Chapter 11: Yalbera’s Visit

Aurelia knelt down, gently ruffling Bai’s gray hair with a smile.

“You’re still young. All this talk probably doesn’t make much sense to you. Just get some rest. Tomorrow, we’ll send you back to the city. Maybe your sister’s already made it there ahead of you.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why did you save Bai?”

“Huh?”

Aurelia blinked, clearly caught off guard.

She looked at Bai with genuine confusion, like she couldn’t understand the question.

Bai tilted her head, staring back at her.

“Why save… Do you need a reason to save someone? You’re one of us, how could I stand by and watch a child die at the claws of a bloodbeast?”

Aurelia answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Bai fell silent for a long time.

Her pale cheeks seemed to regain a bit of warmth under the firelight, but her gray eyes remained still, like a doll without emotion.

“If only it had been humans who saved Bai back then…” she murmured under her breath, fingers unconsciously brushing over the faint burn where the crimson mark on her neck lay hidden.

Its ever-present heat served as a constant reminder of who she was.

You’re a blood slave, Bai.

You don’t get to want things.

“What?”

“Nothing. Bai’s tired. Bai wants to sleep.”

With that, she dove into the bedding, pulling it over her head without another word.

Aurelia could only shake her head with a sigh.

This is why I’m no good with kids…

***

Late at night, the firelight in the camp flickered faintly in the darkness of the forest.

The trees rustled now and then, wearing on the nerves of the knights keeping watch.

Under the covers, Bai hadn’t slept.

Her eyes remained half open, staring at the glowing red light of the flower in her hand, the otherworldly glow of the key flower.

She seemed deep in thought.

She had gained freedom, however brief, but why?

Why did it all feel so distant, so… fractured?

As if a voice kept echoing in her mind:

You are a blood slave.

Your kind and your freedom exist in separate worlds.

Enjoy this while you can, enjoy the scent of the forest, the warmth of Aurelia and her fellow humans.

But one day, your identity will be revealed.

The mark on your neck will have nowhere to hide.

And when that day comes… what will you do?

Bai lowered her gaze, trapped in her own spiraling thoughts.

Whrrr… whrrr… whrrr…

Suddenly, the mark on her neck began to burn.

Bai instinctively reached for it, muttering, “Master’s calling me… but it’s only been one day…”

She didn’t want to go back.

But she couldn’t disobey a command.

Carefully, Bai peeked out from under the covers.

She saw Aurelia sleeping soundly nearby, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Quietly, Bai slipped out, pricked her finger, and let a single drop of blood fall onto the flower…

After stepping through the swirling portal, the familiar manor greeted her once again.

Bai took a deep breath and headed straight for Yare’s bedroom.

Knock knock knock

Bai tapped on the door and asked, “Master, Bai’s back. Is there something you need?”

“Come in.”

The voice that answered froze Bai in place.

That arrogant tone, unmistakable.

It was Lady Yalbera’s voice!

Why… why was she here?

Her hand hovered frozen on the doorknob.

Panic, confusion, and dread flooded her all at once.

Still, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Yare was sitting calmly in her ornate chair, sipping tea with practiced grace.

The book that usually rested on her lap was nowhere to be seen.

And across from her, seated without a word, was a figure Bai knew all too well, her idol of five years, Yalbera.

Bai stiffly walked over to Yare.

As she passed by Yalbera, she could feel that icy gaze drilling into her skin.

“Master… is there… is there something you need?”

The moment Bai said the word “Master,” the fury in Yalbera’s eyes grew sharper.

She furrowed her brows, glaring hard at Bai.

“My apologies for disrupting your time outside, Bai,” Yare said as she set down her teacup with a playful smile, “but a certain old friend of yours has been missing you terribly.”

“Lady Yalbera, Bai…”

Before Bai could finish, Yalbera’s voice cut in, cold and forceful: “Now! Immediately! You’re coming back with me this instant! You’ve played around long enough, Bai. Don’t tell me you seriously plan to stay with this woman?”

