While Derrick had been overwhelmed by all the new information he calmed down over the next few days. He told us about his time at the Academy of Neth. It sounded like there was way too much politics. Strangely he did not seem to mind that part.

He even shared some embarrassing stories about Helena as a child. Apparently she once snuck into the kitchen, when she was 7, to get some cookies after bedtime. Somehow she ended up covered in flour when she knocked over a bag of it.

We also kept training and Cassie found a lab in town where she could do some alchemy. It helped to distract her from her mother's upcoming visit.

It was Flamday afternoon when a small carriage arrived. It was of decent quality but not overly decorated. I was training in the courtyard with Helena so we saw it enter. The driver was a big man in a thick coat. As soon as he stopped the doors opened.

The first to emerge was a stocky dwarf. His impressive beard was red, as was his short hair. He was dressed in black pants and a dark blue winter coat. His brown eyes briefly lingered on us, then he looked back at the carriage and offered his hand to the woman inside. She was also a dwarf. Her blond hair was braided and she watched us with sharp crimson eyes. Like most dwarfs she was rather muscular. She wore the same dark blue winter coat and black pants as the man.

We stopped our training and walked towards the dwarfs.

"Greetings!" The man said. "The guards at the gate directed us to the castle…"

"Hello! You must be Skadi's parents!" Helena said.

"Indeed." The woman replied. "I am Astrid Helgurd and this is my husband Lothar Helgurd."

"I am Helena Frost."

"Hello, I am Koyuki."

"Ah, we have heard about you." Lothar replied.

The dwarfs seemed a bit stiff. I suppose they were wary of nobility, given their past.

"Is Skadi inside?" Astrid asked.

Helena shook her head. "No, Skadi is in town with her girlfriend. I think she is helping Cassie with some alchemy."

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Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Girlfriend? She never mentioned a girlfriend. She did mention a Cassie though."

"Cassie Ashburn, correct?" Lothar inquired.

"Yep! They started their relationship recently so there was no time to tell you, I suppose." Helena replied.

The doors of the keep opened and Hans emerged. "Welcome! You must be Skadi's parents. It's a pleasure meeting you!"

Both of them bowed. "My lord…" Lothar began.

"No need for titles. We are all friends here. I heard you wanted to use an inn but you can just stay here. I have plenty of space and Skadi is here as well." Hans suggested with a smile.

"That is very kind." Astrid said, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"We should tell Skadi that you are here." I suggested.

"I will send someone to inform them." Hans replied. "Why don't we wait inside where it's comfortable?"

Soon we found ourselves inside drinking some hot tea and making small talk. We started telling them about our time at the academy. They seemed rather impressed. We had just reached the point about creating Hatsumi when Skadi and Cassie arrived.

"Mom! Dad! It's been a while." Skadi said with a smile. Then she gave her parents a hug.

"Skadi, you look like you have lost some weight. You need to eat more!" Lothar said.

"I got more muscles though!" Skadi replied, flexing her biceps.

"You had an exciting first year. It sounds like you did really well!" Astrid said.

"Yeah, I have even learned some blood magic already! And now I have a vampire to train with." Skadi replied, excitedly.

"And you have a girlfriend…" Astrid said, while looking at a blushing Cassie.

"Yes, this is Cassie Ashburn!" Skadi introduced her.

"It's a pleasure meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Helgurd." Cassie said.

"Just call us Astrid and Lothar, dear!" Astrid replied.

"Indeed! You are family now, after all!" Lothar pronounced.

"You know, I had my doubts about the academy. But it certainly worked out really well so far." Astrid mused.

"My uh… my mother will not approve of this relationship. She is also on her way and she might try to create problems…" Cassie said.

"We have dealt with difficult nobles before." Lothar replied.

"We are willing to endure some hardship for our daughter's happiness." Astrid said with a firm voice.

"This is my county, Brittany Ashburn has no power here." Hans added. "Actually, I am willing to do some business with you, if you are interested."

"Really? What kind of business?" Lothar asked.

"Well, we do get caravans from Thorus but they tend to stop just inside the border. I think their ale especially would sell well in the south. I could hire you to transport and sell it all over Nethena. That would allow you to stay independent but give you some protection since you would be fulfilling a contract with a noble." Hans suggested.

"You can trust the Frost family." Skadi said.

"Well, if our daughter vouches for you we can make a deal." Astrid said.

"Splendid!" Hans said, then he added: "You should talk with Manfred, my butler. He manages the finances."

"It was probably his idea anyway. He is the brain behind our finances." Helena said.

"Actually, it was your brother's idea. He has a knack for such things. And he likely picked up on the opportunity while he was in Neth." Hans replied.

"You should start a beer garden in Neth." I suggested.

"A beer garden? Hm." Lothar pondered that.

Soon the conversation moved to finances and costs and I lost interest. But my first impression of Skadi's parents was good. They seemed to be nice people who cared for their daughter. It made me wonder about my own parents. Would I ever find out who they were?

At least I had friends now. And my undead. And Helena. I smiled.

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