Lisa patiently waited for summer to arrive, so she would be able to pass through the mountains safely. While doing so, she gathered the supplies necessary for the trip when snow from the harsh winter melted away. The maiden harvested herbs to cook and season, hunted small game and fish to dry and preserve, and sharpened her dagger for cutting and self-defence. Based on the stories told, she figured out the castle had to be close to Arefu Village—which was hidden behind the Făgăraș Mountains and well within the land of Wallachia. To avoid having to scale the treacherous climb, she needed to follow the rows of fortified Roman remains south of Lupu and then head east. "Until the trees disappear and the grass is sparse all around you," as one story put it.

Once the first hot day of the year came and went, Lisa decided it was time to leave home. She bid her kindly neighbour, Mrs. Djuvara, farewell and left the next day as the sun rose above the rolling hills. Through pastures and beaten roads, Lisa went. She stopped at noon under a lone tree to chew some dried strips of meat for lunch. At sundown, she reached the city of Sibiu, one of the last places in Transylvania. It held promise in terms of medicine and education. However, they were under the Church's authority—uncompromising and set on their ideals—and it was not enough for Lisa of Lupu. She eventually found her way to an inn within the centre square of the city. Lisa entered and gave the innkeeper her name and a pouchful of all her florentinus coins for a night's stay. There was still another long day ahead or two of travel, so Lisa quickly prepared for bed and fell asleep on the softest sheets she ever felt.

She left the inn by the crack of dawn and was granted a spectacular view of the Făgăraș backdropping the city at sunrise. So close was this fair-haired maiden to Wallachia, having never stepped foot into another land before. By tomorrow's sundown, she was sure she would be at Arefu if she kept her pace. Not wanting to waste any more time, Lisa continued on her way. She stayed near the tributaries leading out of Sibiu until they flowed into a much larger river. She fished the waters by hand sometime after midday for trade since she was out of coinage—not that it mattered since no currency circulated in these parts. It turned out to be a good fishing day as her catches were amassed within the hour, enough to feed a small village. Wrapping the fish up in cloth, she went further down to Câinenii Mici village.

The sun was once again below the horizon when Lisa got there. She wandered around to find available lodging and offered her display of freshly caught fish to stay the night after she had located their inn. Impressed at the number and quality, the innkeeper accepted and had them sent to the tavern next door. The village was not unlike Lupu itself: tiny and welcoming for the most part. She soon found herself in the company of the entire village as news spread rapidly of her generous trade. They whisked her away to the tavern to give her thanks; once the clamour settled and Lisa sat at a long table, the curious questioning began. "Where yer from, young lass?" came from a gruff man on her left.

"Lupu. It's a village far north of here in another country," the young lass responded, pointing up with a finger. Low chatters of excitement and some amazement commenced at the revelation of a foreign traveller from afar.

"Well, where's someone like you going all by yourself?" barked the tavern keeper from across the room.

Lisa could almost feel the anticipation emulating from the villagers as they held their breaths for her answer. "Arefu. I'm in search of something and believe it to be there."

There was a deathly silence that fell within the room, and Lisa was sure she heard a glass break somewhere. "I think it best you turn around and go home at dawn. If you know the stories, you know nothing is waiting for you there but misfortune and certain death," an old man finally spoke up at the other end of the long table.

Lisa nodded slowly. "Yes, I know... but I must try. My village has suffered so much, and I will not go back empty-handed. Even if it costs me my life."

A determination in her eyes reminded the old man of his youthful days. "I can see you are resolute in your goal. You're either a very brave lady or a foolish one, maybe both. But you've proven yourself quick on your feet so perhaps you'll be fine and even find what you seek."

The mood in the air was lighter afterwards. After sharing a few other stories, the villagers returned to their homes and Lisa to her room at the inn. The bed sheets were not as soft as the ones in Sibiu, but they were familiar. She dreamt of her village and all its sights and sounds, waking with a tinge of homesickness that she fought off as she dressed for the day: the day she would get her answer to her quest, whether she liked it or not. As Lisa said farewell to the innkeeper, he grabbed a hand of hers suddenly to impart a few words.

"The good people of Câinenii Mici will not forget what you've done for us. We'll keep you in our hearts and prayers for you and your journey henceforth. Godspeed, Lisa of Lupu!"

She gave a small smile. "I won't forget the hospitality you've shown me, and I hope to come back someday if I make it. Thank you... and farewell again."

The innkeeper let go of her hand and Lisa departed from the inn, heading east of the village towards Arefu.

By late morning, the trees began to disappear and the grass grew sparse all around Lisa. The aridness of the plains made the heat stifling, and she was sure she was seeing things—a mirage of a great castle with intricate architecture of likes that she had never seen before. The maiden was tempted to think she truly was a fool, and the stories were just elaborately woven tales of travellers who succumbed to the heat; the survivors just recalling a ghastly castle in their hallucinations. Then came the first piked skeleton. And they gradually grew into rows and rows as far as the eye could see as Lisa pressed on—the castle now fully materialised and no longer an illusion to be mistaken.

