VLADIMIR: The Last Blood Mage

"What am I going to do today, I wonder if Chelsea would come to see me today?".
I walked towards the window." It's a sunny day".

I leaned on the frame of the window and looked outside. The servants were going about their respective errands. I guessed they were the pure humans who had no magic proficiency, the mortals.

The black gate seemed to glimmer a mysterious black in the sunlight, and lord Marshall's stone statue in the center of the manor made everywhere look grandiose. The statue was holding a book, a book made of stone. I looked closer and it seemed to have words engraved on it. I wished to read what was written in the book, but my attention was drawn by the presence of someone at the door.

Knock knock

"It's Chelsea". Of course, I knew who it was. " I have good news".

Recently my senses had heightened to a scary level, and sometimes I shocked myself with what I could do.

"it's open". I moved from the window and sat down.

The door opened to let Chelsea in. She was dressed in a green dress today. It looked exquisite as always, hugging her at all the right places.

Chelsea stepped inside to see me already seated facing the door.

"Wait were you-, you were expecting me?".
Chelsea walked towards the bed and sat on it.

" Maybe... What do you think? But firstly, the good news; let me in on it."

"Beg me...".

This was not what I expected, but I just had to play along with it. " I beg you, Chelsea of Blue Dragon City. Please tell me, what is the good news."

"On one condition...".

At this point, I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into.

"You have to take me out today. "
"But I have no money". I had to get myself out of this I just had to.
"Don't worry, the crimson stones I have should be enough for whatever we spend today. I just want to leave the mansion, please," Chelsea said with puppy eyes.
"So, what do you say?" At this point, I had to agree. she was my benefactor.
"Alright, but I don't have any clothes."
" Not to worry, I have you covered; VICTORIA,". Chelsea called out to no one in particular. The door opened and a little blonde maid entered the room with some clothes.
"Place the clothes there". Chelsea pointed to the small table in the room. "Yes, milady". The maid dropped the clothes there and left the room.
"What are you waiting for? I don't have all day. Put the clothes on let's go". I walked towards the pile of neatly arranged clothes.
As I took off my clothes, I heard a gasp behind me. I ignored it, and then I folded and placed my old clothes by the side of the clothes.
After putting on the clothes I expected to hear Chelsea's voice urging us to go but I didn't. I knew she was still in the room. I turned around and I saw her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"Erm, Chelsea is there a problem?".
As though coming out of a daze. "You just changed in front of me, I saw - I saw, why did see it? Now I can't unsee it!". She screamed.
"You did not leave the room, I thought it was normal to change in front of you. I had no other reasons".
"I'll try to unsee it" Chelsea heaved for some time trying to calm herself down. " you are done, yes? Let's go".
Chelsea stood up, straightened her dress and stepped out of the room, with me following behind her.
Outside the manor, Chelsea called out to her Butler "Gilbert. "
" Yes, milady, " a ring of fire appeared on the ground and Gilbert stepped out of it. He was a pyromancer. "Milady where are we headed today?"
"We..." she said as she looked at me. "Would be going to the inner city."
"Is he going with us?". Gilbert pointed at me.
"Yes, Vladimir will be accompanying me. Do you have a problem with that?". Chelsea raised an eyebrow.
I was a bit shocked I knew Gilbert did not like me. But what I didn't know was why Chelsea would root for me, in front of who I might call a long-time servant and I won't be entirely wrong.
"no milady I have no problems at all. AVETIFIT". Another slightly bigger ring of fire appeared in front of Gilbert, inside it the carriage appeared and the ring of fire dispersed.
"let's go". Chelsea stepped into the carriage Gilbert had opened, and I followed behind her inside the carriage. We sat in the same position we were at the time she had hit me. The ride was silent. I liked it but I could see Chelsea was not comfortable with the silence.
"Chelsea", I said breaking the silence.
"Yes?"
" I kept my end of the bargain. I am accompanying you aren't I? Now tell me what's the good news all about". I asked very calmly.
" ahh, yes". she began. "You know that my father had agreed to enroll you for the test. Here is the token of entry".
Chelsea handed me a rune that was black and hexagonal. It had my name engraved on it, and it read:
Name: Vladimir.
Household: lord Marshall.
it had a shine to it, as I looked closely at it. After a few moments, I handed it back to Chelsea, who then kept it inside a space within the carriage for safekeeping.
" thank you, lady Chelsea, how do I ever repay you?". I gestured thankfully at her. But at this point, I began to regret the last words that came out of my mouth.
"don't worry too much, just take it as you owe me". I could feel Chelsea being smug.
"Okay,". I had to refrain myself from saying anything else.
"Now about the test" she paused to get my attention. "During the tests, three qualities of yours would be tested. First would be your elemental magic proficiency. A total of 5 points, 3 points are considered a genius, and 4 points are unheard of only a handful of people ever got close to above 4 points on their tests. only the present head of magic the light mage Tofel ever had a 4.9 point." Chelsea adjusted in her seat.
" The next quality to be tested would be your speed potential, it would check how fast your body could go when trained to its highest, it is measured with 4 points, and the only person to get close to 4 points as the legends have it, was the great assassin, Khan, he disappeared after hundred years ago. No one knows if he is still alive. But there have been rumours of him starting an assassin clan, the night crawlers". She paused for a while. "Any questions?". She asked.
" No please do go on".
"The last quality that would be tested would be your body's endurance. In this test, you would fight monsters, the longer you last against them the higher your score. According to the legends only the grand terramancer, grand mage Nikron had a total time of 48 hours before he got defeated."
" Milady, we have arrived at the entrance of the inner city". Gilbert interrupted.
"Okay, we have to alight. We go on foot from here, during the walk I will explain more concerning the tests and the academies to you". The carriage had come to a stop. Gilbert opened the door and helped Chelsea come down.
I came down after Chelsea. "Gilbert, you can go back"
" But milady I -". Gilbert's words were cut short as Chelsea interrupted him.
"Gilbert, please go home I can take care of myself".
"Yes milady, AVETICUF". Gilbert and the carriage were enshrouded in fire, then the fire dispersed and he was gone.
Chelsea and I walked through the inner city. The inner city was beautiful, the grey walkway made of stone in between shops and houses, and the city was well organised.
" so Chelsea, what exactly are we doing here? " I had to ask, we had been walking 'aimlessly' for quite some time.
" Vladimir, I just wanted to get out of the mansion...for a breath of fresh air" Chelsea turned slightly left and started walking to a bistro. it looked exquisite and meant for the rich.
" let's go and eat."
"ok"
The bistro's attendant came rushing towards Chelsea. " Lady Chelsea welcome to the grand fish pavilion, let me take you to your reserved table".
The attendant led Chelsea and me to the highest level of the pavilion. The entire space was almost empty, and a black table was at the center of the huge room.
The attendant led us to the table, and we sat down opposite each other, Chelsea and me.
" Lady Chelsea what do you care for today? Will it be the usual?". the attendant bowed.
" Now not the usual, bring the menu let my friend here choose what he wants to eat" Chelsea looked at me.
" Yes, of course, " He signalled a waitperson, and she brought the menu and handed it over to him, which he handed over to me.
I looked over the list and I was dumbstruck, by the prices of the food here. I began to wonder if they were made in heaven. The cheapest meal cost 3000 crimson stones! luckily, I had a rich lady by my side.
The only meal that was compatible with my stomach was the half-cooked Phoenix flesh. It cost a whooping sum of 90,000 crimson stones.
Chelsea saw my hesitant look, and then she whispered. " Vladimir you are making me look bad, pick whatever you want".
"If that's the case, I want the phoenix's flesh". I passed the menu over to Chelsea for her to make her choice. "I guess I'll have what he is having".
"Excellent choice! what entertainment would you like while you wait?"
"Some soft tunes would be satisfactory".
"Yes, of course, anything else? ". This was my cue.
"Yes, could you not cook the flesh, I mean my meal don't cook it. and don't add any spices I like it fresh, could you do that? "
" Erm, yes- yes, I'll take my leave". The attendant looked shocked at my request. I guess that is normal. He left our table, and the soft tunes began.
" Vladimir, is everything alright?". Chelsea looked concerned as she asked. "Why did you request for that?"
" Erm, Chelsea raw Phoenix flesh is very nutritious for me. Sorry if I discomforted you in any way".
"It's nothing, I guess you have your preferences. but how did you know? "
At this point had to cook up a story to back me up. "My grandfather had found a dying Phoenix and killed it, and brought back its meat home. I was curious and tasted its blood.
"ohh that explains a lot, so tell me about them, I mean your grandparents?"
"My parents abandoned me in the forest and the woman I call grandma picked me up and raised me, but now they are dead...

