Chapter 3: The Reign of the Past and New Challenges
The morning once again greeted Jiro's home with the soft hum of flickering lights from his gaming setup, which now resembled a starry night glowing amidst the daylight. The small room was steeped in a gentle darkness, the shadows of anime posters—Attack on Titan brimming with Titans, the valiant hunters of Demon Slayer, and the grand One Piece banner—casting a familiar ambiance over his sanctuary. His gaming setup, adorned with RGB lights that shimmered like a miniature cosmos, stood quietly in a corner, while his ergonomic chair leaned against a desk cluttered with action figures, a half-eaten bag of potato chips, and a glass of iced coffee now flecked with slowly melting ice cubes. A lo-fi anime playlist played softly from his Spotify in the background, offering a faint melody of serenity amid the chaos left by the previous night.
As the music continued, an unusual silence enveloped the room as Vespera and Lyra awoke once more. Upon opening their eyes, they discovered they were no longer in their human forms. Their former selves had returned: Vespera's sharp fangs, gleaming like daggers in the light, and Lyra's formidable claws, honed as if by battle, once again reminded them of their identities as Vampire Queen and Werewolf Queen. Their faces immediately lit up with joy, their smiles brimming with delight as they gazed at each other, their eyes sparkling as if they had reclaimed a lost piece of their souls.
"Finally! My power is back!" Vespera exclaimed, rising from the bed with a confident flourish. She extended her hands, from which a wisp of darkness emerged like smoke, drifting slowly around her like wandering spirits. "Look at this, Lyra! My strength has returned!" she added, her voice dripping with pride as she twirled around the room, her long black hair swaying with each step.
"Indeed! And mine too!" Lyra responded, leaping from the floor with the force of a lightning strike. She unleashed a powerful howl that sent a gust of wind rippling through the room, startling Jiro, who was now awake. The sound of her voice boomed like thunder against the walls, and the breeze rattled the objects around them. "I'm strong again! No more weakness!" she shouted, attempting a higher jump that left small scratches on the wooden floor, her claws leaving faint marks.
"What's happening to you two now?" Jiro muttered, his voice tinged with concern.
Yet Jiro found no joy in the sight. He knew the return of their forms would bring trouble, especially given the ongoing rivalry that flared whenever they taunted each other. "Vespera, Lyra, please calm yourselves," he said, his voice heavy with worry as he rubbed his forehead, as if trying to ward off a headache caused by the duo. "Control your powers. Don't create chaos that could damage things or hurt others! You know what happened before, and I don't want it to repeat!"
However, no hint of agreement showed on their faces. Their smiles remained fixed, their eyes alight with joy at rediscovering their true forms. "Why should we control this? This is who we truly are!" Vespera protested, crossing her arms and glaring at Jiro with haughty disdain, her head held high as if seated on a throne. "I don't need to obey your commands, mortal! I am a superior being, and you should be grateful for my presence!"
"She's right! I want to show off my strength too!" Lyra chimed in, executing another leap that left larger marks on the floor, startling Jiro further. The floor bore small craters, and the sound of her landing echoed like a thunderclap in the quiet morning.
Jiro grew anxious at their behavior, suspecting it stemmed from their past lives as queens, but he quickly reassured himself that, as their guardian, they wouldn't harm him despite their threats. "Enough with that talk! If you don't stop using your powers, I'll throw you out of this house!" he shouted angrily.
The two fell silent at once, their defiant expressions lingering, yet they reluctantly obeyed Jiro, grumbling about his overly strict nature. They ceased displaying their powers and approached him, still muttering complaints.
To prevent any further mishaps, Jiro instructed them to prepare themselves. "Alright, get ready while I prepare breakfast," he said, turning to the kitchen to whip up a simple meal—fried eggs with a dash of salt and hotdogs with a bit of ketchup in a small bowl. But when the two arrived at the table, they immediately voiced their displeasure. "What's this? I won't eat that!" Vespera snapped, shoving her plate away with indignation, her face as if insulted by the food. "The hotdog smells awful! I want fresh human blood—its sweetness is what suits me!"
"Me too! I despise cooked food! I want fresh beef, straight from the animal!" Lyra added, crossing her arms and glaring at Jiro with disdain, her claws glinting as she shouted her demand. "I am a noble being, and you should provide us with what's fitting!"
