CHAPTER 25: THE ONLY LIGHT IN THIS WORLD OF DARKNESS

At the end of the apocalyptic that struck Noxscura, the first reports estimate more than two hundred civilian deaths, mostly nobles and their butlers who lived near the battlefield.

The toll could have been much worse, but most residents managed to evacuate before getting caught in the clash.

Ayra has been rushed to the royal family’s private medical center in critical condition.

According to the doctors, her body—unable to withstand the immense power of the Shadowshaper-form—collapsed, much like an overinflated balloon.

The medical center is the most advanced facility I have ever seen—it looks like something out of a science fiction movie.

Despite the gothic, almost medieval architecture that defines most of Mildelar, I can say with absolute certainty that their technological development far surpasses ours.

And yet, I see no flying machines or futuristic devices, which leads me to believe that vampires are a highly traditionalist race, relying on technology only in emergencies, when their magic is not enough—a suspicion later confirmed by Daphne herself.

Ayra is submerged in what looks like a giant incubator filled with a semi-transparent red liquid.

Countless tubes connect her body to a large machine, carrying a thicker, darker fluid—probably blood.

I sit beside the incubator, assigned to assist the medical team if necessary.

For now, my task is to watch over her, call for help if she wakes, and press a certain button if the machine monitoring her vital signs triggers an alarm.

Naturally, since this is the life of a princess, doctors and attendants take shifts to check on her, never leaving me completely alone.

My eyes stay fixed on her—I can’t look away even for a second.

The sliding metal door of the medical center—opening like an elevator’s—slides wide once again.

Who will it be this time?

A doctor? A nurse? A guard?

I don’t even turn to check—I don’t care.

My attention is only on Ayra, still unconscious.

Seeing her like this—suspended between life and death—awakens something in me... compassion?

Am I really capable of such an emotion for her?

Can a slave feel pity for their master?

I doubt it... so why am I here, silently praying that she wakes up?

«You’re worried about her, aren’t you? It’s written all over your face.»

A female voice beside me interrupts my thoughts.

Turning my head slightly, I see Daphne, dressed in a long coat similar to human hospital gowns, though hers is made of golden fabric with elegant embroidery.

She was admitted together with Ayra, but only as a precaution—she suffered no wounds, just exhaustion from overusing Sanguis energy.

A heavy dose of blood was enough to restore her completely in no time.

«Yeah...» I answer without hesitation, my voice soaked in melancholy.

A familiar worrying about their master must be the most foolish thing a vampire could imagine.

I kept a detached attitude in front of the doctors, as if I were only there out of duty.

But honestly, I would have stayed beside Ayra anyway, even without orders.

But with Daphne, it’s different.

I don’t feel the need to hide my emotions.

The way she protected her familiar during battle, and the way Kajetan spoke of her, make me believe their bond isn’t built on torture and humiliation like the ones I’ve seen so far.

«That means my little sister is doing a good job with you. That makes me really happy,» she says with a sweet smile.

Her tear-reddened eyes stay locked on her sister’s unmoving body.

«You and your sister are so different from the other vampires...» I murmur, lowering my gaze. «The familiars I’ve met told me about the torture and abuse they suffer every day. Even your younger sisters—Sasha and Priscilla—shock or whip theirs. Not that I complain about the more humane treatment I receive—and that I imagine Kajetan receives as well... but I don’t understand why there’s such a gap in how familiars are treated. Is it only because I’m a Predestined Familiar and Kajetan is ranked the highest?»

Daphne shakes her head, a faint smile on her lips.

«Kajetan didn’t suddenly become number one the day he became my familiar, and yet I never once thought of laying a hand on him. You need to know that the practice of training familiars through fear has ancient roots. We know that when humans feel intense fear, they either break or awaken an inner strength that pushes them past their limits. So the most logical approach was to keep them in constant terror—though over time, punishment shifted from being a form of discipline to simple entertainment. A view I never shared, which is why I always treated Kajetan with the utmost respect—within limits, of course, since he’s still human, not my equal. I firmly believe that a familiar gives their best when fighting to truly make their master happy, not out of fear of failure.»

She shifts her gaze from Ayra to me.

«I imagine you’ve noticed that my little sister holds quite a lot of... admiration for me, haven’t you?»

«Well, it’s hard not to notice...» I reply, a faint smile tugging at my lips as I think of all the ways Ayra tries to imitate Daphne.

«I don’t know when or why she got so attached to me. It may sound strange, but vampires don’t feel affection the way humans do—not even between sisters. And yet, Ayra is an exception. She’s always been unusually empathetic, even as a child. Unfortunately, the world she was born into leaves no room for such emotions. I’m certain that her nature—more human than vampire—together with her admiration for me and her wish to follow my example, is the reason she treats you differently from the others. She would have done so even if you weren’t a Predestined Familiar,» Daphne explains in her usual honey-sweet voice. «I hope that answers your question.» She ends with a melancholic smile, her eyes returning to her sister.

I knew it.

Deep down, I was sure Ayra was different from the other vampires, and Daphne’s words only confirmed it!

«You’re truly a lucky boy, believe me. And not because you’re a Predestined Familiar, but because you found the only light in this world of darkness,» Daphne adds as she sits down beside me.

«A world of darkness...» I repeat. «So your opinions aren’t that different from Vespera’s,» I say—not accusatory, just seeking clarity.

«Vespera’s beliefs, and those of her organization, aren’t entirely baseless, and the injustices of our society are painfully clear to me. But exterminating an entire race because of it is sheer madness. Today, their so-called pursuit of justice and freedom caused more than two hundred innocent deaths—just a drop in the ocean of victims their insanity has already claimed. Violence only breeds more violence, and that’s why I can never support those terrorists.»

A speech worthy of a Peace Prize.

Even Gandhi would have been proud.

In the end, she rests a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

«It’s time for the familiars’ dinner. After everything you went through today—your spectacular fight with Aron Dulcar and the Nova Aetas ambush—you can’t afford to go to bed on an empty stomach. I’ll stay here and watch over my sister. You go and enjoy your well-deserved rest.»

«I’d rather stay here with Ayra, and besides, I’m not hungry, I swear,» I object.

But right at this moment, my stomach growls loudly in the silence of the room, betraying me in the most obvious way possible.

«Seems like your body disagrees with what you’re saying,» she comments, laughing heartily for the first time since I met her—a laugh that only enhances her already stunning beauty.

«One last thing, Lyon.»

Her expression suddenly grows serious.

«Ayra may not be showing it in the best way, but I can assure you she’s working very hard to make you a familiar worthy of the name you were given. I only ask one thing: don’t hurt her. For any reason.»

Her eyes narrow slightly, fixing me with a vaguely threatening look.

«If I ever find out that you made her suffer, I’ll make you feel such unbearable pain that you’ll beg me to kill you. Am I clear?»

«I would never do anything to hurt her, I promise!» I answer firmly, though a hint of fear slips into my voice at her sudden cold, severe tone—it’s clear she loves Ayra more than anything in the world. «I swear on my life.»

At my resolute answer, she smiles again.

«I’ll make sure to update you as soon as she recovers. Enjoy your meal, Lyon. And... I’d prefer if you didn’t tell anyone about what happened today.»

I nod without even asking why—it’s obvious enough that it’s to maintain the aura of invincibility and untouchability that vampires hold over their familiars.

And with those final words, she teleports me straight back to my dormitory.