As Kyle and Lakoi walked along the road, they grabbed the attention of villagers who gawked and whispered amongst each other.
"Isn't that Sir Lakoi, he rarely ever leaves the Duchess's domain." A woman whispered.
"It is indeed! Who is that young boy besides him, I've never seen him before?" Another lady asked.
"You didn't hear, there was some foreigner from a different village that Sir Reisun took to the Duchess' lodge." Another woman across from the other two suddenly chimed in although still whispering.
"Probably some wandering nomad from one of the neighboring villages." Some woman whispered.
"Why would a nomad be with Sir Lakoi?" Another woman asked as they continued to walk through the road.
The villagers gossip followed Kyle and Lakoi's trail, as they tried to figure out the identity of the random foreigner. Soon the rumors started to guess that he could be of royalty but that isn't much of a topic. Lakoi brought Kyle to all areas of the Kingdom, seeing how the vampires live such peaceful lives amongst each other even after the war, made something click in his head. Almost as if he was getting a clearer perspective the longer he spent in this village.
"Sorry about all of that man, I didn't expect them to be so nosey." Lakoi said with a nervous smile.
"It's alright. I enjoyed touring this village very much. The people here are amazing." Kyle said with a soft smile.
"These are your people too, they don't know but they can feel it. You are what made them so happy and lively." Lakoi said as he stopped walking and turned.
"They can sense the bloo-" "No" Lakoi had cut his words short.
"The traits of the king do not make you king. You are Kyle, and that blood is yours, they were so happy because of you, Kyle. Your presence isn't given by the king, it is the intentions and actions of what you do and want. What is it that you want, for someone who's been through hell, what is it that you still desire?" Lakoi said as he lifted Kyle's shirt, revealing the pattern of scars scattered around his body.
Kyle smacked Lakoi's hand away almost as if he was in a panic.
"I-I'm sorry I went too far. I was too caught up in my own thoughts again." Lakoi said, shocked by Kyle's reaction.
Kyle started walking again. "I've already made it to the river so I've reached my goal. The one I had for so long, I couldn't even imagine a place like this really existing. It's so beautiful everywhere I look. I found a place for me to live comfortably like I've dreamed of. It's in front of me yet I still feel incomplete. I don't understand, for all I had to do, there is still more. Too much to think of, I had a panic attack and ran here. My powerlessness caused them to almost lose their life, I brought them here to live comfortably yet I'm throwing them into the kitchen to cook with me. I need to speak to them again. Drey and Melissa. I have to. They are my partners, for all they've done, I cannot continue without them." Kyle explained as he stopped in front in the middle of the road.
"If that's what you want then that's what you should do." Lakoi said.
"I can't, not yet. I need to improve, I can't even protect them. Right now, I'm too weak." Kyle said.
"If you don't mind me asking, who did you try to protect them from?" Lakoi asked in surprise.
"They were soldiers guarding the Capital. " Kyle explained.
"What nation were you in?" Lakoi said with widened eyes.
"Alfheim." Kyle said.
"Are you stupid? Did you have any armor or even weapons?" Lakoi said with an exasperated tone.
"Well, that was when I first came to this land, I wanted to-" "you are, aren't you." Lakoi cut him off before he said anything.
"No rest after traveling from wherever you were- are you from Terris Vetitum?" Lakoi said as he stepped closer to him.
"No, what is that?" Kyle said in a confused tone.
"The only other continent of Sancta Terra. No one is allowed to step foot on that, it is home to beings with no heart." Lakoi said although as vague as it was for Kyle, he didn't ask anymore questions about it. "Anyways it don't matter what happened in the past as long as there's results, you are alive now and be at least happy for that."
As Lakoi said those words, Kyle began to forgive himself for the mistakes he made up until this point. "Even after everything I still need them but what is it that I need to do?"
"I don't know much besides what the stories tell me but the watchmen are the strongest unit in the Alfheim Kingdom so no equipment is practically suicide however you survived. I see that as nothing short of a tactic, you know their strength now do you not?" Lakoi asked.
"Well, yeah I do." Kyle said as his voice was uplifted.
"So you should know what to expect." Lakoi said.
"I won't be here for long, there isn't much I need besides strength, I already regained all of it after fatigue." It was as if something deep inside of him flipped. Those words just pushed out of his mouth without him thinking.
A smile quickly rolled on Lakoi's face. "Of course, so what are your plans?" He immediately continued their walk.
"I need to get stronger but I also need to learn more about Blutheim and the vampires. I still do not have an answer yet and I can't return until I do so for now…" Kyle said as he began to reminisce over his days with the ANM. "Can I join your lessons?" Kyle asked.
