The Weight of Fatigue

At four o'clock in the morning, after a night of tireless activity, Vared returned to the Deckenhof Castle. He opened the door as he had done before, retraced his steps, and stationed the fourteen ancient tomb guards in various places. Upon reaching the door of his room, he spotted the usually inconspicuous black cat, lying peacefully at his doorstep with its eyes closed, asleep.

As Vared attempted to step around it and return to his room, the black cat opened its eyes, yawned, and silently meowed at him.

"I know, I'm a little late returning tonight. I'll be more careful next time. And please, keep this secret for me. I'll share my next batch of tomato fish with you," Vared said with a shrug.

The black cat gave a human-like expression of helplessness, yawned again, then stood up. With a gentle swish of its tail, it opened the door, making way for Vared to enter.

"Oh, right." Vared almost forgot because of his exhaustion. As he approached the door, he suddenly remembered, there was something he still needed the cat's help with.

"Actually, I messed up," Vared said, crouching down in front of the cat. "The sixteen undead who went with me didn't return. The skeletal wolves were expected, but those fourteen tomb guards were my own flawed creations. Could you help me complete the magical sigils they need?"

"…Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow! Meow meow meow meow meow!"

"Speak plainly!"

"What on earth were you doing? That was dangerous!"

"Well, just a little adventurous escapade, you know, nothing too serious."

"—If you're a child, then I must be a cat!"

Though their exchange was heated, both kept their voices low to avoid drawing attention. Lady Cecilia, the black cat, relentlessly inquired about Vared's reckless actions. Vared clenched his teeth, remaining silent. He even asked the cat to cover for him. Naturally, Cecilia was reluctant. After a prolonged back-and-forth, Vared finally persuaded her, offering eight portions of tomato fish and two magic crystals weighing at least fifty grams as compensation.

Lady Cecilia, the female black cat, had been a resident of Deckenhof Castle long before Vared's grandfather passed away. Over the centuries, she had served both as the castle's guard and a spy, all while solidifying her status as the beloved pet. With a remarkably good temperament, she never resented Isabella for tugging at her tail as a child. One would never suspect that this was a magical creature powerful enough to rival a dragon.

Vared was well aware of her nature—lazy, averse to trouble, and fond of indulging her appetite. Over the years, they had struck many small deals: Vared bribed her with food and magic crystals, and she turned a blind eye to his more secretive actions.

After their lengthy bargaining session, it was nearly five in the morning. In June, the sun rose early, and it had already begun to brighten the sky. Only then did Vared feel the weight of his exhaustion. Having spent the entire night pushing his physical limits and casting powerful spells, he had been too caught up in the excitement of finding treasures to notice his fatigue. But lying in bed, it hit him just how tired he was.

Soon, Vared fell into a deep slumber, lost to the world. Even when Isabella arrived to knock on his door, he didn't stir. This irritated Isabella, who had hoped to speak with him before school.

Isabella, proud of her heritage, held a disdain for most vampires, even those from the three families renowned alongside the Castain family.

"Lamia is just a group of backstabbing, flirtatious wretches. Eberlachsen is a bunch of thick-headed fools. Nyrakoci are nothing but complete lunatics..."

These were her thoughts on the three prestigious vampire families: Eberlachsen, skilled in martial arts; Nyrakoci, masters of necromancy; and Lamia, known for their beautiful women and cunning schemes. Isabella derided them all, though she only voiced her opinions in private, to her brother. Even before their mother, she never once revealed such sentiments.

Perhaps it was because she saw Vared as too young—or maybe it was because of the deep trust that ran in their bloodline. Whatever the reason, there was an undeniable bond that left Vared feeling somewhat uneasy around her.

Vared's room was divided into three sections. The innermost was his bedroom, complete with a large wardrobe. The central space was the largest, housing his study, entertainment room, bathroom, and lounge. The outermost area, the smallest, was the maid Maya's room. Isabella knocked on the door, but Vared, still fast asleep, didn't hear her. It was Maya, busy tidying up, who eventually opened the door.

Upon seeing Isabella standing at the threshold, Maya instinctively took a step back. The young lady had a notorious temper and had never shown kindness to the castle's servants. Since Maya spent much of her time by Vared's side, she wasn't immune to Isabella's disdain. Though she was quite charming, Isabella loathed her and often found reasons to make her life difficult.

"So, my brother still hasn't woken up?" Isabella asked, frowning impatiently at Maya, who stood in her maid's uniform. Her delicate features gave her an almost bitter expression, though she was still a striking beauty.

"Y-Yes, miss... if you'd like, I can wake the young master..." Maya began, but was abruptly cut off by Isabella.

"What do you mean by that?! If my brother is still asleep, it means he needs more rest! This is crucial for him! And as his maid, your job is to serve him, fulfill his needs, not cause him trouble!"

"Y-Yes, miss..." Maya stammered, lowering her head, too flustered to fully comprehend what was being said. It was clear she was shaking, like a frightened deer.

Despite her insistence on letting Vared rest, the noise was loud enough to wake him, much to his displeasure. After a night of magic and peril, the young vampire was far from pleased.

Though confronting his sister would mean another argument, Vared's grogginess gave him the courage to speak up. With sleep still clouding his mind, he opened the door in his pajamas, rubbing his eyes, and muttered with mild irritation, "You're being too loud, Isabella."

To an outsider, the scene might seem like this: a maid-loving younger brother irritated with his overly doting sister. But in reality, the relationship between Vared and Maya was far from that. He harbored no special feelings for her, aside from the fact that they had been companions for years. If someone else replaced her, he would merely feel the adjustment for a few days, much like a child complaining about a different pillow or pen.

For Maya, even this slight sense of care was a rare and cherished thing. After all, her life had been bought for a mere five gold lars, a price far below that of the materials Isabella had once used for her experiments. This small token of appreciation from Vared was the only thing that had kept her going for the past eight years.

Though the thought made Maya seem cheap, for a girl like her, born of humble origins and with no one else to turn to, it was more than enough.