The deep, velvety shadows of the room lingered long after the sun had scaled the horizon, holding the second floor of House 132 in a state of artificial twilight. On the narrow cot, Elicia stirred from her pillowless sleep, her silver hair spilling across the sheets as she sat up. She let out a long, luxurious morning yawn, stretching her arms above her head until her joints popped satisfyingly.
"My goodness, That mattress certainly leaves a lot to be desired, but at least the district is quiet."
Her gaze drifted downward to the floorboards beside the bed. There I lay, curled up on my side with the single plush pillow tucked beneath my head. My massive crimson blood wings were draped over my body like a heavy, protective mantle, their translucent membranes pulsing with a very faint, dormant jade-green light. I was completely dead to the world, buried in the deep, unmoving slumber that only a exhausted high-tier vampire could fall into after days of relentless hunting.
Elicia frowned slightly as she noticed how pitch-black the corners of the room still were. In the dim, heavy darkness, the vibrant colors of the bedroom… the floral wallpaper, the dark mahogany trim, the silver frame of the empty mirror… were entirely washed out into shades of dreary gray. Thinking that a little natural ambiance would be the perfect, refreshing way to wake her little sister and bring some life back into the space, Elicia swung her legs out of bed.
"A room this dark isn't good for the spirit, Ren,bLet's get some proper morning color in here."
With a swift, cheerful motion, she grasped the heavy velvet drapes and pulled them wide open.
A brilliant, blinding torrent of pristine morning sunlight flooded into the bedroom, cutting through the shadows like an unholy blade. Because I had slept without a single blanket to shield me, my bare skin and exposed white dress were completely vulnerable. The moment those golden beams of concentrated solar energy slammed into my body, a violent, agonizing chemical reaction ignited within my demonic physiology.
It didn't just feel hot; it felt as though liquid white phosphorus had been poured directly into my veins. The intense solar radiation tore through my flesh, triggering the absolute, high-tier allergic reaction inherent to my vampire bloodline.
My sleeping body violently jolted awake, my spine arching off the hardwood floor as a white-hot, agonizing burning sensation erupted across every square inch of my skin. Searing white smoke began to wispy-trail off my arms and face, and the agonizing heat scorched my sensitive, pulsing wing membranes.
The quiet sanctuary of the bedroom was instantly shattered as a raw, blood-curdling scream of pure agony tore from my throat… a sound I hadn't made since the day my tongue was severed in Manila. My single jade-green eye snapped wide open, dilated with absolute, animalistic panic as I thrashed wildly on the floor, trying desperately to crawl away from the blinding light that was actively turning my cells to ash.
Elicia's heart completely stopped. The cheerful smile vanished from her face, replaced by a look of absolute, unadulterated horror as she realized the catastrophic mistake she had just made.
"Ren?!" she shrieked in terror.
Spurred by pure, adrenaline-fueled panic, Elicia lunged back toward the window. She grabbed the edges of the velvet curtains and slammed them shut with enough force to nearly tear the wooden rod from the drywall. The heavy drapes came together with a deafening thud, plunging the bedroom back into absolute, suffocating darkness and cutting off the murderous sunlight in an instant.
The echo of my scream still vibrated in the quiet room as the heavy velvet curtains slammed shut, returning the bedroom to a safe, dim twilight. I collapsed back onto the floorboards, curling inward as my massive crimson blood wings wrapped tightly around myself like a protective shield, trembling violently from the sheer shock of the burn.
Within seconds, Elicia was down on her knees beside me, her elegant face pale with absolute panic and remorse.
"Little Ren! Little Ren, are you okay?! Oh my goodness, I am so, so sorry! I completely forgot you're allergic to sunlight now!"
I slowly unfurled my wings, a soft, ragged wheeze escaping my throat. The damage was visible… where the harsh morning beams had struck my bare arms and face, my pale skin had broken out into nasty, angry red blisters that were still lightly smoking in the dimness.
"It's... it's okay, big sister, The sun was just... highly effective. I am still functional."
"It is absolutely not okay, Wait, let me heal you right now." Elicia said, her maternal instincts kicking into absolute overdrive. She shook her head fiercely, a warm, comforting glow beginning to radiate from her palms.
Closing her eyes, Elicia channeled her incredible divine regeneration. A beautiful, shimmering aura of pure, warm golden light bloomed from her hands, washing over my blistered skin like a cool, soothing wave of fresh water. The agonizing, fiery sting vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, comforting coolness that traveled all the way down to my fingertips.
Under the gentle influence of her power, the red marks and blisters rapidly faded away. The damaged skin knit itself back together perfectly, smoothing over until every single trace of the sunburn was entirely gone, leaving my complexion as pristine and flawless as it had been before the curtains were opened.
I let out a long, relieved sigh, my body finally relaxing against the plush pillow as the last of the pain dissolved.
