Days passed through the land.
The king sat in his chamber, desperately running his hands through his hair.
"Come on, Kuroboshi — you're the damn king! You have to find a solution!"
His voice echoed through the room – only to sink back into silence.
A faint beeping came from the holographic display on his desk.
He hated that technology, but his royal adviser had installed it anyway.
'Shuzo Vynesalic is on his way,' the message flickered across the screen.
Kuroboshi frowned skeptically, then turned away again.
The grinding of his teeth filled the quiet –
and for a brief moment, a deep red glimmer flashed within his otherwise emerald-green eyes.
There had to be something!
Anything!
He clenched his hands into fists, feeling the sting of his claws pressing into his palms – but nothing came to mind.
Only emptiness.
Then the mechanical door hissed open.
A narrow gap – and through it, a pair of muted green eyes peeked in.
Eyes so similar to his own.
"Ah, Shuzo!"
The king forced a smile, though sweat beaded on his forehead.
His fangs glinted faintly as he motioned his son over with a beckoning hand.
"Come in, my boy."
Hesitantly, Shuzo stepped inside – cautious, almost tense.
His eyes swept the room before stopping in front of his father, brows slightly raised.
"You called for me, Father?"
"Yes, exactly."
Kuroboshi nodded, trying to keep his voice steady.
But the silence that followed was suffocating.
Shuzo fidgeted with his fingers behind his back, toying with the small hologram device – a habit Kuroboshi knew all too well.
Unconsciously, he mimicked the gesture himself,
until he cleared his throat and broke the silence.
"So… what did you do today?"
His tone sounded awkwardly casual, almost clumsy.
Shuzo blinked in surprise, then shrugged.
"Nothing special."
He didn't mention that he had tried to hack into the royal security system.
"Good."
It was the only word Kuroboshi managed to get out.
Silence spread once more.
One of those uneasy pauses the king utterly despised —
a hollow space where words seemed meaningless.
"Is Mom sad because of me?"
Shuzo's quiet, trembling voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Kuroboshi froze, taken aback by the question.
For a moment, he searched for words – then answered quickly:
"Nonsense!"
His tone came out firmer than he intended.
He crouched down at once, bringing himself to eye level, and placed a hand on his son's head.
"Your mother loves you more than anything in this world, Shuzo.
She'd only be sad if she knew you were thinking that way."
He searched his son's face for a sign – any trace of emotion.
But Shuzo's expression was empty – indifferent, without the slightest ripple.
From outside, a shout suddenly echoed through the chamber windows:
"Damn it—someone hacked the security system! Now everyone's got a mustache on their profile card— and I shaved for that picture!"
Another guard yelled back, "Has to be rebels, I'm telling you!"
Shuzo barely moved, though he had to suppress a grin.
A faint flicker danced through his toxic-green eyes.
"I see…"
His voice sounded so distant that it pierced Kuroboshi's heart like a blade.
"Shuzo…"
The king let out a deep sigh and took his son's chin in his hand, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Your mother is a witch, and we are guardian vampires. We're not like the other Vynerans—but you already know that, don't you?"
The boy nodded silently, though his eyes revealed nothing.
"We are the guardians of this planet…" Kuroboshi continued.
"Born to protect it. That's our duty. Especially those who carry the pure bloodline—and can hold the Guardian Frenzy…"
He spoke as if trying to convince himself, though he had never really cared for that poetic destiny nonsense.
"I know… the one who controls the lesser gods."
Shuzo's voice was barely a whisper, but his words were clear.
His breathing quickened.
"So… that means you."
Almost admiringly.
For a moment, there was silence.
"Right."
The king straightened, turning toward the window as his gaze drifted over the endless expanse of his kingdom.
"But that doesn't mean we deserve any less peace. Not me… and not you."
Shuzo lifted his chin.
When Kuroboshi turned back to him, his eyes had softened.
"Many Vynerans…"
He paused, a faint trace of a grin crossing his face.
"Our people…", he emphasized,
"…have lost their instincts and now live peaceful, simple lives—thanks to us."
He tilted his head slightly, smiling.
Shuzo's eyes widened.
"Yes, because we're strong."
"One day, you'll be able to live in peace too."
A sentence filled with love.
And yet, within seconds, it shattered the world between them – as Shuzo's smile faded and he stepped back in confusion.
Live in peace?
Kuroboshi's black strands fell across the bridge of his nose as his expression turned questioning – and then Shuzo's voice erupted.
"I DON'T WANT THAT!"
His breathing turned wild, his toxic-green eyes blazing with determination.
Kuroboshi was speechless.
"What?"
"I want to control my instincts! I want to protect Vynesalic! I want to fight— and show the lesser gods where they belong!"
Shuzo took a step forward, his small frame trembling with anger,
his fist clenched tight – ready for battle.
"Shuzo, that's not—"
Kuroboshi almost gasped in disbelief,
but his usually quiet son wasn't finished:
"I don't need peace! I don't want to be like the others! Those stupid manners! Those useless shrines!"
Shuzo's voice kept rising, his words burning hotter and faster.
"I want to see monsters— I want to—"
His tone shifted, almost reverent.
"I want to kill—"
"Shuzo Vynesalic!"
Kuroboshi's voice thundered through the chamber – cutting him off like a blade.
Shuzo flinched, looking up at him, startled,
his voice now quieter, hesitant:
"I just want to be like you, Papa."
Papa.
The word echoed in Kuroboshi's mind.
For the first time, Shuzo had called him that – not Father, but Papa.
It was a small, meaningful victory.
Yet Kuroboshi felt no pride.
Instead, the weight of responsibility pressed heavier than ever upon his shoulders.
"Shuzo…"
The boy lifted his head with hope, his eyes shimmering as they met his father's.
But Kuroboshi couldn't return that gaze.
"That's not possible."
The words scraped from his lips like blades.
It hurt – more than he'd expected.
But what else could he have said?
Shuzo was still a child – too young, too naive.
He didn't understand.
Kuroboshi couldn't pull him into this world of danger.
This wasn't a game.
In Shuzo's eyes, hope died.
His gaze darkened – then came a quiet "Tch!"
Without another word, he turned and ran out.
Kuroboshi stood motionless, staring at the door through which his son had vanished.
The words lingered, echoing in his mind.
To kill… like me?
His fingers dug into the windowsill as his eyes drifted outside.
"I just want to protect you…", he whispered.
And soon enough – he would learn how much that would cost.