60 "Hold on tight, or else you’ll fall, Master"

When the afternoon came, Ivory had slept for a long while and had fully rested. A guide traveler from Empirica City came with two extra camels, and he said that it was sponsored by Qawiun Academy.

"Thank you for having us," Ivory bowed politely at Nathan.

He gave a thumbs up, "No problem! Qawiun Academy students are always welcome in my humble home. Feel free to visit anytime, Ivor."

"Morgan and Jasiel… We didn't spend time that much, but thank you for accepting a second year like me."

"You are our schoolmate, it's not a big deal," Morgan replied. "Actually, if not for your male outfit and your name, I would think that you're a woman."

"What!? What are you saying, Morgan!? Just look at Ivor's manliness! How can he be a woman!? Have you heard about how he prevented the intense fight from happening?! He's a hero!" Jasiel explained in a panic as Morgan raised his brow, and Ivory chuckled.

"Master Ivor, we need to go," Sigmund said.

"Alright," she waved goodbye to the three men. "See you again soon!"

And so, Ivory and Sigmund rode the camels. After one and a half hours, they rested in Empirica City and transferred to the academy's horse-drawn carriage, then exited the Land of Rosaria and headed back to the Land of Olivea. An hour and a half then passed again, and they were dropped off to their home in Greensteid Town. It was already time for dinner when they arrived.

"You're just in time, dear," Anne told her daughter and led her inside their home, "I made potato soup. Go get changed first, eat with us."

"Okay mother!" and she ran upstairs as Sigmund followed her.

In the attic, Ivory, who missed her family, quickly tried to remove the layers of cloth she was wearing. "Sigmund, help me, please."

Upon the request of his Master, he went behind her and whispered near her ear, "Finally gotten rid of these obstacles."

"What obstacles?" Ivory laughed, "What are you saying?"

"Hmm. Nothing. Don't move, it will be done in a while," and the Vampire gazed amorously at his Master's bare back as he pulled the strings, loosening all those layers of cloth.

When Ivory had finally finished putting on her loose linen nightgown, Sigmund suddenly remembered something. "I still haven't told you something… It's about that woman, Euphorie."

"Yes? What about her?" she peered at him with curious eyes.

"I asked Nathan about her. She's from Valios City."

"Valios?"

"That's on the Land of Sandria, beside Prisma City where Katie is living right now. Do you want to check it out?" Sigmund asked. "And maybe… visit your sister?"

Ivory beamed a smile with what she heard from her Servant. She became excited that after a year, she would be able to see her sister once again. She then pulled Sigmund's arm as she ran downstairs for dinner.

...

The following day was a weekend, and Ivory and Sigmund visited Lucius in Megalia City early in the morning to borrow a horse-drawn carriage. Ordinary citizens like Ivory, who were not related to or were not members of the military forces, were not allowed to directly ride a horse to go outside to another Land. Aside from that, they didn't have a private horse license scroll issued from Omegalion City.

"You're going to Valios City to look for your possible relatives?" Lucius asked after listening to Ivory's explanation and request. He was still wearing his silk night robe, and the three of them conversed inside a waiting room. "I don't have available coachmen at the moment, and I don't think coachman Ebleu can travel that far. It will be seven whole hours from Greensteid."

"I see… It might be too much for his old age," Ivory sighed. "Do you know how we can travel there today?"

"You have a Servant, why don't you make use of him?" he pointed out to Sigmund, who raised his brow.

"She can actually order me to use Air Elemental Magic. I'll carry her there in less than seven hours, but I'd lose a lot of mana…" he chuckled, yet liking that silly idea. "You're suggesting it because you probably do not know how a Vampire Servant replenishes mana."

"Oh, right. I was actually curious about it, since details about the banished Servants were not allowed to be shown to the public… So how do you-"

"Uhm, excuse me! Lucius, how about we talk about how to get to Valios City?!" Ivory suddenly yelled, making both of them startled.

"At the border of our Land, there are two big public carriages. One is headed to Empirica City in the Land of Olivea, and the other one is headed to Umbria City in the Land of Rosaria." He then stood up and headed in front of the fireplace. He glanced at the small wooden clock placed on top of the mantel shelf. "It's six… The public carriage going to Umbria City will depart in an hour. Since Ebleu is not here at the moment, I will let you borrow a horse to our Land's border. Come with me to the stables."

A moment later, Lucius took them to the stables at the back of the Goldwine mansion. He asked the stable lad to choose the best-conditioned horse that morning. A big, black horse was chosen, and Sigmund carried Ivory upwards to ride on the saddle. He then rode closely behind her and stroked her hair before letting her head rest on his firm chest, making her blush.

As the Vampire took the reins, he said, "Hold on tight, or else you'll fall-"

"No way, I'm not falling for you- Oh…" she buried her face in his chest to avoid meeting his eyes. "I… yes, I will hold on tight," and she mumbled and gripped his shirt.

Sigmund smirked, then glanced at Lucius, "I will ask the city guard at the border to return the horse to you. We'll be off, then."

Lucius let Ivory borrow a bag of silver coins for them to spend. He reminded her, "Remember to proceed directly to General Bronzelain's brother. If you show my letter to any of the city guards in Valios City, they will lead the way… Go now, and have a safe journey."