Chapter 24: Revelations

Vina awoke with a start, her scream echoing through the darkened night. The sudden movement sent a sharp pain shooting through her shoulder, forcing her to stifle the noise. The nightmare was relentless, its horror pounding in her chest like the beating of a frantic drum. Unlike her dreams from the past, these visions did not fade with the morning light. Each haunting detail was imprinted in her mind, a cruel reminder that her reality had become intertwined with the waking terrors. She tried to push the nightmare aside, burying it under a heap of memories in her mind, but it was like trying to hold back a storm with a paper shield.

The unfamiliar stars above seemed to mock her distress, their cold light illuminating the jagged edges of her unease. Vina took a deep breath to steady herself and reached for her lantern, feeding it a few drops of blood to keep the flame burning. The flickering red light cast eerie shadows across her face as she pulled out the children's book Nyaire had given her before she left. Reading it for the first time now was just a slight distraction from the last few days where her thoughts had been occupied with Stine's cruel lessons.

"Vigil of Light," she read aloud, trying to focus on the words instead of the ominous darkness pressing in around her. The book was thin, only twelve pages, but it offered a brief reprieve from the chaos of her thoughts. As she flipped through the pages, she noticed the first one was missing entirely, the tear marks frayed and jagged. The ripped page seemed to reflect her own fractured state of mind.

It didn't take long for Vina to finish the first poem about Haco, The Everflame. As she continued reading, she came across an illustration of a figure in white plate armor, holding a massive two-handed sword. Their helmet obscured their face, leaving their identity ambiguous. "The Truth Teller. Well, shit," she muttered, her voice tinged with pain. She continued flipping through the book, discovering other figures: The Titan, Tacey The Covered Lady, Nil, The Twins, Carda The Keeper, and others. But there was something missing—Faer, the traveler. No mention of portals or journeys across the world.

Her blood sense skill suddenly detected a void vibrance at the edge of her awareness, a faint ripple in the darkness. Vina immediately clipped the lantern to her belt and rose to her feet, forming a blood claw with her good hand and compressing it into a tight globe. She prepared to throw it, her eyes narrowing as a small creature stepped into the circle of light.

"Wait!" it squeaked, its voice high-pitched and almost endearing. The creature's large eyes might have been cute if they weren't as dark as the night. Four more red eyes formed just above those, partly hidden by floppy ears. It stood on two legs, resembling a rabbit, but Vina knew what it was— a Marf.

"You're a Marf. You control animals too?" Vina asked, her skepticism cutting through the tension.

"Any living thing that wants to escape its system can adopt mine," the Marf replied with a tiny squeak. "Why did I choose this Marf?"

Vina sighed, using blood call to draw the orb back to her. "You wanted me to know you weren't here for a fight. Also, you don't want me to take anyone else away from you," she retorted, her voice laced with suspicion.

The Marf acknowledged her response with another squeak. Vina’s glare remained, her hostility evident. "Why are you here? Why shouldn't I kill you immediately?"

The Marf tilted its head, one ear drooping over its eyes. "Vina, I am everywhere. Why must you always resort to violence? Can't we have a conversation instead?"

Vina’s temper flared. "You tried to kill me first," she snapped.

"True," the Marf replied with a hint of resignation as an ear moved to cover a set of its eyes, "but I come now to talk. It's been a few days, and you've had time to reflect. Why did I bring Amaya, the swordmaster, to you on the battlefield?" Stine asked.

Vina sighed, trying to keep her emotions in check. The memories of the battlefield and the bloodshed that followed haunted her. She dropped down in a huff, staring at the stars above. "You brought Amaya and two others to teach me something," she said. "And when I killed them, you changed the lesson."

"And what lesson did I choose?" Stine asked softly, its voice echoing in the still night.

Vina felt tears welling up, her fists clenching. "That the people on your side are still people, with lives and value. They're not just enemies to be killed."

“There is one more lesson for you to draw from that experience. One more thing I wanted you to learn. You’ve made this mistake more than once. Have you understood it yet?” The Marf squeaked.

“I think so.” She squeezed her right hand tightly and then her left one less as strong. “I understand.”

“A hard earned lesson, requiring only the occasional reminder. I’ll make sure you continue to receive it. It seems you have had time to reflect. I wonder how much you have come to understand of my teachings. Just how far back have you considered. Shall we start at the beginning?” Stine asked.

