On a vast field cloaked in dense mana, the outside world could not glimpse what transpired within. The air shimmered with energy—a concealed training ground reserved for the extraordinary.
Two figures stood facing each other.
Zara, her silver and red hair tied back in a high ponytail, wore a fitted black shirt and pants. Her hands clenched tightly around a wooden training sword, knuckles pale with tension. The field was quiet, but her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Opposite her stood a striking woman with fiery red hair, a body sculpted by war, and an aura that screamed predator.
Nyssa—warrior, legend, and now Zara's instructor—regarded her with a slight smile.
"This is a test," she said. "I won't teach you weapons until I see what you're made of. Prepare yourself."
Zara offered a strained smile, a bead of sweat trailing down her temple.
Her mind flashed back to the night before…
Lilith had invited her to dinner with her parents. She'd agreed without hesitation. But midway through the meal, Lucien—Lilith's father—had casually turned the conversation toward training.
Then, without warning, he looked at Nyssa and said,
"Why don't you train her?"
Zara had blinked, opening her mouth to politely decline—but Nyssa's eyes had already gleamed with something dangerous, like a predator spotting fresh prey.
Back in the present, Zara's grip tightened around her sword.
Damn it, Lilith. You didn't warn me about this kind of dinner.
Nyssa shifted her stance slightly—just a twitch, but enough to send a chill down Zara's spine.
"Don't hold back, little one," Nyssa said, her smile widening. "You're mine now."
Then she vanished.
Zara's breath caught. Her eyes darted around, scanning the shimmering field in panic.
Where—?!
She felt it.
A presence behind her.
Instinct took over. She dropped and rolled across the ground. A breeze kissed her neck—Nyssa's strike had missed her by inches.
Zara came to a stop, dirt smudging her sleeves. She spun around and locked eyes with her teacher.
Nyssa stood where Zara had just been. Her red hair swayed gently, and her golden eyes sparkled with wild excitement.
"Well, well," she said, amused. "Not bad."
Zara didn't hesitate. She surged forward with a sharp breath, slashing her wooden sword toward Nyssa's midsection.
Nyssa didn't even blink.
With fluid grace, she caught the blade mid-swing. The wood clacked against her palm—stopped cold.
Zara froze, panting.
Nyssa's expression remained calm. Confident. Unshaken.
"Good instincts," she said softly, her voice like a blade. "But predictable."
Before Zara could pull back, Nyssa's hand cut through the air—sharp, precise—and struck the back of her neck.
Thud.
Zara's eyes widened in shock. Her sword slipped from her grasp. Her knees buckled. The world spun—and went black.
She collapsed.
Nyssa stood over her, unreadable.
Then, a smirk tugged at her lips. She turned her gaze toward the shimmering mana barrier surrounding the field.
Mockingly, as if speaking to the wind, she called out:
"Hey Lilith dear, if you're that worried, come take her."
Her tone darkened.
"And from tomorrow onward, you're not allowed here."
With that, she vanished—like smoke fading into the breeze.
Behind the tall training wall, unseen until now, Lilith stepped out, her face pale with worry. She ran forward and dropped to her knees beside Zara's unconscious body.
Gently, her fingers brushed a lock of silver-red hair from Zara's cheek.
"...You idiot," she whispered, voice trembling.
She cradled Zara carefully, eyes shimmering with emotion.
"I told you Nyssa's training is cruel… and you didn't listen."
"That wasn't even the beginning. Just a test."
With a soft sigh, Lilith lifted Zara into her arms and began walking toward her room.
High above, on a rooftop, Lucien observed in silence. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
"So, Seris... she really loves her, huh?"
Seris, standing beside him, smiled faintly as she watched the two figures below.
"I believe she does."
Lucien rested a hand on the railing, his expression unreadable.
"Didn't she say she'd never fall for anyone?"
Seris glanced at him, a knowing smile playing at her lips.
"That's exactly what Nyssa said... remember?"
"Tch. Whatever."
Lucien turned and melted into the shadows, leaving Seris alone as the wind played with her hair.
—
Lilith carried Zara gently to her room, footsteps soft and deliberate. She laid her down on the bed with care, making sure not to disturb her rest.
Quietly, she sat beside her.
With tender fingers, she brushed a stray strand from Zara's face. Her gaze lingered—filled with affection. Slowly, she reached out and took Zara's hand in her own.
A faint smile curved her lips. After a moment, she lay down beside her, pulling her into a protective embrace.
Wrapped in stillness and moonlight, she held her close.
Suddenly, bruises on Zara's skin began to fade. A blood-red shimmer spread across her body, healing her wounds in seconds. The glow cast an eerie, gentle light across the room.
Lilith's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh? Her healing power awakened already… But that usually takes two years for a newborn vampire."
She paused, then smiled softly.
"Well… I suppose that's a good thing."
Lilith murmured, tracing the fading mark. "I want to know every inch of her skin."
She tightened her arms around Zara, closed her eyes, and slowly drifted into sleep—peacefully cradling the girl she loved.