After those ludicrous things happened at the school, Leo and Ophis returned home.

"I cannot believe you shouted that in front of the whole school!" Leo muttered, rubbing his forehead in disbelief as they stepped through the front door.

Ophis, completely unbothered, shrugged with a mischievous grin. "I was sooooooo happy that I forgot I am supposed to act like a normal child~" Her laughter rolled out, sweet and wild, echoing through the hallway.

"Did you see their faces? I would do it again, Leo, I really would!"

Leo shook his head, his expression tired but faintly amused. He sighed and led the way inside, watching Ophis still practically bouncing behind him.

Once inside, they both changed back into their usual clothes. Ophis had actually packed her own clothes, pulling out garments that looked expensive and almost enchanted, shimmering in the afternoon light.

Even the fabric seemed touched by magic, draping over her in a way that made her look like a character from an old myth.

Of course, Leo was not about to change in the same room as her. He grabbed his things and retreated quickly to the bathroom. Ophis, grinning, called after him, "Suit yourself! I don't mind!" But Leo ignored her.

The way she looked at him sometimes, he never knew if she was joking or about to start some prank.

He closed the bathroom door and took a deep breath. Who knew what that little monster would try next?

He had learned to expect the unexpected whenever Ophis was nearby.

He reminded himself, he needed to be ready for anything, at any moment.

No matter how small or silly the danger seemed, with Ophis around, things escalated fast.

After he finished changing and composed himself, Leo walked to the living room. Raphael and Azrael were there, sitting together with serious expressions, deep in thought.

Ophis and Leo took their seats across from them, sensing the shift in mood.

Azrael was the first to speak. "We informed the hospital that we'll be taking off for the whole week," she said. She turned to Leo, her eyes sharp. "We need to prepare for anything that might happen. If we don't train, it could become dangerous for all of us."

Leo nodded, "I was thinking the same," he replied, though a small part of him still hesitated. Was it right to drag his aunt and Azrael into all of this?

A part of him wanted to shield them, even as he knew he couldn't do it alone.

Any moment now, disaster could strike. He had barely managed to escape the dangers so far.

He sometimes wondered how much luck he had left.

Just then, Raphael reached over and squeezed his hand gently. He looked at her, surprised. She offered him a quiet, reassuring smile that calmed his nerves a little. Leo bit his lip and nodded,

"Since the school festival is happening this week, nobody's going to care about us being away. It's probably the best time to train together and try to learn something new."

Raphael smiled softly, her fingers lingering on his for a moment longer. Azrael watched the two of them with a look that was part curiosity, part frown. She nodded, then grinned. "That's why I set up something special for us," she announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The trio frowned in confusion....

Soon, Azrael gathered them up and led the way out, revealing her secret plan. She brought them to a private shooting ground.

As the group stepped inside, the air was thick with the metallic tang of gunpowder and a faint, dizzying haze.

Their noses tingled, and for a moment, it felt like they had walked straight into another world.

The underground space was lined with private lanes, each separated by reinforced glass and old-looking wooden partitions. The floor was swept clean, but there were traces of gun oil and spent shells.

"In the daytime, you can practice shooting on the upper floor open area," Azrael explained, leading them deeper into the underground section. "But at night, everything happens down here, away from prying eyes. It's quieter, and no one will bother us."

She gestured to the entire section, her tone becoming more serious. "Because of our mission, I reserved the entire underground just for us. For the next week, no one else will be allowed in here. We can use real weapons, run drills, and prepare for whatever's coming."

Leo's eyes widened as he took it all in.... He saw Azrael looking at him, waiting for a compliment, maybe even a little proud of her resourcefulness. He just shook his head, refusing to feed her ego, which had already grown plenty in a single night.

Azrael clicked her tongue.

Raphael glanced at Azrael with a wary look, then asked, "How much did all of this cost you?"

Azrael laughed nervously, sweat beading on her brow. "That's not important! What matters is that we're ready. Pick your lanes and let's start the drills." She waved them forward, already moving to gather safety gear and fresh ammunition for each of them.

First, eyewear... Then, headphones. And then… the pistol?

Leo stared at the gun resting on the bench... He glanced sideways at Azrael, a small frown creasing his brow.

Azrael grinned, lifting her chin. "The old man said he'll bring those for training tomorrow. For now, just get used to the feeling."

