Jade and the Seasons sisters were gathered around the table, enjoying their meal. Amidst the chatter and laughter, Jade couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
"So Jade, have you and Phoenix gone out on a date yet?" Autumn's inquiry cut through the conversation, catching Jade off guard.
Jade almost choked on her food at the question. "N-No... Why do you ask?" she stammered, trying to regain her composure.
Autumn leaned in, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Oh, no reason. It's just that Phoenix seems to be taking his sweet time. He should be wooing you by now," she teased.
Jade forced a smile. "We're just friends," she insisted, though her words lacked conviction.
Snow chimed in, her voice gentle yet firm. "But it's obvious that Phoenix has feelings for you," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I've caught him staring at you more than once. Ayiehhh," Rain added with a playful grin.
Jade felt a flush creeping up her neck. "M-Maybe he was just looking around. You're reading too much into it," she protested weakly.
Fall interjected, her tone warm and encouraging. "Well, if he does ask you out, be sure to give him a chance. He's a good guy and a true gentleman," she advised, offering Jade a reassuring smile.
Jade simply shrugged, inwardly wondering why Rain and the others were so insistent on playing matchmaker with Phoenix.
.
....
Xenon and the others were deeply engrossed in their game of chess, the pieces moving with precision and purpose across the board. Amidst the quiet intensity of their match, Maddison broke the silence with an observant remark.
"I can't help but notice that Aria is consistently absent," she commented, her brow furrowed in concern.
Blake nodded in agreement, his curiosity piqued. "Indeed, where does she vanish off to?" he inquired, glancing expectantly at Xenon.
All eyes turned to Xenon, who was momentarily taken aback by the sudden scrutiny. "Why are you all looking at me?" he asked.
"You're best friends, right? So you probably know where she goes," Heberlin said.
Xenon offered a thoughtful shrug. "Aria values her privacy, and she doesn't feel obligated to disclose her activities to me," he explained calmly, his gaze steady.
Genevieve interjected with a hint of melancholy in her voice. "Ever since Crayven died, Aria hasn't been keeping in touch with us much," she added, her eyes reflecting a tinge of sadness.
"Let's just understand her," Kan suddenly interjected, appearing out of nowhere.
He emerged from his shadow.
"You know Kan, if you continue to suddenly appear out of nowhere like that, I might die of shock," Rebeus grumbled.
Kan's laughter echoed lightly through the room as he nonchalantly laid a newspaper on the table, redirecting the group's attention.
Xenon swiftly picked up the paper and perused its contents, his brow furrowing in concern as he absorbed the headlines.
"Another victim in town?" he murmured, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Maddison's eyes widened with concern. "Could it be the work of vampires?" she wondered aloud.
Kan shook his head solemnly. "No, vampires typically don't engage in such gruesome acts," he clarified.
Yvess, ever the voice of reason, offered his insight. "Chimeras... only they possess the savagery to commit such atrocities," he mused, his expression darkening with grim determination.
Heberlin's jaw clenched with resolve. "Those abominations. It seems they're intent on sowing chaos," he declared.
Chimeras were beings resulting from a failed experiment. Former humans experimented on by necromancers but the results went awry, turning them into monsters.
Xenon's eyes flashed with determination as he addressed the group. "We cannot allow them to continue unchecked. Action must be taken," he asserted, his voice firm with resolve.
Kan nodded in agreement, his gaze sharpening with resolve. "Agreed. But where is the prince?" he questioned.
Yvess shook his head, his expression troubled. "He left earlier, his destination unknown to us," he admitted, a note of concern evident in his voice.
Kan's lips formed a thin line of frustration. "That reckless prince... has he forgotten the importance of his training?" he mused, his voice tinged with exasperation as he slowly dissipated into the shadows.
A wry smile tugged at Rebeus's lips as he quipped, "You know, Kan shouldn't appear to me in the dark because it really scares me. Suddenly appearing and then disappearing. He might give me a heart attack."
