types qw

Power

Chapter Text

The next day, Juny went down to meet with Ellone and Dager.

Today was Monday in mid February.

Yesterday, after leaving the bar, Juny used a Spell Scroll she had made using a Beyonder characteristic from the Door Pathway.

She paid a visit to the Briber Shake and the Student of Ratiocination Kein.

Shake has successfully taken over another underground market.

This made him the boss of over 6 different underground markets in the city, which were also all the black markets present in the Inizio city.

Not too long ago, Juny learned of a very strange thing.

She has long known about the Emperor Roselle, but noone has ever informed her about a certain notebook he had written.

Juny showed her interest for it and, just yesterday, she purchased 15 whole pages with mare 100 risot.

It was technically a normal price for something which held no importance.

After all, noone could read it.

She hasn't looked at the pages yet, as her conversation with Kein was slightly prolonged that night.

Kein and Juny often discussed information and exchanged knowledge.

Someone like Kein, who was very interested in intelligence in all areas, was very impressed by Juny's broad range of knowledge and understandings.

If Kein had a question Juny didn't know the answer for, she would later search for it in the large library in Dimensional Space and give him an answer the upcoming week.

Juny sat down at the table and looked down at her breakfast.

"You know Dager, I truly respect you."

As soon as she said that, she saw him smirk.

"You know, you say this only when eating my cooking."

Juny returned the smile.

"That is because it's true only when it comes to cooking."

Dager froze while Ellone laughed.

Ellone didn't need to eat, but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy the taste.

Ellone was actually quite peculiar about her blood.

When given the choice between man and woman, she chooses woman.

And when given the option of young or old, she chooses young.

Naturally, Juny was her exact type.

'If it didn't concern my blood, it would be really flattering.'

The fact that her blood was filled with large amount of spirituality made it even better.

'Being a luxurious snack for all Vampires to enjoy sounds terrifying...'

Of course, even with these thoughts, Juny didn't mind giving Ellone her blood.

She always had a way to sever the connection between the blood and herself.

And if she separated the blood in the Dimensional Space, there would be another thick layer separating her from the blood.

Juny was also someone who cut her hand and wrist open every once in a while to make Enchantments.

So the blood really wasn't a big deal.

One time, after Ellone mixed Juny's blood into her drink, Dager ended up with an indigestion, so Ellone promised to keep the blood away from the food.

In the middle of the meal, Dager suddenly spoke up.

"My friend want's to join our gang."

"Pftt!"

Ellone spit out her tea while Juny stared at Dager motionlessly.

She slowly finished chewing and looked around.

As if she realized something, she quickly looked back at Dager.

'I was subconsciously looking for any hidden cameras...'

Juny swallowed and put down her utensils.

"A gang?"

Dager blinked and nodded.

"A gang."

Juny leaned back into the creaking chair.

"What gang?"

Eloone also looked at Dager with perplexed expression.

Dager locked eyes and spoke with a serious face.

"Our gang."

Ellone wiped her mouth.

"Dager, Brother, dear. We don't have... a gang."

Dager slowly nodded.

"Yea. Not yet."

Juny waited for him to continue.

"Well, he pointed out, that since we are a group which has power over the underground markets and are well known in many bars while also fighting against a gang, we are a gang."

He himself seemed confused at one point.

The three silently looked at each other.

"There are only six members."

Juny pointed out.

Dager nodded, his expression still pretty serious.

"Every gang starts somewhere."

Now even Ellone was staring at Juny with uncertainty.

Juny jumped across the two's faces and added.

"We can't be a gang. We don't even have a name. And- and..."

Ellone slowly finished her sentence.

"That would make you the boss."

Juny turned away and tapped her finger on the table.

She was now seriously considering that she might've unknowingly started a gang.

'I mean, my mom was the mentor of a bandit... did I really make a gang? Me, who's in the body of a ten year old?'

As she continued thinking, her face grew more twisted.

Seeing this, the two siblings also fell into a deep thought.

"So..."

Ellone finally broke the silence.

"Technically... if we really were a gang. Then, hypothetically, what would be the name?"

Silence descended again.

Dager touched his chin.

"Juny-"

"No!"

The two siblings looked at Juny.

