"You, my child, are a danger magnet!" I declared, pointing an accusing finger at Sebastian. He stood in the middle of the field, frowning up at me like I'd just insulted his entire existence. Beside him, Rosemary—now almost fully healed—stood with her arms crossed, an unimpressed expression etched across her face.
"Remind me why we're here again?" Rosemary asked, her tone sharp, as if she already regretted showing up.
Before I could answer, Shira—who had been standing silently behind me—stepped forward. Her voice was calm but firm, carrying the authority of someone who wouldn't tolerate dissent. "We're here to train. I haven't finished Sebastian's training yet, and I've decided to include you in the regime as well, Rosemary. You rely too much on your other form and can't depend on it in every situation. It's time you learn to defend yourself in this one."
Rosemary's face soured immediately, her lips twisting into a frown. "If you guys would just take off my collar…" she muttered, her voice trailing off into a familiar complaint.
"Negative," Shira replied sharply, cutting her off without hesitation.
Both Sebastian and Rosemary were now glaring at her, their displeasure a mirror image of each other. If I blurred my vision just a bit, I could almost swear they looked like siblings with how synchronized their reactions were.
Sebastian let out a deep sigh, clearly searching for any excuse to get out of this. "I'll just stay inside our room and hide forever," he mumbled dramatically.
Shira wasn't having it. She flicked him on the forehead with the precision of someone who'd done this a hundred times before. "Ow!" Sebastian yelped, stumbling back and clutching his forehead as though she'd delivered a mortal blow.
"No," Shira said firmly, crossing her arms. "You two will be trained. This isn't just my decision—it's a request from Miss Vivienne herself. With the lack of mages to protect Zaudseth and its students, now that we have a vampire and a werewolf under our roof, it makes sense to utilize the resources available."
"Great. So we're basically slaves now?" Rosemary drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Do I at least get paid for this?"
Sebastian perked up at that, his eyes widening as if he'd just realized the same thing. "Wait—do we get paid? Because that...might help."
Shira fixed them both with an exasperated look, then turned to me for support. I shrugged, unable to hold back a small snicker. "I could ask my mother about it," I said with a grin.
Rosemary pumped her fist in the air, triumphant. "If there's payment involved, I'm in."
Sebastian's eyes practically glinted with newfound determination. "Same here. I'm in if we're getting paid."
I clapped my hands together, delighted at how quickly they'd folded. "Perfect~" I chimed, though I was a little surprised. I'd expected more resistance from them, but apparently, dangling money over their heads was far more effective than I'd anticipated.
Shira shot me an annoyed glance, clearly unimpressed by my methods, before turning back to the two recruits. They were now elbowing each other like children, each trying to get the last word in their silent sibling-like squabble.
Yeah, this is going to go great.
***
It didn't go as planned. For the life of them, Sebastian and Rosemary just couldn't work together—not like they had during the attack. Back then, they'd moved in perfect sync, like gears in a well-oiled machine. Now, it was as if every step they took was a stumble, every move a misstep.
Sebastian moved lethargically, dragging his feet through the training hour. His sluggishness was impossible to ignore, even for me. Guilt gnawed at me. Perhaps he needed more rest. Maybe I was pushing him too hard.
Even Shira had noticed.
Rosemary, on the other hand, wasn't as forgiving. Her patience wore thin as Sebastian refused to dodge during reflex training, letting himself get hit—again and again—by the mud balls Shira hurled their way. One splattered across his face, and he didn't even flinch.
"Sebastian, move!" Rosemary snapped, anger flashing in her voice. But he just stood there, wiping mud from his cheek with a groan.
The training continued for a few more hours, before eventually…
"I'm so tired, I can't move anymore," Sebastian muttered weakly as he emerged from the bathroom later that evening. His hair was damp, and his steps were heavy, like he was dragging the weight of the world behind him. He trudged to his bed, barely making it before collapsing face-first onto the mattress. He groaned a few more times, curling up on his side like a child seeking comfort.
I winced, guilt hitting me like a punch to the gut. Maybe it was too soon to train him so hard. He hadn't been drinking much blood lately either. That, more than anything, was probably why he was so drained.
