Since Amor was the last to awaken, they began the class meeting around noon. Seated in a private alcove of the dining hall specially reserved by the hotel, everyone awaited Sol's address. The lingering exhaustion traced upon the faces of Amor, Hecate, and Diana—only just recovering from the previous night's ordeals—was mirrored in the water glasses atop the table. Aurora and Urania sensed the palpable tension, and though they attempted to ease the atmosphere, their efforts proved futile. Sol cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Last night, Amor leaving the hotel without informing anyone was something most of us anticipated. What we did not expect, however, was for Amor to pursue the vampires."
In unison, Urania and Aurora gasped, "What!?"
"Wait, let him explain," Han interjected.
"Thank you, Han," Sol continued. "As I was saying, Amor left the hotel alone, without a word, and sought out the vampires. The moment he slipped out of his room, I followed. At the doorway, I ran into Hecate and Diana. They, too, suspected he would pull such a stunt. I couldn't fathom how they knew he would go after the vampires, but Hecate enlightened me."
Sol reached out, seizing Amor by the wrist and pulling him upward. "Amor was bitten by a vampire. In fact, by drinking Hecate's blood, he had already completed the transformation." Released, Amor sank back down as Sol began to pace around the table.
"At first, the thought crossed my mind that he might be colluding with them, but that was utterly absurd. Why would anyone relinquish the rank of Official Heir—one of humanity's highest honors? So, we shadowed him. It turns out he planned to eradicate the vampires entirely on his own. Yes, Amor. Have I laid it out correctly so far?"
All eyes shifted toward Amor. He rubbed his eyes with his hands, wiping his face, before leaning his forearms against the table. "Yes, Sol. You had it right up until the last part. But I'll have you know I wasn't there to defeat the vampires; I went to reverse the transformation—or, failing that, to infiltrate their ranks. It's true I hid the bite from you, because if you had unwittingly encountered one of them on the island, they might have realized a spy was amongst them. So, if you ask me, I did precisely what anyone as intelligent as I am in my position would do."
Neptune spoke up next. "Still, I must ask, Amor—when were you planning to tell us?"
"By the time you faced the vampires on the battlefield, I would have mastered my powers. With me by their side, the upper hand would have been ours."
From the far end of the table, Han weighed in. "We understand your scheme. But did Hecate know about it? If you knew, Hecate, I can understand not informing us, but if you didn't, why didn't you speak up? Or did Amor use his Cosmyth on you?"
Amor blurted out, "What!? No—"
Cutting him off, Hecate declared, "I can speak for myself, Amor. No, he did not use his power, and no, I was unaware of his plan. I didn't tell you because I feared you would kill Amor for turning into a vampire."
After a brief hush, Aurora offered, "I suggest we calm down for a moment. Aidoneus is the one we ought to consult about this, am I wrong?"
"Aurora is right," Han agreed. "We should call him for advice."
"No," Sol countered firmly. "Authority rests with me right now. I am the leader. We will keep Amor locked in a separate room, and none of you will enter."
Neptune responded, "Sol, as much as I agree with you on most matters, Aurora is right. We need to report this situation to Aidoneus."
Finally, Diana spoke up. "Under Article 23 of the Cosmo Union rulebook, the team leader may be replaced whenever necessary or by a majority vote. I'm sorry, Sol, but we must hold a vote. I believe most of us stand united on this."
Sol looked around at his seated companions in stunned anger. Quietly rising from her chair, Luna raised her hand.
"Those in favor of Sol remaining leader?"
Aside from Luna, Sol, and Neptune, no hands were raised. Raising his own hand, Amor asked,
"Those in favor of electing a new leader?"
Han, Amor, Hecate, Diana, and Aurora raised their hands. Urania abstained.
Who, then, would step up? Everyone scribbled a name on a small slip of paper and tossed it into a soup bowl. After an anxious silence, Urania drew the papers out one by one, reading them aloud.
"Luna, Han, Luna, Aurora, Luna, Han, Han, Han, Neptune."
Han emerged as the new leader—a logical choice. He was, after all, the second-in-command of Team Blue: powerful, pragmatic, and above all, bound to the rules.
"Since I am now the leader, my first directive is to contact Aidoneus," Han announced. "Inform him of the situation immediately. Amor, until this matter is resolved, you are forbidden to leave the hotel. Understood?"
In a weary murmur, Amor could only manage, "Yes..."
They established contact with Aidoneus. Though visibly exhausted, their mentor listened intently. Upon absorbing the details, Aidoneus stated that he needed to consult Bacchus, as this was a decision he could not make unilaterally.