"Thank you, big sister," I murmured softly, my wings giving a loose, comfortable flutter.
Elicia let out a breathless, relieved laugh of her own, gently stroking my silver hair.
"Don't mention it, Ren. But from now on, those curtains stay closed until sundown!"
Elicia let out a small, nervous chuckle, brushing a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear as she looked down at me with a sheepish, pleading expression.
"Hey... don't tell your brother about this, alright? Little Ren? If he finds out I accidentally roasted you with morning sunlight, I will never hear the end of it. He'll revoke my riding privileges on his shadow beasts forever." she whispered softly, glancing toward the bedroom door as if Elias might materialize out of the shadows just to lecture her.
I couldn't help but let out a tiny, rare huff of amusement, my fangs peeking out slightly.
"Yes, big sister. The secret is entirely safe with me."
"Oh, thank goodness, Now that you're completely healed, let's head downstairs to prepare our breakfast. I'm sure Evelyn and Elias are already starving." Elicia sighed, her maternal warmth returning in full force as she stood up and smoothed down her elegant robes.
As I started to push myself up from the floor, I looked down at my white dress and my shoulders slumped. While Elicia's divine regeneration had completely healed my skin, it hadn't done any favors for my clothing. The fabric across my shoulders and sleeves was scorched, brittle, and stained with faint streaks of gray ash from the sudden solar flare. It looked thoroughly ruined.
"Big sister, I will change my clothes, Can you please leave the room for a few moments?"
"Oh, of course, dear! Take your time," Elicia agreed instantly, offering a warm nod. She stepped gracefully toward the door, slipping out into the hallway and closing it quietly behind her.
The room fell into a deep, comforting silence, illuminated only by the faint lines of morning light peeking around the edges of the heavy velvet curtains. Left entirely alone in the dim safety of my bedroom, I let out a long, slow breath, my massive crimson wings giving a relaxed, heavy stretch before folding neatly against my spine. I turned toward my wardrobe, ready to find something clean and fresh for the day ahead.
Stepping over to the heavy oak wardrobe, I began the quiet process of changing out of the ruined outfit. I peeled away the scorched, ash-stained dress and my soiled undergarments, dropping them with a soft rustle into the wicker laundry basket in the corner of the room. Without the fabric covering me, the cool morning air brushed against my pale skin, causing my massive crimson wings to give a slight, involuntary shiver.
I opened the top drawer of my dresser, pulling out a fresh set of lace undergarments. Next, I reached for a clean, breathable white chemise, slipping it over my head before layering a beautifully stitched, deep forest-green kirtle over it. I tightly laced the bodice, adjusting the fabric so my crimson wing joints could comfortably extend from the custom-tailored slits in the back.
Stepping in front of the blank mirror out of habit, I smoothed down the long, flowing skirt. The outfit was surprisingly cute… simple, elegant, and perfectly resembling the attire of a normal, peaceful townsperson.
"I look completely ordinary," I whispered to myself in English, a faint smile touching my lips.
For a ruthless bounty hunter, blending in like a regular citizen was a rare, comforting luxury.
Satisfied, I turned the brass knob, opened the bedroom door, and made my way down the creaking wooden stairs.
As I stepped into the ground floor living area, the delicious aroma of sizzling breakfast foods filled the air. Sitting at the long wooden dining table was Evelyn. My eyes widened slightly in surprise as I noticed she was fully dressed in a pristine Luminous Knight uniform. The crisp white and brilliant scarlet fabrics fitted her voluptuous frame perfectly, complete with a sharp pleated skirt and polished, high-heeled boots that clicked against the floorboards.
Evelyn perked up instantly, the bioluminescent green tips of her hair flaring with a bright, cheerful glow as she waved enthusiastically.
"You're finally here, big sister! Wow, look at you! You look so sweet and domestic! Where's the scary phantom who threatens to tickle people?" she chirped loudly, her mischievous eyes scanning my simple dress.
Sitting right beside her was Elias. The oldest brother had his heavy leather duster slung over the back of his chair, looking thoroughly relaxed as he sipped from a steaming mug of black tea. He was holding up a fresh copy of the Caria Times, his sharp green eyes scanning the front-page headlines regarding local district politics and bounty updates.
Hearing my footsteps, Elias lowered the newspaper just enough to look over the top of the pages, offering me a rare, genuinely fond smile.
"Morning, Weird Eyes, Glad to see you finally crawled out of bed. Sit down, Grandma's practically making enough food to feed a whole vanguard battalion." he greeted, his rough voice carrying a warm, brotherly tone.
"Sure, let's meet in the kitchen," I murmured, my flat deadpan cutting through Evelyn's early-morning energy. I turned away from the dining table, leaving Elias to his newspaper and Evelyn to her pristine uniform, and glided down the short, narrow hallway that led to the back of House 132.