Reaching into the pocket of my robe, I pulled out a juice box filled with blood. I walked over to him, hesitating for a moment when I saw his face, soft and peaceful in sleep. I already felt bad for pushing him to this point, and now I had to wake him up.
"Sebastian," I whispered, nudging his shoulder gently. He stirred immediately, blinking blearily up at me.
"Some blood?" I offered, holding out the juice box. He nodded, sitting up sluggishly as if even that small act took all his strength. He took the box and drank greedily, his eyes brightening slightly with each sip.
"I needed that," he muttered, leaning back against the headboard. "Shira is a monster. I don't think I can last another hour with her. Hell, I can barely last thirty minutes. I'm a servant vampire, right? So why am I so weak?" His voice cracked with frustration.
I chuckled softly, trying to lift his spirits. "You're not weak."
He frowned at me, clearly unconvinced. "And pigs fly."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Believe it or not, there are some pigs that do fly."
His eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't help but laugh harder at his expression.
"You said there are seven sins, right?" he asked, his tone shifting to something more thoughtful. "The one Rosemary and I fought—it was a servant of Gluttony, wasn't it?"
I nodded, already guessing where he was going with this.
"Gluttony's servants," I began, "have an unsettling ability. If they get a taste of your blood, they can shift their form to match yours perfectly. They can copy your appearance down to the smallest detail. But Gluttony herself? She's far worse. She doesn't just take your form—she takes your memories too."
Sebastian's jaw dropped, his disbelief written all over his face. "Are they even vampires anymore?"
I laughed at his reaction. "Technically, they're considered half-demons. Demons are the most dangerous beings in existence. That much should be obvious by now."
"Yeah…" Sebastian scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I mean, I'm not exactly religious, but we've all heard the stories about them."
"Well," I continued, "it's a good thing they're only offshoots of the real ones. They follow the path of the deadly sins, but they're not actually the sins themselves. Remember, these creatures were once human too—before Dracul turned them."
I lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling as the weight of my own thoughts settled over me.
"What about Dracul?" Sebastian asked after a moment of silence. "Is he a sin too?"
"Hn, probably," I said, shrugging. "Vainglory is the oldest sin of all. But Dracul… He never really followed the path of the demons. And even then, he hasn't shown himself in a long, long time. Who knows what he is anymore?"
I turned my head to look at Sebastian. He was still sitting up, his legs crossed as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"What about the other sins?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "Can you tell me more about Sloth (Minerva)? " He winced, his frustration evident.
"Oh… Sloth… Sloth… hmm," I murmured, closing my eyes in concentration.
As I pondered, I realized there was a surprising lack of information regarding Minerva's (Vampire of Sloth) abilities. I struggled to connect her to the sin of Sloth. Sloth encompasses more than mere laziness; it also embodies neglect, apathy, and an emotional void.
What powers might Minerva—Sloth—possess?
"Silas, did you fall asleep on me again?" Sebastian's voice broke through my thoughts.
I opened my eyes to find him looking at me, a teasing glint in his gaze. "Seb, believe it or not… I don't think there are any books detailing what Minerva can actually do," I confessed, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks.
Sebastian let out an incredulous "Ehhh…"
"How can that be? Didn't you say Minerva is the oldest vampire?" He tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "And strong too, right?"
I nodded slowly. "Well, yes, but she isn't exactly 'showy,'" I replied, using air quotes for emphasis.
"Unlike the other sins, Sloth represents a path of idleness. Laziness, and so forth… I have no idea how she managed to defeat the first deadly sins," I winced at the thought. It was a question that haunted every student, including myself. There were no explanations for her feats!
"That's kind of disappointing. So I really am just a normal vampire now that I think about it," Sebastian said, turning to me with a frown.
"Hey, being normal doesn't mean you're weak," I retorted, pouting slightly.
"Besides, there's no way Minerva lacks abilities that set her apart from other purebloods. You'll discover them soon enough. After all, you're her first servant. Maybe on our journey, we'll unravel the mystery of her elusiveness," I added, snapping my fingers as Sebastian nodded, though he still looked slightly disheartened.
