The Blood Countess

Chapter 10
Getting started with the Basics
Part 2

(Wizard Guild)

“Okay, this place is cool.” Asphyxious said in awe of the Wizard Guild building. He has been staring at it for the past five minutes. “It cooler than Beacon.”

“The wizard guild is one out the three most popular guilds in Dokapon.” Pippita said as she and Veronica made their way to the entrance of the guild’s door. Asphyxious quickly followed seeing he was being left behind. “The Knights guild comes in second seeing how it’s being runned by the king’s second in command. And the third guild would have to be the Technomancer Guild what with it involving long range and military force.”

“Something tells me one of my friends would love it here. What your input Veronica?” Asphyxious asked as he looks over at her.

“Looks...pretty old and weird looking.” Veronica said as she looks over the building.

“Don’t worry, if things go wrong. I’ll just teleport us out alright?” Asphyxious said, reassuring her as he rest a hand on Veronica shoulder. “You’ll be okay.”

“Great, as if he wasn’t a dork to begin with.” Shalltear said, only for Veronica to roll her eyes at her response.

“This is the wizard’s guild. They know what they’re doing.” Peppita said as she knocks on the door. “Hey! Maria! You in there!?” There was a moment of silence upon her knocking on the door. The moment of silence was broken when the doors to the guild opened up. As the doors open up, a girl about the same height and size as Veronica wearing a green robe and holding a staff taller than her appears from out behind the door.

“You know, you don’t need to yell like that? Knocking on the door would have been okay.”

“Nice staff.” Asphyxious said, as Maria looked over at him and Veronica for a moment before looking back at the harpy.

“Mind explaining why you brought over a vampire and a lich to my guild?”

“We have a bit of a problem with one of my guild members. We were wondering if you could help us with that?” Peppita asked as the wizard sighed.

“Come on in, I’ll see what I can do for your little friend.” Maria said as she opens the door for Peppita, Veronica, and Asphyxious to enter. Upon entering the building, Veronica’s eyes widen as the inside of the guild looked like something that you would see in a mmorpg guild. The tables were set as if being prepared for a special event, multiple candles were floating around in the air, bubbles with cute adorable animals and insects in them, and a flag with the wizard guild symbol that was in the shape of a griffon on it hang on the ceiling in the center of the building.

“Okay this is way better than beacon could ever hope to be.” Asphyxious said as he was trying to take everything.

“Don’t know what this Beacon place is, but Dokapon Kingdom’s Wizard Guild is my better then your guild.” Maria said as she motions them to follow her. “Come along you three, you said you need my help with something right?”

Asphyxious nodded before turning to Veronica. “Oh right, she has two souls inside her body.” He explained as they walked. “We tried using this spell here but we had some trouble.” Asphyxious hands Maria the book and show her the page with the spell on it.

“Ah this spell. The problem with that is you need two items in order for it to work.” The wizard said as she handed the book back to Asphyxious.

“What Items were missing?” He asked reading over the book again.

“Lich gem and soul dew. The soul dew I have, but the lich gem will be hard to get around here.”

“What a Lich gem?” Asphyxious asked as he tried to find it in the book he had.

“A very rare gem that come from a lich when defeated in battles at time. It’s hard to get one, especially when they don’t come out as much.”

“So all have to do is find a lich and...defeat...one…” Peppita said as she and Veronica looked over at Asphyxious.

“Umm, Why is everyone looking at me?” Asphyxious asked looking back at everyone. “Just to let you know I have a Athanc stone, it not the same thing. Unless you want Shalltear to be blighted by me. And or turned into part dragon.”

“Won’t do us any good to beat him up. He’s not from our world after all.” Maria said as she took a seat next to a table. “Plus you won’t be able to get one with the level Veronica is at.”

“What her level have to do with anything?” Asphyxious asked after he closed the book. Maria simply snapped her fingers as a sign with the words Level One appears above Veronica.

“That’s why. Lich’s levels are up in the thirty to forty. If she were to fight one now...well I don’t want her to die to soon before exploring.”

“Why would you fight them? Can’t you just ask them for one of these gems?” Asphyxious asked getting looks from everyone. “Was it something I said?”

“If you can find the village of the dead then you can ask one of them. But you’ll have to deal with the feral ones to get the gem.”

“Okay where can I find one?” Asphyxious asked. “I mean they can’t be that hard to find right?”

“They live near the Scarlet Kingdom. Which is pretty much blocked off to outsiders that aren’t vampires.” Maria said as Asphyxious slowly turned to Veronica and smiled at her.

“No.” Veronica said looking back at the lich with a deadpanned expression.

“Well I don’t have a better plan.” Asphyxious replied crossing his arms. “It ever that or you somehow bring your level up. And I don’t know how to do that.”

