"Here, put strength into your waist."
"Slowly, squat down."
Priscilla's flushed cheeks looked like a fully ripened apple as she followed the voice and lowered herself.
From time to time, she secretly glanced back at Viktor behind her.
"M-Mr. Mage… is it okay now?"
"I… can't hold on much longer."
Priscilla squeezed out those few words from her throat as if she had used up all her strength. It came out with great difficulty.
The next second, a hand rested on her shoulder and gave it a light pat.
"That's enough."
Priscilla quickly stood up and twisted her neck.
She rubbed her sore waist while pounding her aching legs.
This kind of soreness was really pushing her to the limit.
Horse stance training was way too exhausting.
Priscilla panted heavily, leaning against the pillar behind her, weakly stretching her body.
Listening to the cracking sounds from her bones, it felt as if all the fatigue in her body had been released at once.
Viktor stood behind Priscilla, looking at the pocket watch in his hand, and let out a light sigh.
"Forty-eight seconds. Three seconds longer than before. That's progress."
Priscilla's cheeks were still flushed. When she heard that she had improved, a smile climbed onto her face.
Her crimson eyes looked at Viktor with anticipation, as if she wanted to hear some praise for her improvement.
"But you're still the worst performer."
Hearing this, Priscilla immediately lowered her head, her expression dimming.
She also wanted to compete with the others, but her physical ability simply wouldn't allow it.
Tilting her head, she looked to the side.
The two tigerfolk stood with both hands on their waists, legs straight, forming a ninety-degree angle, holding a horse stance firmly on the ground.
Their breathing was steady, and there wasn't even a trace of sweat visible on their faces.
Priscilla felt a bit puzzled.
Was it possible that because they were tigerfolk, they just didn't sweat on their foreheads?
Still, the two tigerfolk had maintained this posture without moving since early morning.
Now it was already noon, and they were still holding the same stance.
At this moment, Priscilla secretly glanced at Aurelian on the other side.
After training, she could also endure for a long time.
However, she naturally didn't need to train something like horse stance for physical conditioning.
After all, their paths were different.
At this moment, Aurelian was repeatedly swinging her sword.
From morning until now.
Again and again, repeating the same motion.
Sweat kept flying off her body, even soaking through her thick clothes.
Clinging to her body, it almost looked slightly transparent, as if you could faintly see what was underneath.
Priscilla didn't dare keep looking closely. She hurriedly turned her head back and looked at Viktor's calm face.
"M-Mr. Mage…"
"Why do I have to train this too?"
Viktor glanced at Priscilla's crimson eyes and began to explain.
"To make you a martial artist."
"Martial artist?"
Priscilla froze when she heard the term.
It was the first time she had heard of this… profession?
Viktor's gaze moved over her, sizing up her body.
It had already matured fully, with nothing lacking where it should have developed.
She could already be considered a grown girl.
So becoming a martial artist at this point was actually more difficult.
However, she was the most perfect vampire forged from the million units of blood Laurien exchanged with his death.
Because of that, her body was extremely powerful, even to an unbelievable degree.
But she had a major flaw, one that had already been exposed at the lowest level of Guanta Prison.
That flaw was insufficient endurance.
Her bloodline was too perfect, giving Priscilla immense strength and self-healing ability, but this body still couldn't fully withstand it.
As a result, she couldn't completely release her power.
She needed to take it step by step, using continuous combat and training to gradually draw out her body's strength.
Viktor's original intention was to have Priscilla interact more with martial artists, train together with them, and strengthen her somewhat fragile stamina.
Among countless professions, martial artist was undoubtedly the most suitable for her.
Because any martial artist needed to practice 'energy manipulation' every day.
They drew life energy from the natural environment to nourish themselves and maintain the flow of vitality and blood.
For Priscilla, a vampire, a martial artist who could replenish blood energy was the most suitable profession.
It could also train her endurance at the same time.
Priscilla asked in confusion, "Then… to what level do I need to train?"
Viktor thought for a moment after hearing her question.
"About the level of those two is enough."
"Huh?"
She looked at the two tigerfolk who were still unmoving, maintaining their stance as if nothing could shake them. Fear showed on her face, and she unconsciously kept her distance from them.
Priscilla regretted it.
Let alone a whole morning, even forty seconds made her feel sore all over, wishing she could collapse onto a bed the next second.
Training to the level where the two tigerfolk could stand for an entire morning… how long would that take?
But that wasn't all. Viktor continued, "Of course, this isn't the only thing you'll be training."
He spoke calmly, "I'll leave one of the tigerfolk behind. She'll protect your safety, and she'll also act as your teacher, supervising your daily training."
As his words fell, the female tigerfolk who had been holding the horse stance stopped and walked over to Viktor's side.
She stood in front of Priscilla, clasped her hands, and bowed to her.
Priscilla blinked, slightly stunned, her thoughts scattering.
She quickly raised her head and looked at Viktor.
"M-Mr. Mage, are you… leaving?"
Viktor nodded calmly, "I'm from the Empire. I can't stay in the Kingdom for long."
Priscilla instinctively stepped closer and hurriedly said, "Then can I go with you..."
