In a place other than the Kingdom of Vion there was an archipelago that made up the Followers of the Nine, a subset of the official faith of the Goddess that generated the Nine-tailed Kitsune as the supreme guardian of the world above the other Guardian beasts yet still below the Goddess. The current Miko or divine priestess of the Nine-tailed Kitsune was a seven-tailed kitsune who had been in a slumber for around a century and a half who awoke after sensing a magical signature of one who could become her successor. Her gaze was pointing towards the Kingdom of Vion without hesitation for the direction, but something seemed off about that signature as if it wasn't pure in a way. She dressed herself and summoned a servant to her side who appeared like a ninja after the ring of a bell.
"You called for me Miko?" The voice sounded androgynous and almost as if devoid of emotion if it weren't for that elation the ninja like figure felt from being called for by the Miko filling them with pride.
"Yes, I need you to investigate the Vion Kingdom and more specifically ... This area whoever may rule over it now. I believe there should be a divine Kitsune within those borders and a rather young one at that." The Miko had produced a map and made two circles one around the Krainz Duchy and another around the city of Varn. "The one I am searching for will have hair, fur and eyes like mine. You will find them and report to me on their whereabouts and the situation of their family. You will protect them from any harm that might scar them magically or kill them." The Miko had finished giving her orders and the Ninja set off to make preparations and set out for the journey across the sea at once. "Perhaps I might find a successor after all and at least the divine line won't end with me so long as they live." The Miko closed her eyes once more deciding to rest until she would get a report or an oracle from the Nine-tailed Kitsune.
That was around the time that Rhine had been practicing magic in the morning after reading over the smithing manual he had gotten for his birthday. Now he was standing in front of the guards who would be escorting him into the city with a pep in his step as he began to leave the manor for the first time in this life. "Wait Rhine I'll come with you!" Not a moment after Siena said that did Geralt put a form hand on her shoulder. "No you won't. Rhine needs to explore the world without you watching over him constantly. Deren will ensure no harm befalls Rhine. We have little to no bandits around or in the city and Deren who is level 45 will have no issue in clearing a path for Rhine to escape even in the worst case if the other guards get overpowered." Both Haruka and Siena groaned at that fitm statement though Siena was about to open her mouth to protest further before being shut down again. "Even if you are a higher level than Deren most people only see you as a daughter of mine who became a maid Siena. Deren is the best case to prevent anyone from having the courage to try something. Do you understand Siena?" Siena had turned her head to the side peevishly eventually giving a nod before glaring at Deren. "You won't let a single hair on Rhine's head be harmed or I will deal with you personally." Her voice was practically a low snarl which Deren nodded to like a scared prey not daring to say anything else in front of the fierce predator. Haruka also chimed in with her own threat. "I'll use you for some experiments after Siena is done with you if my baby boy gets hurt." The smile Haruka gave sent shivers down the spines of all the guards.
"Rhine, my baby boy Mama will be praying for you to be safe and have fun. Tell me plenty of stories when you get back alright?" Not even a second later Siena chimed in as well. "Same for me little brother, don't you dare leave me out from those stories! Have a safe trip." After that and a sigh from his father, Rhine left the manor for real surrounded by his six guards who were putting their all into his safety since their own safety and sanity depended on it.
The moment they arrived in the city Rhine could see the bustle of the town along with the patrols of soldiers constantly making the rounds, the merchants hawking their wares and the customers that haggle with them for this was the market district the center of the city with a stream of farmers and miners spilling in and out to sell their goods and purchase what they need. Rhine was both staring at everything in awe with how much life the city seemed to have and also shying back whenever people would try to get a good look at him wondering just who was the big shot to be surrounded by guards like that especially while seeming like nothing more than a young kid. Varn was renowned as a great city for commerce due to the excellent discipline, quality, and quantity of the soldiers allowing the common merchant to safer trades even if they can't get as much from each sale. The city wasn't just all peace especially with the heir of Count Luin paying a visit accompanied by his father's soldiers and his own lackeys. Varn had five subordinate towns run by the following families: Luin, Zaros, Sigur, Aden, and Hieros. The heir of the Luin family being accompanied by the fourth born son of Sigur and the bastard son of Zaros had led to them strutting around Varn like they owned the place. The city guards were hesitant to make trouble for their lord knowing how well they get treated compared to other towns and cities not counting more prosperous places like a ducal capital or the royal capital which usually tended to be more strict on the heritage of guards they hired.
"Huhhh!? What did ya say ya old fart!? I could have you executed for Lease Majeste you know!?" That thug like yelling could be heard and while Rhine's guards wanted to go anywhere other than there that very person was making his way over to the site of the comotion. Upon arriving Reine saw an old Merchant being lifted up into the air with a young girl pleasing for mercy by his side. The young girl shouldn't have been older than 10 or 11 with pink long hair and heterochromatic eyes one being blue and the other being red. "Now what bloodsucker did your family bang to make that monstrosity huh!? Vion is a kingdom of humans you know! The Lord of Varn should just execute all the sub-human bastards! I'll start with you and then I'll give that Dhampir a nice and slow death!" The city guards were surrounding the area not moving in having already sent a runner to receive permission to restrain that sensitive individual by force. Rhine had extended a hand forward preparing a thick rock bullet as the heir of Luin drew his sword, Rhine sent his rock bullet flying bruising the man's arm and causing his sword to clatter to the ground. Locking eyes with Rhine that heir of Luin had an almost feral glow to his eyes. "Would you look at that! Some mutt of a fox bared its fangs at me, Lucas el Luin! Guards capture that brat so I can kill him myself!" Lucas' guards hesitated especially when they saw the crest on the armor of the soldiers guarding Rhine and Deren took the chance to yell out. "Lucas el Luin! You have just threatened the son of Geralt el Varn, Rhine el Varn with death! Surrender or you shall be restrained by force!" The voice of Deren brought life back into the eyes of the merchant and the young girl with him.
