Emily floated through the empty void made from billowing shadows. She didn’t know where she was, but contrary to her expectations, it was warm, too warm. The shadows moved like heat shimmers warping the world around her, carrying a deep sense of loneliness.
Emily has already tried to call her stars and yet their usual excited entrance was nowhere to be found. They were trapped behind a fog that she could break through, and sadly neither could she escape from it.
In an effort to throw off the heat, Emily had slipped lower into her consciousness, hoping to either sleep or lessen the claustrophobic weight pressing down on her.
Though she never found true unconsciousness, but it made it more manageable, if only temporarily.
The heat chased down after her as though unwilling to let her escape its wrath. The further down Emily sank more she began to notice the inconsistencies in the dark. Some areas were darker than others, and some were downright ‘vibrant’ compared to the other spots in her mind.
Emily had long since concluded that wherever she was, it was deeper than sleep. It had to be a state on the very edge of death—a situation she wasn’t exactly thrilled about, if she was honest. But how was she supposed to know all the intricate details of a world she’d only been in for a few weeks? Things like 'don’t drink Wyrm blood' were common sense to others; to her, it had just seemed like another tasty treat.
The patches of light had been growing in frequently and Emily was beginning to think they were something more than she first thought.
One in particular stood out to her and she unconsciously stretched out an arm towards it.
In doing so she realized what they were, memories.
Emily took a step back as it tried to pull her into its world. Right away she could tell they weren’t her own. Messing with this body's memories had almost burned her last time, she still wasn’t ready to take another dip into that particular cesspool.
However, she did notice that in doing so there was a cooling balm that seemed to spring up from the memory itself, giving her a much-needed sense of relief.
Emily frowned, could she find solace in another person's memories?
Was the heat affecting her brain, because she had never been one for idle thought?
If it was for the sake of her survival she needed to play the game.
Emily took a breath. Did she need to breathe down here?
Shaking her head she turned back to the memories.
She needed to find the strongest one, a core memory that would shelter her against this heat for as long as possible.
So, ignoring the heat she began to search, stretching her awareness out to look for the brightest light. It took some time and there was a time when she thought she’d find nothing, but when it felt like she was about to reach the bottom, she found what she was looking for.
A light burned in the shadows, drawing Emily in like an angler fish.
Emily stepped into that world and as she did so cool air exploded out from the memory, wrapping her up and banishing the fires.
Eva stood in the finest room she’d ever had the misfortune of being dragged into. Books lined the walls girded by ladders and banisters. A heavy-looking desk sat in the center of the room with a large floor-to-ceil window looking out over the street below. The Guards that had found her had been surprisingly gentle. They had taken her from the Silk Matron’s brothel, the only upside being that she was too young to be put to work. Plus Eva thought the Matron felt sorry for her, seeing as her mother had died less than a month ago, but the pity would only last so long. Soon enough she would be put to work as well.
A staunch voice cleared their throat and Eva refocused on the two men in the room. The Butler had been the one to do so and he looked mighty displeased. Eva tried her best to look attentive, but she didn’t know the etiquette.
“Sir, this one is the informant that led to the capture of the young master’s killer.”
While the Butler was a thin tall man, the gentleman sitting at the desk going over a page was anything but.
His form rippled with strength, muscles packed so tightly onto one another that Eva wondered how he moved his arms over his head. He looked like the furthest thing from an administrator, and yet his demeanor was composed, almost calculating, as if every action and word were weighed with precision.
“I thought we’d taken care of all the loose ends. Why is she here now?” the man growled.
“There is no excuse my lord please forgive me.”
Eva had a feeling she knew why it had taken so long.
After her mother had died it had hurt so much that she’d just run away. She wanted nothing to do with that place, but soon enough she found herself with nothing to survive on and after weeks of living on the streets and in alleys she’d headed back to the brothel. It was the only home she’d ever known, so when the matron had told her to come to claim her money she’d followed her advice.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
At least something good could come from this. But instead of them giving her her prize, they grabbed her and brought her here.
The man tossed the page aside and seemed to stare straight into Eva’s soul.
“So. What do you want? The money can be given without issues but if I’m correct your family member died in the apprehension of that bastard. I won’t have a reputation of being ungrateful.”
Eve watched the man's intense stare as hot tears picked at the corners of her eyes. She still couldn’t stop the pain of her loss from overwhelming her.
Tears began to fall and Eva’s breath became ragged as hiccups threatened to consume her.
Unexpectedly the man at the desk didn’t stop her, he simply sat there until she was done, waiting patiently for her to cry herself out, letting her raw emotions of regret run out. When she was done he spoke with a firm voice
“Crying is a sign that we are human. It shows us that we care deeply for something, but there comes a time when one must put away the tears and press on. For you, that time is now. Now tell me little one, what do you want?”
