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"Huh!!!"
This was the only sound that escaped from the people gathered around, except for Peter, Reiran, and Rias, who seemed unfazed by the sudden revelation.
"V-Velora can talk!" May exclaimed with a surprised expression as she stared at Velora, who was perched comfortably on Peter's head, gazing at Rias.
"When did that happen?" Gwen asked, her face a mixture of confusion and curiosity, a look mirrored by Liz and Mary standing beside her.
Meanwhile, Madeline and Gale were fixated on the black spider atop Peter's head, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"D-Did that spider just talk?" Madeline stammered in a stunned voice as she pointed at Velora, her finger trembling slightly.
"I-It's a spider!" Gale shrieked, clutching her mother tightly in a protective hug. Being still young, Gale's fear of spiders lingered strongly, and now, confronted with a talking black spider, her terror intensified. It seemed likely she'd be plagued by nightmares in the near future.
"Let me introduce you all to Velora, the one who granted me, Liz, Gwen, Mary, and Gwen powers." Peter announced calmly as he gently lifted Velora onto his palm, presenting her to the group.
"Humph! That's right, I am the one." Velora confirmed proudly, tilting her spider head upward in a haughty manner.
"Oh, so this beast gave you your powers." Rias remarked, eyeing Velora closely, 'She's an extraordinary spider. So, it's from her that he gained his spider abilities.' She mused silently, then continued her internal debate, 'But what about those two unknown bloodlines of his? Should I ask him now?' She pondered briefly before dismissing the idea, 'No, I shouldn't! He might be concealing them for a reason, and when the time is right, he'll share it with me and the others eventually. I trust him.'
"What?" Gale, still clinging to Madeline, overheard Peter's words and widened her eyes in astonishment. Breaking free from the embrace, she stepped closer to Peter and stood before Velora, "I want powers too! Bite me!" She demanded eagerly.
"Huh? What are you saying, Gale?" Madeline asked, gently pulling Gale back toward her.
"No! I want powers too! Sister has them! I want them too!" Gale insisted like a petulant child, struggling to free herself from her mother's grasp.
Observing her outburst, a small smile crept onto the faces of the others present.
"Hahaha, she's truly a child." Rias commented with a light chuckle.
"Hey, I am not a child!" Gale protested, her face flushing with embarrassment as she realized everyone was watching her with amused expressions.
"Gale, you're still young," Peter said gently, looking at her with a soothing tone that seemed almost hypnotic, accompanied by a charming smile, "When you grow up, maybe then we can talk about it, okay?"
"O-Okay, humph!" Gale relented, her cheeks turning red. Peter's charm was irresistible—how could she refuse him?, 'Looks like I've to talk to him when we're alone.' She thought boldly to herself.
At that moment, Velora, whose presence had briefly faded into the background due to Gale's antics, reasserted herself by speaking loudly.
"Hey, I'm still here!" Velora declared.
"Ah, we almost forgot about you~" Rias teased playfully.
"You bat!" Velora shot back, irked by Rias's teasing smirk.
"This spider is really something different!" Madeline observed with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"Yeah, she is." Mary agreed, nodding as she added, "Peter found her at the Oscorp building where we all went for that visit." Her explanation prompted nods of understanding from Madeline and Gale.
"So, you found her at Oscorp." Rias said, scrutinizing Velora with renewed interest.
"Yes, and let me remind you, bat, you're not allowed to drink my master's blood! Understood?" Velora warned sternly.
"Not understood~" Rias countered in her teasing lilt, "Look, little spider, he's my partner, and I'll drink his blood as much as I please, right, dear?" She glanced up at Peter with a sly smile.
"Yeah, you can." Peter replied casually, causing Rias to beam with satisfaction.
"Humph! Fine, if master says so!" Velora conceded reluctantly. Seeing Peter's lack of objection, she could only nod in agreement—after all, she'd follow whatever her master decreed.
"Heh, quite an interesting beast you have here." Rias remarked, clearly impressed by Velora's loyalty to Peter, "You know, I've encountered many beasts, even divine ones, but I must say, this one is truly fascinating."
"Yeah, she's special." Peter agreed, rubbing Velora's head affectionately, which made her black face flush red with enjoyment.
"So, it looks like we can finally talk with Velora now." Gwen said with a warm smile, "Hey, Velora, call me Sister Gwen." She requested hopefully, only to receive a response she hadn't anticipated.
"Humph, go away. I only have one sister, and that's Reiran." Velora declared as she leaped high and landed squarely on Reiran's head.
"Huh?" The swift turn of events left Reiran bewildered. Just moments ago, all eyes were on Velora, but her bold statement shifted the focus onto Reiran, drawing sharp, envious glances from Liz, Gwen, and Mary.
"Why her and not me?" Gwen asked, her voice tinged with hurt. She, Mary, and Liz had always adored Velora, and Gwen had assumed she'd be the first dubbed "sister," leaving Mary and Liz playfully annoyed.
"Because she's not annoying like you, Liz, and Mary." Velora retorted bluntly, causing the trio's faces to fall as if they'd lost something precious.
Seeing their dejection, the others burst into amused laughter.
"Alright, alright." Peter interjected with a grin, "Now don't break their hearts any further, Velora. At the end of the day, they all love you just as much as I do."
Hearing her master's words, Velora couldn't deny the truth. Noticing the crestfallen expressions of Liz, Mary, and Gwen, she sighed and relented, "Alright, quit being all sad and dramatic. I was just joking." She said, leaping once more to land on Gwen's head.
"Yay!" Gwen cheered, scooping Velora into her hands and rubbing her affectionately against her cheek.
"Hey, give me Velora too!" Liz demanded eagerly.
"No, me first!" Mary insisted, joining the fray.
'I take my words back. These three are really annoying!' Velora thought, her expression one of mild exasperation as she endured their enthusiastic affection.