The classroom remained unnaturally quiet after Mr. Phillip finished describing the terrifying nature of vampires.
For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at the students. Then he let out a slow, weary sigh.
The sound echoed softly in the tense silence.
"It would be best for all of you," he said gravely, "if you never encounter any of those petrifying monsters in your entire life."
His voice carried the weight of bitter experience.
"I hope," he continued, scanning the faces before him, "that you now understand how far you must stay away from them."
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The students sat frozen in their seats, as though the air itself had turned heavy.
"It is always better to stay away from them," Mr. Phillip added quietly, "if you want to save your lives."
He paused.
Then he asked a final question.
"So tell me… do you still adore them?"
Silence answered him.
The classroom was so still that it almost felt unnatural—like the eerie calm after a devastating storm has passed.
Not long ago, many of these students had spoken about vampires with fascination and excitement. Some had even joked about meeting one or marrying one.
But now…
Fear had replaced curiosity.
The horrifying images and the teacher's chilling words had settled deep inside their minds.
Every student felt goosebumps crawling across their skin.
The girls who once admired the mysterious beauty of vampires could no longer look at them the same way.
Now they only felt dread.
No one could bring themselves to answer the teacher's question.
Just then—
The sharp ringing of the school bell shattered the silence.
The period was over.
Immediately, whispers spread across the classroom.
Students began murmuring anxiously to one another.
Fearful gossip filled the air.
"I don't want to marry a vampire anymore," Helena said nervously, her voice trembling slightly.
She swallowed hard.
"I won't even think about them again."
Her throat moved as she gulped down her lingering fear.
Nearby, Laura nodded vigorously.
"I don't like vampires anymore either," she said.
Her expression was pale and serious.
"I'd rather marry the boy my parents choose for me."
Her body visibly trembling.
Several students quietly agreed.
The fascination they once felt toward vampires had completely vanished.
Now, the very thought of them made their hearts tremble.
Across the room, Rosy rolled her eyes in annoyance, clearly unimpressed by everyone's fear.
"I can't believe this," she complained dramatically. "Are you telling me I'll never get to be in a relationship with those heavenly handsome vampires?"
She clicked her tongue irritably.
"Human boys are nothing compared to their beauty."
Several students stared at her in disbelief.
Maddie sighed and shook her head.
"Our teacher frightened us a lot," she admitted quietly. "But everything he said was true."
She glanced around nervously before lowering her voice.
"We should keep a long distance from those handsome vampire demons."
Rosy scoffed.
"Whatever," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'm not afraid."
She crossed her arms confidently.
"Who do you think I am?"
The surrounding girls exchanged silent looks before one of them muttered under her breath,
"We think you're stupid."
Rosy's expression instantly darkened.
Before she could respond, a girl with soft pink hair tied into two ponytails on both sides of her head—Eilene spoke up, her voice trembling slightly.
"I love my life more than those extremely good-looking immortal vampires."
Julia nodded quickly beside her.
"Me too."
She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering again.
"I don't like them anymore. Not at all."
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed nervously.
---
Meanwhile, inside the principal's office, another conversation was taking place.
The old principal sat behind his desk, his lined face thoughtful.
"Mr. Phillip," he asked calmly, "what's the news?"
The class teacher stood across from him, adjusting his glasses.
"I frightened the students enough," Mr. Phillip replied seriously. "Now even the thought of vampires will fill them with horror."
His voice held quiet satisfaction.
"I believe they won't adore them like crazy puppets anymore."
The principal leaned back in his chair and gave a small approving nod.
"Good job."
---
Back in Class 12-A, the students were still discussing the topic.
Helena brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said firmly,
"So what if vampires are incredibly handsome and charming?"
She folded her arms.
"Our lives are more important."
Julia agreed immediately.
"Yes. I'd rather marry an ugly human being than be bitten by those ruthless vampires."
Nearby, Daisy listened silently to their conversation.
Her fingers curled slightly against the desk.
They seem really scared of those vampires… she thought.
She lowered her gaze.
Well… it's true that they are terrifying.
A chill ran down her spine.
She swallowed nervously.
Her body trembled faintly.
But then another thought surfaced in her mind—
What Mother wrote in her letters… about Vampires...
Her chest tightened.
Daisy tried to remember her mother's face.
But as always…
There was nothing.
Only emptiness.
Daisy had no real memories of her mother.
Not a single clear moment.
All she had were photographs—
In those pictures, her mother looked almost unreal.
She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with long, silky black hair that flowed down her back like midnight silk. Her skin was pale and luminous, almost glowing softly in the light. Her eyes were deep and gentle, the kind that seemed filled with endless warmth and quiet sadness.
Whenever Daisy looked at those photos, the woman's smile felt soft and comforting—like sunlight on a winter morning.
In one of the pictures, her mother was sitting on a bed, holding little Daisy in her arms.
The woman wore a light blue dress, her delicate fingers gently brushing through the child's hair while Daisy slept peacefully against her chest.
The expression in her mother's eyes was full of love.
Pure, protective love.
That photograph was Daisy's most precious possession.
Because it was the only way she could remember the woman who had given her life.
All of her memories were after the age of 10. She didn't have any memory before that.
That was the year her mother died.
But even that event was wrapped in mystery.
Daisy did not know how her mother died.
Her father had never told her.
No matter how many times she asked, he always avoided the question.
For years Daisy had tried to uncover the truth.
But every attempt ended in silence.
Her father kept many secrets from her.
And one of those secrets was the real reason he had suddenly sent her to study in Arcane Falls.
Daisy slowly lowered her eyes.
A quiet uneasiness stirred inside her heart.
Because deep down—
She had always felt that her mother's death…
Was connected to something far darker than she had ever been told.