Vina nodded slowly as her tiredness seemed to be suddenly magnified. She didn’t want to do this, but the pain of the last few days had been wearing on her. The sildown leaves had helped less to manage her pain and discomfort than she had hoped, and her recovery felt slow. Her left arm was regaining strength at an amazing pace, but her eye was taking far more time than she had anticipated. In all that free time, she couldn’t help but do exactly what Stine had asked her to do. She had begun to ask herself why she was suffering so horribly.

“When you tortured me with Parin’s shadow,” Vina stated.

“If that is the beginning you desire, let’s start there. What role did Parin play?”

“Betrayal. You wanted me to experience betrayal at the hands of someone forced to betray me.” Vina said. “You tried to prepare me for those who have already betrayed me.”

“And who betrayed you of their own free will?” Stine followed up.

Vina swallowed hard, her voice faltering slightly. "Shan, Hakim, Seassa."

“I encouraged Shan to admit some of his crimes against this world as well to you personally. I allowed him to hold back his worst atrocities. You are not ready for those, and yet the truth still seeks you out.” The little marf flipped an ear out of the way as it gestured toward the book Vina had set down. "And do you know why I had Seassa tell you about your role in The Halos Family?" Stine asked.”

Vina shook her head, still grappling with the complexities of the past few days. “There’s so much to think about. I can’t figure it all out. Was it to warn me about their betrayal? But that seems too obvious. Or is there something more?"

The Marf hopped to the side and squeaked. Vina began to wonder if they just did that involuntarily. “You’re no longer willing to accept obvious answers anymore. That’s progress.”

Vina had wanted to ask a question ever since she realized Stine could talk. It burned in her chest, a longing she couldn't ignore. "Where is my mother?" she finally said.

The Marf, usually quick with its responses, fell silent, its large dark eyes fixed on Vina. It seemed to ponder her question, as if weighing the consequences of its answer. After a long pause, it spoke, but not with an answer. Instead, it responded with a question of its own. "Your avoidance is frustrating, but your progress is undeniable. Why do you think I chose you, Vina?"

Vina felt a surge of frustration. "Did you really choose me?" she retorted. "Because I'm starting to think you're just stuck with me."

The Marf's red eyes narrowed, a sign that Stine was growing increasingly irritated with her defiance. "Why do you think I followed you?" it pressed.

"My armor and my abilities," she replied, her voice edged with sarcasm. "Maybe I'm just the only one who managed to revive a set of kaliter scales, and that got your attention. Is that it?"

The Marf hopped a little closer, the lantern's light casting eerie shadows over its floppy ears. "It should not surprise you that my people are those you call The Kaliters," it replied. "I do not know where your mother is, but I know someone who does. Deliver a message to the Kaliters at Norfany, and I'll tell you who knows where Priya is. If you agree to my terms, I'll also show you where my people are hiding."

Vina's skepticism was clear as she eyed the small creature. Stine's proposition seemed too good to be true, but if it led her to her mother, she couldn't dismiss it outright. "Why can't you deliver the message yourself?" she challenged. "Didn't you just say you were everywhere?"

“I am in all the places I can be,” the Marf replied with a hint of indignation. My people have found my limits and have exploited them to marvelous effect. However, they continue to underestimate me.”

“They found a way to stop you,” Vina shot back.

The Marf squeaked in protest. "I am merely delayed. It won't last forever."

Vina mulled over Stine's offer. Her ultimate goal was to reach the Kaliter colony, so it seemed practical to accept the deal. But she was also aware of the potential dangers. After conducting Zera's revival, she knew firsthand how Stine's words could create fear and confusion. The Kaliters could suffer if she wasn't careful. Still, finding her mother was too important to ignore.

"What's the message?" she asked, her voice cold.

"I want you to tell them that I have fixed our home. It's ready for our return," Stine replied, its voice soft but commanding.

Vina raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?" she asked, puzzled by the cryptic instruction.

“It’s not for you to understand, Vina,” Stine replied, its voice tinged with amusement “Remember my words exactly as I said them. I imagine it won’t be difficult for you. My people are over there.” The marf flipped its ears in one direction.

Vina frowned at Stine’s insinuation of knowing her mental abilities, but if it was paying attention as much as it said, it must have had a guess at her capabilities by now. “I’ll tell them, but you’re not bound by Trina’s system. A promise won’t work between us. How can I trust you’ll uphold your end of our agreement? The Darkness lies,” Vina echoed its own words back to it.

