A few days later.
Sera was alone, sitting cross-legged on one of the side balconies of the old library.
Anyone who saw her there, with her silver hair swaying gently and her gaze lost in the distance, would say she lived up to the noble blood of the vampires.
But Sera never cared about vampire nobility.
Right now, all she wanted was to understand what was spinning in her head.
The sky remained overcast, and the mist blanketed the gardens below like a thick, cold veil.
She watched the landscape, but her eyes weren't seeing the present. They were stuck in a scene she couldn't forget.
The sphere Rowan held during class... it had emitted a pure blue light.
A pure soul?
What did that even mean?
"Does that kind of thing even exist?"
She remembered the books she had read since then.
Some about Lamenters, others about spiritual essence. In one of them, she found a passage that left her uneasy:
"Pure souls represent everything the Lamenters have lost."
Innocence that slipped away.
Light that was extinguished.
Happiness turned to ashes.
And then, the most striking phrase:
"They can't stand that purity. They want to erase it. Corrupt it. Destroy it. Even if, deep down, they wish to be saved by it."
Sera slammed the book shut, her eyes narrowing.
It finally made sense.
The Lamenters didn't attack Rowan out of hatred.
They were afraid of him.
And at the same time... they wanted him.
That contradiction was what made them dangerous.
And Rowan's existence... it threw everything off balance.
Sera took a deep breath.
What would someone have to do to have a pure soul?
Or better yet... what would someone have to not do?
She wondered.
"Was it because he lived among humans?"
No...
In Sera's mind, that was ridiculous. Humans were just as twisted as monsters. Maybe even more.
After hours lost in old pages and forgotten theories, she found an idea that made more sense.
A pure soul that never felt anger, that never made a mistake or got annoyed with the world... simply didn't exist.
But maybe... that wasn't the requirement.
Maybe what made someone truly pure wasn't the absence of flaws, but a sincere heart. The real intention to do what's right, even when everything around pushes you the other way. Even when no one else believes in it.
A pure soul wasn't perfect. It was someone who still chose the light... even when surrounded by darkness.
"So that idiot's that kind of person...?"
====
Cafeteria of Meridiana Academy.
Rowan was sitting at the table, happily devouring the day's special.
Today was a good day.
Nina hadn't shown up trying to make him taste weird dishes she made.
The only problem was sitting right in front of him.
"So, what do you think? Are you gonna accept the offer? We don't have all day, you know..."
Gael was across from him, trying to convince him to join the Humanoid Observation Club.
Rowan chewed slowly, pretending to think.
"Alright then... I'm gonna have to decline."
"WAIT...!!"
Gael shouted inside the cafeteria, startling a few students.
"Dude, please, think about it again..."
'He doesn't have all the time in the world to wait for my answer, but wants to force me to say yes?'
"Do I really look like a leader to you guys? I already told you I don't want anything complicated."
"Don't worry about that. You're just going to help with your human world experience. We'll handle the boring stuff."
Sigh...
Rowan wondered why she thought things would go that smoothly.
'If it were up to me, I wouldn't even be in this crazy academy.'
He glanced at Gael's claws. They were thin, sharp, and slightly curved, almost elegant. Unlike the rough claws of brutish monsters, Gael's looked made for agility and precision.
He had mentioned something about being from the Karzyn race. A rare lineage of agile shapeshifters known for feline eyes and heightened senses, but with almost human-like appearances.
'Maybe having him around won't be so bad.'
And it wasn't like Rowan had much of a choice. That seemed to be the most decent club so far.
If it were up to him, he'd join the cooking club... but Nina was in it. And he wouldn't survive in her kitchen.
'I don't really have another option.'
"...Alright. Let's do it then."
Gael's eyes lit up.
"Perfect!! Let's start right away...!! We're finally gonna rise from the garbage and claim the top!"
'He really thinks we're gonna earn points?'
''...''
"...."
Rowan and Gael were leaving the cafeteria, heading toward the outer corridor, when they ran into Sera.
'Sera? What's she doing here?'
She stared at them. Her gaze cut through Rowan and Gael like ice.
Gael felt a chill run down his spine.
"Rowan, I think I'll take a walk... we'll talk club stuff later."
He gave a crooked smile, but his eyes avoided hers completely.
He walked off quickly, footsteps echoing down the hallway like someone who didn't want to be called back. It was like an automatic reflex. Like he already knew not to mess with her.
Rowan watched him leave.
'Was it just me, or did she make him run?'
Sera walked up to him slowly, saying nothing, and stopped so close that Rowan froze on instinct.
A chill crept up his neck. The kind that made it feel like, at any second, she could bite into it.
Her scent. It was soft, fresh, with a sweet touch that reminded him of frozen flowers.
'Why does she smell so... good? Vampires should smell like crypts, or something weird. Not something that makes you want to get closer...'
He stood still. Unsure if he should even move.
Sera narrowed her eyes slightly. No surprise in her expression.
"You joined that idiot's group?"
Her voice came out calm. The kind of calm that comes before a snowstorm.
"Well... I guess I did."
"I thought you'd go for the Advanced Combat Techniques Club."
'Is that even a school club? How would I ever be part of that...?'
"But that's not my problem."
She looked away, as if the conversation had ended right there.
But before he could say anything else, she looked back into his eyes—those deep red ones, like liquid blood.
"About Professor Myrren's report on human and monster coexistence... we're doing it together."
She said it directly. No room for debate.
Then she turned and started walking in the same direction Gael had gone, but at a much calmer pace. Her silver hair swayed gently with each step.
"~Ahh...—"
Rowan lifted his hand like he was going to call her back, but let it drop to his side.
"..."
He stood there.
She hadn't asked. Didn't check if he already had a partner. Didn't ask if he wanted to do it alone. She didn't even try to be polite.
She just said it and walked away like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And even if he wanted to say no...
It was better not to try.
'I guess what I read about vampire pride wasn't a lie.'
'Wonder if garlic works on her too... Might need it one day.'
====
◆ Character Sheet – Sera ◆
➤ Age: 17
➤ Height: 1.72 m
➤ Class: B-07
➤ Club: Advanced Combat Techniques
➤ Appearance: Long, straight silver hair; intense blood-red eyes; pale, cool skin. Her expression is usually calm and hard to read, but her gaze carries a presence that demands respect.
➤ Likes: Silence, old books, cold places, solo training
➤ Dislikes: Noise, being touched without permission, too many questions, people who speak without thinking
➤ Personality: Cold, direct, and extremely observant. She tends to keep her distance and rarely shows strong emotions, but when she commits to something, she acts with conviction.
➤ Trivia: – Her scent is soft and elegant, with a cold floral touch that contrasts with the natural chill of her presence. – She's skilled at handling high-level monsters, which earns her respect (and fear) from other students. – As a true pureblood vampire, she carries a natural and almost unshakable pride. She rarely asks for anything—she simply states what must be done.
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