Supreme Vampire In Black Clover

Inside the Queen's Chamber

The flickering candlelight danced across the stone walls as the council sat in silence, digesting the Queen's final words.

"For now."

It was not an acceptance, nor a rejection—it was something more dangerous , like walking a tight rope.

Nymeria Nightveil stood, her long cloak trailing behind her like a living shadow. "I will bring him in."

The other witches exchanged glances, some intrigued, others doubtful.

Selene Thornweave adjusted the enchanted rings on her fingers, her golden eyes thoughtful. "You're certain?"

Nymeria's silver gaze met hers. "The Queen has made her decision."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Nymeria smirked. "I don't need certainty. I only need to see him for myself."

Valeria Stormrune chuckled, leaning back in her seat. "Careful, Nymeria. He might surprise you."

Nymeria said nothing. Instead, she stepped into the shadows—and vanished.

Back in the Forest

Derek's muscles coiled as the presence before him solidified.

Nymeria stepped from the darkness as if she had always been a part of it, her silver eyes locking onto his the moment she emerged.

She was close—too close.

The firelight flickered between them, casting shifting shadows across her form. She stood tall, her midnight cloak moving unnaturally, as if resisting the wind's grasp. Derek could feel it—power, subtle yet absolute.

The silence stretched between them.

Then, she spoke.

"You did well," Nymeria said, her tone unreadable. "Few could have withstood Mei's illusions. Fewer still could have done so without breaking."

Derek met her gaze, his own eyes narrowing. "And what does that mean for me?"

Nymeria tilted her head slightly. "That depends."

"On what?"

A slow, knowing smile touched her lips.

"On whether you're worth keeping alive."

Derek didn't move. Didn't blink.

Nymeria's words lingered in the air between them, weighty yet deliberate.

"On whether you're worth keeping alive."

The way she said it—so calm, so assured—sent a thrill of tension down his spine. This wasn't a threat. It was a fact.

Derek's fingers twitched, but he didn't let the reaction show. His instincts still screamed at him, urging him to run, fight, do something. But no matter how much his body wanted to react, he held himself still. He wasn't foolish enough to make the first move.

Instead, he met her silver gaze, his voice steady. "I didn't know my life was up for debate."

Nymeria tilted her head, studying him like one would a puzzle with missing pieces. "It was the moment you stepped into the Witches' Forest."

Derek exhaled slowly, calculating. "And I suppose you're the one sent to pass judgment?"

A faint smirk touched her lips. "Something like that."

She took a slow step forward. Derek felt the shift in the air, like an invisible ripple of magic radiating from her presence. It wasn't overbearing, wasn't meant to intimidate. But it was a reminder—this woman wasn't someone he could afford to underestimate.

Derek clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain grounded. "Then let's skip the games. Are you here to kill me?"

Nymeria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took another step forward, closing the distance between them ever so slightly. The firelight cast sharp shadows across her face, making her look both ethereal and dangerous.

Then, she spoke.

"If I was here to kill you," she said, voice low, almost amused, "we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Derek narrowed his eyes. "Then what do you want?"

For the first time, Nymeria's smirk faded.

Derek held her gaze, his muscles tense but controlled. Her words lingered.

"To see if the Queen was right about you."

He let the silence stretch, watching her carefully. Her posture was relaxed, confident—not defensive, not aggressive. But there was a sharpness in her silver eyes, something unreadable, as if she was weighing him against an invisible measure.

Finally, he exhaled, shifting his stance. "And what exactly does your Queen think I am?"

Nymeria's expression didn't change. "An anomaly."

Derek arched a brow. "That's vague."

A faint smirk tugged at her lips. "It's intentional."

Derek resisted the urge to scoff. He had dealt with cryptic people before, but this? This was starting to feel like a game.

"So, let me get this straight," he said, folding his arms. "You dragged me into some twisted mind trap, watched me crawl my way out, and now you're standing here, acting like this is some kind of… test?"

Nymeria tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. "It was necessary."

"Necessary for what?"

"To know if you are what we think you are."

Derek clenched his jaw. "And what is that?"

Nymeria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer, the air around her shifting subtly.

"You don't understand what you walked into, do you?" she murmured, her tone almost… curious. "The Witches' Forest is a sanctuary, yes, but it is also a domain of power not just trees and shadows. We do not tolerate unknown forces within our borders."

Derek narrowed his eyes. "Then why am I still breathing?"

A flicker of something—amusement?—crossed Nymeria's face. "Because you might be useful."

Derek let out a dry laugh. "Oh, that's comforting."

She ignored the sarcasm. "The Queen foresaw you. That alone makes you… significant."

There it was. The truth.

Derek's smirk faded. He had suspected as much—there was no way they would go through all this trouble just to test some stranger.

"Foresaw me?" he echoed, voice lower now. "What, in some grand vision?"

Nymeria's expression didn't shift, but he caught the brief hesitation before she spoke. "Something like that."

Derek's mind raced. So, this wasn't random. They had been expecting him.

That realization settled uncomfortably in his gut.

He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Great. So, what now? You keep playing riddles with me, or are you actually going to tell me what you want?"

Nymeria studied him for a moment longer before finally answering.

"We want to see what you'll become."

Derek's expression didn't shift, but inside, his thoughts churned.

"We want to see what you'll become."

That statement held weight. It wasn't just curiosity—it was expectation.

He exhaled sharply, his silver eyes narrowing. "That sounds an awful lot like you're waiting for me to turn into something."

Nymeria held his gaze, unreadable as ever. "Perhaps."

Derek let out a dry chuckle. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She didn't confirm or deny it. Instead, she studied him, as if waiting for something.

The silence stretched between them, but Derek refused to break it. If she thought he would be the first to flinch, she was in for a disappointment. He had endured far worse than mind games.

After a moment, Nymeria sighed, tilting her head slightly. "You are different from the others."

Derek arched a brow. "Others?"

Nymeria's lips twitched, but she didn't elaborate. Instead, she took a measured step back, giving him just a sliver of space. "The Queen wants you alive. That's all you need to know for now."

Derek's muscles stayed tense. "And if I don't care about what your Queen wants?"

Nymeria's smirk returned—sharp, knowing. "Then you wouldn't have made it this far."

Derek clenched his jaw. He hated that she was right.

This wasn't about whether he wanted to be involved. He already was. The moment he set foot in this forest, he became a piece on their board.

And now, he had two choices: play along, or get discarded.

Nymeria turned slightly, her cloak shifting with her movement. "Come."

Derek didn't move. "And if I say no?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "You won't."

A challenge.

Derek's fists clenched, every instinct screaming at him to resist. But resisting for the sake of it? That was just stupid.

With a low exhale, he rolled his shoulders and took a step forward.

Nymeria nodded approvingly. "Good choice."

But as they began walking, one thought still lingered in Derek's mind.

Good choice for whom?