Zelniana's eyes light up with excitement and pure fascination as she continues to read her book of Vampires. This isn't any traditional book that mentions traditional Vampiric abilities and behavior traits. Rather, it's a book that dives deep into Vampire lore, from the time in which the first Vampire came into being. It teaches various theories, each with a variety of supporting evidence gathered over a great period of time, as to what truly makes a Vampire. Not the methods or the rituals, but the magical properties taking effect to create an entity of death that continues to return to the world of the living time and time again. What is actually going on and what forces are at work that allow such powers? If Zelni is to ever understand what is wrong with that Vampire girl, she would have to take her study back to the roots of Vampire creation.
Zelniana knows only a little more than a handful of things regarding Vampires, so she still has a lot to learn if she is to ever reach the desired point of knowledge and understanding. She's uncertain as to whether or not this book would prove sufficient. No, it definitely won't. At best, these theories that would point her in the right direction for experimentation, but the problem is that she lacks a normal test subject. Even then, there's only so much she could learn from such experimenting. Lucky as she is to have picked out such a detailed book, the fact of the matter is that the true origin of Vampires and the magic that they utilize is lost; at least that's what she's understanding from reading this book. Everyone knows the means to create, but none have any understanding as to why such is the way of things. That is the one question Zelniana truly needs to answer.
Zelniana lets out a quiet sigh to herself, wondering if there is some kind of ancient tome somewhere in Heavenarius that could give her the answers. Tesonu's selection of books probably lacks the appropriate information, though to no fault of Tesonu's given the nature of the situation. Halting her research momentarily, Zelni takes in her surroundings to remind herself that she's still in the Library. Often on with a subject of interest, Zelni tends to get far too absorbed into her reading and loses all sense of awareness. It doesn't matter if she's in Tesonu's Library or in the realm of the Dark Gods; it all becomes the same to her.
Zelniana suddenly shoots up, remembering that something is supposed to happen. She heard voices in the Library earlier; two women that seemed to be planning something. Given the context of the conversation, it hinted to be some sort of hired assassination. Being so involved in her books, the event could have already passed Zelni by without her knowing. She should try to investigate to find out what is going on and stop it if it isn't too late... right? It would mean putting a complete halt to all of her current research for something that may be important. Although, looking at her closed Destroy Walls book, Zelni remembers that she stopped her 'real' research quite a while ago to put all of her focus on this Vampire book. A smirk spreads across the Dark Angel's face, but it fades just as quickly as she thinks of the situation at hand.
"Zelni!" came a mild shout an all too familiar female voice. Taken by surprise, the Dark Angel curses to herself with the unfortunate timing of her sister's arrival. Judging by her serious, determined, and partially strict tone, Zelniana immediately realizes that Yalniai isn't simply paying a casual visit to return her sister's staff. Caught off guard, Zelni briefly delays her response to give herself a moment to regain her composure. She then replays in a casual and sweet tone to counter her sister's tone, "Oh hi, dear sister. You know, you really shouldn't be so loud in a Library as you'll disturb other researchers." "There's no one here but us," Yalni reassured her while lowering her tone a bit, "I didn't see anyone when I was looking around for you, anyway." There is someone around, surely... Someone invisible, it seems. Of course, Yalni didn't know that, and to prevent whoever might be there from knowing that Zelni might be aware of their presence and thus may have heard the earlier conversation, Zelni has to play along. She replies smoothly, "Oh of course, how silly of me to not notice. I guess I got too involved in these books, you know?"
Seeing her restored staff in Yalniai's hands, Zelniana promptly points to it and says, "I see you've fixed my staff. Well good for you, I guess I'll consider your debts paid for me saving your worthless if adorable little wings." Zelni steps closer and reaches for her staff, but Yalni pulls it away while stepping back, "Wait." Zelni knows where her sister is going. She has something on her mind that she wants to talk about before simply returning Zelni's staff. Yet, Zelni doesn't want to deal with it now. She must investigate whatever voices she heard in the Library earlier. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to convey this message over to Yalni without the possibility of alerting whoever else might be there.
Zelni has to get her sister off her wings. Usually something flirty or lustful is enough to disturb her and get Yalni to back off. "Wait? For what?" Zelni asks, figuring out what to say as she goes along, "Are you going to serenade me before presenting this gift as a pronunciation of love?" Zelni can't help but find great amusement in her younger sister's massively perplexed expression and high pitched response, "Wait, what!?" "Oh you sweet sister, you~" Zelni coos as she moves closer in fake preparation to give Yalni an overly embracive smooch. "Ah-Zelni!" Yalni calls out as she backs away from her sister's hold. At the same time, Zelni's great black wings naturally wrap themselves around Yalni. Yalni steps on part of Zelni's wings, causing the former to trip and fall backwards while momentarily shocking the latter. Holding onto her sister, Zelni joins her in the fall and the two sisters crash into the ground.
