— Lord Elric Dainford, Expansion Order, Posted in the Town Square
When Emily awoke again, she was met with the same dull ache coursing through her body. However, it felt more manageable today.
The clothes Mina had given her were comfortable and soft, but she was going to need more than just one set. So, Mina said that once she was done with breakfast, she’d take her out to remedy that problem. And as Emily ate, she watched Mina throw on her coat by the front door. She was dressed more like she had the first time they met, only now she adorned a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of black-tinted lenses that made it difficult to tell exactly where she was looking.
“That hat,” Emily said, tilting her head, “is that to protect you from the sun?”
Mina glanced at her, then nodded.
“So…” Emily hesitated, unsure if the question was impolite. “Sunlight does hurt you?”
Mina scoffed. “Not as badly as most vampires. I’m a Daywalker.”
“A what?”
“A rare breed. Sunlight still stings, but I have more resistance to it.”
“So, what you're saying is you can still go to the beach,” Emily said with a small smile.
Mina stared off to the side. “I wouldn’t. Now, wait here. I’ll be back in a moment.”
As Mina placed her palm against a bronze, faceless dial set in the center of the front door, the carvings etched into the frame began to illuminate. Mina twisted the dial until it clicked. When she opened the door, the outside was not like that of the calming countryside showcased in the window beside it, but the bleak, gray gloom of a city.
Emily raised an eyebrow and got up to follow Mina as she stepped out. “What is this?” she asked. They were in one of Peccatum’s many carriage yards. Or, maybe it wasn’t Peccatum, and just another familiar-looking city. It was hard to tell.
Mina grinned back at her. “Neat trick, huh?”
Emily stepped out cautiously, spinning on her heel as she glanced around. Both sides of the door bore the same carvings in the frame. Runes? Emily remembered hearing about them in class, but was told they were something only the elves used. “How the hell did we just—” She was cut off by the sight of Mina’s house squeezed into the small stagecoach. It was by all means impossible, and yet she was seeing it with her very own eyes.
“The bronze switch is an old elven relic,” Mina said as she walked between the rows of carriages and over to a set of stables. She fished an apple from her inner coat pocket and fed it to the snow-white horse in one of the pens. “Links two doorways together.”
Emily scoffed. “Makes traveling easier, I suppose. How come I’ve never seen something like this before?”
“They’re rare, and need runes to keep the gateways stable” Mina said, patting the horse as it munched the apple. “And runes are tricky to use, niche, need strong attunement to work. Humans at Peccatum spend a decade just mastering basic elements, and most don’t bother since it’s more a luxury than a necessity. Dwarves don’t even try.”
“Where did you get it?”
“From an old friend.” She returned to the stagecoach.
“Were they an elf?”
“No.”
“So, they stole it?”
“No.”
“How did they get it then?”
“Not important.”
Emily followed her back through the door. “They definitely stole it.”
Mina sighed. “You done with breakfast?”
“Just about.”
“Good,” Mina closed the door. “Just needed to check on the horse and make sure he’s ready to leave later.”
“Where were we?”
The dial clicked again as Mina turned it. “Inner Peccatum.”
“You can get into the inner city?”
She nodded. “Good place to hide. We’ll be moving soon, though. It’s not safe to stay in one area for long. Not unless you’re out here.” Mina pushed the door open, and Emily was met with the scent of pine and fresh grass. Beyond the doorway was the valley of a mountain range that curved protectively around a town like a natural fortress. Unlike the industrialized cities she had known, the sky here was unblemished by thick plumes of coal smoke. There were no deafening clangs, no shrieking steam whistles, no acrid tang of burning oil and soot. Instead, the air was crisp and cool, scented with pine and damp earth.
Emily breathed deeply, savoring the freshness of the air. It smelled of spring grass and wildflowers. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the tranquility of the place wash over her. Compared to Peccatum, this town felt like something from another time.
