"Lamb in a Lions' Den"

He turned to her, "Anything!"

"Just answer my questions. You've been here for a few weeks, right? Can you tell me more about this town? Why are there very few women here?"

"About that…" Jasiel leaned on the wall beside Sigmund and gave a serious expression. "It was the Town Leader's wife. She ordered that when girls turn fourteen, they must be relocated to Empirica City."

"But why?" asked Ivory.

Jasiel shook his head, "We still do not know. Morgan and I are only allowed to roam around in this town, but we are not permitted to enter the Town Hall. The Town Leader and his wife are residing there, so it is heavily guarded."

"I see… But there must be a big reason why..." She wondered what made the Town Leader's wife decide on such a trivial thing.

"Kids, lunch is ready! Come out!" Nathan's voice could be heard behind the door.

"We'll be there! Thank you!" Ivory shouted.

When Sigmund heard that Morgan's footsteps were fading away, he told Jasiel, "If you really want to be forgiven and atone for your sin, you should help us hide the fact that Ivory's a woman."

"Of course, I will," Jasiel said, looking straight into Sigmund's crimson red irises. "I will make sure that she won't be found out at all costs."

"Good."

Jasiel sighed. "This is a punishment for not completing a class activity, but I wonder what Educator Wallace is thinking for sending a woman here in a place like this?"

"I think he wants to test us… He wants to test her magic ability."

"Ivory is powerful, isn't she?"

Ivory commented, "Maybe, but what's the use? I can't even control it…" There was an awkward silence afterwards, and so she said, "Anyway, we should head out and eat lunch."

Jasiel opened the door, and the three of them went to the dining area, which was located at the side of the adobe house. It was also painted with white and had wooden windows. The dining benches were made of stone and were attached against the wall. Potted cacti were placed at the center of the wooden table while three fiber rope lamps hung from the ceiling.

On the table were plates of camel meat pepper roast, sliced saguaro fruits, and tepary bean salads. While Ivory and Jasiel sat in front of each other, Sigmund stood behind his Master.

"Presenting my specialty dishes! Eat to your heart's content!" Nathan said happily as he sat at the end of the table. He turned his head to Ivory, "Oh, that's right, I want to welcome you and your Servant in my humble home, Ivor. This house has been Qawiun Academy third years' lodging since five years ago. The principal has been giving me enough resources to maintain this house as well as feed their students."

"Oh, I see… So when will we start patrolling the town?" asked Ivory.

"I'll ask my cousin. He's the town guards' chief."

Jasiel then said, "Before sunset, Morgan and I will have to depart. Our shift will be until the moon rises at the very top of the sky."

"Alright. I will help you both later in preparing your armors."

"Thanks, Nathan," Morgan responded and asked Ivory, "Hey, Ivor. What combat type are you?"

"Magic."

Nathan commented, "Magic, huh… They said that the Town Leader's wife can also do magic."

"Oh, she's a chosen one, too?" Morgan responded. "I wonder what Servant she summoned."

"Well, we actually do not know, because ever since she got married to the Town Leader three years ago, she never left the Town Hall. She only permitted some guards, officials, and helpers to enter."

They continued eating the heavy lunch as they discussed about Gallean Town. They talked about the odd policy that all females fourteen and above needed to be transferred out of the town. All adult males were required to train for combat, and those who weren't skillful enough were trained to be merchants. Those who left were promised that their families would be able to relocate to Empirica City. There were those who stayed because they took into consideration the protection of the land of their ancestors. But sadly, it was expected that soon, Gallean would lose the majority of its townspeople.

Hours passed, and Nathan left the house to buy food from the market. Jasiel took Athena in her stone figurine form, and Morgan held his Owl Beast Servant in its smaller, inactive form by letting it perch on its shoulder.

Ivory felt better knowing that they were the only ones left in the house. After making sure that the thick curtains of the bedroom were properly closed, she quickly took off her cloak, then unfastened her tight belt.

Sigmund was standing by the door, "Do you need help?"

"No, I can do this alone," she said, but she could not reach the string at her back that she needed to pull to loosen the other layer of cloth wrapping her.

"Should I repeat the question?" Sigmund smirked, "Or are you being shy, Master Ivor?"

Ivory turned beet red, "I am not being shy, and I'll prove it to you! Come here and help me…"

Sigmund was pleased that his Master finally gave it up and called him. He stepped towards her and stood behind her closely, "I'll take these clothes off…" and finally pulled the string.

The Vampire Servant took off the linen cloth, and the other pieces of cloth after that, exposing his Master's bare back.

Ivory felt more at ease, and she breathed in and out now that the layers of cloth were gone. She pulled the cloak towards her chest to cover her front.

She told him, "Thank you- Hey, Sigmund…!"

As soon as the Vampire saw her flawless skin, he couldn't help but caress her nape repeatedly, and down to her lower back. He then kissed her nape and whispered near her ear, "You are truly a lamb in a lions' den."

"What do you think you're doing?! Are you one of the lions?!" Ivory's voice was trembling. He's still caressing her back, and it made her feel stimulated.

"Yes… and the one who killed all the other lions just to have you for myself," and he bit her on the nape.

"Sigmund..." She murmured, and her Servant placed his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly as he sucked her sweet blood. Ivory placed both her hands on her mouth, covering it to stop herself from letting out moans. If her high-pitched tone would be heard by the neighbors, her disguise as a man might be blown.