They sat together, the silence thick and awkward between them. The only sound filling the air was Alira's soft sniffles.
Kael sat with his arms crossed, head lowered, lost in thought.
Lumino cleared his throat softly. "Um… guys. I… want to apologize for what I did back there." His voice was cautious, almost hesitant.
Then his words caught in his throat. "But… what happened to Carol? Is… is she dead?"
Kael shot him a sharp look. "Yes. She's dead. So what?" Kael snapped.
He leaned forward slightly. "And let me remind you… you also died. That's not exactly something normal people just bounce back from!"
Alira wiped her nose with her sleeve and joined in, her curiosity overcoming her tears.
"I was wondering too. Especially about that red light… Did you come back because of the Orb? Or Because your red string bond with Kael?"
Kael instinctively turned his head away, jaw clenched.
Lumino swallowed hard, knowing exactly what had happened. That voice… Lady Seraphine.
The Lady Seraphine he had glimpsed in Carol's memories and the one whispering to him felt like two different people, but he knew they were the same.
"Maybe." Kael's voice broke the tension.
"Maybe it was because of the Orb."
Lumino nodded slowly. "That… sounds about right."
Alira seemed unconvinced but stayed quiet.
Then Kael stood up.
"Where are you going?" Lumino asked, catching Kael's sleeve.
Kael didn't meet his eyes. "To bury Pheldephine… properly."
For the first time, his usual sharpness softened. His eyes shadowed with something… almost mournful.
"I want to help," Lumino said quietly.
While they gathered their things, Alira noticed something near the ashes of Caroline.
A worn, ancient book.
Her eyes widened.
A red worn, ancient-looking book. Her eyes widened.
That's… Lady Seraphine's spellbook!
She reached for it discreetly, sliding it beneath her white coat.
With most of the other copies destroyed… and the library in Midway in ruins…
Kael's voice called out sharply, snapping her back.
"Alira! You coming?"
Alira flinched.
"Y-Yeah! On my way!"
She tucked the book away and hurried after them.
The burial was quiet.
Lumino pressed his hands together in silent prayer. He had little knowledge of Phel, knowing her only through Carol's memories
Yet he couldn't shake the heaviness in his heart.
Kael stood beside him, arms folded, eyes fixed on the grave.
"I'm glad," Kael muttered, his voice low, "I only had to bury one person today."
He turned his head slightly, locking eyes with Lumino—
And in that gaze… something raw, unreadable stirred beneath the surface.
Lumino's chest tightened, and he berated himself: "I really am an idiot..."
He then reflected on his actions, realizing how perilously close he had come to hurting the very people who cared about him.
—
They packed up, ready to leave Flirmus.
Alira asked, "Do we… have a destination?"
Kael hesitated. The matter of the red thread still hung over him.
He glanced at Lumino, silently asking if he had any suggestions.
But before Lumino could answer—
A figure emerged from the building's shadow. Magenta twin tails bounced, framing ruby eyes that gleamed in the dim light. A gloved hand held a parasol.
Kael's sword hissed as it left its sheath. "Who the hell are you?" Lumino gaped, confused.
The woman strolled towards Lumino, her movements fluid. A soft sniff filled the air. Kael's grip tightened on the cold steel. "You… you smell unique," the woman purred.
"Who… are you?" Lumino asked carefully.
"Are you the ones who defeated that cursed Witch?" she licked her lips.
Lumino blinked. "…Yeah. I guess you could say that. Actually, Kael did most of the—"
"Hey!!" Kael barked. "Would you stop blurting things out like that? And don't make it sound like I actually beat her single-handedly!"
The woman's eyes glittered. "I see… the other human."
She leaned close, sniffing Kael now. "You smell just as tempting."
Kael bristled, stepping back. What the hell is wrong with this woman?!
Alira shoved her face away. "You're a vampire, aren't you?"
The woman chuckled softly.
"Clementine. Pleased to meet you." She gave a noble's curtsy.
"I came to check this town. Sensed the Red Witch's aura vanish. And instead… found three humans who defeated her."
"I thought vampires were extinct," Lumino said without thinking.
Kael and Alira both turned sharply toward him.
"Vampires… extinct?" Kael echoed.
"Almost," Clementine replied smoothly. "Caroline slaughtered most of us. But a few survived. Including our leader… and me."
Alira and Kael exchanged glances of understanding.
"So? What do you want from us?" Kael asked dryly.
