Josef von Esterhazy

Josef von Esterhazy (ヨーゼフ・フォン・エステルハージ) is a character in The Story of Vampire Michaela novels. He is a knight apprentice learning swordplay under Crowley in the early 13th century.

Appearance
He is described as a teenage boy with faded pockmarks on his face, a good body build, and a decent amount of muscle.

Personality
He is confident in his strength, his sword skills, and the influence of his parents. He is eager to become strong but audacious in his means. He demonstrates a lack of respect in his attitude toward Crowley, adamant that he's finished the basics of swordsmanship and even getting so carried away as to believe he can take him on. However, he shapes up once he realizes he is out of his league, and is able to earnestly admit his wrongs.

History
He was born into the noble family Esterhazy in the early 1200s. At some point he heard about Crowley’s training sessions and began attending them. Crowley suspects that he’s received lessons from a private tutor, as his motions are exceedingly practiced.

Story
Josef and around ten other boys are training in Crowley's yard while the veteran himself nods off. When he eventually wakes up and praises the apprentices, Josef defiantly points out that he was asleep and couldn't have seen any progress they may have made. He isn't satisfied with Crowley's apology and is upset that he has not drawn his sword even once so far. When Crowley explains that that isn’t necessary yet and that solid basics are crucial, Josef interrupts him, saying he's already finished the basics. He is only there because he heard he could learn actual combat from a hero who returned from war.

When Crowley smiles wryly in response to this, Josef is offended and questions if Crowley actually has any confidence in his sword fighting skills at all. He mocks Crowley, betting that he just hid in the rear of the battlefield during the whole war. He ignores the other apprentices scolding him for his rudeness and demands to know why Crowley is secluding himself if his war glory is really as great as the rumors make it out to be. When Crowley responds only by dismissing the apprentices and announcing his departure, Josef is convinced he has just exposed Crowley's true colors. He points his sword at him, calling him a coward and urging him to draw his weapon.

He grins when Crowley begrudgingly does so, excited to expose him as a phony mentor. However, with one strike from Crowley, Josef’s sword is ripped out of his hand and he is easily subdued. Crowley tells him that if it were actual combat, he would be dead, and that's why basics are so important. However, he admits that Josef has the aptitude for it and will be able to perform the same move in the future. Josef sinks to the ground, his brazen attitude from before nowhere to be seen. The next day, he apologizes for his rudeness, standing at attention on the training grounds and addressing Crowley with newfound respect and admiration.

Powers and Abilities
Josef demonstrates knowledge and practice in the basics of swordplay, and Crowley acknowledges his talent. However, he is inexperienced in battle and the sword he points at Crowley holds "nothing but pettiness and fragility." He has a ways to go, but he will likely become powerful in the future.