Lysara was pouting.

  Not because she was scared. Not because she was upset.

  But because she was bored.

  Valerius had been silent for way too long.

  They had set up camp near a ruined watchtower, resting after the chaos of their escape. Lysara sat on a rock, kicking her feet like an impatient child, her blue eyes shimmering under the firelight.

  Valerius stood nearby, arms crossed, staring into the distance like a brooding statue. His jaw was clenched, his crimson gaze unreadable.

  Lysara sighed dramatically.

  This man is impossible.

  "You know," she drawled, tilting her head. "For someone who just lost his entire empire, you sure are quiet."

  Valerius didn’t react.

  She narrowed her eyes. "Are you secretly crying inside?"

  Nothing.

  Lysara huffed.

  Then, she crawled toward him and poked his arm.

  Still nothing.

  Another poke.

  Nothing.

  A third poke, this time with a mischievous grin. "Helloooo? Mr. Broody Vampire?"

  Finally, Valerius sighed. "What do you want, Lysara?"

  She beamed, resting her chin on her hands. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering if you have any feelings in that cold, dead heart of yours."

  Valerius raised a brow. "Says the woman who enjoys watching battles like a stage py."

  Lysara gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "Excuse you! That is called strategic enthusiasm."

  Valerius rolled his eyes. "You were smiling the entire time."

  Lysara giggled. "Okay, fine, maybe just a little. But can you bme me? Strategy is fun!" She leaned in, eyes sparkling. "You have to admit, my pn worked perfectly. Without me, you’d be very dead right now."

  Valerius smirked slightly. "Without you, I wouldn’t have been distracted enough to let us get ambushed in the first pce."

  She gasped, scandalized. "How dare you bme me for your ck of awareness!"

  "I was too busy making sure you didn’t trip over a rock," he deadpanned.

  Lysara huffed, crossing her arms. "I am a genius strategist. I don’t trip."

  "You tripped twice earlier."

  "That was an illusion. You saw nothing."

  Valerius actually chuckled at that. It was low, brief—but it was real.

  Lysara blinked. Did I just… make him ugh?

  For a moment, she simply stared at him, surprised.

  He wasn’t as cold as he pretended to be.

  She had known that for a while, but now it was obvious. There was something more to Valerius—something beyond his terrifying strength and unreadable demeanor.

  And for some reason… she liked it.

  Lysara asked a random question,

  "For some reason, why did the lycans decide to invade now, if they can always destroy your kingdom as it was nothing, your kingdom has been so unstoppable for many of us humans... for the longest time"

  "But because of the defenses of Lirielle than the other Kingdoms, there's no way you can penetrate us" Lysara continues.

  Before Valerius could say anything, the sound of galloping hooves broke the moment.

  Valerius stiffened. His eyes snapped toward the darkness.

  Lysara’s pyful expression faded.

  Someone was coming. Fast.

  And then—

  A figure burst from the shadows, sword gleaming under the moonlight.

  Valerius barely had time to block.

  CLANG!

  The force sent him skidding back.

  Lysara’s breath hitched. "Aris?!"

  Her handmaiden stood before her, eyes sharp with fury. She was no longer in her usual soft silks—she was cd in armor, her golden eyes burning with determination.

  "Liri," Aris breathed, relief fshing across her face before her gaze turned ice-cold, locking onto Valerius. She raised her bde. "Step away from her, vampire."

  Valerius adjusted his stance, crimson eyes flickering with amusement. "Another interruption. How tiresome."

  Aris didn’t wait. She attacked.

  Valerius met her strike, sword against sword, sparks flying as the two warriors cshed.

  Lysara stumbled back, watching in awe.

  Aris was fast.

  Faster than any human should be.

  Her strikes were fluid, precise, almost unnatural.

  Valerius, despite his strength, was forced to dodge.

  Lysara’s heart pounded. Since when was Aris this strong?!

  Aris twisted, bde fshing. Valerius barely leaned back in time.

  He smirked. "You’re good."

  Aris didn’t respond. She pushed forward, forcing him back.

  Then—she disappeared.

  Valerius’s eyes widened.

  Impossible.

  She reappeared behind him.

  Her bde sliced through the air.

  Valerius twisted just in time, catching the bde against his cws. The impact sent a shockwave through the ruins.

  Lysara screamed, covering her ears.

  Something was wrong.

  Aris shouldn’t be this strong.

  Then—

  Her eyes darkened.

  Bck. Abyssal.

  Her body shifted.

  Her nails elongated into cws.

  Her presence became inhuman.

  Lysara felt her stomach drop.

  Valerius’s smirk faded. “An Abyssal Lycan.”

  Lysara’s world tilted.

  She… what?

