Chapter 04 - Divergencies

To be honest, I wasn't that nervous. Just like the rest of the family didn't think much of me, I didn't think much of them either… thanks to having given me half of his blood, Rayner had granted me a relatively easy life, so perhaps I had some obligations to the family, but I wasn't willing to trade the remaining of it for no reason. He could ask me to pay for the rent and food one day and I would return with interest, but I won't use my freedom as currency.'Let's see… if he kept me here until now, it is hard to believe that he will kick me out if I don't follow his orders. He is distant towards me, but he is fine with the others. I would guess that is because of his wives. Anyway, he probably wants to talk about that thing. I need to repay my debt, but I am not willing to follow in his footsteps. There is no place in nobility or in the army for someone like me.'The house had become a bit more empty and less noisy lately. Gerald also joined the knights' academy and the eldest daughter also went to school where she could learn a lot of subjects, diplomacy, economy, magic, etiquette, and so on. Thanks to my research, I learned that mages were pretty valuable, but only when they reached some crazy levels where they could even alter the weather. Even in that stage, they can be easily killed, which is why fighting at close range seems like the only option for nobles. Hiring a bunch of powerful bodyguards also seems a good option, they had deep pockets, after all.Aside from the active skills granted by the classes, others could be learned by training and even studying books. The only exceptions were the passive skills, the parameters granted by those classes, and their bonuses, and the requirements to make them gain experience. Naturally, fighting and killing others also grant experience, but it isn't the only option.Speaking of the parameters bonuses, I learned that some classes granted the same parameters. So, if someone obtained two classes that gave them the chance to improve their health, they would gain a multiplier instead of having the same parameter duplicated. For example, a warrior can increase their health with enough experience obtained by training, by ten points per level, but with two classes that increase health, the parameter would increase by eleven points per level. With three classes, the multiplier would be 1.3, with four, 1.6, and so on.At the same time, the bonuses would be applied no matter the level of the parameter… so, if someone's health parameter was at level ten and they got another class that granted them the extra health, they would immediately receive 11 points of health. It was retroactive, which made things pretty interesting. I bet that I could abuse that and I probably wasn't the only one.While I was thinking along those lines, I arrived at Rayner's office and then took a deep breath before knocking on the door. The atmosphere around the area was tense and that was how it usually was when he was working. He probably was trying to intimidate me. He didn't talk with me that often, so he would probably act like I had no say in the matter."Enter."It felt like the first time I heard his voice, he had this energy in his voice that commanded respect. I knew that the system had that kind of influence with some skills, but it was still impressive how it could affect me. Once I opened the door, I found him writing something on a piece of paper. He didn't seem like the type who would pretend that he was working to look more impressive, but he seemed more than a bit busy with the tired expression on his face."Sit."There was a chair in front of his table, so I sat on it and then I waited for him to start. He slowed down his writing and stopped a few times, maybe he was writing a serious document or he was thinking about something else."Regulus… you have done some growing since the last time I saw you.""Is that so?"Rayner finally looked at me and then he said the weirdest thing. I had noticed that too… I was already as tall as Ulric, even though he was three years older. Maybe it was because I was a dhampir. I heard in some tales that they age fast, but they remain youthful for a long time after they stopped aging. I couldn't tell if that was the case since I only noticed the demerits of being one. The only merit that I noticed was that I could stay awake at night without feeling tired at all. When morning comes, though, it feels like I spent days without sleeping."You are already five years old and we tend to let our boys choose their first class at this age. The girls choose a bit later once they develop their interests. We have no saying here, we all become knights and then try to climb the ranks."It was pretty obvious that such a thing wasn't possible for me, but there was always a chance that Rayner would make me follow that path in order to prove my loyalty to my human side. I would refuse that since it would be a hassle with close to no benefits."I was informed that you read a lot of books in my office, and while looking at you, I can tell in your eyes that you are a bit more mature than your actual age. So, I won't hide anything from you. It is in your best interest for you to become a soldier. Even if you don't become a knight, as long as you have my name, you will be protected."I didn't say anything… even if I don't achieve a high rank or receive promotions, the name of the family would grant me some benefits. For one, I wouldn't be treated like a regular soldier and for another, my officials would be cautious around me since they will fear being punished for my death. Staying