Genevieve and the others chuckled amusedly.
.
.
Zake's steps faltered as he ambled along, a sense of weariness weighing heavily upon him.
"I-I'm hungry..." he muttered under his breath, the repetition of his words a testament to his growing hunger.
As he traversed the path, Zake's attention was drawn to the nearby fountain, its gentle cascade of water inviting yet strangely mesmerizing. It was there, amidst the tranquil setting, that he spotted Rain, submerged beneath the shimmering surface.
Intrigued, Zake approached the fountain, leaning in to peer at Rain's submerged form.
"What are you up to down there?" he inquired, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
With a sudden fluid motion, Rain emerged from the water, her grin reflecting both mischief and amusement.
"Just having a little fun, hehe. You're Zake, right?" Rain's tone was playful, her eyes sparkling with recognition.
Zake nodded in affirmation, though a hint of apprehension lingered in his gaze.
"Y-You're a vampire... you're not tasty," Zake said before turning away.
As Zake began to walk away, Rain couldn't help but protest, her voice carrying a mixture of indignation and amusement.
"Hey, what do you mean 'not tasty'? I'm fresh, you know!" Rain's outcry echoed through the air, but Zake remained steadfast in his departure, paying no heed to the vampire's protests.
With a resigned sigh, Rain muttered to herself, her words a whispered promise carried on the breeze.
"Psh... you'll be mine eventually, Zake Park," she murmured before disappearing once more beneath the surface of the water.
.
....
Jade decided to take a stroll. As she walked, she stumbled upon an old chapel behind the academy.
"This chapel is very old... why don't they use it?" Jade wondered aloud to herself.
She opened the rusty gate and entered. Upon stepping inside, she surveyed the entirety of the chapel. The roof was still intact, but cobwebs littered the surroundings. The pews were broken and covered in dust.
Jade walked towards the altar, where a large cross stood in the center.
"What a waste of space," she muttered.
"W-Who are you? How did you get in?" a voice suddenly spoke up.
Jade turned to see a young lady hiding at the side. She appeared to be around fourteen years old, very young.
(Jade was already 18 years old.)
"I don't have any bad intentions, I just passed by and decided to come in," Jade explained.
The girl looked puzzled. "H-How did you get in? This place is protected by a barrier," she said.
Jade furrowed her brow. "Barrier?" she echoed.
"Wait... are you human?" the girl asked.
Jade nodded.
"I'm Jade, what's your name?" Jade introduced herself.
"I'm Lilith," the girl replied.
"Lilith, what are you doing here?" Jade inquired.
Lilith's expression suddenly darkened. "The truth is, I've been trapped here for a long time. Four years now," Lilith confessed.
Jade felt a surge of pity for her. "Why are you trapped? The gate isn't locked, why don't you try to leave?" Jade suggested.
She shook her head. "I can't leave. This place is protected by a barrier, so I can't get out. And besides..." Lilith hesitated before continuing.
"And besides what?" Jade pressed.
Lilith glanced towards the window. "I sense that he's coming. Please, leave now," Lilith pleaded.
"Huh? Who's coming?" Jade asked.
"Please, just go. He might kill you if he sees you here," Lilith begged.
Reluctantly, Jade left.
Lilith breathed a sigh of relief as Jade departed. She sat down in front of the altar.
Lilith was nothing more than a spirit trapped inside the chapel. She didn't know where her physical body was. Her younger brother had hidden it, concealing it from her.
She felt Yvess enter.
"Sister..." Yvess said.
Yes, Yvess was her brother, but they weren't blood-related. Their family had taken Yvess in when he was young, but as he grew older, he decided to use his real surname and left them. Yvess was also the one who killed their parents.
FLASHBACKS...
Yvess was only nine years old when he witnessed the heinous murder of his parents.
