“I don’t mind, but as I said st time, there are no cooking tools here.” Agatha said after I offered to put some food oable.

  “And who said I hem?” I asked. “I have my own way of cooking.” Assuming it works. “Do you think they will be ok with fish?”

  “Fish? Would you really cook something like that? Fish gets expensive quickly.”

  “Don’t worry. I didly buy it.”

  “Did you go fishing?”

  “Well, give a man a fish and he will eat once, but teach a man to fish and he will eat forever. … Okay, that made no sense in this text. Anyway. Don’t worry about the cost. I got it covered.”

  “And why fish when you just hunt down a beast?”

  “... good point. I guess because you prefer fish? Anyway, how did things go with the blood pudding? I heard you made some.”

  “Well, you take a look. It is oable.” Agatha said as she poi a few ceramic trays that were filled with bck … stuff. Yeah, ly what I had in mind, but for a prototype, it might work.

  “Did you taste it?”

  “Yes. It is … better than some other things, but I wouldn’t call it good.”

  “I guess I’ll give it a taste ter as well. First though, I’ll test this thing out.” I pulled out two cards. “I activate Mystik Wok and I tribute Terr Salmon for it.”

  Spoiler[colpse]First, a huge wok pan appeared and above it, my giant fish. And when I say giant, I meant it. This thing is big. Probably 8 meters ih. A freaking dragon sized fish.

  “Er? Mr. Brian? What is that? Is it alive?” Agatha asked.

  “A fish. A big fish. And I think that pan is about to cook it.” I said.

  I looked as a knife appeared. And calling it a knife might be an uatement. That thing was basically a sword. It sliced the fish into nice filets, while also extrag all of the roe from the fish. Doesn’t roe make caviar? Like you and salt roe and that is caviar? Or am I pletely wrong?

  Anyway, as the non edible parts were being cut from the fish, they would just disappear, so I ’t have easy access to fishbones with this. I’m not sure what they could be used for, but I think there are uses for them. I know shark bones, well they aren't teically bones but some other stuff, were used to make corsets, but I have no clue about fish bones. Sure they be used for soup stock, but other than that, I have no clue.

  As the spell didn’t have any pce to pce the roe, the roe just ended up dropping onto the table and some of the fish eggs burst open before they disappeared, like the other non edible parts did. I guess I won’t be making any caviar from this batch. I o make some cooking tools first, then I really make caviar. And if it es out well, that is anift I give to nobles. But then again, I think caviar was a delicacy because it was difficult to obtain, not because it tastes great. Or maybe it does taste great. Terr Salmon does say “Its roe is the best delica the World of Darkness.” so it might be amazing.

  As the wok pan got to work cooking the fish that had been cut into more manageable pieces, I asked dhampirs t a board or anything that I could pce the finished fish on. Luckily, they made it in time and some … not so food grade boards were brought in and the cooked fish was now resting on top of them.

  “... so, does anyone want to test out some fish?”

  “It’s yummy!” The first brave, well after I took a bite, was Anika. This girl really isn’t afraid of anything.

  And I do have to agree with her. Other than losing the roe because I had no idea what I was doing, this is a huge success. The dhampirs did enjoy the bck pudding Agatha brought, but for me, the fish was easily the better dish.

  ime, I’ll be sure to have a tainer for the roe so I catch it. And I’ll also have to check my colle for all other monsters I possibly aybe just cook up Big Koa ahat. … yeah. I’d need an army to eat something that big.

  The fish itself had a fvor I would pare to a swordfish. At least that is the closest thing I’ve ever tasted before. But this was slightly more … filling. And as an added bonus, it would heal you when you ate it. Thank you Mystik Wok. The crackers from Emergency Provisions are still better for healing per amouen, but that is because there is no way you could eat the entire fish by yourself. And I guess you could also bih. Get some Emergency Provisions crackers and top it off with some Leogu cooked with the Mystik Wok.

  Spoiler[colpse]Our meal came to an end when everyone had stuffed themselves to the point of almost bursting. But as I didn’t want the meal to go to waste, I ended up summoning a few of my moo partake in the leftovers. Well, a few might be putting it lightly, sidering that I ended up summoning 10 vampires in total. Not at the same time, but 7 first and the other three after them. Why vampires you might ask? Well, that is because the vilge elder asked if I could summon my vampire to join us. And after I summoned , he asked that I summon all of the others as well.

  I also loved how fused Anika and Kody got when they saire Fasator sittio Lua. I know those two look simir, but it isn’t bad enough where you have to look bad forth to figure out who is who.

  And I made sure to ask the vilgers if it would be fine if I brought a friend over ime I came here. Obviously, said friend would be Alice. Rosemary immediately gave the permission and as no one said no, I had now gotten permission for Alie here.

