Transitioning from being the mortal I had been, to what Matthias made me was not easy at first. I wanted to go back to my family, to at least give them a last good-bye, but he did not allow it, informing me that it was better to have a clean break. He also did not wish me to question him right away, instead taking me into the night.
The learning process was gradual in the beginning, as he gauged how quickly I was able to learn. He rather enjoyed the fact that I was educated, and after survival skills has been taught to me, he took me out of what would one day become Germany, and into France. We traveled a lot, he and I. He showed me the importance of being an educated man among the masses, and taught me that we were above humanity, because of our superior abilities. Despite that, he taught me to be wary of them, as a mob was a dangerous weapon.
We moved on from France once I got fluent at reading and writing the language, and moved into England. I was not a fan of England’s moody weather, but still learned the language and local curiosities as Matthias wished me to do. It was in England that I first met Samuel. He said I intrigued him, and he seemed like a friendly enough fellow, so we formed a friendship of sorts. That is, until things went a stranger route. He told me what he was, and began to offer me anything I wished, in exchange for a simple little handshake. To this day I refuse, and consider him to largely be a headache.
Once Matthias was satisfied that I was well-versed in the English language, we moved on again. This time, it was to meet up with an old friend and clan mate of his, simply called John. The meeting was to take place in Castile, part of the area that would one day become Spain.
I was unsure what to make of John, the man Matthias called friend and brother. He seemed alright; shared some of Matthias’ views – but also seemed to be touched with madness. Once several nights had passed, John requested that we meet his childe. He seemed proud of this fact, that he had created someone to teach, much as Matthias had taught me. Along the journey I wondered what this other man might be like. Would he be touched by madness, like John? Or be more reasonable? Was he warrior, or poet? My head swam with possibilities, to the point I did not pay much attention to my elders’ discussion. What I did manage to pick up, was they hoped that John’s childe and I would get along to an extent – they hoped we’d form the beginnings of a coterie, of our generation, so to speak, though I believe they still wished to have influence over us.
As we traveled through the lands owned by this man whom I was to meet, I noticed something different about the people. They didn’t seem to be your typical peasant. Nay, they looked well cared for, appreciated, even. It was an odd sight to me, as I had never seen such before. Upon arrival at a well-kept keep, we were ushered inside and greeted warmly by a fair-haired man, who seemed pleased to see John.
His name was Avery, and he turned out to be a most curious man. I came to learn that he’d been a soldier in the more recent Crusade, a master of the longbow, specifically – something I considered impressive in its own right. He’d been embraced after John witnessed his refusal to set ablaze a library, not wanting to destroy the knowledge kept inside. I kept to myself for the most part, not offering much information beyond what Matthias would tell.
We stayed there for some time, and that’s how I came to have liaisons with Carmen. Whether she was truly his sister or simply someone he saw as such, I can not say for certain, but it did irk him somewhat and I found I enjoyed that. Moreover, I enjoyed her company – it had been some time since I had lain with a woman, and I needed the relief those nights offered. Over time Avery came to forgive me for Carmen – I think.
Beyond his physical characteristics, the man himself was simple enough to figure out; he was someone who cared deeply for his people, be they the peasants and serfs who worked the fields, or the servants in the keep. He maintained his skill with a bow, refusing to grow lax in it just because he’d been changed. That first visit, I appreciated Avery and his beliefs, but I could not tell you whether or not I liked him. I was indifferent. Though I did thank him for Carmen as I departed with Matthias, citing her excellent help in getting me to learn the language of his land – I just could not help doing so.
Matthias and I traveled heavily, but would generally always come back around to Castile, to see John and Avery again. Over time Avery and I became friends of a sort; he the responsible one, I the more carefree one. Thinking it over now, I’ve lost that carefree attitude, and instead have been stoic, devoted to learning.
Eventually, Alex and Esperanza came into our lives. Sister Esperanza, at least in the beginning, I enjoyed debating with over religion, though it became less fun when she didn’t waver in the slightest on her views, having an answer for everything, so I gave that up in just a couple of short years. Alex very much was a knight, though it was evident she was under Claude’s thumb. Still, she never complained, so I never interfered. She’s really come into her own since then, and I view her as sort of a little sister. Ileana I have not known long, but she is like the irritating little sister, always in my things and not respecting me. I know some of what she does is simple curiosity, but other times it’s out of a desire to annoy me.
I close this entry by surmising that circumstances being what they have been the past few hundred years, I have grown more into a teacher/scholar role, and have possibly lost a bit of myself. Trying to pinpoint when it happened, it seems to be about the time I committed amaranth on my sire. I need to rediscover that part. To think of the headaches I might cause Avery! That alone is enough to amuse me. Love him though I may, I still rather like the idea of irritating him once in a while.