INSIDE A SECRET ROOM...
Two men were in a room, that looked like a throne room, one of the men was seated on a throne-like seat while the other was kneeling with one knee with his head bent.
"My lord the test is soon to hold and there is no sight of Kozak's last son". the man said with his head low.
"Find him, he will turn up soon, when he is found kill him". A loud but hoarse voice embedded in elegance came out of the man sitting on the throne.
" Yes, archmagi". The man who was formerly kneeling was enshrouded in flames and was no longer there when the flame dissipated.
" Where are you? " The archmagi's eyes glowed a dangerous light.
BACK AT THE MARSHALL MANOR...
Lord Marshall was standing on top of the patio, looking into the horizon.
A ring of fire appeared behind lord Marshall and Gilbert stepped out of it and knelt on the ground "Milord."
"Where is Chelsea?". Lord Marshall said still not turning around.
" Presently lord, she is in the inner city. I assigned 2nd-rank soldiers around the walls of the inner city for her protection. " Gilbert still did not raise his head.
"Is she alone? ". Lord Marshall walked towards a chair nearby and sat down with his line of sight on Gilbert.
" Now, she is with that boy, Vladimir."
" mhnn, Gilbert? "
" Yes, my lord "

"Gilbert, do you remember Archmagi Kozak?". Lord Marshall took a sip out of the drink that was on the side table.
"My lord, how could I forget? Did something happen, milord?"

"Well yes, I suspect that that boy is the last son of Archmagi Kozak".

"My lord how could this be?". Gilbert asked.

" Honestly, I do not know, and I am not sure but, his test results would tell us the truth about him". Lord Marshall stood up to lean on the rails. "Keep an eye on him till we are sure of his identity".

"Yes, milord"

"You may leave". Lord Marshall looked away into the horizon. He seemed to be lost in thoughts.

" Yes. AVETICUF". Another ring of fire appeared, and Gilbert was no longer there when the flames dissipated.

BACK AT THE GRAND FISH PAVILION...

The meals had been served. But Chelsea and I were still talking. "Chelsea, I want to ask but am not sure if you would answer ".

" Ask, I would answer truthfully."

" I am not to ask, but I have lived with you for almost 3 weeks, and I have not seen Mrs. Marshall, I mean your mother. "

" Is it just that, I don't remember my mother, she had been killed after I was born by assassination, a sword to her heart, I heard that my father mourned for weeks before he was in his right state of mind to see his first child".

'This girl ', I thought to myself, ' can endure pain, '