  “Overdrive.” After the meal, I unsummohe vampires that were still summoned, just hanging out with the vilgers, before I summoned our ride. As said, we couldn’t fly Gradius, as it ot fit three people, so we were on the ground.

  “Don’t worry even if you fail. We will always accept you back here.” Rosemary said to Ria. I’m not sure if that is encement or just making fun of her.

  “Big sis Ria. I’ll miss you.” Anika said.

  “I’ll e visit when I .” Ria said to her.

  After a bit more of simir good byes, Agatha reminded us that we had a schedule to keep so we had to be off. I could have made up a bit of time by rag Overdrive at faster speeds, but even with the 7 pleted and Mae version Factory installed into my Overdrive, it does get unfortable at high speeds. And I don’t want to make Ria hate Overdrive immediately, as it is my best non-flying movement option. Perhaps I should just install more copies of 7 pleted or Mae version Factory into it and hope that it gets eveer.

  The trip back to Sawyer city went about as well as you would assume. Nothing happened. Not that I would expey moo attack a steel carriage. What would they gain from it? And Overdrive is also detly fast, so it would have to be a fast monster or it wouldn’t be able to catch us.

  The ‘problems’ began when we pulled up to the gate. And they aren’t really problems, but something that Agatha had warned us would happen.

  As we showed our cards, Agatha also gave them a paper that was for Ria. Because of it, we were requested to immediately follow one of the guards. He took us to a building not too far from the gate that looked like a guard station.

  “In here, please. Make sure to keep that dhampir under trol.” The guard said after I parked Overdrive.

  We got out and I unsummo, getting some looks from him, but I don’t care. For insurance purposes, when I put Overdrive into the colle, I got out a Spellbinding Circle, just so I would have one on hand. I should set one copy on Ria with the dition to bind her if she does something stupid. Or you know, if she goes into a blood frenzy. I don’t think it is actually possible, but better safe than sorry. Well, most of the I’m just sorry after I do something stupid, but I learn. … or not. Everyone else learn to accept that flying around on a 20 meter dragon is normal. Because it is. If everyone had a dragon, everyone would do it. Expect those that have a fear of heights.

  “The dhampir and the one responsible go there.” The guard that was guiding us said, pointing at a prison cell. Well, ly. It was more like a temporary holding cell, you know, for temporary holding or maybe while interrogating them. Not one of those that you would keep someone in for a long time. The cell had a bench so Ria and I took a seat on it. “Wait there. The captain will be here soon.” The guard said before leaving the room.

  It was now just the three of us. Ria and I ihe cell and Agatha outside, sitting on a chair that was there for her.

  “Nervous?” I asked Ria.

  “No, not really. This isn’t my first time.”

  “Well, at least it will be your st, won’t it?”

  “Yes. I know I do it now.”

  “Good, I…” I was about to say I trust her, but the door to the room opened and a few people walked in. One of them, I knew.

  “I am Mateo Garhe knight ander of Sawyer city.” He introduced himself. I, of course, already khat as I have beeing dinner with him for a few days. Theook a look around the room and spotted me. “Brian? What are you doing here?”

  “Good afternoon, Larner. I’m going to be the one responsible for Rhianna while she gets deemed stable. That is why I’m here.” I expined. I had never actually called him Larner before, as I quickly got permission to call him by his first name when we had diogether, but this is a differeing. He had a knight and a scrivener with him, so I didn’t want to seem rude.

  And I know what you might be asking, what is the differeween a guard and a knight? Well, a knight wears metal armor while the guards have leather or posite armor. They just look a bit different. A guard evolve into a knight by just ging equipment.

  “Hmm. I see. And you just had to pick the most difficult of them, didn’t you?”

  “I trust that Ria make it and you should know why.”

  “Well, if what you reported is true. But we will find out.”

  Mateo quietly spoke to the two that had e in with him, before sitting down on a chair. The knight then began asking questions while the scrivener was writing everything down.

  “troller, what is your he knight asked, looking at me.

  “Brian Wood.” I answered with my full name, as this was an official thing.

  Both the scrivener and the knight stopped for a sed after I said that. They then looked at Mateo for firmation. He nodded lightly, firming that I was in fact a least I think so. And again, teically I’m not one, yet.

  I also felt Ria take a hold of my hand, so I took a quick peek at her. I wao say something, but this wasn’t the time or pce. I guess I really should speak about these things before we are ihick of things.

  “Dhampir, what is your name?”

  “R… Rhianna.” Ria answered that one. Her voice wavered a bit. I guess she actually is nervous.

