Yulia couldn’t sleep at night. Every time, alone on the soft, oversized bed, recurring nightmares jolted her awake. The memory of her parents’ murder now twisted into vicious phantoms, clinging relentlessly to the little girl.
So tonight, like countless others since arriving at Fort Posein, Yulia woke from a nightmare. She lay lonely in the bed too vast for one small body, waiting for dawn.
Boredom drew her attention to a flicker of light beyond the window. Curious, she climbed out of bed and crept to the window overlooking the eerie Sylia Forest. Far on the horizon, flames danced.
Faint but unmistakable—magic-born fire. Yulia cast Yuanmu magic, focusing her sight on the forest’s edge.
There she saw it: a small silver-haired Ghostkind girl dancing under a scythe-shaped crescent moon. Pale blue claws flashed as the ghoul slaughtered a fire-breathing bear, moving like some unspeakable demon. Bare and blood-slicked, the Ghostkind yawned as she ripped a glowing red stone from the bear’s throat. She ended its life as if it were routine, wiped the blood away, dressed, and vanished into the shadows.
Yulia trembled. Blood and fire dragged her past horrors back to life. Yet the silver-haired ghoul reminded her of the mercurial Vampire who’d sheltered her and her parents a year ago—a happy memory from when they were still alive.
She told no one about what she’d seen that night. She simply endured the long, lonely hours in silence.
Nearly twenty days later, Yulia witnessed the Ghostkind battling the bear again. That silver-haired, crimson-eyed ghoul—terrifying yet magnificent, so like the Vampire who’d saved her family—became Yulia’s secret, hers alone in the dead of night.
Over two months, Yulia watched the Ghostkind girl’s prowess countless times. Through Yuanmu magic, she discovered the ghoul was Alice—a friend she already knew. Quietly, Yulia began to idolize the powerful silver-haired girl.
*I want a closer friend. I want to be closer to Alice—strong and gentle Alice.* Yulia schemed to deepen their bond.
Her nightly observations revealed Alice hid her true nature from the hunters sheltering her. Since Fort Posein’s people distrusted Ghostkind, Yulia reasoned: if Alice transformed before the hunters and Dante, custody might shift to Fort Posein’s commander.
Thus, Yulia brought Dante to Alice and joined the hunters’ forest expedition. Her goal: expose Alice’s true form. But opportunities vanished. The hunters cleared every danger effortlessly, and Dante’s overwhelming presence left no room for Alice to act.
*Worry later. Play with Alice now.* Within days, Yulia grew closer to the Ghostkind girl.
Then, deep in the forest, chance struck. Dante abruptly left the group, asking Yulia to set defensive barriers. As she wove the magic, she secretly embedded a Corpse Eater lure.
Three hulking Corpse Eaters answered the call. The black-horned leader shattered Yulia’s barrier, broke through the hunters’ lines, and charged straight at her.
Paralyzed by fear, Yulia froze. She knew to run—but her body refused.
Then—a figure blocked the attack. Like her mother once had, Alice took the blow meant for Yulia. Blood sprayed.
But unlike memory, this protector was a blood-smeared Ghostkind. The horn barely scratched Alice’s ghoul form before she brutally retaliated. With a sickening tear, she ripped off the Corpse Eater’s arm like butchering livestock.
Blood-streaked and hesitant, Alice approached the trembling Yulia. She hesitated to touch her, to pull her away from the monster.
*I’ve seen her fight bears so many times… Why do I still shake? I’m useless.* Yulia forced a carefree smile. Summoning every ounce of courage, she grasped Alice’s bloodied hand.
*I’m not afraid.* She chanted it silently as Alice lifted her to safety. Cradled in Alice’s arms, Yulia calmed. She nuzzled Alice’s cheek, pressing closer.
*Her ghoul form is so warm. Alice is gentle. I know it.* Reassured, Yulia joined the fight.
Alice’s slaughter of the Corpse Eaters was absolute. Dante’s effortless cleanup defied reason.
As the battle ended, the blood-drenched ghoul stood alone in a crimson pool. She watched the hunters shrink back, their gazes sharp with fear—staring at the monster she’d become. Yulia’s heart ached.
*This is all my fault.* Guilt gnawed at her, but she lacked the courage to confess. Instead, she weakly defended Alice: "Alice isn’t scary at all," she insisted, selfishly fishing for Alice’s trust.
Dante finished the Corpse Eaters and seized Alice’s custody from the hunters. Everything unfolded as Yulia planned. Yet Alice’s lonely stare at the hunters left no joy in her victory.
Worse than expected: back at Fort Posein, Alice was locked in the lightless Third Detention Chamber for being a Fourth Category Ghoul Species. Dante, usually indulgent of Yulia’s whims, turned unyielding. Her protests and tantrums meant nothing. Even visiting Alice was forbidden.
Ten days had passed. Yulia’s conscience twisted at the thought of Alice trapped alone in that dark cell—all because of her scheme.
*Today,* Yulia vowed silently, *I will convince Dante to let me into the Third Detention Chamber. I will see you, Alice.*
