Reincarnated as the Vampire Princess' Familiar-Chapter 14 - 13 - Moonlight trainig

-BOOM!

«What the hell...?!» I exclaim, rolling off my cot in shock. My only moment of peace—sleep—is violently shattered by a blinding red light, swiftly followed by a female voice.

«Princess Ayra, it is an honor to have you here.»

Gerard, startled awake, immediately kneels before the woman. Meanwhile, I remain sprawled on the floor, still groggy, my unfocused gaze drifting through the dim room.

«A-Ayra...» I mumble, my half-closed eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness. The blurry outline beside me sharpens into focus—my mistress. She's clad in a long, sheer black nightgown that does little to obscure her figure—a figure I know so well I could trace every curve from memory.

«I have a match tomorrow morning... why wake me up in the middle of the night?!» I snap, my voice thick with irritation from being so rudely awakened.

At that moment, Gerard stiffens, his face contorting in terror, eyes wide with disbelief—an expression that only worsens after Ayra's next words.

«Because... yes!» Ayra huffs, irritated. «You're my familiar. I don't owe you an explanation! Now, come with me!»

«Not a chance! Good night, see you tomorrow!» I mutter, rolling onto my side, still sprawled on the floor, using my hands as a makeshift pillow.

«H-How dare you disobey your mistress?!» Her voice is a mix of fury and flustered disbelief. She lifts her hand, thumb and middle finger poised to snap. She's really about to—?!

«Punish—»

«No, please, not the electric shock again!» I cut her off before she can finish that dreaded spell, leaping to my feet like a soldier on command.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

She grabs my arm and—FLASH!—a red burst of light engulfs us. Suddenly... we're on the shore of a lake. A vast mirror of crystalline water, bathed in the silver glow of the Minus Moon, encircled by towering trees with violet leaves—like something out of a fairy tale. The sight is breathtaking. I never imagined this world could harbor such beauty and tranquility—so unlike the desolate wasteland of rock and sand beyond my dormitory window.

«Why did you bring me here...?» I mumble, rubbing my tired eyes, still heavy with sleep.

Ayra doesn't respond. It's as if she hasn't even heard me, lost in thought. Her scarlet eyes reflect in the lake's crystal-clear water, her gaze absorbed in the beauty around us. A melancholic, almost nostalgic smile lingers on her lips. What is she thinking about?

«Why aren't you asking why I brought you here?» she suddenly demands, irritated.

«I just did.»

She gives me a displeased look before turning back to the tranquil lake.

«When I was little, my big sister, Daphne, always brought me here whenever I felt restless or troubled. She believed this place had a natural power to soothe the soul.»

«Daphne...?» I murmur. «I didn't think vampire princesses could feel human emotions like worry,» I say, genuinely puzzled.

«Daphne Valakys is the eldest of my sisters—wait, who do you take me for? A heartless monster?!» she snaps, her glare so icy it chills my blood.

«You have no idea how worried I am about your match tomorrow! Expectations are through the roof! You're the predestined familiar, and I'm one of the most important vampires in the kingdom... I'm so anxious I can't even sleep!»

«So naturally, you decided I shouldn't sleep either...»

«Exactly!» she says with total nonchalance. «You're my little pet, after all. Even humans keep dogs for company, don't they?»

«So... what now?» I ask, unenthused, kicking a pebble into the lake.

«Blood Word: Telum.» Ayra materializes her sword.

«Simple. We'll use the remaining hours to make sure you're ready for the fight. Think of it as a little warm-up.»

A surge of violet Visanguis energy engulfs my body as I use the same spell to summon my sword.

«My sister Clotilde is right. Even though you can wield Sanguis energy, your body is that of a human, so mastering Vis is just as crucial. That's why I asked her to help train you.» Ayra points the tip of her sword at me. «For now, let's refine your Blood Words. Against a low-ranking opponent, that should be more than enough to guarantee your victory. Get ready, I'm coming!»

Ayra dashes toward me. Her movements are deliberately slower, and she isn't unleashing even a fraction of the overwhelming power she displayed in her skirmish with Sasha.

I raise my sword, blocking her strike with surprising ease. Judging by the focus in her eyes, she's clearly holding back a great deal of her strength. That woman is monstrously powerful! And she's only a princess... I can't even fathom how strong vampires specialized in combat must be.

After her first strike, a second follows, then a third—each more intense than the last.

The clash of our blades reverberates through the still night.

She strikes again, much faster than before. I extend my arm, my open hand positioned between her blade and my body.

«Blood Word: Obice !»

In an instant, a crimson disc materializes like a shield, absorbing the attack's force and... reflecting it back at her. A shockwave erupts, blasting Ayra backward several meters before she crashes to the ground.

«Are you an idiot or what?!» she snaps, getting up and brushing the mud off her nightgown.

«Why? What did I do?» I ask, genuinely confused.

«Why did you use a Blood Word? I told you they were forbidden!»

«No, you didn't! You never said that!»

«It was obvious they were forbidden! Otherwise, don't you think I would've used them too?!» she snaps, her irritation mounting.

Whether human or vampire, women will always be an unfathomable mystery...