Chapter 92 – The Half-Blood in the Shadows

Elena Brightwind's POV

Elena stepped forward, her presence breaking the tense silence.

The three vampire students turned toward her, their expressions shifting from amusement to mild surprise.

Anneliese Nocturne—the girl they had cornered—barely reacted.

She had long, messy black hair tinged with silver strands and scarlet eyes that gleamed with exhaustion. Her pale skin made her stand out more than she probably wanted, despite the way she hunched her shoulders, making herself seem smaller.

As if she wanted to disappear entirely.

Elena's gaze softened.

Even without saying a word, Anneliese's entire existence screamed isolation.

But Elena had no intention of ignoring what was happening.

She stepped fully into the clearing, her voice calm but unwavering. "What exactly are you doing?"

The tallest of the vampires, a boy with slicked-back hair, scoffed. "Stay out of this, Saintess. This is between us and our dear half-blood."

Elena's expression didn't change, but a small flicker of irritation sparked in her chest.

Half-blood.

They said it like it was filth.

Anneliese didn't even flinch at the insult, but Elena could tell—it wasn't because she was unaffected. It was because she had heard it too many times before.

The second vampire, a girl with violet eyes, smirked. "You're always pretending to be kind, aren't you, Saintess? But why waste your time on someone like her?"

Elena remained calm. "Why do you waste your time bothering her?"

The girl's smirk faltered slightly, but the third vampire—a boy with golden eyes—sighed dramatically. "Look, she's an embarrassment to our race. She doesn't even belong here."

Elena tilted her head, her blue eyes cool. "Strange. I thought this academy was for talented individuals, not just purebloods."

The golden-eyed vampire scoffed. "Talent? What talent?" He gestured toward Anneliese. "She's weak. She doesn't even drink blood properly. She's just a disgrace."

Anneliese clenched her fists at her sides, but she remained silent.

That silence spoke louder than anything else.

Elena exhaled softly. "I see."

Then, she smiled.

It wasn't a kind smile.

It was a knowing smile.

The vampires shifted slightly under her gaze.

"You're all E+ rank at best, aren't you?" Elena mused. "And yet, you feel the need to gang up on one person." She tilted her head. "If she was truly weak and beneath you, would you really be spending so much effort making sure she stays that way?"

The silence was immediate.

The girl with violet eyes scowled. "Watch your words, Saintess."

Elena's smile didn't fade. "Why? Did I hit a nerve?"

The vampires glared at her, but none of them spoke.

They weren't stupid. They knew they couldn't openly go against a Saintess Candidate.

Finally, the golden-eyed boy clicked his tongue. "Tch. Whatever. We don't have time to waste on trash."

With one last sneer at Anneliese, the three of them turned and walked away.

Elena waited until they were completely gone before turning toward the silent girl who still stood in the same spot.

"…Are you alright?"

For the first time since the encounter began, Anneliese Nocturne lifted her gaze.

Her scarlet eyes flickered with something unreadable as she stared at Elena.

Then, she spoke.

"You're an idiot."

Elena blinked. "Huh?"

Anneliese let out a dry chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "That was unnecessary. You didn't have to step in."

Elena gave her a pointed look. "So you wanted to just stand there and take it?"

Anneliese's expression twitched slightly before she looked away. "…I'm used to it."

Elena frowned. "That doesn't mean you should accept it."

Silence.

The vampire girl shifted uncomfortably, her fingers tightening slightly around her sleeves.

"…I didn't ask for your help."

Elena smiled, this time genuinely. "I didn't need you to."

Anneliese glanced at her warily, as if expecting something more.

But Elena simply crouched down and picked up Nyx, who had been watching from a tree branch. The black cat purred as she held him, flicking his tail lazily.

Elena sighed, cradling the feline. "I was just here to get my pendant back from this little thief. I didn't expect to walk into something like that."

Anneliese stared at her for a moment before muttering, "…Then you should've just ignored it."

Elena hummed. "I could have. But I didn't."

The half-vampire looked at her, clearly not understanding her at all.

Elena simply smiled again, brushing dirt off her dress. "Anyway, I won't bother you if you don't want me to. But if you ever need a reminder that not everyone in this place is against you…" She tilted her head slightly. "You know where to find me."

Anneliese didn't respond, her expression unreadable.

Elena took that as a sign to leave it at that.

With Nyx still in her arms, she turned and began walking away, not pushing for anything more.

But just as she was about to disappear through the trees, a quiet voice spoke behind her.

"…Thank you."

Elena stopped.

For a brief second, a small smile touched her lips.

She didn't turn around.

"You're welcome."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Anneliese alone in the quiet forest.

Elena walked into the academy's main hall, her mind still lingering on the earlier encounter in the forest.

Anneliese Nocturne.

The half-vampire girl had been completely alone. Even in a school filled with people, she stood isolated, unheard, unseen.

Elena couldn't just ignore something like that.

She stepped into the dining area where her friends were already gathered. The moment they saw her, Alicia von Rosenheim waved enthusiastically, her red hair practically glowing under the lights.

"Elena! You're late! Did you get lost on the way from the church?" she teased.

Elena smiled faintly. "Not quite."

Leonhardt Valerian, sitting across from Alicia, raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

Elena glanced at the table. Leonhardt, Alicia, Seraphina Everfrost, Reynard Faulkner, Luca Ashenpaw, and Sylvara Nightwhisper—the core group of friends she had made since entering the academy.

She hesitated for a moment before finally sighing. "I met someone today. A student—Anneliese Nocturne."

There was a brief silence.

Seraphina, her piercing ice-blue eyes calculating as always, was the first to speak. "The half-vampire?"

Elena nodded.

Reynard leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I've seen her around. She keeps to herself. Most people don't even notice her."

"That's the problem," Elena said, frowning. "I found her being bullied by some vampire students in the forest."

Luca Ashenpaw, the beastkin of the group, narrowed his amber eyes. "Tch. Typical. I bet they thought no one would see them out there."

Sylvara, the elven prodigy, let out a quiet sigh. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Vampires tend to have a rigid view of bloodlines."

Alicia tapped her fingers on the table, her golden eyes thoughtful. "So, what did you do?"

"I stepped in," Elena said simply.

Alicia grinned. "Good."

Leonhardt leaned forward slightly. "And? How did she react?"

Elena hesitated. "She… wasn't exactly grateful. She said she didn't need my help. That she was used to it."

There was a small pause.

Reynard clicked his tongue. "Figures."

Luca sighed. "That's what happens when someone spends too much time alone. They stop expecting people to care."

Elena crossed her arms. "That's what bothers me. She shouldn't have to expect people to care—she should just have people who do."

Seraphina tilted her head. "So? What do you want to do about it?"

Elena glanced around the table. "I want to help her."

Alicia grinned. "Of course you do."

Leonhardt smirked slightly. "You're the Saintess Candidate, after all."

Elena rolled her eyes. "This has nothing to do with being a Saintess and everything to do with basic decency."

Leonhardt chuckled. "I know."

Sylvara nodded. "But the real question is how. She clearly doesn't trust people."

Elena exhaled. "That's why we take it slow. We don't force anything—we just… include her. Make sure she knows she isn't alone."

Luca grinned. "So, we adopt her?"

Alicia laughed. "Yes, let's adopt the half-vampire!"

Elena smiled at their lightheartedness, but deep down, she knew this wouldn't be so simple.

Anneliese had spent years keeping her distance.

Breaking through that wall would take time.

But that didn't matter.

Because Elena wasn't planning on giving up.