“Hey! You’re doing it all wrong!” I yell at Alex as he tries to perform the 1st tier spell, “Shadow Bullet.”

“It needs to be a big ball and spin!” I lecture as I walk over from doing my own training.

Today we’re doing individual training to perfect our spells. At the beginning, Alex was totally clueless and could barely even summon up his mana, our practice has helped him improve tons.

As for me, I enjoy Alex’s company, he’s my first friend that’s close to my age. Compared to when Lady Aura first brought him here, she has been coming much more often lately.

“Sorry Selene, I’m just a little distracted,” Alex says apologetically.

“Here, I’ll show it to you again. Like...this!”

A ball of darkness forms in my hand and starts spinning rapidly. I direct it towards a target dummy that Mary set up for us and as soon as I release it, the dummy is quickly obliterated.

“See?”

“Ah-haha...” Alex nervously laughs.

“Alright, remember, a big ball okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” Alex says with little enthusiasm.

For some reason, Alex has been distracted all day today. From time to time I can see him staring at me while we were doing individual training. I wonder if he’s getting frustrated at his progress? He seemed a little weird two weeks ago when he came over but today, his expressions are way less happy.

“Um, just take it slow okay, Alex? Like you said, all you need to know is five spells to be qualified as a 1st tier mage. You already built up your mana over the past two years so now, you’re almost there!” I say to cheer up Alex.

At first, his face turns blank with surprise but then Alex says with a soft smile “Thanks, Selene.”

Satisfied with cheering up Alex, I head back to my area to continue practicing. I could feel his eyes on my back as I walk, I really wonder what’s with him today?

Anyway, I need to finish learning the tier 3 spells teacher gave me. It’s been taking me awhile to learn the “Shadow Spike” spell the way teacher uses it.

(I need to try harder) I thought.

As I began to focus on my training, I hear Mary chat with Alex for a bit but can’t make out the contents. After a while, Alex suddenly runs off into the mansion. Curious about what happened, I walk over to ask Mary.

“Mary, what happened?”

“Master Alex is taking a break. He instructed me to tell you not to worry and continue your training.” Mary says in a relaxed manner with a smirk on her face.

“Really? That’s weird. Alex never takes breaks.” I thought out loud.

“Worry not, Selene. Even the young master requires rest occasionally. Besides, I think you could stand to practice ‘Shadow Spike’ some more.” Mary lectures.

“Urgh, okay...”

I resume my training while wondering what was going on with Alex today.

***

(A few moments earlier)

Alex stares at Selene’s back as she returned to her training. He felt conflicted at his current predicament, a crossroad sat before him. One path leads to safety and ignorance, the other, a possible loss of someone dear to him.

(Lord Belmont, just what should I do?) Alex wondered as he scratched his head.

While he was lost in thought, the senior maid Mary suddenly spoke to him from behind.

“Master Alex, even if you stare at Selene all day, nothing is going to happen. Why don’t you tell her your feelings?” Mary asks with an amused tone.

“Whoa, Mary, where did you come from... and, my feelings...?” Alex thought out loud.

“I’ve been here the whole time, as per usual.” Mary mildly chuckles while saying, “Yes, your feelings for young Selene. Fufu, Though I suggest you investigate her feelings first.” Mary continued with a slightly smug expression.

“Selene’s feelings...” Alex thought out again.

(Yes! That’s it! What matters is Selene’s feelings!) Alex realized.

“Thank you, Mary! I’m going to talk to the Duchess for a bit, tell Selene not to worry and continue training!” Alex says while sprinting off.

“Oh my, a sudden proposal already?” Mary whispers to herself.

As Mary watched Alex run off in amusement, Selene walks up to her.

“Mary, what happened?”

***

Alex ran into the mansion and made his way up the stairs to the third floor. Various bewildered stares came his way towards his urgency. As Alex approached the room his mother and the Duchess Babylon were chatting in, he took deep breaths to calm himself down and then knocked on the door. After a short pause, he heard the Duchess’s displeased voice call out.

“State your name.”