Fifteen minutes later, Aidoneus called back. He instructed them to proceed with their vacation and noted that, owing to Amor's fresh transformation, he would need to feed for a few days—solely from Hecate and Diana. He also commended their swift management of the leadership transition and the elimination of the vampires.
Chagrined by the loss of his leadership, Sol went out for a walk the moment he finished breakfast. Despite Aidoneus's assurances, Han exercised caution and forbade Amor from stepping foot outside the hotel unaccompanied. Han and Neptune headed down to the beach to maintain their training regimen. Aurora and Urania took Diana along for some shopping, while Luna retreated to her room seeking solace.
Once more, Hecate and Amor found themselves alone. For the first time, Amor felt utterly at a loss for how to act around a girl, whereas Hecate quivered with the thrill of having him all to herself.
The two departed the hotel to see the beach on the far side of the island, picking up cold coffees from a corner market along the way. A fraught silence hung between them as they walked. Deep down, Amor longed to hold Hecate's hand, yet he dreaded her reaction. Though gifted at reading people, where Hecate was concerned, his intuition failed him. Hidden beneath her composed exterior, Hecate was waiting for him to make a move. They traded casual remarks until they reached the shore.
The beach teemed with tourists, every gazebo already claimed. Just as they moved toward the sole vacant gazebo, a little boy rushed past and snatched it ahead of them, followed closely by his family. Amor maintained his composure, though inwardly he felt like thrashing the kid.
They settled instead on a half-moon stone bench—the only remaining place to sit. Though they sat slightly apart at first, Hecate picked up on his tension and slid closer, bringing her legs alongside his. Fearing she might feel uncomfortable, Amor tentatively draped an arm over her shoulder. Hecate rested her head against his shoulder in return. Though he couldn't quite grasp why, Amor's heart began to race.
Both of their hands were trembling. Realizing this, neither could hold back a chuckle. Hecate gently swung her leg; the tension between them began to thaw. Amor pressed a tender kiss onto the crown of her head, drawing the scent of her hair deep into his lungs—a delicate blend of lavender and conditioner. In response, Hecate kissed his cheek, and Amor returned the gesture upon hers, butterflies fluttering within their chests.
Despite having been in previous relationships, Amor felt an undeniable pull unlike anything he had ever experienced. Hecate had kissed him with genuine devotion—he could sense it. Through "Emotion Spectrum," another facet of his Cosmyth, he could feel it directly; the ability granted him insight into a person's emotions whenever a close connection was formed.
They remained embraced for a while, taking in the view. Amor refrained from taking further liberties, determined not to breach her trust or cause her unease. Yet Hecate felt entirely at home beside him, as though they had been dating for years. Unable to wait any longer, she lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at Amor.
"Let's do it..." she whispered, her voice timid yet resolute.
Though initially bewildered, realization dawned on Amor as Hecate leaned closer. He met her halfway, and their lips locked. Following that brief, exploratory kiss, Amor claimed her lips once more—this time with burning passion. His hand cradled her cheek while hers rested against the nape of his neck.
When they finally broke apart after the prolonged kiss, the taste of Hecate's lip balm lingered on Amor's lips. That soft, slick sensation would remain etched in his mind forever. A singular thought occupied both their minds: So, what now?
Glancing across, they noticed the group of friends in the nearby gazebo gathering their things to leave. Rising swiftly, they claimed the covered space.
With one of Amor's arms wrapped around Hecate's shoulder and his other hand holding hers, they watched the sea. She rested her head back against his shoulder. They gazed at the scenery in quiet repose. Gold-tinged waves, illuminated by the setting sun, lapped against the shore, while a delicate breeze lulled them into tranquility. The lingering awkwardness was gone; their trembling had ceased. Hecate looked up and smiled at him. Undone by her sweet, radiant expression, Amor smiled back, leaning down to press his lips against hers once more.
They kissed with a fire fueled by passion and newly ignited love. Before long, tender kisses gave way to a deeper, intoxicating make-out session, both struggling to rein in their desires. The breaking point arrived when Hecate gently bit down on Amor's lower lip. He felt elevated above the clouds. Perhaps this was the missing piece: love. Because most of his past encounters had been fleeting one-night stands, it was a sensation he had never truly known—even as the Heir to the God of Love. Now, he had finally found it. The person he wished to build a life with was Hecate.
In that overwhelming moment, Amor lost control of both his human and vampiric faculties. He kissed his way from Hecate's lips across to her dimples, then descended toward her neck. Since the sun did not touch him, he remained fully a vampire. Opening his mouth, he grazed her warm neck with his fangs without breaking the skin. His hot breath sent a shiver through her. Exercising immense restraint, he pressed a gentle kiss to her neck and drew back.
