CHAPTER 673: [BLOOD MOON WAR] [18] DÉJA-VU

"An alliance?" Ernest narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah," I said with a nod. "An alliance between your group... and us."

That simple word—’alliance’—carried more weight than it sounded. This wasn’t just about temporary cooperation. It was my move to get closer to them... and through them, closer to Viessa. She was my ticket back—back to the present, to where everything had begun, and hopefully, where I could untangle the mess of our situation.

But of course, nothing could ever be that simple.

Now, with Amaya and Levina at my side, things were infinitely more complicated. I couldn’t just disappear and leave Levina alone. And as for Amaya... well, even though I had only just met her, something about her stirred a sense of familiarity, of trust. Maybe it was instinct.

Either way, I couldn’t abandon either of them.

Until I figured out a way forward, the safest place for them was right here—beside the people who had already proven they could defeat a Witch. These Heroes, flawed or not, were our best shot.

"You’ve seen what I can do," I said, meeting Ernest’s gaze. "It’d be a waste to throw away someone like me, don’t you think? I’m offering my strength—and in return, all I ask is that we’re treated fairly. Nothing more, nothing less. As your equals. That means Alicia and Amaya are to be treated with the same respect and decency as any of you."

I paused for a beat.

"They won’t be wearing shackles. They won’t be treated like criminals. They’re good people—good vampires. And I can promise you, they won’t hurt anyone."

Ernest raised a brow. "Two vampires helping the Resistance take down the Vampire Witch? That’s a hell of a contradiction. You seriously expect me to believe they’ll cooperate?"

Fair point. I couldn’t exactly argue that one.

I shrugged. "Their side is with me. That’s all you need to know. And I’ll be the one doing most of the fighting anyway. You don’t have to trust them. Just don’t get in their way."

Ernest’s eyes narrowed further. "Even so... what about their needs? Vampires need blood. I have no intention of offering my people up as feed for your friends."

There it was—the same prejudice, the same fear. To most people, vampires were just monsters in human skin—bloodthirsty predators that could never be trusted.

They weren’t entirely wrong. Ordinary vampires could go a long time without blood—it wasn’t vital like water or air. It was more like... a luxury. A drug, even. But Alicia, Elizabeth, and Amaya? They were different. I didn’t fully understand it yet, but something told me blood wasn’t optional for them.

And I wasn’t about to let that be an issue.

"They’ll be drinking my blood," I said without hesitation. "You don’t need to worry about anyone else."

A long silence fell over the room. Ernest looked like he was weighing every word, every implication. Eventually, he shifted his gaze toward Viessa, who’d been oddly quiet through the whole conversation.

"Let’s talk," he said to her.

Viessa gave a small nod and followed him out, leaving me alone with the other three.

I turned toward them, breaking the silence.

"Amael Falkrona. Lisandra Arvatra. Sylvia Alphonse Celesta."

As I spoke their names, Amael remained still.

But it was different for Lisandra and Sylvia.

Their eyes widened in shock.

"H–How do you know that...?" Lisandra whispered.

That reaction was all I needed. Their expressions gave me confirmation—it really was them.

"Amael," Sylvia called, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward him.

Clearly, Amael had been keeping things from them.

Big things.

There was clearly something off about him.

But at the same time... something familiar.

It was like standing in front of a mirror that didn’t quite reflect your image, but your essence. There was a strange pull between us, and I couldn’t shake it.

The dreams hadn’t lied. The strange flickers of memory. The shared aura. I hadn’t been imagining it.

He was like me.

A Vessel of Samael.

And just as the realization settled into the pit of my stomach, Amael turned his gaze to the others and spoke in a voice that was calm, maybe a little too calm.

"He’s a Vessel of Samael Morningstar. Just like me."

Even I wasn’t prepared for him to reveal it so casually.

Lisandra’s mouth fell open, eyes wide. "W–What?!"

Shock rippled through the room as both Lisandra and Sylvia looked at me.

Amaya as well but I doubted she knew who Samael Eveningstar was to begin with.

"I thought there could only be one Vessel at a time?" Sylvia asked, glancing at Amael with a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Is he... maybe not complete? Like you?"

"He’s as complete as I am," Amael said.

That made it worse.

"B–But you told us a new Vessel only appears when the last one dies!" Lisandra said, stumbling over her words. "How can two exist at the same time?"

The truth was simple.

I came from the future.

But instead of answering, I turned to Amael, curious to see what he’d say. How would he explain this paradox?

He didn’t say anything.

He just smiled.

Not a warm smile. Not a friendly one. But the kind that sent a chill running down your spine.

