Cyphers

MDNI!!

Just to clarify, no, I don’t think Flins’ name is weird – it’s part of a culture. I LOVE his name, even though I can’t pronounce it properly. For the sake of the plot, I’ve written it like this. I apologise, I don’t mean to offend anyone. My boy is my main and I love him :(

Varka loved you.

He was madly in love with you, so much so that in his incredible retirement plan, he pictured the two of you, married, perhaps with a child or two of your own as well as your adopted children, making the most of your time and shagging like rabbits in heat every day to let off steam and get your daily exercise.

You’d go for walks through Mondstadt hand in hand, greeting and being greeted by all the travellers and knights passing by, recognising the Former Grandmaster and his sweet wife.

The problem with his plan? It was that you weren’t together. What’s more, you didn’t even seem to want him near you.

He’d met you in Nod Krai, he knew literally nothing about you other than that you were his soulmate. He realised this when he saw you calmly take down more than five Favonius knights in a row during a training session.

Were you even human? Well, he didn’t care, because he LOVED YOU.

Much to his dismay, he was terribly out of practice when it came to romantic relationships. He’d devoted his entire life and all his energy to protecting Mondstadt — and to alcohol — so what could he possibly do when faced with a beautiful women he wanted to win over?

It didn’t help that you were so close to the lightkeeper Ratnik Flins, for goodness’ sake!! You even called him by his strange, long first name, unlike everyone else who called him by his surname! That was a real blow to his heart.

Why didn’t you mention his own name with the same affection? He just wanted to hear you say a sweet ‘Varka’ so he could get down on one knee and propose to you right there and then.

After that, you could go off to Mondstadt together and live a quiet life, you wouldn’t even need to work! He’d be more than happy to carry on doing it for you. If you wanted to carry on doing the same, that was fine too, just make him your priority, please, or he might cry.

From what the traveller had said, I’d gathered that you two had already met in another land. Did that mean you were a traveller yourself? Or had Barbatos sent you to Nod Krai to find him—your soulmate? He didn’t know, but I was deeply grateful to the young Archon!

Oh, and seeing you fight Rerir? Phew, he was afraid something might happen to you, because it’s one thing to fight Favonius knights, but quite another to face a sinner from Khaenriah, though it seemed his concern was over the top because you gave that white-haired bloke a proper thrashing —Lohen HATES YOU for achieving what he couldn’t—. Always with that serious, attractive face of yours… Ooh, he REALLY LOVED YOU.

And when you —indirectly— rejected him? :((( Well, Varka was sure you’d simply missed his hint, he couldn’t bear a rejection, not from you—please, accept him. He doesn’t care if he has to kneel before his knights for your sake, or fight the most powerful monster to prove he deserves you. If he can have you, EVERYTHING—absolutely EVERYTHING—is worth it.

He didn’t want to have to resort to other methods, were you more powerful than him? Never mind!! That fact turns him on, but even if he can’t simply lock you up to force you to be with him, then he’d have to resort to social pressure. Imagine if, every time you went to Nasha Town, all the shopkeepers started asking you where your kind and imposing blonde partner was?

Your refusals to acknowledge your relationship are pointless! He’s already made them believe you’re married, but that you’re being mean and rejecting him in front of everyone :( What if you try to flee Nod Krai to get away from him? Then he’ll personally hunt you down until he finds you, and it won’t just be him, you’ll have half of Mondstadt on your tail, because if you return, the Grandmaster will return too!! And with both of them there, they’ll have double the protection.

¡MDN!

Translation into English with DeepL!! 

You’d met Edén at one of your monthly get-togethers with your older brother – the one who always seemed to have no friends because he was either at the gym or at work.

Imagine your surprise when, instead of seeing him with his girlfriend – as he usually turned up – you noticed an extremely tall, handsome bloke with long, black hair streaked with grey, piercings and some striking tattoos standing beside him. He wasn’t exactly the sort of person your strict brother would normally hang out with, so it was inevitable that seeing him there would catch your eye.

He introduced him as his best friend, it sounded like a joke even to you, and you laughed without meaning to, although you seemed to be the only one who found it amusing, as your relative just looked at you, not understanding the sudden laughter.

You decided it was better to keep quiet and act as if nothing had happened to avoid having to explain that you thought it was a joke. The lad introduced himself to you.

Her name was Eden, and she’d met your dear older brother at the gym, as you might expect of him. The lad was friendly, even if he had a rough-and-ready look about him, in contrast to the other man present.

Eden didn’t take his eyes off you for a moment whilst they were having dinner, something your brother, Devin, seemed either not to notice or simply to ignore. His gaze was intense, you even found it uncomfortable. You chose to ignore him – after all, it would be the last time you’d see him. He was extremely attractive, yes, but you preferred to stick to the bad premonitions your instincts were telling you.

Dinner didn’t last long—a few words exchanged here and there, updates on your lives, the usual between siblings (and the intruder).

As they said their goodbyes, you tensed when you felt Eden’s hand lower down on your back than it should have been; you glared fiercely at your brother, who seemed absorbed enough in his phone not to notice you. You didn’t waste any time getting out of there as quickly as possible.

Imagine your despair when you started bumping into your brother’s new best friend everywhere you went.

Went to the supermarket? There he was, waving at you whilst scaring you from behind.

Switched from the supermarket to a convenience store? What a coincidence!! He lived near there, that shop was the closest one to him.

Were you working out? Pfff, your brother and his friend’s usual gym was being refurbished, so he decided to switch to another one temporarily, the fact that you happened to be at that one too, and went at the same time as him, was simply fate.

His presence was becoming more of a nuisance and a bother than just a bit awkward at that point. Every time you were with your friends, he also seemed to turn up and greet you in an overly familiar way, with lots of physical contact.

And when you confronted him? He simply said they were coincidences or that perhaps fate was trying to bring you together, he could protect you, unlike those weak and unattractive lads you were going out with. He was attractive enough to be a model, so why not give him a chance?

He could make you feel good. He wouldn’t have to go out of his way to make you come – unlike those lads who shamelessly swarmed around you as if they were little more than insects.

It was only when you’d had enough that you went to find your brother, furious, to ask him to tell his friend to back off.

