Preparation for the Inevitable

[Luna's POV] 

Befriending a graceful vampire like Arcueid is such a surreal experience. Just a few minutes ago, she was testing my abilities rather intensely. However, when we formed a pact, she became quite protective, urging us to leave the garden before sunrise.

A sense of relief washed over me after we sought refuge in the dimly lit corridors. I glanced back at Arcueid and noticed the satisfied expression on her face, which was rather amusing. 

"Phew, that was a close call," Arcueid remarked, sounding quite relieved. "I've heard that vampires are particularly vulnerable to sunlight. Being exposed for even a second can weaken us to the point of death."

As I heard that information, a shiver went down my spine. I couldn't imagine the outcomes awaited me if I tried to stay out in the sunlight. Worst-case scenario, I would be reduced to ashes before I could even have a chance to adapt.

"Hey Luna, you seem to be lost in thought. Is everything alright?"

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Arcueid calling my name, and I quickly snapped out of my contemplation to confront her.

"Ah, sorry. I just spaced out for a second there."

In response, Arcueid arched her eyebrow before shrugging her shoulders. "Right... Anyway, let's find Luminous now and inform her about our new—"

"—There's no need for that."

""Wah!!""

Out of nowhere, Luminous suddenly appeared right next to us, catching me and Arcueid off guard. Although I could have sworn I felt something was off earlier, her unexpected arrival showed me my subtle lack of awareness.

{Warning, failure to detect magical presence. Activating [Resolute Adaptation]}

{Confirmed, Extra skill [Magic Sense] acquisition successful.}

Upon hearing a voice announcing my new skill, I could now sense the presence of multiple individuals in the vicinity. I wasn't sure what it meant, but I decided to brush it off and focus on my two companions, who were arguing with each other.

"Honestly, you could have provided us a heads-up before showing unexpectedly, Luminous. You nearly gave me and Luna a heart attack," Arcueid complained, pouting charmingly while crossing her arms.

Luminous, with an air of indifference, rolled her eyes and responded, "I have my own ways of presenting myself, Arcueid. Regardless, let's focus on why I am here."

"Do you have something important to tell us, Luminous?" I inquired, inserting myself into their conversation.

Luminous nodded, her gaze shifting between me and Arcueid. "I came to inform you two that my father announced an obligatory assessment later this midnight."

"An obligatory assessment? What's that?" I inquired, curious about the announcement.

"It's just some kind of experiment our creator does every seven nights," Arcueid interjected, explaining the event to me. "They gather all of us vampire children in the courtyard to fight each other and see who's the strongest."

"That's a rather vague description, but it's true," Luminous acknowledged. "We are bound to participate in combat, showcasing not only strength but also skill."

Tension welled up within me as I absorbed this information, and I exchanged glances with Arcueid. It seemed like this event held more significance than I expected.

"Anyway, I advise you two to get prepared," she added, reminding me and Arcueid. "Wait till the sun sets and meet me at the northern corridor, understood?"

"Understood."

"Sure."

"Good, see you two later."

With those words, Luminous turned around and walked away, leaving us in the corridor to ponder about the assessment.

----------------------------------------------

After the encounter with Luminous ended, Arcueid and I continued to wander the corridors, patiently awaiting the setting sun. We exchanged words once in a while, discussing what to expect in the upcoming obligatory assessment.

"So, about this event, is it some sort of tournament where you fight one opponent at a time?" I inquired, seeking clarity on what awaited us.

Arcueid chuckled, shaking her head. "Not exactly. It's more like a free-for-all battle where all of the vampire children will fight simultaneously in the courtyard."

A shiver ran down my spine as I processed that information. The thought of facing multiple opponents at once was overwhelming. I needed to come up with a strategy for such a scenario. But before that, I had another crucial question to ask.

"Are there any rules in the assessment, or is it just a no-holds-barred fight?" I pressed on, hoping for a semblance of hope.

"Well, there are a few rules in there," Arcueid admitted. "For example, killing is prohibited in the courtyard, and the assessment only ends when the creator deems it fit. Other than that, it's an ordeal of survival and dominance."

"Oh, is that so...." I murmured, contemplating the rules provided. "So, I just need to stay on my toes and defeat all of my opponents, right?"

"Yup, that's the plan," she reassured, giving me a thumbs up. "Besides, we already did this a while ago."

"Are you referring to the one in the Moonglow garden?" I inquired, recalling our earlier battle.

In response, Arcueid nodded in confirmation. " Yeah, that's the one. You could consider that as a warm-up to the main event."

Reflecting on the garden encounter, I realized it felt like the precursor to the upcoming event. The sheer intensity of that battle gave me enough idea of what to expect later.

"By the way," Arcueid continued, glancing down at my attire, "you might want to change that robe of yours first. It's all in tatters."

"Huh?" Looking at myself, I was confused before I noticed the torn edges on my clothes. "Oh, I didn't even realize."

"Yeah, I guess you could say it's my fault," Arcueid chuckles, taking partial responsibility for my torn outfit. "How about I make it up to you? Follow me to my room, and I'll find something for you to wear."

"Eh?! Are you sure about that?" I asked, feeling rather skeptical yet intrigued by her offer. "Is it fine for me to dress in your room? Can I just wait here and change my attire once you bring me one? After all, no one is around here most of the time."

