Rosaria sat alone on the cold, hard bench, her fingers digging into the worn fabric of her doll. The frigid air nipped at her cheeks, a stark contrast to the warmth of the mansion behind her.
The echoes of the day's chaos still swirled in her mind. Claudius, bloodied and broken, had returned, trailed by Derelia, whose allegiance was now a mystery. And then, Lumino, the unforeseen dinner guest.
She shivered—not from the cold, but from the memory of Derelia's expression. The girl had looked positively giddy, her eyes practically forming little hearts as she gazed at Lumino.
They were led inside, and Clementine, who was in the middle of a prayer, stopped.
"Clementine…"
"Well, well… I didn't expect you here, Lumino," Clementine said, settling into the seat beside him. "And you've brought Derelia, Oscar, Orcha, and Tivulin? I thought you were all following Ozrik."
Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
"Do you think we'd take a traitor back?" Rosalina snapped.
Clementine's gaze sharpened.
"What happened to Claudius? Did he get thrashed in the werewolf den?" she asked in her smooth, deliberate voice. "Lullaby was worried, but at least she was able to heal him—that is her specialty."
Rosaria noticed Lumino glance away, a bead of sweat tracing down his temple.
'Did you do it?'
"About Claudius… I want to apologize," Lumino said, voice steady. "He just showed up while I was… angry, so—"
The moment his words landed, both Rosalina and Clementine froze. Across the table, Agusta visibly paled.
'Are you some kind of monster? First you traumatize Agusta, and now you beat Claudius bloody?'
Clementine, however, laughed.
"Hah… you really are something, Lumino."
Rosaria finally spoke. "You came alone? Where are your two friends?"
Lumino lowered his head, fidgeting with his fingers.
"I came alone… I didn't want to drag them into this."
Rosalina scoffed. "Sounds like bullshit. How do we know this isn't some enemy ploy?"
A fresh voice cut through the air—Lullaby, her crimson eyes gleaming.
"Were you the one who hurt Claudius?"
Lumino hesitated, then simply said, "I'm sorry."
"Amazing."
'huh?'
"What?" Lumino blinked.
"You're amazing!" Lullaby said brightly. "Do you know how long it's been since I've seen Claudius in that state? Never. Not even my power could heal him completely. He's still unconscious!"
"I feel guilty. I'm sorry," Lumino said again, his forehead damp with sweat.
"It's a compliment." Lullaby sat down beside him. "I'm Lullaby. And you?"
"…Lumino."
"Nice to meet you, Lumino."
Before he could shake her hand, Derelia swiftly yanked it away.
"Don't touch my master, you tramp!"
Lullaby smirked.
"Well, well… Derelia. I thought you were Ozrik's lapdog. Did your heart suddenly change sides? He's not here, you know. Isn't he upset you left?"
"None of your business! Ozrik is nothing but ash now. My heart belongs only to my master, Lumino," Derelia said, gripping Lumino's hand again.
Lumino quickly pulled free.
"Uh… I honestly don't remember that, but I'm sorry anyway."
'So you killed Ozrik too?'
"It doesn't matter, my lord," Derelia insisted. "It only proves you are the rightful leader. We'll gladly give our lives for you."
"Er… please stop. You're making me uncomfortable."
Tivulin let out an exasperated sigh.
"I still don't buy it. Yet here I am, dragged along."
Derelia's voice rose with fervor as she recounted the event. "Like I told you before, he ascended into the sky, arms outstretched. The heavens split, and light encircled him… then, he unleashed that light upon Ozrik. That figure was a god incarnate!"
Lumino scratched his head, clearly skeptical.
'Are you claiming to be his messenger, trying to make a new religion?'
Off to the side, Clementine's eyes narrowed in thought.
"So… what's your purpose here, Lumino? Have you finally decided to help me? Perhaps offer a reward for feeding you?"
Lumino's lips pressed into a tight line.
"Could you tell me how Ronovan is doing?"
"He still looks like a corpse—ah, I mean, he's fine," Lumino admitted.
'This man's bluntness is infuriating.'
