She got up from the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor as she began to explore the room. Her gaze drifted across the elegant yet unfamiliar space, until it finally landed on a large, ornate mirror standing in the corner.
Drawn to it, she slowly approached and gently placed her hand on the glass.
"Who… is this beauty?" she whispered, almost in disbelief.
The reflection staring back at her was breathtaking—silver and red strands cascading over delicate shoulders, radiant sky-blue eyes gleaming with an almost otherworldly clarity. Her skin glowed faintly, and there was an elegance to her features that didn't feel entirely human.
As she stared, a stray bang fluttered across her forehead, catching her attention.
She reached up, brushing it aside, but then froze. Her eyes widened as she touched her own face—her cheekbones, her lips, her skin. Everything felt... different.
She parted her lips slightly—and gasped.
Fangs.
Long, sharp, unmistakable fangs.
Shock surged through her, vivid and cold.
"The girl who… bit me," she murmured, the memory striking her like lightning.
"I need to check my memories. Maybe I can find something about this..."
But as she focused, brows furrowed in concentration, a strange emptiness greeted her. It was like trying to read a book with pages missing.
"Huh? Why... why am I even looking into my memories for this?" she muttered, confused.
She turned away from the mirror, slowly walking back to the bed. Sitting down, she buried her face in her hands.
"Why do I feel like… something's missing? Something important…"
As the thought crossed her mind, a soft chime echoed in the room—and a translucent screen suddenly materialized before her.
[Bloodline Change Chance – USED]
[After activation, the host's bloodline has been altered.The host now has the ability to change her species according to her desire one time.
Mental resistance granted.Host is now immune to bloodline-related memory interference.]
Her eyes widened as she stared at the glowing text floating in the air.
"What... is this?"
A realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.
Her body trembled as her eyes widened, breath catching in her throat. She murmured in disbelief,
"D-Does this mean… I've become one of those blood-sucking creatures?"Her voice cracked with fear. "And worse… what if my parents don't recognize me anymore?"
Thoughts spiraled out of control as panic set in—but before she could dive deeper into her racing mind, the door creaked open.
Zara's head snapped toward the entrance.
A familiar figure stepped in.
It was the silver-haired woman from earlier.
Zara instinctively tilted her head, still wary but curious.
"Who are you, miss?" she asked cautiously.
Lilith flopped lazily onto the velvet sofa opposite her, arms and legs draped over it like a lounging koala. She raised an amused eyebrow as she looked Zara up and down.
"Well, I'm Lilith—one of the seven Viscounts of the Vampire Realm. You're currently in Crimsonveil Clan territory," she said with a smirk. "Tell me, did some high-class dhampirs attack you or something?"
Zara blinked in confusion, her brows knitting tighter with each word.
"Crimsonveil… Clan? From what I know, no empire or kingdom by that name exists…"
Lilith suddenly sat up straight, her eyes sparkling with realization.
"Wait a second… You're not from this realm, are you?" she said, voice rising with excitement. "You don't even know the name of one of the most powerful vampire clans in existence?"
A playful grin curled across her lips as she began rubbing her hands together, clearly amused.
"Wow... This is a first. A high-class vampire who hasn't even stepped foot in the Vampire Realm?"
Zara quickly shook her head, ready to deny everything on instinct—But she froze midway.
Wait... what if I tell her I'm human and not a vampire?What if she decides to suck my blood on the spot?Her heart pounded. I need to be careful. Very careful.
She lowered her gaze, masking her emotions behind a neutral expression.
Meanwhile, Lilith had been watching her the entire time. The momentary hesitation didn't escape her.
A knowing smile tugged at her lips, her silver eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Well... I suppose that's your little secret," she said, crossing one leg over the other. "But judging from your face, I'd bet you don't even know your own abilities yet."
Lilith leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.
"From your aura alone, I can tell you're not suppressing it on purpose. Which means... either you're new to this, or someone's messed with your awakening."
Her tone wasn't accusing—if anything, it was teasing. But beneath her playful exterior, there was a sharpness in her gaze, as if she could see through every layer of Zara's soul.
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Elarion World – Gorvana Continent
In the heart of the capital, deep within the towering spires of the Arcane Academy, the principal's office was unusually tense.
Elric sat on the edge of his seat, brows furrowed, fingers tapping restlessly against the polished desk. The atmosphere was heavy, his gaze fixed on the door.
Then, it opened.
Elric stood up immediately. "Ishara, things are getting out of control."
Ishara, clad in flowing silver robes, arched an elegant eyebrow as she entered. With measured grace, she took a seat on the velvet sofa opposite him. Her tone was calm, but edged with curiosity.
"Elric, what do you mean? And why summon me like it's an emergency?"
Elric didn't hesitate.
"Ishara… the Demon Lord has escaped. When I returned to check the seal—it was shattered."
Ishara jolted upright, all composure gone in an instant. "What did you just say? He escaped?!"
Elric's jaw clenched as he shook his head.
"I don't know when it happened. I was away- in the Vampire Realm. When I returned... the seal was completely destroyed."
He looked at her, his voice low with dread.
"What if they succeeded in reviving him? And worse… what if the ancient records were true—what if the Demon King really does exist, one even stronger than the Demon Lords?"
A heavy silence followed.
Ishara's gaze turned distant, lost in thought.
But after a long pause, she spoke—firm, unwavering.
"Don't panic yet. His powers wouldn't have returned so soon. It could take years for him to recover fully. In the meantime... we'll strengthen the Saints. Train them harder than ever before."
Elric finally exhaled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders.
"Yeah... you're right. We still have time. We have to believe that."
Ishara turned her gaze back to Elric, her expression now little bit lighthearted.
"Did you learn anything more about the vampires?" she asked quietly, her fingers tapping against the armrest.
Elric let out a sigh and shook his head slowly. "No... but what I did witness was enough to concern me."
He paused, his eyes darkening.
"The Vampire Progenitor… he's far stronger than we ever anticipated. I couldn't even sense his mana. It was like staring into a void—no fluctuation, no aura, nothing. That kind of control... it's not natural."
Ishara's brows furrowed in concern. "So, what exactly happened there?"