Leon got up and felt weird all over. It was as if his bones, muscles, and teeth were somewhere they shouldn't have been. He felt a weight down his chest, his hair got in his mouth, and even walking had become something foreign. Confused, he looked up at someone. His unusual outfit struck Leon's eyes: the long black woolen cloak was waving in the breeze, which was also decorated with cartrige holders at the chest. The cloak had a belt around it, around the man's waist, with small metal plates decorating it; a sheathed dagger was placed on the belt. These metals made a beautiful harmony with the flowing breeze, as if nature itself wanted to sing. It wanted to sing a song of sadness, as the man with white hair and beard was looking off into the sunset with his sorrowful, deep crimson eyes.
Leon:
"... I'm a girl... Varston... Simone is gone..." ( ┬ʌ┬ )
As weird as it is to name your "companion," it is heartbreaking to see that Leon lost Simone... In this disappointing and saddening situation, the only words that came out of Varston, while looking seriously into the sunset, were...
Varston:
"There is nothing we can do..."
Leon:
"Father, look at me..." said Leon. This was the first time Leon had called Varston father, which was also used to garner sympathy from his new family.
Varston couldn't bring himself to look at Leon; his red eyes started pointing at the ground, not even being able to face his child out of guilt, as he had guaranteed the boy—I mean, girl—that she would be just fine and wouldn't transform into anything weird. He was right, though, but becoming a girl was outside of Leon's thoughts.
The walk towards their inhabitance—their house—has never been more awkward. Varston could not help but be happy that his daughter had called him father for the first time. The thought of his child hating him pierced through his chest like a wooden spear as well. Leon went to her room without saying anything to Varston and decided to take a look in the mirror to see what she had become.
Leon:
"Ah, what am I doing? Vampires can't be seen... in... mirrors?" ಠ_ಠ
Alas, a reflection was seen of a beautiful girl with beautiful white hair and red eyes who was wearing long-sleeved black-and-blue sportswear, which seemed to be a bit oversized for her. Seeing this image, Leon was shocked.
Leon:
"Is that me?"
On the other side of the house, Varston was stoically drinking tea, though his hands couldn't hide his fear. The fear of his daughter being mad at him. The teacup he was trying to sip from was shaking uncontrollably, spilling tea all over him.
"Kaboom!" A sound of a giant explosion came from Leon's room. Shivers ran down Varston's spine, thoughts like "What happened?" "Is my daughter okay?" ran through his mind while running towards Leon's room. All it took was an instant for Varston to arrive at his daughter's room. He opened the door and...!
Leon:
"Papa~!" Leon jumped out, hugging his—her (I can't tell anymore '(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞)—father.
Leon:
"I've gotten much stronger!"
Varston's gaze widened, and his tense body loosened. It was evident the relief he had felt from seeing his daughter not only unharmed but happy, soothe his sorrowful face. It wasn't just relief; it was pure euphoria since his daughter not only called him papa happily but also hugged him for the first time.
As happy as Varston was, he realized that the effects of inhabiting another body had already started showing. The first clue was that Leon would have never called him papa (seriously, which guy does that?); at most, it would have been father, even if she was extremely happy to control herself. But the girl called him papa. The second one was much more evident: Leon, as a guy—no, as a human—would have never gotten cozy with a vampire he'd met only a week ago, even if Varston had helped him a lot. Thus, it was time to sit Leon down and have a talk.
Varston:
"Leon, it's time to have a conversation about your new body and identity as a vampire," though he could not shrug off that fatherly smile in the slightest.
Leon:
"Okay..." Leon seemed to have realized the reason; she even doubted those were truly her own actions.
Varston:
"You know how when you don't... you know... do the manly deeds.... your mind starts to get plagued with lustful thoughts, even against your will?"
It was a weird analogy, but Leon could tell what he meant. She was doubting herself, if she was still Leon, but now she understood why such a thing happened.
Leon:
"Since I'm in a new body, the structure of my brain and body has changed, right? Heck, I even emit a different type of mana."
Varston:
"That is exactly right, my daughter. You experienced something that happens when you change your body. It just so happens that that newly constructed body of yours had traits to make you want to take those actions."
