Pyra 19 – Pyra 22, Imperial Year 1645
Newhope – The Square and the Guest House
The morning after the girls' gossip session, the town gathered to welcome the visitors properly. Edmund Voss had heard about the blacksmith from Luminara and his companions. He was not one for idle chatter, but he was curious.
"So you're the blacksmith everyone's talking about," Voss said, extending a hand.
Vlad shook it. "I am."
"Heard you do good work."
"I try."
Voss smiled. "You're not a talker."
"No."
"I respect that."
The class stood nearby, watching. Roderick folded his arms. Celia elbowed Miku.
"He's even better in daylight," Miku whispered.
"Shh."
The Square – Introductions
Voss led Vlad and his group through the square, introducing them to the townsfolk. The Black Knights kept their true identities hidden – they were simply refugees from Luminara, a blacksmith and his friends.
"This is Elara," Voss said. "She helps organize the town."
Elara nodded. "Welcome to Newhope."
"Thank you."
"That's Roderick. He carries heavy things."
Roderick grunted.
"And Celia. She's quiet."
Celia said nothing. She was staring at Vlad's hair.
Vlad ignored it.
"And Miku, Hikari, Rosalind, Talia, Grom, Corvin, and the others. You'll meet them all eventually."
Vlad inclined his head. "We appreciate the hospitality."
"You're refugees like us. The least we can do is share what we have."
The Kitchen – Mira's Domain
Mira had taken over the kitchen. She was already stirring a large pot of stew when Vlad and his group arrived.
"You," she said, pointing a wooden spoon at Vlad. "Sit. Eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You're always not hungry. Sit."
Vlad sat.
Mira ladled stew into a bowl and set it in front of him. "Eat."
He picked up the spoon.
"Good." Mira turned to the others. "The rest of you, sit. There's enough for everyone."
Corvin sat beside Vlad. "Good to see you, Mira. Hilda talked about you all the time."
Mira's eyes softened. "She talked about you too. Said you were the stubborn one."
"That's generous."
"I'm paraphrasing."
Gunnar sat at the end of the table, his hook resting on the bench. He glanced at Aldric, who gave a small nod. Later. In secret.
The Square – Gossip
While Vlad ate, the class girls gathered on the well bench again.
"He eats," Talia said. "So he's not a vampire."
"Or he's a very polite vampire," Celia said.
"Did you see his arms? When he reached for the bread?"
"I saw."
"And the shoulders."
"I saw those too."
Hikari shook her head. "You're all hopeless."
"You're the one who called his calluses artistic."
"That was an observation."
"It was flirting."
"It was not."
The girls laughed.
The Guest House – Evening
Aldric visited Gunnar's room again. The new tissue had grown slightly since the previous session.
"How do you feel?" Aldric asked.
"Tired. But good."
"The process is working. We have a few more weeks."
Gunnar looked at the small bud of flesh. "Will I be able to use it?"
"In time. You will need to retrain the muscles. But yes."
Gunnar nodded. "Then let's continue."
Aldric placed his hand on the stump. The golden glow returned, softer this time. Gunnar felt the warmth, the tingling, the pulling. He did not flinch.
"You're getting used to it," Aldric said.
"I'm getting used to a lot of things."
The Square – Night
The class gathered for supper. Vlad's group sat at a separate table, but the two groups mingled.
Voss raised a cup. "To new friends."
"To new friends," the others echoed.
Corvin leaned toward Vlad. "They're staring again."
"Let them."
"The short one with the red hair – she's been staring at you for five minutes."
"She's looking at the bread."
"She's looking at you."
Vlad took a sip of his tea. "Then she needs glasses."
Corvin laughed.
Across the square, Miku turned red.
End of Chapter Ninety‑One