The Princess in the Garden

So far, things seemed to be going smoothly.

Despite the unsettling encounter with the group of High Humans, I clung to the hope that my reception among the vampire children would be different. I mean, positive reinforcement is something I've needed for a while now.

Anyway, I was introduced to Luminous Valentine, the daughter of the creator who gave me life. With her heterochromatic eyes gleaming with red and blue colors, she regarded me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"Alright, I suppose introductions are in order," Twilight interjected, breaking the silence. "If you children excuse me, I have some matters to attend to. Luminous, kindly introduce Luna to the others."

"Yes, Father," Luminous complied solemnly.

After that, Twilight turned around and left the room. Once they were gone, all of the vampire children resumed their activities, chatter and all.

Meanwhile, Luminous nonchalantly walks away without saying a word. Confused, I decided to follow her.

While walking onward, I couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. The other vampire children seemed engrossed in their discussions and games, paying little attention to the newcomer. 

After a brief stroll across the room, Luminous finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Don't get too comfortable, Luna. This place may seem friendly now, but you'll quickly learn it's not all moonlight and stardust."

Her words hung in the air, creating a sense of foreboding. I couldn't quite grasp the dynamics of this vampire community, and Luminous' cryptic warning only fueled my curiosity.

"Is there something I should know?" I asked, trying to navigate through the uncertainty.

Luminous glanced at me, her eyes revealing a hint of empathy. "Let's just say not everyone here will welcome you with open arms. We have our fair share of rivalries and conflicts."

"Okay... Then where do I start making allies here?" I pressed on, eager to find my place in this mysterious world.

Luminous paused for a moment, considering my question. Eventually, she sighed and said, "Follow my lead, and I'll introduce you to a few who might not bite your head off. Just be warned, Luna. Trust isn't freely given in this place."

Feeling nervous by her statement, I nodded apprehensively, uncertain of what lay ahead in this peculiar community of vampire children.

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

Following Luminous, we once again navigated the dimly lit corridor, eventually leading us to a vast garden with a glass dome roof and luxuriant vegetation. The entire space was filled with flowers that cast a soft glow under the moonlight.

The ethereal atmosphere of the garden offered a stark contrast to the melancholy corridors we had traversed earlier. Looking to my side, I noticed Luminous with a relaxed expression, lowering her guard the moment we entered this serene haven.

"This is the Moonglow garden," she proudly affirmed. "It's a peaceful retreat for those who seek solace away from the problems of our society."

"It does look peaceful in here," I acknowledged. "But who are you going to introduce me to in a remarkable place like this?"

Luminous chuckled, her gaze sweeping across the garden. "You'll see. There's someone here who might appreciate the company, and you might find a kindred spirit in her."

As we strolled further into the garden, we encountered another vampire girl sitting gracefully on a wooden bench. She wears a white dress with black frills and has long blonde hair that cascades like a waterfall.

The girl seemed lost in thought, gazing at the night sky with a serene expression. Looking at her, I couldn't help but be astonished by her elegant appearance.

"Is that the person you're talking about?" I inquired, pointing at the girl in curiosity.

Luminous nodded and replied, "Yes, her name is Arcueid Brunestud, and she was referred to as the White Princess of the Divine Ancestor."

Upon hearing her name, the girl snapped out of her contemplation and turned her attention towards us. Her crimson-red eyes concentrated on me, pausing to assess my presence.

"Luminous, who's this?" she inquired, turning her head towards the vampire girl beside me.

In response, Luminous stepped forward, gesturing towards me. "Arcueid, this is Luna. She's a newcomer in our race, and I thought you might enjoy some company."

"Is that so..." Arcueid's gaze shifted back to me, studying me even more. After some moment, she smiled and said, "Luminous, would you mind leaving us for a while? I need to speak with her in private."

"But of course," Luminous accepted Arcueid's request before approaching me and whispered something to my ear. "Stay vigilant, Luna."

With that warning resonating in my mind, I became attentive as Luminous departed, leaving me and Arcueid alone in the Moonglow Garden.

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

Anxiety settled within me, intensified not only by the cryptic warning Luminous gave me but also due to Arcueid's piercing gaze. The Moonglow garden, once a sanctuary of tranquility, now seemed to hold a particular tension in the air.

"So, tell me about yourself, Luna," she inquired, her voice carrying a calm and composed tone that matched her serene demeanor. "What was your purpose in life?"

Caught off guard by the directness of her question, I hesitated for a moment before replying, "Well, the creator told me my purpose is to overcome the limitation of a vampire."

"Oh, is that so," Arcueid acknowledged, considering my response. She then turned her head toward a cluster of flowers and asked, "What do you think about these flowers?"

"Huh? Um, well..." Following her gaze, I observed the flowers she mentioned. "I suppose they are really—"

Before I could finish my sentence, I felt a sudden threat piercing through the air. My attention snapped back to Arcueid and saw her fist hurtling toward me. Instinctively, I swiftly ducked my head, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Oh, you dodged my attack," Arcueid remarked amusingly as she retracted her fist.

My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "What was that for?"

"Consider that as a test, Luna," she replied, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "In this world, danger could show up from unexpected places. So, if you don't want to die—"

Just as she was about to finish her sentence, Arcueid suddenly disappeared, and her voice echoed behind me. "—You should be more vigilant."

"!!!"

Startled by her words, I spun around to defend myself, only to find Arcueid standing close to me with a huge smile and a clenched fist, ready to throw another punch. From this distance, I couldn't dodge it, so instead I decided to block it directly.

BAM!!

The impact of Arcueid's punch resonated through my arms, but to my surprise, I didn't feel any pain from it. Yet, there was a tingly sensation lingering within my body, and before I could comprehend it, something unexpected happened.