To make matters worse, Devin simply ignored the harassment and urged you to accept Eden. It turned out the lad was the son of a very wealthy man—he was the CEO of a company—and, apparently, Eden was his heir.

Your brother wasn’t about to let the chance slip by for his little sister and the rebellious heir to an empire to get together, after all, that could land him a good position in your future father-in-law’s company. Besides, Eden was a decent bloke – he’d seen that for himself.

He was polite, handsome, wealthy, perhaps a bit of a rebel and looked like he was always looking for a fight, but he was a good bloke at heart. He was sure that if he accepted him, your mum would be delighted with the lad too.

Your brother’s greed made you sick, trying to sell out his own family… it was revolting.

If he wasn’t going to help you deal with your recent stalker, you wouldn’t cared if he was the heir to whatever it was – you would have given him a proper beating.

…….

Yandere Vampires x Female Reader 

MDNI +18

Warnings: Blood, abuse, strong language, dub-con, Yandere?? (Just a heads-up), degradation, slavery, mockery, rape, assault, humans used as guinea pigs at risk of death, there’s a real royal family here that doesn’t do much but does exist, a bit of ‘Teacher’s pet’, mentions of vampires killing (or biting) humans. Ahem, mentions of alcohol, drugs and medication. Human lives described as insignificant.

(The Reader doesn’t have a specific appearance, but for the sake of convenience I didn’t mention it; however, if you read elsewhere that they have white hair and eyes, as is common with Y/n characters, it’s because on Wattpad I described them that way to make my storytelling easier. Previously, they had a realistic appearance, but people got annoyed by that even though I presented them as an OC, so I’ve stopped doing that: (( Even so, his clothes ARE described in detail, and he’s described as very handsome because you all are). Oh, and I don’t use Y/n, but ____ instead. 

The echo of the applause was still lingering in the air when the doors of the grand auditorium swung open.

For a few seconds, no one moved, the air smelled of melted wax and expensive perfume, mixed with something fainter and more metallic that humans preferred not to acknowledge.

Then, an authoritative voice broke the silence.

—‘Designated representatives, stay together. The rest of you, follow the instructions of your year prefect,’—ordered the headmistress in her curt tone, as she walked, followed by the human teachers and the new vampire ones.

The ranks began to move slowly. Footsteps echoed off the marble floor, amplified by the vaulted ceilings and the tall stained-glass windows through which the evening light filtered in fragments of yellow and pink, __ recognised the refurbishment. They certainly wanted to make the vampires feel at home.

The human students filed out in tight groups, murmuring amongst themselves. The vampires, on the other hand, advanced with almost military precision, with the same unease one might feel walking through an empty, abandoned church.

No one raised their voice too much; the atmosphere was so tense that even the air seemed heavy.

Al frente del grupo principal, ____ caminaba erguida, con la insignia del consejo brillando en su pecho. En ausencia del presidente, ella estaba al mando. Sabía que debía mantener la compostura, aunque cada paso le recordaba la mirada que había sentido sobre ella todo el tiempo: la del vampiro de cabello rubio y ojos carmesí.

Sebastian Nyric. The name had already spread amongst the gossips like a rumour. Some said he belonged to one of the oldest families of the Lioren lineage, others that he had been born on the battlefield rather than in a cradle, mmh.

Many compared him to Prince Felix Saint Ethel, who still hadn’t shown his face at the academy in the wake of the new presence of the creatures of the night.

The truth was that no one could ignore him when he was present. Not even __ herself, though more out of respect for his position than anything else.

Sebastian walked beside her, a little behind, in no hurry whatsoever. His footsteps were silent, so precise that they barely disturbed the sounds around them, this was to be expected, given that he was a vampire.

He was wearing his academy’s dark uniform, it was elegant, looking more like the uniform of a noble war commander than that of a school, with the distinctive moon emblem on his chest as if reflecting a light that only he could see, conferring upon him a rank within the Night Academy, a position above that of the scholarship vampires.

—‘We shall begin with the north wing,’ announced the headmistress. ‘Each human will accompany their vampire counterpart. Do not separate under any circumstances. Those who are not on the committee or prefects, return to your classrooms’—.

A murmur rippled through the group. The concept of ‘accompanying’ seemed far more innocuous when put that way than it actually was, but obeying the order, everyone stayed with their partner.

When the order was given, Sebastian approached her, bowing his head slightly with a courtesy that seemed straight out of another era, his manners impeccable.

—‘Vice-President, if I may,’—he said as he offered her his arm, it did not sound like a request, but rather a protocol he had followed all his life. She, given her position as a public figure at the academy, accepted it. Even though she knew that this action would do nothing but spark annoying rumours.

As vice-president, she maintained a neutral stance regarding the arrival of the vampires, so being seen so close to one of them could sway public opinion in their favour—something she did not want, as many students —especially first-years—were prone to moral grandstanding.

All around, the corridors of Saint Ethel stretched out like a labyrinth of stone and light, mocking the situation he found himself in.

The sound of her breathing mingled with the murmur of the wind through the stained-glass windows, as if it were aware of the connection.

The walk was supposed to take about an hour, but every minute felt like a challenge to resist exploding in the face of the vampire’s potential provocations.

On either side of the corridor, the portraits of former headmasters seemed to gaze disapprovingly at this impossible pairing, humans and vampires walking together under the same roof, arm in arm. Sebastian observed every detail with great interest.

—‘Sixteenth-century human architecture—he remarked quietly, more to himself than to her. ‘Fragile, yet enduring despite the passing years—.’

His voice had a gentle tone. She took a deep breath, his apparent kindness only turned her stomach. She would have liked to correct him that the architecture wasn’t entirely from the sixteenth century, but she preferred to remained silent.

—‘You don’t seem to be enjoying it—‘. she said, without turning to look at him.

—‘I don’t like self-portraits, I find them arrogant,’ he replied, his voice low, barely audible.

—‘Nor forced alliances, I imagine—.’ Sebastian smiled, though not so much with his lips as with his eyes. It was ironic that a noble vampire should dislike self-portraits, given that, as an aristocrat, his house was probably full of them.

—‘Do you usually judge everyone on the first day?’

—‘Only those I know are hiding something and might pose a threat to the academy.’

