Chapter 11: Stop Being So Stiff

Raegar stood frozen, staring at the two individuals, both with skin tinted a shade of blue. The man appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties, his glowing red eyes and jet-black hair giving him an intense, almost predatory aura. His attire, a finely tailored Victorian-era suit, only added to his imposing presence, as though he had stepped out of a forgotten age. But it was the second figure that truly caught Raegar off guard. A young woman sat beside the man, her features similar to his, causing him to think, 'Father and daughter?' Her luminous red eyes glimmered like embers, framed by delicate yet strikingly sharp features that could make any woman on Earth envious. Her high cheekbones and full lips seemed carved to perfection, exuding an otherworldly beauty. Wild blue hair cascaded around her face and shoulders in waves, defying any attempt at order, yet enhancing her captivating charm. As the young woman's gaze met Raegar's, she offered him a slow, enigmatic smile. The moment her lips parted in a welcoming smile, she revealed sharp fangs, sending a shiver down his spine. 'Vampires!' he thought. ''What are you doing, Raegar? Greet our guests and stop being rude,'' Griffin asked in a concerned voice. He shook his head and greeted them while introducing himself. ''My apologies, I'm Raegar Blackwood, youngest son of Count Alaric Blackwood'' ''A well-mannered young man, unlike your other grandchildren,'' the man said with a chuckle before replying, ''I'm Vlad Von Carstein, King of the Nytheria Kingdom, to the south and this is my daughter Camilla Von Carstein.'' Afterward, he joined his grandfather, who was still speaking. ''As I was saying, could I gain access to Dreadshade Castle, the one that overlooks Bloodfang Forest? I want to send the boy there to train once he's healed. I tried speaking to Duke D'Ambrose, but he refused to grant permission to the Wintershade Forest in the north.'' When Raegar heard that name, his face turned as white as his hair, which made the young woman giggle as he asked with narrowed eyes, ''Old man, are you trying to kill me? This smells like a setup.'' Griffin glanced at him with amused red eyes before answering with a chuckle. ''You'll be fine. There are only Tier Two monsters, maybe the occasional Tier Three, but I doubt you'll meet them since the Nytherian soldiers clear them out.'' ''Do you think it's wise sending your grandson to that place, Griff? The northern vampires are right to reject your request. Wintershade is no place for a young man,'' Vlad questioned with a worried expression. Raegar looked at the vampire king before retorting with a confident tone, ''I won't die, especially with Grandfather's training over the coming year.'' Vlad glanced at him with a kind expression while asking, ''Are you aware of the dangers in the Bloodfang Forst?'' ''Yes,'' he answered with a confident glint in his eyes. ''There's Tier Two to Three monsters roaming it like grandfather said along with outlaws, bandits, and rebels from the fallen kingdom to the southwest.'' The vampire king nodded in understanding, ''I will grant the boy permission to enter the fortress, but he cannot cause trouble as it's a military outpost with a guild inside for adventurers. You'd be able to the monster loot there whenever you return.'' Raegar got excited and everyone could see it causing Camilla, ''You'll die there, boy. Deadly monsters roam that forest.'' ''So what? I won't get stronger by fighting weak Tier One beasts,'' he replied to the beautiful young woman. ''Plus, I enjoy an enjoyable challenge and it will help my Aether grow.'' When hearing that, Vlad took out a small gold plate and handed it to Griffin with a curious expression. ''This will allow the boy to enter Dreadshade Castle. It was good seeing you, old friend, but I need to head to the capital to meet with the new empress. She's very mysterious.'' The old man nodded. ''Yes, she is, but powerful as well. I wouldn't want to get on her bad side,'' he said with a chuckle. Afterward, the Von Carsteins stayed a while longer before finally departing, with Griffin escorting them to the gates. Once they were gone, the blonde man turned to Raegar with a teasing grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. ''Run around the mansion first, then you can go see your little girlfriend,'' he said, his tone dripping with playful mockery. ''Shut up, old man,'' Raegar shot back, rolling his eyes as he started to jog. Before he could take more than a few steps, a sharp smack landed on the back of his head, courtesy of his ever-cheeky grandfather. ''Keep talking like that, and I'll double your laps,'' the older man said with a laugh, leaving him grumbling as he picked up the pace. By the time Raegar finished his run, his legs felt like jelly, each step heavier than the last. Yet, despite the exhaustion, he felt energized. His body was much lighter and more refreshed than it had been that morning. As he approached the manor, he noticed someone standing near the entrance waiting for him. Her bright, cheerful smile was impossible to miss, and his heart skipped a beat as recognition set in. 