[ The dream is the same. It's always the same. It's the dream of a girl he's met once, sixteen years ago. He's had to make her up, in his dreams. She's a stuffy princess, the kind that knows she's beautiful.

But in the dream, she's not a vampire. She's just a normal girl. And he's a normal boy. They do the things normal humans do, like go out in the sun and go on walks in the woods.

Rather than actually participating, though, Phillip stands back watching the scene. Watching the dream version of him do these dream things. ]

It's nice, isn't it?

[ He's aware enough to recognize someone else is here with him, which should probably surprise him but also he lives in a castle full of vampires, and also his betrothed got turned into a vampire before she was supposed to, so now he's just bitter and nothing fazes him. ]

It's too bad it'll never be real.

[ Phillip doesn't know how he can help. He's a first season, and he barely knows anything about being a vampire. But he wants to help so badly. Need someone to get flowers from the green house or around campus? He's your guy. Water for the screaming patient? Sure. Run to the library for books? Of course.

But mostly, he wants to learn how to heal. He wants to know what it's like to do magic, which despite how everyone treats it, he's pretty sure vampires actually do.

Wouldn't that be grand? To do magic and heal people?

Sure, he's got a maker in Gold Court, but a boy can dream, can't he? ]

Please, let me help. I won't get in your way, I promise.

[ Phillip will not be attending sports! He's been forced to play in far too many tournaments and with no one demanding his presence (and the Gold Court novices by and large very happy to try and show off), he sneaks away.

Where does he go?

The stables.

Yes, resident horsegirl Phillip would much rather spend his time in the company of those fine, fourlegged friends. He comes with a bag full of carrots and apples and he spends time with each of them. He already knows all of their names, and you might just overhear him talking to them. ]

Well, it's just, she's not going to remember me anyway, is she? She's got more important things in her life. Also, she was a baby when I met her. Babies don't know anything. They definitely don't remember anything.