The sun set behind her when she reached the castle steps. From above the castle, bats began to descend from their holds until they were swarming Lisa. She initially shielded herself from the onslaught with her arms until all she saw were the bats themselves. The dagger was unsheathed and plunged into the chest of an unfortunate one that came towards her. As she flung it aside, the rest dispersed and flew onward to the horizon. With her full attention on the castle, Lisa could only gasp in astonishment at the immense size of the entrance alone.

Calming herself down for what she was to do, she brought the pommel of her dagger to the doors and knocked. There was little time to take in the details of the castle itself as lightning discharged within a strange contraption above her to open the doors. As she entered and walked through a grand hall, the doors slammed shut—the suddenness startling her before she looked back and up to see a man staring down at her menacingly from a staircase.

The maiden sheathed her dagger as she spoke. "My name is Lisa. I am from the village of Lupu. I want to be a doctor."

The man—if he could be called that—vanished into thin air as he walked, reappearing several times in different places as he made his way down. In the meanwhile, he mocked Lisa for banging on his front door just so she could learn how to daub chicken blood on people.

Lisa shut her eyes from the memories of those rumours as she defended herself against his assumption. It was enough already to have to hear from the people she grew up with that she was trying to be a witch. Now this man whom she had sought out for help was thinking the same. Losing sight of the supposed man, Lisa staggered back slowly. She explained her belief in science as the sound of a cloak flurried by her right. Continuing, Lisa expressed that she needed to know more than what was out there and how the stories told of him having secret knowledge.

A chill made her freeze as the man's voice came from behind, clawed hand raised to the left of her as if to strike and his mouth dangerously close to her neck. "I am Vlad Dracula Țepeș, and I do not get many visitors. What have you to trade for my knowledge, Lisa from Lupu?"

Steeling herself with her racing heart, she stepped forward and turned to face him with the biting answer that came naturally. "Perhaps I could help you relearn some manners."

Vlad grew visibly confused as Lisa aired her grievances at his lack of hospitality. After having come so far to find him and being invited in, he still had yet to offer her a drink or take her coat.

Regaining his composure, he threatened Lisa again, wondering if he should take a drink from her or if she had come prepared for this encounter with silver, crosses, and garlic in superstitious fear.

Taken aback at Vlad's further assumptions and now confused at what he was insinuating, Lisa sheepishly admitted to her terrible crime of having possibly eaten roasted garlic earlier with a smile. She asked her host if it was rude of her to have done so as it was all she had left.

Vlad chuckled as he relaxed his stance, sensing no threat from Lisa. She told him that superstition and being a wise woman that cheats on people with boiled nettles and entrails were of no interest to her. Lisa again stated that she wanted to learn and heal people, asking him to help her.

Vlad noted amusingly to her that she was different to most humans he had met in recent times.

Lisa shrugged as she made suggestions for her end of the bargain; She could teach him to like people again, or at least tolerate them, or maybe have him stop piking people.

Vlad mentioned having given up on the piking a long time ago as he strode down the hall, beckoning Lisa to follow him. While he walked, Vlad enquired where Lupu Village was, slightly curious about how an unheard-of place could have such a bold maiden.

Lisa ran up to his side, clutching her satchel all the while and observing bluntly that he did not travel much.

Vlad shot back he could travel as the entire structure they were in was a travelling machine.

"But… you don't. Do you?" she pointed out. Lisa stopped in front of him as an idea for the bargain dawned on her. "Maybe you should. The world is changing. Travel, like people do. You might like it."

That got her a raised brow. "I've known you two minutes, and you offer for me to walk the earth like an ordinary peasant while I give you the knowledge of immortals, the true science," Vlad waved a hand to the room in front of them.

Lisa stepped forward to behold the sight of great instruments, bubbling concoctions, and vast shelves of text. She exclaimed in awe at everything, marvelling at the wonders before her. With the number of artefacts and manuscripts in just this room alone, Lisa was certain people would no longer be peasants if the man taught them his knowledge. She looked at him, marching up as Vlad frowned at the suggestion of teaching more humans. She pleaded with him that people would not have to live such short, scared lives if they had real medicine and no longer be superstitious if they learnt how the world actually worked.

"Why should I do that?" he scoffed.

"To make the world better," she stated obviously. "Start with me, and I'll start with you," the maiden had brought a hand to her chest before resting it on a hip—challenging the man in her final push.

Finally won over, Vlad gave his first genuine smile in possibly centuries. "I think I might like you," he bowed the way to begin their tour.

At the conclusion, they worked the smaller arrangements of their bargain over dinner that night. With a firm handshake, Lisa of Lupu and Vlad Dracula Țepeș sealed their agreement to teach one another their trade.

And so much more as they were to find out for themselves.