“And so I do. You are right to not trust my words alone. I am not bound to your system, but I am bound to my own. We do not give words of promises. We give pieces of ourselves instead. When one fails in their responsibilities, they become less than they were because they are lesser. I will prepare something for you, and by tonight you will have a representation of my word.”

Vina continued to give Stine a skeptical look. “We’ll see when we get there. I may still go in and tell them nothing of you if I find your word is less than satisfactory.”

“I will teach you along the way,” Stine stated, and Vina thought it sounded almost like a threat.

With a sigh, she nodded. “I do have more questions,” she admitted.

She broke down the camp as the first light of dawn crept across the horizon. While keeping an eye on the Marf, she gathered her belongings and carefully packed them into her backpack, making sure to distribute the weight evenly. She loaded everything onto her Smarmel, her loyal mount, which seemed uneasy about the new companion but wasn't aggressive. The Marf, however, appeared increasingly anxious as the morning progressed, shifting restlessly until Vina picked it up and tossed it into a side bag that stored her remaining mendica mixtures.

"So, what happens if the sunlight hits you? Do you turn to ash, or something?" Vina asked, her tone light but with an undercurrent of curiosity.

“No. It’s just uncomfortable,” the marf squeaked from within the bag.

"I might pull you out at noon just to test that," Vina replied with a smirk, running her fingers through her hair to untangle the knots from her restless night.

The diminutive creature made a muffled squeak from the bag. “I’ll allow it,” Stine responded after a moment.

Vina raised an eyebrow at the tiny creature's bravado. "I was going to do it either way," she countered. "Now, tell me about Zel'alor."

"No," Stine said flatly.

"No?" Vina echoed, surprised by the sudden rejection. She paused, allowing the silence to stretch. "Are you scared of Zel'alor?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she waited for a response.

A disgruntled squeak came from the bag. "I do not experience fear," Stine replied, its irritation evident.

"Fine. Then tell me about Trina and what happened," Vina said, changing the subject. As she spoke, she opened her Blood Infusionist skill tree to see what she could do with her twelve unused class ability points. The skill tree was sparse, with only three nodes visible. It was clear she had a lot of room for growth, but she needed more information to make the right decisions.

Embodiment (Rank 3) (Cost 2) - Embodiment: Your blood can now maintain three infusion slots.

Infuse (Rank 2) (Cost 2) - You can force your blood into the bodies of others. Active Infusions may be passed to allies or enemies through this ability depending on your infliction rank. You may learn one additional infusion at each rank.

Infliction (Rank 1) (Cost 1) - Your blood may inflict one additional infusion of your choice on a target. Currently you may inflict one active infusion against your target that costs a maximum of 1 infusion.

Vina didn't even need to review her blood infusions; she was so familiar with them now. It was almost second nature to switch between boosting her strength by three or increasing her blood regeneration by 10% for every infusion slot. Yet her interest was drawn away from the skill tree and back to Stine's words.

"Trina knew me before I knew her," Stine replied, its voice slightly distant. "I saw her briefly when I arrived, but I only came to understand her fully after I found myself."

Vina furrowed her eyebrows, trying to grasp the implications of what it said. "You mentioned that before," she noted. "So you were already here before you 'arrived.' Did Trina find this other you?"

Stine fell silent, as if the question touched a nerve. Vina sighed, exasperated by the Marf's reluctance to share more about itself. "You don't want to talk about yourself, Zel'alor, or Trina," she observed. "Will you at least discuss Langternem?"

Vina looked at the Infuse node hungrily. She really wanted more ways to infuse her blood. The slots would be important as well, but having more ways to enhance her body was absolutely intoxicating to her. She placed the two points into Infuse and checked her options.

Select your Blood Infusion Specialization 2 Activations - Forceful Muscles 2 1 Activation - Mending 1 1 Activation - Dexterous Manipulation

“Mending 1?” she thought to herself. “What does that even mean? Is that health or injuries or something else entirely?” She remembered how quickly The Shaper was able to regenerate, but they did it with blood in a similar way she did. “Could it be the same ability?” She didn’t want to waste two points on an ability she already had. She could already tell that Dexterous Manipulation was something she wanted, so she chose that one to be on the safe side.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

You have 10 Blood Infusionist Class Abilities Remaining

Dexterous Manipulation 1 (x1): Your dexterity is increased by 3.

