Silvery moonlight spilled across the ground, accompanied by the mournful chirping of crickets everywhere.
The scent of night permeated the air, weaving a soft net that enveloped all the scenery.
But for Xueluo,
only the taste of blood filled her mouth and nostrils.
For some reason, she hadn’t hated this scent before, nor had she liked it. Now, Xueluo felt this strange metallic tang was like a hormone, or a drug. It made her body’s excitement utterly unstoppable.
Especially Sisilio’s blood, which had just splattered on her.
She could distinctly sense the magical elements emanating from it. It was as if a drug had been added to the mix. Xueluo lost all focus. That scent lingered stubbornly in her mind.
At the same time, she clearly felt Sisilio’s magic rapidly merging into her blood. Like ‘you are what you eat,’ her magical reserves surged instantly. It gave her a sense of inexhaustible power.
Though she held back, a strange urge kept driving her to crouch down. She wanted to drain the split-in-half Sisilio into a dried husk. Then lick every drop of blood from the ground.
But she still felt a bit repulsed by that inhuman way of feeding.
“Cough... cough... cough...”
Just then, Sisilio, lying on the ground, coughed heavily several times.
“Not dead yet?”
Slowly sheathing her Soulblade, Xueluo asked quietly.
“Just a high-level amputation, Vampire.”
For some reason, even on the brink of death, the Mage’s face still wore a smile.
“But I’m almost done for. Unless you’d call an ambulance for me.”
“If I knew the funeral home’s number, I’d be happy to call it for you.”
“Heh~”
After a few bitter laughs, Sisilio coughed up more blood.
“But don’t think this is over... Vampire...”
Sisilio’s voice grew fainter. His strength seemed to be draining away.
“Miss Edward... she told us to watch you... she’s very interested in you...”
Miss?
The question flashed through Xueluo’s mind. But Sisilio continued.
“Oops, seems I let something slip... I was told not to spread it... but for someone who’s going to die anyway... it doesn’t matter, right?”
After coughing up more blood, Sisilio placed his hand over his heart.
“Long live the Forestern Family... Miss Edward... long...”
But before he could say “live,”
Xueluo saw Sisilio stop breathing.
......
For reasons unknown—perhaps the conversation or something else—
Xueluo had somewhat calmed down.
After glancing at Sisilio’s corpse, she took a slight breath.
Time to retreat.
With that thought, Xueluo turned and quickly headed toward the deep pit she’d fallen from earlier. She didn’t look back.
Though dawn was approaching, her steps showed no hesitation.
After swiftly weaving past several trees, she arrived at the pit.
As she hurried over,
she saw Irina lying weakly on the ground. Her breath was extremely faint.
Her face was gradually turning pale.
“Irina.”
Xueluo whispered softly as she rushed to Irina’s side and grabbed her hand.
But even with this, Irina only weakly opened her eyes.
“Is it over?”
“Mhm.”
After whispering, Xueluo slowly reached out and grasped Irina’s arm.
“We’ll go to Zerich’s place right away. I’ll have them check on you...”
But just as Xueluo was about to pull Irina up,
she suddenly felt the strength vanish from Irina’s side.
After a brief pause, Xueluo looked over.
Irina lay limply on the ground, her face pale.
Her already faint breath had stopped.
......
Xueluo didn’t know what to do.
She numbly let go of Irina’s hand.
Irina’s hand fell limply to the ground.
Dead?
Unbidden, the thought flashed through Xueluo’s mind.
Had Irina just died like that?
My Irina.
Dead?
As she thought, Xueluo deflated like a punctured balloon. She dropped to her knees with a thud. She stared blankly at the motionless Irina.
Dead?
She couldn’t suppress those emotions. Thoughts that should have focused scattered wildly in her mind. Like a magical explosion, fragments of ideas burst forth. But the chaotic impressions refused to coalesce.
With any trigger, it would all collapse dramatically.
Like placing a large plank on a sharp stake—no matter where you touch it, it would tip in that direction.
Perhaps to maintain that precarious balance, she remained so numb.
But regardless of Xueluo’s stupor,
sunlight gradually appeared on the horizon.
Even as the sun’s rays burned her back, Xueluo inexplicably didn’t want to move.
What should she do next?
This question filled her mind.
But just as despair seemed to cover everything,
Xueluo lifted her head.
Suddenly, she saw
under the sunlight, Irina’s cheeks seemed to burn. A crackling sound filled the air.
......
Boom!
After a moment’s pause, Xueluo sprang up. She tore off her coat and shielded Irina from the sun.
Then, Xueluo saw Irina’s burns healing rapidly before her eyes.
......
For a moment, Xueluo didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.
“Irina...”
Looking at the girl who might be sleeping soundly before her, Xueluo said shakily.
“Turned into a Vampire?”
