Inora pulled out a magnifying glass-like magic tool designed to enhance the flow of visible mana. She carefully inspected one of the Astral Zeons, her keen eyes narrowing in fascination.
"Hmmm... Wow. The way the mana flows through this thing is... strange," she murmured. "It doesn't seem like something crafted by human hands. It reminds me of biomimetic mana circuits... Lena, have it raise its arm."
"Raise your arm!" Lena commanded cheerfully.
The Astral Zeon obediently lifted its arm, and Inora leaned in, carefully studying the shoulder joint.
"Incredible... Moving ectoplasmic joints with this kind of mana flow? Just this alone could yield several research papers!" she whispered, her eyes glinting with excitement.
The two sisters continued experimenting with the Astral Zeons until the sun began to set.
---
When it was time for dinner, a maid's voice echoed from the hallway.
"Inora, Lena! Dinner is ready on the first floor."
Inora and Lena looked at each other, surprised at how much time had passed.
"Let's continue this later," Inora suggested.
"Okay!" Lena chirped.
Through their shared studies, the two sisters had grown closer, forming a bond that felt deeper than ever before. As they made their way downstairs, it was clear that family ties, no matter how strained, still carried an undeniable strength.
At the dining table, their father, Obius, was already seated, waiting for them. Lena's eyes lit up the moment she saw the feast laid out before her.
"Wow! My favorites—homemade burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets!" she cheered, practically bouncing in place.
Inora, though more reserved, couldn't help but glance at the food with quiet anticipation.
Obius smiled warmly. "It's good to see you two getting along. I prepared something special for tonight, so enjoy."
"Thank you!" Lena exclaimed as she eagerly took her seat. A cute little bear flag stuck out of her burger, making her smile even brighter.
"I'll eat well!" she declared, slicing into the burger with enthusiasm. Juicy meat dripped with every cut, and Lena's face lit up as she took her first bite.
Yum, yum.
"It's so good!" she mumbled between bites.
As they ate, Obius turned to Lena, his voice curious but kind. "How have things been at the academy, Lena?"
Lena eagerly shared everything—her studies, her progress in magic, and even her decision to participate in the academy's martial arts competition.
At that moment, Inora smirked and decided to stir the pot. "Hey, why don't you tell Dad about your boyfriend?"
Obius blinked, confused. "Boyfriend? Lena... What's this about?"
Lena scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Ahaha... I was going to tell you later, but I got caught."
Obius closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought.
'I've been so indifferent... I didn't even notice Lena found someone. I wonder if this boy is reliable.'
He reopened his eyes, studying Lena seriously. "What kind of man is he?"
Lena's cheeks flushed as she grinned. "He's my junior at the academy! He's tall, handsome, and really rich. His name is Zeon."
Obius raised a brow. From her description, the boy sounded like a first-class match. Still, he couldn't help but wonder how someone like Zeon had fallen for Lena, who, with her petite figure, looked far younger than her age.
"Are you two really in love?"
Lena nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Zeon and I are in love, and we've even promised to be together in the future. Every day is fun because of him!"
Obius smiled softly, nodding. Seeing Lena so happy put his mind at ease.
'Maybe Zeon is a good man... perhaps someone like me,' Obius mused. Although he had once been drawn to Bianca for similar reasons, he was confident that he and Zeon shared one trait—admiring women with childlike innocence, but never crossing any inappropriate lines.
"Introduce him to me sometime," Obius said warmly.
Lena beamed. "I will! Promise!"
After finishing dinner, Lena said goodnight to her father and sister. Then, she washed up and climbed into bed, hugging her teddy bear close.
Slurp.
"Hehe... Today was so much fun," she whispered to herself, her heart brimming with happiness.
For the first time, Lena felt fully accepted by her family. Quietly, she gave thanks to Zeon, the boy who had changed her life.
'Zeon, it's all thanks to you. You're my lucky charm.'
With that thought in her mind, she drifted off into a peaceful dream.
---
Knock, knock.
In the dead of night, a soft knock on the window startled Lena awake.
"Hmm... What is it?" she mumbled groggily.
The room was dark, illuminated only by the pale glow of moonlight. Rubbing her eyes, Lena shuffled over to the window.
A girl in a gothic dress stood on the other side, knocking gently on the glass.
Knock, knock.
Lena's heart skipped a beat. "A-aah... A ghost?" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.
The girl outside the window said something, but her words were muffled. As Lena squinted, recognition dawned. The girl's face stirred a familiar longing in her heart, like a distant memory being pulled to the surface.
She hesitated, then slowly opened the window.
"Mom... Is that you?"
"Yes, Lena. It's me," the girl said with a gentle smile, her voice soft and familiar.
Lena's eyes widened. The girl before her looked exactly like her mother, Bianca—right down to the pink hair, gothic dress, and delicate features.
"Mom!" Lena cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hehe~ It's been a long time, my sweet Lena."
Bianca floated gracefully through the open window and landed lightly on the floor.
Lena turned on the light, and there was no mistaking it—it was indeed her mother. Her loli appearance was just as Lena remembered, though her expression carried a subtle sadness.
"Are you really my mom?" Lena asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
Bianca smiled and nodded. "Yes, it's me. How have you been, my dear?"
Tears spilled down Lena's cheeks. "I've missed you so much! But... how did you come back?"
Bianca's smile faltered for a moment. "Hehe... I missed you too, Lena. That's why I came back. I became... a vampire."
Lena gasped. "Mom... you became undead?"
Bianca nodded sadly. "Yes, I did. But don't worry—I still have all my emotions and memories. I just wanted to see you again."
Relieved, Lena hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here, Mom."
Bianca sat on the bed, patting Lena's head lovingly. Her hands were cold, but Lena didn't mind. The warmth of her mother's affection was all that mattered.
"Lena, I'm sorry for leaving you alone," Bianca whispered.
"It was hard... but I'm okay now," Lena sniffled.
The two talked late into the night, Lena sharing everything—her struggles, her triumphs, and her newfound happiness with Zeon.
Bianca listened with a smile, but when Lena mentioned Zeon's name, her eyes flashed with something dark, only for a moment.
"Lena, bring Zeon to meet me tomorrow," Bianca said sweetly.
"Okay, Mom!" Lena agreed eagerly.
Bianca handed her a slip of paper with an address on it. "Come to this place tomorrow night, but don't tell anyone, okay?"
Lena nodded without hesitation. "I promise!"
With a soft smile, Bianca floated out the window, turning into a wisp of black smoke and vanishing into the night.
"Hehe... Today was really the best day ever," Lena whispered as she closed the window.
But just as she lay back in bed, a thought struck her.
"Should I tell Dad...?"
After some hesitation, Lena made up her mind. She needed to tell her father.
Gathering her courage, she ran to Obius's room and shook him awake.
"Dad! Wake up!"
Obius stirred groggily. "Hmm...? What's wrong, Lena?"
"Dad... I saw Mom tonight. She's back. She... she's a vampire."
Obius's eyes snapped open in shock.