Silence fell once more, heavier now, thick with unspoken things. She pretended to focus on the stained-glass windows in the corridor, whilst he seemed to be enjoying the exchange, as if her every movement were a puzzle he wanted to solve.

Soon they turned into the inner gardens. The fresh air brought the woman a moment’s respite, but also a new kind of tension.

The vampire did not seem bothered by the sun, although his smile grew more macabre every time someone looked at him with fear or revulsion.

It was then that one of the humans passing by—a second-year student known for his sharp tongue—let out a nervous laugh, glaring with hatred at the blond man and the other vampires walking down the corridor leading to the garden.

—‘Do you bite in the sunlight too, or only in the dark?’ Several of them laughed, although it seemed they shouldn’t have.

A dark-haired vampire came to an abrupt halt. His smile was the first thing to change, he stretched slowly, revealing fangs that glinted with a flash that sent shivers down many spines.

—‘Do you want to find out, mortal insect?’

The atmosphere erupted. The murmurs of the few students passing by turned to shouts, and their footsteps into a chaotic clamour.

El estudiante retrocedió un paso, pero el vampiro avanzó con una velocidad antinatural, convirtiéndose en una mancha borrosa entre la multitud. Al ver el problema que se avecinaba, ____ se soltó del brazo de Sebastian y dio un paso al frente, resonando en el aire con su voz.

‘Enough,’ she ordered in a firm but unflappable voice. ‘If you don’t want to be punished, you’d better not move!’

Her tone was that of a woman in authority, and for a second, even the vampire paused, taken aback.

It was then that Sebastian intervened. Without raising his voice, he placed a hand on his companion’s shoulder and stopped him. His gesture was so simple, yet proved more effective than anything else.

—‘It’s not worth it,’ he said coldly. ‘A confrontation here would only leave marks that wouldn’t be easily erased. Get a grip, scholarship student’.

The black-haired vampire lowered his head, though his eyes blazed with rage.

Los transeúntes volvieron a ponerse en marcha, lentamente, en un silencio mucho más opresivo que antes. _____ se tensó al sentir la mirada de otro vampiro sobre ella, y al cruzar la mirada con él, lo observó: tenía un aura… oscura. Era extremadamente alto, con el pelo blanco hasta los hombros, despeinado y esparcido sobre su rostro, y ojos de un tono entre carmesí y rosa. Lo que más destacaba eran las vendas oscuras que cubrían gran parte de su rostro y brazos, las cuales resaltaban aún más sobre su uniforme, que estaba tan desaliñado como las vendas.

She noticed the macabre smile on his face; she blinked to break eye contact, though when she did so she realised there was no one there anymore.

She carried on walking, her nerves throbbing beneath her skin because of that unknown presence. Why was it always her who found herself entangled with supernatural beings? She was a human who had nothing to do with them. She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the blond vampire’s voice again, without understanding what he had said.

‘I didn’t need your help,’ she said, without looking directly at him.

‘It wasn’t help,’ replied Sebastian, his tone now calm, his eyes fixed on the floor. —‘It was a preventative measure. For our own good.’

‘Preventing what?’ He looked up. His crimson eyes seemed darker at that hour, almost black.

—‘Someone ending up dead.’ It’s not the right time for that yet, is it?

She didn’t reply. The way she said it annoyed her even more, it didn’t sound like a warning, but like a fact that would happen sooner or later, and that, even so, didn’t interest him in the slightest.

The rest of the walk passed without a word from either of them, and if it had been up to the girl, without any physical contact. Even so, Sebastian kept trying to take her arm, his gaze growing more predatory the more she pushed him away.

As the sun began to set and shadows fell across the walls, the group slowly dispersed, each person fleeing to the relative safety of their dormitories.

__ could only think that perhaps resigning from the student council wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Night fell upon Saint Ethel, signalling that human dominion was coming to an end and giving way to that of her new companions.

The street lamps came on one by one, casting golden glimmers across the damp cobblestones. The bells in the keep struck the hour marking the end of the day with precision.

____ estaba sola en su habitación, o al menos lo estaría hasta que les asignaran nuevas habitaciones. La tenue luz de su lámpara iluminaba los libros apilados en su escritorio. Intentaba concentrarse en los informes del consejo, pero su mente no dejaba de reproducir la escena en los jardines y a aquel vampiro desconocido. Algo en él no cuadraba; era extraño, más aterrador que cualquier otro vampiro que hubiera visto. Y esa sonrisa…

She sighed, closing her notebook. She stood up to draw the curtains when something on the window caught her eye.

A mark, drawn in dark ink, adorned the bottom of the window, a rose surrounded by three crescent moons, a symbol that belonged to no human household. Beneath it lay an envelope sealed with reddish wax, the same colour as blood.

Her heart skipped a beat. She took the letter carefully and opened it, reading the perfect handwriting that awaited her inside.

Vice-President, Please keep the lights on tonight. Not everyone of my kind accepts the treaties as calmly as I do.

— S. N.

She stood motionless for several seconds. She didn’t know whether to feel terror, irritation or gratitude — gratitude would be the last thing she’d feel in the face of such a threat.

The note smelled faintly of wood and iron, she didn’t even need to bring it close to her nose to detect the strong scent. It reminded her of the blond vampire.

The wind blew, ruffling the curtains. The mark on the glass began to fade slowly, erased by an unknown force.

Yandere Vampires x Female Reader 

Warnings: Blood, abuse, strong language, dub-con, Yandere?? (Just a heads-up), degradation, slavery, mockery, rape, assault, humans used as guinea pigs at risk of death, there’s a real royal family here that hasn’t done much but does exist, mentions of vampires killing (or biting) humans. Ahem, mentions of alcohol, drugs and medication. Human lives described as insignificant. (The Reader doesn’t have a specific appearance, but for the sake of convenience I didn’t mention it; however, if you read elsewhere that they have white hair and eyes, as is common with Y/n characters, it’s because on Wattpad I described them that way to make my storytelling easier. Previously, they had a realistic appearance, but people got annoyed by that even though I presented them as an OC, so I’ve stopped doing that: (( Even so, her clothes ARE described in detail, and she’s described as very pretty because you all are). Oh, and I don’t use Y/n, but ____ instead. 

The sound of the train faded away amidst the metallic echo of the platform creaking in delicate human ears. 