“I-it’s Alex.” He answered with a slight hint of fear in his voice.

“Oh! Come in dear!” Aura said.

Upon hearing his mother’s voice, he slowly opened the door and walked in.

“My, if it isn’t the serious boy. So, what is it that you need?” The Duchess asked with a more relaxed tone.

“Before that, could you summon Selene’s father? There’s something I want to talk to the both of you about regarding Selene.” Alex says reluctantly.

Though he was hesitant, a strong conviction could be heard towards the end of his request.

“Oh my, I knew this day would come, am I finally getting a daughter? Ufufu” Aura giggles.

“Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be the case... I suspect I know what’s really going on.” Serah says with a tired tone while scanning Alex’s face.

“Very well. I shall call Abel, it should only take a moment.”

As soon as the Duchess said those words, everyone in the room felt a huge surge of mana that pulsated from her body. The wave of mana ran through them and continued moving outside the room, till it covered the whole premise. Selene sensed the familiar mana. Impressed by its power, she gained further motivation for her training.

This was the 5th tier non-elemental spell “Sense Presence.” However, the size of Serah Babylon’s spell was easily three times the size of regular magicians. After she found Abel, she used the 4th tier darkness spell “Shadow Whisper,” which allows the caster to send a message over a short distance. The Duchess softly blew out a dark smoke that slithered away to find its target.

“Abel will be here soon. For now, let’s enjoy some tea.” Serah urged.

“Come sit over with mama, Alex!” Aura continued completely ignoring everything that happened.

Alex started to regret his decision. However, upon remembering who he was doing this for, he steeled his resolve.

“Yes, mother.”

***

After a few short minutes, a knock could be heard from the door.

“Enter.” Serah said sternly.

Upon receiving permission, Abel McDowell entered the room and knelt on his left knee, with his right arm placed across his chest.

“Your majesty, your highness, lady Babylon. My name is Abel McDowell, at your service.” Abel respectfully says.

“Punctual as always. Alright, you may rise now Abel.” Serah praises with a pleased tone.

“That’s right, there isn’t a need for formality. Feel free to call me Aura as well! We’re here on an unofficial visit after all.”

“As you wish, Lady Aura.” Abel corrected, still maintaining a respectful tone.

“Now, the reason for your visit is the young prince here. He has something he wishes to speak with us about Selene.” Serah says gravely.

Under different circumstances, Abel might have interpreted a boy inquiring him about his daughter in a different manner. However, the Duchess’s tone clued Abel in on what the contents of this conversation will probably be about.

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“I understand. So, what is it that you wish to talk about, your highness?”

Although Abel’s manner of speaking remained the same, the tone was now completely different compared to when he answered to the Duchess and the Queen.

Alex felt a pressure emanate from the two figures before him. On his right, the kingdom’s strongest mage, and on his left, her knight. He seriously began to question whether he should go through with his plan until the Duchess herself finally gave him nowhere left to run.

“Now then, Alex. What about my student has you so curious?” Serah asks with authority in her voice.

The young prince gulped, and then looked to his mother, who showed her usual carefree smile. Left with no other option, he mustered up all his courage and spoke.

“I, I know that Selene is not what she thinks she is.” Alex nervously said. He surveyed the two figures before him for a response before continuing but was met with only stoic silence.

“S-she told me she was a vampire, but her fangs haven’t grown in yet. That is simply impossible, of all the books I’ve read, there has never been an instance of a vampire taking longer than a year for their fangs to fully grow.”

As Alex’s spoke, he remembered his extensive research and his feelings for Selene, giving him more confidence.

“Based on that and Selene’s other features, she is undoubtedly not a vampire, or even a dhampir, she is a normal human.”

Alex once again looked for a reaction. Compared to the stoic silence before, this time, Selene’s father Abel showed a slight twitch in his expression. Curiously enough, Alex’s own mother showed no reaction at all towards his revelation.

“However, she went on to say that she will have them when she turns 10. I don’t see a reason for you guys to lie to her about something that would be so easily foiled as she ages. There’s only one possibility for you to tell her that specific lie, and that is you guys plan to turn her into an artificial dhampir.”

