"Um… Big sister, Natsuki‑juu said sneaking into places like this is wrong."
Flandre frowned, watching her sister cast the illusion magic to avoid recognition. Both sisters knew magic—besides being vampires, they also carried devil blood. Magic was something devils and witches mastered. Remilia had an Elemental Witch nearby, skilled in Elemental magic. While Remilia couldn't learn that fully, she was adept in basic magic—like illusions.
Flandre's magical talent surpassed Remilia's; Remilia excelled at close combat, while Flandre specialized in both magic and destruction. Flandre even had the magical girl motif.
"Shh… Flandre wants to make new friends, right?"
Remilia quickly shushed her, face full of urgency. The illusion allowed them to sneak in—so long as they stayed silent, they wouldn't be detected.
"Um… Flandre obviously wants to make new friends."
Flandre pouted, entirely confident.
"That's the idea. I'm doing this so Flandre can meet more friends—and Ren agreed!"
"Eh! Big brother agreed? Then it's settled!"
Flandre threw Natsuki's words out of her mind. Watching all this, Remilia suddenly felt a pang of sadness. If it were her… she'd probably be in the same situation. For some unknown reason, Flandre's impression of Ren was far higher than her own—or even Natsuki's! Even though Natsuki was the elder sister, Remilia thought she'd have more favor. Then again, as Ren would note, Remilia locked Flandre away so long…
Realizing they could sneak in, Flandre made silly faces around everyone—silent, but radiating strange charm.
Watching this, Remilia sighed, grabbed Flandre, and headed upstairs. She sensed a chill above—a presence of something strong. The beasts had merit. If she wanted to become the Fourth Primogenitor, she'd need to consume them at the Banquet of Flames, tucking them into her blood.
As she pulled Flandre onward, she murmured to herself: if those beasts were powerful, they might reject her. From what Ren said, these beasts had awareness—not just magical constructs.
Stepping into the chamber, the sight before them appeared. Enormous ice blocks like a polar glacier surrounded a petite figure in a cryogenic coffin. A girl roughly their height lay inside, her skin translucent pale, face unnaturally perfect. Her light blond hair refracted sunlight like a prism.
Even Flandre gasped: "So beautiful!"
Remilia nodded thoughtfully: "Indeed."
Remilia studied her appearance carefully. If she had potential, she'd acknowledge it. But—
"She's even prettier than me. Maybe her dignity is even higher."
A cold glint appeared in Flandre's eyes.
"How could that be! I, Remilia, am no one's rival when it comes to dignity!"
As expected, Remilia panicked, hands on hips, exuding full regal pride. But Flandre's gaze wandered to the girl's icy physique. Then, comparing heights, Flandre coldly stated reality: "Sis, she seems taller than you…"
"Hmph… it's just some spare flesh!"
Remilia turned away, hiding her envy. Flandre chuckled.
As she leaned closer, a chill made her shiver. "Sis, it's cold."
Though the cold wasn't harmful, Flandre still found it unsettling. Remilia refocused and observed: "Yes… magic is already leaking at this level before she's even awakes. A primogenitor? Intriguing, no?"
Flandre's curiosity peaked: "Sis, for such a beautiful sister, will you consume her?"
She wasn't cruel—just excited to have another vampire friend. Remilia waved off the sentiment, not shutting it down completely.
"It depends. From what I can tell, this body merely hosts a beast. Consuming her into my blood is just another form of existence. Later, when I'm stronger—or back in Gensokyo—I can have Patchouli make a new body for her. Then she can live freely!"
Treating potential allies well. In Remilia's view, if she lives in her blood and shares the same body, she's one of her own.
Looking at Flandre, she nodded, not saying more, then whispered: "Let's move this away…"
Remilia stepped forward, magical energy swirling around her hand. Suddenly, her expression hardened. She sensed something entering her line of sight—another vampire like herself.
"A vampire? Stealing from me—die!"
Blood light flared. With crimson radiance, Remilia summoned: "Gungnir!"