The autumn air felt thick, almost electric, as if the whole city were aware of everything and holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come. The illuminated signs of the renowned Saint Ethel Academy hung above the wrought-iron gates, bearing a jarring slogan for every student who saw them. ‘Coexistence and Progress: a new dawn for all races’.

The golden letters seemed to gleam with pride, though no one looked at them with any real conviction, knowing the reality behind it all. They were merely a pilot scheme, a sacrifice in case things went wrong, a way of demonstrating, as always, the power of supernatural beings and high society. 

____ walked amongst the crowd of students returning from the holidays, in her immaculate uniform and with a slight frown on her face. Her headphones hung round her neck, but the music had stopped some time ago. She didn’t need any noise to know what everyone was thinking; the news of the vampires at the academy had already spread like wildfire days ago

Beside her, Zephyr, her best friend since secondary school, dragged her suitcase along with a forced smile. Her tanned skin glowed in the dim light, and her honey-coloured eyes watched every movement of the people around her with a mixture of mistrust, suspecting everyone in her vicinity. 

‘I can’t believe they’ve actually gone through with it,’ murmured her friend, stopping in front of the gate. ‘I thought the student council would stop them, or that the parents would go on strike or something.’

At the mention of the council, the brunette looked at her friend, dropping the subject to hear an explanation as to why they’d done nothing. ____ She sighed, adjusting the strap of her rucksack whilst ignoring the gaze fixed on her.

“Saint Ethel never misses an opportunity to show off its ‘progress’. Even if that means letting vampires walk the corridors as if nothing’s wrong. The council tried to object—Prince Felix in particular—but it seems that when it comes to something like this, not even the opinion of the royal family counts for anything.”

A deep, confident voice interrupted the conversation as it drew closer to the two women.

‘They’re doing it for the fame, not for equality; this makes them one of the first academies to truly implement the Racial Treaty.’ Kyrel appeared between them, standing behind them with his usual air of superiority. His uniform was unbuttoned at the top and his dark hair fell over his striking emerald eyes. He was smiling, but it wasn’t the kind, warm smile many people would have wished for as a gesture of sympathy for the situation. 

‘I bet that in less than two weeks, one of those bloodsuckers will bite or kill someone,’ Zephyr rolled her eyes in annoyance at his presence.

‘You’re so optimistic, as always.’

‘I’m a realist,’ he retorted, shrugging wearily. ‘You’ve seen the news. They can’t control themselves, and our lives mean nothing to them.’

The three of them stood in silence for a moment, gazing at the academy’s main building. The white façade looked more imposing than ever, with new flags fluttering above the entrance—one half gold and the other one black, the symbol of the Treaty of the Two Races.

The contrast was so striking that it almost seemed like a mockery, a welcome to the vampires who, for so many years, had taken so many lives from their side. 

The atmosphere was different. The teachers walked about tensely; some groups of pupils were whispering amongst themselves, whilst others looked at the new students with open suspicion. Most were getting off a bus, but others were stepping out of luxurious-looking carriages on the other side of the courtyard.

Tall, elegant, with pale skin and movements that were all too perfect. Possessing an otherworldly beauty, and many with reddish or yellow eyes – vampires, after all.

One of them, with blond hair and blood-red eyes, his hair falling to his neck and possessing an extravagant beauty, turned briefly and fixed his gaze on the group of humans watching them. He seemed to be someone important amongst them, judging by the way other vampires were crowding around him as if grateful for his very existence. 

But ____ felt their gaze upon them, and made sure not to be intimidated. She wasn’t sure whether the most terrifying thing about vampires was that they could drain her blood or that otherworldly beauty of theirs, even though her friends and acquaintances told her that, if they didn’t know any better, they might believe she herself was almost a vampire—after all, her beauty, too, was strangely ethereal, unreal to some fully human people. It would hardly be surprising if she were a shape-shifter or some other supernatural being, but she wasn’t. She belonged to the ranks and walked the path of insignificant mortals. 

Whenever people said that to her, she could only blush and mention that, in her prime, her mother had been a great model, and she’d been lucky enough to inherit her striking genes—which explained her pretty looks. Although she didn’t usually boast about them, sometimes she couldn’t help but be grateful for them; after all, they made her look much more like her mother. 

For a few seconds, the silence between them grew heavy. No one breathed or said a word, but the tension in the air was enough to know what they were thinking. 

When she caught sight of a kind smile on the vampire’s face as he kept his eyes on them, she felt a shiver run down her spine, and she turned away. Zephyr broke the tension with a whisper.

‘I don’t know if I want to live in the same residence as them.’

‘You won’t,’ Kyrel replied mockingly. ‘They’ll separate you. You know, for “safety”. As if they weren’t already exposing us enough.’ 

But everyone knew that nothing at Saint Ethel was that simple.

Rumours from gossiping pupils with too much time on their hands spoke of mixed-sex dormitories, shared lessons and even a welcome ball. Some said the Ministry had forced the academy to demonstrate its commitment to the treaty, even if that meant risking human lives; to the government, they were merely cogs in the machine, insignificant lives. And although the royal family wielded great power, and the academy itself bore their surname, that treaty was necessary for them.

As they made their way towards the reception desk, ____ couldn’t help but notice how some people were watching her. Not with fear, as they did with vampires, but with a sense of anticipation, as if they were expecting something.

She, who was one of the most reserved pupils in her class, and the vice-president of the student council—the one who always avoided scandals and helped maintain order at school, always by the crown prince’s side.

Without knowing why, something inside her whispered that this year would not be like the others—not because of the new presence of the vampires, for although she did not feel comfortable with the treaty’s latest development, as a representative of Saint Ethel she had to stand her ground, both on her own behalf and on the prince’s. But her subconscious told her there was more to it than that; hidden memories were surfacing around her once more, claiming her, just as they always ended up doing. Complicating her life.

The bell rang in the distance, its echo reverberating between the buildings and fading as the seconds ticked by. Saint Ethel had opened its doors once more…

and with them, the line between night and day began to blur, as vampires, humans and other hidden beings strolled through the academy without batting an eyelid.

The grand auditorium at Saint Ethel filled with murmurs and hushed footsteps.

The venue, usually used for ceremonies, had a strange atmosphere that day, as if the walls themselves did not know how to react to the imposing, unfamiliar presences. 

