Tyson and Monica sat on a sofa facing the king and Audine ( now dressed as her role intended ). A maid came in with a tray and served tea and biscuits for them. Tyson and Monica asked for some water to wash up their hands at least since they were yet to refresh themselves. The water was brought and they were washed up. A warm towel was also brought for their hands. Once the maid was gone, the meeting started.
The king asked," So what brings the young prince all this way?"
" Straight to the point huh. I like that," said Tyson taking a sip of tea," My father kicked me out of the family household. He believed I was incapable of using my vampire abilities but they awakened during their chase of me. I met the saint Monica as she was being carted through a village in my father's territory and saved her. I was trying to take her back to the holy country while also looking for any info on my mother."
" Oh, that makes sense," said the king.
" I don't seek you lands or your head so you can calm down. And I hold no grudge on your knights. What they did was right. All I can say is thank you for the hospitality you have given onto this fallen noble," said Tyson taking a bow on the sofa.
Only a noble would understand the level of respect you receive when a higher ranked noble bows to you with actually sincerity. The king was dumbfounded." I hate to ask this after you have helped me out but what do you propose I do from here?"
" Oh... Um... If I had to wager, I'd suggest you join the adventurer's guild and get an adventurer's ID. It should make travelling easier and reduce moments of inconvenience. I could write up a letter of recommendation so you can get rank evaluation instead of the normal rank assessment. Plus I will inform the guild master ahead of time so that he wouldn't go crazy hearing you are a vampire. Is that okay with you young prince Tyson?" the king suggested.
" Can you not be so formal with me. There is no audience so that formality is getting on my nerves. Just a tiny bit," said Tyson.
" Oh, I'm sorry for that," said the king.
" It's okay with me. I think what you have said is very valuable. Please do so. I will forever be in your debt," said Tyson bowing down again.
The king was dumbfounded again but this time Audine spoke up and said," Please don't. It's wrong for my savior to be bowing down to us. Please, if there is a way for us to repay you more, don't hesitate to speak up."
" Oh really. Then could we get a change of clothes? Even I have a limit in the smell of rotting blood," said Tsukimi waving his arms like a bird.
The king and Audine finally realized the plain and obvious truth. These two were sitting before them soaked to the bone in monster blood and mud from the grounds they ran. They quickly called in the maids and butlers to drag those two to the dressing rooms. All the while, the king's chief advisor was given the work of writing the letter of recommendation for Tyson and send it. He was only given two hours.
{ Two hours later }
Tyson was now dressed in something that could be called epic gear [ to a modern century gamer ]. He has his blood sword at his hip, hiking boots made from lizardman scales, a shirt and trouser made from griffin leather and the pouch from his brother on the other side of his hip. Monica also had a change to her wardrobe. She still has the center piece of her habit but included some hiking boots and a potion bag. She had a staff in hand that looked to be infused with holy magic. They were also given a change of clothes which were kept in Tyson's pouch for safe keeping.
Audine and Priscilla we're not allowed to leave the castle for obvious reasons so Rocks had to be the guide to the two. Rocks led them into town which was bustling like a flea market in a desert town. The guild hall was a large building with at least three floors. A symbol of a griffin was on the front with a rider on its back. The trio decided to enter and we're immediately splashed by a bucket of water.
They stood there for a second trying to understand the situation as they saw that all pairs of eyes in the hall were on them. Then Monica did the unthinkable and tasted it. She said in shock," It's holy water. Tyson, are you good?"
" So this is holy water. I honestly thought it would burn way more than this. This feels like a tickle on my skin, hehe," said Tyson.
The guild all raised their weapons at him. Tyson did not want trouble so he raised his hands in the air and said," I came here to see the guild master for a rank evaluation. Might you know where he or she is?"
Then a woman with a great figure walked forward. Tyson was momentarily entranced butonica snapped him out of it." I'm the guild master, follow me," said the woman.
The trio had nothing else to do but follow the woman. She led them to a battle arena under the guild hall and told the ones fighting there to leave immediately. She stood on one end and told Tyson to go to the other and for him to attack her with everything he has.
Tyson accepted the challenge seeing as he could tell that she was no walk in the park. He unsheathed his blood sword and drew out the blood stored in the sword. Then he added the mana left in his system from his earlier possession from the goddess of monsters and took a stance. Red aura radiated violently behind him as a crackling sound followed suit. His eyes glew that menacing red color we all know from their sapphire blue shade. He then charged at her. In the blink of an eye, It was over in a second. Tyson stood behind her for a second, but fell to the ground unconscious. He had lost that bout.
He then came to and groggily got up as Monica came to check up on him. The woman said," Very impressive young vampire. I see that the king was not mistaken about you, you really have the potential to rival your mother. I'm happy her legacy won't go up in smoke. I will grant you the B rank for that attack little fang. Use it well."
Tyson took a bow to her and she laughed as she left the room. But she said as she left," And don't mind what the others did earlier. They were just on edge since you are a vampire. They are genuinely good people so please forgive them."
Tyson agreed and they walked out of there. This was when Tyson asked Monica whether she did not need an ID and she answered with a card in her pocket. She was A rank. Tyson felt defeated. They went to the receptionist and he gave him his new guild card after adding his blood imprint to it. He was now a part of the guild. Things were finally looking up for Tyson.
< Back at his home castle, in duke Elijah office>
The duke was fixing up his tie when Neil asked," Was that the only way to help Tyson. He is literally out who knows where surviving on his own. And HE is still searching for him."
Duke Eljah was about to speak when a little girl walked in. It was Neil and Tyson's little sister, Ruby Bloodlong. She said," Father, the carriage is ready. Shall we head out already?"
" Okay Ruby. You enter the carriage, I will bring Neil once we finish here," said Elijah and she walked away with no questions asked," I want you to remember that HE wants to use your brother as a sacrifice to Indra. If that being enters our realm then humanity won't last. You of all people should remember what your mother's last wish was. You were there for her death."
Neil opened his mouth before closing it again and biting his lower lip. He was checkmated." Let's just hope that your brother is alive and is having fun in the hima realm. And that he is getting stronger. He needs to, for what is coming," said Elijah as they walked out of the mansion to enter their carriage.
The ride intl the dark forest that night an incomparable speed. Where were they going together? Who knows.
End of volume one: The Escape from home.