No... don’t tell me—

Does he know?

That I’m not from this time?

It should be impossible...

But then—

{He knows, Samael.}

Nemes’s voice slithered into my mind.

What...?

{He knows you’re from the future. He’s dangerous, Samael. You have to kill him.}

I stared at Amael.

What?

{He is with Nihil.}

The words froze me in place.

With Nihil?

That was right—Nihil existed in this time too.

I had almost forgotten with everything going on.

But was it possible...? Had Nihil sent Amael?

To spy on me?

To manipulate things from the shadows, again?

The idea made me sick to my stomach. It felt like some kind of twisted obsession. As if tampering with my memories and warping my past wasn’t enough—now he had sent someone to watch over me, track me like a pawn on a board?

{Kill him.}

Nemes again.

It sounded almost like an order.

But I clenched my fists and forced the words back.

’If you want him dead, do it yourself.’

I could almost feel her smile in the darkness of my mind. That creepy smile of hers again.

I forced myself to ignore her.

For my own sanity.

But deep down, I understood something important.

If Nemes—of all people—wanted him dead, it wasn’t just personal. It meant he was a real threat.

Because even Nemes, who didn’t care about anyone but her own goals, wanted him out of the picture for her wish to bring back Samael.

If Amael was truly affiliated with Nihil, it meant he was close.

Too close.

And dangerous.

But I couldn’t act yet.

Not without proof. Not without knowing the truth.

If he really was part of Nihil’s plans, I needed to find out—and fast.

Despite how calm he seemed, I couldn’t shake the unease I now felt around Amael. I didn’t trust him. Not even a little.

"Judging by that sharp reaction of yours," Amael said with a chuckle, "you already know what it means to be the Vessel, the role behind it, don’t you?"

"I don’t have any role," I replied, voice cold. "And I don’t give a damn about this whole Vessel thing. I’m nobody’s pawn."

Amael’s expression shifted — first surprise, then something more amused, maybe even impressed.

"I see," he said slowly. "Then tell me, Edward... what is it that you want?"

"I don’t owe you an answer," I said flatly, crossing my arms. "But for now? I just want a bit of peace with them."

A smirk tugged at the corners of Amael’s mouth. "You must be the only human in this town bold — or mad — enough to stroll around with three vampires while sitting at the center of one of Resistance headquarters."

"And you must be the only guy who should be over a hundred by now, still walking around looking like a runway model, flanked by two princesses who ought to be well into their granny years."

Lisandra’s eyes widened in disbelief, and a twitch of indignation pulled at her lips. "W–What did you just call me?!"

Even Sylvia’s usually calm demeanor cracked — her brow twitched ever so slightly.

"Am I wrong though? The Second Great Holy War happened what — sixty, seventy years ago? You two must’ve been in your twenties back then, right? Do the math. You’re ancient on the inside, admit it."

"You —!" Lisandra stepped forward, her cheeks flushing almost fuming, but Sylvia silently reached out and placed a hand on her arm, holding her back.

"We haven’t strictly lived all those years," she said calmly.

I tilted my head, curious — before Amael quickly stepped in.

"Alright, enough," he said, still smiling. "Edward, I’d appreciate it if you stopped teasing Lisandra. As sharp as she seems, she’s actually quite the delicate maiden. Much like dear Alphonse here." His grin widened as he shot a teasing glance at Sylvia.

Sylvia’s face fell a little probably hearing her male name.

Then I remembered — Sylvia’s parents had wanted a son. But fate had given them a daughter. And because of the unstable situation in Celesta at the time, they’d raised her as a boy. That’s how Sylvia became Sylvain Alphonse Celesta.

"So your real name is Alphonse, huh?" I said with a small laugh. "Your parents really went all in on this farce."

"...That’s right," she admitted quietly, gaze falling to the floor.

"I guess that’s why you go by Sylvia now? Just flipped Sylvain into Sylvia? It suits you, sure, but maybe something a little more unique would’ve done you more justice."

Honestly, it was hard not to think of Aurora’s younger sister when I heard the name Sylvia. It made me wish she had a name that was just hers.

Lisandra scowled. "Who are you, her mother or something?"

I snorted "Easy for you to say. You’ve got a perfectly feminine name. Or would you have preferred being called Lisandro?"

"W–What did you just say to me?!"

I ignored her, mostly because my eyes had drifted toward Sylvia again. She was gently twirling a few strands of her platinum-blonde hair around her finger, an almost unnoticeable smile playing on her lips — serene, soft, and oddly beautiful.

