Saiya and Aurelia ventured into a secluded corner of the academy's lush garden. The dappling sunlight danced through the leaves, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the ground. Saiya sensed an air of gravity in Aurelia's demeanor, a foreboding that sent a shiver down her spine. When Aurelia handed her the phone, Saiya's fingers trembled slightly as she took it, her pulse quickening with unease.
"Take a look at this, Saiya," Aurelia's voice was hushed, her eyes holding an intense solemnity. "It's time you knew the truth."
Saiya hesitated only for a moment before pressing play. The screen flickered to life, and there, in vivid clarity, appeared a face she thought she might never see again – her mother.
Her mother's image, frozen in time, sent a rush of emotions through Saiya. The long, flowing white hair and those piercing blue eyes; her mother remained eternally youthful, a characteristic shared by all pureblood vampires. But there was an undeniable weight in her gaze, a burden of secrets and hidden truths.
"Hello, Saiya," her mother's voice quivered with a mixture of longing and regret. "I wish I could be there with you, but circumstances prevent it."
Saiya was entranced as her mother unraveled a truth that felt like a surreal nightmare. Her mother spoke of an enigmatic, covert government entity known as the Thorns. They operated in the shadows, their influence vast and their intentions inscrutable.
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"Being a pureblood vampire, my dear," her mother explained, "it's not just a matter of lineage or pride. It's a blessing and a curse, a gift that comes at a great cost. A cost that even other vampires can't fully grasp."
As the revelation continued, Saiya's mother disclosed the real threat lay with the Undead – the original vampires. They believed dark elves were their progenitors, venerating them as deities. If they discovered Saiya's true nature, her lineage tracing back to a dark elf, it would not only endanger Saiya but also her mother.
"They regard dark elves as gods," her mother's voice held a touch of reverence. "And they would stop at nothing to claim you as one of their own."
The gravity of the situation struck Saiya as her mother confessed she had left her intentionally, erasing any trace of her existence to protect her from this imminent danger.
"But remember, my beloved," her mother's gaze pierced through the screen, locking with Saiya's. "The Thorns, they have eyes and ears everywhere. Trust only those like us, other pureblood vampires. They are your sole allies."
The most shocking revelation came last – her mother’s voice dropped to a whisper as she mentioned Saiya's friend, Astrid. "I suspect Astrid might not be as she seems. She could be a spy, sent to uncover your secret."
The video ended, and Saiya was left in stunned silence. Holding the phone, she tried to process the tsunami of emotions and revelations that had just crashed over her. The world she thought she knew had crumbled, replaced by a dark and treacherous reality.
Aurelia, understanding the weight of the truth, wrapped an arm around Saiya's trembling shoulders. "Saiya, I'm truly sorry that you had to learn this way. But you are not alone. You have me, Lysander, and the truth to guide you."