Maid Training

"Waaah..."

Standing on the thick carpet, Fina tried her best to maintain a smile, but even so, her facial muscles began to ache.

"You two, try a little harder!"

Before the two sisters, Suoxiate held a long, black whip, a gentle, harmless smile on her face, and spoke to Mina and Fina, who were struggling to persevere.

Since arriving in this city, Mina and Fina were handed over to Suoxiate by Angela, ostensibly to train them in the proper etiquette for maids. While the sisters were unhappy with Angela's decision, they had no way to resist. Looking at it from another perspective, if they could learn some maid etiquette from this Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, they wouldn't make mistakes and be scolded by Anjie in the future. For the sake of a happy future, suffering a little loss now wasn't a big deal.

With this in mind, the two sisters were initially quite looking forward to Suoxiate's instruction, and also somewhat intrigued by the novelty. After all, they had only served as priestesses, and Angela's instruction on maids was rather casual, just saying whatever came to mind, leaving the two sisters completely bewildered, like mice pulling a turtle, unsure of where to begin. Suoxiate, on the other hand, was a truly "professional" maid. In this regard, her instruction should be much easier to understand.

However, the two sisters soon realized they were wrong.

"As servants of your master, you must remember that the majesty of Arcane Mage is inviolable. You are servants of the Arcane Mage and do not need to show excessive respect to others."

So, the first thing the two sisters had to learn was how to stand properly.

At first, Mina and Fina were puzzled. Did they really need to learn how to stand? Anyone can stand, except for those who can't walk.

However, Suoxiate's training was not so simple.

She somehow found two water jugs, filled them with water, and placed them on top of the sisters' heads. She instructed them to put their hands down, straighten their chests, and slightly raise their heads, maintaining this position without any movement. If the water in the jugs rippled or spilled, they would be punished—not a severe punishment, just having their training time extended.

At first, the two sisters managed to barely keep going. After all, they were no longer human; they were Vampire Species. Such training might be difficult for humans, but it was relatively easy for Vampire Species. However, this training only lasted a few days. The two sisters couldn't take it anymore. After all, standing in the hall every day with a water jug on their heads until dark was an incredibly monotonous task. Moreover, they couldn't move at all during this time; just thinking about this kind of tedious training was unbearable.

Even more terrifying is that Suoxiate will call out the two people's names from time to time, and if they don't react in time, they will also be punished.

Suoxiate also had her own explanation for this training: Maids exist to assist their masters. Standing there isn't just for show; otherwise, wouldn't it be more convenient to just place two vases? Whatever the master does, the maids must stand quietly by, ready to serve at any time. Therefore, if you only focus on how to stand properly and don't respond promptly to the master's calls, what use are maids?

If the previous posture training was merely physical torture, then this training is entirely mental.

In previous standing posture training, Mina could pass the time by recalling the various myths she had learned in the Temple, and Fina could pass the time by mentally reviewing the magical knowledge she had learned, thus ignoring the pain of standing. Naturally, they couldn't concentrate well on responding to others. However, after Suoxiate increased the difficulty of the training, it became even more painful for the sisters. They could no longer ignore the mental torment they suffered during standing training. While being poisoned by the "boredom," they had to concentrate highly so that they could respond to Suoxiate's call at any time.

These days are even harder than when I was working under Angela.

The two sisters were not without their complaints about this treatment. Of course, the more gentle Fina dared not complain, while Mina had protested many times. She even suspected that Suoxiate was deliberately making things difficult for them. After all, even in this world, there were many maids. The two sisters had never heard of maids undergoing such rigorous training.

Suoxiate dismissed their protests with disdain.

"I don't know what the world is like now, but in the Magic Empire, this is how we do it. You must understand, you are not serving ordinary people, but Arcane Mage. Of course, I can end the training for you two here, and inform Miss Angela of the results."

When children misbehave, talking to their parents is often the most effective way to resolve the issue.

So the two sisters immediately shut up. They knew very well that if Angela found out about this, it would definitely not end well.

A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one.

As time went by, the two sisters realized with despair that this "short-term pain" had actually lasted a little longer than expected.

