The sun rose brightly the next day. Lauren sat on the edge of the bed with Ash'vour resting in her lap, staring at the floor. In the next room, Ryuzo was talking to his mother; every word could be heard.
"He needs to study, Ryuzo," she said. "He can't stay locked up inside."
"I know, but... sun exposure is still dangerous. He hasn't evolved yet. He's still just an ordinary vampire... very weak."
Lauren closed her eyes tightly. It hurt. To be called weak again.
A moment later, Ryuzo entered the room carrying a black cloak with silver trim and a pair of sunglasses.
"Lauren, starting tomorrow... you're going to school."
Lauren's eyes widened.
"You're going to wear this," Ryuzo continued. "The cloak has magical sun protection. It will keep you warm and protect you. You need to see the world, Lauren... and make friends."
He wanted to refuse. He wanted to scream. But no sound came out. Instead, his head lowered and he hugged Ash'vour tighter.
The next day…
The school gate slowly opened and all eyes turned to him.
A short boy, wearing a black cloak that reached his feet and sunglasses, walked silently down the hallway. Whispers followed him.
"Who's that emo over there?"
"It looks like a funeral…"
"He must be sick…"
Lauren kept his gaze fixed on the floor. He reached his locker, but as he tried to open it, a notebook slipped from his hands. When he bent down to pick it up, another student bumped into him on purpose.
"Hey, watch out, little bat!"
Lauren's fingers tightened around the notebook.
That's when she appeared.
"Get out of the way, idiot!"
Lauren looked up and saw a girl with wavy purple hair, soft light pink eyes, and an expression brimming with confidence and superiority.
She was stunning. So beautiful that everyone around her seemed like mere shadows.
What no one knew was that she belonged to the Felinessia race—a people who, the more beautiful they are, the weaker they are.
She crouched down and returned the notebook to Lauren.
"Do you have a name?"
Lauren tried to answer, but her voice failed. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
"Hm… shy?" she said with a smile. "Alright, then. You look like a… Mino! Mino will be your name until you tell me your real one."
She placed her hand delicately on his shoulder.
"I am Beatrice Fontenelle. Princess of the Felinessia race—but don't tell anyone, okay?"
Lauren nodded.
She winked at him playfully.
For the first time in a long time, something unfamiliar filled his chest.
It wasn't sadness.
It wasn't fear.
It was warmth.