Luxcia's P.O.V
Ah… so this is what they meant by a performance.
I found myself stuck with a poker face. I honestly wanted to sleep already but I couldn't!
I mean, it felt like I was just watching a classical concert on TV. There were violins, cellos, and all sorts of instruments playing, while dancers performed ballet at the center of the stage. So this kind of thing exists in their world too? That was surprising. I guess there really are things that connect my world and theirs.
Still… it was incredibly sleep-inducing. Sorry, I just couldn't relate. The music was beautiful too beautiful, actually. It sounded like a lullaby.
Ugh. Hang in there, Luxcia!
You can't fall asleep. Not when the vampires here might kill you. It feels like they already know I'm here… I can sense a few of them staring.
"M-Michael…"
I whispered to the person beside me, who was watching the performance seriously. He turned to me, slightly puzzled.
"What is it?"
I wanted to ask if I could leave, but I might attract even more attention from the audience. So instead, I forced a smile and pretended to be interested.
"T-The music is beautiful…"
He smiled, clearly pleased.
"I'm glad you like it."
And that was the end of our interaction. Good luck, Luxcia. Try not to fall asleep if you don't want to get killed by the creatures who've been watching you this whole time.
I focused back on the performance, and to be fair the story did get better as it went on.
The performance was about a King.
A powerful being feared by all, a king of war.
One day, he fell in love with a young maiden, a fragile and weak creature.
At first, he tried to deny his feelings. But eventually, he accepted them and confessed to her.
Despite her fear, the maiden fell in love with him too.
Every day they spent together felt like a beautiful dream.
Until one day… the maiden died.
That was when the King began to change.
The once great king of war became a king of darkness.
He was consumed by anger and hatred especially toward the kind of beings his beloved once belonged to. Weak creatures. Easily broken.
And so, he swore to wipe them all out.
Meanwhile, in the afterlife, his beloved wept confused and grieving.
Why, instead of accepting and loving her kind, was the one she loved destroying them?
All she could do was cry.
And because of those tears…
the world was split into two.
The performance had ended, and now Michael and I were eating at a nearby place.
I don't know why, but that story... it felt like…
It was about mortals.
Could that be the reason why our worlds were divided?
"Michael… that story earlier. Is that really why your world and ours were separated?"
He turned to me and gave a slight nod.
"No one really knows the truth. It's just hearsay, stories passed down from one generation to another. Some believe it, but many say it's impossible because it's impossible for Koteino Kyrio to fall in love."
"So… it's like folklore? Like a legend?"
"Something like that."
I was about to say more when someone suddenly called from behind.
"Lulo! How's the town?"
I turned around, Elaine!
"Elaine! So you're here already!"
She smiled and sat on the empty chair, followed by Steven and of course, Clide, who was frowning as usual. I immediately got curious.
"So, any news? Did you find it?"
"The Circle of Power is in Mount Galikon," Clide answered while sipping his hot drink.
"And it's guarded by manananggals."
"What?! Manananggals?!"
[ "A manananggal is a fearsome, vampiric Filipino mythical creature, typically female, capable of severing its upper torso from its lower body at night...e.g."]
I shot up from my seat. Clide frowned and looked at me.
"They're real?!"
He raised a brow, clearly annoyed.
"Just eat your food, mortal."
Ugh! I swear, this guy is so annoying. Why did I even ask him?
I turned to Elaine and Steven instead, they're way nicer. Unlike Mr. Menopause over there.
"They're real?"
"Yes, Lulu. Why?" Steven asked while chewing.
I don't know why, but instead of being scared of the creatures guarding the Circle of Power… I felt excited.
"Nothing… I just thought they were stories old people used to tell back home. Turns out they're real."
I gave a wide grin. The kind that would embarrass a normal person, but I was proud of it.
"Tss, what's wrong with this woman…" Clide muttered like he's always going through something.
I really wanted to say, Was I even talking to you? But instead, I just glared at him while trying to calm myself down so I wouldn't stab him with my fork.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
I forced a smile and went back to eating.
Tsk. So tempting to hit you, Clide. Good thing you're handsome.
"Seriously, brother, why do you always pick on Lulu?" Elaine cut in.
"Also, Lulo, you need to start combat training."
"Huh?! Training? W-When?"
All I know is taekwondo and a bit of judo! I let out a sigh.
Right… I'm here to save their world.
Not to go to a vacation.
"Tomorrow. But for now, let's enjoy ourselves!"
Elaine smiled, the kind of smile that feels like she's planning something later.
"Make the most of it. There might not be a next time," Clide added, his voice as cold as ice, face completely blank.
I glanced at him.
Way to kill the mood. Seriously.
"Man, you're such a buzzkill," Steven said.
"Don't mind him, Lulu." He even winked at me.
I smiled and rolled my eyes at Clide.
Tsk. Ruiner of happiness.
"Wait… is that a Lierex around your neck, Lulu?" Elaine suddenly asked.
I nodded.
"Wow!!! What's your Cien's name?!"
"Cisn."
She suddenly jumped and clapped like a kid who just won at an arcade.