When I stepped across the threshold, the familiar, sharp scent of dried herbs, vinegar, and faint chemical residue washed over me. The kitchen was exactly as it had always been… a bizarre, high-stakes junction between a quaint domestic cooking space and a lethal black-market laboratory. Rows of glass vials, clay mortars, and specialized brass funnels lined the rear shelves, surrounded by crates of sulfur, crushed nightshade, and the raw chemical components I meticulously harvested to brew my tactical tear gases and mustard gas canisters.
However, a massive change had occurred since yesterday. The chaotic piles of hazardous glass tubes, filtering cloths, and toxic powder bins had been aggressively cleared off the main wooden counter. Someone had meticulously scrubbed the prep area clean, pushing all my lethal gear into the deep corners of the pantry to make a clean, safe space for actual food preparation.
Standing right in the center of this newly cleared space was Elicia. She was humming a soft, elegant melody under her breath, gracefully pouring boiling water into a porcelain teapot while a neat stack of thick, golden brown toast rested on a ceramic plate beside her.
But my entire body locked up the moment I looked past her. The kitchen was absolutely, terrifyingly bright.
Elicia had gone around the entire room and aggressively yanked open every single set of heavy velvet curtains. The brilliant, harsh morning sunlight was pouring through the glass windows in massive, unbroken sheets of gold, illuminating every speck of dust in the air and bathing the wooden floorboards in a radiant, lethal glow.
Instinct overrode my logic. My heart hammered against my ribs, and my massive crimson blood wings gave a sharp, terrified twitch beneath my forest-green kirtle. I violently threw myself backward, retreating into the deep, suffocating shadow cast by the large pantry cabinet near the doorway. I pressed my back flat against the cool wood, my single jade-green eye dilated with pure, unadulterated panic as I stared at the bright patterns of light covering the floor just inches away from my boots. The memory of my skin blistering and smoking just an hour ago was entirely fresh, and my brain was screaming at me to stay in the dark.
Elicia turned around, holding a plate of butter knives, and blinked as her crimson eyes scanned the room.
"Hey, little Ren, I didn't see you there." she called out, her voice filled with a sudden, puzzled warmth.
Then, her gaze tracked downwards, locking onto my tense, rigid form squeezed into the narrow sliver of darkness behind the cabinet. She saw the absolute terror in my posture, the way I was actively shielding my face from the light, completely traumatized by the solar radiation. A profound wave of guilt and deep maternal sadness washed over her elegant face. Her shoulders slumped, and she set the plate down with a soft, sympathetic sigh.
"Oh, Ren..."
Elicia murmured softly, her voice dropping into that quiet, fiercely protective octave. She walked across the kitchen, her boots stepping fearlessly through the golden rays until she stopped right at the edge of my shadow boundary. She looked down at my petite frame, her eyes crinkling with immense affection.
"You can't hide in the shadows forever, little Ren. Not in your own home."
Before I could protest or sink deeper into the dark, big sister reached out. Her soft, delicate palm pressed firmly over my pale hand, her fingers wrapping securely around mine.
Instantly, she didn't chant, she didn't draw a magic circle, and she didn't need any of the medical supplies lining my shelves. A brilliant, blindingly pure white warmth erupted from her fingertips, flooding straight into my core. It was her legendary, god-tier Divine Regeneration mana, but structured into that brilliant, advanced continuous-nullification loop we had tested back on the dirt roads of Tata. The specialized spell instantly wove itself into my Phase 5 circulatory system, creating a passive, real-time heat shield that would instantly erase cellular solar damage at the exact microsecond of contact.
"All done, You're now entirely safe from the sunlight." Elicia beamed, her voice radiating absolute confidence as the white glow faded from her skin. She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze
I stared at her for a moment, my jaw tight as I looked from her smiling face down to the harsh line of gold burning on the floorboards right in front of me. Breathing a shaky, cautious sigh, I chose to place my absolute trust in my big sister.
Slowly, deliberately, I extended my right arm out of the pantry's shadow. I let my pale, bare fingers cross the threshold, plunging my hand directly into the center of a bright, glaring beam of morning sunlight.
I braced myself for the agonizing, blistering heat of incineration… but nothing happened. The moment the golden rays touched my skin, a microscopic, faint pulse of Elicia's white mana flickered across my knuckles, instantly neutralizing the radiation before it could even register as pain. There was no smoke, no redness, and absolutely no signs of burning. The harsh sun felt like nothing more than a gentle, pleasant warmth radiating against my skin.
A profound wave of relief washed through my chest, and my wings gave a loose, happy flutter beneath my dress. I looked up at her, my single jade-green eye softening with deep, genuine gratitude.
"Thank you, Elicia, Your magic are... exceptionally flawless."