The eyes of Lucas went wide with a fish as he pulled the merchant into a chokehold pressing his blade against the man's neck ensuring the pain of the bruised hand. A thin trail of blood could be seen and heard as it fell to the ground making Rhine pale in the face and start to tremble. Gritting his teeth he first called up for light in his mind making it as small and bright as possible to then Incase it in a tiny rock bullet. This was possible because of the way he composer spells and Kitsune magic which used already existing spells adjusting or merging them allowing new uses to be found. Sending the light encaed rock bullet right in front of Lucas he began to laugh. "Hahaha! That is the most a sub-human freak like you can do! You are a disgrace to nobility! Huuuh?" His voice gave way to confusion as the rock bullet coating shed off and the condensed light exploded slightly burning his eyes. "Aaaahhhh! My eyes! My eyes!" The bright light caused Lucas to shield his eyes with both hands releasing the merchant and dropping the sword as the city guards swooped in and restrained Lucas while surrounding the guards that came with him who promptly surrended so long as Lucas was given a trial and not punished on the spot. The agreement reached they were taken back to the manor leaving a coughing merchant and his worried granddaughter.
Once the merchant had stopped bleeding he made his way to Rhine and bowed down with his forehead touching the ground. "Thank you so much ... For saving me and my granddaughter! Young Master Rhine might this old grandfather ask a favor of you? Could you please protect my granddaughter Mina until we are ready to move on to a different town? Please! I beg of you!" Not long after the merchant had started that plea of his Mina had also bowed her head with tears of frustration in her eyes especially since this had been one of the safer cities for them to operate in.
Rhine for his part was still mostly pale and shuddering from thinking about how if he had messed up his spell the merchant could have died and if the rock bullet burst apart then Lucas might have died. The brush with possibly almost having become a murderer made him light on his feet when Deren caught his back. "You did wonderful Young Master, I and the rest of us are proud to be your guards at this moment." Those words were whispered, but they carried a strong conviction as Deren has come to respect Rhine not just for his heritage, but for his courage now. Those words had helped him put his fears to the side for now. "I will ... I will talk with Father and see if he will allow for it." The old Merchant had tears in his eyes as he thanked Rhine over and over again and Deren brought Rhine, Mina and the merchant over to the manor in order to attend the trial.
Once the trial has begun it had been such a contrived mess of a noble can rarely be punished for harming a commoner who didn't bow down in prostration that Rhine almost wanted to hurl a rock bullet designed to kill at Lucas. Lucas was glaring at Rhine with hate filled eyes that were practically oozing with the desire for revenge at this humiliation and it only intensified when the verdict was released : Lucas el Luin would be banished from entering Varn city for two years and that was all they could get to stick. Once Lucas was escorted out of the city with a grimace Rhine broke down in tears from the nerves of it all. "Everything is alright now baby, he won't dare to hurt you. If he does Mama will burn him to a crisp!" Haruka pumped a fist out and puffed out her chest as she was patting Rhine on the head and his Sister was doing much of the same except declaring her desire for violence that is. "Tch the bastard got off easy ... Maybe I can still catch up and reach him some pain so he learns to never bother you again Rhine." Geralt let out a sigh having expected this and Mina's mouth was wide open like she could swallow a fly seeing how well the family including half siblings got together. Wiping away his tears Rhine looked up to Geralt. "Father, I want to take Mina in as a servant of mine for a while. Can I do that?" Geralt wiped away his sentimental attitude staring hard at Rhine. "I don't mind her heritage, but vampires at times hunt down dhampirs. Are you willing to take that risk my boy? No, Rhine?" Rhine clenched his little fists and took a deep breath. "I-I am! I think it's too sad to stand by and not help! Not just as a noble, but as a person!" While he did stutter he said each word like he meant it which he did seeing as he had never come across any true darkness causing him to morph into a person who thinks little of causing others to suffer. Staring at Rhine for almost a whole minute as if he was staring into his soul Geralt gave a firm nod. "Very well, you will be responsible for her though. She will not be a servant or subordinate of the Varn family, but yours and yours alone Rhine." Leaving behind those words Geralt left to settle the matters of that dispute and a room was arranged for Mina to stay in as well as a maid outfit for her since she had voiced a certain desire to Haruka and Siena. "Please allow me to serve and protect Master Rhine! I don't want to be helpless anymore!" Haruka and Siena had eerie smiles as they agreed to train Mina in duties of a maid, as a mage, and in how to fight with blades which was led by Siena for some reason. The merchant gave a piece of paper to Rhine after he learned that he was interested in blacksmithing and enchanting giving his recommendation and a request to teach him as he bowed and left the manor a relaxed smile on his face. At that point Mina had practically joined the family and refusing to let tears drop from her eyes she buried herself into her practice wanting to repay Rhine for his kindness and courage despite being so much younger than herself.
That brought the exploration in the city for an end, but after a month of preparation Mina had joined Rhine as a guard along with Deren and the others as they set out to meet with the top smith in Varn city who had agreed to teach Rhine.