It was the first time I’d seen anything close to that expression on her.

"I like Sylvia," she said softly.

"H-Huh... okay."

I guess it made sense she liked the name. But still, I couldn’t shake the thought—where had I heard this before?

"...!"

My mind blanked.

I blinked hard, trying to focus.

Wait.

This conversation... this back-and-forth...

Hadn’t we already had something like this?

I looked toward Lisandra and Sylvia. From the way they were staring at me — Lisandra confused, Sylvia frowning just slightly — it was clear they were starting to feel the same thing.

Déjà vu.

I was certain now.

Not exactly the same conversation... but close. Too close.

There was no way it was a coincidence — I was sure of it. It was the first time I’d ever properly spoken with them, yet everything felt eerily familiar, like I was retracing a moment I’d already lived.

My eyes narrowed slightly as I stared at Sylvia.

"...Who gave you that name?" I asked her.

Sylvia shifted her gaze toward Amael, who stood quietly in the corner with that same knowing smile that had been plastered across his face this entire time.

"It’s Amael," Lisandra answered before Sylvia could. Her arms were crossed, her voice tinged with annoyance. "He just started calling her when he met us—out of nowhere."

"...I see."

I turned my eyes to Amael. He said nothing—just kept smiling like a damn fox who’d tricked the whole henhouse.

I gritted my teeth and pressed my fingers against my temple, trying to shake the discomfort crawling up my spine.

"I..." I looked back at Sylvia and Lisandra, hesitant. I wanted to say something about the strange déjà vu—the strange feeling that this conversation had already happened.

Could it be one of those visions again? Maybe a dream I had—something from Amael, as he was the Vessel before me?

That would make sense. Right? If it was a memory I inherited from him, that would explain everything. Simple, clean explanation.

Except...

"Oh. How about changing Sylvain to Sylvia then?"

That voice... that line...

That had sounded like me.

Not Amael.

What the hell?

Was that memory from Amael... or from me?

I had no idea anymore.

Still, Sylvia didn’t seem that bothered.

Neither did Lisandra.

So maybe I was just overthinking it.

The atmosphere grew awkward. Luckily, th silence broke as Ernest and Viessa returned.

Viessa strode over with a bright, beaming smile — like someone bringing good news after a funeral.

"Great news," she announced. "We’ve decided to accept you into the Resistance."

I raised an eyebrow.

"First off, I’m not joining the Resistance. Second, I’m the one who came back here to accept you. So technically—ugh!"

My words were cut short as Viessa reached out and flicked my forehead.

Hard.

"You really need to stop talking back to your elders like that," she scolded, giving me a disapproving look that didn’t match the grin on her lips.

"Elders?" I glanced at the lineup: Amael, a ’Hmph’ mode Lisandra, Sylvia, and a very annoyed Ernest. "These guys? Seriously?"

None of them screamed ’elder’ to me — unless you counted eternal good looks and a mountain of secrets as criteria.

There were only a handful of people I truly respected as elders: James Raven, for instance, or the old headmaster from Celesta. Everyone else had to earn that title — and none of the people in this room had done that yet.

Ernest caught my expression and narrowed his eyes. "What’s that look for?"

"You really want me to say it?" I asked.

"No, please don’t," Lisandra cut in quickly, like she knew whatever I had in mind would not end well for anyone involved.

"Fine," I said with a shrug, rising to my feet and rubbing my sore forehead. "Now that you’ve earned the honor of my alliance, I’ll be taking my leave. Prepare private rooms for me and the others—ugh, dammit!"

Another flick to the forehead.

Viessa again.

I glared at her.

"How about a polite ’please, big sister’?" she said sweetly, though her eyes had a dangerous glint behind them.

"...What?" I blinked at her, confused.

"Then?" She replied innocently, still smiling — but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

And just like that, something inside me twisted. That memory — her dying in my arms — flashed through my mind without warning.

"...Prepare a room for us... please."

"Good boy." Viessa beamed and skipped away, leaving four people staring at me dumbfounded.

Their mouths hung open in stunned silence.

Feeling embarrassed at my own weird reaction I quickly looked away.

"Let’s go, Amaya."

Without waiting for a response, I grabbed Amaya’s arm, fully intent on escaping before someone brought up the ’big sister’ comment.

"I want blood, Edward," she said, not budging.

"Yeah, later—"

"Now."

"Don’t climb on my back like a monkey!" I muttered as she leaned on me. "Get your blood from Alicia and after I’m done with her first..."

I grumbled the last part under my breath and made for the door, dragging Amaya along with me, blissfully ignoring the silence I left behind.