Clementine's smile widened. "To invite you… to our nest. A dinner in your honor."
"Dinner?"
Lumino's stomach growled at the word. He realized he hadn't eaten all day.
"You don't mean… as the dinner, right?" Alira narrowed her eyes.
Clementine chuckled again. "Relax. We don't drink human blood anymore. There aren't enough of you left. Now, we… settle for animals."
Lumino brightened. "Then we'll accept your offer!" He quickly shook Clementine's hand.
Kael and Alira exchanged identical looks of disbelief.
What is wrong with this guy? Kael thought, deadpan.
"Wonderful," Clementine purred. "Come with me. I'll take you to the Vampire Nest."
And together—
The three of them followed Clementine, their steps slowly carrying them away from the ghost town of Flirmus…Toward something they couldn't yet name.
They walked in silence.
The soft crunch of gravel beneath their boots, the occasional rustle of wind passing through the barren trees, and Clementine's quiet humming were the only sounds filling the late afternoon air.
Kael walked slightly ahead, hands shoved in his pockets, head low beneath his hood.
But his mind… wasn't silent at all.
Ever since they left Flirmus, a question had been gnawing at the edge of his sanity.
'What is it with you, Lumino?'
It wasn't the fight. Kael had seen enough battles to know reckless idiots came in all shapes and sizes.
The near-death stunt Lumino pulled, flinging himself into Caroline's attack, had felt more like a cruel jest than anything heroic.
No.
It was everything else.
The things Lumino said. The way he looked at Caroline.
The way he mourned her.
Why would he care? Why would someone risk their life for a cursed witch who'd tried to murder them all?
Kael scowled as he walked, Then he glanced back over his shoulder.
Lumino was there, hands behind his head and a lazy grin on his face, mumbling about wanting stew for dinner.
…Like nothing happened.
Kael clicked his tongue and faced forward again.
Don't be stupid. You don't even know him.
It had only been, what, three weeks since they'd met?
Three weeks of disasters, fights, curses — and somehow, Kael kept getting dragged into this mess.
But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst part?
He didn't hate it.
…That's the part that scared him.
Kael shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets, seeking warmth against the biting wind.
Even so, why did Lumino know about vampires? He'd mentioned it so offhandedly, saying, "I thought vampires were extinct." It was as if he'd witnessed it himself, as though everyone knew.
Kael frowned, narrowing his eyes on the path ahead.
He was certain that humans were wiped out 190 years in the past. However, he had no knowledge of Vampire. Not even Alira was aware. It's like he know so much about this world, Litruish. Like he had been watch it.
So why… did he?
Kael clenched his jaw.
And what happened during that time Lumino got separated from us?
Back in Flirmus, after Lumino had been gone for hours, a shift occurred.
He couldn't pinpoint it, but when they found him, Lumino's eyes had changed, and their familiar light had dimmed. It felt like the change that made Kael no longer recognize him.
A shadow clung to his smile, as if he bore a weighty burden while feigning ease. Kael released a held breath.
He hated this unease, the not knowing, and the feeling of failing to shield what was right before him.
…Even though he didn't know why he cared.
Alira trailed behind them, her mind elsewhere entirely.
Her fingers brushed the edge of the spell book she'd hidden under her coat.
The forbidden sigil on its cover burned in her memory.
Lady Seraphine's spell books. Dark runes. Spells no sane mage should touch.
Alira bit her lip, glancing at the two men ahead of her.
She wouldn't tell them yet. Not until she figured out whether this book was a key — or a curse.
--
They reached a crossroads in the forest, Clementine twirling her umbrella as she walked ahead.
"We'll be arriving soon," the vampire hummed. "The nest is just beyond that ridge."
Kael slowed his pace, falling into step beside Lumino.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. What was he supposed to say?
'Why are you like this?'
'What are you hiding from us?'
"Kael?" Kael blinked. Lumino was looking at him, brows raised.
"What?" Kael snapped a little too quickly.
Lumino just chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You've been scowling all day. Are you mad at me?"
Kael's mouth opened — but no words came out. He stared at Lumino for a long second.
The idiot's smile was genuine. Carefree. Like he wasn't hiding anything at all.
Kael looked away, stuffing his hands back in his coat.
"…I don't know." He started walking again, leaving Lumino blinking behind him.
I don't know if I'm mad… or just afraid of what I'll find out.