I had known about both of my sisters having hidden bloodlines, but they were not supposed to awaken them together. Unlike Clara, whose bloodline, though rare, has methods to awaken, it's different for others as we have no idea what bloodline the person might awaken.
Being a house of long history, there might be several bloodlines that we could awaken, some might even require a certain condition. In the game, Nora would awaken their family's commander bloodline, where she would have special abilities that will cause fear on a battlefield, plus she would also awaken their special sword moves too.
But it wasn't all that easy to awaken it, as she had to get special permission and an item from the historic world.
"What are historic worlds, you ask?"
"Some extremely powerful people might not be able to pass on their legacy, hence they make a certain subspace that can be entered. The person would have to pass the test designed, and he would be able to earn that person's power. There might be countless historical worlds spread around the world, especially after the great war 1000s of years ago. If you are lucky and stumble into it and gain the owner's recognition, you might go from a small chicken to a Phoenix. For the Ezraeil empire, they themselves own a historic world, where a person can enter once."
"In the game, didn't Nora's mother almost sacrifice herself to gain recognition?"
If my memory was right, then in the game, Nora's mother had to sacrifice her power to let Nora gain recognition, as Nora was unable to move. Entering inside, I came towards Nora, lying on the bed. She had changed a lot within these three years. Her face, which looked cute, was slowly changing into a beauty.
I could see that she was in pain. Her eyes were deeply closed, and she kept wriggling on the bed. Then I looked towards Elda. She had grown up a bit over the years too, losing a bit of her chubby cheeks, becoming to look cuter. Right now, she was lying on the bed, her silver hair spread on the bed, looking just like a sleeping fairy.
According to my memories, Elda had seemed to awaken a special bloodline relating to fairies itself, causing her to be extremely good at elemental control. In the game, the "protagonist" had to help her survive the bloodline while fighting in the historical world. It's how you earn both Nora's and Elda's love. But Elda only had awakened her bloodline at 15 years of age.
"Did my actions cause a change?"
I couldn't help but think that this was my fault, but it was no problem. Mom will just have to sacrifice herself more. But suddenly thinking of a pale-faced and hurt Grace, my heart contracts. My heart started to beat fast, and pain seemed to cover me.
"What's going on?"
"Why do I feel sad?"
Then I look towards both the girls lying on the bed who seemed to be in pain, and then memories start to flow inside me. The memories of a blonde-haired elder sister who was acting tough on the outside but was gentle on the inside, her smug face and her childish expression seemed to flow before me.
Suddenly a small silver-haired girl entered my mind, the girl who always stuck to me, the one who had just desired warmth in her life, all of it just seemed to flow through my mind.
'Ha...Hahaa...Haaaa'
I laugh, I laugh out loudly in my head. Of course, how could I be so stupid? While I was earning their affection, they were earning mine too.
Unknowingly I had come to accept this family of mine, and they had come to earn a position in my heart. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Suddenly, my hand was held. I opened my eyes and looked towards my mother; she still had her gentle smile.
"Don't worry, little Austy, your mother is here, nothing will happen to them."
But the trembling of her eyes and the look of fear were not easy to be hidden from me. Going closer, I gave her a hug. Right now I could only reach up to her breast, but still, I conveyed my feelings to her. She had responded by hugging me tighter, perhaps looking for support. Leaving the hug, I looked towards my sleeping sisters, and slowly determination started to flow within me.
"Nora, Elda, no matter what happens, I will protect you, no matter the cost."
After I took my oath, I suddenly felt my blood boil as if something that was hidden was awakening.
[Ding.....!]
[ During times of difficulty, you still choose to accept your true self and choose to move according to your justice.
•The bloodline laying dormant within you responds to your actions, they urge you to move forward and fulfill your desire.]
[Special quest activated:
Bloodline: The Hidden Hero
Difficulty: SSS
Description: Heroes aren't born but they are made, you choose to step up to save your family has been felt by your bloodline, so follow your will to the end.
•Help and save your sisters in awakening their bloodline
Reward: The awakening of your hidden bloodline.]
Reading through the information, I was dumbfounded. I knew that helping my sister was difficult, but difficulty SSS? Do you guys think I am going to war or something? But the awakening of my bloodline is indeed something I require. Over the three years, I had tried countless ways to awaken it but with no luck. Even the system's awakening serum's price was over the top.
Even when Richard thought of me cooking and left, all he gave me was a badge which had the picture of a trident and the sea. The only thing I could understand from it was that it belonged to the sea tribe.
All things considered, the awakening of my bloodline is indeed a huge plus, but it seems that it won't be easy. I take a look into my system's shop function.
'Looks like I need to start spending a lot of points.'
It was at this time three girls whom I had left in my room arrived. Entering the room, they quickly found out about the situation. Knowing what was happening, they quickly moved to comfort me. They had a good impression of my sisters as they didn't put up any arrogant faces.
"Mom, why don't we use the teleportation room to travel to the palace? The people there might know more about the bloodline awakening."
"I already contacted your uncle; they are prepping the transportation. We will leave in 5 minutes."
After that, we moved my sisters to a stretcher-like bed and were brought to the teleportation room. I let the girls stay back. Standing in the teleportation circle, after a few seconds, it started to light up. So I had to close my eyes. When I opened them again, we were in a much larger room.
Several mages were standing around us as we had landed. Several of the people who were on standby quickly started to move, checking upon Nora and Elda.