At first, they were simply instructed to stand tall with their heads slightly bowed—according to Suoxiate, a maid's actions in public represent her mistress, therefore she must be neither servile nor arrogant, but simply display appropriate manners. Later, they underwent concentration training—this was to ensure a swift response to their mistress's call at any time. Maids are the face of their mistress; although their status is no different from that of a decorative vase, it's important to understand that a vase cannot speak or perform tasks. Maids, however, are there to perform tasks; if they are negligent or fail to respond promptly to their mistress's requests, they will also embarrass their mistress. This was something Suoxiate repeatedly emphasized.

The training that followed was equally deadly.

The windows had to be wiped again every three hours, and most importantly, no one could see it. Suoxiate's explanation was quite self-righteous—if guests saw it, they would think the house was dirty and messy, which would greatly diminish their impression of the host. That wasn't wrong, but was it really necessary to wipe the windows every three hours? Besides, even while cleaning the rooms, Mina and Fina still had to balance the water jug on their heads! Of course, this time the conditions were slightly more lenient; as long as the jug didn't fall, spilling a little water wouldn't be a problem.

Mina suffered a great loss in this training.

Because Suoxiate had calmly stated that all of this could be done with magic. After all, the Magic Empire was once a major magical power, and even the maids around Li Lin, apart from the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, were at least magic apprentices, and some were even low- to mid-level mages. Using magic to clean rooms was not considered a violation of the rules, and it was quite a natural thing for the Magic Empire.

Thus, Mina immediately lost to Fina in this training. Although Fina lacked experience in magical attacks, she was already a mid-level mage, so casting some low-level spells to clean the room was no problem for her. Mina, on the other hand, was in a much worse situation because she knew absolutely no magic. Angela had only taught her the combat techniques of the Vampire Species race. Cleaning and tidying up—even in the Temple, she wouldn't do those things. After all, at that time, Mina was Divine Chosen, with a noble status, and even living in the Temple, she rarely did anything. Fina, on the other hand, was just an ordinary priestess, and she did most things herself, so she was more adapted.

"How much longer must we endure this...?"

After finally getting through the training again, Mina gazed at the beautiful scenery and the azure sky and white clouds outside the window and murmured to herself.

"Sister... you..."

Fina sat beside them, wanting to say something, but unable to speak. In the past, they always followed Li Lin and Angela, because of Angela, their "common enemy." The sisters always stood on the same side to protect themselves. But now they had much more free time. Although Suoxiate's training was strict, she did give them time to rest. And at times like this, the two were filled with uncertainty about their future.

Following Angela was their predetermined fate; neither of them would resist, nor did they want to. They had resisted before, but had always failed. Although they had resisted drinking human blood, they ultimately succumbed to their instincts. Although they didn't want to kill, they were forced to do things they didn't want to do under Angela's orders. The days of training with Suoxiate were painful, but still better than being by Angela's side. However, both of them knew in their hearts that this couldn't go on forever. Sooner or later, they would complete their training and return to Li Lin and Angela. At that time, the situation they would face would likely be far more serious than it was now.

However, they also know very well that constantly escaping reality is pointless.

"Fina, sometimes I really wish I could turn into a puppet."

Mina stroked the hilt of her sword at her waist, her tone somewhat heavy.

"By then, I'll do whatever Lady Angela tells me to do, even if she orders me to kill someone, I'll kill them without feeling anything..."

"But, sister, we..."

However, after hearing Mina's words, Fina's expression wavered somewhat. In the end, she gritted her teeth and spoke her mind.

"Sister, are you still running away?"

"Escape?"

Upon hearing Fina's words, Mina raised an eyebrow and turned around seriously.

"Am I running away? What am I running away from?"

You're running away from all of this!

As she spoke, Fina suddenly stood up. In any case, it was usually just the two sisters in the house. Suoxiate had to manage the affairs of the castle and didn't come back often, so she didn't care about saying anything.

"We were already dead! Sister Mina, it was Miss Angela who gave us a new life. Whatever she asked us to do, we should do it, shouldn't we? The Sister Mina I know should be a strong and brave girl. But look at you now! Sister Mina, you always look like you're being forced, as if you have no choice in anything. But I think that's wrong. Yes, Miss Angela did force us to do a lot, but we all know very well that even without being forced, we would have done these things sooner or later!"

"Do what!"

Mina suddenly stood up and looked at her younger sister seriously.

"You mean we'd kill people, attack people, and then suck their blood? Even without Miss Angela forcing us, we'd do that?!"

