlad’s shoulders. Sitting there raised above the people of the street as they walked down them she could see so far and so much more than while she walked.

“Enjoying the view?” Vlad asked as he walked and with a firm yes from Akasha he laughed happily. “You know my father and grandfathers used to do this to me when we went out while I was smaller than you Akasha. We’d go and see places or eat good food together or even go to amusement parks. I hope I can give you memories like that.”

Akashas looked down and heard the off-tone of his voice as he spoke. Much like Akasha it seemed to her that Vlad missed his family too, terribly so. With a firm resolve she but a smile on her face and hugged Vlad’s head as she rode his shoulders. “Sure, Then let’s go shopping again.” She said with an almost forced smile and happy giggle.

The little girl not noticing the worried gaze from Morice at the two of them.

They walked through the market place and entered a few stores. Akasha always allowed to run free while in the stores as Morice and Vlad spoke between one another on what to buy. At one store the two became engrossed with a clerk at a speciality jewellers shop. Akasha decided to try to go in stealthily under one of the large exhibition tables on the floor, just close enough to hear them speak while remaining unseen.

“So I’m going to need three rings made with this crest and another three with this one.” Vlad said holding up two white coins. Akasha looked at them and realized those seemed to be made out of bone. She found it an aspect she was scared of when it came to Vlad.

“Hmm I can but I think I’ll have to make a mould of the prototypes before I can go into it further.” The clerk said as he placed one hand on his hip and another to his chin as he observed the coins and the sigils upon them.

“How would you go about making the mould anyway?” Morice asked as he seemed to be in just about as much thought as the other two men.

“Hmm well, I create it by creating the mould in two parts out of clay which I then harden to allow for pouring the metal. Once that is done I work on the ring, I can also create a stamp out of the sigil which can be placed on several different types of ring bases we have.” The clerk replied and Vlad and Morice looked at one another and smiled a little.

Then they went on to talk and set things in stone and the clerk accepted two different rings of bone to be recreated with half an obsidian steel ingot as well as the two stamps of bone to make a stamp mould with. Akasha even got to pick out a pair of different ring bases which she found really strange but fun.

As they left the store she held onto Vlad’s hand and she looked up at him. “Why were you buying rings?” She asked him with curiosity, her small hand enveloped by his own.

“It is something that is very important to nobles. A sigil or family crest is often used to allow them to distinguish themselves and the history of their families. Having rings with our crest on will allow us to pass as nobles until we become nobles later.” He said with a smile.

“Become nobles later?” Akasha asked. “I thought you were a noble.” Her voice one of curiosity but also confusion.

“Well if I were to put it into a technical term.” He began before pausing a bit and tapped at his chin with his free hands index finger. “I think might be considered a fallen noble. I am without land, subjects nor castle or something of the sort. It is something I’m going to have to gain by my own power. So I think perhaps you could call me a self-made noble.” He said and smiled at the strange look Akasha gave him.

“So you aren’t really considered a noble… but others won’t know that if we dress and act like them?” At Vlads nod and impressed expression, she smiled and continued. “So why do you want to go to Veta?” She finally asked.

Akasha almost yelped as she was picked up and held by one hand against his chest. “Well, there are a few reasons I want to go there. I’m… sick and I hope to find a cure there. I also want to en-roll all of us in different schools to learn from both the schools and most likely the nobles that will be there. I’ll try to teach you two as much as I can on the way to Veta and once there I hope we’ll have enough time to get a property and finish teaching the two of you enough before we go to the schools.” Vlad then explained as they looked through the window of a tailors shop.

Akasha looked through the window before looking at Vlad’s face and then down at the top of his shoulder. She was silent for a few minutes as Vlad continued on and went past a few more stores. “Vl-… Father… Are you really a necromancer?” She asked when there wasn’t anyone but Morice and Vlad around. Morice looked at her and looked around with just a hint of panic before settling down once he realized there wasn’t anyone around to hear.