"Hecate, I... I'm so sorry," Amor stammered. "I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop myself."
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Hecate smiled. "It's alright. I suppose it's perfectly natural for you to lose control over your vampiric side. Remember, you're my responsibility. Truthfully, I thought you were about to do something else, but..."
Amor flushed a deep crimson. "What!? No, no, absolutely not—I would never go that far without your consent!"
"What if I want you to?.."
"Ah, well, I... Could we talk about this later?"
Hecate giggled. "Sure."
As the intensity subsided, they realized how hungry they were. Just as Hecate prepared to stand, Amor caught her by the arm. "Could you wait a moment?" he asked.
Confused at first, Hecate's face flushed as the realization hit her. In a tone equal parts shy and teasing, she asked, "Is this because of me!?"
Amor bowed his head and gave a sheepish nod. Once he returned to normal, they stood up. Holding hands along the beach path, they strolled toward a nearby restaurant, sheer bliss radiating from their faces.
After a short walk, they arrived. The restaurant's private pier was arrayed with tables, and additional dining spots were set directly upon the sandy shore, where waves gently washed over the feet of seated guests. Amor had heard at the bar that this was one of the island's most beloved eateries, particularly renowned for its burgers.
They took a seat at the outermost table along the pier, where the air carried the rich scent of weathered wood and sea moss, worn down by years of tumbling waves. A waiter arrived, and they placed their orders.
Hecate opted for a beef burger with caramelized onions and ranch sauce. Amor, who was less fond of meat, chose a chicken burger accompanied by onion rings. Whenever he ordered a hamburger, onion rings were a mandatory addition—an old habit diehard. The waiter promised their meal within ten to fifteen minutes and left them to themselves.
Hecate turned to her right to watch the setting sun, while Amor found himself mesmerized by her. Though he tried not to make it obvious, whenever her focus drifted to the sun, his remained fixed on her.
He was falling deeper and deeper for this girl. From their very first day, both had sensed an undeniable attraction between them, yet each had held back from confessing, plagued by the thought, What if the other doesn't feel the same? He gazed adoringly at her hair, blowing freely in the pier's breeze and fluttering across her eyes. Her eyes—rich as a morning coffee that jolts one awake—aroused a dormant love deep within his soul. Amor felt these emotions resonate through his very essence.
Until their food arrived, they conversed about school, life, and the things they cherished. They shared far more common ground than they had anticipated. Neither enjoyed being at the academy, albeit for different reasons: Amor felt he was entirely too intelligent for the institution and gained nothing from it, whereas Hecate resented being forced there by her family and disliked being viewed merely as a weapon. Heir or not, she was human, harboring ordinary dreams—like becoming a fashion designer. Amor, meanwhile, harbored aspirations of pursuing a modeling career. Yet, under the law, such dreams were forbidden. They were bound to live as weapons in service to their government. The one thing they truly desired from life was freedom. Financially, both were well-off; if only they could live normal human lives. Freedom, they believed, was the greatest power a person could possess.
Their shared passions, naturally enough, revolved around fashion: new season releases, the latest autumn-winter coats, cats, and puzzles. Indeed, Hecate adored puzzles just as Amor did—not merely for the satisfaction of solving them, but for the struggle involved, serving as a reminder never to give up.
When their meal was served, the aroma of seared meat drifted across the pier. It was then that realization struck Amor: Would he even be able to eat? Throwing up his meal on the pier in front of onlookers would be a disaster.
Calling out to the server, he requested, "I'm terribly sorry, but something urgent has come up. Would it be possible to package these to go?"
"Of course, that's no trouble at all," the young woman replied. "Allow me to take these back; they'll be ready in just a moment. I'll have you on your way shortly."
Hecate looked back and forth between Amor and the waitress in bewilderment. Amor thanked the server and picked up their bagged meals. Once clear of the restaurant, Hecate inquired why he had done that, and Amor admitted the thought that had crossed his mind upon seeing the food. Hecate hadn't considered it.
Before long, they made their way back to the hotel. With night having fallen, Amor had fully shifted into his vampire form, his senses heightened. As they sat in the hotel's dining hall, Hecate attempted to pry open the stapled food bag. In doing so, a staple pricked her finger.
The scent of blood drove Amor wild. "Hecate, I can't resist... Please, let me drink your blood," he pleaded.
Realizing he couldn't consume normal food, Hecate replied, "If you give me the onion rings, you have a deal."
In a flash, Amor appeared at Hecate's neck, sinking his fangs deep into her warm skin.