  Aris turned to her, expression softer. "Liri…"

  Lysara took a step back. No....

  No, no, no.

  Her most loyal companion was a monster.

  Valerius exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "So this is what you’ve been hiding."

  Aris didn’t answer.

  Instead, she attacked.

  Valerius met her mid-air.

  The ruins trembled.

  Lysara’s pulse raced.

  The ground cracked beneath them.

  Their movements were inhuman.

  It wasn’t just a battle of swords anymore.

  It was monstrous.

  Valerius vanished, reappearing behind Aris. His cws sshed—

  She dodged.

  She lunged.

  Her bde scraped his cheek.

  Blood dripped.

  But then—

  Valerius moved faster.

  With monstrous force, he smmed her into the ground, cws at her throat.

  Aris gasped, struggling.

  “Stop!” Lysara’s voice rang out, sharp and clear.

  In that instant, Aris took a step back, her breathing controlled but heavy. Valerius, on the other hand, merely tilted his head, as if wondering why Lysara had interrupted.

  Lysara took a deep breath and stepped between them, spreading her arms wide. “Aris, you can’t win.”

  Aris’ grip on her sword tightened. “Liri, get out of the way—”

  “No, you don’t understand.” Lysara turned to Aris, her eyes soft yet firm. “If Valerius really wanted us dead, we would already be dead.” She turned to face Valerius now, her sapphire-blue gaze locking with his crimson one. “Right?”

  Valerius didn’t respond immediately. He simply studied her, then let out a low chuckle. “You’re not as naive as you look.”

  Aris hesitated, her golden eyes darting between them. Her breathing slowed as the tension in her shoulders eased, but her expression remained wary. “Then what does he want with you?”

  Before Lysara could answer, Aris spoke again. “Liri, step away from him. He’s dangerous.”

  Lysara puffed her cheeks in frustration. “I know that! But Aris, he’s not the one we should be fighting.”

  Aris remained tense, her fingers still curled around her weapon.

  Then, finally, she lowered her sword.

  “…Then let me expin myself.”

  Lysara blinked, confused. “Expin what?”

  Aris exhaled deeply before meeting Lysara’s gaze. “I’m not like the other lycans, Liri.”

  Lysara’s eyes widened. “What…?”

  Aris sighed, sheathing her sword. “I’m not one of them. I was raised by a human. That’s why I came looking for you—I was never on their side to begin with.”

  Lysara’s heart pounded as memories fshed through her mind.

  The way Aris was always unnaturally strong, even for a skilled warrior.

  How she never seemed to tire in battle.

  How she always avoided answering questions about her past.

  Now it all made sense.

  Lysara took a step closer, then another, before suddenly unching herself at Aris, wrapping her arms around her.

  “Aris!!” she whined, burying her face into her handmaiden’s chest.

  Aris stiffened. “Liri—what are you—”

  “I missed you so much! You don’t know how scared I was! And now you’re telling me you’re a super strong secret wolf person?! That’s so unfair!” Lysara pouted, squeezing her tighter. “You should have told me sooner!”

  Aris’ lips twitched as if she wanted to sigh but couldn’t. “…You’re not even mad?”

  Lysara looked up at her with a dramatic pout. “Why would I be mad? You’re still my Aris.”

  “…You really are an odd one, Liri.”

  Lysara just grinned.

  Meanwhile, Valerius stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement. He’d expected a more dramatic reaction, maybe even some suspicion, but instead, he was witnessing an adorable dispy of clinginess.

  After a moment, Aris finally managed to pry Lysara off her, though the Empress still clung to her sleeve like a child.

  Valerius crossed his arms. “Now that we’re done with the emotional reunion, I believe I can answer your question now Lysara"

  Lysara and Aris turned to face him.

  He gnced up at the darkened sky before speaking. “You asked why the lycans are attacking now, after all this time.”

  Lysara nodded, her expression turning serious.

  Valerius’ gaze darkened. “The truth is… it’s only been a hundred years since the st of my kind was wiped out by humans. The world thought we were extinct. The lycans must have assumed the same.” His voice grew colder. “That is, until today.”

  Lysara swallowed hard.

  “They never attacked because they didn’t know another true vampire still existed.” His crimson gaze burned into hers. “But now they do.”

  Silence filled the space between them.

  Lysara felt a strange chill run down her spine.

  So that was it.

  The lycans weren’t just attacking randomly.

  They were here because of him.

  And now, everything had changed.

  A heavy silence filled the clearing after Valerius’ words. The implications of what he had just revealed weighed down on them like an invisible force.

  Lysara’s expression shifted, her usually bright and expressive eyes darkening with realization. “So… the reason they attacked now is because of you.”