Bai’s body trembled. Her fists clenched so tightly they turned white.

She looked to Yare, who simply stared back silently, as if waiting for Bai’s answer.

Bai took a deep breath.

Her eyes grew steadier as she spoke: “No!”

A smile of amusement spread across Yare’s face, clearly pleased with Bai’s reply.

But Yalbera’s gaze turned completely frigid.

“Did I give you the right to choose? You are my blood slave! Letting you wander for a day was already an act of mercy. Are you trying to disappoint me again? You’re coming back with me! You have no choice!”

“Bai refuses! Bai’s master is Yare! Bai is no longer Lady Yalbera’s blood slave! Lady Yalbera has no right to command Bai! And Bai will not obey!”

She had once loved Lady Yalbera, idolized her.

Her admiration, her devotion, her respect were stronger than anyone else’s.

Back then, she yearned for her master’s gaze, longed for her to look at her with warmth again.

She had naively believed that Yalbera’s coldness came from Bai not being good enough, not trying hard enough.

So she gave everything, trying desperately to serve.

But what she received in return were only harsher words, colder eyes.

And Bai… had finally grown disappointed.

After accidentally learning of Yalbera’s plan, her final hope shattered, reduced to nothing but a cruel, pathetic joke.

“Everything you are already belonged to me five years ago! You are my blood slave! I saved your life, serving me is your duty!”

“Back then, Bai thought being chosen by Lady Yalbera was salvation, divine grace. But the truth? You saved Bai only to use her, to kill her! How are you any different from the slavers who wanted to own Bai’s body and blood?! Bai’s blood already repaid that life-saving debt! Bai no longer belongs to Lady Yalbera!”

Bai shouted hysterically, pulling out the golden-patterned dagger Yalbera had given her long ago for the blood pact.

She hurled it to the ground with all her strength.

Clang clang clang.

The dagger clattered violently, its screech across the floor slicing through the last shred of hope Bai had left.

The blade finally came to a stop, pointed straight at Yalbera. In its reflection, Bai’s furious expression burned.

“How long do you plan to keep this tantrum up?!”

Yalbera exploded, rising to her feet.

Her blood-red eyes narrowed sharply.

A wave of power surged outward, lifting pages off the floor. Black flames ignited once again.

Bai instinctively stepped back, terrified.

Those flames were burned into her memory, they were the same ones that had incinerated the slave camp in seconds.

“Oh my, are we really fighting now?”

Yare, who had quietly watched the entire scene, finally moved.

She flicked her fingers, and in an instant, the surrounding flames were extinguished.

The crushing aura dispersed.

“I told you, let her choose for herself.”

“Tch.”

Yalbera forced down her rage.

She still couldn’t understand, had she not given enough?

She had saved Bai, allowed a mere human to serve by her side, to offer her precious blood to a noble True Ancestor.

Was that not enough?

“I’ll say this one last time, Bai. Come back with me. This isn’t where you belong, and the outside world is even less so. From the moment you became a blood slave, you were bound to the blood clan for life.”

“Whatever freedom you think you have, it’s nothing but a fleeting illusion. Do you really believe that woman gave you a chance at freedom out of kindness? Don’t be foolish! You don’t know her at all! That pretty face is just a mask. The real her is more arrogant, more deranged, filthier than even I am!”

Yalbera didn’t bother hiding her disdain, speaking openly as if she didn’t care that the woman she insulted was sitting just a few steps away.

Bai looked toward Yare.

It was hard to imagine the woman Yalbera described was the same elegant figure now seated before her, so poised, so flawless, like a living porcelain doll.

But what truly unsettled and frightened Bai… was that Yare didn’t deny it.

She simply smiled in silence.

Her eyes, calm as still blood, stared directly at Bai.

Mesmerizing, beautiful, and deeply terrifying.

Behind her, the crimson full moon seemed to glow even brighter.