Her face was bright red.

"Anything but that! No way!"

The two slowly nodded in understanding.

"Sure, nothing with real names."

Juny caressed her forehead in embarrassment.

"Do we really have to discuss this? I mean, we are not even a gang."

Seeing Juny's terrible state, Ellone carefully spoke.

"Juny... I myself hate to admit it, but..."

Dager nodded and finished the sentence.

"We absolutely are a gang."

Juny stopped holding her head and exhaled.

"Right, but a gang can still be nameless."

Dager shook his head.

"Even nameless gangs have a name in the end. It's usually just the name of the leader like Juny's gang-"

"Ughhh."

Juny groaned as if she was in real pain.

Her headache was slowly growing.

Ellone slowly smiled.

"If you don't like that name just come up with one."

Juny shot her a glare but only received an entertained smile.

"I don't know. I don't want to name a gang."

Dager shook his head.

"Just make something up, it's not like anyone's going to advertise it."

Juny looked at him suspiciously and then sluggishly covered her face.

'I've been insulting every name I come by but now it's time for me to make a name...'

Using all her knowledge, she slowly began to figure out the rules.

'Anything that's too long will sound bad no matter what. But something overly complex and nonsensical is even worse.'

'What should a name even be based on? Not based on me... the Lapis family, maybe? Or the starting six members? No, that doesn't work. Then the starting three? No way. That would just end up pointing to children.'

'Lapis, blue, ocean... nope. Feynapotter city is in the middle of land, it wouldn't make sense. Potions... fire. Flames? Black flames? Ugh, no. That's just cringe.'

'Maybe something a little less on the nose. Spaceless and black. Empty and fire. Dark fire? Dark... what about one word? Just Spaceless.. or just Sunless? No, not Sunless. Empty is too short. Huh... wait...'

'Empty - The Void Pathway... The Void? Is- is that too straight forward? Then abyss? Abyssal... flame...? That doesn't sound too bad, right? Flames from the Abyss? That's too long... can I just go with The Abyss?'

Juny carefully, and while filled with uncertainty, removed her palms from her face.

Her head felt hot.

She looked at the two sibling and asked.

"The Abyss?"

The two looked at her. Juny could tell that they were in thought.

Dager was the first to speak.

"That works? It's actually not bad."

Ellone nodded.

"Yea, it may be a bit too short but there's no fault with it."

Dager agreed.

"Yea, I certainly wouldn't laugh at it if I were to hear it."

The three looked at each other for a while

Juny then asked again.

"Isn't it a bit strange? Since the Abyss already exists?"

Dager shrugged.

"Then we can just add a word before it like The Empty Abyss."

Juny blinked before pointing out.

"Dager. Hate to break it to you, but abyss is another word for empty."

Dager blinked a few times.

"Really? I thought they were two different concepts."

Juny slowly looked up at the ceiling.

'I hate naming...'

This time it was Ellone who gave a proposition.

"How about adding something at the end? As in Abyssal - something."

Juny looked at her and asked.

"Like Aurora Order?"

Ellone froze and nodded.

"We're just using it as an example! It doesn't have to be an Order."

Juny groaned.

"Let's just go with Abyssal Troop! That's completely neutral."

Before the two could say anything, she stood up.

"Also, I have stuff to do!"

The two siblings watched her leave in silence.

"Troop?"

Ellone looked at her brother and explained.

"A troop is a group of hunters in a team, I think that's the definition."

Dager stayed silent for a second.

"Does that make the members a hunter?"

Ellone weighed her words for a second before answering.

"Not really? You see, troop doesn't necessarily mean a troop of hunters."

Dager frowned.

"I'm confused."

Ellone took a sip of her tea and continued.

"Well... okay, so a troop is like a group of people. But this group mostly moves together. It's not necessarily made out of hunters."

Dager guessed.

"So we can be hunters but also don't have to? And what would that make Juny? The leader."

Ellone shook her head.

"No. A leader of a troop is a Scoutmaster... I think."

Thinking for a second, Dager stood up.

"Let me ask Juny to draw a chart of a troop's hierarchy."

Feeling strange, Ellone questioned.

"Why?"

Dager flashed her a happy smile.

