Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 148: Kind of hungry

Chapter 148: Kind of hungry

Her evolution had destabilized her emotions. That was the only logical explanation. There was no other reason she would react this way.

She clung to that conclusion tightly.

Meanwhile, Liora sat across from them, still dressed properly in her crisp academy uniform, though she was far from relaxed.

She could sense Elion’s steady silence and serious expression, and she interpreted it as controlled anger.

Which, from her perspective, was fair. He was within his rights to be issed off.

He had been brought here with no explanation. Then he had been attacked, drained of blood to the point of lethargy, and finally slapped into a boiling bath by the very person he stepped in to help.

Well, he hadn’t exactly stepped in to help more so than he had been forced to. But he had helped. Even if he wasn’t visibly angry, the tension was thick enough to feel.

Liora took a slow breath and sat up straight. She cleared her throat properly this time and straightened in her seat, forcing herself to take control of the conversation.

“Uhm…” she began, attempting to break the silence and smooth over the fragile atmosphere between them.

“Elion,” she began carefully, “I already told Celeste what happened while you were changing.”

He did not reply right away, but he looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

“I’m the one who brought you here,” she said. “This is my fault.”

She folded her hands together in her lap. “Earlier today, Celeste realized she was about to have a bloodline awakening. It was sudden and not planned.”

Celeste stayed quiet, her eyes lowered.

“A while ago,” Liora continued, “we were talking about you. Just casually. We talked about how your talent improved so suddenly.”

She gave a small smile. “I said maybe you had a bloodline awakening. And maybe even a greater one.”

Her smile faded. “It turns out… we weren’t wrong.”

The room became quiet for a moment.

“When Celeste felt the awakening start, she was in a lot of pain,” Liora said. “She couldn’t think clearly. And I panicked.”

She looked at Elion seriously. “I remembered reading that when someone’s bloodline is evolving, using another strong bloodline as a catalyst can help stabilize it.”

“So I rushed to get you,” she admitted. “I didn’t explain because there wasn’t time. I just remembered that conversation and acted based on that.”

Elion’s expression stayed serious.

“And it worked,” Liora said softly. “When she drank your blood, the awakening calmed down almost immediately.”

At the mention of his blood, Celeste’s ears twitched slightly.

By now, she had mostly returned to her calm self. Her face was no longer as red as before, and her breathing had steadied. She could think calmly now. She lifted her eyes slowly and looked at him directly.

“Elion,” she said in a quiet voice, “you are not entirely human… are you?”

His expression darkened. He did not answer her question. But the silence was enough.

Celeste nodded slowly.

“You helped me when I lost control,” she said. “I do not know why you are even hiding your true race, but we will respect your privacy, and we will not speak of it any more than this.”

She turned her sharp red eyes toward Liora.

“Right?”

Liora, who had suddenly started whistling while looking at the ceiling, froze.

“Right?” Celeste repeated, her tone firm.

“Y-yeah,” Liora said quickly. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

Celeste looked at her for another second before nodding.

“Thank you,” Elion said calmly.

There was no anger in his voice. It was simple and direct.

Then, to both Elion and Liora’s surprise, Celeste stood up from the couch.

She walked a few steps forward and bowed her head.

“I apologize,” she said clearly.

Her pale cheeks turned red again as she remembered what happened in the bath. Small pieces of memory flashed in her mind, and it made her even more embarrassed.

“I attacked you, took a lot of your blood without asking,” she said softly. “And then I knocked you into the bath.”

She kept her head lowered.

“I was not in control,” she added. “But that is not an excuse.”

Celeste kept her head lowered after apologising.

“I was not in control,” she repeated softly. “But I am still sorry.”

Elion looked at her for a long second. Then he waved his hand lightly.

“It’s fine,” he said.

Celeste let out a slow breath; she didn’t realize she had been holding. Relief softened her expression.

At least he’s reasonable, she thought.

That is, until he added, “But…”

She froze.

Did I speak too soon?

Elion leaned back slightly against the couch, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“I’m feeling kind of hungry,” he said casually.

Both girls blinked.

“You did suck quite a lot of my blood,” he continued in a calm tone. “I’m starving now. I feel weak. My body feels heavy.”

He rolled his shoulders slightly as if to prove the point.

It wasn’t entirely a lie. He did feel somewhat drained even as passive recovery worked its magic. But the way he said it made it hard to tell how serious he was.

Liora looked between the two of them, unsure whether to intervene.

Celeste straightened slowly. Her earlier embarrassment returned, but she forced herself to stay composed.

“What do you want?” she asked.

Her voice was steady, though her ears had turned slightly red again.

“I will do anything within my power,” she added. “Please ask for something reasonable.”

Elion studied her quietly.

He had come to like this vampire girl. There was something about her calm strength and hidden intensity that intrigued him. She had aroused his interest long before today.

He wasn’t about to let this situation pass so easily.

A slow smile formed on his face.

“Reasonable?” he repeated lightly. “I guess that depends,” Elion said slowly, “on what you consider reasonable… and what I consider reasonable.”

Celeste frowned at him.

It was not an angry frown. It was small and slightly confused, almost cute without her meaning it to be.

Elion stared at her for a second.

Then he burst out laughing.