On the stage, the treaty flags fluttered—gold and black—a symbol of an alliance that no one believed to be real, yet there it was.

The headmistress—an elderly woman with a firm, stern voice, who probably did not have many years left to live—gave a speech on ‘hope for coexistence’, but neither the humans nor the vampires seemed to be listening to her.

The exchanged glances spoke louder than words. Curiosity, suspicion, fear and something more primitive that everyone was trying to ignore: the instinct to survive in the face of those creatures of the night.

____ was sitting in front of Zephyr and Kyrel, in the front row reserved solely for the student council. The empty seat to her right belonged to Prince Felix, who had not yet arrived; part of her believed he wouldn’t, as neither the Queen nor the King Consort would likely risk the country’s heir coming to any harm. She clutched the hem of her skirt, noticing that her hands were extremely cold despite the light gloves she was wearing. 

It wasn’t due to nerves, but to the feeling of being watched; it didn’t take her long to discover where that unsettling gaze was coming from.

In the section reserved for newcomers, a group of vampires stood apart from the rest.

They were all wearing the dark uniform of the Lioren Night Academy, adorned with a silver badge in the shape of a fragmented moon.

The first to catch her eye was the fair-haired, crimson-eyed boy she’d seen in the courtyard.

His bearing was impeccable, his smile barely there—just friendly enough to seem courteous, yet with a presence that commanded attention effortlessly.

When his eyes met ___’s, he tilted his head slightly, an apparently innocent and cordial gesture.

It was impossible not to look at him. His blond hair, an almost ashy gold, fell to his neck, perfectly neat, as if not even the wind dared to ruffle it. The girl had the impression that if he were to wear it in a low ponytail, he would look like one of those stereotypical noble vampires. 

His skin was pale, with a faint sheen, like polished marble in the moonlight. And his eyes—red, deep. He was wearing the black uniform of Lioren School, with the emblem on his chest that she’d noticed earlier in the playground. 

He walked with slow, steady steps, without the arrogance some might expect from a noble vampire. Zephyr tensed at his side, following his gaze. 

‘Is that the one who was looking at us outside?’ he whispered in a barely audible voice. ____ didn’t reply; his eyes were fixed on him, unable to look away. Her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. It wasn’t fear, much less attraction; it was something else, as if she were sensing a dangerous presence. For some reason, that man reminded her of someone, but she didn’t know who.

The vampire crossed the room without looking at anyone. Until, just as he passed in front of the queue where she was standing to join her group, he turned his head very slowly and their eyes met once more.

The woman felt something strange—a gentle twinge behind her chest, a peculiar sense of unease. He said nothing. He simply looked at her calmly. Then, without breaking eye contact, he raised a hand and brought his fingers to his chest, tilting his head slightly. A courteous gesture, as if he were greeting her.

Zephyr gave her a slap on the back, trying to get her attention.

‘Why is he looking at you like that?’ The irritation in her voice was obvious; she seemed annoyed by the vampire’s attention towards her friend. Kyrel let out a short laugh.

“Maybe he thinks the vice-president of the academy’s blood smells better.” She reacted to the comment, shooting him a fierce look. The dark-haired boy just laughed, muttering that the girl should consider resigning from the student council. 

When the speech ended, the headmistress announced that the Ministry had ordered a mentoring scheme between academies; every member of the student council, except for the prince, would be assigned a vampire representative to assist them as they integrated with the higher-ranking students.

____ assessed her chances: the council consisted of five members – the president, a position held by Prince Felix Saint Ethel; herself, who was the vice-president; the secretary, a calm and friendly boy younger than her who always attended to the leaders; and the treasurer, whose job was to manage the funds. The post had been vacant for quite some time until it was given to the headmistress’s grandson and one of the prince’s closest friends. 

Los representantes o prefectos de cada curso, aunque formaban parte del consejo, tenían poca influencia en asuntos que no estuvieran relacionados con su propio curso, por lo que no se les contaba entre los miembros, y actualmente, ella misma era la coordinadora de eventos debido a la dificultad de encontrar a alguien idóneo para el puesto.

Then there was the deputy, a shy first-year girl who was always keen to lend a hand. 

The air turned icy, and a few paces away from her she caught sight of Deputy Sienna, who seemed terrified by the news.

‘Please, don’t let it be any of them,’ she heard the girl whisper as she prayed, tiny tears welling up in her eyes. She wanted to say something to her but couldn’t even begin, as there was so much murmuring in her direction.

As she turned, her name appeared projected on a screen, accompanied by another, written in silver letters that glowed, matching the name of Sebastian Nyric. Kyrel let out a low whistle. It seemed that only she and the substitute remained to be assigned to a vampire, as whilst she’d been lost in her thoughts, the treasurer had already been assigned to a creature of the night. 

‘How lucky, Vice-President. You’ve been paired with that supposedly noble bloodsucker who’s had his eye on you.’ 

‘Shut up,’ she muttered, though her voice didn’t sound as firm as she’d have liked.

De repente, notó un movimiento frente a ella. Sebastián se había levantado de su asiento y caminaba tranquilamente hacia ella, la distancia entre ambos se acortó hasta que pudo sentir su presencia justo delante.

He didn’t smell of anything pleasant—not even perfume, flowers or sweets—but of a blend of metal and wood.

It was a subtle scent, as if he’d gone to drink blood in a forest teeming with nature.

He tilted his head slightly, without taking his eyes off hers.

‘Vice-president of the student council, isn’t that right?’ he said in a deep, friendly voice, with a slight, charming accent. ‘It’s an honour to meet you.’

His tone was polite, even considerate, but there was something about it that really put her off. It sounded too rehearsed, as if he were conscious of every word he uttered and waiting to spit them out. 

___ nodded, keeping her composure; she had to get this over with, and then she wouldn’t have to go near a vampire again. She wasn’t really all that afraid of them, but their mere presence caused her irritation and a headache.

‘The honour is mine, Young Sebastian Nyric.’ Sebastian smiled at her again.

‘Please, just call me Sebastian,’ he said with a slight bow. ‘After all, we’ll be working together.’

‘Pardon?’ He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and his expression changed. The smile faded for a moment, and his eyes grew darker than before.