"So we can give out titles of course!"

Ellone slowly nodded.

"Sure, but let's not tell Juny right away."

Not asking why, Dager hummed in understanding before standing up.

"Sure, I'll go to find something in a library. You get teleportation scroll from Juny so we can meet up with the rest."

Ellone watched his brother enthusiastically walk through the door.

"I wonder if Juny will get mad when she finds out..."

Shaking her head, Ellone finished her tea and got up.

...

Juny felt a bit strange after giving Ellone the six teleportation Scrolls, but she tried not to think too much of it.

Finally, Juny pulled out the stack of pages she brought not too long ago.

Looking at the pages, Juny slowly frowned.

'This is very similar to the old symbols... where was it from, Korea? No, maybe China. Or was it Japan? They all look the same to the illiterate me.'

Laughing at the similarities she went through the pages.

Although she couldn't understand them-

"What?"

Juny froze slightly.

'I can't read it? Why...'

Flinching, Juny looked closer at the symbols.

'Symbol's resembling those from earth... I can't read them even though I can read all languages.'

Slowly, Juny went over her knowledge about the Emperor.

'He invented many things and wrote many books... books?'

"No way."

Juny frowned and jumped up from her seat.

She knew that there probably wouldn't be much about Roselle inside the Dimensional Space's library, but she still decided to try.

Scanning through the historical records, she finally found the correct year: the twelfth century.

Juny grabbed all the books she could find and returned to her desk.

Soon, she began skimming through and found the correct name: Emperor Roselle Gustav.

Immediately, she skipped to inventions.

'Steam engine, Improved sailing boat, Tall chef's hat, medicine, newspaper, greenhouse, condom... the safe sea routes, company shares, sewer system, paper boys...'

Her eyes were wide as she slowly smiled.

'Tarot cards, origami, gambling... the words: informant, prototype, Venus, pharaoh, mummy...'

Swiping through them Juny slowly stopped at the literature.

'... Romeo and Juliet? The poems...'

Juny let out an exasperated laugh.

"This guy is the Emperor of plagiarism!"

Juny held her forehead and laughed.

There was no mistake, this guy was a transmigrator like her.

It's just that he was here a bit earlier.

"Too bad I can't read it."

Heaving a sigh, Juny learned a bit more about the man's history as well as his death.

Slowly, she stood up and stretched.

'Well that was productive.'

'Also, the Lapis family had quite a few notebook pages as well. I guess I just never really had a reason to cared for them.'

With a realization, Juny placed the 15 pages she bought into the Dimensional Space.

'That guy lived for a long time, but it seems like he never really made it back home...'

With a deep sigh, Juny walked out.

...

"..."

"So, why are we here?"

Shake couldn't help but speak up.

Ellone looked at him before back at Dager.

Understanding his sister, Dager began the explanation.

"Okay so, this morning, we came to a realization that we are very much like a gang or a secret organization."

Everyone was quiet, but noone objected.

"And so, I brought it up and Juny gave us a name."

"Wait."

Shake stopped him with a shocked look.

"She gave you a name? Just like that."

The two siblings locked eyes and shook their heads.

"No way."

"It took a lot of effort to persuade her."

Seeing everyone nod, Dager continued.

"So, after a long thought and her face turning red, Juny finally came up with a name."

The five people present shared looks.

"And?"

Airina couldn't help but pry.

She has sneaked out using the teleportation Scroll.

This time, Ellone spoke up.

"Abyssal Troop."

"..."

Kein broke the short silence.

"Like a military troop?"

Dager shook his head.

"No, more like a troop of hunters."

Shake acknowledged.

"That is not a terrible name. But why are we here? Juny could've just told us later this week."

The other four looked at him.

Soon, he corrected himself.

"I get it, she probably would've kept shut."

Ellone nodded.

"That's why we're here. To give out roles and titles."

The group went quiet again.

"Won't she be mad?"

Kein, who spent a long time conversing with her, asked.

Shake immediately answered.

"She will, but if we do it, she probably won't end up rejecting it. Although she will not be happy about it."

Airina thought for a moment.

"She's like a mother. She tells us not to cook anything, and when we do it she's mad, but she eats it anyway."

