Adele’s worst fears had materialized.

Dorothy and Hermione ascended the platform, one from the left, the other from the right, their synchronized movements causing a ripple of excitement throughout the crowd.

Amidst the murmurs and whispers, they approached the Headmistress, a figure shrouded in a shimmering gold robe, her eyes closed as if in a perpetual slumber, and requested a change of opponents.

The reason for this unprecedented move was obvious.

Dorothy, her expression as haughty as ever, met Hermione’s calm yet defiant gaze.

They had chosen each other.

The Headmistress, Winona, was a Legendary Mage known as the “Stargazer”. Her youthful appearance belied her true age, leading many to mistake her for a mere girl. Her long, flaxen hair, cascading down to the floor, seemed to defy gravity, its ends floating effortlessly above the ground, untouched by dust. Her serene, closed-eyed expression lent her an air of otherworldly detachment, like a princess secluded in an ivory tower.

Her constant companion, a fluffy white griffon chick with soft golden wings, nestled contentedly in her arms, completing the image.

The griffon, a mythical creature resembling a lion with the wings of an eagle, was a symbol of power and majesty, often depicted as a noble steed. Its smaller, more feline cousin, the griffon chick, was said to possess an unparalleled affinity for magic, making it a prized companion for Legendary Mages.

In other words, if you spotted a griffon chick, you could be sure that a Legendary Mage was nearby.

Winona didn’t respond immediately to the students’ request. The griffon chick, sensing the shift in atmosphere, let out a soft chirp and burrowed deeper into her arms.

A gentle smile curved Winona’s lips as she stroked the chick’s feathers.

“Conflict is pointless,” she said, her voice soft yet carrying, as if it echoed directly in the minds of everyone present. “But who can resist a good catfight?”

Dorothy & Hermione: “…”

Although she hadn’t explicitly stated it, it was clear that Winona had granted their request.

She enjoyed watching girls fight. She was a fan of drama.

It seemed that even Legendary Mages weren’t immune to a little bit of mischief.

Rumor had it that many students had been forced to share their snacks with Winona’s griffon chick. The little creature had a voracious appetite, devouring anything in sight, from expensive pastries to savory meat dishes. Students would often return to their dorms, eager to enjoy the treats they had saved for later, only to find their refrigerators empty, a single golden feather or a tuft of white fur the only evidence of the culprit’s identity.

Despite numerous complaints, Winona had never addressed the issue. It was as if she were saying, “Who dares to question my authority?”

Dorothy and Hermione bowed respectfully, acknowledging Winona’s decision. It seemed that even the rebellious Dorothy knew better than to defy a Legendary Mage.

Their battle was scheduled for the middle of the afternoon.

Some worried that their clash would destroy the training ground, unleashing uncontrollable forces. But when they voiced their concerns to Winona, the Stargazer simply replied, “There will be no disaster today.”

Her words, imbued with the weight of prophecy, calmed their fears.

Word of the upcoming battle spread quickly, reaching Adele’s ears in no time.

Adele, unaware of Winona’s prediction, panicked. She had to stop them! She didn’t want Hermione to get hurt!

It seemed that even in Adele’s mind, Hermione was the underdog in this fight.

As for Dorothy… well, Adele wouldn’t mind seeing someone teach her a lesson. But just a small lesson. Adele still believed that Dorothy could be redeemed.

She couldn’t sit still any longer.

“Sharon… I need to go to the bathroom,” she said, her voice trembling.

She had to find Hermione, or Dorothy, and convince one of them to back down.

“Do you… want me to come with you?” Sharon offered hesitantly.

“N-no, it’s fine,” Adele replied quickly, cutting her off.

Sharon’s face fell, but as an introvert, she was skilled at hiding her emotions.

She forced a smile. “Well… come back soon.”

Adele nodded absently and hurried away, following the path Hermione had taken.

At the same moment, on the other side of the audience, the Amaterasu twins observed Adele’s departure. They exchanged a knowing glance, a silent agreement passing between them.

