Time went by after Mia joined the family. With the knowledge, she had gathered through her life their living circumstances improved a lot. Inside the cave, they built a small house by cutting some trees outside and making them into proper planks. Who would have guessed elves are quite proficient woodworkers and excel at forestry. Mia is also somewhat skilled at sewing and leatherworking. Thanks to her, Lilith didn’t have to go around with ragged pelts as clothing anymore. As a matter of fact, Mia enjoys dressing up Lilith like a doll.

Since Lilith had planned to live the house from the beginning it wasn’t all that big. Actually, it would be better to call it a hut, with a room filled with soft pelts for bedding. A rough-looking kitchen and a latrine a bit further outside the cave. They also made a small orchard for spices and veggies. Even though none of them needs a balanced diet they can still enjoy the taste of good food. Because of this Mia insisted on expanding their meal repertoire.

Like that three more years went by. Lilith is now fifteen years old. However, maybe because she is a vampire now her body hasn’t developed much. She looks thirteen years old and as delicate as a flower. Now they are getting ready to leave their cosy hut. Mia is worried about leaving since she can’t be a hundred persent sure that her master will be safe. However, she can’t or rather she doesn’t wish to go against her master’s wishes.

Actually, Shadow, Silver, Sapphire and Mia are no longer thralls. Not long after Mia joined the family Lilith felt curious about something she told her. It was about soul abilities. The ability inherent to every living being’s soul, that is as long as the soul is strong enough. Mia guessed that Lilith’s vampiric abilities had something to do with her soul ability. They tested a few things and discovered something very important.

If Lilith drinks someone’s blood but not enough to endanger their life they won’t become thralls. Second, Mia and the others can’t make new thralls, or at least they couldn’t until recent events. Lilith discovered that if one of her thralls drinks her blood they will change. Mia was the first to drink a few drops of Lilith blood during a cooking accident. After the event, Mia’s eye colour changed becoming lighter to a nice carmine.

That wasn’t all, she became slightly stronger too and suddenly gained the ability to make new thralls. Her obsession over Lilith subsided a little as well, regaining some freedom of thought. After that Lilith decided to give some of her blood to the others as well. After that, they determined that Mia and the other’s weren’t thralls anymore. So, after a long discussion, it was decided to call them dhampirs instead.

Now Lilith is carrying Silver in her arms, Shadow is in the hoody of her new cloak that Mia sewed for her and Saphire is on her head. Mia, on the other hand, has a maid dress she made herself and is currently standing next to Lilith with a giant backpack on her back. Lilith is wearing a fancy brown corset over her white long-sleeved shirt with a cute thigh-high skirt. Tigh-high socks the accentuate her absolute territory and a pair of brown boots. Looking at her any man could have his heart stolen if not for the fact she looks thirteen years old.

“Master, everything is ready for our leave. I will ask once more, are you sure you want to leave? It’s safe here and we can continue living peacefully and happily”

“Come on Mia, you are such a worrywart. I already told you it will be fine. Also, I want to see the world and make friends”

“I see, then let’s go”

Since Lilith wasn’t going to change her mind Mia didn’t bother insisting any more. She knew her master would sooner or later leave to rejoin society. She just wished it would have been a bit later when her beloved master grew a bit more. In her eyes, she saw the small and seemingly weak body of her master and couldn’t help but worry despite knowing that that weak body held more power than her own.

“So, master, have you thought of what to do when we reach Tarkove? It has been three years since my parties disappearance but chances are they may still recognise me if we go to the adventurers guild”

“About that, let’s avoid Tarkove and go to the next town, that should solve the problem shouldn’t it?”

“We could but the next to is at a six-day walk if I am not wrong. From what I remember its name is Ninalun and it is a bit bigger than Tarkove. If we go there at full speed from here it should take us five days maybe four”

“Then it’s settled we will be going to Ninalun!”

