Azure fire unfurled once Nevra finished his report. The other men blinked while Miiko took a breath.

"You couldn't get the spear back? At all?"

Leiftan placed his hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. They did what they could. Rather than focus on what should have been, we need to turn attention to what we can do now," he said. "There's still the two other weapons."

"I suppose so. Kero, how is the research going?"

"The location of Excalibur is in...um, a place called the 'Sanctuary of Artemis.' It's" —the bespectacled man pulled out a map and pointed at a certain part— "right here."

"That's a lake," Ezarel said.

"I was getting to that. It appears to be isolated on an island, but that's an illusion. The actual sanctuary is underwater. There's a way to get there, but the cryptic phrasing is...confusing."

"Have you made any progress on it?" Valkyon crossed his arms.

"Prydwen. An offering is necessary to take the boat. But what the offering is...I'm unsure. Then there's the fact the sanctuary also moves, but the position depends on the phase of the moon."

"Thank you, Kero. Keep working on it. Ezarel and Valkyon, you are to head toward this sanctuary once we get more information. Nevra-"

"Ah, wait. There's...one more thing."

Keroshane cleared his throat met Miiko's gaze. "The texts also mentioned Excalibur's scabbard. Its location is separated from the sword. If...the enemy appears again, and a choice needs to be made..."

"You're implying we might be only able to get one?"

"They might already be there. We don't need to repeat the same mistakes," Leiftan said. "So, Kero, does the scabbard actually follow its legends or...?"

"Well..."

Meanwhile, Klein grimaced at both her hands. Misery loves company, right? A sigh escaped her as she lay back onto the bed. Three days since they returned, yet recovery had no intention to speed up. She tried to move her thumb in a futile effort. Nothing.

"Hey, don't look so down. My brother is going to complain when he comes back," Karenn said.

The vampire shifted in her chair and made a funny face. Klein gave the girl a perplexed look, and Karenn pouted.

"You know, I'm glad both of you returned. If Nev returned without you or you returned without him..."

"Don't think of such things since it didn't happen."

Karenn turned around and smiled as her brother entered the bedroom. Klein yawned and turned onto her side while the siblings chatted. Irritation bubbled, boiled in fact. Eyes closed in an attempt to drown out the familial happiness and companionship before her. How many seconds passed? Her mind was half-asleep when the door shut. Something combed through Klein's hair.

"She's gone," Nevra said as he played with strands of gold.

"She's eavesdropping, you know."

The vampire frowned and began to walk toward the door, but he caught the sound of fleeing footsteps.

"There. So, how are you feeling?"

Klein remained quiet as she moved into a sitting position; Nevra propped up the pillow in response. Her eyes wandered toward both her hands again.

"What did Eweleïn say?"

No response.

"...Klein, it's not good to keep things bottled up," he said.

"Hold out your hands, Dracula."

The woman watched as he did so, then she placed her hands on top. Fingertips curled while both hands shook. Klein slowed her breathing as her arms started to ache.

"Um..."

"I'm trying my hardest, you know? I can't even move my left thumb, but this is just insulting." Klein's arms fell to her side. "Eweleïn managed to stop it from spreading, but that's it. I have to return later as she tries to solve the issue. I can't even hold a cup for several seconds."

She tried to clench the blanket; the fabric did not budge.

"Your bow?"

Klein shook her head. Not once her eyes met his. Thoughts, such disgusting feelings, seeped through her mind. Weakness? Dreadful. Uselessness. What was the point? Why not waste away in the cruel world? The family who laughed and collected seashells by the seashore was no more. Futility and weakness and dread and uselessness and–

She flinched as a warm embrace chased away those feelings. A softened tone was whispered into her ears. That familiar, spicy cologne wafted.

"What sort of thoughts are you having? To make such a painful expression in front of me no less..."

"Things that require tears, but I can't shed any tears now," Klein said. "What good is crying?"

"Ah, but didn't I say to not bottle things up?"

While words sticked in her throat, she felt his breath against her neck. The vampire leaned closer; his hand lay on top of hers while fangs brushed against skin. So many times the experience stayed the same. Was it out of instinct that both could hear her heartbeat's pounding? Then, after a moment's hesitation, Klein found herself on her back while Nevra nuzzled into her neck. She wrapped her arms around him, and he kept most of his weight off of her.

"You don't tend to play with stuff like that," the woman said.

He said, "I'm a gentleman. Why would I bite my lady when she's at her weakest?"

"But Dracula, that's the best time to eat a meal."

"Pfft...You doubt my self-control? When will this neglect end?"

"Someday. Just not today," Klein said.

Their positions shifted, and the bed creaked. She found herself pressed against him as Nevra held her close. The warmth proved almost too relaxing as she started to doze.

"You'll be gone when I wake up?"

"Of course not, silly. Of course not."