Vlad stiffened for just a second but she could feel his muscles stiffen under her and she felt she might have asked something bad before Vlad chuckled a little. “You’re quite smart aren’t you?” He responded with a pleasantly surprised smile. “You already know I’m a necromancer as you’ve gotten a ride on Svadilfari, my bone horse after all. You are just being a little imp by asking this.” He said before placing his finger onto her nose in a teasing flick.

At Morice’s confused expression Vlad elaborated. “She’s smart to ask this question when no one could overhear her and I’m also curious Akasha, why do you ask?”

Akasha felt her ears burn a little at the sudden attention to her, mostly because it was genuine interest not scornful or any of the sort she was fully used to. “W-Well… because I thought Necromancers are banned and… evil.” She said looking down before looking up at Vlad with an earnest look to her eyes. “Are you evil Vlad?” She asked and Vlad looked a bit taken aback by the question.

After a few long seconds of silence, Vlad got his thoughts together and sighed with a defeated smile. “Most would or will come to think of me as evil. Especially considering what I plan to do.” He said before he ran his free hands fingers through his hair before stopping with his palm against his forehead.

“Akasha I can’t tell you if I’m evil or good, because the world really doesn’t work like that. People throw the words good and evil according to their own beliefs so you will have to figure it out for yourself. What I can tell you is this, Akasha I’ve decided to take you in as my daughter and while we will have to get used to one another I can promise you this.” He paused and leaned in to kiss Akasha’s forehead. “I’ll treat you like my daughter no matter what you think of me, I’ll always try to do what I think is best for you but you’ll have to help me out from your end too.” He said as his lips turned into a thin smile.

Akasha simply stared at Vlad. It was the first time someone had actually talked to her, not at her. The kiss to her forehead made her feel strange and confused.

Morice cleared his throat and then gave Vlad a look. “You know, your really strange Vlad.” He said as he grew an amused smirk at the look Vlad gave him. “You say the weirdest things after all, not even sparing the feelings of a child.” He said and Akasha had to begin laughing at the disbelief on Vlads face.

“Way to kill the mood.” Vlad sighed before pointing back the way they came. “Let’s just get the clothing done and then we can see about a carriage for the trip.” Vlad sounded a little defeated as they made their way towards the store.

“We are all going to need better clothes as well our need to get used to wearing them.” He said as he simply walked.

Both Akasha and Morice chuckled and giggled at his sullen and dissatisfied expression as Vlad made his way to the tailor’s shop. Akasha though thought that she liked what Vlad had said, after all, slavers rarely treated their slaves with any kind of kindness or like they were actual people. Still giggling she placed her face into his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so horrible after all, to his daughter instead of a slave.

(Vlad Von Carstein)

“Is this really necessary?” I asked as I was being measured, for the sixth time. The young woman who worked in the tailor’s shop. She had taken my measurements several times now but never the same way twice.

“It is! You have this… air about you that I want to make sure will also be reflected in your clothes.” The young human girl said when she finally had the last measurements and went back into the store were a small cadre of six other young women who giggled after letting Morice and Akasha go from their clutches. Morice a very flustered man as three of those women had been rather thorough in their measuring of him.

Akasha was still in their clutches as the women seemed rather fond of her. Fawning over the flustered girl.

I smirked at him, karma’s a bitch isn’t she. I was still a little sore over how he had ruined the moment I had with Akasha. He gave me a little glare when I smirked at him but then the elderly matron came up to us. “Hmm so is there a particular style you wish to go with for your clothing?” She asked as she gave me a little knowing grin as she looked back at the girl who had been measuring me, I had a suspicion that she hadn’t needed to do quite so many.

“What do you have in terms of styles?” I asked with curiosity and the grin on her face made me feel that she was very proud of her work.

Handing over a sort of booklet or catalogue I should say she began to direct me through several different styles. Many racial types of clothing such as the Anubi race having a sort of sash around their shoulders which would let out a small cape that would reach down to their waist but would barely cover half their backs.

