Speech and Learning
The now two-year-old Nikita could speak some broken 'version' of Visigoth which she had discovered throughout her lessons with Ms. Valeri was the common language spoken in both the Undead Kingdom of Drakenhof as well as the Sacred Empire of Escanor and all lands which lie in-between. She had learned that Nosgoth was the language which her parents spoke, and it was the language of nobility in Drakenhof, developed by his immaculate highness Vlad himself. Nikita had also learned that each of the three major houses were placed in charge of a fiefdom with each of the minor houses holding lands of import (such as trade villages, garrison towns, etc) in the name of their feudal lieges - that Dragmir had been placed in-charge of the Fief of Sylvania; the Trizimire had been placed in-charge of the Fief of Lìonne; and that the Nosferatu had been placed in-charge of the Fief of Morenburg. Finally her lessons thusfar had taught Nikita that each of the three originating bloodlines (and to a minor degree when coming to their retainer bloodlines) had received a gift from Vlad himself; with the Dragmires gaining the gift of Blood Control, the Trizimeres gaining the gift of Mind Control, and the Nosferatu gaining the gift of being able to survive almost any non-magical wound; on top of their staggering list of powers as elder vampires.
Unfortunately for Nikita, she had yet to unlock her ancestral bloodline power to control blood and use magic within blood as her father and her uncle could do. Perhaps when Nikita was of proper age the bloodline power would finally awaken within her. For the moment pending the princess held far more important articles to her forward progress like these random quests which had seemed to been popping up. Having already completed four quests and having leveled up in this method, Nikita had to wonder if these 'quests' had anything to do with her reincarnation from her previous life of an accountant into this new life of a princess. It wouldn't seem she'd complete the latest quest for a while which was fine, the remaining timer on the quest said four years, eleven months, and one day. The quest which was labeled 'Introduction to the Noble Academy' required the princess to visit the grounds and receive her Academy Sigil from the Headmaster and would reward her with exactly two-hundred experience. At least today her lesson with Ms. Valeri had been ended early, and Nikita brought down to the grand foyer of the Second Floor which she had yet to see throughout her own life which she knew was for her own safety. Then why would she be allowed down here today?
As if on que to answer her question dim light filtered from below-hand as the main gate to the castle opened, Nikita listening to her parents speaking yet knew nothing of what they said due to speaking in the language Nosgoth. With nothing else much to do and without being able to get a view in edgewise as whoever mommy and dad were talking about, the small child fidgeted in her seat. She didn't want to fidget too much after all she had been allowed to wear this nice dress of white and black complementing satin with a large red bow just above her head of silvery hair which had been combed and fell to just past the shoulders. Beside, the undead construct Grazef stood beside her at head level, a great dane breed dog which had since become undead through her own practice of Necromancy which could be made permanent at rank three though at her current age and concentration could only keep one construct permanent as such. The massive undead dog has been raised from a skeleton with a special leather armor shaped and barded to appear as muscle over the dog's bony skin then wore a full-body suit of fur which had been requested upon her mommy Helena to make the dog appear lifelike from further away. There were still several things that could peg the dog as undead; no heart-beat or breathing, nor blood circulator system. The undead dog still kept some dog mannerisms such as wagging it's tail when happy, though. Nikito looked over to her companion.
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Name: Duke
Race: Skeleton (Canine)
Age: 3 Months
Affiliation: Nikita Dragmir
Level: 5
Experience: 1,000 / 1,500
Free Attribute Points: 0
Free Ability Points: 0
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Strength: 28
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: N/A
Intelligence: 6
Willpower: 10
Charisma: 6
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Abilities:
Hardening (Rank III)
Awareness (Rank III)
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Inventory:
Mastercraft Leather Barding
Fluffy Suit
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Well regardless to say that Nikita was pretty confident in Duke's ability to defend her from pretty much any threat below that of skeleton knight Radagask which was one of two captains of the guard here in Count Solomon's home, and due to being in constant mental contact with her companion she hadn't any need to worry about being caught off-guard and even if so the great dane accompanied the child almost everywhere now. Eventually the conversation ended and she could vaguely make out her parents now moving towards the grand double stairs which lead up to the foyer itself though didn't catch sight of the male who had joined them until the two parents were nearly upon the stairs. The man's head was full of the same delicate silvery hair which had been cut short and formed a finely-shaven goatee and while laugh lines had formed at the creases of his mouth, he didn't seem the sort to be in such high spirits commonly. He had the same pale-hued skin of Nikita, Ms. Valerie, and her Parents Helena and Solomon which meant He must have been a Vampire. Moreso Nikita was unable to view anything about him in the Status Panel, building the mystery.
"Ah Marcus, you've not met young Nikita yet have you? Well, Nikita this is your uncle Marcus Dragmir." spoke Solomon with somewhat warm tones happy that his brother would come pay a visit but at the same time curious as to hear why King-Regent Marcus Dragmir, the man who had ascended to the throne no more than a thousand years due to the result of the third Crusade of the Sacred Empire of Escanor against the forces of Vlad Tepes Von Dracula and Drakenhof, had come visit. While the exact events of the war's end was unsure, from her lessons Nikita knew that Vlad Tepes had stepped down as ruler and faded into a slumber which hadn't been broken since. All that was known was that His Immaculate Highness had bought victory with blood as the imperial forces routed until they returned to the imperial territory and while there had been border skirmishes since then, no true war had reigned. But now, her uncle King Marcus moved to stand before young Nikita and her great dane Duke who protected her.
"No, I've not met your daughter just yet my brother. I see you are being well-prepared by the tutor I've arranged for you, my dear niece. I certainly hope that your parents can prepare you for the kind of rivalry and cunning games you'll find at Sylvania Noble Academy my girl, for the very future of this kingdom might just rest on your shoulders should you weather the days of the academy well. If you're useful to me, who knows. I might just restore your birthright." spoke the elder male, raising young Nikita up into the air and speaking in a tone mixed half of warmth and mirth with half of intimidation and fright. It didn't unnerve the child despite her relative youth compared to the vampire king who by now was pushing over two thousand years old. She knew that many trials faced her in the future, but was not thwarted by what must have been the pure odds stacked against her. Something which brought a kind smile to the gentleman, thinking that this child might just be on the same level as his own youngest son who had just entered the Academy recently. Marcus then set Nikita back down.
"Why don't you have a maid take little Nikita back to bed? We can discuss the rest among ourselves," spoke Marcus Dragmir before one of the dredges picked up Nikita and carried her up but not before she heard Marcus speak in Nosgoth, "...Then, have you thought about my proposal of marriage for Nikita and my youngest Crassus? It would allow her..." was all the child managed to hear before being carried up the servant's passage to the third then fourth then fifth floor rather than using the spiral staircase as usual. Eventually, Nikita was brought back up to the sixth floor and to the tower inside where her nursery was. Placed back into her indestructible crib, Nikita ordered her companion to take guard along with Sir Radagast who also seemed to be stationed on duty at this point of the castle, at the moment. Quickly, Nikita drifted off to sleep, having exhausted her feeble mental energy resisting the intimidation of Uncle Marcus.