Danmachi: Echoes of a Vampire God

Kael woke up slowly, but not because the next day had come, nor because it was time to leave, no... it was because he felt that something was missing.

It wasn't the warmth of fire or a blanket, but a different kind of warmth, soft as a whisper, vibrant as a caress, something he had gotten used to in the last few days.

He tried to search for that something—or rather... that someone. But his hands found nothing.

And then, before he could even open his eyes… he heard it.

A voice.

A melody.

Delicate, beautiful, soft—floating through the cave as if the walls had been waiting for it for centuries. The notes were clear, but with an echo that made them sound as if they came from the depths of the sea. It was a song without lyrics, a combination of melancholic and sweet tones that caressed the soul.

Kael didn't quite understand what he was hearing. His mind, still submerged in that state between sleep and wakefulness, didn't know if it was a memory or a hallucination. But something in him felt... at peace. Too much at peace.

However, slowly, something inside him began to stir. A spark of consciousness, a slight alert. And when he finally opened his eyes with effort, the melody stopped.

Almost as if the act didn't want to be seen… almost.

In front of him, sitting a short distance away on the large improvised shell they used as a bed, was Marie. Her lips were closed, but a last note still vibrated in the air like a trace that didn't want to die. Her expression, serene and attentive, seemed to be hiding something. But what caught his attention the most was her eyes.

Or rather... what he saw in them.

For a moment—just a second—he saw something strange.

Her eyes.

Marie's eyes.

He knew them well. Those green eyes that shone like gems underwater, full of light, of life, of innocence. But just before the color settled again, he could swear he saw them... red.

An intense red. Bright. Like blood under the sun.

He blinked.

And they were gone.

Only that usual green remained, pure, transparent as always.

Kael frowned, slightly confused, but quickly dismissed the thought. He had just woken up. His mind was still dazed, the blood still settling in his body.

It was probably an illusion. A reflection. Nothing more.

Still, something inside him… made him unconsciously ask.

"Marie... was there something... in your eyes?" he murmured, still half asleep.

She immediately lowered her gaze, surprised by the question. She hadn't expected him to notice. But seeing that Kael didn't seem sure...

"I-it was nothing," she whispered softly.

Kael noticed something strange in her voice. Something forced. But it was Marie. Sweet and transparent Marie. The one who had supported him through everything. The one who had saved his life more than once. The one who would never lie to him... right?

And so, he asked no more.

There was no reason to doubt her.

Kael sat up slowly, his body still sore, but noticeably better. Marie's blood continued to be more powerful than he could imagine.

She watched him in silence as he stood up, making sure he could move without pain. Kael responded with a brief smile, and then his attention shifted to the scattered objects around the cave.

"Can I…?" he asked, pointing at the curious mess.

"Kael can take whatever he wants," she answered softly. "If he needs it, it's his."

With a grateful nod, Kael began to explore Marie's improvised treasure. It was like walking through a collection of memories—pieces of rusty armor, cracked jewels, damp books, and seemingly worthless objects she had kept. Each surely had a story. But he didn't have time for stories now; he needed utility.

After a while, he took a short sword, a pair of daggers, and a small pouch to carry magic stones. Not because he needed them or planned to use them, but because he was heading to the surface, and if he wanted to go unnoticed, he had to look like a regular adventurer.

He also took a new set of clothes Marie had found for him among a pile of messy clothes, although according to her, it was a "work of art."

The outfit was mostly black, had a bit of armor in certain parts, and a dark hood at the collar. It wasn't elegant, but it was durable—and most importantly, it looked like an adventurer's attire. Perfect for moving without drawing attention.

"This is all I need," he said, finishing putting on the jacket.

Marie looked at him with a serene expression, though her fins trembled slightly.

It was time.

"Do you want Marie to take you to floor 18?" she asked. "It will be easier for Kael to climb from there…"

Kael considered the offer for a moment but shook his head.

"No… I want to collect all the magic stones I can before reaching the surface. Also, I want to see how strong I am now that I've recovered, so I'll go on foot from here."

She nodded, though her smile lost some of its brightness. Without arguing, she stood up and approached.

"Then… Marie will go with you as far as she can."

Kael packed all his things and followed Marie. She led him down a path he didn't know. The floor was mostly covered in water, but there was a small section one could walk on without getting wet. Apparently, Marie had chosen this route so he wouldn't have to wade through water.

After walking for a while, they reached a sort of wall of water. Marie didn't stop and passed through without a word. Kael hesitated a little but decided to form a thin blood barrier around himself to stay dry and jumped.

Passing through it revealed a small waterfall hidden behind much larger ones.

But what surprised Kael wasn't that—it was that they emerged into a cave seemingly connected directly to floor 25, since he could already see the stairs to floor 24 in the distance.

Kael was slightly stunned. He thought it would take hours to cross the entire Water Palace, but it turned out Marie had taken him through a shortcut that avoided the whole route.

Marie stayed by his side, swimming in the nearby water as Kael walked along the dry path, staying as close to him as the water allowed.

As they advanced, monsters began to appear—Blue Crabs, Raider Fish, and even two Aqua Serpents.

"I want to try something," he said suddenly. "I want to see how I'm doing… after drinking your blood."

Marie blinked, then stopped.

"Marie won't charm them," she said sweetly. "She will only watch."

Kael nodded.

And then, as if some invisible signal had been given, the first group of enemies appeared. Five, then eight. A swarm of Raider Fish. Before, they would've been a nuisance. Now…

He jumped forward. His speed was nearly too much for his muscles. He struck the first one precisely, his hand turned into a claw, piercing its side like butter. The second tried to escape, but Kael caught it mid-air with a blood spear. The magic stone fell to the ground with a dry sound.