The theory wasn't wrong, but something felt off about it.

Shake, the oldest, slowly asked.

"You mean that we are like her kids?"

Hearing it like that, Airina frowned.

"That doesn't seem right."

Dager quickly shook off the strange feeling and got back on topic.

"Anyway! We made a chart of people in a troop! We thought of calling normal members hunters and the rest by their titles."

The group, except for Ellene, looked him up and down.

Kein couldn't help but point out.

"We are still only five though? Six if we count Juny."

Ellone nodded.

"That's right, it makes it easy to choose!"

The remaining group exchanged looks but ended up shrugging.

"Sure."

"That sounds fine."

"Let's do it."

After a while of bickering and choosing the discussion came to an end.

"Ehm! So..."

Looking around, Dager concluded.

"Me and Ellone are the Assistant Scoutmasters. Shake is a Senior Patrol Leader. Airina is the Troop Guide. And Kein is the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader as well as the Librarian."

Seeing everyone nod, he was about to end it when Ellone spoke up.

"What title does Darmine get?"

Everyone, even Dager looked at her strangely.

Slowly, Dager came to a realization.

"You mean the cat?"

Ellone frowned.

"Darmine is not just a cat! She's a Sequence 9 Beyonder and is even able to speak!"

"She will also be able to advance soon!"

The rest exchanged glances.

Kein slowly but sternly asked.

"You gave a potion... to a cat?"

Ellone nodded.

"That's right."

"You can do that?"

Kein asked again, perplexed.

Ellone nodded.

"Apparently. When I asked Juny, I was just joking, but she seriously researched it. And it ended up to be possible!"

At this point, everyone just chose to accept it and seriously thought over the question.

"Maybe she can go directly under you without getting a title?"

Airina shared her opinion.

Ellone thought but then shook her head.want to have humans or Vampires under me, not animals."

Nodding in understanding, Kein offered.

"So how about Scout Patrol Leader? Or Den Chief?"

Ellone thought it over for a second and then said seriously.

"I'll ask her when I get back."

Seeing everyone nod, the meeting came to an end.

As they used Scrolls to teleport away, noone noticed the figure which was observing them the entire time.

'This Isolation Enchantment is really good.'

...

Sipping her water, Juny chatted with the other guys in the bar.

Everyone found it awkward at first, but soon, they started to completely ignore her age.

Juny was someone who never got drunk while also had the strength to stop any drunkards from going feral.

This meant that she was quite favored by the bartenders.

"Hey, Juny?"

Hearing the bartender call her name, Juny turned to him.

"Yea?"

The bartender whipped his head to the backroom.

"Degster is looking for you."

Juny nodded before feeling strange.

Degster was a man with quite the strong connections in the underground.

'He is also a Sequence 7 Interrogator.'

Even if he gets some information for Juny, he always sends Natia to get her.

'Natia is a Beyonder of the Mother Pathway. Sequence 8 Doctor.'

Degster has never called for her through the bartender before.

Not to mention, the place where they were currently meeting at was also suspicious.

With a light frown, Juny slightly stirred her spirituality and opened the door.

She saw the slightly taller man with a tidy beard and short brown hair.

He had slightly greenish eyes.

From what Juny guessed, Degster was about 30 years old.

She didn't walk far inside, she instead closed the door and Enchanted the room with Isolation.

Everything inside the room was now Isolated, noone will be able to intervene no matter what happens.

Meaning no ambushes.

As if feeling that something was off, Degster looked up at the wary girl by the door and smiled.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Juny kept by the door and returned the smile.

"I was considering it."

Degster nodded and started speaking.

"I learned quite a bit about that organization you're looking for."

Juny frowned slightly. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something wrong with that sentence.

She slowly looked around, noone.

'Natia is not here... why?'

"..."

Seeing Juny not saying anything, Degster continued.

"As you guessed, they are not very large scale, but they have quite a few Sequence 8s."

Juny gave him a nod as if she had expected it.

"They are led by a Sequence 4 Demigod of the Moon Pathway."

Once again, Juny acknowledged with a nod.

She has guessed that a long time ago. She just wasn't sure about the exact Pathway.

Degster observed her for a short moment and continued.

