The air in the dorm was thick with the smell of old books and the faint scent of hot chocolate simmering on the stove. Late fall had settled in, and with it came a cold that seemed to seep into Lavi's bones. He sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of textbooks and notes, but his mind felt foggy. Midterms were looming, yet he found it increasingly difficult to focus on his studies.
Lavi's eyes drifted to the window, where the gray sky threatened snow. Outside, leaves had fallen, leaving the trees bare, their skeletal branches clawing at the sky. He remembered how vibrant the campus had looked just weeks ago, but now, the world felt dull and lifeless—much like his own sense of self.
He picked up a textbook and flipped through its pages, but the words blurred together. He had spent countless nights grappling with the revelations of the tome about the vampire clans he had found in the library. Though he felt an overwhelming connection to the ancient texts, the realization that he was the "missing" prince of all vampires left him grappling with a profound sense of identity crisis.
As he stared blankly at the textbook, memories of the tome filled his mind. It had described the lineage of powerful vampire families, their intricate politics, and the tragic tale of a prince forgotten by history. Lavi's heart raced each time he considered the possibility that the prince mentioned in the book was, in fact, him. He wasn't missing; he had simply been forgotten, lost to the annals of time.
"Lavi?" Allen's voice broke through his thoughts. Lavi turned to see his roommate leaning against the doorframe, concern etched on his face. "You okay? You've been quiet."
"Yeah, just… studying," Lavi replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He set the textbook down, unwilling to admit how far from focused he truly was.
Allen walked in and plopped down on the edge of Lavi's bed, eyeing the mess of notes scattered around the room. "It doesn't look like studying. It looks like you're drowning in paper."
Lavi chuckled weakly, but the sound felt hollow. "Maybe I am."
"Want to take a break? We can grab some hot chocolate," Allen suggested, his tone light but his eyes serious.
Lavi hesitated, knowing that the more time he spent away from his books, the closer midterms loomed. But the thought of spending time with Allen felt like a lifeline. "Sure, why not?"
As they made their way to the small kitchen, Lavi felt a flicker of warmth within him. But as they poured steaming mugs of cocoa, the storm inside him swirled more violently. Allen filled the silence, discussing his study plans for the upcoming week, but Lavi's mind remained miles away.
"I'm just… worried about everything," Lavi finally admitted, his voice low.
"About midterms?" Allen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not just midterms," Lavi replied, looking down at his mug. "It's just… everything feels off. Since I found that book, I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something important about myself."
Allen's expression softened. "You've been through a lot, Lavi. It's normal to feel overwhelmed."
"Is it normal to feel like you're connected to something so much bigger than yourself?" Lavi shot back, frustration lacing his words. "What if I'm not just Lavi? What if I'm that prince? What if everything I thought I knew is a lie?"
"I can't imagine how tough that must be," Allen said softly, his gaze steady. "But you're still you. No book can change that."
Lavi wanted to believe him, but the turmoil inside him was like an unrelenting tide. "But what if that book changes everything? What if I'm connected to all those vampire clans and I don't even know it?"
"Then we figure it out together," Allen replied firmly, taking a step closer. "You're not alone in this."
Lavi appreciated Allen's reassurance, but it felt insufficient. The more he read, the more the shadows of his past loomed large over him. Each page turned only deepened his confusion.
After their brief break, they returned to their studies, but Lavi couldn't shake the feeling of dread creeping in. The pressure of midterms, combined with the gnawing sense of identity crisis, felt almost unbearable.
Days turned into a blur of study sessions and sleepless nights. Lavi found himself caught in a cycle of anxiety, trying to memorize formulas and dates while his mind wandered to darker places. The whispers of his past echoed in the corners of his mind, taunting him with half-formed memories and unresolved questions.
He often found himself staring blankly at his textbooks, his mind drifting to thoughts of the tome he had discovered—the one that spoke of vampire families and their long, tangled histories. It was both a blessing and a curse, pulling him deeper into the web of his own identity crisis. The more he read, the more he wondered if he had truly forgotten everything or if something had been deliberately hidden from him.