Arcueid furrowed her brows at my response. "Changing in the corridor isn't very womanly of you, Luna. Of course, you can dress there. Plus, I have a remarkable collection of clothes that you might like."

Reluctantly, I complied with Arcueid's persuasion and followed her through the labyrinth of corridors until we arrived in front of an extravagant door. Standing next to it is a vampire dressed as a maid.

"Welcome back, milady," the maid greeted courteously before shifting her gaze toward me, which was filled with contempt. "Who is that ragged-looking commoner beside you?"

"Ah, this is Luna, she's a new friend of mine," Arcueid introduced me to her maid who still looked at me suspiciously.

Eventually, the maid sighed tiredly and spoke, "Milady, forgive me for being frank, but it's highly problematic to bring commoners into our living quarters. What if she tarnishes the elegance of your room?"

Arcueid rolled her eyes at the maid's remark and retorted, "Calm down, Villhaze. Luna is a guest, and I trust her not to cause any trouble. Besides, I invited her to change her clothes for the upcoming assessment."

Villhaze furrowed her brows, shifting her gaze between me and Arcueid before sighing in resignation. "Very well, milady. But remember, you should take responsibility for whatever inconvenience occurred within the room. Also, your father would—"

"—I don't care! Just open the door already!" Arcueid snapped, looking a bit annoyed.

Hearing that, the maid immediately opened the door for us, revealing the interior of Arcueid's room. It was adorned with luxurious furniture, including a canopy bed in the middle.

"Alright, let's go, Luna," Arcueid urges, inviting me into her living quarter. "We need to get prepared before the sun sets."

Hesitantly, I stepped into the room, feeling a bit out of place. On the other hand, Villhaze, the disapproving maid, closed the door behind us with an audible huff. I couldn't help but sweat uncomfortably as her glare continued to linger on me.

-------------------------------------------

As I moved on from the turmoil that is Arcueid's vampire maid, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. I have no idea why she detests me in the first place. Was it the way how I dressed? Or was it because I am just a commoner like she said earlier?

"I apologize for Villhaze's attitude, Luna, she's just a bit reserved," Arcueid explained, leading me further into her room. "But don't worry, she'll warm up eventually."

Grateful for her reassurance, I nodded. "It's okay, I understand. Let's focus on the task at hand, shall we?"

"Alright, come with me," Arcueid urges, leading me toward a wardrobe filled with an array of outfits. "Feel free to pick anything you like. We need to make sure you look presentable for the assessment."

Surveying the choices, I marveled at the elegant dresses and distinctive ensembles. It was quite a contrast to the torn robe I currently wore. As I browsed through the options, Arcueid leaned against the bed, observing my indecision.

"You have quite a selection here, Arcueid," I remarked, admiring the variety of garments. "So much so, I couldn't decide what to pick."

Arcueid chuckles in response to my comment, her eyes reflecting a mischievous glint. "Well, being born as a noble has its perks, and fashion happens to be one of them."

"Eh?! You're a noble?!" I exclaimed, surprised by her revelation. "No wonder this entire room is so exquisite."

 "Yeah, I come from a noble vampire lineage," Arcueid nodded, confirming my suspicion. "But don't worry, I do not stick well with the aristocratic standards."

"I see, that's good to hear," I murmured, feeling rather relieved. It was reassuring to hear that she wasn't much of an arrogant person like most nobles.

"Anyway, if you still can't decide what dress to pick, then I'll do it for you," Arcueid declared as she rummaged through her wardrobe.

Eventually, she pulled out a frilly black dress with striking red and white accents. Its intricate design caught my eye, and I couldn't help but admire its elegance.

"How about this one?" Arcueid suggested, holding the dress in front of me. "This should suit you well for the assessment."

Smiling appreciatively, I nodded. "It looks beautiful. Thank you, Arcueid."

With that, I took the dress and promptly changed my attire. The fabric hugs comfortably onto my skin, and I admire my appearance with my own eyes.

As I finished dressing, Arcueid grinned, clearly pleased with her choice. "Perfect! Now, let's try fixing that gorgeous white hair of yours," she declared while holding a hairbrush.

Upon hearing that, panic began to set in, causing me to remember something in my previous life. I used to be quite defensive about others touching my hair. Even though I have a set of new white locks, I can't allow anyone to meddle with it.

Reasonably, I shook my head and said, "It's fine, Arcueid. I can do it myself."

"Oh my, what's wrong, Luna? Scared of letting anyone touch your hair?" she teases, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

I nodded, apprehensively confirming her suspicion. "Yeah, I'm just worried you might brush it too hard."

"Ah, I see," Arcueid acknowledged. "But don't worry, I promise to be gentle."

With a hint of hesitation, I reluctantly yielded to her request, allowing her to comb the brush through my white locks. To my surprise, she kept her promise, handling my hair with utmost care. Not only that, but she tied my hair into twin tails, adorning it with hair ornaments.

"There you go, all neat and tidy," Arcueid announced with a triumphant smile, satisfied with her handiwork.

"Thank you, Arcueid. You're quite good at this," I admitted, genuinely impressed.

She chuckled, seemingly proud of her hairstyling talents. "Being a noble has its excellency, including the art of looking presentable."

"I see, that's very commendable of you, Arcueid," I praised her honestly.

With that remark, I felt a sense of readiness for whatever lay ahead. Although the upcoming event felt daunting, with Arcueid by my side, I knew I could face it with confidence.