"Hahaha! Bro, I'm impressed, you've been babysitting a crazy sister all along!" Steven laughed.
Clide just sighed. And because of Steven's comment, Elaine immediately smacked him on the head.
Steven sat back down, holding his head, while Clide went back to his usual frown.
"Elaine, just for once… can you not act crazy? Did you forget to take your medicine again?" Clide said, clearly annoyed and sarcastic.
Since they were sitting close, Elaine stepped on Steven's foot and smacked her brother on the head too.
"Ow!"
We all burst out laughing, it was literally a comedy show in front of our food.
"Wow! You guys are such a sweet family," Michael commented, laughing as well.
That made it even worse, we all ended up laughing together.
"Hahaha! You are so nice to your sister, Clide," I teased, lightly hitting his arm.
He looked at me with a blank expression… then just rolled his eyes.
And just like that, he went back to being the vampire version of a poker face.
"Keep it down or I might end up hitting you instead. And you, Elaine, just wait until later."
"Hey, you started it!" Elaine shot back, pointing at her brother.
We tried to keep eating while holding in our laughter. It was impossible! It felt like there was a full-on comedy battle happening right in front of us.
This is so hard, seriously.
Hahahaha!
We finished eating, and I swear, the food was amazing!
We wandered around the town, going in and out of different buildings, until we entered one that looked like a coliseum.
It was made of black stone with glowing red lines running across its walls. The moment we stepped inside, I was nearly deafened by the cheers and screams of vampires all around us.
The arena was packed with creatures, sharp ears, pale skin, and dazzling eyes. Some of them were even floating in midair, watching from above.
At the center was a massive circular space, like a court. I also noticed red crystals hanging from the ceiling, lighting up the entire place.
Then, five men stepped into the center, strong, well-built, each wearing their own armor.
And suddenly...
A gigantic serpent emerged from below.
It was enormous, black, with gleaming scales and glowing red eyes. It was even bigger than the dragons in movies.
"Oh my gosh!" I shouted.
I wasn't ready for what came next.
They started playing a sport, something almost like basketball but the ball shimmered like a pearl, and the goal wasn't a hoop…
It was a large container suspended above the giant serpent's head.
And that's when I started screaming.
Literally.
"Wooooohh!! Behind you! Ahh! Jump! Waaaah! Look out! Dodge! Waaaaahhh!" I yelled, my whole body shaking with excitement.
At one point, I even covered my eyes when the serpent nearly swallowed one of the players.
"Waaahhh! Is he dead?! Is he dead?!"
But no!
He suddenly leaped like he was flying and shot the ball straight into the container!
"WAAAAAAHHHH!! IDOOOOLLL!" I screamed, completely losing it as I kept hitting the person beside me out of pure excitement.
"Hey! You're so loud and why do you keep hitting me?! Elaine! Switch with me!" Clide shouted, clearly beyond annoyed.
That only made me laugh harder. His forehead was probably starting to wrinkle from all the irritation.
He shot me a glare like he wanted to devour me alive.
"What?! Why are you laughing like that?! Is something funny, huh?!"
Tss. This guy is seriously grumpy.
I just ignored him and kept watching the game.
He can deal with his own life.
We stepped out of the building, and I swear I had completely lost my voice. My throat hurt so much, like I had just survived a grand finals karaoke battle.
But it was worth it!
That was so much fun.
Even now, Clide kept staring at me with a deep frown. He probably got even more annoyed because of me.
Hahahaha.
"Brother, we're already outside. You can stop staring at Lulu like that," Elaine teased.
"Hahaha! So, Clide can you still hear properly?" Steven joked.
"Wow, Lulu, you're something else," Michael said, laughing as well.
Clide's brows were tightly furrowed, the irritation on his face getting more and more obvious.
"Next time, don't ever let this mortal watch something like that again!"
And just like that Mr. Menopause stormed off.
Elaine, Steven, and I looked at each other
then burst out laughing.
They followed Clide, teasing him as they went, but I stayed behind for a moment. I just stood there, watching them walk farther away.
My smile slowly widened as I watched them laughing together.
It feels… nice.
To have people who accept you. To joke around with. To have someone who makes you happy...
even if they belong to another world.
Even if I somehow ended up here…
I think I'm starting to like it.
I was about to follow them when...
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck my head.
It felt like something was exploding inside my mind, and then...
a man's voice echoed within me.
"Luxcia…"
The voice was filled with sadness. Cold. Deep.
And somehow…
familiar.
"Why did you come back…? Luxcia… run away…"
W-Who are you…?
I wanted to ask, but I couldn't move.
And then...
"AHHHHHHH!!"
I clutched my head and screamed as the pain split through me, like my skull was being torn apart.
Then I felt a hand grip my shoulder, firm, urgent, trying to keep me from collapsing.
"Mortal! Luxcia! Luxcia! What's happening to you?!"
I heard Clide's voice, but my vision was already blurring.
Everything around me started spinning.
The ground felt like it was shaking.
The world twisted and turned.
The pain grew worse and then everything went dark.