I was fascinated by it all, Ljós Alfar seemed more directed towards robes or voluminous clothing, whereas the dwarves had a sort of embedded metal plates as decoration to thick clothing suitable to living in the upper regions of mountains and the like.

I ended up deciding upon the Dökk Alfar type of fashion a sort of Victorian type style of clothing. With a white under-shirt and a black vest paired with a blue solid Ascot like tie with a black pair of trousers and calf-high dress boots. Then to top that off I chose a solid double-breasted frock coat that reached down to my calf's with a top hat.

With a small smile, I handed over the Ogrewolf head shoulder guard cape to make it into something like those fancy fur capes with the head of the animal coming down one shoulder and the fur just over the shoulders.

“I’m going to need a cane aren’t I?” I asked while looking at the matron of the tailoring shop who chuckled almost like a witch at my question.

“I’ll make this as your main outfit is there a crest you wish to have emblazoned on the chest of your coat? I can also add different colours and type of clothing for a full basic wardrobe if you wish.”She said with a smile as she looked from me to Morice.

“How long would it take for you to make enough for a simple wardrobe?” Morice asked as he took out the two bone sigil coins I had made after talking that out with him earlier in the morning and handed them over.

“Hmm, two days and I think I’ll be able to give you a total of eight full outfits for all three of you my lords.” She said and bowed a little to both me and Morice, causing me to raise an eyebrow but Morice beat me to asking her.

“Why do you refer to us as lords?” He asked though he did seem to straighten his back a little after looking at how I had my own body postured.

“Well...” She hesitated a little before pointing at me. “Your father here has the class of baron right? He is beginning to act in accordance with his aura of majesty skill that most noble classes have. I call you lords as I think you are newly made nobility.” She said with a gentle curtsy.

Both Morice and I looked at one another and silently I communicated with him to not react. “Is it that obvious?” I asked with a light smile. It was a surprise that my posture and the way I moved was being affected by the aura of dark majesty. It might make it easier for me to blend in with nobility if I have a passive skill to help with my body movements. That, however, raises another question, what is the difference between dark majesty and the simple majesty skills.

Before I could think too much about it a clanking sound came from the door into the tailors. It was a slightly pudgy man with a full beard, reminding me just a bit of a younger Brian Blessed in his appearance. “Oh, Mayor Dunleavy! What can I do for you today?” The matron’s words caused me to do a double-take at the man. A Dunleavy? How prolific is this family?!

“Any relation to the late Elliot Dunleavy?” Morice asked and I wanted to turn and smack the back of his head. The man got a small but sad smile.

“Yes he was my young nephew. I was heartbroken when I had to report to his father about his death.” The man said as he sighed heavily, though he soon was a little surprised as I smacked the back of Morice’s head.

“A man doesn’t want to remember but the better times of their departed loved ones,” I growled with narrowed eyes as I stared down at Morice who grew a little pale at my gaze. I sighed and looked over to the mayor and smiled helplessly. “Please excuse my son, he is still young. My apologies.” I said with a slight bow of my head. “My name is Felix Aesir, a new baron of a land in the far north.”

“The north? With those savage north men or do you refer to the northeastern country of Lylathas?” The mayor said before he seemed to realize something and gave a slight bow to me as well. “I am terribly sorry, my name is Olivier Dunleavy.” When he did that I noticed his clothing, it was very close to what I’d seen in media of fantasy worlds when it came to nobility and what they’d wear. Except of course for the large necklace that went around his upper chest and over his shoulders that looked to be made of connected squares with a large hexagon in the middle.

What had caught my eye was what was embedded into the hexagon, a diamond-shaped gem that seemed to faintly glow with multicoloured light. While my mana senses weren’t as highly honed nor as developed as they had back when I was human I could feel the strange sort of mana coming from this jewel.

“Somewhere in between the Sparkling expanse, I believe it’s called.” I replied as I looked him over.

