“Come on, it’s bedtime now, Selene.” Abel beckoned to the 5-year-old child who was stubbornly refusing to sleep while clenching onto a new book she had just received.

“Aww, but papa...” Selene begs sweetly.

“We have an important meeting with Lady Babylon tomorrow, don’t you remember?”

“Ooh! that’s right! But I’m not tired yet, papa!” Selene says while jumping up on her bed.

“Alright, how about this, I’ll tell you a bedtime story until you fall asleep okay?” Abel says with a soft smile.

“Yes! Can you tell me the one about the king again?” Selene answers excitedly.

“That one again huh, you sure do like it. Alright.”

As Abel goes to bring in a chair from the living room he bumps into an old shelf on the way back and something falls out.

“Huh? I still had this?”

Abel places the chair down and reaches to pick up the fallen object. He stares at the item that he thought had been lost a long time ago. An old pocket watch, covered in dust.

(Just how many years has it been. I thought for sure I threw it away or something. A memento from my past huh…)

Abel slightly reminisces about his past. These 5 years had been some of the toughest of his life, but it has also been the 5 happiest years of his life. He silently thanks the senior maid Mary Stockwald as he remembers all the difficulties he faced while raising Selene. Then he once again looks at the dusty old pocket watch.

(Guess I’ll keep it. It’ll serve as a reminder of who I used to be.)

“Papaaaa, hurry up!” Selene yells from her room.

“Ah, sorry, on my way!” Abel apologetically responds.

After Abel tucks Selene into her bed, he picks out a book from the bookshelf in Selene’s room. It was her favorite story, ‘The Legend of Kyran Emrick.’ He settles down in a chair next to Selene’s bed and begins reading.

***

Once upon a time, there existed a brave and strong vampire, his name was Kyran Emrick. He was born a healthy boy with a compassionate nature. On the day Kyran came of age, he slew a large and ferocious beast that preyed upon the village’s people. The villagers were thankful and thus named him chief at the tender age of 12. Kyran didn’t know it then, but the god Belmont had many plans for him. By the time he was an adult, he had built his tiny village up into a full-scale city. The people were prosperous, more and more soon came to seek sanctum within Kyran’s bustling city and soon, he would be named King. Kyran was a simple man, he only wished for the happiness of his people, that compassion drew in people who would become his lifelong friends and loyal retainers. But that bliss did not last forever, for an evil force was growing in Elderant and soon destiny came knocking at his doorstep.

“King Kyran, King Kyran! Terrible news! An unknown army of beasts has invaded the kingdom!” A soldier hurriedly reports.

“What manner of beasts dare to threaten my people? Very well, come my friends, the time for battle is now!” Kyran gallantly states.

What Kyran saw on that day would change him forever. Large humanoid beasts with a twisted face and pure black bodies. They tore through men like paper with their bare hands and commanded magic never seen before. Truly the reckoning had come for the demons have risen.

Forced to retreat, Kyran learned that these monsters had been rampaging not only within their kingdom but all over the world, under the command of their god Malour. Left with no choice, Kyran united with the representatives of the races and began the largest scale war the world has ever seen. But even with the combined might of the 5 races, it wasn’t enough. On the edge of defeat, Kyran prayed and begged his god Belmont to give him the power to save his people, and the god answered.

“Take this spear, child. Use it to defend your brothers and sisters and bring an end to this madness.”

Empowered by his new weapon, Kyran drove back the forces of evil and banished them from Elderant once and for all. However, the toll of the battle was unforgiving. Kyran was fatally wounded and with little time left, he imprinted his power unto his children. He sealed away the sacred weapon, the Spear of Belmont, in hopes that it would never have to be used again. Within the year, he soon passed away, leaving behind a legacy that would be taken up by his children to build a peaceful kingdom.

The end.

***

“mmm...”

“Oh? Finally asleep huh?” Abel quietly says.