The town itself sprawled over and around a crescent-shaped hill at the valley’s heart. The roads were made of moss-covered cobblestone, and its cottages were made of brick and stone. Colorful flower gardens peeked out from behind low stone walls, and the occasional iron lamp post stood over the pathways with colorful glass fixtures. A large stream trickled down from the mountains, winding through the town before spilling into a vast lake at the valley’s edge.
A sharp snap broke the silence, and the familiar scent of burning tobacco filled the air. Emily opened her eyes to find Mina lighting a cigarette with nothing but a flick of her fingers. The tip flared orange as she took a long drag, then exhaled a ribbon of smoke into the morning air.
“Better than Peccatum, huh?”
“Anything is better than Peccatum,” Emily said. “It’s beautiful here.” She watched as a few people went about their morning routines, hanging laundry out to dry or tending to the gardens. A far cry from the soot-streaked faces and constant rush of bodies she was used to. And everyone here dressed so… normally. The clothes weren’t baggy or dull. They were bright and colorful. “Are there… other monster hunters here?” she asked, glancing at Mina.
“No. Too remote for hunters.”
“Good for business then, huh?”
“Yeah,” Mina said simply.
“Are there… a lot of monsters around here?”
“Sometimes.”
“... what kind?”
Mina tapped the ash from her cigarette and gestured for Emily to follow as she started down the hill.
“I’m just curious.”
“You’ll know in time.”
At the foot of it was a small wooden postbox. Mina unlatched the lid, and inside was a cloth sack that jingled with coins as she lifted it out. A letter was tied to it with a simple string.
Emily tilted her head. “What’s that?”
Mina tossed the coin pouch in her palm before tucking it onto her belt. “A request.” She opened the letter. “Someone needs me to pick up something for them in Peccatum.”
“I thought you hunted monsters?”
“Doesn’t pay the bills like it used to.” Mina skimmed the letter. “Damn it.”
“What?”
“Could have found what they wanted at the Pawnbroker’s Church.”
Emily pursed her lips. “Ooooooh. Yeah… that’s gonna be kinda hard to do now, huh?”
“Why’d she bother me with a letter?” Mina grumbled to herself, then tucked it away and marched on. “Come on. We’re making a quick stop.”
Following Mina, Emily couldn’t help but wonder about the town. There were no massive factories, no rail lines, and no steam-powered mills churning out goods like in Pillio’s Watch. There were instead shops for medicinal oil and paints. They passed a modest schoolhouse, standing beside a church of Asdros, yet further in was a church of Arja, the Elven goddess, tucked near the post office and general store. Further along, a small inn was nestled between a tavern and a bakery. The scent of freshly baked bread and spiced cider drifted into the street. For an isolated valley town in the middle of nowhere, it seemed rather well off, especially with how the people were dressed: embroidered pinafores, jackets, colorful shawls, and loose-fitting trousers. It all looked more expensive than her house before it burned down.
As they walked, Emily became increasingly aware of the way people were looking at her. It wasn’t the cold, dismissive glances of nobility toward street rats, nor the sneering pity of merchants toward beggars. They looked at her in curiosity, eyebrows raised, heads tilted. It took Emily a moment to remember that even with her clean clothes, she still didn’t look all that pleasant compared to them. Not with her rags, matted hair, and cracked fingernails.
“Morning, Mina,” said one man they passed, but he was the only one. The others merely sideeyed them as they passed. Some eyes followed her with wariness, some with barely concealed disdain. A few faces twisted with outright disgust. Emily stared back at a few of them. Did they know Mina was a vampire?
“We’re stopping here,” Mina said abruptly, snapping Emily out of her thoughts.
Ahead of them stood a forge. It was small but sturdy, its stone walls stained black with soot. Racks of weapons and chains leaned against the outer walls, alongside neatly stacked piles of raw ore and strange, glimmering crystals. The thick, pungent scent of coal dust and molten metal filled the air, causing Emily to wrinkle her nose. It was a smell she knew all too well. Still, compared to the factories of Outer Peccatum, this was practically spotless. The forge was open and lacked the suffocating, choking filth she was used to.
