A Boy's Education

We eat. This is the same scene as yesterday morning, but one thing is different.

"Hm... This is quite delicious. The chef in this mansion is certainly skilled." Van Helsing says. "I am very particular about cooking. I would like to receive some instruction from him at some point."

The rest of us look around at one another.

Her hobby is cooking? That's unexpected.

"Well, if you ask nicely enough, I'll teach you! I guess I've once again proven that I'm a genius at everything." Nemo says.

"What are you talking about? I'm not praising you, I'm praising the abilities of the cook." Van Helsing seems to notice something about Nemo's grin, and her expression turns doubtful. "Do you mean to tell me you made all this? Nonsense."

"I know it sounds crazy, but she really does make our meals here." Lupin says.

"That's right. Start thanking me, glasses-girl." Nemo says.

"I take it back. This food is awful. Just horrible."

"Hey! You're only saying that now that you know it's my cooking!" Nemo says.

"Hey guys, calm down. Let's all try to get along and enjoy this meal together." Victoria says.

"So, we have here..." Dorian says. "A homunculus, his creator, a thief, an engineer, and a vampire slayer. My table has gathered quite an eclectic bunch."

I nod in agreement. "Meals do taste better with a big group."

"I feel the same way, Mr. Caleb." Dorian says. "By the way, Miss. Van Helsing, could you please tell me why you've come to be here with us? I haven't been told any of the details yet."

"You're something of a unique individual yourself, to accept a stranger into your home without knowing much about them." Van Helsing says. "No matter. I suppose it's necessary for me to explain. I've already told the others, but my goal is to unravel the secrets of a certain woman and confront her. The woman is closely associated with Progenitor and is known to be very elusive. It's very difficult to determine her whereabouts. One day, I obtained intelligence that this woman was searching for a special object."

"A special object. Is it embedded in him? The one they call the Philosopher's Stone?" Dorian asks.

Van Helsing nods. "I must get ahold of it before she does, and use it to **** her into a meeting. That was my plan, anyway. However, I learned that this boy that Progenitor calls a monster has close ties to the woman I'm after. If Progenitor is trying to find him, I'll naturally catch fight of her shadow as long as I stay close to him. This is why I've decided to stay near him for a while and obtain the information I need for my goal. That is all." Van Helsing concludes her explanation and raises her teacup to her lips.

"Sorry to rain on your parade when you're trying to be all mysterious, but who is this woman you keep talking about? Why hide it?" Nemo asks what we surely are all thinking, but Van Helsing doesn't respond.

Why do I get the feeling that she glanced in my direction for a moment?

Suddenly, Dorian's body start convulsing. He falls from his chair and onto the floor.

"Are you okay?" Victoria asks her.

"Everyone stay away from me." Dorian says. He gets up and starts striping off his clothes until he is naked. His body starts changing.

I look away. I hear Dorian scream.

"Did Dorian just turn into a...?" Nemo asks.

I slowly open my eyes to see a white haired woman.

She looks like Dorian but she has large breasts and a vagina. "I apologise that the sudden outburst. I change genders every now and then."

"Dorian?" I ask.

"Dorian Gray is actually an alias I've been using. Now, you can call me Doreen Gray." She says.

"There is something else I'd like to ask, if I may. You said something curious; the person you're seeking is immortal?" Victoria asks.

"Is that the secret you're unravelling?" I ask.

"Yes." Van Helsing says.

"Come on, it's the 19th century! This isn't the Dark Ages. You don't believe in that mystical mumbo-jumbo, do you?" Nemo asks.

"That certainly is interesting. Can you tell us more? What makes you say she is immortal?" Doreen asks.

"The woman was assassinated in the past." Van Helsing says.

"Assassinated? So someone survived an **** attempt. How does that make her immortal?" Victoria asks.

"She didn't survive it. She came back." Van Helsing says.

"That's insane. Are you sure it wasn't simply a body double or a decoy?" Lupin asks.

"Impossible. I confirmed this with the one responsible for the ****. I was told that it was definitely her." Van Helsing says.

"Then perhaps your assassin didn't finish the job." Doreen says.

"According to the report, the target's head was blown clean off." Van Helsing says.

"Then, uh... You're saying that the girl you're looking for died, then came back to life?" Nemo asks.

"Yes, I think I've made that clean." Van Helsing says.