{Warning, severe body strain detected. Activating [Resolute Adaptation].}

{Confirmed, extra skill [Shock Resistance] acquisition successful.}

A mysterious voice echoed within my mind, removing the tingly sensation. It was as if my soul adapted to withstand the effect of Arcueid's punch.

Meanwhile, Arcueid took a step back, widening her eyes with astonishment. "Oh, seems like you managed to endure that punch, Luna. Quite impressive."

"Um, thanks," I acknowledged her compliment, still maintaining my guard. "But could we stop fighting now? I think this is enough to prove my worth."

Arcueid chuckled amusingly at my request before her expression turned serious. "No, it's too early to stop here."

"Eh, but why?" I asked apprehensively, wanting to know her reason for refusing.

She tilted her head, her crimson eyes gleaming with interest. "Because, Luna, the world we live in is not always merciful. I want you to understand that in order to live, you have to show strength, both mind and body."

Listening to her reasoning, I couldn't help but feel conflicted. On one hand, her words might hold the truth about the nature of this world. On the other hand, violence wasn't something I was willing to welcome. However, if this is how it is supposed to be, then I might as well try.

"Arcueid, if I show you what I can do, will you be my ally?" I asked resolutely.

Hearing my proposal, she regarded me curiously. "Very well, if you manage to impress me again, then I'll agree to form a pact with you."

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

[Third POV]

Following their agreement, Luna and Arcueid walked a few paces apart from each other to begin their contest of strength. The tension in the Moonglow garden heightened as they prepared for what could only be described as an unconventional introduction.

"Just so you know, I might not hold back this time, so prepare yourself," Arcueid warned, her crimson eyes sparkling with excitement.

Nodding apprehensively, Luna assumed a defensive stance, drawing from her familiarity with self-defense in her previous life.

As the two young vampire girls faced each other, a palpable sense of anticipation crackled in the air. With the first drop of sweat falling from Luna's cheek, it marked the beginning of the battle.

"Here I come," Arcueid declared, charging forward with a burst of supernatural speed.

Seeing this, Luna braced herself, straining her eyes to anticipate her opponent's upcoming attack. But when Arcueid closed the distance, she noticed her enemy's fingers transforming into razor-sharp claws, sending a shiver down her spine.

Reacting instinctively, Luna took a quick sidestep, narrowly avoiding Arcueid's lethal attack.

"Hey, isn't that dangerous?!" Luna complained, bewildered by the sudden intensity of their encounter.

Arcueid chuckled, her laughter echoed through the Moonglow garden. "Dangerous? That's the whole point, Luna! You either become the danger or face being endangered."

With that said, Arcueid continued her frenzy of slashes on Luna, each strike calculated to test the newcomer's reflexes and durability. Yet, due to her exceptional speed, Luna faced multiple claw marks on her face and her robe suffered partial tearing.

"Yikes, looks like I messed you up there," Arcueid remarked with amusement.

Trying to keep it together, Luna endures the injury she received and considers ways how to counter her opponent's attack. However, before she could come up with anything, the voice from earlier returned once more.

{Warning, several fatal injuries detected. Activating [Resolute Adaptation].}

{Confirmed. Common Skill [Self-Regeneration] acquisition successful.}

With the new skill, Luna felt her injuries beginning to heal. The wounds on her face closed up, leaving only the damage on her robe.

Arcueid, noticing the sudden transition, raised an eyebrow. "Well, it seems you've got more surprises up your sleeve, Luna. Good job."

"So, does that mean I impressed you, right?" Luna inquired, yearning to finish the fight.

Pausing for a moment, Arcueid considered the question before grinning mischievously. "Well, I could say that I do, but I would be more impressed if you managed to hit me."

"Are you kidding me?" Luna exclaimed frustratedly as she clenched her fists.

Seeing her reaction, Arcueid couldn't help but chuckle amusingly. "Okay, okay, I get it, you don't have to be mad at me. Look, I promise you if you hit me, I'll end this battle."

Luna narrowed her eyes, doubting the proposal given to her. "Do you actually promise that?"

"Absolutely! If you're ready, just let me—"

Before finishing her sentence, Arcueid watched as Luna disappeared for a second, only to reappear in front of her with a menacing expression and a clenched fist.

"—Wah!"

Frightened by Luna's sudden appearance, Arcueid tripped backward, making it impossible to dodge. With no other option, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact. However, instead of agonizing pain, nothing happened, which confuses her. So, she opened her eyes and saw Luna's fist stopped halfway in front of her face.

flick~

"Aww!" exclaimed Arcueid as she felt a slight pain after being flicked on her forehead.

Luna, on the other hand, grinned playfully with a satisfied gaze. "Gotcha, I hit you."

Realizing it was only a faint, Arcueid couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Well played, Luna. I guess you win this round."

"So, that means we're friends now?" Luna asked while lending Arcuied a hand to stand up.

Arcueid accepted the offer and stood before acknowledging their agreement. "Of course, I guess you earned my word. From now on, if you need any help, you can count on me."

After uttering those words, Luna and Arcueid sealed their newfound alliance, marking the beginning of a blooming friendship.

"Anyway, we should leave the garden, the sun is coming out," Arcueid suggested as she pulled Luna toward the exit.

"Wait, hold on. I think I should—"

"There's no time. Let's get moving or else we're toast."

Not given a chance to adapt to the sunlight, Luna simply gives in and follows Arcueid's lead.

While walking, Luna spots a familiar red-haired boy entering the garden, but before she can interact with him, Arcueid pulls her faster because the sun is coming. As they were fleeing, Luna made eye contact with the boy while walking past each other.

After the two vampire girls reached the exit, the red-haired boy watched them leave before deciding to continue walking further into the garden, not knowing his objective in that place.