Erin had woken up that morning to a notification indicating she gained 5 EXP from staying out of sunlight.

[5/100 EXP]

Ever since she had reached level 10, the EXP requirements had reset back to when she first got the system. It was pleasant news, making Erin a little happy. Not happy enough to smile, but happy enough to be in a good mood.

However, Erin’s good mood didn’t last long as she was heading to class with Layla, and stepped right outside the dormitory building. It was then that Erin realized that there was a nice shining bright sun outside.

"Is something the matter?" Layla asked, noticing Erin suddenly stopped.

Thankfully, Erin was still in the shade, but there was no way she could find a way to class without stepping into the sun.

’System, be honest with me. How much will this hurt?’

"Why not step into the sun and see for yourself?" The system said.

Erin frowned upon hearing the AI’s words. For something that was meant to answer questions about how the system worked, it acted more like an annoying uncle than anything.

Determined to not let it bother her, Erin stepped out of the shade and into the sun itself. Immediately, she stumbled a little feeling the effects. She was quickly able to stand upright, but not before Layla came over to help.

[You are being hit by direct sunlight]

[All stats will be reduced by 70 percent]

Erin swore under her breath as her face contorted into that of pure unbridled rage.

"Are you okay? Is this because of your... condition?" Layla said, now slightly fearful of Erin’s visible anger.

{Erin} I don’t care how I’m going to do it. I’m going to give you a body just so I can shove as many sharp objects into every hole possible, and just when you think you’ll die from the pain, I’ll put you into a new body and do it. All. Again.

{Quinn} WHAT DID I DO?!

{Erin} That message was meant for the system AI.

{Erin} I needed to make sure it heard me loud and clear.

"...See, this is why I didn’t want to tell you sooner because I knew you were going to act this way," The system quietly spoke.

’Just when I max out all of my stats, I’m back at a 6 in everything,’ Erin thought.

"If I’m going to be honest, I never really had this problem before. Back then, we had plenty of items that stopped the sun from affecting us. If you had access to the shop then you could see a ring that would’ve been given to the weakest of our men."

’So you’re being talkative now that I’m threatening you. Maybe I should make through on them,’ Erin angrily thought back, ’You might actually give me some ANSWERS!’

While Erin was making threats to a voice in her head, Layla took out a pitch black umbrella, and hung it over her friend’s head. Ever since their tests back at the gym, Layla took it upon herself to keep the umbrella on hand at all times for times like this.

[All stats have returned to normal]

Erin let out a sigh of relief, and quietly whispered, "...Thank you."

Layla smiled with a chuckle, "Well, what kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t do this? It’s the least I can do for you."

She wanted to make it up to Erin for failing to get her help back on the red portal planet. However, she was surprised when Erin moved in closer under the umbrella, and subsequently got closer to Layla herself.

Getting a little flustered by the closeness, Layla handed the umbrella to Erin.

"Here, you can have it since you need it more than me," She quickly said, a slight blush on her face.

Erin took the umbrella, and the two continued walking.

"Look, I can see you’re... angry," The system said, "How about this?"

It then opened up Erin’s shadow skills tab, showing that out of the 10 skills, 2 had been unlocked, but 8 were still greyed out.

"All you want to do is be able to fight in the sun, right? You see this skill named Shadow Void? I would recommend you unlock it next. It only costs a total of twenty skill points, and you’re already halfway there! The skill allows you to create your own space of shadows, blocking not only the sun, but outside viewers as well."

Erin quietly hummed. Sometimes the system was helpful.

As the two arrived to class, about to take their seats, several people began chatting away.

"I saw those two walking here under an umbrella. Are they a couple?"

"Forget that! Wasn’t she one of the missing students? They really did come back!"

"I heard they got pushed in by a second year."

"Why would anyone push her in? I’d rather jump off a cliff than push a beauty like her."

"God, I hope the ice queen is into boys. She’s gorgeous and a level 5! That’s basically the whole package."

"So what if she likes girls? I bet I could change her mind. I’m stronger than that level 2 chick."

"Even though she froze me last time, I bet that if I confess to her again, she’ll have to give me a chance."

"What about that boy who also came back? If he wasn’t a level 1, I would’ve tried dating him by now."

"Shh! Don’t let her hear you!"

Erin quietly groaned hearing all of these boys make comments about herself. With her becoming a vampire, her sense of hearing had greatly improved, as well as her appearance, meaning that more and more people had now ’fallen in love’ with her.

It was annoying with how they wasted her time over confessing their feelings for her, even though they barely knew each other at all. With the way they spoke, they treated her less like a person, and more like a prize to be won.

She knew her appearance garnered a lot of attention, and while Erin actually didn’t mind being pretty, she didn’t like how others acted because of her looks. Boys would obsess over trying to win her over, trying their hand at winning a "pretty partner," but they would never truly be there for her in return.

If it ever came down to it in a deadly situation, they would rather leave her to the wolves than risk their life for someone they ’loved’.

Erin took a seat next to Layla near the front, and soon enough Peter and Quinn entered the room.

’Erin hasn’t noticed us yet,’ Quinn thought, hiding Peter behind his body.

However, Erin felt a familiar presence as her system companion arrived to class. Instinctively, she glared in Quinn’s direction, meeting Peter’s eyes. The shorter boy’s whole body shriveled up.

’Why did I have to jinx myself?’ Quinn sighed.