As they stepped inside, she passed by an anvil beneath a massive shelf, where stacks of iron and gold ingots sat alongside rare metals, Mythril among them. An array of hammers, tongs, files, and gravers hung from hooks drilled into the underside. And on one of the workbenches beside her were parts for mechanical prosthetics. Gears and copper wires lay scattered around the half-finished devices. A set of schematics was spread beneath it, but to Emily, the designs might as well have been written in another language.
Of the three smiths working the forge, two were men. They were both drenched in sweat, and their leather aprons were smeared with soot. But it was the third who caught Emily’s attention.
A woman, muscular and broad-shouldered, stood at a greystone chimney hearth, her chestnut hair tied back in a loose braid. The cooling tank beside her reflected the orange glow of embers as she slid a tray of molten metal plates from the furnace. Her sleeveless white tunic clung to her skin, damp with sweat. The woman’s left arm, from shoulder to fingertips, was made entirely of steel. Thin pipes and tiny gears wound around its surface. Emily had seen mechanical prosthetics before, mostly among Peccatum’s factory workers and the elite who could afford such luxuries, but this was something else.
The woman finally took notice of them. She pushed her tinted goggles up onto her forehead, revealing an outline of soot against her tanned skin. “Well, look what we got here.” Her voice was thick with an accent Emily didn’t recognize. “The Raven finally decided to come down from ‘er nest.”
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Emily blinked. “The Raven?”
“The Raven of Reghin,” the woman clarified.
Mina let out an exasperated sigh. “Stop using that name.”
“How about vixen, then?” The woman laughed.
Mina gave her a flat stare.
“Alright, alright,” the woman relented. She was caught off guard when Mina suddenly tossed the sack of coins at her. The woman stumbled, barely catching it.
“You don’t have to pay me, you know.”
“First time I’ve heard a woman say that.” She chuckled. “Ye were busy with the lass, so I told Violet to drop it in yer mailbox on her way to work.”
Mina raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it in the other direction?”
“Girl could use a lil’ more exercise. Better than sittin’ in ‘er room all day.”
“I’ll find you the parts.”
“Much appreciated. So, anythin’ else I can I do for you this fine mornin’? And don’t you dare say ‘sharpen my sword.’”
Mina untied the sheath from her belt and held it out.
“Damn you,” the woman muttered with a chuckle, taking it from her hands. She gave it a quick once-over, running a gloved hand along the hilt. “I got enough on my plate as is. Lord Dainford’s horse threw another shoe, we got an order for three dozen hinges and latches, and now you come strollin’ in with this again. Didn’t I just sharpen it?”
Mina opened her mouth, but the woman cut her off with a raised hand.
“Don’t answer that. Yer hackin’ through beasts so fast I’m surprised you haven’t worn the damn thing down to the nub already.” She set the blade aside, then shifted her attention to Emily. “The wee lass is finally awake. Poor thing looks like a stray cat, all skin and bones with mangled hair.” She extended her prosthetic hand. “Karaline Macguire. Pleasure.”
Emily hesitated before taking it. The metal was warm, and as Karaline’s fingers curled around hers, the plates shifted slightly against her palm like organic skin. Karaline then stepped back, and opened her arms in an expansive motion, showcasing the hanging tools and racks of weapons. “I’m the mistress of Cresthill Valley's smithy.” Using her thumb, she pointed to the two men in the back. “Those two are my gimps.”
Both of the men laughed like hyenas. “The chains ain't just for forging,” said one.
Karalined smirked. “Come to me if ya ever need a sword sharpened, an axe forged, or to get nailed.”
Mina shot Karaline a dirty look.
“What?” Karaline looked at Mina and grinned. “I replace horseshoes. Why’s your mind so filthy?” She took another lazy sip of her drink before setting the bottle aside. “Tell me, lass,” Karaline tilted her head toward Mina. “She didn’t kidnap ya, did she?”
Emily blinked. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“She ain’t sucked you dry yet?”
Emily gasped. She knew Mina is a vampire? Then, curiously, she rubbed at both sides of her neck. There weren’t any bite marks. “Not yet.”
