"So, damn it, Lem, you spent my tuition fees learning magic in the Royal Capital?" Master Dwayne ushered us into his shop, shut the door, and sighed.

"Tch. I never cared for business or smithing anyway. There happened to be a famous Corpse Eater researcher at the magic academy, so I studied under him."

"I knew you were hiding something back then, you little brat."

"Old man, I paid you back years ago! Stop digging up the past! Is the first-aid kit still in the usual spot?" Lem strode to a cabinet in the shop’s corner and opened it.

"Hmm. Bring the bandages. We need to tend to these two girls’ wounds first." Master Dwayne began examining my injuries and Yulia’s.

I was used to this level of pain, but Yulia’s wounds were worse than I’d thought. She winced when he touched her shoulder.

*I owe her a proper apology*, I thought, bowing my head sincerely for biting her like a beast earlier.

Yulia was far more generous than I expected. She smiled. "It’s fine. I started the real fight first anyway. Your wounds look worse than mine—I should be apologizing."

"Well," Master Dwayne said while preparing bandages for Yulia, "this old man shares blame for letting you four run wild. I never expected you little ones to be this strong. My curiosity about your limits nearly let things spiral out of control."

Just then, Elaina seemed to snap out of her earlier daze. She called out to the Dwaynes as they tended to Yulia:

"I lost my composure earlier. I can heal wounds with White Magic. Let me handle this."

Elaina took the ring—the wager from before—and channeled mana into it. A soft glow enveloped Yulia’s shoulder wound. After five minutes, the light faded, and the bite mark was completely gone.

"Only nobles would enchant a Magic Tool with White Magic like this," Lem remarked.

"Well, this spell takes ages to chant. Much more convenient this way. Bring Alice over too—I can cast it several more times. Let me heal her."

The maid carried me to the guest room on the shop’s right side, sat down, and settled me on her lap. Warm light from the ring wrapped around my wounds. "Yours are worse than Yulia’s. This might take longer. Be patient, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you." I smiled up at her.

As Elaina healed me, everyone followed us into the guest room. Lena brought freshly brewed tea for all.

Elaina sipped her tea, studying me with a puzzled look. Finally, she turned seriously to Lem: "This child... isn’t she a Vampire?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Lem nearly choked on his tea, startled by her blunt question.

"Well, the way she bit Yulia just now—it looked exactly like a Vampire feeding. And those eyes, red as blood..."

"You’re mistaken," Master Dwayne cut in. "Lena, go fetch your old clothes from your room. Per our agreement, they’re Alice’s now. Leave us—we have serious matters to discuss."

"Ugh, fine," Lem’s sister grumbled, shuffling out reluctantly. Only Yulia, me, and the three adults remained.

In the guest room, Master Dwayne and Lem laid out their theory about my origins. Elaina accepted the story of me being a rare mixed-blood refugee from Mount Aers. She assured us she held no prejudice against Ghostkind—being from the Royal Capital herself—and vowed to keep my identity secret.

Yulia seemed utterly unconcerned about my race. After our fight and my comfort during her tears, she’d grown oddly affectionate toward me.

As for our duel’s outcome and the bet, Lem and Elaina declared it a draw—no money exchanged. Still, Elaina insisted on treating us to dinner as apology for letting Yulia and me fight.

*Honestly, they share equal blame*, I thought. *But free food? This little girl knows when to stay quiet and just eat.*

Elaina and Yulia were important guests at Fort Posein, here today to pay for custom Magic Tools and armor. But Elaina insisted: now that she knew my situation, she’d see it through. After discussion, they decided I’d officially become Master Dwayne’s adopted daughter. When needed, I’d register under this identity at the fort’s offices.

For my care, Lem and Master Dwayne argued fiercely before agreeing to take turns. Mostly, I’d train as Lem’s hunting apprentice in Sylia Forest, learning to track Corpse Eaters. But every five days, I’d spend one day at Dwayne’s town shop studying basics—until I could read and write properly.

Lem claimed he could teach me literacy too, but Master Dwayne and Elaina vetoed it immediately. "A teacher who mixes Common Tongue lessons with Dark Magic—Word Spirit nonsense?" Elaina scoffed. "He’s unfit for magically gifted children like Alice or Yulia." She added that since Yulia and I had bonded—and Yulia was already friends with Lena—she’d bring Yulia to the shop whenever free to play with me and teach all three girls. She quickly added, as if to cover her embarrassment, that it was purely so Yulia could make same-age friends. *Nothing to do with Lem.*

*To me, that sounded like a pretty clear hint. Whether Lem caught it? Another story.*

When Lena returned with her old clothes and heard I’d become her family’s adopted daughter—Lem’s nominal little sister—plus overheard Elaina’s words to him, her shoulders slumped. She set down the clothes with a sigh. "Ugh. Suddenly, I’ve got way more rivals to deal with."

*What kind of rivals?* I wasn’t about to ask.