บท 10: 10 - A Taste Of Your Blood (*)
Thirty years ago when the war was reaching the climax, many distinguishable characters rose to the prominence. Among them were the trio of mages who earned the favour of Shadow King and became one of the few to undergo the ritual. Mabel and Rosa were sisters, who had travelled from the Realm of Mages alongside Ronald.
Years later Ronald and Rosa had their first child, a daughter they named Aurelia. Five years after that came another child, a boy. Unfortunately these days of peaceful convalescence were not meant to last long. That very year the Crimson Heart made their presence known.
Leaving a three young children under the care of Ronald, the trio vanished. Aurelia being the oldest had always taken care of her younger brother and cousin. Though the difference of one year between her and Karl usually prompted a much drastic response from the younger cousin. Over time however, they had grown close enough to surpass the familial bonds among siblings.
Karl let his hand roam to her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her soft body. Her breath tickled against his lips, the proximity leaving his heart racing and his body electrified. Even still, he felt hesitant to cross the boundary.
Bringing his head closer he inhaled the sweet fragrance wafting off her hair, his hot breath tickling her ear and leaving her weak against his arms. He felt her arms reach out, circling his back and pulling him close. He allowed her, feeling her moderately sized bust press against his chest.
Even with the layer of clothing, the feel of her breasts squishing against his chest made him feel aroused. He lightly bit her ear eliciting a moan in response. Her hold grew tighter, her bosom flat against his hard muscles, the warmth of their bodies so close to each giving rise to feelings of arousal that Karl found hard to suppress.
He kissed her nape, moving the strands of her hair to allow for full access. His lips left searing marks against her pale white skin. His arms snaked around her back, pulling her even closer while he continued to trail soft kisses on her nape.
Her breath came out ragged, her body rubbing against his while his hands moved back and forth to feel the heat of her flesh. It was taking considerable amount of effort on his part to hold off from biting into her neck and draining her dry. Even more so, to keep his reasoning and not tear off her clothes.
At last he couldn't hold it any-more. His fangs usually retracted into his gums grew out, their sharp tips glinting in the pale glow of candle-light. His jaws enclosed her supple neck and with faint pressure his fangs pressed against her skin. Karl was surprised when he found he needed to apply more pressure to puncture her skin. The advancement to her defence providing resistance to his effort. Not for long, though.
Karl felt his fangs pierce her skin, the blood that coursed underneath and the heat that rushed forth with it. Usually an act he found no pleasure with, the moment a drop of her blood touched his tongue, the inhibitions were lost.
"Do not get lost in this tempting paradise," a voice sounded, "keep your goals within your sight." He couldn't hear anything after, lost in the moment as he was.
The blood, sweet and addictive. But more than that, it was accompanied by a rush of force that he found so fulfilling that he couldn't bring himself to stop. Even with a quivering sensation of something soft within his arms. Everything was hazy and the power was his reality.
SLAP!
With a force that pulled his vision into focus, he felt the sting of something hot searing his cheek. Only then did he focus on the body within his embrace and weakness embodying it. Realization set in, he pulled back with horror gripping his mind. Relief took its place, when he realized that she was alright but her breathing was low.
"What..." He took a moment to regain focus. "What happened to me?"
The focus of his question drifted into his line of vision with arms crossed and pout on her cheeks. She looked a cute angry child but the intensity of her gaze made him gulp hard.
"What?" He questioned.
"You lost control." She spoke. "You weren't supposed to loose control." Sighing, she shook her head. "That's on me. I should've told you that after absorbing your essence, her blood would take on the properties of your own."
"Wait, are you saying that her blood is now delicious?" He asked incredulously.
"That's the details that jumps out to you?" Cinis scrunched her brows. "But yes, her blood is delicious for now. It might loose that property soon enough, but given enough time and your essence she can effectively retain the property of your own blood."
Karl wondered if that was what she meant when she said Vampire blood wasn't supposed to taste nasty. If these were her standards, then it was totally understandable, as was the fact that Shadow King somehow didn't pass on these properties. A minor thing to take note of, but one he didn't need now.
"What about Aurelia," he pointed at the unconscious raven haired girl in his arms, "is she going to be alright?"
"Thankfully her nascent advancement prior meant the effect just drained her of strength, instead of life." Hearing her admonishing tone, he felt a little embarrassed. "What about you, how do you feel?"
At her prompting he focused inward, only to feel a growing sensation of fire within his system. It was like someone had lit a spark within his body, but the heat was growing progressively. "Hot," he said. "I feel the heat growing in my core."
Cinis put a hand on her chin in thought. This was the expression which meant she was interfacing with the grimoire. "You might be experiencing advancement too." She stated.
Karl felt the heat grow into a blazing inferno, and wash over him. His heart and mind, body and soul wreathed in flames of life, unwound and reformed into the new him. He could feel strength grow inside of him.
Mana burned around him, the blood inside growing restless. A tendril of crimson ichor seeped through his pores to assemble into a dagger made of blood. A grin stretched on his face as the realization set in.
"Crimson Conjuration."
A Bloodthrone had three unique inborn abilities, among which Karl had already awakened Scarlet Rebirth. Crimson Conjuration was the second ability which allowed one to use their own blood to conjure blood constructs. Rumours said that at higher levels his grandfather had been able to summon blood creatures which could be ordered to perform simple functions.
Scarlet Rebirth unlike the new ability could be used to heal one's injuries. It also needed one to sacrifice their own blood, but it could also substitute for the blood of others. This ability was exactly what made the Bloodthrone a nightmare on battlefield.
"What are my attributes like, Cin?" He asked the floating fairy.
Cin grinned back at him, and pulled out the grimoire into existence. Unlike with Aurelia, she decided to show him directly instead of telling him.
«
Power - D
Speed - C
Defence - D (C)
Mana - C
»
The new updated attributes were a far cry from his previous level. He could even feel himself stronger than he had been before. This made him approximate his previous level. He didn't grow any stronger or faster, but his mana was far more than it had been before. Not to mention his defence.
"At least I have now restored my strength, exceeded it even." He clenched his fist to feel the strength coursing through them.
"It's absolutely phenomenal." Cinis exclaimed. "The rate of your growth only goes to show the affinity between you and the Crystal Heart. We might have to adjust the plans accordingly, not to mention your new ability."
Karl nodded along, finding credibility in her words. "Yeah, with Crimson Conjuration that's a force multiplier."
"Hm?" Cinis titled her head. "I'm not talking about Crimson Conjuration."
Hearing her words brought confusion to Karl, and he looked at her with a frown marring his face. "What do you mean not Crimson Conjuration? The only other ability I could have shouldn't be possible with my current strength."
His words only served to increase her confusion, but as the link connected the realization struck. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "I think I understand." She shook her head. "If I forgot to mention it, then let me make it clear. With the increase in synchronisation, new bloodline abilities are unlocked."
"Wait," he raised a finger, "you mean to say that I have a new ability now, aside from Crimson Conjuration?"
"Yes." Cinis nodded. "And let me show you what you exactly got."
Saying so she pulled on the grimoire and the pages whirled until finally settling onto a page that looked similar to an old parchment. Written on it were words that described his new ability.
"Blood Moon."
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