………………

“Hermi—”

Adele called out, her voice breathless from running. But before she could finish Hermione’s name, darkness swallowed her whole.

Hermione, thinking it was her imagination, turned around. Seeing nothing but empty space behind her, she frowned, then shook her head, dismissing the strange sensation.

*Focus on Dorothy,* she thought. *She’s the priority.*

Unbeknownst to her, two figures, one dressed in black, the other in white, were carrying Adele away, one holding her waist, the other her legs. They hurried towards the nearest empty classroom.

“Is it just me, or is Adele getting heavier?” Kuro asked, her brow furrowed.

“Think positive,” Shiro replied. “Maybe she’s not getting fat. Maybe she’s pregnant.”

“???”

Adele, her consciousness slowly returning, groaned inwardly. Their conversation was a testament to her recent good fortune, the abundance of delicious food and high-quality blood she had been enjoying. She was, in every sense of the word, well-nourished.

As for her current predicament… well, she had been knocked unconscious by a Sequence One’s psychic attack. Again.

It was like a vampire version of “Conqueror’s Haki”, incredibly effective against weaker opponents.

But just like last time, when Hermione had knocked her out, she quickly regained consciousness. She just couldn’t let her captors know that.

She would play the role of the “clueless little fool”, answering their questions obediently.

As for the identities of her captors… well, Adele had already figured that out.

The Amaterasu twins. Dorothy’s mischievous little henchwomen.

Adele had no love for these two.

Kuro, the elder twin, was openly malicious, a classic villain who acted on her every whim. Hence the sudden attack.

Shiro, the younger twin, was more insidious, often pretending to be helpful while secretly plotting mischief. She was the mastermind behind most of Kuro’s antics.

And both were incredibly powerful.

Kuro could manipulate gravity, while Shiro could control gravitational pull, even creating tides.

But this was a fictional world, where the laws of physics were… flexible, to say the least.

Taking their abilities literally would be a mistake. If they could truly manipulate fundamental forces, they would be practically invincible.

In the context of the story, Kuro’s gravity manipulation was more like the ability to make things fall down. And Shiro’s gravitational pull was more like the ability to attract things.

They were Ability-type vampires, unlike Dorothy, who was a Familiar-type, and Hermione, who was an Elemental-type.

Adele hadn’t expected to encounter the twins at a time like this. But fate, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor.

They reached an empty classroom, and the twins, acting simultaneously, tried to open the door. Kuro pulled, Shiro pushed, and the door remained firmly shut.

It seemed that even twins weren’t always in sync.

They exchanged a glare, their minds no doubt filled with colorful insults. A close sibling relationship wasn’t about being polite and agreeable all the time. It was about arguing, making up, and moving on.

Adele, though unable to hear their thoughts, sensed their shared animosity. They would take out their frustration on her.

She was in trouble.

Big trouble.

They deposited her on a table, their movements as casual as if they were arranging a doll. The curtains closed, manipulated by a combination of gravity and gravitational pull. The lights flickered on, illuminating Adele’s pale skin, making her look even more delicate and vulnerable.

Adele’s breath quickened, her eyes wide and unfocused. The twins’ voices, laced with a predatory amusement, echoed in her ears.

“I prefer Adele when she’s obedient,” Shiro said, her voice a soft purr.

Kuro chuckled. “That’s no fun. The best part is hearing them scream,” she said, her voice laced with a sadistic glee. “The struggle, the despair…”

She reached out and stroked Adele’s cheek, her touch cold and unsettling.

Adele shivered involuntarily.

“Huh, that’s no fun,” Kuro grumbled.

“You go first,” Shiro said. “I’ll take my turn when she wakes up~”

Their conversation, so casually cruel, was like a symphony of horror to Adele’s ears.

*They’re both insane!*

She had known they were villains, but their blatant disregard for any pretense of decency was shocking.

*Dorothy! Hermione! Stop fighting! Someone save me!*