I think I can leave it to her and headed to my room where another servant had just finished preparing the bath. I tossed my clothes to the side and stepped into the large granite tub to enjoy a nice soak.
I closed my eyes and relaxed while waiting for my food to be brought.
It didn't take too long for someone to bring a covered plate containing neatly arranged breaded shrimp, and two blood slaves following behind. They stopped in front of the door to the room and knocked before letting themselves in since I hadn't told them to wait.
I was inside the bathroom in a separate room of the bedroom and called out to them, "Set it on the table I'll be out shortly." After I'm done eating I will cultivate tonight. Or it it today? Through the sleeping time.
The servant set the tray on the table and went to stand next to the door. I quickly got out of the tub and dried myself with magic before dressing and entering the main room. I wanted to eat quickly before the shrimp cooled.
I sat at the table, pulled the lid off the plate, and started chowing down on the shrimp. It wasn't the best I'd ever had, but considering I went from memory, it was very good.
One of the blood slaves stood beside me waiting for her turn. There was a glass in front of me if I wanted to use it like in a more formal meal. Since this wasn't a formal meal with others, it would be fine if I didn't use the glass. If it had been a formal meal with others, then it could be considered rude to drink directly from the blood slave.
I glanced at her as I finished the last shrimp, and she sat in the chair beside me, tilting her head towards me and moving her hair to expose the pale, slender neck beneath. She also held her wrist exposed in a position that made it easy to choose whatever I wanted.
The scent coming from the blood in her veins was amazing, sweet and fragrant like fresh honey. Much better than the first time I had Zenobia's.
I wrapped one arm around her chest and pulled her into me before placing the other hand on the front of her neck. My fangs extended as I brought my mouth next to her pale skin.
I placed them against the skin and felt the artery throbbing underneath before they easily pierced through and that sweet-smelling blood rushed into my mouth. A trickle escaped my lips and ran down onto her dark red uniform, and I felt a little sad some had escaped.
I plan to savor my food for a while before I move on to cultivating for the night, or maybe I should just cultivate tomorrow.
After I finished with the two the servant brought, she spoke, "Would you like me to bring more?"
YEEEESSSSS!!!!
"No."
If I eat too much of something I like constantly, it might eventually lose it's special flavor until I don't even want any. So sad...
She bowed, "Please call if you need anything at all."
I pulled out a low-grade lesser energy stone from my "pocket" and held it out to her when she was about to follow the pale and sleepy looking blood slaves out of the room.
"Have you seen one of these before?"
She squinted at it and stepped closer, looking without touching. "I believe it looks like the gems found inside werewolves and vampires. They are used by common people in jewelry after being harvested from corpses on the battlefield."
I suppose the more powerful beings would have the higher grades. "Where can I get them?"
"You should be able to get the cut and polished ones from jewelers in the commoners' side of the city. If you want them like that, I'm not sure. Mr. Frost, there are other gems that may be more suited to someone of your status. If you would like, I can write down some places to look, or even send someone for you."
"No, no, I picked this one up and like it. Now I want an 18-wheeler full. I'll go visit Lady Nyx now."
Her expression turned confused for a second. "Understood. Please tell me if you need anything."
She left the room, and I followed right after, heading in the direction of Lady Nyx's office where my divine sense told me she was working on paperwork.
When I reached the doors I knocked politely and waited for a reply.
A cold voice with a touch of boredom and irritation came from inside. "Come in."
I pushed open the door to find Lady Nyx sitting behind a desk while Nova looked over her shoulder at the paper being worked on. The butler stood off to the side flipping through more papers like a good little assistant. Book shelves lined the office and there was a small seating area in the middle.
"Sorry to bother," I held up the crystal, "Someone told me these come from dead werewolves and vampires on the battlefield. Unless there is a place to buy them in the city, I'll just go get them from the source. Do I need some sort of permission to go there?"
Nova gave me a look that said I was the biggest dumbass to ever walk the face of the planet. The others thought the same, but at least they hid it pretty well.
I looked at Nova, "Don't give me that look, I'm asking very politely."
"Tsk, you must have never done anything in your life if you don't know that. If you've never fought before, you'll just die. I dare you to go, then I won't have to see you again. Remember to leave a will."
Lady Nyx looked mad, it wasn't directed at me but rather Nova. She grabbed the back of Nova's neck and slammed her face into the desk shutting her up.