  This then began a barrage of personal questions about Ria, including things like whe had blood, when did she st go into a blood frenzy and does she have an avaible blood supply while iy. I actually got a bit worried about that st part, as I hadn’t thought about it at all, but Ria said she would get some from Agatha, so we had nothing to worry about.

  I should still get her a magic fsk. Also, I wonder if my iory take fluids into it? I could just shove massive amounts of blood into there if it . And if Laura solves the potential problems with the Time Seal install, the blood won’t even go bad.

  I might even be able to use Mystik Wok to get some blood from the monsters I tribute for it. … Actually, that won’t work. There was no blood when Terr Salmon got butchered. Like the blood had been drained from it earlier. Or maybe that is because Terr Salmon is a fish. Or because I didn’t want the blood, but I did want the rye. No clue.

  After the questionnaire, we moved into the important stuff. This is where it will be decided if Ria gets to actually stay, or if she gets escorted right back to the vilge.

  The knight that had beeioning her ehe cage with us and the door was locked behind him. He then got out a small lidded tainer, pced it on the ground, ope and took a few steps back. The blood that was tained in it was now out for Ria to see.

  This was the main part of the test. There are a few things that could happen. The first was that Ria goes for the blood and drinks it. If this happens, it is my job to either stop her before she reaches it, or pry her off if she does reach it.

  The sed possibility would be Ria going into a blood frenzy and attag either the knight or myself. In this case, the knight would help me subdue her and she would win her one way ticket back to the vilge.

  The third, and the most optimal, oute would be that Ria does nothing and just sits o me. And to surprising no one, well, it did actually surprise the knight and the scrivener, even Mateo seemed to expect Ria to do something, but she just calmly sat o me. Evehe knight picked up the blood and brought it right up to Ria, she stayed calm and didn’t move. I don’t know how difficult it actually is, but it might be challenging even without the curse. Maybe I could use DNA Surgery and turn myself into a dhampir and try it out. Or would it have to be a vampire, as there are no dhampirs in Yugioh. No, actually I think there was one. A vampire XYZ mohat was a dhampir. Well, anyway.

  (Do you wao look into it?) Laura asked.

  (Sure, if you have the time. But it isn’t a high priority. Find out first how we repce Agatha’s arm.) I answered.

  (As you wish.)

  “ion, huh.” Mateo said after a few moments. “Marcus, do it.” He ahe knight.

  … do what? Agatha didn’t tell us there would be more. The part should have been me showing that I hold Ria down even if she struggles.

  Instead, the knight removed the gau on his left arm, before he took out a knife and made a small cut into his left wrist. It wasn’t te, but it was clearly bleeding and he was showing it to Ria.

  I took the Spellbinding Circle that I had stored in my pocket temporarily into my hand, just in case, before I took a look at how Ria was handling the imulus. But she looked fine. Like the blood in front of her was nothing. I also took a look at Agatha and she had gotten up from the chair that she had been sitting on this far. So even she didn’t know this part was ing.

  About 30 seds after the knight had made the cut, Mateo spoke again. “That’s enough. You e out and heal yourself.”

  The knight did as instructed, using light magic, based on the t, to heal himself, before pig up his gau and walking to the door. There, the scrivener opehe door for the knight a him outside.

  “Now then, Brian, I need you to show that you bring the dhampir under your trol even if she resists. Rhianna, you o resist him with all of your power, do you both uand?” Mateo asked.

  “Yes.” I answered.

  “Yes.” Ria repeated after me.

  “Good.” Mateo said. “Brian, hold her down now.”

  I got up ahe trap card that was already in my hand firmly.

  “Ria, remember that this held you down when you were in a frenzy, don’t hold back at all and struggle as much as you .” I reminded her that I had held her back before.

  I saw her nod lightly, so I activated the card.

  “Spellbinding Circle.”

  Spoiler

  [colpse]Like st time, the magic circle appeared around the midse of her body and made sure she couldn’t escape from it. I the to raise her up from the bench she had been sitting on, just to prove to the people looking at us that I could, while Ria seemed to be filing around. Not that it really mattered. If she couldn’t escape while in a frenzy, I don’t think she ow.

  “... how long you keep her like that?” Mateo asked.

  “With one cast, two hours. Then I just cast the spell again if necessary.” I answered.

  “That long? With a quick cast spell?” The knight seemed to doubt my words, not that I really bme him. Sure for him it looks like I just quick casted a spell, but for me, I just activated a card.

  “I see. Thank you. You let her go now.” Mateo said.

  I did as ordered. Well, first I lowered Ria so that her feet were on the ground, so she wouldn't fall when she regained full trol.

  After I did, Mateo ordered the scrivener: “Write her permission papers. She has passed the first test.”

  And with that, Ria could walk freely around the city. Well, as long as I was with her.

  nro_8