“...”

No one said anything, but the answer was clear based on Abel’s frown.

“Abel, your poker face is terrible. There’s no use hiding it from the boy now that it’s come to this.” Serah sighed.

“Duchess Babylon, I understand that your magic is powerful and that the chance of the ritual succeeding will be high. However, I can’t ignore something like this as a prince of Noctus, as a friend of Selene. I don’t know much about dhampirs, but what I could find out cannot be considered good. The sacrifice of a live vampire, and a curse that will plague her all her life.” Alex sadly says.

“Please, don’t go through with-”

As Alex tried to plead, he was met with the hand of the Duchess Babylon signaling him to stop, along with a heavy barrage of mana.

“Urgh.” He groans from the pressure seeking to crush his body.

“Child, you know nothing of my magic. Do not underestimate Serah Babylon. A dhampir ritual without a sacrifice is trivial. Even the curse can be removed completely if I use all my power.” The Duchess says with a flat tone.

“Hey! Serah! Bullying Alex is no good!” Aura says as she cuts through the storm of mana with her own.

“Hmm. So you haven’t slacked all these years, Aura. Well, anyway, now you understand. There won’t be any problems with the dhampir ritual,” Serah continues with a more relaxed tone.

Alex truly felt for the first time the reason why ‘Serah Babylon the Frenzy’ was the most respected, and strongest mage in all Noctus. Experiencing just a small portion of her power was enough to convince him of her might, and that what she was saying was true.

(But still!) Alex said in his mind.

“The life of a dhampir won’t be easy. She might end up isolated to no fault of her own. As her friend, I still think this is a bad idea.” Alex said with conviction.

“Now, Alex. I think this is something that Selene should decide for herself, right? Though she seems like a strong girl, so I think she’ll be fine even if she does decide to go through with the ritual!” Aura interjects with her cheery voice.

Alex thought about what his mother said. He realizes she is right. Caught up in his own thoughts, he had forgotten his original goal, if he wants to consider Selene’s feelings, that means she must decide for herself.

“...You’re right mother, I apologize for overstepping. I will not speak another word of this ritual if you guys agree to tell Selene the truth. She deserves to know.” Alex resolutely states.

There was a subtle silence between Abel and the Duchess. Abel had resolved to bear any burden, any consequence for the sake of Selene’s future. But what the young prince said was true, no matter how much he wants to protect her, she deserves to know the truth.

Deep down, Abel knew, but he couldn’t find the courage in himself to act. What made this worse for him was that it took a boy not even 10 years of age yet pointing it out to him for him to do it.

“Lady Babylon...” Abel sadly says.

There was a brief silence for what felt like an eternity to Abel, who knows well of Serah Babylon’s wrath. Finally, the Duchess gave in and sighed.

“Haa. Fine, do what you want.” Serah said with folded arms as she sat back down with a displeased expression.

Alex felt relieved that his plan worked, he still worried whether he was doing the right thing. But for the sake of his dear friend, this was something he knew had to be done.

***

After a while, Alex came back from his break. He looked more tired than when he left. Meanwhile, I had just finished perfecting teacher’s ‘Shadow Spike.” It took a couple days longer than I thought to get the speed and angle right, but I think it turned out exactly like her spell.

“Hey Alex, look!” I excitedly beckon.

I concentrate on the spell and try to repeat what I just did. As I start to visualize the runes, several spikes come up from the shade of the dummy and pierce it mercilessly.

“How’s that?” I say while waiting for my praise.

“Amazing, using ‘Shadow Spike’ out of the shadow of your target, just what kind of ridiculous move is this?” Alex said in a surprised tone.

“This is one of teacher’s specialties, she customized the runes herself!” I boast.

“I believe it. Such is the power of Serah Babylon...” Alex said with a fearful expression.

“What happened? Did you get scolded?”

“N-no, it’s not that. Anyway, I think your dad is looking for you, Selene. The Duchess also told me to tell you that you’re free for the rest of today and should take a rest.”