"It's strange how she knew I was Minerva's servant," he mused, a frown crossing his face.
"Who?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The vampire who attacked me and Rosemary," he replied, his expression darkening.
He wasn't wrong; it was indeed peculiar. Perhaps that vampire had sensed his bond with Minerva. If that were true, could Sebastian also sense other vampires?
"Hn, that is strange. There are numerous texts that delve into vampire abilities, but they never explore the nuances. You might be the first vampire who hasn't attacked any of us… and you also lack the knowledge," I remarked.
Sebastian let out an offended "Hey!" and I couldn't help but giggle.
"All we know is that they embody the seven deadly sins and differ vastly from the vampires you see in movies. They aren't just bloodsuckers; they're demons. You need to be cautious around them," I warned.
Sebastian frowned at my words. "I guess… I am one as well then," he said, his voice lacking emotion.
That statement made me sit up straight. "I don't mean it like that," I protested, my brows furrowing in concern.
He raised his head and waved dismissively. "I know, I know. But after seeing how they are… They're terrifying, and I'm one of them," he trailed off, lost in thought.
"You know you're very different from them," I pointed out, noticing him snap out of his daze.
"I—yeah… you're right. Maybe it's better that I don't have any special abilities..."
Sebastian forced a laugh, but it felt hollow, and I sighed in response.
"Do you want me to talk about the other purebloods and their abilities?" I offered, hoping to lighten the mood.
That seemed to capture his attention, and he nodded eagerly. I grinned, sensing a shift in the atmosphere.
"Alright, lay down and just listen to my voice," I instructed, as he settled back onto his pillow, ready to absorb the stories I would share.
***
"It's been days since the attack," Vivienne begins, as Shira and I sit across from her at the desk. Standing by the window, she rests her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"There's a possibility that Minerva has been killed," she adds after a moment.
The shock hits both Shira and me, and we sit up straighter in our chairs.
"What—what do you mean, Miss Vivienne?" Shira stammers, a bead of sweat trickling down her cheek.
Vivienne returns to her seat. "As you know, being a pureblood is merely a hierarchy. It doesn't necessarily mean you are a full-fledged vampire. It is possible to assume the position of a pureblood if you defeat them in a fight and—"
"Eat their heart?" I interject.
This concept is only mentioned in ancient scrolls. The seven purebloods—or the seven deadly sins—are considered the new ones, as the old ones were killed by Minerva herself.
"In theory, yes. I believe a vampire could have defeated Minerva and claimed the pureblood status, thus becoming the new Vampire of Sloth."
A new Vampire of Sloth? Does my mother mean we've been running around like headless chickens searching for a dead vampire? That doesn't make sense! If Minerva is dead, Sebastian should be too—after all, he is her servant.
If there's a new Vampire of Sloth, Sebastian wouldn't even exist anymore. Along with Minerva, he would also cease to be.
Shira bites her lip. "That can't be! How can you say that?"
"Minerva is the oldest vampire and embodies the sin itself. There are even theories suggesting she was the true holder of Vainglory, not Dracul, who is merely termed the King of Vampires," I add.
Vivienne sighs. "The other sins are attacking because they're trying to find the new Vampire of Sloth…" She turns to me, her eyes piercing.
"But we have no proof of that," I interject again.
It's true; we can't make assumptions here. It's possible that the vampires of the deadly sins are merely power-tripping. Their actions resemble those from before.
They have always enjoyed flaunting their power, reveling in the chaos they create among the mages. They love watching us scramble to fix their messes.
Vivienne huffs, resting a finger under her chin as she sighs. "That is true; it's still unclear. But I'm beginning to believe it. However, Sebastian's existence complicates that theory."
I nod in agreement. If Minerva was the one who turned him, then her death must mean Sebastian cannot be here.
If he's alive, it means Minerva is somewhere, alive and hiding.
"If she is indeed hiding, why?" I ask.
"We have her servant. Purebloods are extremely possessive of their servants," Shira adds.
Vivienne sighs again. "I mention this because there's a possibility your mission may end in failure. It would be better for you two to hand it over to a different, less experienced mage to avoid any bad records under your names."
I sigh internally, a small headache forming.