Dinner was an awkward affair that everyone just wanted to get through. Celestine was still angry at her mother. And alongside Valeria, both girls disliked the food due to their monster nature. To Leon, what he was able to eat was alright, but his body had gotten full after only a few bites.
At first I said I would keep eating and sleeping to retain some level of humanity, but that might not even be possible
The others might have assumed his lack of hunger was due to the situation with the Queen. In the end, the rest of the girls made just enough small talk to avoid the heavy silence and pass through the dinner. Now Leon stood in the mansion's garden once again. The sun was gone and unfamiliar stars illuminated the night sky.
The stars are different too... Guess I didn't get a chance to look at them with everything that happened yesterday…
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Leon turned to see Valeria in a black nightgown and matching lace shawl. She had come out to find him, as was apparent from her thigh-high boots that didn't match the rest of her outfit.
"I couldn't find you in your room so I came looking..."
His face turned red.
She tried to come to my bedroom in a nightgown! Wait, Calm down. Valeria is very innocent so it wouldn't be like that.
"Oh yeah sorry I came out here to practice."
"No worries. I'll wait for you to finish then we can go back inside."
"Oh ummm about that. I have a secret that I should tell you... Well Rika told everyone but I should still let you know."
"You mean about you being from another world?"
"Guess she told you too. That girl can be such a brat sometimes. Literally told me not to tell anyone and then goes and tells everyone."
"...So you told her about it...?"
Valeria's voice hung uncertain in the air. The question obviously intended to gauge if Leon chose to tell Rika but not her.
"No, she had already figured it out and then yelled at me as she made me confess. I thought people would freak out so I didn't tell anyone but according to her, some people in the higher level of society already know about it."
"...ok… it's a lot to grasp. Rika just told me about it and part of me thought she was messing with me, but if you say so then I guess it's true..."
"Must be surprising for you huh? It's a lot to take in but if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
Valeria walked closer and stood beside him.
"I'm not sure what I would ask. Do all humans from your world heal instantly like you?"
"Nah, that's simply because I died and got lost in limbo before being sent here. Being dead for too long made me full of life. Funny how that works."
"... I see... Leon..."
Her lips parted, then closed again. When she spoke, her voice wavered as if there was a question she didn't quite know how to ask.
"I knew a human once... she's...dead."
Leon took both her hands in his.
"She's out there somewhere. I can't say where. The Overseer of death didn't answer too many of my questions regarding life after death, but I can confidently say that you don't need to worry. And I'm sure you'll meet her again one day."
Valeria pressed her head into his chest without making a sound. He knew nothing about Valeria's past, even less about this girl. But if this little knowledge he had could help her then there was no reason to keep it a secret.
He held her there in silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke.
"..can you not train tonight..."
Her voice was so fragile it felt as if it would break under its own sound.
"Yeah sure but about that. I can't sleep."
Valeria's head popped up. Her eyes were slightly wet but no tears on her face.
"Yeah. That's why I mentioned the other world part. My Vitality is so high that I don't need food or sleep anymore."
"Oh. You did barely eat... WAIT! So earlier today. When we.. You were awake the whole time!?"
"Yeah. I tried to sleep but I don't get tired. That's also why I came out here to train. I figured I'd practise blood arts during the night while everyone else slept."
It didn't take much to see the disappointment on her face.
"Why am I being stupid? I can train later. Let's go inside."
Just like that, Valeria instantly perked up.
"Thank-you!"
"Hold up!"
The voice of an annoyed Celestine appeared as she marched into the garden. In contrast to Valeria, she wore a white nightgown with its matching lace shawl.
"You're trying to cheat!"
"You can't marry him so I won!"
Oh my God. We're actually back here again. This is just my life now.
"First, You haven't won. Second, you're not allowed to cuddle with him when I'm not around. And since I can't at the moment. Neither can you."
"That's not fair to me!"
"Well then help me convince my mother. We're in this together so you need to help me."
Celestine locked arms with Valeria and began pulling her back inside.
"Hey wait!"
"Goodnight Leon!"
"Stop pulling so much. Goodnight Leon!"
Despite Valeria's verbal protest she put up no physical resistance.
"Goodnight!"
Those two are something else. Maybe it's because of their nobility or maybe some level of sisterhood?...
"I don't know. But in the meantime I might as well train."
He looked around the garden. He couldn't find anyone but knew someone must be around. It was unlikely that the property was unguarded with the Queen and her staff here.
Maybe I shouldn't be training Bloodless? I mean Valeria is a vampire living here too and the Queen never even brought that up!? There's no way she wasn't informed right? I really hope so because I don't want to be the one to tell her that.
He looked around the garden once again.
I'm going to be watched moving forward so there's no point in trying to hide. Tomorrow I'll go explore the city to get away for a bit, in the meantime…
He began the chant.
"~My blood turn blades~"
A long night of pain and training awaited him.
"~Bloodless~"