Alex seems weirdly nervous about something, maybe teacher was picking on him as usual. Either way, I hope he cheers up soon. He can’t go to the royal academy next year being all gloomy! I’m starting to worry about Alex’s future.

“Okay, well, guess this is goodbye until next time,” I say somewhat reluctantly.

Even though I see Alex almost every week now, I still hate saying goodbye.

“Oh, my mom is staying over for the night, so we won’t be leaving until tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be here for you tomorrow, Selene.”

“Awesome! Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow!” I cheerfully say.

I run over to Mary to tell her the situation. She had a curious but understanding expression. Then afterward we leave the backyard training ground to go get changed. Although, my training outfit doesn’t really differ from my regular outfits.

I feel like they’re not quite meant for this kind of stuff. The short skirt waves around when I use movement spells, it’s a little embarrassing, but teacher seems to really like it.

After we enter the mansion, I see my papa waiting for me.

“Papa!”

“Hey there.” He answers with a soft tone. Then he briefly looks at Mary and nods his head. Mary nods back with a stoic look.

“I’m going to get changed with Mary, wait just a bit okay?”

And with that, I run off into a room on the first floor while dragging Mary along. At first, she would always scold me for doing something like this, but after training sessions she usually lets me do what I want.

Mary was silent in the dressing room.

(I wonder if it has to do with why papa got off early today) I thought.

After I got changed into my regular white blouse and red skirt, we exited the room and met back up with papa.

“Okay, I’m ready to go papa!”

He didn’t say anything but simply smiled. Then he turned to Mary, who in turn hands him a basket she got from a maid, and then papa gave his thanks.

“Thank you as usual, Mary.”

“You can thank me by doing it properly.” Mary sternly answered.

“I got it.” Papa responded with a solemn tone.

Unsure of what they’re talking about, I patiently wait.

“Let’s go home, Selene.”

“Yeah!”

***

Exiting the premise, we said our farewells to papa’s friend Fino and headed home. I skipped along the familiar path that I’ve walked through every day now for the past 3 years. The journey was short but sweet, as I can’t wait to get home and tell papa about the spell I mastered today. I love it at teacher’s mansion, but I also look forward to going home with papa every day.

Once we got close enough and were able to see the entrance to our home, I ran forward to the gate that surrounded our house and waved to papa.

“We’re home, papa!” I excitedly yell out.

“Yeah, we are.” He answered.

Papa opens the gate and hands me the key to the house. I then run forward to open our door. The small but quiet house feels as if it greeted me in with a slight creak of the door, upon entering I let out a sigh of relief.

After taking off my shoes, I head into the kitchen to wash up and prepare for dinner. Papa and I always eat together when we come home, though usually, it’s food that Mary cooked for us. As I prepare the table, papa comes in and calls out to me.

“Selene, can we talk for a moment first?” He softly but solemnly asks.

“Sure papa, anything.” I cautiously respond.

We sat down at the table and for a while, papa didn’t say anything but simply held his hands on the table. I don’t know what’s on his mind but from his expression, I can tell that it’s serious.

“There’s something I haven’t been quite honest with you about, Selene. It’s something I should have told you a lot sooner.” Papa said with a sad expression.

I could only wonder as to what papa wanted to tell me about, but somewhere in my mind, I feel like I know.

“The truth is, I found you in a basket floating along a stream when you were a baby. I’ve never had a wife and... we’re not blood-related.” He finally said while looking down.

“I’m...not papa’s daughter?” I ask half confused, half scared.

“No, no. You are my daughter. In this life you, Selene, will be my daughter no matter what happens. You are the light of my life, and I will never ever abandon you.” He answers without any hesitation and a loving expression on his face.

Papa looks me in the eye with conviction. I’m shocked to hear that I’m not papa’s real daughter but as I remember his soft smile as he read me bedtime stories and sitting here every morning laughing with him before going our separate ways, I know that my papa loves me. I blinked away tears that formed in my eyes and gave Papa a reassuring smile.

He looks relieved at my reaction but only briefly as his face goes back to being grim.

“There is a reason why I’m telling you this today, and it has to do with the circumstances of how I found you.”