"They're also known to have two Sequence 5s."

'Only two?'

Juny tried hard to not raise her eyebrows.

'I guess it kinda makes sense?'

Seeing the girl not raising any questions he explained deeper.

"One is guaranteed to be of the Apothecary Pathway and the other is unknown."

'Sure, okay.'

Out of nowhere, Juny saw Degster sigh.

This was very rare.

So rare, in fact, that she has never seen it before.

This time, Juny naturally raised her eyebrows.

She once again scanned the room.

'No Natia... Degster's arm is slashed. Infection?'

Juny slowly frowned.

"Why did you call me?"

Degster looked at her before slowly standing up.

His right arm and his left leg were covered in bandages.

'Fight?'

Thinking for a moment Juny finally asked.

"You fought them?"

Degster nodded.

"That's right."

Juny rested her hand on her waist.

"Why?"

'Sure, you are quite well known in the underground, but you're still only a Sequence 7.'

She watched as Degster shook his head.

"This had nothing to do with the investigation for you."

Juny flinched and subconsciously removed her hand.

Seeing Juny not interrupting, Degster explained.

"They tried to take over my turf."

Juny's eyes widened before turning into a frown.

She slowly began tapping her thigh with her finger.

Soon, she closed her eyes and forced it.

"Where's Natia?"

Degster immediately answered.

"She's alive, but not well."

Juny looked at him strangely.

'A Doctor is unwell?'

"Harvest Priest? Or higher?"

The only thing Juny could come up with was the influence from a higher Sequence.

Degster nodded.

"They send a Harvest Priest and a Scarlet Scholar."

'Isn't that too extreme?'

Juny allowed her surprise to show, but quickly calmed down.

'Degster is not simple? He managed to escape.'

Exhaling, Juny repeated her unanswered question.

"Why did you call me?"

She saw Degster check her out before explaining.

"I have a debt to repay and you also want them to die."

Juny nodded at his reasoning.

"They're going to come back for you."

Degster gave her a nod.

"That's not something I can avoid."

Juny couldn't help but show a smirk.

"You want to be a bait?"

Instead of flinching or furrowing his brows, Degster also smiled.

"That's right."

Juny hummed lightly.

She took out two Enchanted papers.

They both had the same symbol: Recovery.

She took a step closer and handed Degster one of the papers.

"Infuse it with spirituality."

Degster made an uncertain expression.

Juny looked up at him.

"It's healing, I won't explain more."

With a slight suspicion, Degster watched as the symbol shone with red light.

He could see the symbol disperse and then merge into his hand.

Immediately, all his strain disappeared and his half-closed wounds recovered.

His expression slowly changed to that of a surprise.

Juny simply smiled and gave him the second paper.

"Give it to Natia. I still have people to talk to, let's meet later."

Degster nodded.

"Third empty warehouse."

Juny nodded and destroyed the Isolation Enchantment she placed on the room.

As she left the bar, she couldn't help but wonder.

'This is moving faster than expected... Airina will be taking Sequence 7 potion tomorrow and Darmine will be advancing to Sequence 8.'

'Who knew a cat would need only 2 months to digest her potion?'

Heaving a sigh, Juny continued her inner mumbling.

'It's already March... Airina will be having her birthday soon, I guess that works out. I'm giving her a Potion as a gift.'

Slowly, Juny arrived before her house.

Stepping inside, she saw Darmine slouched on the couch and reading a book on human psychology.

'Why is that so freaky?'

Her lips twitched, but she kept quiet and greeted the cat with the tittle of a Scout Patrol Leader.

'Although I'm not supposed to know that.'

"Good evening, Darmine."

Darmine lifted her small head and looked at Juny.

"Hello Juny, how are you?"

Juny offered the cat a smile.

"Quite well, and you?"

She saw the cat's huge eyes scan her before turning back to her book.

"That's good then, I'm also well."

Juny nodded and walked by the cat.

Seeing that noone has taken the initiative, she began preparing dinner.

She didn't question where the two siblings were, if they didn't arrive, she would just store the food for later.

Soon, Ellone walked through the door and also greeted Darmine.

Not long after they began eating, Dager walked through the door.