Currently, within the Ezraeil palace, the Emperor, Empress, Grace, several people, and I were gathered in a room.
"Can you tell us about the situation, Grandpa Bruce?" The Emperor spoke respectfully to an old man at his side. The old man had white hair, green eyes, and a white beard. The ravages of time had left a few wrinkles on his face. Bruce Ezraeil, is the grandfather of my mother and the Emperor, which means he's my great-grandpa. Oh, one more thing, he's an imperial.
"This is incredible, to think both the girls would awaken their bloodline, one leading to great military might and the other leading to elemental strength."
"This generation of kids is amazing."
Bruce sighed with both happiness and regret. Happiness because of their talent, and regret because they might not live up to it. Looking at Grace, his granddaughter who had gone through a lot, he hesitated if he should speak, but in the end, decided to be truthful.
"Grace, for them to fully awaken, they must go through the trial of our historic world. But with their current situation, there's a 0% chance of them succeeding."
The words Bruce spoke brought the room to silence. Even the usually cold-faced Empress frowned, and Grace paled completely, almost falling to the ground.
But I was there, and I caught her, giving her support. After that, I spoke.
"Can't they choose not to awaken it?"
"No, if they choose not to, then they would be crippling themselves."
Bruce then sighed, and he looked towards the boy holding his mother. He still couldn't believe that the timid boy from before had completely changed. He always had the nagging feeling that something was up with this boy, but he never felt any threat from him, so he let him be.
"Is there any other method?"
It was the Emperor who spoke this time. Bruce hesitated a bit, but he still spoke.
"There is a method, but the price to pay for it won't be small."
He then spoke about a method of using Grace's life force to support the bloodline, to which I instantly exploded and refused.
"No, no way would I agree to it. If you want, you can use my life force, not mom's."
My determined words caused a wave of surprise among the people gathered, who instantly gave off some affection points. When I was about to argue more, Grace placed her hands on me.
"No need, Austin. Mother will do it. You don't have to worry about it. I can't have anyone leaving me again."
Angry, I pushed her and left the room. Once I made sure I was far away, my angry expression faded away, and only calmness remained.
'Looks like I will have to use that method.'
There was a simpler method to solve this, which was to have a single person carry Nora and Elda and take the test for them. The historical world that the Ezraeil Empire possessed contained the powers of all the past bloodline holders.
It contains their treasure, weapons, and inheritance. But the problem is that a person is only allowed to enter it once, and the others have already done it. Plus, the historical world was "real" in a sense. It means that if you die in it, you die, even if you are an imperial. The test would automatically adjust to your strength. So taking Nora and Elda along with you, you'd have to do the test for three people, which is a death sentence. Who would jump into something when the end is death?
Controlling myself, I moved towards the room containing my sisters. Entering, several maids were doing their best to look after them. There was also Olivia sitting, looking worried. She, too, had changed. Not only did she become more beautiful, but the whole aura around her had changed, giving out a strong, confident woman.
After entering, I spoke.
"All the servants within the room have to leave. I need to speak privately to Her Highness Olivia."
After I spoke, all the people in the room moved out.
"What is it, Austin?"
"Before I speak, could we move to a more private space?"
Saying so, I pointed to a room connecting to the current one we were in. She looked at me for a bit but nodded in the end. Entering the room, I spoke.
"Olivia, remember what you said three years ago, that you owe me?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then I need you to pay it back to me today."
"What do you want?"
She asked me back, her eyes scrunched.
"I want you to secretly get me and my sisters inside the historic world."
"What!! Are you crazy?"
Being a smart person, Olivia instantly understood my intentions, which she strictly disagreed with.
"No, no way. You would die."
"I am not as weak as you think, Olivia."
Saying so, I released my sealed cultivation for her to sense.
"Y-you, how?"
Even though she couldn't tell my exact cultivation, she knew that I was above her, someone who was an Origin Level 2! One must know that she had awakened her founder's bloodline and had extensive resources, which gave to her current power. But I was above her. This had dealt her pride a huge blow.
But she pulled herself back quickly.
"No matter how strong you are, it's too dangerous. I won't allow it."
"Oh? Is the famed princess going back on her word?"
My words angered her, and she brought out her mana to mobilize her spell. But before her, I moved faster. In the blink of an eye, I reached in front of her.
I tripped her leg, brought her hands to the back, and forced her to kneel, immobilizing her. Currently, she was forced to kneel with her mana restricted.
"Yo-you, do you know the outcome of what you are doing?"
Olivia roared with anger and shame. She, the esteemed princess, was forced to kneel. Just this was enough to have Austin's head rolling. Having her kneel, I was just accurately at her height.
"I don't care. If I could save my sisters, then death would be a happy end."
I roared back at her, increasing my strength on her. My words caused her heart to beat faster, and my domineering presence brought her hidden desires to the light.
"I don't care, and I won't allow it."
Olivia stubbornly replied.
'Oh, I see, so that's how you want to play it, huh?'
Seeing how stubborn she was, I didn't get angry. Once Olivia decided on something, it was almost impossible to change her mind about it. Almost impossible.
"So? You won't listen to me, huh?"
"Austin?"
Seeing the sadistic smile on my face, Olivia felt as if something bad was going to happen. She could feel that Austin was different.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. I am just going to punish you."
Hearing my words, Olivia's eyes opened wide. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was this the same Austin she knew?
"Punish me?"
"Yes, bad girls need to be punished, after all."
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