Ayame, since she had already had a girls' afternoon with Tara, took Vincent out of the house the next day. That was, of course, an excuse. She simply had to talk to him. And she didn't think the boy would risk doing it on academy grounds. There was a reason he had taken the opportunity to make himself a new shield when they left; he didn't trust it. He was cautious, and she supposed she couldn't blame him.

  So, once back in Viewpoint, sitting on a bench and watching the ducks in the lake:

  "Would you mind explaining to me how you did it?" Ayame asked.

  The boy glanced at her. His expression was a bit peculiar, considering the circumstances. She thought he would realize immediately what she was referring to, but apparently, she had been mistaken again.

  "This isn't my thing," she thought. She supposed he hadn't realized the hidden reason for the outing, even though it had seemed so transparent to her. Sometimes it was difficult to keep in mind what she knew and what others didn't. She still wasn't used to having to consider others' perspectives.

  "You know…" Ayame continued, though he didn't know, because otherwise he would have already answered her. "That day, in Celeste's class, when she made you demonstrate Sword Storm, or so we all believe, at least, how did you do it exactly?"

  Only curiosity moved her. She didn't understand how a mere blacksmith, so to speak, had replicated a Knight's ability.

  "You don't know it yet? You know, by biting me, you don't have it already?"

  "It's not as convenient as you think." Ayame looked at her hands, opening and closing her fists. "I have some things, Hot Hands, for example, and a vague idea of the abilities you're hiding in there, but it's not just a matter of reaching out and taking everything."

  Vincent nodded.

  "Okay, it's about Cunning Escape."

  "Doesn't ring a bell," Ayame replied.

  "With it, you can make illusory copies. The intention is for them to help you flee, as the name says. Mislead the enemy and escape with your life. With copies of yourself. That's why it's a suitable ability for a blacksmith. Although very few people go around selling on the roads anymore. It's quite common for us to have it."

  It was an interesting explanation, she supposed. Ayame didn't know much about NPCs. And almost everything, pure theory. Well, she didn't know much about NPCs; about anything beyond what she had been able to read in the books of that endless library. Even if it had been mainly because it was a better way to pass the time than staring at the wall. But she had even less information about NPCs than usual. His perspective was, without a doubt, invaluable.

  "However, I don't understand anything," she admitted. "I don't think that answers my question."

  "I was about to get to that part," Vincent replied, smiling.

  He had a nice smile, though Ayame had the feeling he wouldn't agree. Since there was more, Ayame made herself more comfortable on the seat. She looked at him and nodded for him to continue speaking.

  "As far as I know, it hasn't occurred to anyone. But, even though it didn't make much sense, I used it with my own sword and it worked. It got me out of a tight spot. Before the professor, before you… though only for a short time, of course. Aren't you glad I know? Not to have that weight on my shoulders?"

  "It's smaller now, that's for sure. I suppose I'm glad. I was so afraid of what might happen when you found me out. You, the academy in general… I thought you might even turn your back on me. Turn your back on me."

  Ayame simply nodded. Part of her felt, of course, offended. But most of her understood why.

  "I also know what it's like to be marginalized because of how you were born. Period," Ayame replied.

  "I should have known. But I was scared." Vincent swallowed and looked away. "I'm still very scared," he admitted. "You know that. But that doesn't mean the weight on my shoulders has vanished. My dreams and hopes still hang by a thread."

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  Ayame gave him a half-hug, putting an arm around his neck, pulling him close. Then Ayame decided to go a step further, resting her head on his chest, closing her eyes. Even she herself was surprised at how quickly she had gotten used to him and lowered her guard. She supposed it made sense. He was, in quotes, the first person she knew.

  "At least now you're not alone. Us against the world, okay? Promise me."

  Vincent nodded.

  "I promise."

  Ayame took a deep breath, relaxed. She wasn't in a hurry to move from the spot. Not yet.

  Most people wanted to go as fast as possible. But there was value in knowing when to stop and smell the roses.

  ***

  A vampiress and an NPC, a mere blacksmith, hugging on a park bench. It sounded like the beginning of some strange and probably not very funny joke. However, it was their reality now. And he felt fucking great. It allowed him to have hope for the future.