“Ah, well, that’s reassurin’.” Karaline chuckled. “Mind yerself around her, though. She’s a real vamp!”
“Karaline!” Mina snapped.
She winked at Mina, then turned to Emily and knelt to eye level. “So. You’re the Conduit, eh?”
“That’s what I’ve been told.” Emily chuckled. “You… know about me?”
“Course I do. Well, about as much as Mina told me. Had me watch over ya while she drove the stagecoach somewhere quieter. Yer a quiet snorer, ya know.”
Emily wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “Thanks?”
“Don’t act so nervous, lass. I ain’t gonna bite.” She pointed to Mina. “That’s her thing.”
Mina stared daggers at Karaline.
“What? I’m jokin’! You do know what a joke is, aye?”
“Just… don’t.”
“Aye, well, you’d be worse off without me, and you know it.” She turned her attention back to Emily. “So, what are you two up to, aside from burdenin’ me with more work?”
Mina crossed her arms. “If I’m taking Emily on as an apprentice, she’ll need proper clothes.”
For a moment, Karaline dropped her cheery demeanor, sighing quietly. When she rose to her feet, she grabbed a bottle sitting nearby and took a swig of it. “So you’re really goin’ through with it then,” she murmured.
Mina nodded.
Karaline exhaled through her nose. “Well, while yer over there, ‘least tell Violet I want ‘er home by sundown. She’s helpin’ The Tailor on another project, and I don’t need ‘er comin’ home in the wee hours o’ the night.”
“If you do something for me.”
Karaline narrowed her eyes and grinned. “Oh?”
“Make me another sword?”
“For the lass?”
Mina nodded.
“What kind o’ trade is that?”
“Wait, yeah, why?” Emily asked. “You already have so many weapons. Wouldn’t it be easier to just… give me one?”
Karaline barked out a laugh. “Oh, aye. Sure. Just toss a random sword at ya and hope for the best.” She turned to Mina, smirking. “What do you think, Raven? Give the girl a broadsword and let her figure it out?”
“She needs a weapon made for her. One she can actually use.”
Emily shot a playful glare at her. “Just because everyone else said I couldn’t doesn’t mean I actually can’t.”
“Aye, the lass’ll have to know how to handle swords one day,” Karaline said with a chuckle, then unsheathed Mina’s blade and held it out for Emily to see. “This one’s special, lass,” she said, turning the blade slightly so the forge’s glow gleamed against the steel. “Two-handed grip, but the blade’s no longer than yer average one-hander.”
Emily frowned. “Why?”
Mina folded her arms. “The two-handed grip gives me better control. The shorter blade keeps me from being hindered in tight spaces.”
Karaline gave the sword an effortless flourish before sliding it back into the scabbard. “And looks like you’ll be gettin’ one too, lass.” Karaline suddenly perked up. “Oh! Speakin’ of blades…” She set Mina’s sword aside and disappeared into the forge’s small storage room, only to return a moment later holding a long, copper-colored scabbard.
Mina raised an eyebrow. “What is that?”
Karaline’s grin widened. “Just a prototype, but remember a few weeks ago? We were drinkin’ at the bar, and you were complainin’ about carryin’ two guns and a sword.”
Mina’s gaze remained skeptical. “Yes?”
“Well, I got to thinkin’. You carry that sword on your hip. But what if, hear me out, it was easier to carry on your back?”
Mina looked at Emily. “Do you know why swordsmen don’t carry swords on their backs?”
Emily shrugged. “It’s uncomfortable?”
“It’s impractical,” Mina said flatly. “Swords are too long to draw from that position.”
“I thought that one was shorter?” Emily pointed to Mina’s blade.
Karaline snapped her fingers. “Aye, still too long! Which is why I fixed that problem.” She held up the scabbard, flipping a small switch. With a click, the mechanism inside snapped open, splitting apart for an easy, fluid draw. “Spring-loaded. It resets as soon as the sword is sheathed.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “That’s… kind of amazing.”