Jiro recoiled in fear at their demands, especially Vespera's request. "I can't give you that! I don't have human blood, and if I offered mine, I might die!" he exclaimed, stepping back as if ready to flee in terror. "And fresh beef? Where am I supposed to get that on the spot? I can't fulfill your whims!"
They bombarded him with protests, their voices uniting like allies, their words striking the morning's silence like lightning. "We don't eat cooked food! This is revolting to me; we deserve something befitting our status!" Vespera yelled, standing and leaning close to Jiro, her fangs flashing like a warning. "If you won't provide it, I'll find a way myself—I'll hunt someone to bite!"
"Yes, and I'll help you, Vespera!" Lyra agreed, rising and brandishing her claws like weapons, her eyes burning with resolve. "We need to stay strong, and this cooked food isn't enough for our feral power!"
Jiro's anger flared, and he forbade them from making such threats. "Hey! Don't you dare do that, or you'll get into trouble!" he shouted. "If you harm anyone, you'll be arrested and locked up!"
The two quieted down instantly. "But it's your fault too; you won't feed us properly," Vespera retorted.
"I wouldn't do that, but how are we supposed to survive if we don't eat? Find a solution, Jiro," Lyra added.
Left with no choice but to concede, Jiro relented. "Fine, fine! There's meat in the fridge," he said, rushing to the kitchen in a panic, opening the fridge to retrieve a small piece of pork and chicken. He placed it in the warmer and waited for it to heat up. "We don't have beef, so you'll have to make do with chicken and pork," he told them, their eyes watching him like predators. When he served the warm meat, they devoured it effortlessly, their teeth making loud crunching sounds as they chewed.
"This will do, but it'd be better if it were fresher," Vespera remarked.
"True, deer meat would've been nicer," Lyra wished aloud.
"Stop asking for extravagant things—we're not rich!" Jiro grumbled.
As they ate, Jiro reminded them of their situation. "You can't stay in these forms, and you can't be picky with food. Calm yourselves and return to being human," he said, his voice filled with hope as he watched them eat like beasts.
"I don't know how to become human again, and who'd want to be a weak creature?" Vespera replied.
Though they desired to change, they didn't know how, especially since they lacked memories of their past and their transformations occurred unintentionally. "How do we do that? We don't know!" Lyra complained, crossing her arms and glaring at Jiro, her claws scraping the table.
"Yes, and why should we change? You should adjust to us!" Vespera added, standing and baring her fangs as a warning, her eyes blazing. "As our guardian, you should accept us as we are and not force us to be human."
"I do accept you, no matter your form, but it's safer for all of us if you're human," Jiro countered.
The situation posed a significant challenge for Jiro, particularly since he knew he couldn't take them outside in their current state. "Then behave yourselves inside the house while I'm out working," he said, hoping they'd agree, his voice weary. But they protested immediately. "We won't stay here! We want to come with you!" Lyra shouted, leaping from her chair and approaching Jiro, her claws snagging his shirt. "Yes, we can't be left behind! Why treat us like prisoners in this house?" Vespera agreed, standing and leaning close, her fangs glinting.
Jiro gently held Vespera's cheeks, pushing her back while scolding their childish behavior. "Stop acting like spoiled brats."
He explained his predicament. "I need to work as a vendor at the market to earn money. Without income, there's no way to buy food or fresh meat for you!" he warned, his eyes serious. "So be understanding and mature. If you obey and avoid fighting, you'll help me—I can't do this alone."
He awaited their response, noting their lack of conviction. "They're so hard to convince. They can't fight while I'm gone," he thought to himself.
To keep them occupied, he devised a plan. "Alright, you can watch TV in the living room. I'll teach you how to use the appliances and what to avoid to prevent a fire," he said, leading them to the living room and showing them the TV remote. "Press the power button to turn it on, and don't open the back if your hands are wet—you might get an electric shock!" he explained, watching as they fumbled with the device.
Amazed by the people on the screen, they mistook it for magic. "Wow, they look alive! Is this magic?" Lyra asked, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched a drama scene. "No, it's technology. In our world, there's no magic—everything is human-made," Jiro clarified, chuckling at their misconception. He also gave them a PSP to play video games, teaching them Tekken. "Press X for a punch and O for a kick—try to beat the opponent!" he instructed, observing their clumsy yet eager attempts.
Relieved to see them enjoying themselves, Jiro felt optimistic. "You're doing great! Stay here and behave, okay?" he said before leaving for work at the market, leaving them with their new toys.