"Yes, first, however. We need to go to the academy." Lakoi said as turned to him.
"Where's the academy?" Kyle asked before he saw Lakoi point at a building further down the road.
"It's that building right there. Come with me." Lakoi said as he pointed to the one building that stood out more than the others with 5 stories.
It didn't take long for them to reach the academy, which was a polished white wood building untouched by the vines that grew over the other structures in Eliana's Expanse, there was also a banner hanging from the middle section of its roof. A short metal fence that's separates the Academy from the expanse, with a large space in the fence that matches the wide path that leads up to the Academy doors.
As they stepped onto Academy grounds, Kyle looked at the beautiful garden that grew along the path, the dark of night only complimented the flower and their beauty that glowed under the moonslight.
Kyle let Lakoi lead him through the academy, walking alongside him. Kyle watched as every teacher and student greeted him kindly, not exactly how Kyle thought they were going to react with him.
"Oh hello Lakoi, what are you doing here tonight? I thought you were off from classes today." One of the teachers asked as he saw them walking through the halls. "And who might you be? I don't think I've seen you before." The teacher asked curiously as he walked towards them with a book filled with a dozen added sheets that were sloppily hanging from the sides.
"Hey Mr.Brier, I'm just here to meet Professor Aivoli. He's here?" Lakoi asked as stepped aside so he could see Kyle.
"He's in his office as always." Mr. Brier said before he looked at Kyle.
"My name is Kyle." He said as he held his hand up.
"Hmm, what an odd way of greeting." Mr. Brier said as he shook his hand. "You must be the Prince with such a radiance, I'll be ignorant not to notice." He said calmly as he observed Kyle's hands.
"Don't say it too loud, I was supposed to keep it a secret." Lakoi said as he covered the side of his mouth to whisper.
"They don't know how to whisper at all." Kyle thought as he looked at them.
*RIIIINg* *Riiiiing* A bell ranged.
"Well I'll keep that to myself then, It seems I'm running late again for class so I'll let you go now. Bye Bye." Mr.Brier said as he looked at the clock, above one of the square windows.
"He reminds of someone, just a little more toned down." Kyle said as he looked at Mr.Brier.
"Is that so I'd say he's one the oddest people in the academy." Lakoi said as he continued to walk ahead.
"Your one to talk." Kyle said as followed behind him.
"What?" Lakoi said as he rubbed his ear.
"Nothing, what floor is your professor on?" Kyle asked as he looked at the beautifully polished wooden interior.
Red streaks ran along the walls and floors resembling a complicated network of threads which ran along a dark gray surface with green and black nodes placed every few centimeters apart.
"The top floor." Lakoi said as he looked back at him.
As they traversed the first floor, the bell rang again noting the end of early arrival. They realized Mr.Brier was the only one late.
As they headed up to the second floor Kyle realized how quiet and large the halls of the academy were, there were paintings and quotes decorating across the walls. Classes with windows showing the different subjects being taught and lit candles to block the sound from the classes.
The grade increased with each floor, as the decorations became more elegant and complex reflecting the understanding of the students on each floor.
Kyle took in the decoration noting that he didn't understand any of art or even heard of the artist behind some of the works, he never even thought there were musical instruments let alone music in this world. There's a world of culture that he doesn't know of despite being a part of it, and now he's understanding how much he's missing and how much he's ignorant towards.
"We're here, Professor Aivoli's office." Lakoi said as breathed in and out to compose himself while opening the door to the Professor's office. "Hello, Mr. Aivoli."
Unlike the other Vampires, his locs were straight and short. Professor Aivoli's left eye was a scar as if he was slashed in a fight, his once ruby eye was now a slightly faded pink although healed, the damage was still clear and visible. His left eye was a gentle pink unlike the man himself who had a permanent scowl.
"What are you here for, we don't have any classes today." He said, taking note of Kyle but not paying any mind to him.
"I picked a classmate." Lakoi said as he walked towards his desk.
"Did you?" Professor Aivoli questioned before he stood up. "Are you equals in combat and academics?" He asked as he walked past Lakoi.
"Are those requirements?" Lakoi asked confusingly.
"Yes…*sigh* No matter, we're gonna test him." Professor Aivoli said as he walked up to him. "What's your name?" He asked.
"Kyle." Kyle answered before he moved out of the way.
"Both of you follow me." Professor Aivoli said as he walked down the hall.
"Where are we going?" Lakoi asked as walked out of the room.
"I'm testing your "new" classmate so you two are going to have a sparring session. Now." Professor Aivoli said as he didn't even look back at them.