"Uh…" Mahiru stared at the teen, honey-browned eyes filled with shock and awe. Swallowing, the boy whispered, "…I thought his siblings didn't remember him. How did you know about him?"
Misono growled from the throne-like chair (that seemingly materialized out of thin air), "How can such a stupid kid be picked to be an Eve? Look at you, clinging onto that Vamp like a coward! You realize Tsubaki is one of the most powerful vamps there is. You'll die in the next few hours if you keep on walking the path you're on." The teen held out his arm, moving his hand in a beckoning gesture.
"Mahiru, you shall become my ward! All instruction that you and your Servamp will be taken by me!" Mahiru shook his head, tears of frustration. The teen grimaced, "…You don't have a choice. Lilly!" The vampire seemingly disappeared, appearing a few seconds later, his scythe swinging in wild abandon.
Kuro picked up Mahiru and jumped out of the way, letting out a quiet sound of alarm as the weapon grazed his hood. Placing Mahiru against the wall, he shielded the boy with his body. Lilly smiled, his mouth hid a twinge of pain.
"I really don't want to hit you, Mr. Mahiru. I prefer not to hit a child. However…we really need you to become Misono's ward."
Misono glared even harder at the child. "Whoever raised you must've been as stupid as you are. Lowlifes are so troublesome." And with that, all fear left Mahiru. Insult him, fine. It would hurt. But he would get over it.
However, one thing someone should never do is insult his mother.
His dead mother.
Mahiru emitted out a glare of his own, startling everybody else in the room. He ignored them as he kept a steady gaze at Misono.
"You're a bully." Misono flinched at the unusually poisonous words coming from the previously scared child. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me." Mahiru straightened and walked over to where Misono was sitting. "You can't separate the importance of people-everyone here is equal! We all have feelings and not one of them is wrong on its own! And my mama was NOT stupid! She was the best mama in the world! She was better than you could EVER be!" Mahiru ran back to Kuro and held out his arms. Seemingly knowing what the boy wanted, Kuro transformed back into a cat.
Cradling Kuro to his chest, Mahiru ran out of the room, not daring to look back.
….
Lilly smiled at Misono, "Are you alright, Master?" Misono just glared at his Servamp.
….
Opening another door, Mahiru gasped as he found himself in a strange courtyard; there was a fountain and a garden maze. The courtyard was filled with light from the third-floor windows that were facing the garden. Mahiru gasped at what he saw.
Children.
Children his age were staring at him in curiosity and wariness. Red eyes centered on him and Kuro, causing the poor child to grip on his cat tighter. Kuro mewed and swatted at his arm, "That's too much, kid."
"W-why are there kids? Is Mr. Misono their big brother?"
"Not quite." Mahiru let out a shriek as Lilly appeared beside him. He noticed, with relief, that the scythe was nowhere to be seen. "They're my subclass."
"You mean, you're their teacher?" Lilly laughed, "Something like that. I mean that I created these children-I turned them into vampires." Mahiru looked back at the kids, noticing their fearful expressions. He smiled and waved at them. One little girl waved back.
Lilly smile turned melancholy, "Tsubaki's servants are killing subclasses, like these children." Mahiru gasped, "They're only kids! Why would he do such a thing?!" Lily's smile turned melancholy, "Fewer enemies, little one."
"Two were killed earlier this week." Mahirus' body stiffened in fear as Misono walked out. The teen kept his face serious despite gasping for breath at the long walk. "Even a child your age has heard of chess, right?" Mahiru clutched Kuro closer.
"My uncle tries to teach me to play, but I think checkers is easier." Lily chuckled into a closed fist. Misono scowled at his Servamp, then turned back to Mahiru. "There are two forces on opposite sides of the board. The King is the leader, the other pieces the support. As the game goes on, fewer pieces remain. As long as the leader lives, you win."
His glare grew harder, "That's what Tsubaki wants; it's not a world that humankind can stand. I need your power, Mahiru. I need your Servamps' power. I know it seems like I'm doing nothing when I'm sitting on that ridiculous throne, but my body is just not as capable as a normal human."
That speech seemed to use up the last of Misonos' strength as he collapsed, the throne materializing out of nowhere thanks to Lily. The teen took a few deep breaths before asking a question, gaze still on the ground. "…What do you use your power for? You're only a child." Mahiru blinked in confusion.
"An Eve has a throne like this when they have a contract with a Servamp. Do you feel like you can handle the responsibility of being on that throne?"
Mahiru just looked confused and nervous. He began trembling as he remembered the events that happened with his friends just a day ago. Kuro began to purr and rub his head under the boys' chin, but Mahiru was in another world entirely.
Two different hands caught his own and Mahiru blinked out of his flashback. The two little girl vampires from before looked at him with pleading eyes. The long-haired girl spoke up, "Mister Misono just needs a friend." The short-haired girl opened her mouth, "You'll be his friend, right?"
Mahiru blinked and looked at the teen who was now resting his head in his hand, Lily bending over him in concern. Mahiru placed Kuro on the ground then walked over to the boy. Misono looked up, silver eyes widened as the boy walked up to him, "…I guess, you want to protect those kids, your Servamp, and everyone else." Misonos' jaw dropped as Mahiru continued, "I…I may be a kid…but I have family I need to protect. I…don't want anyone to get hurt like my mama. And…and that includes everyone, like the kids that live here." Mahiru was blushing bashfully as he continued to talk, tapping his index fingers together.
Swallowing, Mahiru looked at Misono right in the eye, his own amber eyes filled with a determined light, "I will help you Mr. Misono." The child then ran forward, wrapping his tiny arms around the teens' neck, "But I will help you as a friend."
Misono had a light blush of embarrassment as he just rested his hands on the childs' back, "F-fine, I won't call you 'servant', but you'll basically be doing what I want you to do anyway." Quiet chuckling interrupted the moment and Misono glared daggers at Lily.
"…You don't have a weapon yet?"
Misono blinked again.
…huh?