Inside the carriage, Fars was contemplating how to reveal his true identity to Lilith. Ever since she had seen his face last night, he felt reluctant to keep hiding behind his large hat when it was just him, Yuna, and Lilith, along with Danis. Occasionally, Lilith would sneak glances at him, but after Yuna teased her a few times, she obediently buried herself in her book.
Some things were better said before deep feelings developed. Fars felt that his bond with Lilith was still quite shallow, and he feared that as time passed, he wouldn't have the heart to shatter her illusions.
Fars tried to maintain a cold demeanor, his expression serious as he addressed Lilith. "Lilith, put the book down for a moment. I need to talk to you about something important."
Seeing her teacher's serious expression, Lilith replied obediently, "Yes, Master. What do you want to tell me? Did I do something wrong?" As she spoke, her voice trailed off, and she couldn't help but think about whether he had discovered her peeking at him and Yuna last night.
"My real name is Fars de Hill, not the alias Perugino you knew at your home."
At this point, Fars paused deliberately, watching for Lilith's reaction.
It seemed that the revelation of his name didn't affect her much. The young girl simply asked, "Is there a reason you couldn't reveal your true name before? Don't worry, I understand. But how will my parents find me now?"
"Unless there's a special opportunity in the future, your parents will never see you again. Because… because I am not human. I am of the bloodline. And while you are indeed my disciple, you, like me, will only exist in darkness, forever severed from the world of light." Fars felt no need to continue deceiving Lilith and spoke candidly, hoping she could handle the truth.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Lilith burst into tears, leaning back against the carriage in an attempt to distance herself from Fars. Yuna stepped forward and embraced her, softly comforting her. "Don't be afraid, Lilith. Your teacher won't harm you. Even though he is of the bloodline, he cares for you, doesn't he?"
After all, she was still a child. Lilith continued to cry until lunchtime, and the three of them decided to stay in the carriage, waiting for the wealthy merchant family ahead to finish their meal before continuing their journey to Ironwood City. They still had less than two days of travel ahead, and Fars hoped Lilith's emotions would stabilize during this time.
As Lilith's sobs gradually subsided, she still found it hard to believe that her teacher, who had brought her out of her home, could be a terrifying vampire. Unable to contain herself, she asked Fars again, "Are you really a vampire?"
To prove his identity and extinguish the last glimmer of hope in her heart, Fars revealed his fangs and wings. The carriage was too cramped for him to fully spread his wings, so he folded them and showed Lilith a glimpse before retracting them.
This time, Lilith didn't cry; instead, she feigned strength and asked, "Then what was your purpose in…" She had intended to ask why he had deceived her, but the sight of his fangs frightened her into silence.
Understanding her unspoken question, Fars answered honestly, "Your scent intoxicates me. I want to possess you forever, to savor your blood whenever I wish."
"Of course, you are my disciple, and that relationship won't change. I will teach you diligently, and when the day comes that you can escape me, I will let you go." Realizing that his previous words might not help stabilize Lilith's emotions, Fars made this his first attempt to comfort her since the morning.
This seemed to ignite a flicker of hope within Lilith. Just as her illusions had been shattered, Fars's words offered her a small measure of solace. How could someone who only saw darkness and despair find the courage to live?
Lilith then turned to Yuna and asked, "Are you a vampire too, sister?"
Yuna smiled, stroking Lilith's soft hair. "I'm not a fierce vampire like him. I'm from the Ventusian clan." Taking the opportunity to comfort Lilith, Yuna shot a playful glare at Fars. He understood that it was best to let Yuna handle this, as long as she could comfort Lilith and help her feel a bit better.
"Then why did you choose to follow him? Were you deceived like me?" Lilith's mood lightened slightly, and after pondering how to address Fars, she ultimately called him "teacher" again.
"Yes, he tricked me into following him, and he doesn't treat me well either; he bullies me. Unlike you, Lilith, who has become his disciple and is cherished. I'm quite envious of you!" Yuna took the chance to criticize Fars while ensuring Lilith felt a bit fortunate.
Lilith buried her head deeper into Yuna's embrace and couldn't help but cry again. As she wept, she eventually fell asleep. After casting a calming spell on her, Fars turned to Yuna and said, "Please take good care of Lilith during this time. You know my temperament; I'm not good at handling such matters."
"Heh, you know you're too direct. You really shouldn't be so harsh on a little girl. Be careful; I might just keep talking bad about you," Yuna replied, holding Lilith close, feeling a bit conflicted. She had come to understand Fars's character and knew he wasn't as brutal as the rumors suggested. He wasn't even cold-hearted; his concern for her was evident. Otherwise, he wouldn't have impulsively gotten involved with her.
"If it helps you vent your frustrations, I'll endure it for now. Yuna, do you think I'm too unlike a vampire?" Fars mused.
Yuna blinked playfully and said, "You're not like a vampire at all; you're just a big lecher!"
"Do you want me to show you just how lecherous I can be right now?"
"Alright, alright! I'm scared of you, great master."
"Now that's more like it. I'll deal with you tonight."
After a long while, Lilith finally stirred awake. After her nap, she appeared much better, though she still felt a bit unreal, as if everything that had happened before was just a dream.
The sky outside was darkening, and Fars instructed the driver to inform the wealthy employer ahead to find a nearby place to stop for the night. He then sent Yuna out to set up the tent, leaving just Lilith and Fars in the carriage. Fars spoke first, "This world is filled with cruelty. You need to learn to be strong. You can hate me all you want, but one day, when you're strong enough, you can crucify me."
Lilith nodded, somewhat understanding, but Fars didn't pry into her thoughts. Having died once, he could continue his dreams and pursuits as a vampire in this land; what more could he ask for?
"Let's get off and have dinner. Remember not to reveal my identity to that family; it would only bring them harm. Understand?"
Lilith nodded again, somewhat numbly following Fars out of the carriage.
When Yuna saw Lilith coming down, she abandoned the half-erected tent and rushed to her side. Fars instinctively took over her task, allowing the two women a moment to share whispers.
Dinner was uneventful. After sending the wealthy family on their way, the three of them returned to the tent in silence. Fars didn't plan to go hunting tonight; it would be difficult to find anyone in the wilderness. Fortunately, after feasting last night, he could go a few days without food.
The oppressive atmosphere was finally broken by Lilith, who, with a voice filled with determination, shouted at Fars, "Don't worry! I will live on and one day, I will escape from you!"
After saying this, it seemed she had exhausted all her energy and collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, Yuna caught her just in time. Lilith buried her face in Yuna's arms, crying, "Sister, I want to go home! I miss my parents. Wuwu…"
Well, this was fine. Fars chose not to respond to Lilith, as long as she was willing to live on. Would there really come a day when he would watch her walk away?
Taking out a bottle of wine, he filled his cup and stepped outside the tent, drinking deeply under the new moon of Yashia. It was hard for people to understand the beings that walked in darkness; they were all life, yet marked by different imprints. Similarly, once one's heart was filled with darkness, how could they continue to feel the warmth of the world? Fars began to fear that one day he might truly become cold-blooded, knowing only the brutal thirst for blood. What would it mean to abandon his humanity and become a vampire?
Forget it. Keeping Lilith by his side could be considered a form of training.
As he drank until he felt numb, Fars tossed the cup aside, not caring whether it startled anyone. He spread his wings and soared freely through the night sky.
Initially, Fars thought he was alone in the wilderness, but a pair of eyes watched the dark figure circling in the sky, exclaiming after a while, "I never expected his true identity to be a vampire."