Leon looked down at her hands, checking out her body. Finally realizing that she was inhabiting a new body—a body she had to get used to for the rest of her life. Now that her original body was forever gone—
Varston:
"How about you transform into your original body first?"
Leon:
"I can transform back?"
Varston:
"Of course!"
After Varston's rude interruption to my narration, his statement made all of Leon's anxiety go away as she sighed in relief.
Varston:
"Now, close your eyes and tense up your mind. Feel your other half through your magic and pull him out. It should be around the belly button area."
After doing just that, Leon saw her other self, well, not "saw," more of "feel" since she could not open her eyes, even though she could see her other self being connected with her through the belly button, just like a mother with her fetus, but not quite. While that was going on inside her head, Leon's hair started to darken and shorten. Eyes turning from bright red to bright blue. His bones changed shape, and Leon's mind started to wander and...
Leon:
"Simone... you're back...!" said Leon while crying. Ah, it is so beautiful to see a man reunite with his lifelong companion after seemingly years of not meeting one another.
Varston:
*cough cough* "Ehem... do not forget what I've told you thus far."
Leon:
"Yes, thank you."
Varston:
"Also, since I am now your father, how about I name my daughter?"
Leon realized what he had to do to make the situation feel fulfilling for his father. he focused hard and transformed back into a vampire.
Leon:
"Yes, please give me a name." Said Leon with a serious face.
Varston gave a happy smile, looked up, and started tearing up. He looked at his daughter and said:
Varston:
"From now on, my daughter, your name shall be..."
Leon looked with anticipation, waiting to hear her vampire self's new name. Her red eyes started to shine with expectations, her brain filled with speculations, her body tense with perspirations, and the word that came out of Varston's mouth was:...
Varston:
"Noel!"
Noel:
"Eh...?" ಠ_ಠ said Noel, tilting her head slightly out of confusion. Her confusion was visible to even the densest of minds.
Varston:
"Do you not like it?" said Varston with puppy dog eyes
Noel:
"Ah, umm, no, hmm... it's like Leon backward, hmm... very unique!" said Noel while stuttering, who couldn't bring herself to say that the name was awful.
Varston:
"Yay!" Varston took a sigh of relief.
Noel got up from her seat.
Noel:
"I'll take a stroll."
Varston:
"Ah, wait a moment, here," said Varston, handing Noel a bottle of water and adding, "Drink this in your human form; it's a gift from someone."
Noel:
"A gift from someone?" Noel looks at the bottle and switches to Leon, chugging the water down.
Leon:
"Is it supposed to do something?"
Varston:
"Of course, it's something that will save you a lot of trouble in the future. Your eldest sister gave me this water to give to someone as she no longer needed it."
Leon:
"My sister..." Leon was visibly curious about who his siblings were and how many they were. Would they take kindly to him after finding out about his existence? Or something else?
Varston:
"Don't worry, you have a few more siblings who might come along to meet you, but for now, continue with your stroll."
A few moments pass after Leon leaves the house. At the moment, he is Noel, running through the forest in the bright full moon, which is illuminating the forest and the clouds as Noel quickly dashes through the mountain. The beautiful scenery as Noel jumped in the sky showed a breathtaking lake surrounded by a forest and massive mountains. Her eyes shined as the moonlight reflected off of her red eyes and her white hair as if she was glowing, illuminating just as purely as the moon itself. Many different emotions were surging within Noel from the sight, though one emotion triumphed over them all—awe—the magnificent, vast, and new way of looking over the scenery simply put Noel in awe. Just how insignificant is she on this vast planet? Nevertheless, she began appreciating her surroundings and herself. The great emotion overloaded her, the sense of vastness and beauty that has graced her eyes, and the only thing she could say to describe it—or, more accurately—blurt out, was: "I wish everyone could see this."
Noel kept on thinking while admiring the scenery. However, she gets reminded of the screams of many people still lingering within her heart, pleading for help, as she watched in horror, not able to do anything. Then, a man in an unusual outfit with crimson eyes shone in the darkness of her abandoned and destroyed home. She still clearly remembers the hand extended towards Leon, brightening up her lonely and fragile life. But what even are these memories that surged within Noel, which she quickly shook off?
