POV: Geoffrey

Marca masterfully blocks my axe swing with her shield as usual.

Clang

You'd never expect that little buckler to hold up to my big axe like that but it does.

Clang

"Are you watching, Anna? As you can see..."

Clang

"...a proper defense is important."

"I'm not sure what exactly I should learn here. I don't use a weapon like you two."

Marca steps aside and my axe misses by a wide margin. She doesn't let that opportunity to go waste.

Thwack

You have taken 234 damage.

"Damnit, didn't pay attention."

Marca puts her sword away, "Really, Geoffrey, what's up with you? Lately, your skills are just lacking. All the progress you made since gaining your 'Axe Expert' title is just gone."

I don't feel like my skills have gotten worse, have they?

I put my axe away as well.

"You think so? Maybe you've just gotten better as well."

Marca dismisses the thought, "As if. One extra level in Ranger does nothing of worth for my sword skills, have neither gained a title nor thought of any new tricks. You've just become rusty."

"I don't really feel I have. I feel as fit as ever."

Anna interrupts us, "Why are you two fighting?"

Marca answers her, "It is nothing serious, Anna. Papa bear here is just not on top of his game lately."

"He doesn't look like a bear to me."

Marca pats Anna's head, "It is just a nickname. Don't think too hard about it."

"Huh, ok. So what exactly is wrong? It looked to me only like you got a lucky hit on him."

I wish it was just luck...

"...no, she's right. Something is off. Earlier I would never have missed by that much and left myself open like that."

"I wouldn't say 'never'. You made similar mistakes before you got your 'Axe Expert' title half a year ago."

Anna asks, "What does that title do?"

"Well, it increases my skill with axes. You know, it increases my accuracy, makes it easier for me to parry with them, stuff like that. Though only to a small degree."

"Ah, okay."

"Eh, I need a distraction. Anna, are you up for a round of hand-to-hand sparring?"

Marca just shakes her head dismissively.

"Yeah, sure. Teach me something!"

"Good, come here!"

We start fighting and throwing swings at each other which we both manage to block.

She is getting better at this. I think. I'm no expert in unarmed fighting, you would have to ask someone like Therese for that.

But at least if you ask me, Anna is clearly making progress.

...or maybe not as much as I thought. Quite early, one of my punches gets through.

You have inflicted 229 damage to Anna.

"Ow! Can't you hold back a bit? I don't have nearly as much HP as you two!"

"Ah, sorry, Anna. I was a bit distracted. And, uh, what is this 'holding back' thing?"

The little cat girl is angry with me, "Are you serious? Ugh, you just have to not put your full force behind an attack aimed at me..."

"I... don't think that is a thing. Marca?"

"Yeah, you either hit or you don't. Something like a voluntarily weaker attack does not exist."

"That... is dumb."

A strange idea. Why wouldn't you want to deal full damage?

Okay, for training but normally you have proper training weapons and they didn't have some ready for unarmed combatants...

"Wanna still continue, Anna?"

"...yeah, but please pay a bit more attention. I have only 1557 HP left."

"Yeah, sorry, I'll pay more attention."

We brawl a bit more.

Soon she finally lands a hit on me.

You have taken 133 damage.

Anna is cheerful, "There, payback!"

She throws her arms up in triumph leaving her wide open, so I poke her with a finger.

You have inflicted 229 damage to Anna.

"What did I say about celebrating before the battle is won?"

"Grrr... right... you said that."

"And as you saw, it doesn't even matter whether I land a full punch or do only a finger poke, the damage is the same. So 'holding back' is literally not an option, little girl."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, 'dad'."

"Dad? What's that?"

"Hmpf, forget it", she sulks.

Another strange word... I wonder what it means, probably something that only exists in her world.

Maybe someday she'll feel like explaining to us what she means by it.

"Wanna continue?"

"Nah, if it continues like this you'll kill me before long. So... I think I'll stick with the training dummy for now."

She goes to the weapon stand and grabs a training sword.

"Yeah do that. ...and sorry but I wanted to drill caution into you. If you ever have to face monsters they will not hold back just because you're young."

"I know, I know. But you two will be there to help me out, right?"

"Yeah, we will."

Anna runs off to show the dummy what's for, leaving me and Marca to ourselves.

Marca is done observing me, "It is strange, with the axe you have become worse but in hand-to-hand you're as good as ever... did you somehow lose your 'Axe Master' title?"

"That is not possible. You know as well as I do that you can't remove titles once you've got them. I'm probably just shaken up because of... the vampire situation. And I only looked good in that brawl because Anna is just too inexperienced to be a proper measure."

"You think so? I mean... I get that... I'd also prefer if our 'Lost One' was more... normal."

So do I, Marca, so do I...

"Well, that is not our choice to make. And we've already decided to help them, right?"

Marca seems lost in thought, "Yeah, but I still don't know what the vampires are really plotting. I know that their doing is god-approved but that scares me even more..."

"What do you mean, dear?"

"Just because god is fine with what they have planned doesn't mean we won't end up living in a tyranny led by undead or monstrosities. Possibly the whole world could just end under their dreadful rule..."

"I think we can trust them enough... no matter what they'll do everything will turn out for the better."

"I hope you're right, Geoffrey..."

I don't think we're making a mistake here. Chloe must have figured something out that makes her trust them, so we should do so as well.

Or...

"Do you think it is the influence of the bond that makes me think everything here is fine? With the vampire situation, I mean."

"Possibly. But remember, we already talked about all of this before we signed up. Were as wary of the deal as we're now."

"Yeah, we were aware of the risks. And so far I don't regret it."

But... why am I unable to perform at my best? That's something that won't leave my mind.

I wonder, "Did I get a weird class or title for accepting the 'familiar' bond?"

"I don't think so, there was no announcement when I accepted the bond. Did you get one?"

"No. It still is weird. I can't think of another reason why I'm that lacking currently."

I check my menu anyway.

Classes are still as they should be, no weird new thing. Race as well. No new type category either.

Now, where are my titles...

Wait, where ARE my titles!?

"The... tab with my titles is gone!?"

"What? Come on, Geoffrey quit joking around."

"I'm not. It has completely disappeared."

"...you've just forgotten where it is. Let me quickly remind you..."

She looks through her menu to prove me wrong.

Then gives up.

"I... uh, I don't find it either. That makes no sense."

"Told you. Now what?"

"No idea. Maybe ask Jared? He should know what he has done to us."

"No, let's first ask Chloe if she has the same problem."

"Sure, I'm okay with that. Let's do that after we've brought Anna home. But why not go directly to Jared, Marca?"

" ...something in me doesn't want to cause Jared unneeded worry. Probably a side effect of the bond."

"I'm afraid I have the same nagging feeling."

We wait until Anna has finished her training and then escort her home. Afterwards, we start looking for Chloe.