Leo nodded... He reached for the pistol.

"Leo… Look! It's a gun~" Ophis called, her voice bubbling with excitement.

She held her pistol with both hands, her eyes wide and sparkling with childlike wonder. In her mind, she was already the hero in a hundred movies she'd watched—she tried to copy those weird stances she'd seen, twisting her body and pointing the gun at the target as if striking a pose.

But she didn't pull the trigger... Not yet.

Leo watched her, surprised at how smoothly she moved for a beginner. "Good form," he said, moving over and patting her head softly.

Ophis giggled, completely satisfied with the praise.

Soon, the group moved into position. Azrael took charge, moving between them, making sure each person stood correctly, adjusted their grip, and followed each safety instruction.

She explained each step, "Remember, finger off the trigger until you're ready. Safety on unless you're about to fire. Don't just stand—feel your balance. You control the weapon, not the other way around."

Azrael circled back to Leo, standing behind him to correct his posture. "Hold your chin straight, focus on the centre point—" Her arms slid around him, a little too closely. She squeezed his waist, and then—without warning—grabbed his butt.

"Come on, harder!" she said, her voice low and teasing.

Leo turned his head to glare at her, "What are you doing?"

Azrael just smiled, all innocence. "It should be hard! Your muscles. That's how you stabilise, silly."

Leo rolled his eyes, but still tightened his stance. She gave him a quick slap, then nodded approvingly. "Now, spread your legs a bit more."

He hesitated, but Azrael insisted, "Come on, it's the rule."

With a resigned sigh, Leo moved his feet apart, grounding himself. Azrael's hand wrapped around his stomach, her breath warm against his ear. "Take a deep breath. Focus. Feel everything—your heart, the gun, the air in your lungs. This is the real thing." Her lips brushed near his ear, and she opened her mouth as if she might bite—

"Hey, Horny Dog!"

A sharp, commanding voice echoed from behind, making Azrael freeze. She whipped her head around and saw Raphael watching her with a dangerous glint.

"Did you say something?" Azrael asked in confusion... did she call her Horny dog?

"No, but I called you," Raphael replied coldly, nodding toward Ophis. "Go and help her first. She's struggling to keep her aim steady."

Azrael blinked, caught off guard... No, but she called her? What?

She tried to shrug it off, "She'll be fine. After all, she's a vampire—"

Click!

A loud sound came from behind. Azrael turned pale, recognising the noise for what it was—a warning. She swallowed hard and quickly nodded. "Of course. Children are the most important," she said, her words stumbling out as she hurried over to help Ophis adjust her grip.

Leo let out a sigh and glanced at Raphael, "Thank you."

Raphael shook her head gently. "Sorry. I know she's a handful, but her heart is just childish sometimes and... She just… gets carried away."

Leo couldn't help but smile a little. He looked back at the range, focusing on the tiny red dot of the target. He adjusted his grip, remembered his stance, took a breath, and held his body steady.

His finger tightened, and—

BANG!

The shot echoed through the underground range, ringing in Leo's ears even after wearing headphones. For a moment, all the world narrowed to the sight of the target and the pounding of his heart.

Leo fired the gun... the shot flew straight to the centre of the target, the crack echoing in the underground range.

Raphael raised her eyebrows, lips parting, but before she could say a word, Leo kept going. He fired again and again, each bullet snapping from the muzzle with sharp precision, his focus intense and unyielding.... The magazine emptied with a final click.

Raphael stared at him, her breath catching a little. His face was set, fierce and strangely disappointed, every line of his body taut with energy as he shot.

She found herself wondering, almost shyly, what he was thinking—why did he look like that, so wild and unsatisfied?

When the target paper rolled back, Raphael's eyes widened. The pattern of holes was surprisingly close, clustered around the centre. For a beginner, it was more than good—it was almost impressive.

Only a few stray shots wandered off to the side.

"Are you sure you're a beginner?" Raphael asked curiously.

Leo let out a small laugh, peeling off his headphones. "Believe me… I am a beginner. It's just that… I always hit my target, no matter what I'm holding." There was a little pride in his voice, almost as if he couldn't help it.

Raphael smiled, softer this time, something melting in her eyes. She hesitated, then her cheeks flared bright red. "Well then… teach me how," she whispered... barely~

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