The evening sun cast a warm, golden glow across the sprawling campus of Valewood Academy, the shadows stretching long as the day drew to a close. Inside one of the grand dormitories reserved for the academy's elite, two girls sat in a room that was both spacious and elegant, with large windows offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding forest. The room belonged to Asiha Valeria, the third princess of the vampire royal family, and her close friend, Alya.
Asiha sat on the edge of her bed, her long, raven-pink hair cascading over her shoulders as she stared out the window, lost in thought. The events of the day—the fight in the canteen, the practical magic class—had left her feeling restless. Despite being a princess, she often found herself overshadowed by her older sisters, who had already secured their places within the royal hierarchy. Unlike them, Asiha hadn't yet been granted many of the royal benefits that came with her status, something that weighed heavily on her mind.
Alya, sitting cross-legged on the floor, flipping through a notebook filled with magical theory notes and sketches, noticed Asiha's silence. Alya, with her auburn hair and mischievous eyes, was not of royal or noble blood, but her sharp wit and fierce loyalty had earned her a place by Asiha's side. The two had been friends since childhood, despite the differences in their social standings.
"What's on your mind, Asiha?" Alya asked, her tone light but with a hint of concern. "You've been staring out that window for the past ten minutes. Something bothering you?"
Asiha sighed, finally turning her gaze away from the window. "It's just... frustrating, you know? I'm the third princess, but I'm still treated like a child. I haven't been given many of the royal benefits that my sisters have. It's like they don't trust me to handle the responsibilities that come with our bloodline."
Alya frowned, setting her notebook aside. "That's ridiculous. You're every bit as capable as they are—more so, even. You've got the potential to be a powerful leader, but they keep holding you back."
Asiha nodded, her expression darkening. "I know. And that's why I've been thinking... it's time I took matters into my own hands."
Alya raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you mean?"
Asiha hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice low and serious. "I want to perform the Blood Ascension Ritual."
At the mention of the ritual, Alya's eyes widened in surprise. The Blood Ascension Ritual was an ancient and powerful ceremony that allowed members of the vampire royal family to unlock their full potential, gaining access to immense power and abilities. It was a rite of passage that marked the transition from a royal child to a true heir, but it was also dangerous and fraught with risk.
"Asiha, are you sure about this?" Alya asked cautiously. "The Blood Ascension Ritual isn't something to take lightly. It's not just a simple power-up—it could change everything. And it's dangerous."
"I know," Asiha replied, her voice firm. "But I can't keep waiting for the council or my family to decide I'm ready. I need to prove myself. If I complete the ritual, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge my strength and my right to rule."
Alya bit her lip, clearly torn. On one hand, she understood Asiha's desire to prove herself and take control of her destiny. On the other hand, the ritual was risky, and the consequences of failure could be severe.
"Asiha, I'm not saying you shouldn't do it," Alya began slowly, "but we need to be careful. The ritual is ancient and complex. If something goes wrong..."
Asiha placed a hand on Alya's shoulder, her expression softening. "I know the risks, Alya. But I need to do this. And I need your help."
Alya looked into Asiha's eyes, seeing the determination there. She knew there was no talking Asiha out of it—once her friend had made up her mind, there was no turning back.
"Alright," Alya said with a sigh, finally giving in. "I'll help you. But we need to make sure we do this right. No shortcuts, no mistakes."
Asiha smiled, relief washing over her. "Thank you, Alya. I knew I could count on you."
The two girls spent the next hour preparing for the ritual, gathering the necessary components and setting up the magic circle in the center of the room. The circle, inscribed with ancient runes and symbols, glowed faintly as the preparations neared completion. It was a complex array, designed to channel the raw power of the vampire bloodline and unlock the dormant abilities within Asiha.
Alya double-checked the symbols in her notebook, making sure everything was in place. "Okay, I think we're ready. You know what to do, right?"
Asiha nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. I focus on the center of the circle and let the magic flow through me. It's supposed to be a natural process, one that connects me to the power of my ancestors."
