Millis had encountered this hologram before, back when she hadn't realized the book she handed to Leon was written in a different language than the one they were using. Confusion had set in when Leon couldn't make heads or tails of it, even though she could read the words just fine. As she pondered this to herself, the same hologram materialized, revealing the "Language Comprehension" skill.
"You see that title you have there? It says 'Holy Maiden,' right?" Aria's voice echoed in Millis' mind as the holographic display glowed with an otherworldly light.
Millis nodded.
"That's not just for show, my dear. It's not some arbitrary label. It signifies a role, a destiny you carry within you. The Holy Maiden is a conduit for great power, a bridge between the mortal and divine realms."
Millis furrowed her brow, trying to comprehend the weight of Aria's words. "So, what exactly does being the Holy Maiden entail? And why me?"
Aria's response came with an air of solemnity, "Being the Holy Maiden means you have a vital role in the cosmic balance. You are destined to wield magic of unparalleled strength, to stand against the forces that threaten existence. As for why you? Well, the criteria aren't as pristine as you might think. It's about the essence of your soul, not the purity of your actions."
Millis furrowed her brows even more. "I still don't get it."
That was natural. Millis wasn't book-smart. While she could grasp languages better than many others her age, she wasn't a genius. In fact, she wasn't great at thinking things through; she usually dove in headfirst.
"It's fine if you don't get it, for now. You'll catch on sooner or later. And you don't have a choice other than to get it. You have to get it whether you like it or not."
Millis deepened her brow furrow at this. "What do you mean?"
"Mephistopheles is back again."
"Mephis…topheles?" Millis' eyes widened. For a moment, Aria thought Millis might have an inkling of who that was. Then she immediately dismissed the idea. "…Who exactly is that?"
Aria sighed, a sound that carried the weight of both exasperation and wisdom. "I figured you have no idea. However, it's not time for that yet. You have to unravel your own complexities before diving into deeper shadows."
"Complexities? What complexities exactly?"
"Matters of love," Aria replied. If Millis could see her, Aria's expression would likely be a mix of mischief and knowing. "That said, I don't think I'm the right confidante for those carnal conundrums. You're better off seeking advice elsewhere. Do you really think I'm well-versed in such earthly delights? If you seek guidance, consult Ariel. She excels in navigating those sensual waters. Oh, and by the way, abstain from self-indulgence for now. Engaging in that will knock you down a level."
"Uh, what? Why?" Milli questioned. She really wanted to indulge herself tonight.
"Remember what I told you when you ascended to level two? You increase your essence with each virtuous deed. Conversely, partaking in something...sinful will deplete your essence."
"Uh, I think I remember now. You scolded me for struggling to ascend to level two."
"Yeah! You've been pleasuring yourself after you've done a good deed, so when you gain essence, it plummets immediately! Honestly, you're just like Jeanne!"
Millis heard Aria sigh, the exasperation evident in the sound, accompanied by the clap of Aria's palm against something—probably her own forehead, Millis assumed.
"Anyway, now you know, don't you? You'll drop your level, so keep those hands to yourself tonight!"
"N-Not even just a bit?"
"No!" said Aria. "I'll be watching you, Millis."
With those parting words, Aria didn't communicate in Millis' mind anymore. Millis gazed at the ceiling, then sighed. "I guess I won't be indulging myself tonight. And here I was, already so wet about it." She turned on her side, sneaking a whiff of the blanket. "Leon…" Her hands traveled along her soft thighs up to her shorts.
However, as she was about to slip beneath her shorts, Aria's voice interrupted, "Not on my watch!"
Millis grumbled, covering her entire body with Leon's blanket, immersing herself in his scent, then closed her eyes.
Hours passed, and it was already midnight. Millis was peacefully asleep. The room was shrouded in darkness, the moonlight failing to penetrate. Yet, someone standing nearby could discern the white nape of her neck. The observer, a woman by the curves of her silhouette, stared at it with a mixture of bloodlust and hunger in her eyes. Her figure, petite and shapely, hinted at her femininity. She licked her lips, her crimson eyes eerily growing in the dark.
