The area around the Sunflower Orphanage was usually quiet. The people were few, and the community was tight-knit. Everyone more or less knew about each other.
So when the residents heard explosions, their first thought wasn't to call the guards. Today, they had a unique convenience in the form of three members of the church.
One concerned resident eagerly knocked on the door of the orphanage until the bearded priest came out. Once he heard everything, Pete decided to check it himself.
Who knows? It could be a malfunction in someone's heating crystal, or it could be some dangerous mage running loose. If they can solve it without involving the guards, it would be for the better.
Just to be safe, Catherine decided to remain in the orphanage.
Anna, who just returned alone from taking out the trash, felt a sinking feeling when she heard it.
It just so happens two of the people she cared about were in the area. What if they were involved?
She glanced over at the Thorne family's servants nearby. They heard the news as well but their faces lacked any of her worry, completely uncaring. It's like their master's life or death had nothing to do with them.
It was a sight she was familiar with.
So, led by nothing more than an irrational urge, Anna followed after Pete, her face pale. She always had an active imagination, and plenty of scenarios played out in her head.
But not one of them was the scene in front of her.
Her dear friend, whom she considered a sister, was standing near the man she had been curious about. Luce's face was flushed, her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were torn. Nearby, Thorne stood shirtless, revealing his lean torso.
She fixedly looked at the two, her eyes slowly beginning to shake.
But before she could say anything, the bearded priest stepped forward.
"What's happening here, Luce? The rubble, the burn marks on the ground. Were you... were you fighting someone?" Pete slowly said, cautiously looking around the room.
His words shook Anna off from her state. Her gaze finally left the two young people, observing the building they were in. In her panic she completely missed a few small details.
The place was severely thrashed.
The stone floor was blown up in several spots, as if by a powerful bomb.
In some corner lay a blindfold, as well as the remains of an Ailanthus uniform. The jacket was completely shredded, as if by the claws of some beast. In another corner crouched a white tiger, a snake coiled around his neck.
This really didn't look like a romantic scene. Indeed, it looked like a warzone.
Anna breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow it didn't seem so bad now.
…
Cyril calmly scanned the two arrivals in turn, keeping Luce in his sight of vision as well.
This priest isn't a vampire, but he might be in on it...
Then, he noticed the expression on Luce's face. This priestess already reverted back into her disguise, sweating buckets,
"We were... We've..." Luce mumbled, her expression fearful.
It was like a child being caught in the cookie jar by their parent late at night. She desperately thought of an excuse but just couldn't find it.
Seems Luce is on her own.
Just as the frown on Pete's face deepened, Cyril took a step forward, answering before Luce could: "I apologize. I didn't realize we were that loud."
His voice was casual, as if placating an angry neighbor on a weekend night.
As all eyes landed on him, Cyril continued: "I was curious how strong a priestess of the Earth Goddess would be, so I challenged her to a duel."
Pete raised his brow, staring at Cyril with befuddlement. Anna's face brightened in enlightenment as she nodded, completely convinced.
"...Is that so?" The bearded priest said.
He then looked at the blind priestess. "Luce, what do you say?"
At Cyril's words her face showed pure shock. Though she quickly recovered as Pete's gaze landed on her.
"Yeah- Yes! I am sorry. We got too absorbed in it."
"..."
"Did you have to do it here and now?" Pete hesitantly asked.
Luce pursed her lips, answering with helplessness: "One thing led to another. Now that we started it, we have to finish. Otherwise the frustration will be unbearable."
"Right, Cyril?"
He nodded in agreement.
Then, silence settled in the barren room. Pete scanned the two of them, suspicion in his eyes.
"…As a man of faith, I trust you, Luce. I hope you know what you are doing," he finally said.
Luce subtly sighed in relief and gave a reliable nod.
With that, Pete turned around, heading for the exit.
"I know of a silencing spell. I'll cast it, so don't worry about being noisy anymore. Just don't turn everything to rubble."
After using his magic, Pete really left, leaving the young people to their own devices.
With this one dealt with, Cyril looked at the brown-haired girl.
"…Can I watch?" Anna asked.
"You were here too, Anna?!" Luce exclaimed, pretending to be blind. "No, sorry. It would be hard to enjoy it with others watching."
"Oh."
Somewhat disappointed, Anna left as well, leaving them one last glance.
After a few minutes of silence, waiting to see if they really left, Luce wiped at her face with exhaustion.
She opened her red eyes and glared at Cyril, an annoyed frown on her face.
"Do you expect me to say thank you? Why did you not try to tell them?"
The red butterfly flew up from Cyril's shoulder, fluttering in the air. Her antennae twitched with a certain sense of determination. The blue snake in the corner flicked her forked tongue, her golden eyes becoming fiercer.
Cyril silently stretched, feeling the mana he had left.
Finally, he coldly looked at the vampire, his fists raised.
"I expect you to continue. As you've said, it would be unsatisfying if we stop."
Now that he knew fire could hurt her in her cloud form, Cyril had an urge to see their duel to its end. Without even realizing it, his lips were curved into a subtle smile.
Luce widened her eyes in shock, staring at him like an innocent human at a monster.
Her hair turned white, and her nails grew into claws. Luce's eyes quickly regained the full extent of their hostility.
"There's something wrong with your head… Fine!"
She brushed her white hair with her claws. Raising her head higher, she looked down at him, a glint in her eyes.
"My real name is Lucrezia. In honor of our duel, I will leave you a little bit of self-awareness when you turn."
"…You didn't go far with your fake name," Cyril flatly said, staring at her like at a fool.
"Shut up!"
The vampire, Lucrezia, summoned her blood sword and assumed, for the first time, a proper stance with it. She held it like a rapier, her red eyes becoming sharper.
They looked at each other in silence, about to begin their fight once more.
"You will not see the end of this day, Leech!" Rhamn suddenly appeared, pointing at the vampire with ridicule.
She then turned around, looking at Cyril with palpable excitement.
"I cracked it! This is even more incredible than I thought! Cyril, this stupid vampire simply has no chance at winning against us! No, no one has a chance against us!"
…Glad you feel ready.