“Why not go over to the Knight Guild? I hear they’re willing to help out anyone by giving them job quest.” Maria suggested as she stood up from her seat.

“What?” Asphyxious asked looking back to Maria. “What do you mean job quest?”

“Doing certain job quest will let a person gain experience. The more you do them, the more you’ll level up. And the more you level up, more you can explore around.”

“Guess we’ll head over to the Knights Guild then. Where is that anyway way?” Veronica asked as Maria levitated a map to the vampire.

“Next to the Gunner’s Guild across town. You can’t miss it seeing how there’s sign with a sword and shield on it.”

“Cool, I guess we’ll head over there then?” Asphyxious asked.

"No shit captain state the obvious.”

(Knight’s Guild)

“This places looks tacky.” Asphyxious commented as he received a smack up side his head by Peppita. “Ow! What?”

“Show some respect idiot. This is the guild that protect the Kingdom of Dokapon. Not only that, but it is lead by the King himself and his wife.”

“Sorry, I tend to say what I think.” Asphyxious replied, as he looks over at Veronica. “What do you think?”

“If it’s anything like the wizard guild, it’s going to be bigger on the inside.” Veronica said as she walked up to the door of the guild and knocked on it. There was a moment of silence before the door finally opened. Standing there in the doorway was a woman with light brown flowing hair wearing armor while holding a sword and shield opened the door.

“Can I help you three?”

Asphyxious and Veronica was at a loss for words. Veronica, due to the woman’s beauty and elegant figure. Asphyxious on the other hand was a different story as he was looking over her armor. Mostly taking note of her armor design, along with her sword and shield. “Nice..armor. who made this?” He asked quickly looking it over.

“I made it myself. Now please explain who you three are-.” The woman quickly turned her attention at Peppita as she notice that the harpy was tiptoeing away. “Well if it isn’t our favorite harpy girl.”

“Oh...hi Vanessa.” The harpy said as she turned around and gave the knight an awkward smile and waved her wing at her.

“You two friends?” Asphyxious asked looking between them.

“Sisters actually.” Vanessa said as she move from out of the doorway. “Before you say anything. Our mother is a harpy while our father is a human. So if you’re wondering why we don’t look the same, that’s why.”

“That really didn’t cross my mind. I just assumed you were displaced like me and Veronica.” Asphyxious replied blinking at them.

“No, that would be our mother that is Displaced. Though then again I’m pretty sure half of everyone in this kingdom is or have parents that are Displaced.”

“This is so cool. I have to tell everyone about this place.”

“Feel free to do that...just make sure they’re not evil. So what can I do for you three?”

“We need a Lich gem and need help to get one.”

“Lich gem huh? Sorry but that’s a level forty quest that only guild members can take when they reach that level. That and only Vampires or the King is allowed to do them”

“I don’t see what the big deal is about levels?” Asphyxious added looking a little annoyed. “I can go in and out before anyone even notices.”

“That’s what the last guy said when he tried to do that.”

“Let me guess his undead now?” Asphyxious asked as he rolled his eye.

“Nope. Death by comet.” Vanessa said as the lich had a confused look on his face. “The vampire are not so kind to those that try to enter into their kingdom ever since the war of raging kingdoms five to six hundred years ago from what I’ve read in the history books. So they pretty much made a rule that only vampire or beings of this world that are in the undead category are allowed there.”

Asphyxious smiles again as he looks to the vampire. “Road trip?” He asked.

“Okay even I know that is a horrible idea. Not to mention that you would be sent flying due to the barrier around the Crimson Kingdom.” Peppita said as she smacked Asphyxious upside his head again. “Think before you do something stupid.”

“Screw the rules I’m a lich.” Asphyxious replied.

“That would be a very unwise move.” said a masculine voice catching the attention of Veronica and the others as they looked over at the guild doorway. Standing there was white unicorn with blonde mane with a scar on his right eye, wearing a gold color armor with noble blue clothing under it. On his back was a looked like to be a huge shield with a longsword about the same length as his shield. “Unwise and stupid move that would start a war between the two kingdoms.”

“Okay… Are you a changeling pulling a prank on me?” Asphyxious asked, staring at the unicorn knight. “Because this can’t be Blueblood, he’s to… Humble...Who are you?”

“Who the hell are you?” Blueblood asked.

“I asked you first.”

“I asked you second.” The unicorn said with a smug look on his face.

“.....I like him.” Asphyxious replied with a smile on his face as he looks back to the others.

“Don’t encourage my husband smartassness.” Vanessa said as she walked over to Blueblood and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s bad enough our daughter is getting that kind of attitude from you.”

“....This is the best day ever.”.

“What’s up with him?” Blueblood asked, only to look over at Peppita with an annoyed look on her face.