“See you tomorrow.” With a kiss on Selene’s forehead, Abel retreated from the room and made his way back to his own. Where he too soon came under the grasp of exhaustion.

***

“Papa! Are you ready yet?!” Selene shouts while standing in front of the house.

“Just a sec!” Abel hurriedly answers back.

“Come on! Mary is gonna get really scary if we’re late!” Selene follows while stomping her feet.

Abel soon found himself hurrying to put on his uniform and made sure it’s nice and tidy. He spies the pocket watch from yesterday on his desk and decides to put it in his pocket.

“Okay, okay, I’m ready. Are you prepared my dear?” He says while running outside.

“Yeah! I even learned how to do a curtsy from Mary, see?”

Selene performs a small curtsy by pulling her left foot back and slightly lifting her skirt while bending down and bowing. She was quite proud of it as Mary had previously praised her for picking it up so quickly.

“Oh! That’s good, good job!” Abel says while patting Selene on the head.

“Ehehe~”

While amused by his daughter’s sense of pride in her curtsy, Abel took her hand and the two departed for the main Babylon estate.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yeah!”

***

As the father-daughter pair close in on the entrance gate to the main Babylon estate, they’re greeted by one of the two guards.

“Good morning, Sir McDowell! And this young lady must be Selene right?” Fino says while saluting.

“Yes! we’re here to see Duchess Babylon!” Selene excitedly answers.

“Haha, is that so? Okay, miss” Fino says cheerfully then gives a short nod to Abel “the mistress has been expecting you.”

“Thanks, Fino, so did your date pan out?” Abel humorously asks while already having guessed the answer.

And as he expected Fino’s expression turns dejected.

“Haaa, 5th time. it’s the 5th time this month that I got stood up Sir Abel, life is so cruel.” Fino answers with tears in his eyes.

“Ahaha, well don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll work out for you soon. Anyway, we best be on our way, can’t keep the mistress waiting.”

“Okay, I’ll go announce your arrival now.”

As Abel and Selene walk into the main entrance hall, various maids can be seen walking around performing their daily tasks. The day to day operations of the province were overseen by the head maid so the Duchess herself can remain carefree in her magical research. Selene then spotted Mary who was carrying a stack of papers out of a room on the second floor.

“Hey look, papa, it’s Mary!” Selene points out.

“Ah, yeah. Right now she’s working so let’s leave her alone for today, okay?”

“Kayy.”

After a short while, a familiar figure can be seen by Abel descending the stairs. The mystical aura that seemed to surround her feels as if it could attract and keep the attention of anyone in her vicinity, but the maids of the residence seemed to have already accustomed themselves enough to her visage to be able to work unhindered by it, although a few still gave brief side glances. Behind her followed Mary Stockwald, one of the five senior maids.

“Woow! What a pretty lady!” Selene whispers to Abel while staring with starry-eyes.

“Ah-haha...”

Abel could only let out a nervous chuckle while scratching his cheek as he remembered the pressure that nearly crushed his soul the last time he was here. However, he remained thankful to the Duchess for giving him the opportunity to raise Selene. As Serah Babylon drew closer, Selene went to hide behind Abel’s leg.

“Hello Abel, it’s been a while. Doing well I hope?” The Duchess asks while brushing a strand of her long red hair behind her ear.

“Yes, my mistress. These past five years have been amazing due to your grace.” Abel answers with a bow.

“Fufu, always so stiff. Well, it’s good that you’re happy. Anyway, who do we have here?” Serah says looking at the young child behind Abel’s leg.

Abel urges Selene with his eyes to step forward. He was slightly surprised that the usually energetic child could be so timid. Selene then came out from her hiding spot and did a nervous curtsy.

“Y-yes, pretty la- I mean Duchess Babylon, my name is Selene.” She says nervously.

To which the Duchess softly laughs.

“It’s very nice to meet you Selene” she kindly says “Also” Serah adds with amusement “I don’t mind going by pretty lady.”