‘That’s what they call it, isn’t it? Integration. Learning to live together without… biting each other.’

Kyrel, who had been listening to the conversation, clenched his fists, no longer as amused as before, but ____ shot him a look that was enough to stop him. Sebastian seemed to notice the gesture, and his smile returned, softer this time.

“It seems your people keep order quite efficiently,” he remarked, and then, lowering his voice so that only she could hear, he continued to provoke her. 

“I’m glad. I’ve heard that Saint Ethel can get rather wild when night falls.” 

His voice sounded like a threat to her. Something more personal stirred within her, but she tried to calm herself so as not to make a scene. And then, with the same calmness with which he’d approached her, Sebastian stepped back, giving a slight bow before returning to his seat amongst his own people.

The murmur returned, louder than before. Some students looked at her with envy, others with pity. It was no secret that some students agreed with the treaty—people who dreamt of getting close to a vampire and becoming immortal. They were like the women or men who longed to be ‘trophy spouses’ without fully understanding what that entailed. 

Zephyr looked as though he was about to protest, and from Kyrel she heard only something that sounded like a curse.

___ remained still, her gaze fixed on the back of the vampire who was now talking to a teacher from her own school she couldn’t see because of his back blocking her view.

Hi there!! This is a completely original project that I’d uploaded to Wattpad (although I took it down, I plan to upload it again) 

Here’s the prologue – I hope you like it!! If you have any question, please feel free to ask. Just to reiterate for those who don’t know, this is a translation done by a translation tool called DeepL, as English isn’t my first language :))) 

Translated into British English Btw. (anddd, I took a little bit of inspiration from one of my favorite anime’s, The witch and the beast)

(The separator isn’t mine, credit goes to the respective authors, who, sadly, I don’t know who they are, but I felt obliged to clarify). 

For centuries, the coexistence of humans and vampires was a silent war disguised as a balance.

Humans feared what they did not understand, and vampires despised those they called mortals, viewing them as inferior vermin with no purpose in the world. 

Both shared the same world, but under an age-old agreement, vampires belonged to the night, and humans to the day.

For generations, that division seemed sufficient. Humans learnt not to look out of their doors after dark, and vampires learnt to hide in the shadows without making any contact. At least until they grew tired of hiding.

As the centuries passed, technology, politics and fear changed abruptly.

The old hunts became illegal, and the vampires began to organise themselves, claiming their place in modern society.

After decades of conflict, attacks and negotiations, what the world would come to know as the Treaty of the Two Races was signed: an international agreement that officially recognised the existence of vampires and granted them rights on a par with any other intelligent, sentient species, just as, in their world, they accorded importance to mortals from outside their own kind.

The treaty, however, was not a symbol of trust, but rather one of mutual convenience.

Humans needed the vampires’ strength, knowledge and control, and their main concern was to prevent illegal attacks by vampires on humans; the vampires, for their part, needed technology and access to resources they could no longer produce for themselves.

It was a false peace, built upon centuries of fear. But it was a start towards what appeared to be a new era of socialisation and brotherhood.

As part of the agreement, the Ministry of Inter-species Integration—created not only for vampires and humans, but also for all other supernatural beings walking the earth—promoted various educational and cultural programmes to bring the two communities closer together.

Some universities and colleges took up the challenge of admitting vampire students, whilst others simply entered into partnerships with night schools, serving more as a façade than anything else. Schools were exempt from this, as it was felt that the youngest pupils were too young to be able to keep an open mind about vampires.

But as the scheme gained such widespread attention, Saint Ethel’s Academy —one of the country’s most prestigious institutions, with a long history and a reputation for having educated many members of the royal family— was selected to take part in the pilot project, almost as if they were laboratory rats, in an exchange programme with Lioren Night Academy, an institution founded centuries ago exclusively for noble and scholarship-holding vampires.

The news divided society. Some hailed it as a historic step towards the future, others called it madness. Human students flooded social media with theories, warnings and even superstitions. Could they coexist under the same roof?

And what would happen if an accident —a simple paper cut or an argument— awakened the vampires’ instincts?

But the world was not inhabited solely by humans and vampires.

There were also other beings: witches, elves, shape-shifters; and although a treaty had not been signed with these others, tensions between the races had eased, at least amongst those most willing to engage in dialogue.

Elves, shape-shifters, werewolves, vampires and humans were trying to coexist, leaving only the witches to maintain tensions with other races, after all, no human, vampire or independent race wanted to fall out with them.

Among the ranks of the supernatural, there were those who reigned supreme, there were few of them, all women, hidden within society under the guise of ordinary humans.

Ancient, powerful and feared even by the immortals. The terror of every being, regardless of their race, merciless killers, beautiful and capable of using their magic for various purposes; what made them most terrifying was that no two were alike. It was impossible to find two witches with exactly the same abilities. 

It was said that just one glance at one of them could drive you mad and make you become so obsessed that you would be possessed by her, always wanting to obey and worship her no matter what.

They were never part of the treaty nor did they wish to mix with others.

They remained hidden, living on the fringes of the world, unwilling to interact with anyone. Their power was unstable, dangerous, capable of breaking down the barrier between life and death.

That is why, when a witch walked amongst others, she was recognised by a mark or tattoo on her skin or external organs —a warning symbol for both humans and supernatural beings.

Society was trying to adapt to this new era. A time when night and day were no longer separate, when ancient myths roamed the corridors of universities, and when the word ‘equality’ sounded more like a false promise than reality.

Warnings: Mentions of Nilou, Kaveh, Candace and Tighnari; use of _____ (Sorry, but I couldn’t use Y/n – I hope this is acceptable); use of feminine pronouns; Alhaitham teasing us; and us suffering (genuinely) because of it. Teasing?? Comedy – I wanted something funny. There’s a mention to Alhaitham being older. Alhaitham Ooc??? Maybe, maybe not. Idk

Erm, mentions of swallowing paper/parchment and complaints about the bitter taste of the ink?? I can confirm the taste. Oh and, we are definitely DELULU. 

English isn’t my first language; this has been translated using a translator that’s supposedly more sophisticated (something like DeepL???) but even so, I personally changed a few things to preserve the joke and the essence :(( It saddens me that there are things I can’t express in quite the same way in English 

Inevitably, the translator checks my spelling (which annoys me because the only things I don’t use are these boys ; : Mmh). In the end, I might just leave the translator’s mark in case it’s useful to anyone!!  The original version it’s in Spanish, so if you guys want it, just say it :)).