“I don’t know. All I was planning on doing was showing Veronica around the kingdom until the Guild was finished being repaired.”

“So you finally found someone to join your guild huh? Who might that be?” The pony asked as the harpy simply pointed a feather at Veronica, who quickly hid behind her.

“Introducing my first member of the Dokapon Guild for beginners. Veronica Bloodfallen.” The harpy said as she moved from in front of Veronica.

“Um...h-hi.” Veronica said as a blush appeared on her face while looking at the ground.

“A vampire huh? Never actually thought I would see one in my Kingdom.” Blueblood said as he walked over to Veronica and kneeled down in front of her. “It’s nice to meet you Veronica. I am King Blueblood. Ruler of Dokapon Kingdom and Guild Master of the Knight’s Guild. So what can I do for you two and my sister in law?” Blueblood said as he pulled himself up from kneeling down in front of Veronica.

“Well you know about displaced right? Well let just say Veronica has a roommate in her head.” Asphyxious explained or tried to in the best way possible. “The spirit in question would be Shalltear Bloodfallen, and she a little crabby about not being in control.” The lich said as he notice Blueblood having a stoic expression on his face.

“I know a little about displaced from what I heard from my mother in law. Though I might be able to do something later about it. I would do something now, but being a king and a guild master can be a bit….much if you can understand?”

“I understand.”

“Now back to the matter, what is it that you need to help with your little problem here?”

“We need a lich gem. But now I’m starting to question if that’s a good idea now.”

“Lich gem huh?” Blueblood looked over at Veronica for a moment before looking back at Asphyxious. “If Veronica was at level forty then she can get it without any problems seeing how she’s a vampire and can go in and out of the Crimson Kingdom. But sadly that’s not the case.”

“What about me?”

“Unless you want to be sent flying due to the barrier around it, be my guess. Only vampires and I are allowed in their after the war.”

“I figured as much.” Peppita said with a sigh of annoyance. “Guess we’ll have to do this the old fashion way then.”

“But I hate grinding.” Asphyxious added.

“Suck it up buddy. Doing things the easy way will not make you any stronger. If anything it’ll just make you lazy.” Vanessa stated as she looked over at Peppita and Veronica. “Now seeing how we’re the only one guild that give out jobs involving monster slaying. I take it you’re here to have Veronica join the guild to get that Lich gem, correct?”

“Yeah that’s why we’re here. Along with getting a class change for Veronica.” Peppita said.

“What’s her current class?”

“Freelancer, level one”

“What am I?” Asphyxious asked as Peppita glanced at the lich for a moment.

“Necromancer, level fifty-six.”

“Huh, more than I expected.” Asphyxious replied.

“So how do I join?” Veronica asked as she notice Vanessa walking over to her as she placed a hand on her head.

“Like this.” The knight said as warm light appeared around Veronica’s body for a moment before disappearing. “There, I unlocked three of your starter classes. Which is pretty much how everyone that joins a guild start out with.”

[Knight Class, Wizard Class, and Gunner Class unlocked]

“Joining other guilds will allow you to unlock one or more classes depending. The more you join the more you’ll be able to learn from the guilds. You can also do job quest for that said guild near the guild bulletin board outside or inside of the guild. Be warn though, on certain days the job quest bulletin board will be closed due to special events or tournaments that will be held during that time.” Blueblood added. “It’ll be up to you to level each class or just focus on one then the others later.”

“So…What do we do once she picked a Class? Go into the woods and fight random monsters?” Asphyxious asked rubbing his neck as his tail moved from side to side.

“Normally yes,” Peppita said as she pointed at the sun beginning to set. “But it’s getting late, and Veronica looks like she’s going to pass out.” She said, pointing a wing at the vampire as she struggling to stay awake.

“I see, well then. We’ll let her pick her class later once we get some grub. It won’t hurt for me to stay here for a day or two. But I really should be heading back.” Asphyxious explained looking to Veronica as he went over to her. “Unless it no trouble that I stay?”

“As long as you don’t cause trouble in the kingdom, then you’re are free to stay as long as you want.” Blueblood said. “You can have her visit the guild when she wakes up. My daughter will be the one that will go with her out of the kingdom.”

“You have my word I’ll try and do my best to stay out of trouble.” Asphyxious replied before giving them a bow. “So where will I be staying?” He asked looking at Peppita.

“The Hinezumi inn. Seeing how the guild is still being worked on, we’ll be staying there until then.”

“Alright then to Hinezumi inn then.” Asphyxious said before looking over at Veronica. “Are you alright, I could carry you there if you want?” He asked, only for him to notice Veronica was already asleep while standing up. Asphyxious smiled as he carefully picking the vampire up and nodded to Peppita to lead the way.