His clothes were torn up and there were some blood stains, but he was unharmed.

It was obvious he had the Enchantment Recovery to thank for that.

"What did you do this time?"

Juny asked with a frown.

Dager flinched before sitting down by the table and explaining.

"I was acting and got into a fight with some Beyonder and his gang."

Juny couldn't help but caress her forehead.

"You fought a whole gang?"

Dager shook but ended up nodding.

"Yea... but I ended up recruiting a bunch of guys!"

Juny slowly closed her eyes before asking in a painful voice.

"Recruit them into what?"

Dager flashed a smile.

"Our gang of course."

"Pfft! Ha!"

Juny glared at Ellone who was currently hunched over as if she was in pain.

Juny looked back at Dager and clarified.

"I'm not giving them any potions."

Seeing Dager nod she exhaled.

'What has gotten to him...'

"Anyway, there's information about the... organization."

Juny has long stopped saying the stupid name, she just couldn't say it with a straight face.

The two siblings and a cat gave her their full attention.

Juny retold the information she got from Degster as well as the plan to cooperate.

"I plan to tell Airina tomorrow."

Dager nodded.

"I will finish my digestion in like two months so I don't think we should wait. It's too long."

Ellone nodded before changing the subject.

"Juny, could you give me more Recovery notes? Or those plates Engraved with Recovery?"

Juny immediately frowned.

"There are that many patients?"

Ellone nodded.

"Yes, we are having hard time keeping up, if not for the Enchantments, many would have long died."

Juny sighed and couldn't help but remind.

"My charms return the body to its best state in the last two days, but it cannot heal diseases. The Enchantment can only postpone it by two days each time."

Ellone acknowledged.

"I know, but we really need as much extra time as we can."

Juny kept silent for a while.

"I'll make you some specialized Spell Scrolls."

Ellone brightened up.

"Thank you."

Juny nodded and got back to her food.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw two bright yellow eyes observing her.

Soon, Juny left the table and returned to her room.

'This is not good...'

Juny watched the small scales on her palm slowly receding.

'Am I really starting to show signs of losing control?'

Juny sighed in exasperation.

"Life is so hard."

With that, she stepped into the Dimensional Space.

...

"Ugh.."

Hearing the groan that almost didn't sound like her own, Juny quickly gulped down another spiritual recovery medicine.

She had a headache, but what was worse was the fact that her skin began to show cracks.

'Thank the gods I'm done. Otherwise, I might really lose control.'

Sighing, she slowly lifted the large amount of Enchantments and Runes.

'Too bad the Recovery Enchantment can't replenish spirituality.'

Although her days seemed very leisurely, it was mostly because of her lack of rest and the constant draining of her spirituality.

She just didn't have the energy to be productive.

Juny has been creating Sorcery Runes, Spell Scrolls and Enchantments every night for almost twelve days straight.

And although it boosted her digestion to the extreme, she started to get extremely exhausted. Both physically and mentally.

'At this rate, I might actually die before I digest the potion...'

Leaving the Dimensional Space, she slumped down into the chair inside her study.

'I can get like 3 hours of sleep before having to get up again...'

With a groan, Juny got back up and crawled into bed.

"Life is so hard."

...

Soon enough, like clockwork, Juny's eyes opened wide.

It was 7 o'clock and it was time to give the Enchantments to the two siblings.

Getting up, she couldn't help but yawn.

"I feel like I'm back in college."

Lifting the Enchantments and Spell Scrolls, Juny walked over to the living room.

She noticed Darmine sleeping on the couch.

Not saying hi to a sleeping cat, Juny gave the two siblings the Enchantments.

As she did so, she saw Darmine stand up and stretch.

Turning around, she gave her a greeting smile.

"Good morning."

Darmine checked her out but didn't return the greeting.

She slowly frowned.

Or if it was even possible for a cat to frown.

Well, Darmine narrowed her eyes nevertheless.

"You look tired."

Juny tried her best not to flinch.

"I'm always tired."

Darmine didn't answer.

Juny pulled a closed bottle with a Potion from her Pocket Dimension and poured it into a bowl.

She then turned to the two siblings.

"I'm going to pay a visit to Airina."

Ellone smiled.