Olivier shook his head. “I feel you’ve been played rather badly, my friend. It is a wasteland of nearly unusable land that somehow keeps a film of frost even in the height of summer.” He said as he seemed to be sympathetic to my blatant lie.

“So it does seem. I shall see if I can’t learn anything that might help me on my way there and if not I’ll have to find another place.” I said looking a bit sullen before I took a step towards Olivier and gestured towards the gem. “I am sorry if this might be considered an insult to you and if it is I do apologize but what is that?”

Olivier looked at me strangely before he gestured towards the gem with pride. “This is a land gem. I was granted this by king Augustus Alocia himself. It grants me the right to rule Bedelev and it’s surrounding lands. I’m surprised you haven’t been given a gem like this to take your granted lands.” He said and he got a suspicious look to his eyes as he finished.

“Well if it’s as valuable as you say it is, I doubt I’d be granted one until I actually reached my lands now would I?” I asked with a disarming smile, though a bit of panic seeping into my mind.

He seemed deep in thought before grunting a little and smiling. “Ay, I suppose that is true. Shame though, getting a head start on getting your lands up and going would be very beneficial to you.”

I almost hid the light smile on my lips. “You don’t say? Well, I’ll have to try and figure out more about these land stones on my travels.” I said and as I saw that Akahsa was done being measured I paid the matronly woman of the tailor’s shop before bidding farewell to Olivier.

Playing my rush to leave as my need to get going with a lie that I had today to finish getting my preparations to travel tomorrow.

I smiled a little, it seems the rumours about the mayor I’d heard last night at the inn were a little off. Besides that though I’d rather not deal with more Dunleavy’s if they were as powerful a noble family as I suspected they might be. I still had to wonder though, why did that man come by the tailor’s shop and alone at that. He might be shrewder than I thought.

We finished getting everything ready after that, even bought a carriage of our own and got a coachman to take us to Veta. The only problem was it would take four days to get everything packed and ready for the trip. Even in a world with storage rings and magic it seemed bureaucracy was determined to just ruin one’s day.

Instead, I made a few plans and lazed around the inn for most of that time. I did go back to the matronly tailor and asked for something similar to those cultivator robes I’d seen and read about in many of the Wuxia tales back from earth. I had two made for myself, Morice and Akasha so that we had clothes to actually train in once I had their education program with martial and magical arts set in my mind.

During those four days, I also got to work on teaching Morice and Akasha English and meditation for mana cultivation as I decided to call it. I even learned through that, that I could create these small illusions with mana and shadows, though it was only very basic shapes like shadow puppets on a wall and the like.

Akasha loved when I began to tell her small stories before bedtime on the second day. Using the small illusions to illustrate the stories I told her. I focused on stories with a lesson in them, such as the tortoise and the hare or the frog and scorpion.

By the end, I had even managed to make the small illusions let out small sounds, though I had to provide the breath to create the sound. Perhaps if I learned some air or wind magic, whichever it is they call it here, I could make these actually useful? Perhaps I’ll be able to recreate some of the music I loved to listen to back on earth.

As the midday of the fourth day arrived I hugged Leila and shook hands with Aldis as we left. Dressed up as nobility to the delight of Akasha who wore a small blue dress that was just the right type for a travelling noble lady. The Crest of the Aesir household emblazoned on my and Morices’s left breast pockets, an image in the bust of an ogerwolf howling up into the air. The ogrewolf cape that the tailor had made out of my shoulder guard was fantastic. The fur just around my shoulders and the upper parts of my back with the ogrewolve’s head serving as a makeshift pauldron over my left shoulder with a grey cape flowing out behind me.

Then with a knock of the hilt of my sword at the wall behind me, the carriage went ahead and we were off to the next part of our journey. A thin yet almost toothy smile on my lips as I looked out at the graveyard as we passed it. I wondered if Akahsa had enjoyed the little surprise show I had put on for her last night.

Then with a small exhale of relaxation I looked on and wondered what Veta would have in store for me and my goals.