Whether it was unintentional or not the Duchess’ warm expression and soft tone of voice drained the tension out of Selene and she releases a sigh of relief to herself.

(I thought she would be scarier) thought Selene.

“Well, anyway, today I’ve called the two of you here today to test young Selene’s magic nature. It is necessary for me to customize the ritual of the Dhampir.”

Selene tugs at Abel’s jacket upon hearing the unfamiliar word.

“Papa, what’s a Dhampir?”

“They are vampire half-lings, my dear.” He answers patiently.

“Am I a Dhampir? Is mama not a vampire?” she asks innocently.

Abel inwardly flinches at his daughter’s seemingly harmless question and the Duchess’ slight inquisitively raised eyebrow.

“Uh, I’ll tell you when you’re older okay? For now, why don’t you go over to the Duchess? She’s gonna find out how strong you are. You want to be strong like the king in the story, don’t you?” Abel answers while carefully dodging the question.

“Okay!” Selene says with excitement.

As Abel watches Selene walk towards his mistress he feels guilty and pathetic for being too scared to tell Selene the truth (what-if she starts hating me and doesn’t call me papa anymore?), those feelings become more pronounced when he feels a piercing glare and looks around to see where it’s coming from and spots Mary giving him a look that seems to say ‘you’re hopeless.’

While that’s going on a maid walks over and hands a crystal ball to the Duchess.

Selene stands in front of the Duchess while looking up at her with starry-eyes. Her slightly puffy skirt and a big red rose accessory attached to her blouse beautifully contrasted her golden hair.

(Hmm. you sure are a cute one) the Duchess absentmindedly thinks.

“Now, just relax and leave everything to me, okay?” The Duchess says while inquisitively eyeing Selene.

“O-kay!”

The Duchess Babylon then hovered her hand over Selene with one hand while the other held the strange crystal ball. Selene then started to feel a warmth slowly surging from within her torso.

“Ngh. Lady Babylon, I feel funny.” Selene says while slightly clutching her chest.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt. Just relax and let the warm feeling come out.”

As Abel’s eye twitches at the easy-to-misunderstand words Selene does her best to heed the Duchess’s words, without warning something suddenly burst out from within.

“Aaah!” screams Selene in surprise and pain.

An explosive amount of mana washes over the main entrance hall of the Babylon residence, and in the center of that storm, lays an unconscious Selene. Before anyone can react to what happens the storm of mana leaves as abruptly as it appeared.

“Selene!” Abel shouts while running over to pick up his daughter.

“Astonishing...” Serah Babylon mouths.

“Mistress, what happened?!” Abel impatiently asks while moving Selene to an upright position.

The Duchess Babylon comes over to check on the condition of the sleeping child.

“Calm down, she is simply unconscious from the sudden release of mana from within her core. A short rest and she’ll be back on her feet again.”

As Abel releases a massive sigh of relief Lady Babylon continues with an almost awe-filled tone.

“More importantly, this mana purity and nature at such a young age, it’s utterly marvelous.”

“Selene’s is?” Abel asks in shock.

“That’s right. Abel, your daughter is going to be something special one day. Perhaps it is fate that she was found by you.” The Duchess says with seriousness.

In response to his mistress’ words, Abel turns pensive but ultimately looks up at her and says with eyes filled with resolve.

“I don’t know if it was fate or coincidence that brought Selene to me, Frankly I don’t care either way, as long as she’s alive and happy that’s all I care about.”

The Duchess silently stares at him with an unreadable expression then continues to eye the sleeping Selene, before suddenly speaking up.

“Abel, I have a proposition for you.”

Serah Babylon held a serious look on her face as she stared into Abel’s eyes. Abel flinched at the sudden increase in pressure, it felt different from the time five years ago, however, not knowing what was going to come next, he gulped nervously.

“A proposition?”

“Don’t be so nervous. Abel, allow me to train the young Selene. I wish to make her my first and only pupil.” The Duchess replied.