'Yuki,' he thought, surprise and excitement flickering across his face. Without thinking, Raegar headed toward the cat woman, who greeted him with a warm smile before hugging him. ''Young master, It's good to see that you're training again. It proves that you are better,'' she said in a voice as sweet as honey. The two of them moved to a nearby bench and sat down as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. Raegar slumped back, his legs aching from the day's exertion. Yuki glanced at him and giggled softly. ''Tired, young master? It seems the Duke is quite serious about your training. He's currently talking with the mistress to work out your schedule,'' the cat woman revealed with a knowing smile. ''Yes, I know,'' he replied while glancing at the grassland that surrounds his grandparents' manor. ''He wants to take me to the Bloodfang Forest to fight monsters before I start classes after turning sixteen. I've read about some creatures that inhabit that area but need to learn more.'' Yuki went pale when hearing this, but Raegar reassured her, ''I'll be training between now and then, so I'll be much stronger.'' The young woman's blue eyes narrowed before revealing and asking something that surprised him, ''I am well versed in Enhancement magic. Can I teach you it, young master? In our spare time, of course.'' Raegar's eyes lit up with excitement at her words. Without hesitation, he eagerly responded, ''Yes, please! I want to learn as much as I can!'' Yuki giggled at his reaction before fixing his hair while replying, ''Well, once we are back home, I will start planning our classes.'' Following that, his mother Victoria, and Grandfather appeared in the garden as the older man exclaimed in a booming voice, ''So this is his girlfriend?'' ''Not yet, but it's obvious the two are close,'' Victoria replied, a sly smile playing on her lips as she covered her mouth with one hand. The cat maid's ears perked up at this. She quickly sprang to her feet, her cheeks flushed red, and bowed deeply toward Griffin. ''Good evening, Duke Vaelthrone,'' she said respectfully. ''Stop being so stiff,'' the older man waved her away. ''You seem to forget that I've known you since birth and that goes for Saki. She's going to appear any second now.'' Raegar watched Griffin scan his surroundings, only to jump when the older cat woman appeared from nowhere. The old man started laughing along with everyone else. ''See! I called it.'' Saki giggled before replying, ''It's good to see you, Master. I hope Mistress Elysia is keeping you out of trouble.'' ''That she does,'' Griffin responded, while turning to Raegar. ''We'll be leaving in the morning as your grandmother has to go to Dawnfire Academy.'' ''Okay, but now I'm healed. I can use magic, correct?'' he asked his grandfather. The older man gave a slight nod. ''Yes, but be cautious. Don't exhaust your Aether, or you'll end up unconscious,'' he warned sternly. Raegar was about to rush off when his mother pulled him into a tight embrace. ''I'm so glad you're okay,'' she said, her voice filled with relief. ''When Grandmother told me you were out training, I was thrilled, but this brute dragged me away before I could see you.'' She shot a mock glare at Griffin, who opened his mouth to retort with a witty remark, but immediately stopped when Elysia appeared at his side, her presence alone enough to silence him. The tension dissolved into laughter, and the older woman ushered everyone into the manor for dinner. 'Stupid old man,' Raegar thought, stifling a chuckle as he followed the others into the hall. ''I had the cooks make something delicious,'' his grandmother commented from the front before she turned to him, ''And I have loads of Aether Fruit for you, sweetheart.'' [Drop some Power Stones, Reviews, and Comments, as it will help the book grow]