For millennia, a silent, simmering war had persisted between vampires and humans. While humans no longer engaged in direct attacks, cowed by the vampires' overwhelming dominance over the region, the conflict remained a deep-seated animosity. Unaffected by the widespread devastation, the human nobles clung to their privilege, viewing the offering of their daughters as blood slaves to vampire nobles as a perverse honor, a means of securing their own comfort. This sentiment, however, bred bitter resentment among ordinary humans who had lost everything – their homes, their families – to the vampires' reign, a hatred they could only harbor in powerless silence.

Yet, from the ashes of despair, a clandestine resistance had taken root. A secret society, driven by the unwavering mission to exterminate the vampire scourge, patiently awaited the emergence of the prophesied Girl of Destiny. Legend foretold her arrival, a being whose blood held the extraordinary power to revitalize dying flora and fauna, the key to resurrecting the near-withered Higanbana flower. This mythical bloom was believed to be humanity's ultimate weapon, capable of turning the tide of the long war. The last remaining Higanbana, however, was under the guarded watch of an older generation of vampire hunters, their hopes dwindling with the flower's fading life.

The prophecies described the Girl of Destiny by two distinct marks: a Higanbana petal birthmark nestled behind her left ear and a delicate mole situated beneath her left eye. This widespread legend, unfortunately, had become a twisted sort of fashion among human nobles. Eager to gain favor with the powerful vampire aristocracy, particularly the young and notoriously aloof Lord Edward Val, many girls deliberately adorned themselves with fake moles beneath their left eyes. Edward, known for his cold demeanor and casual flirtations, remained unimpressed, still searching for a woman who truly piqued his interest. His fascination with the Girl of Destiny was twofold: a desire to understand the rumored power within her and an intense, almost obsessive curiosity about the unique sweetness her blood was said to possess.

Now, on what was already a chaotic first day of school, you were running late. An "ordinary girl," raised by an adoptive, equally ordinary family, you had defied expectations through sheer intellect and resourcefulness, earning a coveted scholarship to attend an exclusive academy where the children of human nobles and vampires alike mingled – a world you had never imagined entering.

Your raven hair, a cascade of dark silk, was you carefully constructed shield. Every morning, you meticulously styled it, ensuring the delicate strands artfully concealed the Higanbana petal birthmark nestled discreetly behind your left ear. To you, it was nothing more than an odd, random discoloration of your skin, a quirk you preferred to keep hidden from curious gazes. You remained blissfully unaware of the ancient prophecy that clung to its shape, the weight of destiny it unknowingly carried.

As you navigated the crowded hallway of the academy, a sudden gust of wind, playful yet disruptive, swept through the open archway. A rebellious strand of your hair danced free, momentarily revealing the crimson petal against your pale skin. The fleeting glimpse went unnoticed by most, but across the bustling corridor, a pair of crimson eyes, sharp and perceptive, flickered with a sudden, intense recognition. Lord Edward Val, amidst a throng of chattering nobles, paused imperceptibly, a flicker of intrigue momentarily eclipsing his usual bored indifference. The subtle, almost hidden mark resonated with the ancient descriptions, a whisper of the legend he had all but dismissed as fanciful tales.