"Good… Bandi must be thrilled. He always craved recognition."
Lumino's brows knit. "Wait... did you know all along that Bandi is the actual leader? I believed you just knew Rodeo in the role of leader."
Clementine smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Lumino... I know my enemies. Rodeo is too dim-witted to orchestrate something like this. He only rallied some vampires to his side because Bandi convinced him. Ozrik already disliked me, making him easy to sway."
Lumino tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You ask me what my purpose is in joining you... I intend to wipe out the werewolf race."
Rosaria's eyes widened in surprise. 'Excuse me?'
A few of the vampires looked equally stunned.
"Yes, you were right." Lumino continued. "Werewolves are fools by nature. They should be destroyed."
For just a heartbeat, Rosaria thought she saw a glitch—one of Lumino's eyes turning Crimson-red. She blinked, and it was gone.
'Maybe I imagined it.'
Clementine smiled faintly.
"A vengeful man… I'm just glad your grudge isn't against me. My apologies for imprisoning you a days ago, but I think we're even now—especially since you ran off with Ronovan."
"I'll help you get him back," Lumino replied.
Clementine stood, stepping behind him and kneading his shoulders.
"Then how about helping me with something else?" she whispered.
"Hey! Stop flirting with him!" Derelia snapped. "He's mine!"
"Says who?" Clementine arched a brow.
'Honestly, he probably belongs to no one.'
Rosaria finally cut in. "So… what's the plan, Clementine?"
"I intend to have a private conversation with Lumino. In my room."
"… alright. If you insist," Lumino said.
"Hold on! What are you two planning to talk about alone in a bedroom?" Derelia swatted Clementine's hand away from Lumino's arm.
Lumino's expression darkened, the sheer weight of his gaze enough to make her freeze.
"Calm down and wait. Why are you so noisy?!" Without another glance, he left with Clementine.
'Well, look at that—the loudmouth got her karma.'
"In that case, I'll check on Claudius," Lullaby said.
"I need to clean my weapon," Rosalina added.
"I'm stepping out with Tivulin," Orcha murmured.
"I'll be outside," Rosaria said, walking away and leaving Derelia behind.
Now, here she was—sitting outside, lost in thought. She wasn't sure what to make of everything, but deep down, she hoped Alira would come here.
Despite everything, I was still a fan. But that foolish admiration had only ended with Ronovan being taken away.
"Next time, I won't get swept up in my feelings," she muttered. "Next time we meet… I'll treat her like an enemy."
------------------------
"You know, Lumino… I never wanted this war in the first place," Clementine's voice carried a quiet melancholy, a note of resignation that made Lumino glance at her. "But if this is the path shown to me, I will walk it. That's what they call fate."
"Do you believe in fate, Lumino?" Her sad eyes searched his, and he couldn't quite understand why she wore that expression.
"I believe in fate… though sometimes I think fate is just toying with me," Lumino murmured, rubbing his arm. "I don't even know if coming here was fate… or just a cruel coincidence."
"May I know where you come from?" Clementine asked softly.
"My world feels hazy now… I can't even remember when I began to forget it. My grandfather's face—once so vivid—feels blurred in my mind." His voice carried frustration, as if the memories themselves were slipping further away the harder he reached for them.
"You carry heavy thoughts, Lumino. But I understand… fate is something unique to each individual." Clementine's lips curved into a faint smile—too faint, almost painful to look at. "And I've already decided to fulfill mine."
"Clementine… what is it you truly want?"
"I want…" she began.
Lumino listened with his full attention, not blinking, as if the smallest motion might break the moment. Whatever her wish was, she had already made up her mind.
"Clementine…" Lumino stepped closer and said quietly, "I will help you."
His smile told her he intended to stand by her side until the end.
--
Clementine could not remember the circumstances of her birth—only that when she opened her eyes for the first time, Ronovan stood before her. She had never known a parent's warmth, never even learned who they were or how she had come into this world. In her heart, she had only Ronovan.
She had always wanted to prove her worth to him, but deep down, she knew she would never fully catch his attention. Ronovan was a fair elder to all, and that fairness meant he could never play favorites. Clementine realized early on that her efforts could never place her above the rest. The day he turned his gaze away, she understood—she had been forgotten.