"Ow... my wing... and hands..." Zelniana mutters in minor pain. "Look... what you did... Zelni..." Yalniai mutters back, "I don't know why you do these things..." Zelni smiles in bliss, "I just wanted to give you a kiss. Is that too much for you, my dear sister?" Squinting, Yalni replies painfully, "Yes, it is." Zelni retains a small smile, "Well excuse me then." Zelni proceeds to stand, unable to use her wings to help her in the task due to their massive size and the small spacing between Library aisles. Yalni starts to get up herself, but Zelni grabs her hand and pulls her the rest of the way.
The two sisters stand idly for a brief moment as they recover from the fall before Yalni hands over Zelni's staff, "Here, just take your stupid staff." Zelni gracefully takes it with a loving smile, "Why, thank you love." Yalni moans in slight displeasure and discomfort as she briefly rubs her shoulder with the opposing hand, looking off to the side with wandering eyes. Zelni's heart skips a beat as she suddenly recognizes this rare gesture. It was no moan of displeasure, but more like a brief whimper or a whine; a subtle expression of certain emotional feelings that Yalni didn't seem to consciously acknowledge. Something happened to Yalniai recently that upset her greatly; something she was trying to hide.
"Yalniai?" Zelniana whispers in a slow and careful tone. Yalniai looks back in surprise, caught off guard by hearing her sister use her full name, "W-What is it, Zelni?" The two make direct eye contact. The lightheartedness has vanished from Zelniana's eyes, leaving behind only a piercing stare from an unbreakable will as she gazes into Yalniai's eyes and studies them. Sweet innocence is apparent, but part of her loving expression has disappeared. She tries to hold onto that innocence desperately, but Zelni knew that it was lost long ago. Searching deeper, Zelni finds a startling lack of confidence in her sister's eyes. Something had definitely upset her. There, in the deepest part of Yalni's eyes, Zelni finally finds the key expression that she was searching for: fear.
Only after spending what feels like a lifetime together can Zelniana search her sister's eyes so deeply. There are few things that can shake either of them so, after all this time together. Zelniana knows what makes her sister tick, and she knows what has upset her so. The body gesture served only as a sign that something is probably wrong. After searching her eyes, Zelni figured it out. She closes her eyes and, after a long moment of silence, finally whispers, "Tesonu has a Horned Reaper now, doesn't he?" Yalniai seems to choke a bit, caught off guard by Zelniana's way of breaking the silence, then lets out a low whimper as confirmation, "Mmhmm..."
Not needing to hear anymore, Zelniana suddenly wraps her sister in a loving embrace. Although surprised at first, Yalniai quickly returns the gesture. It wasn't Zelni's usual perverted playfulness, but rather, genuine sisterly and motherly concern. Looking down at her sister as Yalni rests her head on the former's chest, Zelni asks in a whisper, "What happened?" Yalni looks up, then proceeds to explain quietly, "Well... He was talking to this Sal... Lizard woman, in the Workshop... And they talked about each other's past..." "Talked?" Zelni repeats, surprised that a Horned Reaper would ever care to communicate personally with another. "Y-Yeah..." Yalni continues as she puts her head to rest again, "...I was... listening in... It really wasn't that bad, I think he's... different from the rest..."
"You say that, and yet you can't fool me," Zelniana suddenly tells her. "H-Huh?" Yalniai looks up, appearing genuinely confused. "I can see it in your eyes," Zelniana explains in as comforting a voice as she can get, "You're terrified of him. Different as you try to tell yourself he is, you can't shake off the simple fact that he's still a Horned Reaper." They're all driven by bloodlust and fury. It's the very core of their nature. Such disgusting beasts that should have never come into being. Even the Dark Gods acknowledge the mistake of their creation, thus calling forth the need for a new champion.
Still staring up at her sister, Yalniai's eyes slowly start to water. Zelniana gently puts Yalniai's head against her chest as she proceeds to caress her; slowly but steadily calming her. "I miss them," Yalniai whispers mournfully. Zelniana didn't know what to say at first. Nothing in her mind seems to fit properly. Searching elsewhere, the words finally come, straight from the heart of years past, "Nothing is more important than you are to me. Never. Forget." Yalniai doesn't say anything in response. She doesn't need to. Words are no longer necessary. She tightens her grip on her sister; snuggling against her more. Zelniana can feel her sister's heart beat faster against her own as Yalniai is properly covered by black wings. Nothing else matters but Yalniai. She knows that neither of them will ever forget what forever binds them together so perfectly. They'll never forget why.
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Yalniai & Zelniana
Health: 100% & 100%
Level: 3 & 3
Experience: 2/35 & 2/35
Gold in Hand: 0 & 0
Gold in Lair: 0 & 0
Equipment: Two Katanas & Katana, Staff
Location: Library & Library
Status: Embracing Zelniana & Embracing Yalniai
Efficiency: 100% & 100%
Summary:
Zelni reflects on her Vampire research after stopping her Destroy Walls research. She remembers the voices she heard earlier but then encounters Yalni. She tries to scare Yalni away with some flirting, causing shenanigans and the two falling together onto the ground. Yalni gives Zelni her staff then Zelni notices something is wrong with Yalni. She gets Yalni to talk about her earlier encounter with Gulsein. Stuff happens afterward.