Shadow Monarch in Tensura

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Central City [Part 3]

Luminous was looking at me, not saying a single word. This continued for a few minutes before she decided to break the silence.

"So you really don't remember anything?" She asked, looking me straight in the eyes.

"No," I replied simply.

"Then let me introduce myself. I'm Luminous Valentine, your adoptive mother." She said and then smiled.

"I see then, Lum..." She interrupted me before I could finish.

"Mom. You always called me mom." She said, and I could hear Louis sigh.

"I see then, Mom," I said, and her smile got brighter, and another sigh came from Louis. I could even swear I saw flowers appear around her.

I got the feeling Cale never called her mom; I deadpanned...

[Status has been updated.]

The system message appeared, but that wasn't important, so I continued. "Umm... Since I can't remember much, could you tell me more about... Me?"

"That's not a problem, but first, explain why you smell of blood." She asked with an innocent smile, but the aura around her intensified slightly.

"Ekhh... You see, in order to escape the slave traders. I needed to. Um. Kill them." I said and started sweating due to her aura.

"Slave traders? Didn't he protect you..." She paused, "I see I will need to punish him later." She said, and I thought of running away at this moment but couldn't even move an inch.

Seeing my current state, she stopped emitting her aura.

"Ekmm... Sorry, I got carried away. Louis, bring a healing potion." She ordered Louis, who bowed and was about to leave the room.

"There is no need. I'm not hurt." I said but got ignored.

"Now that then while we wait, I should explain everything." She said, taking a sip from the teacup that probably contained no tea.

"First, let's start with your name. It's Cale Valentine. Your mother was an orphan named Caroline and was one of my most trusted followers, but was k... passed away a few months after your birth. After that, I took care of you personally until two months ago, you found out our secret and ran away." She paused for a bit to see if I was following, "I had sent someone to protect you, but for some reason, he didn't..." She said with her eyes twitching.

I don't think that's how you handle your adoptive son running away, but I can't complain much. She did more than my family would do in my previous life.

"What was the secret?" I asked, already having an idea.

She seemed uncomfortable after I asked it but then sighed.

"You would find out sooner or later again, and it seems you are acting more mature now, so... We are Vampires. Your mother was also one."

"Am I one?" I asked, but I knew the possibility was little due to not requiring blood to survive unless I somehow became a high-ranking vampire and an Overcomer at birth. Well, she could probably always turn me into one.

But at the same time, am I fully human? I have a large amount of Magicules for an average human, and I don't think I'm Enlightened. Or it could be just because I have a reincarnated soul.

"No, she was still fully human, and I turned her into a Vampire while she was pregnant with you. So while you aren't a Vampire, you aren't a Human either," She said and looked at me before adding. "You are taking this better than I expected."

"Getting almost killed and needing to kill someone to survive probably does that. This just doesn't feel real to me yet." I told her, not knowing what to say otherwise.