William had silk and gauze wrapped around his upper chest. His short red hair was ruffled and there were dark bags under his tired crimson eyes. His back was slouched when he sighed and said, "I can't tell you about the first time I encountered a vampire. For the one that happened last week, my friend – Berne, told me his sister was taken by some people...
"...I noticed he was acting weird but I just brushed it off. We were at the Trade District but we walked till we got to Cottonshire. There, in a dark alley, someone shielded my exit and then grabbed me by the neck. He said he was hired to kill me, the son of a certain viscount."
"Then what happened?" Athena urged.
William looked at her with a bit of annoyance but still answered, "I woke up in this bed with a scorched body after he strangled me to death."
"Hmm…" Athena rubbed her chin and concluded, "This confirms it. You can't be them."
"Who is 'them'?"
"Ah yes, the third reason. Selene believes you have ties with the intruder that put your father in that state."
"Huh?! How is that even possible?!"
"When we went to the underground market, I smelt something foul. And that scent was on you when Selene saw you holding onto your father. This foul scent is the scent of a dark sorcerer."
William repeated with a hint of fear, "Dark? Sorcerer?"
"Yes."
"What's the difference between them and witches?"
"Hmmm, witches are born with their powers, while sorcerers actively research and practice magic, mainly for ill intentions. They aren't born with the ability to produce mana but they do whatever they can to get magic. A sorcerer that has made contact with unfathomable creatures from beyond is a dark sorcerer."
William thought and asked, "Hmmm… if this dark sorcerer is in Denvern, why will he antagonize my father and even try to kill me?"
Athena sighed and paced around, "I don't know. I still lack so many clues."
William remained silent for a minute before speaking up, "My father… he told me to report to him anything that looked suspicious the first day I went to school…"
Athena's ears perked up.
He continued, "...As usual, I was hated by everyone because I'm 'cursed'. Five days later, the assassination attempt was made on my life. When I had recuperated well enough, I went to see the explosion Selene accused me of creating…
"...There, I met Berne and his little sister. He told me there was a new priest that was posted to the Church of the Holy Mother of Life here in Denvern about a week ago. Berne and his sister – Emma, helped this man do small chores and got paid for them. Until one day he locked Emma in the basement of the Basilica of Our Lady of Passion and revealed he was a vampire…
"...The vampire forced Berne to betray me unless both he and his sister go back home. After the deed was done, he went back to the church to get his sister. There he met a masked man that told the kids they were lucky they were laying low, else the kids won't leave there alive."
Athena facepalmed herself, "Life, those dumba*ses, again. They never learn. Look at what's going to happen, I will investigate the basilica and keep an eye on this your friend. Later, you'll tell me his features."
William nodded, "I'll resume school and tail a few people. I already had this in mind. I was just waiting to get a little stronger."
"Speaking of strength, how did you learn how to read the goblin in one night?" Athena asked curiously.
…Should I tell her? Hmm, I don't think there's any way she can use this info against me… William thought for a few seconds before answering, "Nova can create a replica of the goblin only I can see."
She grabbed William's shoulders with surprised eyes and exclaimed, "Really?! That means with her analysis she knows all the possible movements the goblin can and might make! That's amazing!"
"Uh-huh."
"Dear me, I have some ideas already! Don't worry William, you will be as strong as your father in due time!" Athena encouraged William.
William avoided eye contact with her and said, "Yeah, th-thanks."
Athena wore a bright smile that extended from ear to ear and ran to the goblins lying on the couch. The child goblin stayed beside its parent and slept off there.
Athena pricked her finger with her hairpin and let one drop of blood fall in each of their mouths.
"What are you doing?!" William screamed as he saw this and immediately entered high alert. He quickly scanned the room for anything he could use as a weapon.
"Relax." Athena said.
The two goblins let out painful groans as their body underwent rapid changes. Brown hair grew out on their heads to cover their scalp. Their body grew taller and more muscular. Their stubby noses straightened up and their faces became longer.
「Master, according to the data provided on other-realm creatures, the Grade-1 Goblins are evolving to Grade-3 Hobgoblins.」
…What? Hobgoblins? Then what comes after that? William wondered.
「The Grade-4 Orc, master.」
The hobgoblins looked generally younger and as the growth process gradually slowed down, the pained expressions they made were soon replaced with ones of relief.
"This is my way of apologizing to them." Athena said and walked to the door.
William tightened his fists and said, "Athena, thank you. For everything. I won't have progressed this fast without your help."
She stopped and turned her face slightly William then said with a smile, "Rest up. You'll soon enter the 2nd stage of your training. In the meantime, train with the hobgoblins and familiarise yourself with ki."
Bam… She shut the door.
William tightened his fists even further, "Really, thank you, Athena. Now I have someone to channel this anger to. A sorcerer, isn't it?"
…
Outside, Athena had a shadow covering her eyes as she muttered to herself, "Missing children, vampires, a dark sorcerer, and the Temple. There's also William and his father…"
An evil smile rose as she added, "So many secrets to uncover. With the missing children and dark sorcerer, I sense a ritual of some sort. Heh, Denvern City is about to have the biggest event since the last decade."