The next day, Sai followed his usual routine and headed to the library. It had become his refuge, a place where he could immerse himself in the mysteries of magic, language, and everything that this new world had to offer. It was quiet, a perfect escape from the strange happenings in the city, and it allowed him to focus on one thing—learning.
However, when he entered the library this time, he found something unusual. There, in the dim light of the room, sat a woman in a maid uniform. She was absorbed in a book, her posture impeccable, her movements precise and calm. At first, Sai merely noted her presence and went about his business, selecting a few books from the shelves and settling into a far corner of the library. He liked the solitude, the space to think without interruptions.
The maid didn't seem to notice him at first, but as Sai began to settle into his chair, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being observed. It wasn't a threatening gaze; rather, it was a watchful presence, something faintly unnerving in its calmness.
After a moment of quiet, the maid stood up, walked over, and without asking permission, sat down beside him.
Sai tensed instinctively. He wasn't used to people intruding on his space, and even less so in this strange new world. However, he did not allow his discomfort to show. He focused on his book, deliberately avoiding looking at her.
"Busy reading?" The maid's voice broke through the stillness, her tone light and playful. It was as if she didn't mind his silence, as if she expected no response at all.
Sai looked up slowly, locking eyes with her for the first time. Her eyes—bright red—caught him off guard. He had encountered many unusual things in this world, but this was the first time he had met someone with such striking eyes. The intensity of her gaze made it feel as though she could see right through him. But he wasn't about to let her know that she unnerved him.
"What do you want?" Sai asked flatly, though his mind was already racing. Who was she? Why was she here?
The maid smiled faintly, a knowing look in her eyes. Her voice remained steady and calm. "I see you're not one for conversation. But I thought I'd offer you some guidance. You seem... lost."
Sai's gaze narrowed slightly. Her words, though casual, had an undertone that made him pause. He had always been independent, relying on himself and his knowledge, but this woman was different. Something about her seemed to understand him, even though they had exchanged only a few words.
"I'm not lost," Sai said, his tone flat. But even as he spoke, he could feel the doubt creeping in. He was here, in a strange world, trying to learn something—something more than what was written in books—and yet, he wasn't sure where to turn next.
The maid seemed to sense his hesitation, and she continued in a soft, almost amused tone. "I've been watching you."
Sai's brow furrowed at this. Watching him? He wasn't sure how he felt about that. It wasn't exactly comforting to think that someone had been observing his every move.
"You've been trying to learn magic," she said. "But there's more to it than just reading the books. You can't just learn from these texts—you need guidance from someone who understands."
Her words made him pause. Magic. He had been studying the ancient tomes, trying to understand the principles that governed this world's arcane forces. But something always felt off. It wasn't enough to just read. There was a missing piece. Perhaps she was right—maybe there was something more he needed to comprehend, something beyond theory.
Sai didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath and decided to use his ability to understand more about her. His focus sharpened, and he activated the skill that had been gifted to him in this world.
Race: Vampire
Emotion: Curious
The information appeared in his mind as clearly as if it had been written in front of him. She was a vampire—something Sai had suspected, given her unnatural red eyes. The emotion she was currently feeling, curiosity, didn't surprise him either. He had expected it.
Sai remained silent for a long moment, contemplating her words. A vampire. This was unexpected. Vampires, at least from what he knew, were known for being elusive, enigmatic, and often dangerous. Yet, here she was, offering guidance. Something didn't add up. He wasn't sure if he could trust her, but the fact that she was a vampire didn't automatically make her an enemy.
"What do you want?" Sai asked again, his voice colder this time, as though trying to maintain some level of control over the situation.
The maid smiled faintly, an expression that held a touch of amusement, but there was a seriousness behind her eyes. "I want nothing from you, not yet. But I think you need help, whether you admit it or not."
"I don't trust you," Sai said bluntly, "but I'm not in a position to refuse your help."
The maid nodded, her expression softening. "Fair enough. Trust is something that needs to be earned, after all."
She regarded him for a moment, her gaze thoughtful, as though weighing him carefully. Sai wasn't sure what she was thinking, but he could tell she was trying to figure him out, just as he was trying to figure her out. It was an unspoken game of observation, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
"I'm not one to offer help without understanding who I'm dealing with," she continued after a moment. "I can see you're cautious, and that's a good thing. It means you're not easily fooled. But there's more to you than just distrust."
Sai raised an eyebrow at her. "And what do you think you see?"
The maid's lips curled into a small, knowing smile, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to pierce through him. "You're intelligent," she said. "Too intelligent, I'd say, to accept someone's offer without calculating the risks. You've been analyzing everything I've said, weighing the pros and cons. You don't trust easily, but you're also not afraid to learn. That's rare."
Sai wasn't sure if he should feel flattered or unnerved by her observations. She had hit a little too close to home. He wasn't sure how much of his internal thoughts she could read, but she seemed to understand him better than he liked.
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "You're the type of person who takes his time. You observe, you learn, and you evaluate before making any decisions. You test the waters first, but once you're sure, you commit. You're not reckless. But that doesn't mean you lack ambition."
Sai blinked, unsure how to respond. How could she have figured him out so quickly? She was right, of course.
"So, what does that tell you?" Sai asked, trying to regain some control over the conversation.
The maid's smile grew slightly, and she seemed to enjoy the quiet tension in the air. "It tells me that you're not just here for power or fame. You want something deeper—something more meaningful.
Sai wasn't sure whether to feel comforted or alarmed by her assessment. Did she see something in him that even he hadn't noticed yet? Or was she simply projecting her own ideas onto him?
She stood up then, brushing off the front of her maid uniform with a fluid, graceful motion.
Sai considered her words carefully. Her offer was still strange, still unsettling, but there was something about it that intrigued him. He wasn't sure if he could trust her, but the truth was, he wasn't in a position to turn down help. He was a stranger in this world, trying to learn its magic, its people, and how to survive. Maybe, just maybe, accepting her guidance wouldn't be such a bad thing.
As the maid walked away, he returned to his books, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His mind wandered, reflecting on the conversation. There was something deeper at play here—something more than just his desire to learn magic. The world he was in was vast, full of unknowns, and if he was going to make it, he would need more than just knowledge. He needed allies. And whether he liked it or not, this vampire maid might be one of the first.
In the quiet of the library, Sai sat back in his chair, his mind racing. The future was uncertain, and he had no miraculous powers to fall back on—he had to earn them. But in this new world, earning power might be the only way to survive.