"You ask questions that seek only answers. I do not exist to give you answers," Stine squeaked from the bag, its tone almost patronizing.

Vina let out a frustrated sigh. "Yeah, something about teaching the truth, right?"

“Ask me about your sisters,” Stine suggested.

Vina flinched at the mention of her sisters. It was a topic she had intentionally avoided with Stine. She knew the Marf's manipulative nature and didn't want it to further poison her relationship with her family. The Shaper had already caused enough damage. She placed another point into Infuse, watching as three new options appeared in her skill tree.

Select your Blood Infusion Specialization 1 Activation - Hemisensory Amplification 1 Activation - Clotting 1 2 Activations - Dexterous Manipulation 2

"What are my sisters doing?" Vina finally asked, her voice tinged with reluctance. Since Etana's departure, she had lost touch with her siblings and didn't know what had become of them.

Stine was silent for a moment, perhaps considering its response. When it spoke, its words were laced with insinuations. "In so few words, you betray yourself so completely. For that, I will answer you. The one with the necklace rescued a city from death on the night you left Solitude. Her sacrifice has led her to new heights and new lows. One can only wonder why she has neglected her two sisters despite her newfound power and influence."

Vina listened intently, her heart sinking at the revelation. Stine paused, waiting to gauge her reaction. When she remained silent, it continued, its voice almost smug. "The one who carries the light on her face struggles to survive against the blow you dealt her. The bonding sickness is a twice-daily torment, yet she bears the second burden you laid on her valiantly. She and Adir make progress each day toward Randar and now approach its western border. They are near my homes, and I am left with a decision. Do I take the City of Randar, or do I turn my army on your sister, knowing you have weakened her so badly for me?"

Vina's grip tightened around on her reins. She had chosen Hemisensory Amplification in her skill tree, a desperate attempt to regain control, but Stine's words cut through her defenses like a blade. "You're trying to antagonize me," she said, her voice cold.

You have 8 Blood Infusionist Class Abilities Remaining

Hemisensory Amplification 1 (x1): Your sight, smell, and hearing are improved by 3%.

"We both already know that trying to upset you about your sisters is futile, so that must not be what I'm doing," Stine said, its voice carrying a subtle hint of provocation.

Vina closed her eyes against the reminder of her missing feelings. She'd thought that with time and effort, the emotional connections to her family would return, but they hadn't. There was a cold emptiness where her love for her sisters used to be, and she feared The Shaper had caused irreversible damage. "You really are everywhere," she whispered, almost to herself.

"My shadows cluster in places that were once important. They tell me what they see. They hide where people think they're safe. Places like libraries," Stine squeaked, its voice full of implications.

Vina's eyes snapped open, the realization hitting her like a storm. "You're in Halos too," she stated, her voice edged with both anger and dread.

Stine didn't hesitate. "I know of your discovery and naming of the new Vibrance Tracking skill. My shadows told me when you pointed at Trina; when you pointed at me."

Vina looked at the pocket containing the Marf as understanding dawned on her. "You knew the portal ring I would take was close to your gloom. In the following weeks, you expanded its range to capture me and my guards?"

"Yes," Stine confirmed without hesitation. "Have you considered the distress you experienced when you created that new skill?"

Vina's mind drifted back to the time she stood on the balcony and pointed at Trina. It was a chaotic moment, filled with confusion and uncertainty. "What?" she asked, struggling to connect the dots.

"You experienced a system error. You noticed a contradiction in Trina's system. You sense vibrance using a skill Trina called Blood Sense. You tracked Trina's vibrance with a skill you couldn't name Blood Tracking. You began to ask yourself a question but never finished it. Can you remember it now?"

Vina's memory was hazy. The details of that day blurred together, with thoughts and emotions crashing like waves. She focused, her mind clearing up as she recalled her actions. "Why would... Trina lie about Blood Sense? The skill should be called Vibrance Sensing, just like Vibrance Tracking." As she spoke the words, a surge of memories hit her. Kaliq's recollections of Trina's atrocities came flooding back, and she could almost see her sister's body being rebuilt repeatedly. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"You fade away when you doubt Trina's goodwill," Stine squeaked from the bag beside her. "I once knew a tortured man who did that as well."

