5 Chapter 5 - A regular work night

Cleff stood firm amongst a storm of flowing lines and shapes, occasionally reaching out to a passing shape to take it apart before rebuilding it before throwing it back into the raging storm. If he was satisfied with the shape that was fished out from the maelstrom Cleff would add it to the small construct that was slowly taking shape before him.

Cleff spent what felt like an eternity studying the strange shapes that made up the swirling storm presented to him piling them onto a neverending diagram.

Lines became triangles, triangles twisted into squares, squares melted into odd shapes and shadows, and odd shapes and shadows overlapped to form a face.

A very familiar face in fact.

It was the face that Cleff had been sketching for a few days now. The face of a well-known vampire count.

With a swipe of his hand, Cleff sent the diagram made up of glowing lines to a corner of his mind-space dedicated to his references and disconnected from the Magica.

Shaking himself out of his trance-like state Cleff found himself hunched over the count's ever so luxurious desk with a few freshly drawn charcoal sketches laid out before him.

Giving his work a look over Cleff frowned before starting his usual routine of stuffing them all into his overstuffed backpack after a quick glance.

As Cleff reached out for the last sketch his hand was interrupted by a pale grip.

Looking up Cleff found his nude model, the count in the flesh, staring down at him in fascination.

Thankfully the vampire had the decency to throw on a robe after he was done modeling.

" Its quite strange little human, "

The Count mused.

" What's strange? Is there anything wrong with my work so far, if so please let me know. "

Cleff tried and failed to shake off the count's iron grip. Even though the vampire looked thin and pale Cleff felt like the creature basking in the moonlight was stronger than entire armies.

" Its quite strange the way you interact with the Magica childe.... "

The vampire purred....

" Even though you have only a few skills, no level, and a perception lower than my average thrall when you draw you somehow are able to take in massive amounts of information and break it down into simple shapes and lines. Your perception jumps in that moment your puny brain taking in more information than a hundred scholars can. Not only that but It feels like you can store the parts that you interact with, shoveling it deep into your brain, "

The Count tapped Clefs head sending shivers down his spine.

" I wonder human.... If i cut open that skull of yours and fed your brain to a mind render.... how much raw information would I find stored in that little skull of yours? "

Resulting in an even further amused count Cleff quickly picked up all of his stuff and quickly bolted out of the Count's study.

He would deal with the old bat tomorrow night, he was done sketching and would rather spend time not dealing with a half-crazy exhibitionist.

Making his way through the complex corridors of the vampire's layer Cleff greeted many of the bloodsucking creatures in a polite manner until he found a familiar face.

" Hey !!! Is that my favorite old hag waiting for me in front of my room ??? I knew we were getting along !!! "

Tossing the book she was reading at Cleff Veinessa's fangs bared in anger as she shot several pointed glances in his direction.

" Shut it inferior filth !!! I am only watching over you under my master's orders !!! DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MIDNIGHT SNACK ???? "

Running up to his door and fumbling with several brass keys Cleff spent several minutes attempting to open the twenty locks that defended his temporary residence under the assault of Veinessas scolding.

Although the locks were inconvenient the Count had claimed that the locks were in place to prevent any wandering adventurers or local governments from rescuing * COUGH harassing him.

Finally managing to jiggle the door open after numerous tries and forgetting which locks were actually real Cleff slid into his room and slammed the door right in Veinessas face.

" AHHHHHHHHHH HUMAN FILTH YOU THINK A DOOR CAN DEFEAT ME !!!! "

" Its your master's property. "

" SCREW YOU IM GOING TO GO FIND THE SPARES !!! "

Tossing his backpack to the side Cleff meandered over to an extra fluffy king-sized bed and dived right in.

The room he was provided was quite spacious although most of that was taken up by the enormous canvas that sat in the center of the room. Moonlight filtered in from the many windows that surrounded his room and illuminated not only the canvas but the hundreds of sketches that surrounded it pilled up from many angles.

In the last few days, Cleff had been fairly busy making hundreds of sketches and storing tons of information in his brain in order to prepare to paint what could be his first-ever living piece of art.

But that was irrelevant at the moment because within a second of his cheek hitting a luxurious pillow and the start of the sun's eventual rise he immediately fell asleep.