She put on an irritated smile, "I must apologize for her behavior once again. She's really stupid and her brain is broken so please don't take anything she says to heart. I do not know anywhere you can buy those gems. And yes, you must be part of the military to be on the battlefield."
"What about if you hire me as a mercenary or something to fight there?"
She shook her head, "You have to have a license to be a mercenary."
"Well where do I get a license?"
"There are two mercenary groups in the city. If you join one of them you would receive a lisense."
"Can I just create my own?"
"You must get approval from the government officials."
"Like you?"
"Yes, someone like me. However, I do not conduct the exams and leave it to someone else."
I nodded and had a great idea, "What does the exam consist of and cost?"
"100 gold. A spar with an appointed examiner and that's about it, some basic rules also."
I pointed to Nova who still had her face pressed into the desk, "Can she do it?"
I really just want an excuse to punch her in the face again and Lady Nyx seemed to understand what I was wanting, although she looked a little unhappy about it.
"Yes, she can. Would you like to do it now? You can go to the training grounds immediately if you would like."
"Ok, I'll be heading there now." I dropped 10 platinum on the desk to cover the 100 gold, turned and left the room for the training grounds.
The door closed behind me and I didn't even need my divine sense to hear Lady Nyx scolding Nova again. Hahahaha, it brings me joy when that brat is in trouble.
I waited at the training grounds for about a minute before Nova came hurrying over, looking a little sad. When she noticed me though, her angry expression was back but she kept trying to suppress it. The funny expression she kept making when she tried to keep her anger from showing on her face made me grin, which made her even more angry. She reminded me of a tea kettle, she would now be loud as a train.
She entered the training ground and took a fighting stance. She held a steel sword used for sparing in her hands. "I shall conduct your examination! Why are you not holding your sword?! Or do you think I will go easy on you?!"
I patted the hilt, "No need, I might accidentally kill you with a sword, you're too weak."
She launched herself at me fuming, the tea kettle was now a rocket takeoff. I decided to have a little fun. I closed my eyes tightly and turned myself to the side so she missed. She's fast, but too slow and put too much force behind it, now it will take her longer to recover.
I pulled a blindfold out of my pocket and tied it over my eyes; I could fight someone on her level with only my divine sense. She was absolutely furious at me seeming to look down on her so much I put on a blindfold. Hahahaha, I'm not even done yet.
This time she tried a slash at my torso but only sliced the air. I pulled out a bit of rope and tied my right hand behind my back. A scary aura emanated from the person unsuccessfully trying to kill me.
This is fun. Another strike came at me, a little high so I simply bent back and it whistled over my head. The sword reversed directions and came at my legs. Step back with one foot and raise the other, sword passes underneath. I reached out and poked her on the nose.
Her swordsmanship isn't too bad and I can tell she's practiced a lot, the style isn't completely perfect though.
"YOU F*CKING RAT!!! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!!!"
She's now completely lost her mind. All ability to reason is gone. Her swordsmanship became erratic and too forceful for a nice recovery or follow-up attack as it degraded into nonsense.
She swung again so far her sword ended up back over her shoulder as if she were golfing. I reached out with both hands and pinched her cheeks, stretching them outward a little as if she were a cute little child.
Boom!
She swung back over her head coming down as if she were wielding a hammer. It slammed into the stone floor of the training ground, splitting them apart and getting stuck for a split second. That was all I needed to get around behind her though. I reached out and gave her 2 quick pats on the head.
"I'LL KILL YOU BASTARD!!"
She just let go of her sword, and her hand shot towards my throat in a slicing motion as her nails extended into razor-sharp claws a little more than an inch past her fingertip. They were fairly straight, like those things ladies glue on top of their real nails in my world, just longer and very, very sharp, not curved like a cat's claw.
I extended mine and grabbed her hand where they pierced through; I moved it out of the way before deciding I should save some fun for another day. I punched her in the chin from below hard enough it the roof of her mouth was caved in, but not hard enough to blow her head off and kill her.
She flew almost 15 meters in the air before crashing back to the ground unconscious as her face and mouth began healing.
I used my claw to sever the binding holding my hand and removed my blindfold before glancing at the butler who had appeared on the edge of the training grounds, "I'm done now right?"
"Yes, please follow me."
I followed the butler as some servants scurried over to carry Nova's body away.
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Work in the summer starts soon, I'll still try to write when possible though.
Thanks for reading, please comment and add to library if you enjoy.