Alya nodded, but there was still a hint of unease in her eyes. "Just be careful, Asiha. I'll be here to monitor everything, but you're the one who has to go through with it."
Asiha stepped into the center of the circle, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She closed her eyes, focusing on the runes beneath her feet and the ancient power that they represented. The room seemed to grow colder as the magic began to stir, the air thick with energy.
Alya stood at the edge of the circle, her notebook open and her eyes scanning the symbols. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but there was always an underlying tension in rituals like this—one mistake could have disastrous consequences.
As Asiha concentrated, the runes on the floor began to glow brighter, pulsing with energy that resonated with the power of the vampire bloodline. The room was filled with a low hum, the sound of ancient magic awakening.
But just as the ritual reached its peak, something unexpected happened. As Alya adjusted her notebook, a single strand of hair—Yukio's hair, which had somehow gotten stuck in the pages earlier that day—fell out and drifted into the magic circle. The hair landed in the center, unnoticed by either girl as they were both focused on the ritual.
The instant Yukio's hair touched the glowing runes, the magic circle flared with a blinding light. Asiha's eyes snapped open in shock as she felt the energy around her shift violently. What had been a controlled flow of power suddenly became chaotic, the ancient magic twisting and turning in ways that neither of them had anticipated.
"Asiha!" Alya shouted, panic rising in her voice as she saw the circle's glow change from a soft red to a deep, menacing crimson.
"I don't know!" Asiha cried out, trying to regain control, but the magic was no longer responding to her commands. The energy swirled around her, growing more intense with each passing second.
Alya frantically searched through her notebook, trying to find an explanation for what was happening. But before she could do anything, the circle pulsed one final time, and the magic surged toward Asiha, enveloping her in a blinding flash of light.
When the light faded, the room fell silent. The magic circle had stopped glowing, the runes now dark and lifeless. Asiha stood in the center, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to process what had just happened.
Alya rushed to her side, her eyes wide with fear. "Asiha! Are you okay? What happened?"
Asiha blinked, trying to clear her vision. She could still feel the remnants of the magic coursing through her, but something was different—something felt... wrong.
"I don't know," Asiha whispered, her voice shaky. "Something went wrong. This isn't what was supposed to happen."
Alya looked around the room, her heart racing. "We need to figure out what went wrong. Maybe we can reverse it—"
But before she could finish, Asiha suddenly felt a strange pull, a connection forming in her mind that hadn't been there before. It was as if a thread had been woven into her consciousness, linking her to something—or someone—else.
Alya noticed the change in Asiha's expression and grabbed her friend's arm. "Asiha, what is it? What's happening?"
Asiha closed her eyes, trying to focus on the connection. It felt distant, but she could sense it growing stronger, pulling her toward... someone.
"Yukio," Asiha whispered, her eyes snapping open in realization. "It's Yukio. The ritual—it wasn't the Blood Ascension Ritual. It turned into... the Enslavement Ritual."
Alya's eyes widened in horror as the gravity of the situation sank in. "What? How? That's impossible! The Enslavement Ritual is ancient, forbidden magic. It hasn't been performed in centuries!"
"But it did," Asiha said, her voice trembling. "I can feel it. I'm connected to him now. We're bound."
The two girls stood in stunned silence, the weight of their mistake crashing down on them. What was meant to be a simple ritual to unlock Asiha's power had turned into something far more dangerous and irreversible.
"We need to find him," Alya said urgently. "We need to figure out what to do before anyone else finds out."
Asiha nodded, still in shock. "But what if... what if we can't reverse it?"
Alya took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Then we'll have to figure out how to live with the consequences. But for now, we need to find Yukio and keep this a secret. If anyone finds out what we've done..."
Asiha didn't need her friend to finish the sentence. She knew all too well what would happen if word got out. The consequences would be dire, not just for her, but for Yukio as well. They had unleashed something ancient and powerful—something that could not be easily undone.
With a shared look of determination, the two girls set out to find Yukio, knowing that their actions had just set them on a path filled with uncertainty and danger. The ritual may have gone horribly wrong, but they were determined to fix it—or at least keep it from destroying everything they held dear.