Her hands, pale and adorned with elongated nails, reached out toward Millis. She touched the nape of her neck, then leaned forward, her hand finding support on the bed. She inched closer, and closer, until she reached the point where she could sink her teeth into Millis' nape.
She parted her lips, revealing two small fangs, eagerly anticipating the succulent taste of Millis' flesh. However, just as she teetered on the precipice of sinking her fangs, she abruptly arrested her movements. Leaning back, she retreated from the bed and delivered a resounding slap to her own face.
Millis might have heard the disturbance, as she stirred and opened her eyes.
"Huh? Who's there?" She sat upright, catching a glimpse of someone standing there for a moment. Her eyes were still bleary with sleep, so she rubbed them. By the time she finished, though, there was no longer a person standing there. Instead of becoming anxious about a potential intruder or something and trying to investigate, she just shrugged with an "Oh well" and went back to lying down.
Millis remained oblivious to the fact that the person she saw had transformed into a creature with wings. A bat.
***
Millis awoke to a world shrouded in darkness, the absence of the sun leaving her time in limbo. Desiring to grasp the hour, she stepped outside, her gaze stretching towards the horizon. The sun, in its tentative ascent, cast a faint glow.
"Ah… What a nice—"
What a nice day, she was about to say, her words suspended in the morning air. A sudden interruption seized her attention—a nun racing towards her. It was Iris. Even at a distance, the pallor of her face was unmistakable.
"Millis! It's bad news."
"What a bad day it is, then," Millis murmured, the ominous undertone lingering in the atmosphere.
***
"Oh my goodness, this is a horrifying scene."
"She looked like her very essence had been drained away. I can't even recognize who this poor woman is."
"I believe she's Rogan's wife. How tragic. It was supposed to be her blissful wedding night last night, wasn't it?"
"Oh, look, Rogan is here."
"Goodness, Sidi! What the hell happened to you?! Who did this to you?! We were supposed to fuck each other's brains out last night, right?! So why in the world are you lying here, lifeless?!"
Millis stumbled upon a nightmarish tableau – a grotesque sight where she found a woman sprawled lifeless on the muddy ground. The corpse's eyes were unnaturally wide open, and her skin, drained of vitality, resembled a canvas smeared with the eerie pallor of ash. Not only that, but her complexion appeared prematurely aged, akin to that of a withered old lady. Despite the expectation of a fuller figure, the corpse lay thin, a stark contradiction. However, the most unsettling revelation awaited Millis – the marks on her neck, unmistakably the work of a vampire, two distinct puncture wounds that spoke of a sinister, otherworldly encounter.
Iris stood by Millis, and as her eyes fell upon the lifeless body, she slipped into a reverent prayer stance, her words barely audible, "Oh Saint Aldera, may you bless her departing soul and lead her to the realm of our creator. Shower mercy upon her and absolve her of all transgressions."
The man, presumably the grieving husband, crumbled to his knees, embracing the cold form against his chest, his anguished cries piercing the air. "Why?! Why?!"
Spectators gazed upon the heart-wrenching scene with a mix of sorrow and empathy, fully cognizant of the bitter reality. They adhered faithfully to the local admonition, "Don't tarry too deep into the night, for the clutches of a vampire may find you." This warning had become a mantra etched into their very souls.
Millis and Iris, like everyone else, held that saying close because they knew vampires had returned to their land.
As all these thoughts swirled in Millis's mind, a group of knights emerged.
"What is happening here?"
All gazes shifted to the origin of the authoritative voice, revealing a man adorned in resplendent armor, his golden tresses cascading down. A sword hung at his waist, accentuating his knightly presence.
"Sir Johanne!" exclaimed the devastated man, still cradling the lifeless form of his wife. "A vampire! A vampire took my wife!"
"A vampire, you say?" Sir Johanne cast an initial glance toward Millis before focusing on the grieving widower. Kneeling beside the deceased, the evidence of a vampire's malevolence was stark – skin as pallid as ash, withering like a wilting blossom, and the unmistakable puncture marks on her delicate neck. Johanne let out a mirthless chuckle before meeting Millis's eyes again. "Seems there might be a bloodsucker lurking around these parts. I think I'll extend my stay in this village to delve into this matter."