Having made significant strides in magic, Valred had even completed the intermediate courses at the academy. Now, it was time to ensure he wasn't left idle. As Trixie had suggested, a variety of educational pursuits aimed at enhancing Valred's "taste" and "refinement" were gradually incorporated into his curriculum.
Music, dance, painting, literature, philosophy, court etiquette, heraldry, connoisseurship, wine tasting… In addition, Valred's mother, Lady Winsor, imparted to him the essential knowledge of rulership, which could be translated as the "art of governance." Of course, among vampires, it couldn't be called that; it had a more elegant name: how a noble vampire represents the fundamental interests of the vampire populace.
Lady Winsor herself hadn't mastered it particularly well, so most of the time, Valred had to figure it out on his own. This series of courses left him overwhelmed. Compared to the ease with which he had learned magic, this was a different story altogether. Exhausted by the end of the day, his academic performance wasn't necessarily stellar.
Naturally, Trixie couldn't teach all these subjects alone. In fact, she couldn't manage it. While she was proficient in music and dance, and passable in painting and court etiquette, literature and philosophy were not her forte. Thus, Lady Winsor enlisted another teacher to guide him.
Elson von Carstein, the most renowned literary figure and writer of the Carstein family, was also the historian who compiled The Chronicles of Sylvania. At the age of 3,724, he served as a professor of history, literature, and philosophy at the academy within the Carstein County. He had personally participated in two of Sylvania's campaigns to conquer the Old World, making him a living relic of those wars. Valred's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all been educated by this elder, and now it was Valred's turn.
Given the elder's esteemed status, Lady Winsor felt it inappropriate to have him come to their home. Instead, Valred was sent to study at the elder's modest estate within the county, just a ten-minute carriage ride away.
When Valred first met Elson, he was deeply impressed. The wisdom in the old man's eyes and the power within his frame were awe-inspiring. Elson, in turn, looked upon Valred with approval, pleased with the young vampire's achievements at such a tender age.
"Young man, you're quite impressive. Sit," Elson said.
Valred obediently took his seat and listened as the elder, who appeared to be in his thirties but was actually a hundred times older, began his lessons. As Lady Winsor had requested, Elson focused on the artistic value of literary works, the rhetorical techniques required for writing, and the philosophical ideas of various schools. He also shared the wisdom he had gained over millennia about life and human nature.
In the presence of this elder, Valred was uncharacteristically well-behaved, not daring to show any disrespect, even though Elson himself was gentle and easy to get along with.
Initially, Valred had hoped to learn some magic from the elder. However, after a while, he abandoned that idea, realizing that the life lessons he was gaining were far more valuable than any spell or combat technique.
If Valred had initially been intimidated by the elder's power, over time, he became genuinely convinced of the elder's wisdom.
"Child, you see, some races' mentors, when choosing their students, go through rigorous tests—they want the young, the talented, the strong. They seem to care deeply about these things. Yet, when it comes to teaching, they only focus on how to **, neglecting to impart the principles of life and conduct. In the end, they produce nothing but a bunch of **-obsessed, violent **. How tragic is that?
"Then look at the academies humans set up. It's even worse. The subjects they teach are either magic or combat. Even if they have professors of literature and art, they're just for show. Students don't study seriously, and teachers don't teach earnestly. They focus solely on **, as if mastering ** is the only way to succeed. You must never follow their example."
Elson's words left Valred red-faced. Indeed, before this, he had only been concerned with how to **, dismissing other forms of knowledge. Sometimes, when he grew impatient during lessons, he would even act out, like stepping on Trixie's foot during dance practice.
"Child, remember this: the world cannot progress solely through **. In fact, the more people focus on **, the more chaotic the world becomes. Armies and force are indeed essential for a nation's survival and expansion, but they cannot be relied upon to govern. To govern a nation and advance society, we need the guidance of philosophy, the enrichment of culture and art, and the advancement of technology—not **!"
Elson's words resonated deeply with Valred, enlightening him. From then on, he studied with great diligence, no longer causing incidents like stepping on Trixie's foot. His learning efficiency improved significantly, and he began to exhibit the demeanor of a mature vampire noble. Sometimes, when Lady Winsor saw him, she would momentarily mistake him for her late husband.
Two years passed, and Valred had learned much. At the age of eight, it was time for him to continue his education at the academy—even though he had already surpassed its curriculum.
When Lady Winsor informed him of this during dinner, Valred nodded calmly and simply said, "Alright," without further comment. Isabella, however, was delighted, as Valred's attendance at the academy would mean more time together.
Vampires in Sylvania were few, and juvenile vampires were even rarer, with only a handful of Valred's age. Thus, the advanced academies set up by the various counties and the citizen assembly had no fixed start dates. As long as a student was eight years old and had given notice, they could begin classes.
A few days after Valred's eighth birthday, Lady Winsor asked for his opinion. Upon receiving his confirmation, she visited the academy within the county the following Sunday to inform Headmaster Asta. Valred would start school the next day.
On that same day, Valred, accompanied only by his maid Maya, took a ghostly carriage to visit Elson and Trixie to inform them of his decision and to thank them for their two years of dedicated teaching.
Valred first visited Elson. After explaining his intentions, the elder nodded and said, "It's good to interact with peers your age. You can't always bury yourself in solitary study." He approved of Valred's decision to attend the academy and gifted him two books from his collection: A Summary of Old World Poetry and Literature and The Art of Linguistic Behavior.
Trixie's home was the next stop. Unlike Elson's secluded estate, she lived in the teacher's residential area within the academy grounds. It was a pleasant neighborhood of elegant villas, reflecting the vampires' willingness to invest in such amenities.
However, few teachers resided there, as most had other estates and castles within the county. Only single teachers like Trixie lived in the academy's residential area.
Upon entering the academy, Valred asked for directions and guided the carriage toward the teacher's residences. It was a quiet Sunday, with most students having returned home. Valred encountered almost no one on his way.
Arriving at Trixie's villa, Valred alighted from the carriage and, accompanied by Maya, approached the front door. Checking the nameplate, he confirmed it was indeed von Ahl, Trixie's family name. She had once mentioned that her parents and siblings were no longer alive, so she was likely the only one using the name. There was no mistake.
After confirming, Valred gently pulled the doorbell. Through the magic wind, a pleasant chime echoed inside the villa.