The sun rose brightly the next morning.
Lauren sat on the edge of his bed, with Ash'vour resting in his lap, staring at the floor.
In the next room, Ryuzo was talking to his mother. Every word could be heard clearly.
"He needs to study, Ryuzo," she said. "He can't stay locked up inside forever."
"I know, but... sunlight is still dangerous for him. He hasn't evolved yet. He's still just an ordinary vampire... very weak."
Lauren closed his eyes tightly.
It hurt.
Being called weak again hurt.
A moment later, Ryuzo entered the room carrying a black cloak with silver trim and a pair of sunglasses.
"Lauren, starting tomorrow... you're going to school."
Lauren's eyes widened.
"You're going to wear this," Ryuzo continued. "The cloak has magical sun protection. It'll keep you safe and protect you from the sunlight. You need to see the world, Lauren... and make some friends."
Lauren wanted to refuse.
He wanted to scream.
But no sound came out.
Instead, he lowered his head and hugged Ash'vour tighter.
The next day...
The school gates slowly opened, and all eyes turned toward him.
A short boy wearing a black cloak that reached his feet and a pair of sunglasses walked silently down the hallway.
Whispers followed him wherever he went.
"Who's that emo over there?"
"He looks like he's going to a funeral..."
"He must be sick..."
Lauren kept his gaze fixed on the floor.
He reached his locker, but as he tried to open it, a notebook slipped from his hands.
When he bent down to pick it up, another student deliberately bumped into him.
"Hey, watch out, little bat!"
Lauren's fingers tightened around the notebook.
That's when she appeared.
"Get out of the way, idiot!"
Lauren looked up.
A girl with wavy purple hair and soft, light-pink eyes stood before him, wearing an expression filled with confidence and superiority.
She was stunning.
So beautiful that everyone around her seemed like mere shadows.
But what no one knew was that she belonged to the Felinessia race—a people who become weaker the more beautiful they are.
She crouched down and picked up Lauren's notebook, handing it back to him.
"Do you have a name?"
Lauren tried to answer.
But his voice failed him.
His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
"Hm... Shy?" she said with a smile.
"Alright, then. You look like a... Mino!"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Mino will be your name until you tell me your real one."
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I am Beatrice Fontenelle. Princess of the Felinessia race."
She leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"But don't tell anyone, okay?"
Lauren nodded.
Beatrice winked at him playfully.
For the first time in a long time, something unfamiliar filled his chest.
It wasn't sadness.
It wasn't fear.
It was warmth.