They lived peacefully in the kingdom of Aznar, where his father was a Marquis and his mother a Countess. He came from a noble family. Even at a young age, he exhibited extraordinary powers, a source of pride for their family to have a child capable of creating invisible barriers. Other vampire families lacked such abilities, especially those of lower rank. His parents were kind and loving. But one night, a group of vampires raided their mansion. They slaughtered his parents before his very eyes. Yvess saw how his parents turned to ash.
Yvess was almost driven mad by what happened. He wanted to kill. Fueled by rage, he attacked the vampires and slaughtered them. He lost control of himself during that time. Ashes and blood scattered around. Yvess cried in a corner, trembling with fear.
Lord Argus Holyson (a Count) learned of what happened to Yvess' family and took the child under his wing, treating him as his own son. Yvess grew up as a Holyson. Lord Argus had a daughter, Lilith. At first glance, one would think she was still a child due to her appearance, resembling that of a fourteen-year-old. But Lilith was actually 20 years old that time. At the age of 14, her physical transformation stopped, and she remained the same in appearance and size. As Yvess matured, he was often mistaken as Lilith's older brother because he was taller. They were close to each other. But one day, Yvess discovered that Lord Argus was the one who ordered the assassination of his parents, as Lord Argus desired Yvess' power. In a fit of rage, Yvess killed him and never showed himself to Lilith again.
But just four years later, Yvess and Lilith crossed paths once more. Yvess learned that his sister's life was in danger. Lilith was a Seer, she had the ability to perceive events in hell, and the council wanted to use her as a tool. With the help of Maddison and Genevieve, they separated Lilith's soul from her body. They hid her body and locked her spirit in a chapel protected by a thick barrier.
END OF FLASHBACKS
"I apologize for not visiting sooner," Yvess expressed softly.
Lilith maintained her silence, her emotions hidden behind a veil of quiet contemplation.
"Sister, are you still angry with me?" Yvess inquired, his voice heavy with melancholy.
Lilith shook her head.
"Sister, look into my eyes..." Yvess gently urged, drawing Lilith's gaze to meet his own.
"I'm doing all of this to ensure your safety... I cannot bear the thought of you suffering a fate similar to Crayven's. I would never forgive myself if any harm were to befall you," Yvess confessed, his words laden with a sense of protective determination.
Even though Lilith was just a spirit, Yvess could still hold her, thanks to Maddison's curse that only allowed Lilith to be touched by Yvess.
As Lilith remained silent, Yvess sighed softly, understanding the weight of her unspoken emotions.
"I must take my leave now," he announced, reluctantly turning away.
"Yvess..." Lilith's voice called out, halting his departure.
Turning back to face her, Yvess was met with Lilith's sudden movement as she rose to her feet and enveloped him in a tender embrace.
In response, Yvess returned the embrace, his actions speaking volumes of his enduring love and devotion to his sister.
.
.
....
In the town.
Aria diligently washed the dishes while Cedrick observed her, his gaze occasionally drifting to admire her form.
"My girlfriend is absolutely stunning," he murmured to himself with a contented smile.
Approaching Aria, Cedrick enveloped her in a warm embrace from behind, eliciting a smile from her.
"Darling, why don't you consider living here in town? I long for us to be together, and each time you leave, I feel a pang of loneliness," Cedrick expressed tenderly.
"Just a little more patience, my love. We'll be living together soon. I'll reside here with you," Aria reassured him, her voice filled with affection.
Cedrick tightened his embrace, a smile of anticipation gracing his lips.
"Ahem," Stephen's voice interrupted their moment.
Turning towards him, Cedrick and Aria met Stephen's disapproving gaze.
"You two are already like this when I leave, and you're still the same when I return? You two are annoying to look at," Stephen remarked gruffly.
Cedrick chuckled heartily in response.
"Haha, buddy, perhaps you should find yourself a girlfriend so you won't feel left out," Cedrick teased, his tone lighthearted.
Stephen maintained a poker face as he retreated into his room.