"Yes!"

Faced with Mina's angry gaze, Fina actually stared back without hesitation, something that would have been completely impossible before.

"I still remember how much pain I was in when I first became Vampire Species. I knew it was wrong to drink blood, but I couldn't bear the hunger... Even if Miss Angela hadn't forced us to drink blood in the end, I would have attacked humans sooner or later! I would definitely pounce on those living humans and tear their necks open. I absolutely would do it, I know that very well!"

"Fina, you..."

Mina was taken aback to see her usually gentle younger sister speak so forcefully.

"Didn't you feel the same way, Mina? Back then, I knew very well that you were the same; if you couldn't hold back, you would have attacked humans just like me! But, Mina, you just wouldn't face reality!"

As she spoke, Fina's eyes suddenly shone with a bright, crimson light, and her right hand transformed into a slender, bony shape, with sharp nails that gleamed with a cold, icy light.

"We are no longer human! Sister, how long are you going to keep running away? Everything we did and everything we were in when we were human disappeared when we died! Now we are Vampire Species, so what's wrong with living like Vampire Species?"

But we are still ourselves!

Mina glared angrily at her younger sister.

"Have you forgotten how we survived as children? How we entered the Temple? So many kind people helped us, and that's how we got to where we are today..."

Mina paused at this point.

After all, their current situation—and this "today" is hardly a good ending for them: Mina died because she was forcibly possessed by a god, and Fina, used as a human shield by Angela, also met her demise. Then they were turned into Vampire Species. If they had known things would turn out this way, they would have been better off not entering the Temple, even living in the slums and becoming concubines or maids of the wealthy—that would have been far better.

"But we also gave back, sister."

Clearly, Fina had no intention of stopping.

"You entered the Temple precisely because the Temple valued your status as a 'Divine Chosen,' right? I was merely an accessory. However, you have already sacrificed yourself for the Temple once. Even if the Temple did something to us in the past, we have already repaid it. We are no longer human. Those things from the past... let's just throw them away completely."

At this point, Fina's eyes had turned completely bloodshot. In fact, it was not surprising at all that she had changed like this.

After all, Angela had subconsciously brainwashed Fina for a long time, and given their Vampire Species bloodline, Angela had complete influence over the two sisters. Unlike Mina, who was still struggling to resist, Fina, having already been brainwashed by Angela, was now viewing things from Angela's perspective. She had almost completely abandoned her human identity and common sense, becoming a true Vampire Species under Angela's seduction.

"Fina..."

Mina stared in disbelief at her younger sister, whose eyes were red and swollen; the shock she felt was indescribable.

Just as she was about to say something more, a voice they hadn't heard in a long time, yet which sounded strangely familiar, came through.

"That's strange. I never thought you two sisters would argue."

Li Lin slowly walked into the room, curiously watching the two sisters. Angela followed closely beside him, her face full of a strange smile. Clearly, she had probably already overheard the sisters' argument.

"Ah, Master."

Upon seeing Li Lin arrive, Mina and Fina immediately stood respectfully to the side and shut their mouths. At this moment, Suoxiate's teachings played a significant role; they almost instinctively achieved the best possible posture, completely impeccable.

"I never expected that Suoxiate would actually do it."

Looking at the two sisters in front of him, Li Lin was quite surprised. This was a world of difference compared to when they were trembling with fear and at a loss before.

"Thank you for your praise, Master."

Next to enter was Suoxiate. Facing Li Lin's praise, she maintained her usual formulaic smile; it was unclear whether she was genuinely happy.

"Sigh... it's definitely completely different from before."

Angela narrowed her eyes as she carefully observed Mina and Fina. Usually, at this time, Mina would puff out her chest in protest, while Fina would shrink back slightly in fear under Angela's gaze. But now, even under Angela's watchful eye, they maintained a composed demeanor—though they hadn't quite mastered the formulaic smile that Suoxiate always wore.

Are they ready to graduate?

Looking at the two sisters with satisfaction, Li Lin casually asked, and Suoxiate immediately replied.

"The basic parts are all fine now, Master."

"That's perfect."

As he spoke, Li Lin looked at Mina and Fina again.

"I'm heading to Dideyasi and need two guides and attendants... I remember you were born there, weren't you?"