Eva searched this powerful man’s eyes, surely he could do it.
“Please bring back my mother, she did nothing wrong, it's my fault this happened. I can do whatever you want, just make her better.”
The man looked down at Eva with a thoughtful gaze, the briefest flash of regret flashing across his face.
“I am sorry little one. Reviving your mother is illegal in this city, but…”
The man paused and the Butler shot his master a worried look.
“But, if family is what you seek, I can offer that to you in my house's orphanage. If you train hard and devote yourself to my cause. One day in the future there may be a way I can give you what you want.”
Eva’s eyes widened at the man's offer. He could do that? And all she had to do was give him her life? Her future was already set, she was to die in the slums under the weight of a foreign man.
This man, no this Noble. Was he saying he could save her from that? Eva’s tears threatened to spill over again, but this time she rubbed the corners of her eyes before they could fall. When she looked back up at the massive man her shy voice strained in the large room.
“I accept, I promise that I’ll do whatever you ask of me if you can help him get her back.”
The large man sat back in his leather chair, a smile gracing his elegant face.
“No child, it will all be up to you, for I will turn you into the very instrument we need most. Bronwin, have her clothed, fed, and sent the estate. Make sure the prerequisites are met for her to get ‘that’ title when she is of age.”
If the Butler was displeased he didn’t show it, guiding Eva out of the room by her back.
The last thing Eva saw was the large set of office doors closing behind her. She would return to this place many times over the years but that man's presence was never any less intimidating.
Emily pulled herself away from that world and shook off its illusions. Each time Emily met Eva she found herself liking the girl's spirit more and more. Life kept handing her bad decisions one after another, but she kept moving. Sure, the girl was a little more meek than Emily would have been but her courage couldn’t be denied.
Now if only Emily could keep things straight in her head.
She was beginning to feel this love for a mother she had not even known, and that was unacceptable for someone who had never felt the warm embrace of a parent. It was a weakness Emily didn’t need now, or ever.
Floating in the void she destroyed Eva's lingering attachment while she still could.
The heat was back, but it wasn’t so bad at this point.
It was even cool enough that she could surface a bit. As she did the stars made their appearance, crashing into her, joy leaking from them in spades.
Emily giggled freely as they moved around her like constant companions. The grass felt damp and cool against her body as the words fell into place.
40 - second threshold released at rank 50
Skill threshold released!
New features have been unlocked!
Ruby Guardian - The user's gathered life source is imbued with their intent, anchoring power within the body. Additionally, as a last resort, this skill can consume all remaining life source to summon the Ruby Guardian, a powerful projection that will eliminate any enemies in its path until its source is depleted.
And
Lungrot Plague - A blood plague that can infect a great number of creatures, passing the curse on by close proximity. (Fills the victim's lungs with blood causing asphyxiation.)
1 in 1000 deaths will be permanently added to the Blood Mage’s life source. Upon the caster's death, all instances of the plague will be undone.
Curse in effect!
Result: The feature Lungrot Plague has been destroyed.
Emily didn’t know how she felt about the Lungrot Plague. On the one hand setting and forgetting a curse could be a decent way to strengthen her power, especially in cities where everyone is packed right on top of one another. On the other hand, it seemed like an easy way to get very powerful people to chase her down. If this type of skill existed then she had to assume that others could undo it, or worse track down the caster. It was a high-risk, high-reward skill, and Emily just wasn’t interested.
So when it fizzled away, she barely flinched.
Just before Emily was about to surface out of the sea of stars, they rearranged themselves once more.
New features have been unlocked! (Special condition met: consuming blood inheritance.)
Feature still manifesting…
Remaining days: 4
Emily was significantly more excited about whatever this skill was. It didn’t sound like it wasn’t from her title, so it had to be the Wyrm blood. On top of that, it looked like Atticus had been wrong, from the looks of it her body was absorbing the Wyrm's blood at a rate far faster than he’d expected.
The heat was subsiding but she had a feeling it would be back, so she rushed to the surface.
When Emily opened her eyes and took ragged breaths, an aching pain wracked her body.
Now that she was awake the heat was stifling once more. Sweat covered her body and tiny rays of morning light peaked in through the the opening. Atticus had indeed pushed a stone up in front of the cave to block the entrance. She was currently lying on her sleeping bag which was also covered in sweat. Emily could only just move her neck to the side but she noticed a pile of rations, a water jug, and what looked like mushrooms lying neatly next to her.
Emily tried to move her blood and this time it responded, but it was very lethargic and took all her willpower to guide. Strangely, she felt something else responding in her blood but she was too exhausted to pay it any mind. She used a small amount of power to push back the pain and heal her wrung-out body. She then managed to lean over and grab some water and mushrooms before the heat returned stronger than ever, dragging her back down into a heavy slumber.
Blood points: 280