[Olivia]
The castle gates finally became accessible to me. Katarina acquired enough stats to kill the vampires using a fragment of Longinus' Spear that I lent her.
That allowed me to make my way through Ifgraine's castle, even through the ceaseless flames that were consuming it.
I detect powerful sources of magical energy within, but I cannot properly identify them.
If I were to launch a single attack in a single direction, I might murder someone I shouldn't. I have seen no trace of the Royal Family so far.
But of course, things couldn't be that easy.
-Well, another Cross girl comes to play!
Right behind me something appears, it has a female voice, and an irreplaceable scent of death around it.
I didn't even need to turn around to attack her, as Jörmundgander quickly sank his fangs into the body of this unpleasant individual.
Only, as I was saying, nothing has been too easy so far.
A multitude of insects, centipedes, beetles, ants, mantises and others are now accumulating in front of me.
Giving shape to a woman dressed in nothing but black feathers. With an empty look, and a smile like that of a doll.
Everything about her is unnatural.
Something that should not exist.
She has no exact form of magical flux, it's as if many beasts are mixed into this horrifying existence.
-You must be Olivia, it's nice to meet you! Amelie told me quite a bit about you.
Amelie...?
My attitude goes from a hundred to zero in an instant, and I immediately launched myself at this thing with a blunt sword attack.
My stance was just right for a lunge, to which this woman responded by putting her arm in front of her neck to block me.
What she probably didn't expect was for me to pivot on my feet and change the orientation of my sword mid-stride to put myself in position to cut her left hand which was the one she protected herself with an upward slash.
I didn't stop and lowering my stance a little, I let go of my sword for a moment to strike this woman's face with enough power to send her flying.
I grab my sword in the air, and destroy the ivory floor of the castle to propel myself back up and reach her, driving my sword and the woman's throat into the wall.
I already deduced that she is a vampire. And a much older one than Elise. She should have no problem with a sword at her throat to speak of.
The black feathered woman's eyes were wide as a pair of headlights. As if she couldn't believe what had just happened in a matter of seconds.
With the edge of my sword, I slice my wrist and bring it close to the woman's face. Only up to this point, I ask:
-How did you meet Amelie? What did you do with her? Answer me!
She noticed desperation in my voice, and let out a little giggle.
-Hehe, just as cautious as your sister. You know though... you're not at all intimidating with that blood. You'll need a lot more than that to kill me.
-Stop talking rubbish, a single drop has killed Vampire Lords in the past.
-You're a family that relies too much on your skills! It's no surprise that Lhora's triplets have fallen against your father!
...
-You... How do you know about my father...?
And she, with a much wider smile than before, just answers me:
-Of course, because I am a Vampire Lord. I was aware of him while I was tasting the head of that border boy.
Oh.
I see what you mean.
Then I have no choice but to kill her. She's the one who killed Renee and Rominula.
-But there's something that strikes me. How did Elise turn you into a vampire? Your blood was supposed to kill her.
!
-Who else have you told...? -Who else have you told? -. I ask, a little nervously.
The black-feathered woman leans on my sword and moves sharply to the left to break free of the lunge, tearing off part of her own neck.
-Turn around and look behind you, Olivia Cross! There's the person I told your little secret!
She screams, only to disappear into a mountain of bugs once more.
I reflexively turned around and the first thing that greeted me was a spontaneous slap.
My face turned violently from this blow. It came from that hand I used to hold when the person in question was a little girl.
-Amelie...! -. A girl dressed in a uniform of the old wizardry academy in black shouted out of astonishment.
For the person in front of me, the one who slapped me as soon as she saw me, was my own little sister, Amelie.
The world stopped for me at that instant... my breath began to hitch with each passing second...
-Don't tell me how to treat a traitor, Lady Liselotte. This is only the beginning.
Without a word to me, Amelie summons her blood sorcery, with which she doesn't hesitate for a single second to pierce my shoulder.
- - -
[Warning. Ambrosia has entered your body. Your regenerative powers have been exponentially reduced].
- - -
I hear such a message in my head, indicating that I am suffering the effects of the Cross blood in my system.
Normally this wound would not cause any real damage, Ambrosia does not harm others who possess it. It would only surround the target.
I dropped to my knees, and simply continued with the procedure.
It was too late or too early for Amelie to find out, she's not an idiot after all. Even if the black feathered woman told her to trick her, she was going to attack me just to make sure.
Since Ambrosia shouldn't hurt me, the fact that she was able to pierce my shoulder indicates all she needs to proceed.
-You owe me an explanation, sis.... How come you have vampire cells in your body, you who swore to kill all vampires to appease the voices of the curse!
Amelie doesn't usually raise her voice unless she's really upset about something. And it's true, I should have gone to her as soon as I got back from Maxwell's Colossal Dungeon.