Winter settled in, blanketing the campus with snow and a biting cold that felt relentless. Lavi found solace in the beauty of the season, yet it only reminded him of the growing distance between his past and present.
One particularly chilly evening, Lavi found himself staring at the walls of their room, lost in thought. He glanced over at Allen, who was absorbed in his notes, jotting down ideas with fervor. The room felt warm and inviting, but Lavi couldn't shake the chill that settled deep within him.
"Hey, Allen?" Lavi called out, hesitating before continuing. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Allen replied, looking up with genuine interest.
"Do you ever think about your past? Like, before you became… well, you?" Lavi asked, choosing his words carefully.
Allen's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something—maybe nostalgia—crossing his features. "Sometimes. But I try not to dwell on it too much. What matters is who I am now."
"Right," Lavi said, nodding but feeling a pang of envy. "I wish I could just forget everything and focus on the present."
"But that's the thing, Lavi," Allen said earnestly. "You can't just forget. You have to confront it. It's part of who you are."
Lavi felt a knot form in his stomach. "What if I don't like what I find?"
"Then you change it," Allen replied with unwavering conviction. "You get to decide who you want to be, regardless of your past. Just remember, I'm here for you. You don't have to face it alone."
As the days rolled on, the shadows continued to loom over Lavi, casting doubt on his path forward. He was determined to confront his past, but the fear of discovering something that could shatter the fragile identity he had built loomed large.
The next morning, Lavi awoke with a sense of urgency. He was tired of running from the truth, tired of feeling like a stranger in his own life. The connection he felt to the clans was too strong to ignore. He had to embrace it, even if it terrified him.
After classes, he decided to return to the library, feeling a pull toward the same section he had visited before. This time, he needed to dig deeper. He needed to know who he was.
The library was quiet, the only sounds being the soft rustle of pages and the distant ticking of a clock. Lavi made his way to the folklore section, searching for anything that could shed light on the connection he felt to the vampire clans. The tome that had initially captivated him now felt like a key to understanding his identity.
He sat at a large wooden table, the book open before him, and began to sift through its contents again. The words leaped off the pages, each sentence resonating with him in a way that made his heart race. The history of the vampire clans was filled with betrayal, loyalty, and power struggles, but it was also a story of belonging—something Lavi desperately craved.
Hours passed as he immersed himself in the narratives, taking notes and piecing together the fragments of history. The more he read, the more he felt an undeniable connection to the tales of the lost prince, the heir to a legacy that had been abandoned.
"Lavi?" a voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Lenalee standing by the table, her brow furrowed in concern.
"Hey, Lenalee," he greeted, forcing a smile even as his mind whirled with thoughts.
"You've been in here for hours," she said, glancing at the scattered papers and the open tome. "Are you okay?"
"Just trying to understand some stuff," Lavi replied, gesturing to the book. "It's complicated."
"Complicated how?" Lenalee asked, taking a seat across from him.
Lavi hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "I've been reading about the vampire clans. I… I think I have a connection to them."
Lenalee's eyes widened slightly, but she remained quiet, allowing him to continue.
"I found out that there's a prince who was forgotten, and I think that might be me," Lavi said, his voice trembling with the weight of his revelation.
"Lavi…" Lenalee began, her tone gentle. "You're not just a story. You're real. You're my friend."
"But what if I'm more than that? What if I'm part of something bigger? Something I don't even understand?" Lavi's voice cracked as he spoke.
Lenalee reached out, placing a hand on his. "Whatever you are, whoever you are, you're still you. And we'll figure this out together."
For the first time in weeks, Lavi felt a sense of calm wash over him. Lenalee's words grounded him, reminding him that no matter what he discovered about his past, he wasn't alone in this journey.
The weight of his identity might be heavy, but with friends like Allen and Lenalee by his side, Lavi knew he had the strength to carry it.