Siersha.
My fiancée.
Our eyes t briefly before she averted her gaze.
I walked closer, and the others took notice of my presence.
Zenith, Pasithea, Heather, and Siersha sat on one side, while Aimar, Elijah, Amaury, and Carson occupied the opposite side.
"Miss , Zenith?"
"Tch, go away."
Zenith clicked her tongue in annoyance.
I smiled at her before I moved toward the side where the boys sat.
"Where were you?" Aimar asked, shifting and squeezing to make space for .
"Can you not find a different place to sit?" Carson grumbled, scowling as the others shifted to accommodate .
"Why don't you find another place, Piston?" I said, smiling at him.
"It's Carson," he replied, glaring at .
"Siersha, he is Himl," Elijah said with a playful smile, introducing . "And Himl, she is your—"
"I know," I cut in, interrupting him. "You don't have to be a middleman."
"What's happening?" Amaury, sensing sothing amiss, asked curiously.
"So, Amaury," I began, testing the waters, "are you Heather's brother?"
"What! No!?" His reaction, as I expected, was dramatic. "The fuck you an brother?"
"Chill down," I said, raising my hand. "I just guessed because of your ears."
He glared at while Heather giggled.
"I told you we look similar," she said, grinning widely.
"We do not," Amaury scoffed.
"They're childhood friends," Elijah chid in with a smile. "Amaury is a prince from Lumina living in Akasha."
"Oh," I mumbled, squinting at his ears. "Say, Amaury, do those extra ears help you hear more or not?"
"I don't know," he grumbled, clearly annoyed by my previous comnt.
"Do you randomly howl when you see a full moon?" I asked, rubbing my chin.
"We are living on the moon, stupid," Zenith said, her voice filled with annoyance.
"Would you fetch a stick if I threw it?" I asked, ignoring her entirely.
"..."
An awkward silence lingered between us.
Heather and Amaury had their mouths half-open while the others glared at .
And their simultaneous glare made uncomfortable.
"I was genuinely curious," I mumbled, shifting my focus toward the cafeteria.
The first thing I noticed was the particular way the tables were arranged.
Not in a physical sense, but in how they were socially arranged.
Starting from the farthest end where the halves sat, the tables moved toward the center—where higher nobility sat.
.....Like us.
A few servants moved gracefully between tables, serving food.
I felt a few curious gazes on —mostly from girls—but chose to ignore them.
A servant our brought food, placing it on the table.
"Are you going on the field trip, Zenith?" Siersha broke the awkward silence between us.
And surprisingly, her voice was soft and pleasant to hear.
Amaury and Elijah also started talking, but I focused on Siersha.
'Field trip, huh?' I wondered, looking down at my food.
It was so fancy lunch with different types of at and a bottle of juice.
"Oh, yeah," Zenith replied with a smile. "Can't miss a free trip to Pasithea's ho."
"I could show you Tamriel anyti you want," Pasithea offered, smiling warmly at Zenith. "Though, I can't promise you'll see Yggdrasil."
"Of course you can't," Carson chid in with a smirk. "It's already half-dead."
"You haven't seen it and never will," Pasithea retorted sharply. "What do you know about its condition?"
"It's common knowledge," Carson said with a shrug. "You elves can't even take care of a tree—"
"Carson." Siersha cut into his words, her voice firm. "Don't start a fight."
"I'm just stating facts," Carson retorted, timidly.
"No one asked for your opinion," she replied coolly, glancing at . "And don't antagonize the elves for no reason."
Oh.
Was that a jab at ?
"Why are you even friends with them?" Carson grumbled, staring at her. "That's why Grandpa doesn't like...."
His words died as Siersha gave him a sharp look that silenced him imdiately.
"By the way, Pasithea," I said, smoothly changing the subject as I slid a piece of paper toward her. "Can you check these questions for ?"
"Sure." She replied, taking the paper and starting to read it.
She imdiately frowned at the first question.
"What is this nonsense?" she asked, looking back at .
"Professor Lirien gave it to ," I explained with a shrug. "Apparently, if I don't solve it, I'm not allowed in her class."
"That's ridiculous," she said, shaking her head. "It's impossible to solve."
'And I just did it, huh?' I thought to myself, looking at her.
Though that makes wonder, would it be good to show my answer to Lirien?
Honestly, I don't want to.
What if she learns sothing from it and makes a breakthrough, finding new ways to use Ruah?
'Nah, fuck her. I am not showing my answers.' Though, it will help a lot.
'Combining mana and Ruah.....' It might be doable.
"How are you going to solve it?" she asked, handing the paper back.
"I'll just complain to Mariam," I said with a shrug. "Lirien can't be a bitch if her boss forces her to let in."
"Wow, you're really good at using your position," Zenith comnted, shooting a dismissive look.
"Yep," I replied, sliding my plate toward her.
"What?" she asked, eyeing it suspiciously.
"I don't have any appetite," I replied with a light shrug. "And you seem hungry."
She squinted her eyes toward , trying to find the reason behind my sudden kindness.
"You are doing this for my mother—"
"Exactly," I replied, smiling.
"I hate you," she grumbled but didn't say no to the free food.
'I knew she wouldn't refuse.' She can't refuse extra fiber with her current condition.
I stood, making my way to the counter.
"I need sothing too," Elijah said, following .
As we reached the counter, I glanced at him.
"Elijah."
"Yeah?"
"Do you like Heather?" I asked, studying his face closely.
"What? No!" he said, shaking his head. "We're just friends."
But the gentle smile and the softness in his voice said otherwise.