"Say hi to her on my behalf."

"Sure."

Juny nodded before walking out of the house.

'The cat's too damn sharp.'

She thought before yawning into her hand.

...

Screams and pain filled moans sounded through the room.

Hurried footsteps stomped in all directions.

The boy watched the ceiling with a blurred sight.

The colors were all desaturated.

He coughed from time to time, but he had no strength left to lift his hand.

His head was filled with agony, but he still tilted it down.

'Blood.'

Scarlet blood could be seen covering the pure white sheets.

His vision soon blurred and he looked back at the ceiling.

He could feel tears on his face, but he had no way of wiping them.

He knew what was awaiting him.

He overheard the people who moved in a hurry discussing it.

'He won't survive for much longer.'

They said that yesterday when he was too tired to open his eyes.

They thought he was sleeping.

The boy was young, but he already knew what death was.

He came face to face with death many times before.

The boy didn't want to die, but that wasn't something he could decide.

He didn't even have a voice to speak with anymore.

Soon, a blurry figure appeared in his blurry sight.

Out of all the blurry figures, this one was his favorite.

He saw the figure move and wipe his cheeks with a soft cloth.

Upon seeing the figure, his vision quickly cleared.

It was a beautiful lady, one that visited him every day.

In his world, filled with pain and suffering, this lady was his favorite thing.

He watched the lady lift a strange scroll.

It looked ancient.

The lady often told him stories about magic and the supernatural.

She also introduced him to Mysticism and asked what he would want if he had the choice.

'Choice.'

That was something he never had.

It was something he wished for, and so he liked the beautiful lady that gave him a choice.

Even if it was only an illusory choice.

The lady ripped the scroll.

The boy watched the paper dissipate as if it was burning.

His logical reasoning told him that paper shouldn't do that when you rip it.

But... he wasn't very sure anymore. He couldn't remember when he last ripped a paper, if he ever did.

Strangely enough, he felt his blocked throat loosen and his vision turn clear.

He saw the beautiful lady's lips part as a melodic voice reached his ears.

"If you were given a choice between dying or living as someone who's not entirely human, which would you choose?"

The boy opened his mouth.

He felt that the voice he had long lost has return back to him.

"I-I... don't want to die."

He felt his eyes water again.

The lady nodded her head. Her beautiful golden hair gently swaying.

"I understand."

The boy was unsure what those words meant.

He suddenly watched his vision turn scarlet like the blood which covered his sheets.

The beautiful lady grew crimson wings.

In the boy's eyes, the wings descended and enveloped his body.

After that, his senses cleared.

He saw saturated colors fill his eyes.

He watched the beautiful lady turn more and more mesmerizing.

He finally saw the lady's ruby red eyes.

They were looking straight at him.

Their beauty was almost hypnotic.

The boy tried to reach out his hand and... he could.

He saw his palm enter his sight.

His hand, which could only lay limply by his dying body, was moving.

It was moving according to his will.

The boy shed tears again, but this time they were tears filled with joy.

He placed his arm back down.

He looked at the beautiful lady.

"Who are you?"

...

Ellone watched the boy with saddened eyes.

She didn't immediately answer his question.

If possible, she really didn't wish to use her Vampire abilities on the boy.

Slowly, Ellone opened her lips.

"My name's Ellone, I am a Vampire."

She was not afraid of anyone overhearing.

She already ripped a scroll to Isolate the bed and bedside from the rest of the hall.

Ellone watched the boy's pupils dilate.

"A Vampire?"

Ellone nodded.

The boy sluggishly lifted his torso.

He stared down at his moving body.

This boy's name was Tarkel.

Tarkel was 12 years old and had a terminal illness. One that would take his life in the span of a few days.

She gave the boy a choice.

Although she knew it wasn't the best way, she felt that it was necessary.

To be given the right to choose, even if he was not in the correct state of mind, she felt that it was better than death.

After some time, Tarkel spoke.

"It was real? The stories?"

Ellone slowly nodded.

"That's right."

Tarkel fell into thought.

He then looked at his healthy hands.

"What am I now?"

Ellone bit her lip.

She didn't hide it.

She told the boy all about her Blood Servant Conversion.