Hours passed, but boredom set in as they tired of gaming. "This is too slow! I want to do something else—this game's pointless!" Lyra complained, setting the PSP down and approaching the TV with a frown.
Trouble began here. Lyra selected a channel, choosing a drama series that Vespera disliked. "What's this? I hate drama! I want action—like a true queen's battle!" Vespera shouted, rising from the couch and snatching the remote from Lyra as if stealing a crown. "Give it back! I was watching first, and my choice should prevail!" Lyra retorted, reaching for the remote, her claws scraping the air.
"You can't order me around, dog! I'm superior, so my will stands!" Vespera replied, tucking the remote behind her and stepping back, her eyes challenging. "Try to take it, and you'll see my power!" she added, baring her fangs and conjuring a small darkness that scorched the carpet.
"Don't boast, chupacabra! I'm stronger!" Lyra yelled, lunging at Vespera to grab the remote, her claws catching Vespera's dress. "If you won't give it, I'll take it by force!" she threatened, shoving Vespera, but the push misfired, striking the wall and leaving a small hole that startled them both.
The conflict turned physical. Lyra leaped for the remote, moving like a wolf chasing prey, but Vespera dodged and used her magic to push Lyra back, the impact resounding with a loud thud as Lyra hit the floor. "You can't beat me, no matter what!" Vespera taunted, running off with the remote, her steps brimming with pride. "Come back, and face my true strength!" Lyra shot back, rising and unleashing a howl that generated a fierce wind, knocking Vespera down and sending the remote clattering to the floor.
Their power shattered the TV when the remote struck the screen, producing a loud crack like clashing thunder. "You broke it, dog!" Vespera screamed, standing and unleashing a surge of darkness that blasted a hole in the ceiling, showering the room with dust.
"I didn't break it—you did, chupacabra!" Lyra countered, her anger fueling a sonic scream that demolished the wall, toppling debris like a crumbling castle.
Shocked by their actions, their eyes widened with fear as they watched the destruction, but it was too late to stop. The fight sparked a fire when the debris hit electrical devices, igniting small flames that grew rapidly. "I hate fire! I'm scared!" Vespera cried, fleeing as her hands trembled at the sight. "Me too! How do we stop it? I don't know!" Lyra added, running aimlessly, her feet itching to escape but lacking direction.
The fire spread quickly, smoke choking the air, and despite their terror, they could only watch as Jiro's house was consumed by flames. The crackling of burning objects sounded like a tragic song, and the heat drew sweat from their faces as they fled to hide behind the house.
That evening, returning from the market, Jiro was stunned by the scene. A crowd surrounded his home, firefighters battling the blaze, and smoke hung like a tragic cloud. He fell to his knees, staring in disbelief at his burning memories, tears welling in his eyes. "What happened to my house?" he whispered.
Recalling Vespera and Lyra's safety, he searched frantically, his heart pounding as he called their names, finding them only behind the house, hiding under a tree, their faces smudged with dust and fear.
They emerged upon seeing Jiro, their expressions filled with guilt. "We're sorry, Jiro! We didn't mean to! We just fought!" Lyra said, bowing in apology, her claws digging into the ground. "Yes, we didn't know this would happen! Help us!" Vespera added, looking down like a chastised child, her fangs faintly visible.
As they spoke, people approached, their eyes wide with awe and fear at Vespera and Lyra's strange forms. The crowd swarmed them, voices buzzing with confusion about their vampiric and werewolf nature. "What are they?! Vampires and wolves!" one shouted, while others snapped photos, camera flashes lighting the dusk. "Be careful! They might attack!" another warned, stepping back.
"Why do they look like that? Are they monsters?"
"This is big news—let's record it and post it online!"
"This can't be—huge trouble if everyone learns about Vespera and Lyra," Jiro muttered to himself, hugging them to shield them.
Terrified, the two clung to Jiro, their hands trembling as they gripped his clothes. Overwhelmed, Jiro didn't know what to do as the crowd closed in.
Amid the chaos, a magic circle appeared above them, its light spreading like a sunrise, rendering everyone—Jiro, Vespera, and Lyra—unconscious, their bodies collapsing like lifeless dolls.
When Jiro awoke, he found himself in a strange place, the air cool and the surroundings aglow as if from another realm. Before him stood a hero, clad in a white cloak and holding a sword, their face radiating concern. "Are you alright, Jiro?" the hero asked, their voice a soothing melody that calmed his heart.