The cabin door slid open with a quiet hiss.
Draven stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the doorway—
he stopped.
...
A small black wolf pup raced wildly around the cabin.
Its tiny paws skidded across the polished wooden floor as it darted between chairs, slipped beneath the table, and circled back again with endless energy.
Behind it—
Nia chased after the little beast with a helpless laugh.
"Come back!"
"You're going to knock something over!"
Above them—
a tiny black bat fluttered clumsily through the room.
Its flight was anything but graceful.
Every few moments it dipped too low, tilted off balance, or veered toward a wall before wobbling back into the air.
Thin strands of crimson mana gently surrounded the tiny creature.
Vaelith guided each of its movements with calm precision, carefully correcting its course whenever it drifted too far.
She looked toward the doorway.
"My Lord."
Draven's crimson eyes slowly swept across the room.
Then toward the wolf.
Then the bat.
Silence.
...
"...Am I supposed to assume those are Elenya and Lucifer?"
Vaelith inclined her head.
"Yes."
Draven looked at the two tiny beasts once more.
"...I haven't seen them transform before."
Vaelith answered in her usual composed tone.
"They're still infants."
"Their bloodline abilities are only beginning to awaken."
"As they continue to grow..."
"...their transformations will become more frequent."
She made another minute adjustment to the mana surrounding the tiny bat.
"And eventually..."
"...they'll learn to control those transformations consciously."
Draven watched the two children in silence.
*...To think I'd walk into this...*
*A few minutes after Aldric explained vampire transformations.*
*How ironic.*
Before he could dwell on the thought any longer—
Nia suddenly looked toward him.
"My Lord!"
"Look out!"
The little black wolf had already changed direction.
Its bright crimson eyes lit up the instant it spotted him.
Without the slightest hesitation—
it bounded toward him.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Then—
**Pounce!**
Draven instinctively stepped forward.
Both hands rose with effortless precision.
He caught the tiny wolf before it could crash into his chest.
For a brief second—
the little wolf simply stared up at him.
Its fluffy tail wagged so quickly it became a blur.
Then—
it enthusiastically began licking his face.
"Lick."
"Lick."
"Lick."
Draven blinked.
He looked down at the tiny creature resting comfortably in his arms.
Then, almost instinctively—
he slowly raised one hand.
His palm came to rest atop the wolf's small head.
"...I'm guessing you're Elenya."
Almost as though she understood him—
soft crimson mana gently wrapped around the little wolf.
Its body shimmered.
The black fur dissolved into countless particles of crimson light.
A heartbeat later—
the wolf was gone.
In its place—
a tiny baby with pale skin rested comfortably in Draven's arms.
Soft white hair framed her small face.
Bright crimson eyes sparkled with unmistakable delight.
She looked up at him.
Then giggled happily.
"Hehe..."
A faint smile appeared on Draven's face.
"...I knew it."
He lowered his face slightly.
Then—
very gently—
playfully bit one of her soft cheeks.
"*Nom.*"
Elenya froze for the briefest moment.
Then burst into delighted laughter.
"Giggle!"
"Hehehe!"
Tiny hands immediately reached upward.
Grabbing onto Draven's face with surprising determination.
She tugged lightly at his cheeks—
as though exacting her own tiny revenge.
Nia quietly watched the exchange.
The corners of her lips lifted into a gentle smile.
Above them—
the tiny bat suddenly lost its concentration.
It wobbled.
Tilted sideways.
Its wings flapped unevenly.
Then—
**Bonk.**
It lightly bumped against the top of Draven's head before tumbling into his hair.
The little blue slime resting atop his head wobbled in surprise.
The tiny bat blinked upside down.
"..."
Draven slowly lifted his eyes.
Then let out a quiet sigh.
"...Lucifer."
The tiny bat let out a soft squeak.
Its little wings fluttered weakly as Draven carefully lifted it free from his hair.
The tiny creature now hung upside down between his fingers.
"...Come here."
Soft crimson mana enveloped the bat.
Its body shimmered once more.
The delicate wings dissolved into drifting particles of light.
The tiny body shrank and shifted.
The black fur faded away.
A moment later—
a tiny baby rested comfortably in Draven's hand.
Soft white hair.
Crimson eyes.
Unlike Elenya—
Lucifer didn't laugh.
He simply stared.
Quietly.
Curiously.
Without a single sound.
Draven carefully shifted his grip, supporting both children with practiced ease.
Elenya immediately began squirming.
Her tiny hands reached toward absolutely everything within sight.
His cloak.
His hair.
His chin.
Anything she thought she could grab.
Lucifer, meanwhile, remained perfectly still.
His crimson eyes never once left Draven's face.
The room gradually fell into a comfortable silence.
Draven looked from one child to the other.
Then spoke calmly.
"...Nice to see both of you too."
A brief pause.
"...I missed you so much."
Nia's expression softened even further.
Vaelith quietly observed from nearby.
Neither woman spoke.
The peaceful scene spoke for itself.
At that moment—
something stirred beneath Draven's cloak.
A small black head slowly emerged.
The cat stretched lazily before climbing onto Draven's shoulder.
"...Meow."
Its vivid purple eyes settled upon the two babies.
Lucifer's gaze immediately shifted.
His crimson eyes widened ever so slightly.
Slowly—
he raised one tiny arm toward the cat.
His little fingers opened...
Then closed.
Reaching.
The cat stared back without moving.
Lucifer stretched a little farther.
Almost close enough.
The cat calmly lifted one paw.
**Tap.**
It gently pushed Lucifer's tiny hand away.
Lucifer blinked.
"..."
Then—
he reached again.
The cat repeated the motion.
**Tap.**
Lucifer's arm lowered.
Only for it to rise again a second later.
The cat gave what almost looked like a weary sigh.
Another gentle push.
**Tap.**
Lucifer remained completely undeterred.
His tiny arm stretched toward the cat once more.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each time—
the cat calmly batted the little hand aside with a single paw.
Never scratching.
Never using any force.
Just enough to stop him.
**Tap.**
**Tap.**
**Tap.**
Nia stared for several moments before quietly commenting,
"...He's persistent."
Vaelith gave a faint nod.
"It would seem so."
Draven silently watched the completely one-sided exchange.
The cat slowly turned its head toward him.
Then looked back at Lucifer.
Its expression almost seemed to ask for help.
Draven's lips twitched ever so slightly.
"...You're on your own."
"...Meow."
The cat flattened its ears.
Clearly dissatisfied with that answer.
Lucifer reached out once again.
This time—
instead of batting the little hand away—
the cat hesitated.
Several long seconds passed.
Then—
it slowly lowered its head.
Lucifer's tiny fingers landed squarely between its ears.
Pat.
Silence.
The cat froze.
Lucifer gently patted its head again.
His small face remained as expressionless as ever.
Yet somehow—
his crimson eyes seemed just a little brighter.
The cat stared at him for several long seconds.
Then finally let out a quiet, resigned,
"...Mrr."
It no longer pushed his hand away.
Instead—
it simply allowed the tiny boy to continue awkwardly patting its head.
Nearby—
Elenya noticed all the attention Lucifer was receiving.
She immediately began waving both arms impatiently.
"Heh!"
"Heh!"
She leaned toward the cat as well, reaching out with both tiny hands.
The cat's purple eyes slowly widened.
"...Meow?"
Its gaze drifted toward Draven once again.
This time—
there was no mistaking it.
It was unmistakably asking for rescue.
Draven looked at the cat.
Then at the two infants eagerly reaching toward it.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...Looks like you've got two problems now."