Fetching Alvin didn't take too long. The healer took one look at Pete and Anna, then his eyes widened in surprise.
He asked them to be taken to a quiet room where no one will disturb him. Though Catherine vehemently insisted she would be present during the healing.
In front of her rage-filled eyes, Alvin could only nod weakly.
So, Cyril sat in front of the storage room turned infirmary, waiting for the results. Tigris sat on his knees, blissfully snoring, while Atheris and Morpho stayed suspiciously quiet. From both of them emanated a certain frustration.
Rhamn said they were digesting his duel with Lucrezia, the reason for their frustration being similar.
What a day.
He didn't expect his personal dislike of Alvin would lead him into a fight with a vampire princess.
"It's been fun. Good thing we were suspicious of that guy after all."
Fun?
Cyril glanced at the maid standing at attention by his side. Ophelia's face remained as expressionless as ever, nothing in her pitch-black eyes. If anything, there was an air of satisfaction around her.
Maybe partially.
Strangely, despite her attacking two seemingly innocent people, he wasn't mad at her. What he felt was more akin to embarrassment.
He sighed, glancing at the new jacket on his body. One of the servants efficiently procured a new one for him, proving the convenience of being a noble once again.
His mana was still being depleted, but he decided to just endure it until reaching his dorm. He had plenty of time.
The wounds on his body were taken care of as well. Alvin only needed a single spell, and everything went away as if it never existed.
"I could've done better."
Yeah, I know.
Cyril subtly glanced at Rhamn. She was standing in front of him with her hands crossed, her red eyes still burning with a certain unsatisfied urge.
The door to the storage room remained locked for now. And the awkward silence between him and Jessica didn't prevent him from talking with the voices in his head. He could finally ask what she was so excited about.
What did you discover from the vampire's bite?
As if he said some magic words, Rhamn's angst went away at once, leaving only excitement.
"Finally! This is actually incredible! So, when we got bitten, Lucrezia transferred from her fangs a sort of virus."
You told me this part.
"Right. But this virus is, in essence, a living part of her invading a human's body and transforming it from the inside."
"So, when a vampire bites a human, the vampire's cells begin to override the human's cells, spreading rapidly throughout the body. Technically, this means the newly turned vampire is entirely composed of the original vampire's cells, which allows them to be controlled by the latter."
Cyril caressed his neck, feeling the smooth skin with not a sign of damage.
Good thing I am not human… My 'cells' are already under someone's control.
"It's a great thing! Not only did I neutralize the virus, but I also recreated it. And I'm far better at this than that pathetic leech. In my hands, this ability will truly shine!"
So, during the fight you told me to let her bite me again because…
"Because I wanted to counterattack! Send our version of the virus with the blood. Now, all of Lucrezia's body is overwritten. Now, I can control her life and death with but a thought!"
Rhamn's smile widened, pure malice just radiating off of her.
The more Cyril thought about this discovery, the more ominous he felt. So there is now a Rhamn virus?
"Don't call me a virus, please."
…I didn't feel my mana drop by much when you used this ability. Why so?
"The burden of the transformation is borne by the victim. Just like real vampirism."
…Can Lucrezia see you now?
"If I so choose, yes. Only if she is close by, though. That can be extended to everything I said. If she is too far, I won't be able to manipulate her body."
Cyril massaged his temples, feeling more exhausted now. With each day, Rhamn seemed to be gaining more and more strange abilities.
Now, if she so chooses, she can infect countless people with a truly horrifying disease. Who knows if magic can find a cure for something as unknowable as her? No one seemed to be able to cure vampirism yet, at least.
"Don't call me a disease either, please."
Cyril felt somewhat perplexed. Being a walking virus should unnerve him, yet it didn't.
"Why should it? It's just an ability."
A very inhuman ability.
As Cyril was absorbed in his thoughts, the door into the storage room was gently opened. Out came Catherine, supporting Pete as he limped into the corridor.
"How is it?" Jessica said in worry, walking closer.
"I am fine, dear Jessica. Don't worry about me. I may have overestimated myself this one time," Pete replied with an awkward smile.
"You got lucky Alvin was here," Catherine said, her face still bearing a frown.
Speaking of, Alvin came out next. His face was lit up with curiosity as he scanned Pete's body up and down. Catherine ended up walking in front of that gaze to shield her husband, lest he be stolen.
After Alvin awkwardly walked out on Anna, her face darkened. Without a word, she went to the nearest bench and sat down, lost in thought.
"What happened to you two? Cyril said he found you on the ground. Did a vampire do this?" Jessica asked, worriedly glancing at Anna.
Catherine's frown deepened, fury again sparkling in her eyes.
Pete slowly looked at the maid standing near Cyril, then helplessly shook his head. Ophelia didn't react whatsoever.
"Maybe, I don't know… Suddenly, I just fell. I didn't even notice what attacked me," Pete said, before glancing at Cyril himself. "Does your maid know anything more? She arrived just before I was knocked out."
Catherine glared at the maid, as if trying to see through her, yet the archdemon remained unresponsive.
"…She didn't, sorry. She was focused on preventing anyone from entering the building," Cyril replied in her stead. "What exactly happened to you?"
"I'll tell you," Alvin said, attracting everyone's attention. "His internal organs began rotting. I've never heard of a spell so potent and so vile. Whoever you encountered, they are a horrifying mage."
Rotting?
Cyril glanced at Anna sitting with her head low. Was she like this because of the experience?
Alvin followed his line of sight, then shook his head with understanding.
"…And whoever did this was a gentleman, I suppose. Anna wasn't affected nearly as much," he said.
"Ophelia? I thought better of you," Rhamn uttered, as if condemning his maid for not doing a good enough job.
This earned her a subtle glare from Cyril.
"Thank the Gods for that! An old man like me can take this," Pete said, laughing as he hit his chest a few times.
Though soon his expression twisted in pain.
"Careful. Your new organs are weak right now. Let them acclimate, unless you wish to meet the Gods sooner," Alvin flatly warned.
Catherine immediately grabbed onto Pete's hand, the anger in her eyes turning into worry.
"Stop talking. You must rest right now."
Pete weakly smiled, staring at her with warmth. "Only if you help me. Please, don't go anywhere to do something foolish. You know Gods frown on such things."
Catherine sighed, then finally smiled. "Very well, you fool. You clearly can't survive without me."
They looked into each other's eyes, the atmosphere in the orphanage finally warming up somewhat.
"See? Now they value each other more. The experience was a good thing for them overall~"
Be quiet for a moment…
At this moment, Jessica spoke up, worry still on her face. "And what about Luce? Where is she? And what happened to the vampires in the end?"
"…"
She was met with silence. Pete's smile lessened somewhat, Catherine's forehead furrowed, and Anna's head lowered a bit more.
It wasn't like they forgot about her, but in the moment simply chose not to mention her. For various reasons.
"Way to ruin the moment. What an inconsiderate woman."
I asked you.
"Sorry."