This is Translated into British English Btw 

The Akademiya was having one of those tense days, where the air in the debating halls felt thick, as if even the green and white walls were bracing themselves for a storm of arguments. You were sitting in the middle of the room, a scroll of parchment in your hands, trying to keep your cool in the face of so many scholars who spouted theories as easily as they breathed.

And of course, there was the scribe who, inevitably, caught your attention. Alhaitham, in his usual seat, arms crossed, gaze fixed and with an expression so calm that he seemed more concerned with the number of pages in his book than with the discussion. But when he opened his mouth, the murmur died down. His voice cut through the air

‘If your hypothesis were based solely on assumptions, the entire Akademiya would be built on sand, or Teyvat would be proven to be a spherical land,’ he said, bluntly and without hesitation, as if stating a fact he was certain of.

The room fell silent, and you, trying to contribute, raised your hand. You could feel your pulse racing—why, of all the people present, did he have to look at you like that, with those greenish eyes tinged with crimson that seemed to dissect every part of your soul?

There was stifled laughter, comments, taunts, arguments—the classic tension of a debate. Nervous, you wanted to fight back. And it was then, without a second thought, that you exploded.

‘It’s true, that’s why I like you, Alhaitham!’ You wished you could have clarified that even though you’d shown you agreed with him, you didn’t believe Teyvat was flat. And certainly, you didn’t ‘like’ Alhaitham in the way those present thought you did. By ‘like’, you meant specifically to please, to delight, and so on; you simply hadn’t found the right synonym because of the tension in the classroom.

….

Silence.

Not even the curtains, which had hung there for years, stirred. Not even the scholars breathed loudly enough to distract one another from what you had just said. In fact, that was the perfect moment for someone to sneeze and steal the limelight, just as when they were all merely young, newly admitted scholars struggling against the humiliation of sneezing in such a large lecture theatre with such a heavy silence.

It took your brain exactly three seconds to process what you’d said—seconds in which you berated yourself for all your humiliating thoughts. Your lips froze and you felt the heat rise to your cheeks as if you’d downed three cups of wine from Mondstadt’s Dawn winery in one go—which, by the way, you’d do anything to taste again.

“Oh no. No, no, no, NO. Tell me I didn’t just shout that in front of half the hall of scholars. Tell me he didn’t hear it. Tell me I can run away and pretend I never existed. Never mind, I can go and live with Candace in the desert and no one will ever find me; I’ll pretend I hit my head on a rock and lose my memory of you.”

Alhaitham blinked once. Twice. And then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he rose from his seat. He walked slowly, with that calmness that only served to make you even more nervous. All eyes followed him, but his were fixed on you. He stopped in front of your table, leaning in just enough so that only you could hear what he said.

‘If you say so with such certainty…’ —his low, steady voice was brushing against your ear, which only made you even more nervous— ‘I suppose I have no choice but to return the favour.’

Your eyes flew open at his words, and the monocle in your right eye would almost have fallen to the floor had it not been for your quick reflexes.

“What? No, wait, I was joking!” you said too quickly, raising your hands as if trying to stop a stampede of scholars who were looking at you with amusement and surprise. A couple of them stifled their laughter. Others seemed too stunned to process what had happened.

“Brilliant, woman. Now you’ve not only come across as a madwoman in love, but also as a clown backing out. Bravo. Excellent work.”

Alhaitham raised an eyebrow, and you hated him a little for how well that look of superiority suited him; you cursed his hideous beauty.

“A joke?” he repeated, as if savouring the word. “Curious. You didn’t seem to be joking.”

“I was!” you insisted, trying to sound convincing, though your voice cracked as you carried on speaking.

He rested one hand on the table, leaning in closer, just enough for his shadow to envelop you. His lips curved ever so slightly into a barely perceptible smile, yet one dangerous enough for your virtue.

‘Well then, I suppose I’ll have to make an effort to prove you wrong.’

‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN, “MAKE AN EFFORT”? Why is he talking as if this were a contract negotiation? Can’t he see I’m starting to break out in a cold sweat? And why on earth do I like it so much when he looks at me like that? Damn sexy madman.’

You bit your lip, nervously.

—Honestly, Alhaitham, it wasn’t anything serious… – You apologised so sheepishly it came across as insincere.

—I don’t usually waste my time on anything that isn’t serious. —His reply was curt, firm, as if it were a sentence written on paper, showcasing his newly discovered skill in having you.

The scholars began to pretend they were busy, though it was clear they were all listening. Someone coughed to break the tension — which you were grateful for, even if you’d have preferred a sneeze — but no one moved. You, meanwhile, were burning up inside. Your heart was pounding so hard you were sure even Tighnari, from the other side of Sumeru, could hear it.

“No, no, no. He can’t possibly be taking me seriously. I just wanted to win a bloody spot in the debate, not a marriage contract!”

“Listen to me,” you managed to say through gritted teeth, your voice trembling, “it really was a joke, all right? I’m sorry, it wasn’t appropriate.”

Alhaitham tilted his head, studying you as if you were an intriguing enigma or a book containing forbidden knowledge that he’d been longing to read for years.

‘So tell me, ____…’ —his eyes shone with that damned intensity that made you tremble— ‘why does your voice tremble when you deny it?’ You swallowed hard at his question.

“Because you’re intimidating me!” you blurted out, almost shouting.

He smiled ever so slightly. A smile so subtle that, if you hadn’t been looking straight at him, you would have sworn you were imagining it.

“That’s not intimidation, it’s persuasion. And it seems to be working on you.”

“No, it’s not working. Or is it? Damn it, it is working! Why does this man speak as if he were reciting philosophy whilst stealing my heart?”

Finally, Alhaitham straightened up, giving you a little space. But his gaze remained fixed, confident, as if he’d already won you over.

—You can carry on saying it was a joke, ___.—He turned slowly, picking up one of his books as if nothing had happened.—But I’ve already decided it wasn’t.

And with that, he walked away calmly, leaving the whole room in absolute silence and you a bundle of nerves, your face redder than a special Padisarah pudding made by Nilou.