"Hold on. I don't know who you're looking for, but if you're going to confront this woman, and unravel her secrets, just what are you going to do with her after that, Van Helsing?" Lupin asks.

"That's none of your concern. It's better for both of us if you don't know." Van Helsing says.

Everyone falls silent.

I am a bit flustered.

"Hey, everyone. What are you all going to do now?" Victoria tries to change the subject, as if out of consideration for my feelings. "Things have been pretty calm up until now, but Progenitor might begin pushing harder in their search. If we're going to be investigating Septima's secrets, we'd better be cautious, or Caleb might get captured."

"That's true. What do you want to do, Caleb?" Lupin asks.

"I want to search for my mother, even if it might be dangerous. I want to go search London." I say.

"Hmm... Caleb, I know how you feel, but I think it's much safer for you to stay here in the mansion." Nemo says.

"I agree. Progenitor has yet to become aware of this location. Though it may feel cramped here, laying low is the right choice." Doreen says.

"Caleb, is it? None of this means anything if you get taken. Just do as we say, and stay quiet." Van Helsing says.

"But..." I say.

"You want to personally help us each for your mum, right? I think that's fine. I had no intention of keeping him locked up here." Lupin says.

"Lupin..." I say.

"I agree with Lupin. Actually, keeping him cooped up in herein't an option to begin with." Victoria says.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Yesterday, I looked into the blood I took from you. It has unique characteristics." Victoria says. "This might confirm you indeed have a Philosopher's Stone inside you. This stone is constantly releasing minute particles into the air. Those particles are very easy to identity. It would be simple to create a device to detect their presence in the air. Furthermore, if they reach a certain density, its location can be found even from a long distance."

"Which means the longer he stays here, the more easily this place can be discovered by Progenitor?" Lupin asks.

"Yes, at present." Victoria says.

"I know they probably traced me because of my helping Jonathan Small, but I remember when guards came to our mansion, there was a strange noise before they came into the room." I say.

"That's likely their detection device. I suppose it was a given they would have one." Victoria says.

"Wait a minute. Then this place isn't safe at all!" Nemo says.

"No, we're actually still fine. The Philosopher's Stone can't be detected from afar until the released particles reach a certain condition." Victoria says. "Meaning if he leaves the mansion for at least a few hours a day, this will prevent them from building up inside."

"I see. So he can't remain hidden inside the mansion, even if he wanted to." Van Helsing says.

"If that's the case, I really want to help you find my mother." I say.

Everyone nods in agreement, though they look a bit concerned.

"Sometimes the best place to hide from somebody is right under their nose. We may be better hidden in crowded London streets." Lupin says. "Most of all, the search for Septima is your concern, as well. You'll have to put in some work with us, too."

"Of course I will." I say.

"Hmm... Are you sure? I'm worried." Nemo says.

"I know how you feel. I'm going to give you a few conditions, Caleb." Lupin says. "First, never act on your own. Always have someone accompany you when you go out."

"All right." I say.

"Secondary, we need you to have at least the bare minimum of skill in order to protect yourself." Lupin says.

"A minimum of skill? How am I going to get that?" I ask.

"Look around! At this very tablet have a powerful nobleman, a war hero, an alchemist, and me, the lady thief." Lupin says. "We have number of distinguished experts here. It's the best learning environment."

"It will take some effort, but I can teach you a few methods of self-defence. This will ultimately benefit me as well." Van Helsing says.

"Then I can teach you some emergency first aid skills, and the handling of chemicals that might help in battle." Victoria says.

"I shall do my best to assist, too. Educating you in the geography of London should help when you're on the run." Doreen says.

"Right, and I can teach you how to use a number of security devices... Hey, wait!" Nemo says. "You didn't include me on that list just now, Lupin! How could you just skip over the genius engineer, Captain Nemo?!"

"Oh, I forgot." Lupin says.

"You literally forgot me?!" Nemo asks.

"Okay, Lupin, that sounds good. Thank you, everybody for teaching me. You too, Nemo." I say.

Everyone nods. According to Lupin, from this day forth, every day someone will take a turn teaching me some of their skills to defend myself. Training will be conducted outside the mansion. In the meantime, the others will be making efforts to gather information. They will continue to train me until they find a good lead, at which point we will all need to take action together.

"So, you'll eventually be trained by us all, but this is the very first time. Who do you want teaching you this special day?" Lupin asks.