“That night, I was taking a shortcut through the woods from town to get home after a long workday. It was dark and cold, not a place for a child to be, but there you were. Alone in the forest. Until then, I had always been living in solitude, that night, you gave me a second chance at life and every day since then I’ve been thankful.” Papa continues with a nostalgic expression.

“However,” He said and then paused shortly before saying with resignation.

“There was a problem.”

Papa held a conflicted and a genuine expression of fear, something I’ve never seen on him before.

“You were born a human...and a male.”

It hit me like thunder. Suddenly, I start to remember the time I asked Papa why I don’t have fangs like him. The curious look from the maids. And Alex’s words that day when we met. It all started to make sense to me, like a fog that I had never noticed before but has always been there is clearing up. However, when I reeled back and remembered the second part, I became even more shocked.

“I’m...a boy?” I say with several layers of confusion.

“...Yes. You see, when I brought you to Lady Babylon, she would not allow for a human male to live on her property. But I was desperate, meeting you gave me a chance to have someone in my life, and I couldn’t allow you to go through the orphanage like I did, especially since you are a human.” He desperately explained after seeing the lost expression on my face.

“Under the condition that I would raise you as my daughter, Lady Babylon allowed us to be together. However, that wasn’t the only condition. When you turn 10, you were to be turned into a Dhampir using magic. This was something that will affect you forever, and yet I selfishly decided it all on my own due to my loneliness. I’m so sorry, Selene.”

Papa stood up and bowed to me, I could tell he was scared, just like I was just a few minutes ago. I was scared that papa was no longer going to love me, and now, it’s the same for him.

There’s a lot of things I don’t know, and much more that I’m bad at. Mary is always strict with me during her lessons she teaches me. But there is one thing I know for sure.

I move my hand to pat papa’s head as he usually does to me. He looks up with an unsure expression after I do so, and I say,

“Papa...I don’t care that I’m not papa’s real daughter, or that I’m a boy. Because you found me, I was able to meet you, Mary, and teacher. I know you all love me very much, even teacher, although she tries to hide it. There no need for you to be sorry papa, what I want, more than anything, is to be here with you.” I say with a gentle smile.

Before I can react, he hugs me and cradles my head to his chest while saying with a trembling voice.

“Oh Selene, thank you. Thank you so much.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him back as strongly as possible.

After we calmed down, papa reluctantly let me go and took something out of his pocket.

“Selene, you may not be of my blood, but you are my daughter. I want you to always know that. That’s why, I want you to have this.”

He revealed his pocket watch that he always has on him. I remember him going to get it fixed last year when it broke.

“This is something that the orphanage gave me when I left to become independent. I kept it as a motivator during my youth to work hard and become strong. I thought I lost it when I started working for Lady Babylon, but 3 years ago I found it again. This is a reminder of who I am, and who I’ve become.” Papa explains reminiscently.

“I want you to have this, so you will always know that you are Selene McDowell...daughter of Abel McDowell.” He finishes with a smile.

“Thank you, papa. I love you.”

We give each other one final hug and then papa lets out a big sigh of relief and pats me on the head. I give him a big smile and then for a brief moment, we simply enjoyed this moment together, it had been a while since I got to relax with papa.

“Okay, how about we eat dinner now. And then, we can talk some more after?”

“Yeah! I’m hungry! Also, I want to know more about papa when you were young!”

“Haha, younger me huh? I don’t think it’ll be very exciting, but alright.”

We open the basket Mary gave us and found some of my favorite dishes in here. Basil pasta, baked chicken, and an egg sandwich. Once again, I realize how truly loved I am.

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Tomorrow we must go talk to Lady Babylon about a couple of things, relating to the topics we just discussed tonight. Sorry to have to bring it all back up so quickly, Selene.” Papa apologetically added.

“Mhm, it’s okay papa! Let’s eat!”

As I eat, I wonder what tomorrow has in store for me. Teacher must have been worried like papa was about this, so I hope I can cheer her up tomorrow. After dinner, papa and I spend our time leisurely together for the first time in a while.