Lira opened her eyes—and she was not in her home.
The sky was clear, tinted light blue, and the sun shone without burning. The city around her was vast, with wide streets, stone sidewalks, and tall buildings of classical architecture—every detail exaggerated, yet full of mechanical life. Towers with gigantic gears turned slowly, casting shifting shadows over the streets; copper ducts snaked between buildings, releasing small clouds of steam that quickly dissipated; elevated bridges connected structures as if the city had been woven from metal threads and smoke.
Old-fashioned cars, with bronze wheels and elegant silhouettes, glided without any visible engines, moved by pressure systems and gears. Small automatons ran along the sidewalks, carrying packages or adjusting machines that creaked and hissed. Every metallic sound seemed to compose the city's own music—nothing there was static; even reality itself felt partially driven by invisible mechanisms.
In the middle of that landscape, walking naturally, stood an impossible figure.
Her red hair fell in heavy waves, reflecting the sunlight without dazzling. The black dress, elegant and fitted, rippled like liquid shadows—every fold perfect, every movement deliberate. Golden canine fangs gleamed subtly, natural—part of her, as normal as breathing, yet impossible to ignore. One eye was a deep red, the other pure gold, both reflecting the city with absolute calm.
The vampire walked as if daylight had no power over her, and no one around seemed to notice her presence.
[SYSTEM — ENTITY DETECTED: UNKNOWN]• Name: Unknown• Class: Unknown• Level: Unknown• Passive Effect: Unknown
Lira tried to move closer, but with each step the vampire took, the wind bent, the sounds of the city softened, and even the sun seemed to retreat.
— Who are you? — Lira thought, without words. Only sensation.
The woman looked directly at her. There was no hostility—only silent recognition. The dress floated gently, her hair danced with the breeze, golden fangs appeared in a discreet smile, and her eyes conveyed power, elegance, and inevitability.
[SYSTEM — ACTIVE EFFECT DETECTED: UNKNOWN]• Lira Danel: Unknown• Permanent Effect: Unknown
The vampire slowly vanished into the city's horizon. Lira was left alone, but every detail was etched deep within her.
She woke up with her heart racing, hands trembling, breathing hard.
— I need to tell you… — she said firmly.
Vance looked up from the map, curious.— Tell us what this time?
Rodyn leaned against the wall, red eyes faintly glowing.— I hope it's not another disaster warning — he muttered.
Elyra crossed her arms, suspicious.— Another "I had a dream" kind of thing?
— No. — Lira clasped her hands, steady. — I dreamed about someone… someone incredible.
She described every detail: the red-haired vampire, loose hair, natural golden canine fangs, the elegant black dress, a presence impossible to ignore, one red eye and one gold.
Rodyn narrowed his eyes.— A vampire? And… incredible?
— Incredible, — Lira reaffirmed — not just because of her power, but because of how she existed. Natural. Confident. Impossible to confront.
Vance exhaled slowly.— Then it was just a dream… but it sounds too real.
— It wasn't just a dream, — Lira said. — It was inspiration. Everything we can be, condensed into a single figure: strength, control, intelligence, presence. Without needing to shout.
Elyra murmured, still absorbing it:— That's… terrifying and admirable at the same time.
Lira clenched her fist, restrained energy gathering in her hands.— That's what we need to feel. We can be more than just fire. More than brute force. We can be something no one ignores.
The system reacted in silence.
[SYSTEM — MOTIVATION LOG]• Event: Dream of Inspiration• Participants: Lira Danel, Elyra Stone, Vance Reed, Rodyn Greyfang• Active Buffs: Unknown• Duration: Unknown
— That's it, — Lira said firmly, looking at her friends. — We're going to be better. Stronger. More… precise. To avenge Brak.
Rodyn closed his fists, shadows instinctively aligning.— We won't let anyone forget what he meant.
Elyra nodded, metallic fist tightening.— Every step.
— So… shall we begin? — Lira asked, looking at each of them.
— Begin what? — Vance replied, half joking, half serious.
— The vengeance, — Lira said firmly. — For Brak. For us. For everyone who doubted. For everything that's coming.
The flames in Lira's hands pulsed softly, as if answering: the next step is approaching.