Marie watched him. Not with fear. Not with surprise. With focus. With fascination. Maybe even… with pride.

Kael kept moving forward, facing all the monsters with lethal concentration. His energy flowed naturally, as if, after drinking Marie's blood, it had been waiting to be used.

It didn't take him long to defeat all the monsters. They didn't stand a chance. Then, with a simple motion of his hand, the stones scattered across the ground began to sink into the shadow beneath them, stored neatly in Kael's shadow space.

'Not bad… I guess my body did get a little stronger after almost being torn apart fighting the Moss Huge.'

It wasn't a massive leap, but it was there. And his control over his energy seemed even more fluid than before.

After a few more battles, they reached the end of floor 25. Kael stood before the stairs that would take him to floor 24.

Marie was at the edge of the water. She couldn't go any farther.

"Marie… can only go with Kael this far," she murmured.

The air grew heavier. Not from magic, but from what that moment meant.

They both fell silent.

Kael turned to look at her. She looked at him with a serene expression… but her eyes trembled. Not from tears. Not completely. But from the fragility of someone about to let go of something precious.

She didn't hug him tightly. Didn't try to stop him. She just smiled. A small smile. Calm. Or tried to be. Kael could see how her lips trembled.

So he took a step toward her, then another. Until he was right in front of her.

He hugged her.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. Then…

"I'll come back as soon as I finish what I have to do on the surface, I promise. And when I do, I'll find a way to bring you with me, no matter what. I'll make sure you see all those things I told you about when we first met."

At that moment, Marie couldn't hold it in any longer. She began to cry as she hugged him with all her strength.

She didn't want him to go, to leave her alone. But she knew she couldn't stop him—she had already tried. So she gently pulled away from him and looked up.

"...M-Marie will wait for Kael… so… K-Kael mustn't take too long…" she barely managed to say, but it was enough.

Kael gave her a small smile and stroked her head.

"Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

As they parted, Kael turned to leave.

But something stopped him.

A gentle tug on the hem of his shirt.

"K-Kael…" she whispered.

She said no more. But she didn't need to.

Her voice… had that tone. That silent wish. That shy plea.

Kael understood.

She wanted something. Something special. Something… only he could give her.

And he… knew what it was.

His face flushed slightly, and his heart began to race, but still, Kael turned to her. Marie looked at him with those big, crystal-clear eyes, now filled with a different light. Expectation. Hope. Nervousness.

Her blue skin turned a deeper shade. Her fins fluttered nervously.

Kael approached again. Then leaned toward her. Marie closed her eyes and lifted her face, like a flower seeking the sun.

He understood the gesture.

But even so, he hesitated.

He lifted a hand and gently cupped her cheek. She leaned into it affectionately, still with her eyes closed. Yielding. Trusting.

Kael smiled.

And then… he leaned in.

His lips brushed hers for just a second.

And then, without waiting, Marie lifted herself a little more and kissed him. She couldn't wait any longer.

It was a clumsy kiss, sweet, full of restrained emotion. Their lips moved without rhythm, learning, discovering.

But something changed.

After a few seconds, the kiss deepened. Became intense. Urgent. Wild.

Their mouths found each other again and again, no longer with shyness but with hunger. Their tongues met, challenged each other. A dance without control.

Kael took the lead. He dominated. And Marie… surrendered after a small struggle.

Her eyes, for a moment, opened. And Kael could swear they were no longer green.

They were hearts.

He didn't know when, but her arms were around his neck, pulling him closer. And he… slid his hands behind her waist, pressing her to him. Their bodies joined. Marie moved as if she wanted to fuse with him.

Time seemed to slow down.

Only when they were out of breath did they separate.

There was no string of saliva this time. Marie had taken it all.

She licked her lips in a way that made Kael's heart want to explode. Her gaze still burned, as if asking for more. As if begging for more. And it wasn't just her…

Kael wanted more too. Her taste… was addictive.

But…

He couldn't go on.

He shouldn't.

If he did, he knew… he wouldn't leave. He couldn't.

And he couldn't allow that.

Gently, tenderly, he pulled her away.

Marie looked at him, disappointed. Her eyes still pleading.

Her gaze… seemed to want more than just a kiss.

But Kael had already made his decision.

He raised a hand, caressed her cheek one last time, and whispered—

"Thank you… for everything. Just wait for me, I'll come back, I promise."

And then, he turned around.

He didn't look back.

Because he knew that if he did, he might never be able to leave.

And Marie, with lips still warm from the kiss, watched him go…

With a heart beating too fast to sing.

But she still wanted to do something before he left.

She took a deep breath, prepared herself, and then…

Just as he was about to place his foot on the first step…

She called out.

"KAEL…!!"

A single word.

A pure, strong cry, full of everything she had held in.

"I LOVE YOU!!"

His body froze. As if time itself had stopped.

Kael turned on his heels faster than his body should have allowed.

His face… red. Completely. His expression… a ridiculous mix of surprise, confusion, and absolute embarrassment.

But…

Marie was no longer there.

No trace of her body or her light.

Maybe she left out of embarrassment. Maybe because she couldn't bear to watch him disappear. But before leaving…

…she had dropped that bomb on him. Almost like revenge for leaving her. But he knew she hadn't done it for that.

Kael stood still for several seconds. Then, he lowered his head a little.

'It's… the first time she said it to me…'

And after a deep sigh, he murmured with a crooked but unmistakably happy smile:

"…Damn it…"

And then, he took the first step.

Climbed the stairs that would lead him to floor 24.

Without looking back.

But knowing that now, more than ever, there was something… or someone… waiting for him below.

And that made everything a lot more complicated. Because not even a second had passed since the start of his journey to the surface…

and he already wanted to go back to her.