«From today, you have a new classmate,» the teacher says. He introduces Ren to Class 'C' of the third year.
Everyone hangs on Ren's words, as if, in that moment, getting to know him is their only reason for living.
«My name is Ren Volkom,» he says.
Seconds of heavy silence follow.
The class keeps staring at him, mouths half-open, eyes wide, waiting for more.
~My introduction is already enough, but they don't seem satisfied~ Ren thinks.
«...and I am fifteen years old,» he adds.
~Do they really want me to tell them my whole life story?~
«Volkom? What kind of last name is that?»
«And you're asking me?»
Two boys at the back whisper, but Ren hears them clearly.
His hearing is far sharper than a human's.
The teacher, trying to ease the tension, points Ren to the only empty seat.
«My name is Rebecca Deseri, nice to meet you,» the girl next to him says.
She's stunning, with sky-blue eyes and straw-colored hair tied in a ponytail.
«Nice to meet you,» Ren replies, sounding distant and thoughtful.
He carefully studies his new classmates, one by one.
~Damn. There's not even a trace of anyone who could make a good familiar~ Ren thinks, bitter.
His gaze finally stops on Rebecca, whom he had barely noticed until now.
~And she's even worse than the others. Great...~
«Forgive my indiscretion, Ren, but why are your irises red?» Rebecca asks.
«What a stupid question! I'm a vamp-»
Ren freezes.
Isabelle's warnings echo in his mind.
Never tell anyone your true nature. At best, they'll think you're crazy. At worst, a Monster Reaper could find you. And remember, humans don't have eyes like ours. If they ask, just say...
«It's a rare exotic disease,» Ren says, sounding anything but convincing.
«Oh dear, I hope it's not contagious,» Rebecca replies, her worry sounding even less believable.
«No, not contagious. By the way, a curiosity: what do you think about vampires?»
Rebecca frowns, clearly puzzled by the strange question.
For a moment, Ren thinks he sees her expression darken, but she quickly smiles again.
«You mean those monsters who drink human blood in horror movies? Well, if they really existed, they'd be a plague that needs wiping out. Don't you think so?»
Ren gulps at her words, filled with real hatred and bitterness.
~If vampires are seen like this by humans, what chance do I have of finding good familiars?~
Ren forces out a disheartened, «Yeah...»
♡♡♡
Classes end.
Ren gets ready to leave the classroom, but the professor calls him back.
«If I'm not mistaken, you weren't present during the school tour day. I'd say it's time to make up for it.»
«There's no need, really. I can find my way around on my own.»
~The castle my family owned was dozens of times larger than this school. And yet, I never got lost even once. Like hell I'm getting lost in a place like this~
«Too late, sorry. I've already informed the student council president. She'll be your Virgil.»
«My... what?»
«Oh, speak of the devil...» the professor says, glancing over the boy's shoulder.
In young Volkom's eyes, bored until that moment, an unexpected spark of excitement suddenly ignites.
He sees a charming girl walk in.
She has chestnut hair and brilliant green eyes, sparkling like emeralds.
~This girl has the potential to be the perfect familiar! Just one look and I can tell! I absolutely have to find a way to make her mine!~
«Brianne Leviantis, fifth year.
Nice to meet you... um?» the girl says, then pauses.
«...Ren Volkom,» the professor prompts.
«Forgive me, Brianne. I forgot to tell you the name of the newcomer.»
Having said that, the professor takes his leave.
«R-Ren Volkom...» Brianne repeats.
Her face flushes a deep red when she hears that name.
Her body begins to tremble in a mix of embarrassment and nervousness.
«Yeah, that's my name,» Ren comments.
He looks bewildered by her sudden mood swing.
«P-Please, follow me, Ren.»
Over the next half-hour, Brianne leads him through the institute's five floors.
She shows him all the notable classrooms.
Finally, back on the ground floor, she stops near a staircase leading to a lower level.
«This staircase leads to the underground passage that connects to the old wing of the school. It's abandoned now for safety reasons. It's where students gather to skip class.»
After saying that, Brianne is struck by a sudden fit of nervousness. «I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply you're one of those slackers who skips lessons. I would never! But, um... since I've shown you the whole school, I thought maybe you'd be interested in seeing this too...»
~Even if I don't care about what's down there, I need to spend as much time with her as possible. If I want to make her my familiar, I have no choice. Since she's human, it'll be almost impossible, but I can't give up without trying!~
The underground corridor looks like a long, old hallway.
It's about two meters wide and almost completely dark.
~Where did she go?~ Ren wonders after realizing he has lost sight of his guide.
His vampiric eyes allow him to see clearly through the darkness he's immersed in.
Yet the girl seems to have vanished into thin air.
He doesn't even have time to question it.
Ren senses a sudden, mysterious invisible force hit him head-on.
It slams him against the corridor wall.
It takes him a moment to realize it was a magic attack casted by Brianne.
She immediately throws herself at him with a strength and speed unthinkable for a human.
The girl presses her big boobs and hips against young Volkom's body.
She's wearing nothing but black lace underwear.
«Ren, please, make me yours...!»