“Why thank ya, lass,” Karaline beamed, then glanced back over her shoulder. “Least someone appreciates my handiwork!”
“I prefer your hand work,” one of the workers chuckled back.
Mina took the scabbard, strapping it to her back before testing the mechanism. She drew the blade smoothly, then sheathed it again.
“It’s… interesting,” she admitted.
Karaline crossed her arms. “Well, don’t sound too excited, damn.”
Mina gave her a glance. “I appreciate it. It’s just… different.”
Karaline smirked. “Better get used to different. A lots gonna be changin’ from ‘ere on out. Take it out for a spin, see how it feels.”
Emily turned to Karaline, eyes bright with curiosity. “Are you an inventor?”
Karaline laughed. “Me? Nah. Save that title for the dwarves. I just know how to tinker a bit.” She winked. “Could make one for you too, lass.”
“She’ll stick to a regular scabbard for now.”
“Aye, that’s a fair point. I wasn’t thinkin’ the lass is ready to go swingin’ a blade around yet. Still looks like she could use a few feasts. Real feasts. Not that charcoal you cooked her this mornin’.”
Mina shot her a glare.
Karaline grinned, entirely unrepentant. “Oh, don’t give me that look. I know you burned whatever you made her.”
“Bacon and eggs,” Emily answered.
“They were fine,” Mina said.
“Don’t lie to her,” Karaline laughed. “That’s no way to start a relationship.”
“I didn’t mind,” Emily interjected.
“You will when it’s all you’ve had for a week straight,” Karaline said.
“All I’ve had otherwise is bread and dirty water,” Emily admitted. “I really don’t mind.”
Karaline let out an exaggerated sigh. “Then you got one fan, Mina. Congratulations.”
Mina rolled her eyes.
“So, when do you need the sword by?”
“Not anytime soon,” Mina said. “We’ll be practicing with wooden swords first.”
“Fine by me. When you upgrade to steel, just let me know. And if you ever accidentally cut off one of the lass’s limbs, I can whip her up a replacement.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”
“Oh, I’m just pullin’ your leg, lass. Worst she’ll do is break your arms.”
Emily chuckled awkwardly. “Thought you said she was a sweetheart?”
Karaline smirked. “She is—”
“Enough,” Mina interrupted, then started walking away. “Thanks for the scabbard.”
“I know, I know,” Karaline waved her off. “Go get the lass somethin’ cute to wear. I’ll have yer sword sharpened by sunset.”
Emily lingered for just a moment, glancing back at Karaline. “It was nice to meet you,” she said softly. “I really like your hair.”
Karaline blinked in surprise before smiling back. “Thanks, lass. I’ll be seein’ ya around.” Then, louder, she called after her, “Remember! Lose an arm or a leg, come see me!”
Emily gave another awkward laugh as she hurried to catch up to Mina. For the first time in a long while, she felt something warm in her chest. It was nice meeting someone who wasn’t trying to scam her, hurt her, or use her for something. Someone who spoke plainly, who joked. Even if she didn’t get some of them.
“Karaline seems nice,” Emily said as she caught up.
Mina snorted softly. “Sometimes.”
“Well, at least she was friendly,” Emily pointed out, her eyes drifting to the townsfolk.
“You noticed?” Mina murmured.
“Kinda hard not to.”
Mina didn’t respond right away. “You get used to it.”
Emily pursed her lips. “Because you’re a vampire?”
Mina took another drag of her cigarette, “Mhm.”
Emily hesitated, then glanced around again. “And they’re okay with you living here?”
“So long as I keep them safe. A cure is never too bitter to ingest.”
Emily raised an eyebrow. She was having a hard time ingesting the cure to her problems right now. She couldn’t imagine anyone being comfortable knowing a vampire was around, regardless if they claimed they were helpful or not. Hell, she was living with one now, and she didn’t know if she was safe. Mina had offered her so much, yet something in the back of her mind buzzed in trepidation.
“I know Karaline was joking back there but… what would happen if you do bite me?”
“Not something you need to worry about.”
