I couldn't believe they'd let me in, it wasn't inside the village per se, but staying in a millhouse sounded a lot better than some damp, cold cave, infested with rats and the like. Staying outside was also a choice, but I didn't enjoy the cold, nor did I enjoy being bitten by mosquitoes, ironic, I know. It amused me for a week or two, but as the time went and the swellings itched more and more, it lost its charm. Not to mention having to defend myself from the occasional wild animals.

''Thank you for your hospitality'' I made a deep bow, lowering my wings.

I moved towards the mill, it wasn't far, about 2 minutes by foot, shorter by wings, but I was on my foot, I didn't value a minute more than I valued my stay in the village. After a few steps I noticed that the lean guy was following me, paying no mind, I marched on.

When I arrived by the miller's door, I knocked the door, I wasn't expecting anyone to be there, but it was manners not to go in before being invited, they would have to explain the situation to miller before I went in, so I knew no one was inside. Eventually the youth caught up to me and opened the door, it wasn't locked, a lock wouldn't be able to keep anyone out in such a house, a grown man could tear it apart, it would just be an unnecessary expense.

''So, you are the unlucky fellow?'' I asked him with a sad smile. I could feel his heart beat faster, it didn't take a vampire to hear that.

''What of if'' He replied and spat. I suppose courtesies mattered little to him, I didn't mind that.

I presented my arm, hand facing the ground. ''Name is Flandre Scarlet'' He didn't take my hand, I didn't expect him to.

''What an unholy name Scarlet is'' he spat.

I made a sad smile, ''It's the name I share with my sister, I value it''

He backed down, half scared, half guilty. Scared because he might've angered me, guilty because he went too far.

I could feel that he genuinely felt sad about what he said. He took my hand that he had left in the air and rotated it, that wasn't the gesture I was expecting but he gave my hand a firm shake. ''Name's Royce''. I couldn't help but chuckle, a village boy through and through.

I went inside before him, it was a simplistic place, not much more than a cottage. The whole thing was shorter than 2 meters and 7 people could barely stay abreast on it's short edge, there were no furniture, just a straw mattress, and a bucket.

A BUCKET! I did not like the bucket, I repeat, I did NOT like the bucket.

There were 4 openings with a wooden shutter, which counted as the house's windows, needless to say, they let the cold in. Maybe a cave wasn't so bad after all…