The military wasn’t anything like a feudal system though it had its own very exacting rules regarding etiquette and the proper way to address people. For Kurt, when he was thrust in a situation where he didn’t know the lay of the land, he fell back on exacting politeness. It might have made him appear stiff or ill at ease perhaps but it also meant he was less likely to put people’s noses out of joint. But unlike so many Spartans who tended to completely ice out non-Spartans, there was a genuine sort of warmth to Kurt’s face when he addressed Vex.

“You have me at a disadvantage there. Where I am from, vampires are just myths and creatures out of old books. I don’t think there’s ever been a proven instance of one but instead seem to be our ancestors’ explanation for things like unknown wounds or animal bites to livestock and the like.” It was his turn to look mildly confused because now she was using terms that didn’t make a lot of sense. Caster? Clerics? As in priests?

“I feel as though we are not from the same kind of world, Vex. Are you human?” He made a sort of vague gesture towards his ears to illustrate how strange hers were.