That evening I discovered a new problem. Hatsumi did not have a bed. It was late and we were standing in our room.

  “Um, we don’t have a third bed. You could take mine, Hatsumi, and I can sleep on the floor.” I offered.

  “What? No! I would never kick you out of your bed. Don’t worry about me.” Hatsumi replied.

  “Do vampires sleep?” Helena asked.

  “That… I think I feel a little tired?” Hatsumi replied.

  “I think every creature with a core suffers from magic fatigue. Otherwise a tier three undead could cast indefinitely.” I theorised.

  “So my tiredness might be connected to magic use?” She asked.

  I shrugged. “Maybe. I think every creature with a core needs some sleep. I would not be surprised if you need less than we do though.”

  “Another reason why you should get the bed. I can sleep on the floor.” She assured me.

  “We do have camping supplies. You can have a sleeping bag.” Helena offered.

  “Thank you, that is more than enough.” Hatsumi replied.

  I relented and used the bed myself. I noticed that the tier two cats were with Hatsumi while Nyx slept inside my tail. I wondered if they had a special bond since the two cats had been watching over the corpse for a long time. I was still thinking about cats when I fell asleep.

  The next day I noticed how few students were still here. It was a blessing since I was a senior mage now, with a vampire. I would have attracted a lot of attention. We still had to wait for Hatsumi’s permit, or identification, or however that thing was called. So we stayed inside the academy. Helena left to organize a carriage. Skadi and Cassie went shopping, presumably for books.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Meanwhile I showed Hatsumi around the academy. We stopped by the training area and sparred. It was clear that she had some skill with weapons and her undead body was rather strong. Despite my progress over the last year she defeated me.

  Then she fought Nyx. That was an interesting duel. Fully grown Nyx was able to overpower Hatsumi but she was just slightly faster. I was not sure who would win if they used magic. Nyx had no blood and both of them had water and death affinities. It seemed to me like they were evenly matched.

  Afterwards we did a bit of spell practice. It seemed to me that Hatsumi had some idea of most spells that I knew. Actually, she had some idea of the spells my friends knew as well. But she needed practice. Sadly, she did not seem to have a light affinity anymore. She did not know the rune for light mana or any spells of that element.

  When Cassie and Skadi returned they grinned way too much. I was immediately suspicious.

  “We found a book for you, Hatsumi.” Skadi said, while Cassie giggled uncontrollably.

  “Oh? That is so kind of you!” Hatsumi said while her tail started wagging. I tried to see the title but failed.

  “What is this about? Have you found a vampire novel? Something about a dark vampire queen taking over the world?” I asked.

  “No, no. Nothing like that.” Cassie said after she managed to control herself.

  “It does have a vampire though.” Skadi said and Cassie giggled some more.

  Hatsumi turned towards me, showing me the book. “It has a vampire maid!”

  My eyes widened. “A what?” As I looked at the cover I saw a man sitting in a fancy chair. He was dressed in a suit. Next to him kneeled a woman in a maid uniform. She was rather pale, had black hair and blood was dripping from her mouth.

  “I haven’t read the book myself.” Skadi said. “But according to the description it is about a necromancer. He is a noble and uses undead as his staff, including a vampire maid who kills his enemies.”

  “People write books like that?” I wondered.

  Skadi nodded. “People are afraid of the undead but vampires do have a certain allure.”

  “Could I get a maid uniform?” Hatsumi asked, looking at the cover of the book.

  “What? No!” I complained.

  “Why not? You are a senior mage now. I think having a maid would be appropriate.” Skadi said.

  “You are not my maid. You are my companion, maybe a guard…” I replied.

  “With her blood magic and teeth she would be a great guard, even in a maid uniform.” Skadi pointed out.

  “Maids are really common for nobles, as you know. You could even teach her to be a proper maid!” Cassie suggested.

  “You see maids running around the academy every day. I understand that your past makes you hesitate but there is nothing wrong with maids in general, as long as they are free.” Skadi added.

  Why was I so embarrassed by the idea? Skadi did have a point, as hard as it was for me to admit that. There was nothing wrong with being a maid in general. While quite a few of them were enslaved, not all of them were. Everyone at the academy was free, for example. Seeing them run around the academy, clean rooms, do laundry… I had gotten used to that. Would having my own maid really change things? Maybe it was because Hatsumi was bound to me. It would be a reminder that I had power over her.

  “I do need more clothes.” Hatsumi pointed out. “Why don’t we buy normal ones and a uniform? As a maid I might be able to accompany you more easily in situations where a guard is frowned upon.”

  I sighed. “Fine…”

  Then I found myself getting hugged, by Hatsumi. At least she seemed happy.