  Valerius nodded. “Yes. The lycans assumed true vampires were extinct. Until today.” His voice was devoid of emotion, but there was something chilling in the way he said it.

  Aris narrowed her eyes. “And now that they know you exist, they won’t stop until you’re dead.”

  “They don’t have a choice,” Valerius said smoothly. “To them, my kind is the only true threat.” He turned slightly, his crimson gaze meeting Lysara’s. “They’ll come again. Stronger. More prepared.”

  Lysara bit her lip, her mind racing. If what he said was true, then this wasn’t just about Val’s empire anymore. This was about the bance of power in the world.

  And he was at the center of it.

  She exhaled, rubbing her temples. “Ugh… this is so annoying.”

  Both Valerius and Aris blinked at her.

  Lysara pouted. “You’re saying they’re after you, right? So what am I supposed to do in all this? I didn’t sign up for some ancient war between monsters!”

  Valerius raised an eyebrow. “You are involved. Or have you forgotten?”

  Lysara huffed, crossing her arms. “I was kidnapped, you know.”

  Val smirked. “You don’t seem too upset about it anymore.”

  Lysara gasped dramatically. “I’m just being resilient! That doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you, Ka’el.”

  Aris gnced between them, her golden eyes slightly narrowed. “Ka’el?”

  Lysara grinned mischievously. “It’s my special name for him.”

  Valerius rolled his eyes. “She refuses to use my actual name.”

  Lysara only giggled.

  Aris, however, looked a little less amused. “Liri… Are you actually okay? He’s still our enemy.”

  Lysara turned to her, still clinging to her arm. “Aris, I’m fine! He’s not going to hurt me.”

  Aris sighed, pcing a hand on Lysara’s head as if to calm her down. “You trust too easily.”

  Lysara scrunched her nose. “It’s not trust. It’s just that… if he wanted to do something terrible, he would have done it already.”

  Valerius gave her a look. “You really don’t fear me at all, do you?”

  Lysara tilted her head. “Should I?”

  Aris stiffened at her words, but Val only chuckled, his smirk returning. “You’re either incredibly foolish or incredibly brave.”

  “Why not both, I always had the feeling that you're not so bad as a person, or as a vampire?” Lysara beamed.

  "feeling? you're relying on your feelings to judge other people? Valerius replied.

  "ofcourse, I always use my emotions and what I feel to decide or judge" Lysara insisted.

  Aris groaned. “This is the worst possible time for your antics, Liri.”

  Lysara pouted but didn’t let go of Aris’ sleeve. Instead, she looked up at her handmaiden with wide, pleading eyes. “Ariiiis, you don’t hate me now, do you?”

  Aris sighed again, but there was a small hint of fondness in her expression. “Of course not, Liri.”

  Lysara grinned. “Good! Because I missed you so much.” She dramatically flung herself at Aris, hugging her tightly.

  Valerius stood off to the side, watching them interact. There was something oddly… fascinating about Lysara.

  Despite the situation, despite the chaos and bloodshed she had witnessed, she still managed to be herself. Expressive, affectionate, and—admittedly—endearing.

  It was an odd contrast to his own world, where strength was measured in power and survival meant suppressing all unnecessary emotions.

  She was different.

  And for the first time in a very long time… Valerius found himself unable to look away.

  While this is happening

  Blood seeped into the cracks of the stone of Lirielle.

  The once-proud banners y in tatters, soaked in the rain and dirt of the battlefield. The stench of iron and death filled the air, and above them, the howls of the invading beasts never ceased.

  A knight, battered and bruised, struggled to his feet. His armor was cracked, his sword shaking in his grip. His breath came ragged, desperate. Around him, the st of his men fought with fading strength, their swords cshing against monstrous cws.

  A heavy thud shook the ground.

  A beast unlike any other loomed before them—its body twisted with abyssal darkness, its fangs glistening in the dim moonlight. Its golden eyes burned with an unnatural glow, hungry, knowing.

  The knight gritted his teeth. and lycan said, "This is what Lord Varog has commanded us"

  "We can't hold them back."Another soldier, blood dripping from his temple, turned to him. His voice was raw, filled with something close to despair.

  "Without her, we have no chance."

  A woman, one of the st surviving commanders, clutched her spear, barely able to stand.

  "We need her." She swallowed back a sob. "Without her… without—"

  A monstrous roar cut through the battlefield.

  Then, silence.

  One by one, the soldiers turned—eyes widening as they saw what loomed over them.

  And in that moment, they understood.

  They were never meant to win.

  The enemy had never feared them.

  They only feared her.

  And she wasn’t here.

  The knight clenched his fists, his voice barely above a whisper.

  "Lysara… where are you?"

  Then, the beasts charged.

  And the battlefield was swallowed by the dark.