The next morning, sunlight streamed in gently through the barrack windows. Joshua stirred awake, blinking at the familiar ceiling above. As he sat up slowly, he grimaced, his right arm and left leg were still in casts, and his torso tightly wrapped in bandages. The ache in his ribs reminded him he was still healing.
He looked around and realized he was back in the barracks. Jack and Raphael lay sprawled on their beds, snoring softly.
Joshua rubbed the back of his neck, his expression subdued.
I guess there's no training today. Normally I'd be heading to the garden to meet Blanchette…
His chest tightened slightly. I kinda miss her.
A few minutes later, Jack stretched and yawned, followed by Raphael, who rubbed his eyes groggily. They both noticed Joshua already awake and sitting up, and their faces shifted into something more serious.
Joshua raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, guys. I'm good. But what's with the no training today?"
Jack sat up and scratched his head.
"If you say so, Joshua…"
Raphael added, "They're planning Merlin's and Lancelot's wedding. It's happening tomorrow."
Joshua's eyes widened a little, then softened. "Oh, that's awesome. So it's finally happening, huh? Sucks Blanchette is gonna miss it."
Jack and Raphael exchanged glances. The look they gave Joshua made his stomach twist.
"Guys… I said I'm fine. What are your plans for today anyway?"
"We're heading to the human district to try on suits," Jack replied. "Merlin and the other ladies are also going, but they're taking another carriage to shop for their dresses."
Joshua forced a smile. "That kinda sucks. I can't exactly walk through the city freely with a church bounty on my head."
"Yeah, we know," Raphael said, grabbing his things. "But don't worry, we already got your suit size."
Joshua waved as they left. "Bye, guys. Don't have too much fun without me."
As the door closed behind them, Joshua stood and wandered to the window, watching the two carriages pull away.
In the guys' carriage, Lancelot sat upright, arms folded.
"How's Joshua doing?"
"He's okay. Just a little down," Jack answered.
Lancelot smirked. "Told you he'd be alright."
Back at the Kaizer estate, Joshua shuffled down the hallway with a bored expression, hands behind his crutches supporting him, yawning as he walked.
What is there to do…
Meanwhile, in the ladies' carriage…
"Why didn't Sam come with us?" Merlin asked, adjusting her gloves.
"She's not in the best shape," Julia replied. "And it's fine, we already have her dress size."
Jessica nodded in agreement.
Joshua continued his slow walk until he turned a corner and nearly bumped into Captain Percival and Sam, who were heading the opposite direction.
"Morning, Captain Percival. Sam," Joshua greeted. "Where are you two headed?"
Sam nodded silently, a hint of sadness in her eyes. Joshua saw it and the guilt returned.
Sam… I'm sorry. I couldn't save James.
"We're on our way to greet the new vampire staff sent from the kingdom," Percival explained. "A noble vampire butler and a low-class vampire maid. You're welcome to join us."
Joshua nodded. "Sure, I've got nothing better to do anyway."
High above on the snowy peak of Lion's Mountain, Blanchette stood blindfolded, sweat running down her face as massive, spiked logs swung toward her from ropes attached to the trees. Each swing threatened to crush her, but she narrowly dodged them, one after another.
Alexander watched from a distance, arms crossed.
"You've already mastered every fighting style I know. No point training you like Lancelot. He needed weeks to dodge half of these logs. You? You're already better. But you still don't have enough strength."
He picked up heavy stones and began hurling them at her. The rocks whistled through the air. Blanchette heard one and ducked but the next slammed into her ribs. Another hit her forehead, splitting the skin. Then a log came crashing into her and sent her flying.
She tumbled across the frozen ground, blood staining the snow. Her breathing grew ragged. She clutched her bleeding side, her ribs were gashed open.
Pouring Alexander's thick, herbal medicine onto the wounds, she groaned as the skin knit itself back together. She drank the rest to heal her internal damage. Gritting her teeth, she stood again.
"I think that's enough for today." Said as he looks worried for Blanchette.
"I thought you said I needed to risk my life," she said. "So don't go easy on me, Gramps."
Alexander narrowed his eyes. She's not reckless… She's just desperate. Willing to die, for someone else.
He hurled more stones, faster, harder. But this time, Blanchette slipped through the barrage, the stones slicing strands of her hair and grazing her cheeks, but never hitting home.
Back at the estate, Joshua stood with Sam and Percival near the front entrance. He yawned.
"Alright. Let's meet the new staff," he said, stretching slightly.
A knock echoed on the large door. Captain Percival opened it.
The first to enter was a young woman with soft brown eyes, fangs poking subtly from her lips.
"Hi! My name's Emelia. I'm twenty-four. I'm a low-class vampire, and I'll be working as a maid here," she said cheerfully, bowing with perfect form.
Joshua and Sam both smiled warmly.
"Hi, Emelia," they said in unison.
Percival nodded approvingly.
Then came the second figure, a bit taller, cloaked in shadow.
As he stepped into the light, Joshua and Sam's eyes widened.
They stared in stunned silence. And then, together...
"James…?!"
Their voices cracked with disbelief as the once-thought-dead James stood in the doorway, alive… and very real.