Red Rivers and Nightmares

Shizua Lavei is used to being compared to her family and being found lesser. If only she was as powerful as Hana. If only she was as magnificent as Karri. If only, if only, if only. She hears it so often no matter how hard she fights against the golden cage her mother keeps trying to fit her into. She refuses to be an untouched, delicate noble lady but as a human water keeper born in a family of vampires she has always been viewed as having less potential than her cousins and brothers.

Learning both the sword and the healing arts she strives to prove them wrong. But no matter how much her father calls her "his little ocean" she never has any chance to prove just how powerful she can be. That is, until Karri makes the choice to leave the Outer Gates to help a village of commoners. She convinces her brothers to leave with her so she can finally get her chance.

However, the outside world cares not what your blood is. Shizua who has been so utterly protected is incredibly defenseless in certain aspects that leaves her ill adapted to the cruelty that happens outside. However, her sense of duty is so strong that she refuses to back down until she can bring a group of people back home. No matter the cost to her.