on the good side of the head of the family would be pretty good for them. Perhaps it would grant them some promotions."Those who are half-humans aren't treated that well anywhere aside from Talimor. As if that isn't enough, you are a half-vampire. Some people will try to target you for many reasons, and being killed will be just one of your lesser worries. With your appearance, you can't hide who you are.""I can dye my hair."Rayner stopped for a moment since he didn't expect that kind of idea… he never considered it since he was a warrior through and through. His style was to deal with a problem head-on, not to find turn arounds to deal with issues like that."It won't work. There are some magic tools and skills that help identify the information of others. Eventually, you will be noticed by one of those.""There are also tools that can counter those skills and implements."Rayner went silent again. I couldn't do much in the last five years, so I learned as much as I could. I couldn't erase my name, but I could hide it. That would make me look suspicious, but at least it would decrease the number of potential threats. There was also the most advanced option, faking my information. Still, that would be pretty difficult since such implements cost a fortune."... I can't allow you to take such risks. I promised your mother that I would keep you safe."You treated me like a stranger at your home… I wasn't on the level of the servants, but at least the servants weren't looked at in disgust. I knew that he did what he could to keep his remaining family intact and kept me alive and protected inside his home, but everything pretty much canceled each other. Still, I was adult enough to not let that bother me. I wasn't his real son, anyway."I will save money and eventually buy a tool that will allow me to remain hidden and live an unsuspecting life. That is all I want.""I won't allow it. Tomorrow, the captain will take you to the dungeon and then you will obtain your warrior class. Then you will follow in the footsteps of your brothers. Once you graduate from the Knights Academy. You will be able to protect yourself a bit. If you work hard enough, then you can become a squire of one of my friends.""I won't serve a country or the people that see me like an eyesore."Rayner glared at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes… he was probably thinking that I might be planning to join the Nocturath, the country of the vampires. If I behaved like them, then certainly they would see me as their equal with more ease… they only see the other species as cattle, after all.I just wanted to live a normal life and have some fun… I had so many ideas of what I wanted to do and what I could do that I didn't even know where to begin with. The idea of becoming a warrior wasn't that annoying, I just didn't want to take the first step to become someone else's minion. That was why I felt more eager to get the archer or the mage class.I studied the world for years and with the technology there, there were a lot of things that I could accomplish by myself than on Earth, I would need the assistance of who knows how many people. Still, I was a bit of a loner, so I preferred to do things at my own pace and at my own leisure rather than rely on others. That was clear after spending five years without talking with anyone most of the days.If people didn't like me for something that I couldn't change, then it would be fine by me. I could just follow my own path without any major restraints or letting others slow me down. That could be something lonely for most, but I was a believer that if life gives you lemons, then you need to make a lemonade. Complaining and bitching won't do anything, and I was already thankful enough for having a second chance at life. I wouldn't let minor stuff get me.Those were my thoughts, but I couldn't share them with Rayner, for obvious reasons. He kept studying me for a while… as a marquis and military commander, he had a duty to the Bastion empire. If someone from his family could become a problem, then he might have to deal with it before it escalates too much. I could only stare at him back and hope that he would understand my point of view. It was also a bit of a bother to explain all that, nothing also says that he would accept my reasoning."... You have your orders, if you want to make your life harder, then don't regret your choices later. Tomorrow, you will go to the dungeon with the captain and from the next day onward, you will be trained by him on how to handle a sword. You can leave."I nodded and then left the room. I could tell that he was pissed, but at least he didn't try to shout to intimidate me. I could tell that he was conflicted in his position… he obtained a lot thanks to his hard work, his family, his fame, and his position. He probably received a lot of scrutiny for keeping me around. During the years, he was barely at home, like one or two weeks every year and he even missed the birthdays of his other kids, even though they adored him. Perhaps, he was working hard to make people understand that he was still on their side.He had a point though… being trained to fight with a sword without the warrior class will be difficult. Moreover, I won't gain any experience if I decide to be stubborn. However, what other option do I have… in a fantasy world where technology walked hand in hand with magic, being a simple warrior would be too boring. My first goal was to make something like a railgun. Perhaps I shouldn't, though. It would be a waste if my best creation in that world were to be a weapon of mass destruction.