  Maybe he was wrong, maybe not.

  But in any case, he wouldn't stop fighting to carve out the future he desired. Now, nothing had changed. Except that now he was no longer alone.

  ***

  She should be angry. Ayame was aware of that. Of course, she wasn't one to hate or look down on NPCs. As their name said, they were necessary public citizens. Certainly much more useful than people like them, who only knew how to fight. They made society work. NPCs could live without them, the combat classes, but not the other way around. Many people seemed not to understand it, but for her, it was a simple and transparent truth. A matter of common sense. Without farmers, tailors, muleteers, everyone would go to shit. They wouldn't even have the necessary tools to fight. It was more than clear.

  Still, she should be angry. Because a blacksmith was not a Knight. But she had fought with him several times believing he was. Risking her life in a way she might not have otherwise. Because it was okay. There was nothing wrong with being a blacksmith. Of course not. But not being a Knight, well… That's why he had certain limitations. He couldn't fight as well. It simply wasn't possible. Risking her life trusting in the abilities of a Knight could have cost her everything. And Tara too, of course.

  So she should be angry.

  But she wasn't. She had been sincere in saying she preferred him as he was. Despite everything. Because now it made sense. She had spent too much time trying to fall asleep and wondering if the day would come when Vincent would turn against her. Because Knights decapitated vampires. They didn't shake their hands.

  There had been no miracle. No dream that could vanish in an instant. Vincent accepted her. Because he was in a position to understand what it felt like to be an intruder. So… she would reciprocate. She would do anything to understand him. And she would never turn her back on him. Simple as that.

  ***

  Vincent raised his shield to block the next attack as well.

  "You're improving." Erika smiled from ear to ear. Her smile was rather wild; there was little sweet about it. She wasn't paying him a compliment. "But you still can't beat me."

  That's what she thought. However, Vincent had an ace up his sleeve. She might surpass him in skill, but if he managed to surprise her, if he played his cards right, he could defeat her. Even if only once.

  That's not fair. It's cheating.

  Maybe. But in a real fight, where your life was at stake, only a fool would do otherwise. And Vincent wasn't interested in being the best Knight he could be in a combat arena, in the safety of a fair fight. He wanted to overcome any danger. He wanted to protect the people he cared about. That was all.

  So he was waiting for his chance. He only had one chance. A surprise attack. After that, even if the modifications he had made to it, after that, even if his new shield would prove useful, it wouldn't be the same. He had only lost to Erika once. However, he was already sick of losing. He had to do this right. Hold on. Wait for the right moment. And pounce.

  An attack bounced off his shield. Vincent jumped back, dodging the next one. The sword passed between his legs, dangerously close. His shield wasn't a normal shield, naturally. But it wasn't anything that anyone, however good, could notice at a glance or with a mere exchange of blows. The surprise factor was undoubtedly on his side. So now he just had to wait for her to lower her guard for a tenth of a second. And then, he would have her. Disarmed there on the ground, before she realized it.

  "She's kicking your ass," Tara said. "Come on, you can take her."

  Yes. They had spectators this time. But only Tara and Ayame. No one else. He wasn't risking his reputation. Maybe he was, with Tara. Maybe she would trust him less if he let Erika beat him up. But well, that was another matter.

  "You're mine!" Erika shouted, pouncing gleefully on him.

  A crass mistake. And he wasn't talking about wasting oxygen when she could attack, though that too.

  I win, he thought.

  And then Vincent threw his shield. That, of course, was no big deal. Anyone could and would throw their shield in a moment of desperation, when all else failed. Precisely because of that, however… the shield bounced off the crossed swords in an X-shape and…

  "What the fuck…?"

  It returned to his hand. And, therefore, the second throw, faster than the previous one, hit her squarely in the face. Erika collapsed.

  "Fuck."

  Vincent didn't waste any time. He knew that if he wasted a tenth of a second, his stratagem would be useless. He snatched her swords, threw them far away, out of the arena. Then he dropped on top of her, pressing her against the ground, sword and shield ready.

  "I win," he declared.

  Erika laughed. Not in a bad way, but as if to say, "Well, you got me."

  "That little trick won't work on me a second time," she said aloud.