She sat down on a cliff to admire the scenery. After a while, she had been sitting there till the moon was no longer in her line of sight but over her head. It was then when she heard the running and clashing of swords.
Noel went to take a look what was up and saw a peculiar sight: the small catfolk were running through the forest, they were wearing light armor that reflected off the moonlight, complemented by their leather clothes and brown leather shoes while holding swords. They were chasing one of their kind, a black cat, who was wearing a black sombrero cordobés, mask, old ragged clothes, and old, torn leather shoes, topped off with a belt that had a sword attached to it. After running through the dense forest, the cat went inside a cave that had nowhere else to go. Looking with desperation, the cat turns around, unsheathes his rapier, and looks at the oncoming catfolk. The unyielding look in this small, frail, cornered cat shook the others to their very souls. It is easy to say, even to Noel's untrained eye, who was secretly following them, that this cat would start a bloodbath.
Not a moment's hesitation, the cat dashes in to fight, alerting the others. They couldn't even clash blades when a girl with illuminating white hair of the moon came in-between them.
Noel:
"Stop!" she yelled. This yell echoed throughout the area, commanding attention and a scared gaze from the catfolk, while the one pursued looked with attention but hesitation.
???:
"What is a vampire doing in this forest?!" questioned one of the pursuer cats in shock.
Indeed, vampires, even the commoner ones, are extremely powerful and pursue strong opponents. It is strange to see one in a place filled with weak creatures.
Noel looked over at the cornered cat with a commanding gaze, which couldn't even make the cat flinch. She looked over at the others with the same gaze, which scared them. They tucked tail between their legs and ran off.
Noel looked over at the pursued cat once again, gaze softening. The cat looked into her eyes for a few seconds, sensing that she was not out to harm, the cat lowered their body and expressed appreciation. Noel noticed blood dripping down the cat's fur and decided to look closer.
Noel:
"You're injured. Are you alright?" said Noel while sitting down in front of the cat, examining the wounds.
???:
"I am okay. Thank you for the help." The cat didn't raise its head, hunched over, it got up and started to wander off limping.
Noel:
"Where are you going?" said Noel while still on the ground. "You might die if you continue like this..."
???:
"I am aware, great vampire."
Noel:
"You will never accomplish anything like that, cat." Noel looked as the cat ignored her and continued walking off. She too got up and walked up to the cat, picking it up gently.
???:
"Unhand me! Where are you taking me?!" the cat yelled. As Noel was taking him towards the opposite direction.
It's clear that the cat was hiding his grief and had been through so much that words could not describe. Noel truly wanted to help him out, and to do that, she needed to find out his troubles. So...
Noel:
"I wish to see the world for it's true self, I wish to see the people smile in happiness, cry from joy and live in hope. I am weaker than most, but I still try to make the best of things every day. I am Noel. What is your name?" Noel looked at the cat with a smile so gentle it would melt anyone's heart. For a moment, the cat saw something, someone, as bright as the sun. It was as if something out of a fairy tale. The cat started to break down in tears.
William:
"I- I am W- William, William Montes," said the cat while in tears, looking up at the vampire who had saved his life.
Noel took off the mask and the hat of the cat, revealing a black-grey cat who looked like a tiger. His tears reflected the moon, while his green eyes reflected only one thing—Noel. She looked at the cat, caressing it and asking:
Noel:
"So, William, could you tell me your sorrows? I will help you as much as I can."
"I will help you as much as I can," echoed throughout the cat's mind. In a desperate, cornered, and brim situation, someone with unimaginable power, at least to the cat, told him that she would help him. It put his mind at ease, and he realized he had extended all of his energy. His eyes slowly closed against his will, and he passed out from the lack of energy.
William:
"Thank... you..." The sound under his breath was bleak, but to a vampire, it was enough to hear.
The first day of her new identity and she had already set out to save a soul. Noel held the cat a bit tighter and prepared to take him to her house. As she quickly dashed through the forest, the only thing on her mind was the cat. Truly someone caring. So, welcome, Noel.