If I had done it in a timely manner, we might not be here right now. Amelie could have helped me solve this problem.
She would have supported me, of that I have no doubt.
But after what happened with Orphelia and Elise... I didn't want Amelie to have turned against me at some point because of something outside of my will.
-I... I... I don't know how to answer you... -. I tell him honestly, ducking my head a little.
-Mum died because of the [Hero's Curse]! Didn't you say you'd end the cycle for all those yet to come! Because of me?!
Amelie is still screaming, in despair.
She... I'm sure she's lonely...
I struggle to get up, and try, unsuccessfully, to hug my sister. She is pushed aside by my sudden movement.
I see Amelie's expression, she's splitting her lip as she tries to hold back tears.
Sadness? Or perhaps, anger?
I wouldn't know, Amelie. You've always been difficult for me to read myself. And I've known you since you were born.
-I was glad you came back safely from the dungeon! But I... I... I didn't expect you to betray our blood to ally yourself with a filthy vampire!
-...
Amelie launches herself at me, delivering small blows to my chest. They hurt.
But she doesn't stop talking at all.
-Where's the Olivia I admired?! Where?! You're nothing compared to my real big sister!
It hurts.
-My big sister wouldn't have gone soft for the world! -I have no idea why you let them turn you into a vampire! You said yourself that on the off chance you'd rather die in the sun!
Amelie...
-Everybody's coming here, the flames are going out! And I... I...!
With nothing more to say, Amelie stops her blows. I can see tears spilling from her face.
...
By Cross Family rules. If in the very remote and unlikely event that one should become a vampire, one must proceed with an execution.
Amelie was informed of this at the same age as me. And the reason she was trained at separate points from me was to cover for me in case something like this happened.
It was impossible for a member of the main Cross family to be turned into a vampire. Let alone one with the title of [Hero].
(The time has come...)
One of the voices in my head murmurs briefly.
I take Amelie's right hand, and place it on my forehead. At the same time I offer my younger sister the brightest smile I have ever made.
Amelie lifts her face, she's crying like a little girl, even with snot.
-Elise... She proved she doesn't want to hurt humans. That's why I didn't stay mad at her for long for turning me into a vampire, since she only bit me to save me.
-...
My little sister is still sobbing silently. Maybe because this is the last time I'll talk to her.
-You've grown so much since I last saw you, Amelie. You're almost my size. Forgive me for not seeing you so often, you know I have many responsibilities.
-...
Now that I notice, the one who came with Amelie is no longer here. Hm. I hope she has pursued the woman with the black feathers, if it is the real Lady Liselotte, I'm sure she will kill her.
I never thought I'd get to see her in person, the Sorceress of Perpetuity. I suppose it's one of the few things I had left to see of this beautiful world.
-I failed you as your family. Mum and Dad too. Even Grandpa. Please forgive me for keeping such an offense to myself. I would have liked you to hear it from my own voice.
-...
-You can relax, OK? I couldn't stop the voices of the curse, but I'm sure you can. Just please don't hate Elise. She's a very damaged girl, and doesn't usually open up to many, so I'd like you to get along with her instead of me.
-...
-Ahh, it's been a long twenty-four years. I travelled the world as much as I wanted to and met a lot of nice people. You can rest assured, everyone will help you once this is over. Yes?
-...
-I love you, Amelie. And I'm proud of everything you've achieved even though our family never set their expectations on you, I always trusted in what you were capable of.
-...
-From this moment on, forget I'm your big sister. And just make it quick, please. It's the only way the title of [Hero] will be transferred to you.
-... I...
Amelie breaks her sobbing silence, wanting to say something else.
We meet eyes, and although she's a mess at the moment, she manages to say...
-I'm... going to... miss you, Liv.
I felt a relief in my heart just hearing those words. And as if a weight was lifted from my shoulders, Amelie proceeded with the execution.
Straight into my skull, she pierced all the way to the back of my head with a spike made of her own blood.
I died instantly.
[Amelie]
- - -
[You have acquired the title "Hero" from Olivia Cross. From now on, you are the Light that will guide Gamma in her darkest hour].
- - -
It is the mechanical message that is transferred to me as soon as my sister's body falls to the floor.
A title I did not want. But which I have no choice but to receive.
I don't even have time to mourn your death, Liv. I only hope you are welcomed with open arms by our parents and all those you saved and were able to die peaceful deaths.
One mistake does not change the person you were in life. I won't care what everyone else says from now on, I will follow the path you blazed.
And it only remains for me to close your eyelids, which were left open because you didn't even have time to close your eyes by the time I was dead. I kiss you on the cheek, and wipe away the only tear I saw you shed in all your life.
Requiescat in pace, Olivia.