“Great. Not only have I just confessed in public, but Alhaitham’s convinced that we’re going to… to… oh no! What if he really means it? What if he really… wants to stay by my side?”

Your heart was screaming and whimpering inside, cursing the senior student. You tried to keep a low profile for the rest of the day, but your efforts were in vain. Every corridor of the Akademiya seemed to be filled with whispers: “Did you hear what ___ said?”, “Could it be that they really are…?” You walked with your head down, ignoring them, wishing you could turn invisible.

Finally, you decided to take refuge in the Library. There, amongst endless rows of bookshelves, you could pretend nothing had happened, lose yourself in the smell of old paper and worn bindings.

But, of course, fate had other plans. You were sure the moment would come when the Heavenly principals would take pity on you and tell you it was all a joke, and that they planned to reward you for being their finest warrior.

You found him there. Or rather, he found you. Alhaitham was standing in front of one of the tall bookcases, a book in his hand, as calm as ever. When he looked up and saw you, it was as if he’d been waiting for you.

‘Ah, ____,’ he said, closing the book with a soft ‘thump’. ‘What a coincidence.’

‘Coincidence, my foot. He must have tracked me down using some secret Akademiya system, that damned star scribe.’

“No… it’s not what you think,” you stammered immediately, raising an accusing finger. “About earlier.”

He walked towards you, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. He stopped so close that you could smell the faint scent of parchment and ink that always seemed to follow him.

‘About earlier,’ he repeated, looking at you with that serenity that only made your desperation worse. ‘Do you mean your confession?’

‘It wasn’t a confession!’ you shrieked in a strangled whisper, earning a murderous glare from the librarian in the distance.

Alhaitham leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so that only you could hear him.

‘Then tell me, what was it?’ Your heart skipped a beat.

‘It was… it was a figure of speech!’ He blinked, incredulous.

‘An interesting figure of speech. One which, incidentally, made your personal preferences very clear.’

‘PERSONAL PREFERENCES? He’s going to kill me! He’s going to persuade me! I’ll end up married to him without even realising it!’

You put your hands to your face, planning to flee blindly, whimpering inside whilst praying for some wise person to rescue you. But Alhaitham didn’t back down; he leaned against the bookshelf behind you, blocking your escape, as if he thought you were immature enough to run away from the situation —which, admittedly, you were—.

“I admit I wasn’t expecting such a public declaration from you.” His eyes sparkled, as if he were savouring every second. “But now that I know, do you think I’m going to ignore it?” Your lips trembled with embarrassment.

“I’m… I’m telling you it was a joke…”

He smiled, ever so slightly—that dangerous, restrained smile that made your knees go weak. Had you mentioned his smile yet?

‘You can repeat that as many times as you like. I, on the other hand, will make sure to prove you wrong.’

Your mind was screaming in panic, but your heart was racing like mad

“THIS ISN’T FAIR. HOW IS A POOR, NORMAL SOUL LIKE ME SUPPOSED TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT LOOK? NO THEORY CAN SAVE ME.”

The librarian interrupted them with a stern “Quiet!”, and you were grateful for the respite, even though you knew you hadn’t escaped.

Alhaitham straightened up, picked up his book and murmured quietly to you

—See you tomorrow, ____, and don’t try to hide. I always end up finding what I’m looking for.

And with that, he left, leaving you alone with your thoughts, your heart racing and the terrible feeling that, even though you were crying inside, a part of you had already completely fallen apart.

The next day, you decided to take refuge in the Akademiya’s back courtyard. The Sumerian sun gently caressed the trees and exotic flowers, but you didn’t notice it. You were too busy silently lamenting your fate and cursing the scribe. You shifted from foot to foot, fiddling with the edge of your parchment and trying to convince yourself that you could escape his influence. But just when you thought you were alone enough, he appeared.

‘Running away?’ said a voice from behind you.

You turned round and there he was. Alhaitham. Standing there, but with that nonchalant air that took your breath away.

‘I wouldn’t say I’m running away…’ you said, trying to sound casual, though your voice sounded as if you’d swallowed your entire scroll and were still left with the bitter taste of the ink. ‘Just… taking in the view.’

‘Taking in the view,’ he repeated, walking towards you with that calmness so characteristic of him.

‘Sure. And your heart? Because it seems it’s not taking in anything other than…’ He leaned in slightly, and his eyes locked onto yours, ‘…certainly… someone very persistent.’

‘Alhaitham!’ You tried to sound angry, but your heart wouldn’t let you. ‘Please, understand that…’

“It was a joke,” he interrupted, with that patience that seemed designed to torture you. “Yes, I understand. But I also understand that jokes can become truths if given enough time.”

You covered your face with your hands for what must have been the third time that day and groaned inwardly.

“Bloody hell! How is a normal person supposed to deal with this? Do I have to shout at him, run away, cry and call for help all at the same time?

‘I… I don’t know what you’re on about!’ you stammered, trying to back away. ‘It was… a… rhetorical… question, I already said so.’

—“Uh huh,” he replied, tilting his head with that look that could make even the most distant person melt (in your humble opinion). “Very convincing. However, it seems your heart doesn’t quite agree with you.”

He took a step closer, and you instinctively backed away until you bumped into the bench in the courtyard. His hands rested on either side of you, blocking any escape route. Your breathing became erratic, and your mind was screaming in a thousand different directions.

“Help! No! Yes! Help! I’m lost! Lord Kusanali, Rex Lapis, help me!”

“So,” murmured Alhaitham, leaning in slightly, his voice a whisper that could shatter your guarded heart, “even though you say it was a joke… I think your subconscious speaks more clearly than your words.”

You couldn’t help but let out a small sob, and a moan that barely escaped your lips.

“Damn you!” He smiled, amused, but without losing a shred of his apparent intensity.

“And you…” he said, lowering his voice a little further. “You’re quite adorable when you try to lie to the world about how you feel.”

“You covered your face again, and inside you were whingeing with all the exaggeration you could muster

‘I’m going to end up falling in love with him and no one will be able to save me!’

Alhaitham leaned in one last time, his forehead almost brushing against yours.

‘There’s no rush, ___,’ he whispered. ‘But I must warn you, I don’t usually give up. So, whether you like it or not, I’m going to stay by your side.’