“Then another vampire. Would I turn into one? Or… would something weird happen because I’m a Conduit?”
Mina’s eyes met Emily’s. “I don’t know.”
“You’re telling me its never been tested?”
“Probably has, I just don’t know.”
“Do you think I’m immune?”
“With how powerful your blood is, maybe.”
“I thought the magic in my blood is whats going to help me kill vampires though?”
“The magic in your blood is raw. You still need to channel it for it to work. Even if you don’t turn, you still need to be careful. Your blood is intoxicating. From what I’ve seen, any vampire that drinks it only becomes stronger. Much stronger. It’s... addictive.”
“Have you ever...?”
“No. And I don’t plan to. It’s not something you come back from. The hunger gets worse. The temptation grows. It’s like adding dried leaves to a fire you’re already struggling to control.”
Emily’s brow furrowed. “So, consensus is I’d give vampires a drinking problem. Great.”
Soon, they reached the edge of town. A building sat against the forest, with a domed roof covered in thick moss, and creeping vines. The overgrown foliage draped the windows, where mannequins stood, clothed in the kind of elegant garments Emily only expected to see in Inner Peccatum. There was no sign above the door. No name was carved into the wood. Only a deep blue banner emblazoned with the image of a spider whose silk wrapped around its legs and threaded through the eye of a needle.
Mina came to a stop just before the door, pitching the last smoldering ember of her cigarette into the dirt. “Before we go in,” she said, dusting her hands off, “don’t panic.”
Emily stiffened. “Why?”
“The Tailor isn’t… normal.”
Emily glanced at the shop again. “How ‘not normal’ are we talking?”
“Just… not normal. He’s kind, just… frightening.” Mina opened the door, and a small brass bell chimed overhead. “You’ll see.”
The shop was nothing like the clothing stores in Peccatum. For one, it wasn’t dusty, and there was no strange, musty odor. Instead, it smelled pleasant, like an old bookstore mixed with something faintly floral.
Rows upon rows of clothing stretched across the store in perfect organization. Shirts with high collars and cravats, buttoned waistcoats of rich brocade, and long, double-breasted frock coats lined one side, while elegant dresses with bustling skirts, petticoats, and delicate lace gloves occupied the other. Silk corsets were displayed alongside boned bodices. There were tall riding boots, pocket watches, velvet ribbons, bonnets with silk ties, feathered tricorns, wide-brimmed hats adorned with gemstones, and towering top hats fit for aristocrats.
The walls were draped in hanging fabrics: soft leather, wool, woven cotton, and silk so smooth it shimmered like water under the natural sunlight spilling into the store. Velvet, satin, and lace cascaded down from high shelves, and in the far corner, ribbons and buttons of every shape and color were displayed in glass cases.
Then there were the mannequins, dressed in just about every fancy outfit Emily could imagine. One of them was standing in the center of the store, dressing itself stiffly. It pulled a crisp white shirt over its brown shoulders, then fastened the buttons on a richly embroidered waistcoat. Next, it slipped into a deep navy tailcoat.
In front of it was a short girl wrapped in a purple cloak. She stood with her hands outstretched, her fingers dancing like she was puppeteering a marionette.
“What is this place?” Emily asked, but before she could receive an answer, a deep, male voice rang out from above.
“Is that Mina I see?”
The voice sounded… off. It didn’t echo the way it should have. It was around her, inside her ears, rather than reaching them from a distance. It was both distant and far too close, ethereal almost, as though it wasn’t spoken so much as woven into the air.
Emily craned her neck upward, then gasped and stumbled back. She couldn’t believe what was above her…
Fun Fact: Karaline is simultaneously one of my favorite and least favorite characters to write. On one hand, it's fun to play with her and put her beside Mina (we’ll be seeing a lot more of her later), but on the other hand, her dialect makes her dialogue incredibly infuriating to write and I hate having to edit it (Grammarly flags all of her dialogue). I'm curious as to what you all think about her. Please leave a comment letting me know :)
Author's Note: This chapter received revisions on 9/20/25
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