At the border between Carmilla and Tepes, Queen Akasha Carmilla stood atop the city walls, flanked by eight striking vampire elders—Lamia Hilde, Ampusa, and the rest. Elmenhilde, both daughter and subordinate, remained quietly at her mother's side.
A gentle breeze swept through, setting the Queen's silken hair and flowing robes adrift—beauty so ethereal, it could steal the breath from anyone who looked her way.
But as Akasha gazed into the distance, watching four colossal dragons clash above the horizon, her expression was anything but serene.
She wasn't alone in her concern. Elmenhilde and the elders wore the same troubled look.
They all recognized the crimson and silver Heavenly Dragons—Tenra Kamiyo had somehow unleashed them from their Sacred Gears. But the two Evil Dragons fighting alongside them? That was another matter entirely.
Had the Tepes faction truly sunk so low? Not only had they abandoned vampire honor to wield God-given power, but they'd gone so far as to ally themselves with Evil Dragons.
Fury simmered beneath the surface, but shock ran deeper. If Tenra hadn't drawn the monsters out, they'd still be blind to the threat.
With Tepes's ambition, it was only a matter of time before they turned their sights on Carmilla. If those Evil Dragons attacked, who among them could possibly stand in their way?
Eyes drifted to Queen Akasha, but even the elders felt a pang of despair.
Not even Lady Akasha could hope to stop those monsters…
Sensing the weight of their stares, Akasha's face grew even more severe.
"Elmenhilde, activate every defensive barrier. Seal the borders—no one gets in or out."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elmenhilde hurried off to carry out the order, voice trembling.
Akasha turned away from the distant battle, leaving the wall behind. The situation had spiraled beyond her control. It was time to rethink her strategy.
Running into Rizevim had been a strange detour, but after he and his entourage left, Tenra and the girls returned to the embassy.
With a flick of his wrist, Tenra cast a barrier over the building—blocking out the shockwaves from Ddraig's fight and any prying eyes from the vampires outside.
"Tenra-sama, will Valerie be alright?"
Gasper's voice trembled as he watched Tenra gently lay Valerie on the bed.
Tenra didn't answer right away. He simply patted Valerie's cheek. She whimpered, eyelids fluttering, and slowly came to.
"Where… am I?"
She rubbed her eyes, struggling to sit up.
"Valerie! We saved you!"
Gasper's relief spilled out in tears as he rushed to her side.
"Gasper…"
For a moment, Valerie's eyes lit up at the sight of him—but the brightness faded as quickly as it came, replaced by a dull, haunted emptiness.
"Ah, yes… I think so too."
"No, it won't work. Hm? Really? You're right…"
Valerie's gaze drifted past everyone in the room. She started speaking to empty air, as if someone invisible was answering her.
Gasper's anxiety spiked.
"Valerie, what's wrong? Valerie!"
"Tenra-sama, please help her! She's acting so strange!"
No matter how desperately Gasper called, Valerie didn't seem to hear him. Helpless, he turned to Tenra.
"Calm down."
Tenra frowned, pressing his palm to Valerie's forehead and channeling a pulse of spiritual energy into her. He quickly pieced together her condition.
"Tenra-sama, is she going to be okay?"
Yubelluna, Tosca, and the others crowded close, worry etched on their faces.
"She's being consumed by her Sacred Gear's power. Her mind is in total chaos."
"Consumed by her Sacred Gear?"
"That's right. Valerie carries the Sephiroth Graal—the legendary Longinus said to overturn the laws of life itself."
"The Grail's power is far too great—and dangerous. Valerie can't control it. Every time she uses it, her body and mind are eroded a little more."
"Her mental state is on the verge of collapse. The Tepes bastards must have forced her to use the Grail again and again."
Tenra's voice was grim as he laid out the facts. Anger flickered in his eyes.
Those monsters had treated Valerie like nothing more than a tool. If they hadn't rescued her, and the abuse had continued, it wouldn't be long before her mind and body shattered completely.
"Valerie… Valerie…"
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… It's all my fault…"
Gasper's face went ghostly white as guilt washed over him. If Valerie hadn't given him her chance at freedom, she wouldn't be suffering now. The thought gutted him, and he broke down in sobs.
"Enough. Crying all day doesn't help anyone. I never said she couldn't be saved."
Tenra's patience wore thin.
"Tenra-sama, please! You have to help her—please, I'm begging you!"
Gasper clung to hope like a drowning man to driftwood.
"Everyone, step back."
At Tenra's command, Gasper and the girls quickly retreated, leaving Tenra space.
Valerie sat on the bed, still lost in her own world. Tenra gently lifted her chin, forcing her dull eyes to meet his.
He activated Angel's Whisper—his pupils swirling into black vortexes. Valerie's eyes mirrored his, the same dark spirals spinning in her gaze.
Her mind was a tangled mess, but Tenra's Sacred Gear stabilized her thoughts. Within moments, Valerie closed her eyes and drifted into deep sleep.
Tenra nodded, satisfied, then summoned Holy Mother's Smile—a soft, glowing light enveloped Valerie's body.
Ever since Aisha unlocked its Balance Breaker, Holy Mother's Smile could heal not only physical wounds but psychic trauma as well.
Valerie's body and mind had been ravaged by the Grail's power, but now, the damage began to mend.
"Thank goodness…"
Gasper's voice was shaky but relieved as Valerie's complexion improved.
"She's safe for now. But this is just a stopgap—I've healed her wounds, not the root problem. If she keeps using the Grail, the erosion will return. The only way to truly save her is to extract the Sacred Gear."
"Tenra-sama, then please—take it out now!"
"You think it's that easy? It's not yours to remove whenever you feel like it."
"For now, let her rest. We'll deal with the rest when she wakes up."
"Oh… okay."
Gasper scratched his head, a little embarrassed—but hearing Tenra say Valerie was safe, he finally relaxed.
Leaving Valerie alone to recover, Tenra, Gasper, Yubelluna, and the others quietly exited the room.
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