Chapter 23: A Blood Tribe Member Unafraid of Sunlight?

Phyllis hugged her knees, staring fixedly at the eastern horizon.

The pale light of dawn gradually bled into orange-red and light purple, the clouds fringed with shifting borders of radiance.

She had never watched a sunrise so intently before.

In her past life, in her city dorm, the sun was always already blazing by the time she woke up.

Since coming to this world, she had never been awake at this hour either.

The morning light fell through the gaps in the trees like a thin veil.

The Tyndall effect instantly transformed the entire forest into a painting.

Even the edges of the blanket spread out on the gentle slope were gilded with a layer of pale gold.

“It’s so beautiful, meow…”

Phyllis couldn’t help but sigh softly, her tail swaying slightly behind her.

Carola, at her side, did not respond.

‘What’s going on? Why isn’t Carola saying anything? She hasn’t been turned to ash by the sun, has she?’

Thinking of a certain scenario, Phyllis tilted her head, only to find Carola staring quietly at her.

‘Thank goodness, she’s fine…’

Phyllis felt relieved, but she noticed that Carola’s red eyes no longer seemed dark under the morning light. Instead, they revealed an amber-like quality.

Moreover, the intensity of her gaze made Phyllis feel a bit uneasy.

“W-What are you looking at me for?”

Phyllis hurriedly turned her head back, her cat ears flicking betrayingly.

“You are more beautiful than the sunrise.”

Carola’s voice came from behind her.

“W-What kind of nonsense are you talking about, meow!”

Phyllis’s entire face flushed red instantly, and she reflexively hugged her tail tight.

Carola watched Phyllis’s reaction but didn’t continue to tease her.

Instead, she looked up toward the light gradually leaping over the horizon.

Phyllis secretly turned her head to observe Carola.

The sunlight shone on Carola, but she showed no adverse reaction.

However, Phyllis could clearly see extremely faint silver patterns emerging on Carola’s exposed skin.

The patterns were like living vines, flickering slightly in the light, enveloping her in a hazy glow.

The sunlight did not burn her.

Those silver lines seemed to be contending with the sunlight, rising and falling slightly, like breathing.

“You…” Phyllis’s eyes widened.

“You aren’t afraid of the sun?”

According to what she knew, the Blood Tribe of this world also feared the sun.

“After the Original Blood awakened, I gained a resistance to sunlight,” Carola answered calmly, reaching out her hand and letting the sunlight pass through her fingers.

“Moving around during the day is no problem; my strength is simply diminished.”

Carola turned her face.

The silver patterns glistened in the sunlight, forming a strange contrast with her red eyes.

“I mostly rest during the day. It’s not out of fear, but because there’s no need for the exertion.”

‘So that’s how it is!’

Phyllis had found it strange earlier why Carola had suddenly dragged her out to watch the sunrise.

It turned out Carola wasn’t afraid of the sun at all.

It was a bit like a movie she had seen in her previous life, *Daybreakers*, where the male lead eventually became a Blood Tribe member who didn’t fear sunlight.

In the novel *Terror Infinity*, there was even a related exchange: Blood Tribe Mutated Bloodline.

Phyllis’s thoughts began to drift…

“What are you thinking about?”

Carola’s voice pulled Phyllis back to reality.

“N-Nothing!” Phyllis shook her head quickly, not wanting Carola to know she was thinking about something so ridiculous.

Looking at the patterns on Carola’s face, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are those patterns… always there? In the sunlight?”

“They only appear when the light is strong, and I can also prevent them from showing up,” Carola waved her hand, and the silver patterns quickly faded with her movement.

“Why? Do you think they’re scary?”

“No…”

Phyllis hesitated for a moment and whispered, “They’re quite pretty, meow.”

Carola was slightly taken aback.

The morning breeze brushed through the forest, carrying the rustling sound of grass and leaves.

Glistening golden spots danced on the distant surface of the lake, and the birds began to wake up one by one.

The world unfolded slowly before them, bright and gentle.

“I really can’t do anything with you, Phyllis,” Carola reached out and pinched Phyllis’s cheek.

“You’re making me like you even more.”

Phyllis propped herself up and backed away.

‘Why did she suddenly become so yandere again?’

Carola didn’t chase after Phyllis.

Instead, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly to feel the morning breeze.

The lines of her profile appeared incredibly soft in the halo of light.

In Phyllis’s stereotypical impression, those paranoid, crazy, and forceful edges seemed to melt away at this moment.

Phyllis stared blankly.

“Maybe… maybe she wasn’t that scary?”

“Maybe I really could…”

“It’s time to go back,” Carola suddenly opened her eyes and stood up.

“If the sunlight gets any stronger, even I will start to feel uncomfortable.”

Carola reached out her hand, palm up.

Phyllis hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing her hand on top.

Only this time, Carola didn’t immediately grip it tight.

She simply held Phyllis’s hand gently, her fingertip tracing a very light line across the back of her hand.

‘That tickles!’

Phyllis’s face remained impassive, but her heart was racing.

“Phyllis.”

Carola suddenly called out.

“Hmm?”

Phyllis tilted her head.

“Get stronger,” Carola said, looking into Phyllis’s eyes, something deep churning within those red pupils.

“Become strong enough to protect yourself. Strong enough that I… have no choice but to let you go.”

Phyllis’s heart skipped a beat.

It didn’t sound like a threat, nor was it an order.

It felt more like a… near-sorrowful promise.

The walk back was exceptionally quiet.

A certain unspoken stagnation lingered between the two of them.

Phyllis’s mind was a mess.

“We’re here.”

Carola’s words interrupted Phyllis’s thoughts.

Phyllis looked up and saw the Castle right in front of them.

Under the morning light, the Castle felt less eerie than it did at night, possessing a certain ancient tranquility.

The main gates of the Castle slowly opened before them.

Behind the doors, the Puppet Servants stood silently.

They were waiting for their master’s return.

“Right.”

As they were parting, Carola called out to Phyllis.

“That mirror — take good care of it.”

Phyllis pulled the exquisite Bat Mirror from her robe and nodded.

“I will, meow.”

“It is not just a Magic Tool; it is also a communication device,” Carola added.

“If you encounter danger or need to find me, you can contact me through it. Just inject a small amount of mana and call my name into the mirror.”

“It can be used for communication?”

Phyllis looked at the small mirror in her hand in surprise.

Was this little mirror actually that powerful?

“Yes, though the range is limited. It works anywhere within the Castle grounds.”

Carola smiled at Phyllis.

Phyllis gripped the mirror tightly, a complex mix of emotions welling up in her heart.

Was Carola’s behavior toward her just a result of possessiveness, or did she truly care?

“Maybe it was both.”

She couldn’t tell.

She really couldn’t tell!

“Get some good rest during the day,” Carola instructed again.

“Training begins tonight.”

“I understand, meow.”

Phyllis spoke seriously.

Carola nodded slightly and turned toward her own room.

“Strong enough that I have no choice but to let you go…”

Lying in her coffin, Carola repeated her own words, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile.

“But if you really do become that strong…”

Deep within Carola’s red eyes, the flames of obsession burned dimly.

“What a beautiful delusion! At that point, how could I possibly let you go, Phyllis?”