A bright small filled Lilith’s face which made Mia’s heart to melt. After becoming a dhampir Mia’s obsession over Lilith had receded a bit, however, that did not mean she loved her less. In Mia’s heart, Lilith was like an angel that she had been blessed with. She felt as if she had a second chance to take care of her little sister and this time she would not fail. Because of this Mia’s heart couldn’t help but flutter each time Lilith gave her that bright smile.

Five days went by in no time and soon they reached the town of Ninalun. Since neither of them had identifications they had to pay a silver coin for a provisional one. Thankfully, Sapphire and the others were in their small forms otherwise things could have become complicated. After all, who would say anything about a small girl and her little pets? As for where they got the two silver for the provisional identification, let’s just say thank you to the deceased Evangeline and Stan.

“The walls are so big! and there are so many people here!”

“I am guessing this is the first time master has been to town. You know, cities have even bigger walls and even more people!”

It truly was Lilith’s first time in town. After all, when her parents were still alive they had always hidden in small villages to avoid unwanted attention. Now, their daughter had set foot in town for the first time and she was already gathering some attention to herself. You know, Silver hair and red eyes can be quite eye catching and here there were two people with red eyes and one with silver hair.

They continued walking while gathering attention. Thankfully no one bothered them since they were just an odd kid and her servant. Even though they might be interesting to look at that was about it, no need to get involved with the odd pair. Because of this, they could freely walk the streets until reaching the Liberty Association otherwise known as the adventurers guild.

“Welcome, what may I help you with today”

“Yes, we came to register and sell some stuff”

The first one to talk was the nice receptionist lady, a beast-kin of the feline tribe, her hair a soft brown colour with honey eyes. Her ears would twitch from time to time causing a desire to pet her to grow inside anyone. The one to answer was an excited Lilith that was trying her best to sound composed despite her slightly sparkling eyes.

“I see, I will have you know that you need to be at least fifteen year’s old to be able to do subjugation quests, otherwise you can only do gathering quests”

“It’s fine, I may not look like it but I am actually fifteen”

Lilith gave the receptionist a bright smile while feeling the information inside the form she was given. She had learned how to read and write from her parents, however, do to the two years inside the forest before meeting Mia she had forgotten most of it. Thankfully Mia helped her remember most of it so she can read and write albeit with a bit of trouble from time to time.

Mia also filled her form with the about the same information she had in her past adventurer’s card. Since she had gone missing for three years her adventurer’s card has long expired and all information about her should be gone so no worries there.

Next the two of them pricked their fingers with a needle and dripped a drop of blood in their respective cards attuning them to their own magical and lifeforce wave. Now that the process had been completed they were proper adventurers as of now. However, trouble always follows when someone young or weak-looking registers into the guild.

Since the guild is not responsible for non-violent actions within the guild some veterans take their time to intimidate newcomers, especially so the young and weak-looking ones. Now, what do we have here? A weak-looking thirteen-year-old, though she is actually fifteen years old, and her maid who also looks weak. Of course, someone would come to cause trouble!

“Hey missy, the guild is no place for kids to play. You could get hurt, how about you pay us a protection fee so we help you keep safe? After all, we are really responsible uncles”

“There is no need, she is under my protection, if there is something I can’t deal with, I doubt you will be able too”

A large muscular man with a heavy-looking sword on his back had approached Lilith and Mia thinking they were the kid of a rich noble and her servant. Of course, he tried to intimidate and extort money out of this presumably rich noble lady that wanted to play adventurer. However, Mia was having none of it. She had also been bullied when she started as an adventurer, she would not allow the same to happen to her master.

“Oh? really? I think I should teach you a lesson. Otherwise, you might get yourself and that young lady over there killed”

“I am warning you, try anything funny and I will break a few of your bones”

One could see the sparks flying between the two’s eyes. The man was prideful and having a weak-looking woman threaten him was too much for him to take. It was obvious a fight is about to break loose.