Read Novel Full Chapter 355: A New Name
Chapter 355: A New Name
Back in the meeting room, Sophie glanced at the door again, tapping her finger lightly against the table.
"He’s late," Alice muttered.
Cassie crossed her arms, brows furrowed slightly. "That’s unusual."
"Maybe he fell asleep?" Lilly spoke uncertainly.
Ragnarok99 laughed when he heard this. "Sir Broken? Sleep? Impossible."
Sophie said nothing. Being one of the closest to Gabriel, she knew very well how exhausted he was, so she did not complain.
"Whatever it is," she said calmly, "it must be important."
She had no idea how right she was.
Not because of a war plan.
But because, somewhere in the guild master’s quarters, Broken Dawn’s unstoppable leader was finally taking a moment to live like a normal person.
Gabriel stayed quiet after those words.
The steam curled around the ceiling, and the luxurious bathroom suddenly felt too small.
Not because of her.
But because his mind refused to settle.
The warmth in his limbs was real. The heaviness that had been sitting on his shoulders since the Blood Tower was gone, like someone had peeled off an invisible weight he did not even realize he was carrying.
It was at this moment that Gabriel understood something clearly.
This bond was not that bad.
It was a selfish thought, but having someone who could take away all your weakness was very handy.
But still, even though the pain was somewhat pleasant, he was not entirely comfortable with it yet.
"Tch," he clicked his tongue softly, eyes still fixed on the ceiling. "Do not make a habit of doing that without warning."
The Vampire Queen’s lips curved slightly. "You should be grateful."
She leaned back, completely relaxed, crimson hair floating lazily again as if nothing had happened. "You humans are strange."
"And you vampires are shameless."
She chuckled, then her gaze settled on him, sharp and calm at the same time.
"You have an entire camp depending on you," she said quietly. "Yet you still look like you want to carry everything alone."
Gabriel did not respond immediately.
Because she was right again.
He had always been like that.
Even in his previous life.
Even back when he still had Valery.
His jaw tightened slightly at the thought, but he forced it down.
Now was not the time.
He exhaled slowly and finally turned his head to look at her properly.
The Vampire Queen met his gaze without flinching, as if daring him to say whatever was on his mind.
"Stop calling me human like you are above it," he said.
"I am above it," she replied confidently with a small smirk.
For a moment, the silence returned, but this one was not awkward.
It was calm.
A brief respite.
Sometimes, the silence was much better than any spoken word.
Gabriel rested his head back again and let the water carry him.
He could still hear the distant noises from outside, the sound of rebuilding, the movement of people trying to pretend today had not almost become a massacre.
He could smell faint smoke in the air.
And yet in here, it was quiet.
His eyelids lowered slightly.
"Do you ever rest?" the Vampire Queen asked.
"Rest is a luxury," Gabriel replied, not looking at her.
"That is a lie."
He opened his eyes again. "No. It is just reality, especially in this world."
She studied him for a moment, then tilted her head. "You are not like the other humans I have met."
"How many of them have you met?"
She smiled, slightly flustered. "Okay you caught me, I have only observed them during my time in the tower, but still you are very different."
"You are very hardworking, not many are like that including the vampires."
Gabriel did not deny it.
He simply shifted slightly in the water, then spoke as if changing the topic.
"You have been following me all day," he said.
"That is what bonded partners do."
"I am not used to it," Gabriel replied plainly.
"That is obvious."
He frowned slightly, then something else hit him.
Something that had been irritating him since earlier.
He stared at the ceiling again, then spoke in a low voice.
"I cannot keep referring to you as the Vampire Queen."
She blinked once, then smiled slowly, shyness creeping onto her face. "I do not remember."
"But you remember your special traits," Gabriel said, slightly speechless.
"That was instinctual," she countered. "It is like moving your arm around. You do not need to remember that."
After a moment of silence, she spoke in a small voice that was far more fragile than the confidence she had displayed so far. "Do you want to name me?"
"I did not say that," he said plainly.
"But you are thinking it," she replied, voice lazy. "You humans like putting labels on things. You like owning words."
Gabriel did not like how accurate that was.
He forced himself to sit up. Water rolled down his shoulders as he leaned against the edge of the pool.
"Do you want one?" he asked.
She nodded eagerly.
Gabriel thought long and hard, finding a name that was suitable for her. He did not take this lightly, as a name was very important.
He could still remember a classmate back on Earth who answered the name Moby Dick. He was constantly made fun of.
After moments of thinking, his eyes lit up as he finally thought of something.
"Your name is Seraphina."
"Seraphina?" she repeated.
Gabriel repeated it once in his head.
Seraphina.
It fit her far more than Vampire Queen.
It sounded old, Dangerous and noble.
He nodded confidently. "Yes. Seraphina."
Her eyes glowed. "It sounds nice. It fits me."
"Yes, it does."
She laughed softly. "Can you say it again?"
Gabriel’s expression remained calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"Seraphina," he repeated, reluctantly.
This time, her gaze held.
The air between them shifted slightly.
It was subtle, but Gabriel felt it.
Like the bond reacted to the name.
Like something accepted it.
Seraphina leaned closer, not touching him, but close enough that he could feel her presence in a way that had nothing to do with distance.
"You are not afraid of me, right?" she asked, as if seeking reassurance.
"I am afraid of many things. You are not one of them."
At his words, Seraphina smiled but did not say a word.
Gabriel pushed himself up from the water and stood.
"I am done resting. Get dressed as well. The others must be tired of waiting."