The woman turned around. Her eyes looked as if they were thirsty for murder—bright crimson, like freshly spilled blood.
"Veltol, the strongest Vampire race of the current era, possesses tremendous special powers. Among them exists one exceptional Vampire, marked by blue blood as their defining trait… the strongest of all Vampires, Lucerius tru Veltol."
The man let out a small laugh, clutching his stomach as he held it in. "So I'm famous enough that you know everything about me… I don't really like being overly praised. Yes… I am Lucerius tru Veltol, also known as the Blue Rose Vampire."
His eyes sharpened once more as he looked at the woman. "You seem to know me quite well. It wouldn't be fair if only I were known. So then… what is one of the ancient demons doing here? The first succubus, infamous for her deception—Lilith."
An invisible pressure crawled across the floor, shaking the restless shadows of the night. Pale blue aura mixed with deep crimson air, colliding silently. The atmosphere felt compressed to its very core.
Lilith narrowed her gaze. Her fingers moved slowly, the glint of her claws signaling a threat.
"You think I'd tell you?"
Lucerius tossed a flower aside with a wide smile, his eyes clearly ready to kill. "If you won't speak, I'll force you."
Time passed in silence.
"Do we really need to be enemies? Aren't you here because of that object?"
The pressure between them eased, the surrounding air returning to normal. Lucerius lifted his chin, crossing his arms.
"You know about that object? So you're after it too!?" Lucerius barked.
Lilith responded calmly, her demeanor mysterious. "Se-cre-t… you know women are full of mystery."
Lilith stepped closer to Lucerius, her footsteps soft and rhythmic.
"Or perhaps you're the one trying to take it? Lying to a woman is something that'll make you hated, you know…" Her tone was gentle and seductive, typical of a succubus.
Lucerius lowered his head slightly, covering his face with his hat. "I'm not interested in the object itself. What interests me is what happens because of its existence."
"Oh… not what I expected. I like that~" Lilith teased, her voice dripping with desire.
Her hand swung and brushed against her chest, emphasizing her seductive body.
"During the summoner class, I heard someone summoned a terrifying creature. Its aura was so dreadful it could even be felt in the Demon Kingdom."
Lilith clenched her hand tightly. Blood seeped from her palm as her claws cut into her skin. As the blood dripped, Lilith revealed her true form.
Her long hair flowed freely, dark crimson in color. Twisted horns rose from her head. Her body was wrapped in tight black clothing, exposing certain uncovered areas. Black wings spread wide, blocking the light before her.
She gently touched her lips and smiled faintly—not out of joy, but to invite curiosity.
"Such an intriguing aura. I'm curious about the one behind it."
Lucerius fell silent, thinking of Free. 'This seems like it'll become something big. I want to see which path he chooses, how he faces the trials and threats ahead. Elegant…'
He looked back at Lilith, stepping forward while glancing out the window.
"The world is unpredictable. I'll let you go, on the condition that you do nothing that threatens this academy."
Lilith's smile widened. Darkness enveloped her, and she vanished without a trace.
Lucerius stared at the storm beyond the corridor window. His eyes shimmered, reflecting the same raging sky.
The restless night passed, leaving puddles behind. Droplets fell from the roof. Nature returned to calm.
Free stepped outside, breathing in the fresh air. He strolled around, watching birds perch on tree branches. The clear sky allowed the morning sun to reflect off the puddles. A gentle breeze carried fallen leaves.
Free stopped walking and looked down at the ground.
"Hm? What's this?" he murmured.
He picked up the object that caught his attention and examined it closely. "A pendant? Did someone drop this? Must be…"
As he turned around, someone collided with him hard enough to knock him down. "Ouch…" Free groaned.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't see you."
The voice was soft, accompanied by heavy breathing. A hand was extended toward him.
When Free opened his eyes, he saw a woman with purple hair and green eyes standing before him. With her slender body, she looked faintly athletic.
Free took her hand. She grasped it firmly and pulled him up.
Free looked at her again, still slightly unsteady. "I'm sorry for bumping into you. My name is Eleona Eryst," she said.
"I'm Free. Just Free. Nice to meet you, Eleona." He smiled.
Eleona raised her index finger toward Free, wagging it gently side to side. "Not Eleona—call me Leo. Shorter and easier to remember."
"Leo, what are you doing this morning?" Free asked, tilting his head curiously.
Leo took out her water bottle and drank stylishly, each sip like part of a rhythm, visually alluring. After finishing, she looked at Free, her eyes more beautiful than before.
"Doing my routine—morning jogging."
"Exercise? Do you do it every morning?" Free asked again, his voice soft but clear.
Leo raised the hand she was holding and pumped it energetically. "Not every day, but I try to jog every morning."
"Then what were you doing this morning?" Leo asked back.
Free remembered the pendant. "I found a pendant on the ground. It looks like someone dropped it."
Hearing that, Leo panicked and searched through her clothes. "May I see the pendant you found?" she asked, breathless again.
Free handed it to her. When Leo saw it, she immediately calmed down. "Th-this is my pendant."
Free looked at her carefully. "Are you sure it's yours? Not that I don't believe you," he said calmly but cautiously.
Leo smiled sweetly and took the pendant from his hand. "Looks like you didn't see the picture. Here—this proves it's mine."
She showed the image inside the pendant: a picture of herself with someone whose face could no longer be seen.
Free smiled, relieved he had found the rightful owner. "Thank goodness it wasn't lost or damaged."
"Y-yes. I think I dropped it while running. Thank you for finding it, Free. We just met, but I already owe you," Leo said, her heart pounding.
"It's no problem. I don't consider it a debt at all, so don't worry about it," Free replied.
They looked at each other, silence filling the moment. "Oh, by the way, are you a new student too?" Free asked, breaking the silence.
"No, I'm a third-year," Leo replied, holding up three fingers.
'A senior!?' Free shouted internally.
"If I'm not mistaken, I've heard about someone named Free who defeated Prince Sieba. Was that you?" Leo tilted her head, eyes full of curiosity.
"Yes, that was me. I guess everyone knows about that duel," Free replied.
Leo clapped both hands on Free's shoulders, her strength surprising. Her eyes sparkled. "You're amazing. You just enrolled, yet you already defeated someone like him," she said in admiration.
Before Free could reply, a voice called out from afar. "Leo!"
They both looked over. Leo released Free's shoulders. "Well, it's time for me to go. It was nice talking to you, and thank you again for finding my precious pendant," Leo said before running toward the woman who called her.
Free looked at a puddle reflecting his image. "My heart feels warm. When was the last time I felt like this…"
He watched birds begin to fly freely across the sky as a gentle breeze passed by.