Tarkel was silent for a while, finally he turned to her.

If he was to hate her, Ellone wouldn't blame him.

But unlike her expectation, Tarkel smiled.

"So, I'm not dying anymore?"

Ellone was slightly caught off guard, but ended up nodding.

"Yes, but you're no longer fully human."

Tarkel's smile widened.

"I don't mind, I don't have a reason to be human."

Ellone watched the smiling boy for a while.

She then took a breath.

"They will be suspicious if you get well this suddenly."

Tarkel showed a determined expression.

"Should I play dead?"

Ellone flinched before slowly nodding.

"Yes, please."

Tarkel's smile practically glowed before he laid back down and closed his eyes.

He stayed unmoving for a while.

Soon the bed moved.

Almost an hour later, he heard a beautiful voice.

"You can stand up now."

Unhurriedly, Terkel first sat up before lifting his body to stand.

His legs didn't collapse, they were stronger than ever before.

Tarkel wore the coat the beautiful lady gave him.

He couldn't help but ask.

"If the stories were all true, then can I be one too?"

Ellone looked at him and sighed.

"That is not for us to decide."

Confused, Tarkel asked.

"Who will be the one to decide?"

He took the paper Ellone gave him.

"That's for later, rip that and follow behind me."

Tarkel nodded and ripped the scroll.

Ellone watched him disappear and began walking.

She was sure that Terkel was following her, but she simply couldn't see him.

As soon as they left the healing hall, Ellone ripped another Spell Scroll.

This one was specifically made to dispel any Isolation Enchantments.

Ellone looked back at Tarkel and started moving towards her street.

Soon, they appeared before the house.

Breathing a deep sigh, Ellone walked inside.

She looked around, but didn't see Darmine.

'She must've gone outside.'

She sat down in the living room and chatted with Tarkel for a while.

Soon, the door opened and a small girl stepped in.

After entering the house, Juny immediately sawShe was just about to greet her, when she noticed a strange child sitting next to her.

Juny froze for solid two seconds before closing the door.

She then looked at Ellone.

"What's this now?"

She saw Ellone give her an embarrassed smile.

"You see..."

Before she could explain herself, Tarkel spoke.

"Ellone, why is that kid talking to you like that?"

Juny's expression changed slightly.

She was not frowning, but it was not a smile either. It was leaning more towards uncertainty.

Ellone was the one who froze.

"No, um... Juny, he's not usually like this. I promise!"

Juny just stared blankly at the small boy.

'How should I react to this?'

She decided to ignore the boy and looked at Ellone.

"Explain."

Before Tarkel could retort her, Ellone spoke.

"This is Tarkel! He had a terminal illness, so I made him into a Blood Servant!"

Juny watched as Tarkel looked strangely at Ellone.

She couldn't help but rub the bridge of her nose.

'This headache is killing me, I can't take care of a kid.'

"Okay, and? Why is he here?"

Ellone gulped and retold the entire story.

She heard Juny sighing deeply.

"I'm not making him into a Beyonder."

Before Ellone could give her a nod filled with understanding, Tarkel shouted.

"Why not?! I want to be one!"

Ellone shot him a glare, but he didn't stop.

"And why should I listen to a kid anyway? Ellone, let's ignore her! Uh- Ellone?"

Tarkel saw that Ellone was looking at him as if he had just received a death sentence.

Juny's eye twitched.

"Send him to an orphanage."

Tarkel flinched and looked at Juny in disbelief.

'What?'

Juny continued.

"I won't allow a brat to stay here. Send him to an orphanage."

She had a deep frown as she didn't even spare Tarkel a look.

Ellone bit her lip.

"Juny, he, I mean... I'm sure he can behave."

Juny clicked her tongue.

"Why do you want to keep him anyway? He's an uneducated and rude child. And you won't treat him as Blood Servant no matter where he is. There's no reason not to send him to an orphanage."

Tarkel watched this in confusion.

'What? Why is that child telling Ellone what to do? And why is Ellone listening? ...The one who has to make the decision. It can't be, right?'

He finally understood just how much he messed up.

He remembered a sentence Ellone once told him.

'In the world of Mysticism, age doesn't play an important role. What matters the most is Power.'