"You are blushing," I teasingly said.
"Really?"
"Nope," I replied, looking at the lady. "Two mixed fruit shakes."
"Two?"
"One for you," I replied to Elijah's query. "By the way, are the students finalized for the field trip?"
"Yeah, they sorted that out a while ago," he said, scratching his cheek.
"Is there any way I can join?"
"Not officially, but you could try asking Mariam," he suggested.
"Hm." I took a sip of my shake, mulling over my options. "I will try."
'Should I just let him handle it?' I wondered, glancing at Elijah.
The next event. The attack on Tamriel, the kingdom of elves. The sa event where Tamriel discovers the new World Tree.
'Which is probably dead by now.' I took away what was keeping it alive.
Suppressing the pang of guilt in my chest, I thought about my plans—
"Hey."
I turned to see Siersha standing beside .
Her crimson eyes locked onto mine, her soft lips parting as she spoke.
"We need to talk."
******
An uncomfortable silence lingered in an empty classroom as I sat on a chair.
Siersha sat on a desk, her legs crossed while she looked down on .
I didn't shy away from her gaze as I stared back at her.
Having a closer look, I quietly observed her.
Gorgeous.
I hate to admit it, but she does look great in a way I can't explain.
Maybe it's her crimson eyes and black hair that remind of soone.
Maybe it's because she wasn't the sa depressed girl I rembered from the ga, broken and shadowed.
This version of her carried a different energy—confident, almost intimidating.
And that mole under her lips...
...It's oddly alluring.
"I will be frank," she began, her pleasant voice echoing. "I don't want to marry you."
"Understandable," I replied, nodding casually. "We barely know each other."
"Carson said Grandfather plans to break the engagent in two years." She tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing . "Is it true?"
"Why would I lie?" I shrugged, leaning back in the chair.
"And why would he break it?" she pressed, her arms folding across her chest.
"So he can marry you off to soone else," I replied with a light smile. "You are his precious tool that he doesn't want to waste on ."
"...."
Her expression faltered—just for a second—before she recovered, her face smooth and unreadable again.
Ti passed as she kept quiet.
After a long pause, her lips slowly parted. "....Why?"
I tilted my head.
"Why does he want to break our engagent in two years?"
she explained herself, looking at , a flicker of uneasiness in her crimson eyes.
"Even if I knew, why would I tell you?" I asked, shrugging. "Your entire family is like an enemy to ."
She hesitated before she slowly mumbled, "Is it because you are going to....die?"
I felt my mood imdiately turn sour at her words.
No way. She is smart enough not to reveal it to .
I quickly got a grip on myself, looking at her.
"Stop speaking nonsense," I replied with a dry chuckle. "What does a Vampire know about life—"
"I can use Ruah," she cut into my words. "And I can definitely feel your life energy—"
"Are you stupid!?" I snapped, abruptly standing up. "Do you have any idea what you are doing now?"
This fucking moron.
Does she have to reveal she can use Ruah!?
"Why are you shouting?" she calmly asked, tilting her head.
Is her head empty?
"Because you're an idiot!" I hissed, lowering my voice.
"Do you realize what would happen if anyone—especially the elves—found out you can use Ruah? You'd be dead. Do you get that?"
Elves belittle Vampires for their inability to use Ruah.
It's been going on for ages and will continue to go on in the future.
And she is an anomaly who can use one thing that she shouldn't.
'Even the first head of Valentine Highbloods couldn't do it.'
Her lips curled into a small, almost defiant smile. "Who's going to tell them? You?"
I glared at her. "You think I won't?"
"You won't," she said evenly, tilting her head. "Not if you want to live."
I silently looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"I can help you with your problem," she said, her crimson eyes staring into . "You can live for much longer—"
"What do you want in return?" I asked, cutting to the chase.
Her gaze didn't waver. "Live longer than two years."
I chuckled at her absurd words.
Does she think I am stupid?
Does she really think I will believe such an obvious lie?
I sighed, sinking back in my chair.
'What should I do, Inna?' []
'Great. Thanks for the support.....'
Since I have the problem with my life energy, Siersha was in my mind.
She is one of the easiest ways to replenish my life energy.
Her ability to control Ruah and, at the sa ti, her vampiric nature make it easy for her to do so.
...Worse, she is sensitive to life energy.
Much more sensitive than a normal demigod.
It's not surprising she could tell about my condition.
'It's funny how her grandfather wants to kill , and she is trying to save .'
After a long pause, I asked, "....How?"
"The sa way any vampire drains life energy," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "Except instead of taking, I'll give you mine."
"I refuse." I stood again, shaking my head. "I'm not letting so random girl touch my neck."
"Who said anything about your neck?" she retorted, glaring at . "Your finger will do."
"...."
That's better than showing my neck.
"How much can you restore at once?" I asked, stepping closer.
"Not much," she admitted. "Maybe two days' worth. And before you complain, rember I'll be sacrificing my own life energy for you."
Fuck. I can't even complain now.
I raised my index finger close to her face.
"Before we start, let make sothing clear," she said, her voice firm. "I already have soone I like. Don't get any ideas."
"I have another fiancée," I replied with a shrug. "And a lover as well."
[]
"Two lovers, actually," I corrected myself.
She looked at in disgust, like I was the most revolting creature she'd ever encountered.
Ignoring her disgust, I watched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, took my finger in her hand, and lowered her face.
Her sharp canines glead, a trail of saliva glistening at their tips.
"Will it hurt—Urgh?"
It fucking hurt.
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