Shinobu, however, remained silent, her inscrutable gaze fixed on me. Her lack of words heightened my fear; I had no clue what she might do next. Desperate, I turned to Mavka and began using frantic eye gestures, silently pleading with her to come to my rescue.
Mavka, in response, returned my gaze with a reassuring look and made similar eye gestures, indicating that I shouldn't worry.
Suddenly, a deep and exasperated "hmmph" broke the tense silence. It was Shinobu. Her disapproving sound made Hermione halt her steps, and it sent another wave of fear coursing through me. Everyone in the vicinity seemed to hold their breath, waiting with bated anticipation for Shinobu's next move.
It was clear that Shinobu had something to say, and her silence had only magnified the impact of her impending words.
The moment Shinobu walked toward me and placed her hand on my shoulder, I could feel the weight of her words sinking in. The intensity in her eyes told me that this was not an ordinary request but a command. She spoke with an air of authority that was impossible to ignore.
"Your intense training starts tomorrow," she declared, her voice firm and unwavering. "Vergil will teach you how to use a sword, while Lupin will instruct you in hand-to-hand combat." Her words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Getting stronger would make rescuing my parents and sister a reality, but I didn't know how harsh the training I was about to receive would be but the desire to rescue my family was so strong that I was determined to grow stronger, regardless of the training's intensity.
Beside me, Jade, who had been rather silent until now, suddenly spoke up with a pleading tone. "Please, Shinobu, let me skip today's training." She raised both her hands in a begging gesture, her eyes filled with desperation.
Shinobu, however, didn't even turn to look at her. Instead, she unleashed an intense pressure that seemed to emanate from her very being. It sent a shiver down my spine, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead in an instant. It was as though the atmosphere in the room had changed, become heavier, and more foreboding.
Jade, standing beside me, couldn't have missed this change in atmosphere. She knew, as well as I did, that Shinobu wasn't joking. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, bore into Jade, making her gulp nervously. In a quivering voice, Jade finally relented, her defeat evident in her response. "Yes, ma'am."
With that, Shinobu turned her gaze toward me, and her words carried a weight I hadn't felt before. "Don't let me down, since you are the master's child," she said with a hint of expectation. Her words echoed in my mind, and I understood the responsibility that came with my lineage.
As Shinobu left the parlor, Jade followed closely behind her. The moment they exited, it was as if a tremendous pressure had been lifted from the room. Both Lupin and Vergil let out heavy sighs, as if they had been holding their breath while Shinobu was present.
Vergil, ever the one for a snarky comment, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "That granny vampire has finally left."
The words Vergil had just spoken about Shinobu sent a shiver down my spine. Fear clutched at my heart, constricting it like a vice. I couldn't help myself; I had to look behind me, just to make sure that Shinobu had truly left. I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes darting towards the door.
For a few moments, I stood there, unmoving, watching the door intently, as though willing it to stay shut. I half-expected Shinobu to reappear, to confront Vergil and unleash her fury upon him. But no one returned. The corridor remained empty.
Turning back to face Vergil, I couldn't conceal the shock that swept across my face. It was a look of pure astonishment, one that begged the question: "Are you trying to get us into trouble?"
Mavka, with her commanding presence, strolled towards Vergil. She folded one arm across her waist, her expression stern. "You never learn, do you, even after Shinobu has beaten the hell out of you repeatedly?"
Vergil, seemingly undisturbed by Mavka's chastising, grinned and flashed his teeth. "You know me, Mavka. I'm as stubborn as they come."
Mavka's gaze shifted from Vergil to Lupin, who was still receiving treatment from Hermione. She shook her head in mild exasperation and said, "Hermione, that's enough. You can go to your bed and get some rest."
"But—" Hermione's protest was cut short as Mavka silenced her, placing a finger gently against Hermione's lips. She sealed both their mouths, leaning in to whisper into Hermione's ear. "You'd better go to bed now unless you want me to inform Shinobu that you've been skipping training sessions again."
Hermione looked at Mavka, her eyes widening in realization. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"
Mavka didn't hesitate to admit it. "Yes, I am." With that, she began to tug Hermione along, leading her away from the scene. "Come on, let's go to bed."
As Mavka and Hermione walked past me, Mavka suddenly stopped and turned to look at me. Her words carried a warning. "You should go to bed too, Dante. Tomorrow promises to be a long day for you."
She pivoted and continued her journey, dragging Hermione with her. I watched them until our eyes met, and I offered a gentle wave, wishing her goodnight. But Hermione turned her head away, avoiding my gaze. Her cheeks were tinged with red, and her lips moved, as though she was trying to say something. However, her words didn't reach my ears.
I sighed quietly to myself. Perhaps I still couldn't quite understand her. It was frustrating, but I couldn't dwell on it for long. Mavka and Hermione had departed , leaving only Vergil, Lupin, and me in the parlor.
Author note:
Hello, everyone. It's the author here. Are you enjoying reading Twilight? Because I certainly enjoy writing this novel. I have plans to extend it to more than 1000 chapters. If any of you have ideas, opinions, or anything you'd like to share, please feel free to leave a comment in the section below.