Sunlight fell on Valerius's pale face.
It did not turn him to ashes.
It merely made him look like someone imprisoned in daylight.
A magnificent yet ridiculous statue.
A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Douglas's mouth.
"It seems our Cappadocia nobleman has finally found his true calling."
He stepped out of the shadows, his tone openly teasing.
"Teaching and nurturing others. How noble."
Lupin shook his head with a wry smile.
"Stop making fun of him, Douglas."
"To be honest, I thought it was absurd at first, too."
"But Valerius's lessons really are very effective."
He looked at the werewolf students straightening their clothes and grooming themselves.
"Most of them have spent their entire lives in gutters and forests."
"They're afraid of crowds, and even more afraid of having their identities exposed."
"What Valerius teaches them isn't just table manners."
Lupin's voice grew low, tinged with emotion.
"He teaches them how to live with dignity in the sunlight, like normal people."
Douglas raised his eyebrows without commenting.
Dignity?
A vampire teaching werewolves dignity-that in itself was a brilliant piece of black humor.
Just then, Valerius noticed them.
A flicker of complicated emotion crossed his pale face.
There was resentment and fear, but above all, the numbness of having no choice but to accept reality.
He adjusted his bow tie and approached with elegant strides.
His movements were textbook-perfect, yet as stiff as a marionette's.
"Professor Holmes."
He bowed slightly, his voice as smooth as expensive silk, yet devoid of warmth.
"Welcome to an inspection of my class."
"You seem to be doing well, Teaching Assistant Valerius."
Watching his affected behavior, Douglas understood that being left to his own devices for over a month had allowed him to lower his guard somewhat again. Of course, perhaps he wanted to