Abel’s thoughts seemed to slow down as he tried to understand what the Duchess had just said.

(Her pupil?)

Serah Babylon spent her whole life engrossed in magic and built herself a strong standing within the royal entourage with that power. She never once took a disciple as she thought they would slow her down in her pursuit of the 9th and 10th realm of magic.

(Is Selene’s talent that great?) Abel wonders.

Abel knew what this meant, and knew what it could mean for Selene to have such a being as her protector and teacher.

“Yes! Of course! That would be the greatest blessing!” Abel answers excitedly.

“Now, now, listen until the end first, Abel.” Serah sighs.

“Anyway, I will teach her, but I have a condition, this decision will also be something that will change her for the rest of her life, are you prepared to bear that burden? Abel McDowell.” She gravely asks.

Abel feels shocked that the free-spirited and authoritative Serah Babylon would ask for his consent on the matter.

(This must be something that will have an enormous impact on Selene’s future) he thought.

However, Abel has already made up his mind.

“...Lady Babylon, I’ve already said this earlier, but I’ll say it again. all I want for my daughter is to live a long and happy life. I would never let anything hurt her.”

As Serah is in the middle of opening her mouth to say something she stops after hearing Abel’s “but”

“I know I won’t always be able to protect her,” Abel said with not a little frustration and hands clenched into fists.

“and in the world we live in, strength is the only thing that you have to decide your own fate,” he says with old bitterness in his voice.

The Duchess stays silent and doesn’t disagree with him. They both know how much strength, especially in vampire society, matters in deciding your worth.

“If she had you as her teacher, I know she will gain what she needs to decide her own fate.” The now calm Abel says slowly then abruptly bows at a ninety-degree angle.

“Please take Selene as your student, no matter the consequences I’ll accept them without complaint.”

The Duchess nods approvingly.

“I knew I didn’t make the wrong choice when I knighted you, Sir Abel. Very well, my condition for teaching her is...this!”

The Duchess takes out a red bracelet with many rune carvings around the outside. Abel did not know what it did but even a simple warrior like him could feel its power.

“A... bracelet?”

“Not just any bracelet, my dear Abel. This is my greatest creation, as well as my greatest secret. Truly a marvel of the possibilities of magic, ohohoho!” The Duchess boastfully laughs.

“What does it do?” Abel inquisitively asks.

“It will increase the beauty and femininity of its owner to an almost unheard-of level,” she says proudly.

“...Excuse me?”

“Furthermore, the bearer of this bracelet will be bound to it, so none can steal it” Serah Babylon confidently continued.

Perhaps it was due to the amount of surprises that kept coming at him today, but Abel feels as if his brain could no longer comprehend anything. Just what is the Duchess talking about? He thought.

“Come now Abel, you can’t expect me, Serah Babylon the Frenzy, to teach a male can you? Especially a human one. How can I show Selene to the world as an un-cute male? Ah, but right now Selene is pretty cute already, good job Mary, you make me proud.” Serah says as she turns around to give her maid a thumbs up.

“It was my pleasure, mistress,” Mary answers with a smile.

“Now then, this bracelet and the spells used to create it were custom-made by myself after years of research, it’s two of a kind you know? Rather than a condition, you should count this as a blessing, my knight. Even the materials used to create it are rare, the base is formed using orichalcum and it is very sturdy. I mine them personally from the Brutus fire mountains. Afterwards...-”

Abel sighed slightly in his heart as the Duchess rambled on about her magical creation. Somewhere deep down, he knew that Serah Babylon was this kind of person.

(Selene, my daughter, all I can hope is that you will be able to enjoy your life as a female.)

“-And with the final spell, I was able to put this bracelet together. Anyway, worry not Abel, I’m not so cruel as to remove your daughter’s manhood. However, with this, I’m afraid that she’ll have more luck with men, ohohoho!” Serah boastfully laughed.

“...Haaaa.” Abel finally sighed.