Suddenly, Viktor raised his hand, his fingertip lightly pressing against her forehead.
Priscilla looked at him in confusion, and the next second...
Bang!
A crisp knocking sound rang out. Viktor still held the flicking posture.
"Ugh."
Priscilla felt sharp pain, covering her head as her eyes turned red.
A few tears even slipped out from the pain.
A question flashed through her mind.
Mr. Viktor was clearly a mage, so how did he have such strength…
Before she could react, Viktor said calmly, "Now you know it hurts?"
Priscilla endured the pain and said nothing, her cheeks puffing out in sulking anger.
"First, even if you abandon your identity in the Kingdom, you are still a lord."
"The people of Shurbon need you. If you leave, who will continue to manage Shurbon?"
"The effort your father put in while he was alive would go to waste."
Listening to this, Priscilla held her head, her brows lowering, her expression dim.
Whenever her father was mentioned, she fell silent.
Her parents were a pain she would carry her entire life. She couldn't ignore their sacrifice.
It was love meant only to keep her in this world.
"Your Highness, Count Viktor."
At that moment, a voice came from behind Viktor.
He turned around to look. A group of people was walking over.
At the front was Gwen, followed by twelve diplomatic envoys.
They called out to Viktor and reported to him and the princess, "The magic train will arrive tonight. If we're leaving today, we need to head to Shurbon now."
Hearing the diplomat's words, Aurelian lowered the sword in her hand.
She lightly traced a line in the air with her finger. Along with the flow of magic, a cleansing spell wiped away all the sweat from her body and clothes.
Ever since she could properly control necromancy, Teacher Viktor no longer stopped her from using magic.
The remaining tigerfolk also returned from the horse stance and saluted Viktor.
Vanilla carried the heavy luggage and followed behind Aurelian.
Finally, Viktor looked at Priscilla, who was lowering her head, and slowly spoke, "Let's go."
"You and I… both need to go home."
———
At this moment, the night was deep, and stars dotted the sky.
In front of the train platform, the twelve ministers gazed at the Kingdom's night scenery, immersed in emotion.
This time, when they left the Kingdom, no one came to see them off.
Yesterday, the diplomats had already exchanged farewells with the Kingdom's nobles.
They still remembered when they first arrived in the Kingdom of Kant this year, the lively welcoming party, including Count Laurien.
It had been especially bustling.
But now, they were leaving.
In just a month, everything had changed.
Count Laurien had already passed away.
Who could have imagined? That Count Laurien was actually a vampire.
Unavoidably, a trace of sorrow appeared in everyone's heart.
But more than that, there was relief.
The annual business trip was finally over. After this, they could rest for quite a long time.
Chuff!
A burst of steam sounded from the platform, and the magically formed multicolored tracks appeared under the night sky.
The train doors slowly opened, and bright light shone out from the carriages, illuminating the people shrouded in darkness.
The knights and the demi-human guards brought by Viktor lined up in two rows and boarded the train one after another.
The remaining knights led the horses toward the last few carriages.
Gwen slowly turned her head and glanced at Viktor and the girl with the same blood-red eyes.
Then she turned and boarded the carriage first.
Priscilla stood in front of Viktor. Behind her, the female tigerfolk stood obediently.
"Hold out your hand."
She froze for a moment. Though reluctant, she still obediently extended her hand.
Then, a golden card appeared in her palm.
She looked at the gold card in surprise.
Because it had the emblem of the Cassidra Chamber of Commerce engraved on it.
"There's one hundred million in it. Keep it with you."
"Bishop Michaela has a group of demi-humans to support. With her financial resources, she can't raise them all."
"One tree can't hold up the sky alone. Remember, they will become your strength."
Priscilla listened to Viktor's instructions, nodded slightly, and gripped the gold card, watching as Viktor gradually walked away.
That black coat reflected in her crimson eyes, looking especially distant.
Priscilla opened her mouth.
"Fa…"
She really wanted to ask if they would meet again.
But in the end, she couldn't say it.
The card in her hand still seemed to carry Viktor's warmth.
Until Viktor boarded the train as the last person, and the train slowly began to move.
The magical tracks below began to extend again, spreading a layer of multicolored magic through the air.
The train let out a plume of white steam. The long train followed the tracks, its wheels turning, gradually rising into the sky.
Priscilla looked up at the sky, the strange light reflected in her eyes.
Suddenly, a breeze stirred beside her.
Priscilla sensed it sharply and turned her head.
She was startled.
"G-Grand Duke."
Grand Duke Barlow was standing beside her, leaning on his cane.
When had the Grand Duke arrived?
So he had also come to see them off?
At this moment, the Grand Duke's cloudy eyes trembled slightly as he looked at the train.
As if reminiscing, yet silent.
He slowly spoke again, asking Priscilla beside him, "Why didn't you say that sentence?"
"That sentence…?"
Priscilla thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"A little unwilling to part."
The breeze lifted Priscilla's long silver hair.
The starlight in the night sky shimmered, making her hair look especially bright.
The strange glimmer in her crimson eyes gradually faded, and the bright moon reflected in them, calm and clear.
Stars hung overhead, slowly shifting with the breeze.
"And also… a little unwilling."