At ten years old, she faced Ozrik in battle for the Twelfth Seat of the Elders. She lost. That single defeat pushed her out of the list of candidates entirely.
"Disappointing." That's Ronovan last word before he go.
Clementine knew all too well what it meant to be overlooked. In Ronovan's vast world, she was but a small, unnoticed stone. Mockery became her daily meal, with Ozrik at the forefront of her tormentors.
It was Rosaria—small in stature, perpetually gloomy, but one of the Twelve Vampire Elders—who first offered her a helping hand.
The Twelve Elders served directly under Ronovan:
First Seat: Rio
Second Seat: Terasvari – long vacant.
Third Seat: Fenrir – vacant, Fenrir fled before Clementine's birth.
Fourth Seat: Claudius
Fifth Seat: Ajax
Sixth Seat: Rosaria
Seventh Seat: Rosalina
Eighth Seat: Lullaby
Ninth Seat: Derelia
Tenth Seat: Agusta
Eleventh Seat: Vacant
Twelfth Seat: Ozrik
Her dream was to reach that Twelfth Seat, but her loss to Ozrik shattered that dream. At seventeen, she was challenged again—this time by Tivulin—and lost yet again. Tivulin took the Twelfth Seat, and Ozrik rose to the Eleventh.
From then on, Clementine stopped speaking to Ronovan altogether. Until, one day, he returned.
She had been with Rosaria at the time, her heart pounding in anticipation. Maybe—just maybe—he would remember her.
But when she greeted him, Ronovan simply asked, "Who are you?"
The words cut through her like a blade. It was as if her very existence had been erased. He passed by without another glance, entering the mansion alongside Rio.
"Don't be too downhearted," Rosaria's gentle voice broke the silence. "Ronovan's in a bad mood. Something personal."
"You're right, sis… I'm not sad," Clementine lied.
Rosaria smiled faintly. "For now, it may be hard for me to see you. The Elders will be busy—the war against Fenrir is about to begin."
It stung, but Clementine had no choice but to accept it. If she was alone, so be it. She would train harder, become stronger, and one day claim an Elder's seat.
The war against Fenrir lasted decades. He was the strongest of the Vampire Knights—rumored to be so resilient that even sunlight could not kill him. Clementine knew little about him and cared even less.
Fifty years later, the Elders returned to the stronghold—though not all of them. Rio was gone, presumed dead. Public sentiment was heavy with grief, but the faces of those close to him—Claudius, Lullaby—remained strangely calm.
With Fenrir dead, Ronovan's name spread beyond vampire lands, even forging goodwill with humans after centuries of fear. The timing coincided with the rise of a powerful coven of witches—among them the genius spellcaster Lylith, the kind-hearted Penny, and the most intriguing of all to the vampire race: the great alchemist Alira.
It was Alira who created the Anti-Sun Potion, freeing vampires from their dependence on umbrellas and shadows.
Thirty more years passed. Clementine still hadn't reached an Elder seat, but she no longer despaired. She had mastered control over her phase one, though phase two remained elusive.
By then, Ozrik had formed his own faction among the Elders:
First Seat: Claudius
Second Seat: Terasvari – vacant.
Third Seat: Claudius
Fourth Seat: Agusta
Fifth Seat: Ozrik
Sixth Seat: Rosaria
Seventh Seat: Rosalina
Eighth Seat: Lullaby
Ninth Seat: Derelia
Tenth Seat: Ajax
Eleventh Seat: Tivulin
Twelfth Seat: Oscar
Ozrik now enjoyed Derelia's support and often manipulated budgets and meeting schedules to his advantage.
The proposal arrived, to reopen the Second Seat, which had been vacant for a long time, as they were certain Terasvari would not return. This move, coupled with the Second Seat becoming available, also opened the Twelfth Seat.
Clementine, convinced this was her chance, had spent years believing she would finally secure her place. However, she failed to see that this belief was a fragile delusion, an unattainable dream she stubbornly clung to.