Vina dropped her reins, flipped the bag open, and pulled the Marf out with a furious motion. It squealed in distress as the morning light hit it. "I am not him! He's dead!" she shouted, the intensity of her rage threatening to boil over. She resisted the urge to drain the blood out of the creature and instead threw it back into the bag, slamming the flap shut.

Her breathing was heavy, her pulse racing with a mix of anger and fear. Stine's words had struck a nerve, digging into the raw wounds of her past. She knew she had to keep her emotions in check, but the Marf had a way of pulling her to the edge.

There was a long silence, and Vina turned to her skills page once more, trying to regain control over her thoughts and emotions as memories kept trying to resurface in her mind. She angrily dropped two points into Embodiment and gained her fourth Activation slot.

You have 6 Blood Infusionist Class Abilities Remaining

“I can get twelve more dexterity or strength now if I want just by switching infusements” she angrily thought to herself, trying to distract herself from the feelings she was experiencing. She remembered when she first unlocked her fourth activation slot. She remembered when she had done her fifth as well. “Might as well do it again.” she muttered. She placed another two points in Embodiment and watched the node’s cost increase from two class ability points to three as it gained its fifth rank.

You have 4 Blood Infusionist Class Abilities Remaining

“More Infusions or Infliction…?” she asked herself, but then she noticed a new node had appeared below Embodiment after it had gained its fifth rank.

Hemovore: Consume the blood of others and gain 20% of their attributes for 5 minutes.

“Oh,” she sighed as much as spoke the word. She remembered this ability as soon as she read it. Memories flooded into her as she recalled the one that followed after as well. She placed a point almost as if it was muscle memory. When she placed it, she felt like something had been fixed within herself. She selected the ability twice more until it read 40% for fifteen minutes.

You have 1 Blood Infusionist Class Abilities Remaining

Then she placed her last point into Infliction. She knew there was another ability below that now and a memory she knew wasn’t hers was teasing at what it was. Although she had never seen it herself, she knew Kaliq had. She frowned at seeing her last point used.

She turned to her attributes.

Name

Vina Esca

Title: Asharaina

Health

720

Stamina

340

Experience

7295/60000 60/36000

Class/Level:

Blood Weaver/23

Blood Infusionist/14

Attributes

Points

Description

Strength

31

You can lift 150% of your body weight and weapons do 42% more damage

Endurance

49

Your stamina is increased by 195, and your stamina recovery is increased to 2.95 per minute.

Dexterity

39

Your body is 29% more likely to do exactly what you intend, you are 116% more likely to hit your target

Agility

53

Your movement is 129% faster, you are 172% more elusive, you can react 86% sooner.

Vitality

52

Your health is increased by 420, you clear poisons 210% faster, you are 126% more resistant to disease and infection

Charisma

12

People like you 10% more and you are 6% more likely to persuade someone

Mastery

34

You learn skills 96% faster. You are 24% more likely to learn a skill on your first try.

Divinity

0

Locked

Attribute Points Remaining

20

3

2

Vina mused over her skill tree, considering the dexterity she needed to wield Seassa's sword, Selenia. With her current thirty-nine dexterity and twenty additional attributes to allocate, she saw a clear path to reaching her goal. If she allocated all her blood infusions to Dexterous Manipulation, she'd gain fifteen more points in dexterity, bringing her to a total of seventy-four. Only six points shy of using the sword. "Is that much dexterity worth it?" she wondered.

Stine's voice came from the bag, as if reading her thoughts. "I have shown you your strengths and weaknesses," it reminded her.

Vina shot a glare at the bag but grudgingly admitted Stine was right. "Strong with plenty of blood around, weak without it," she said, taking a deep breath before allocating point after point into dexterity. She stopped after the tenth point and noticed a significant improvement in her balance and fluidity of movement. The additional 10% control over her body felt more substantial than she had anticipated. Although her shoulder was still injured, she felt more in tune with her body at fifty-eight dexterity. She allocated the other two infusion slots toward her strength, feeling a surge of relief.

The sun climbed high into the sky as she rode in silence. When it was directly overhead, she slipped out of the saddle, allowing her Smarmel to wander off and graze. She needed some space from the small creature in the bag, its presence a constant reminder of the turmoil around her. As she walked, she pulled out Langternem from the bag, bringing it along as she foraged for food. Leaving it alone no longer felt like a safe option. After what had happened with Carda's army, she couldn't risk losing track of it. Plus, the crystal-bound creature seemed to enjoy the scenery, twisting and turning within its crystalline prison.

Vina used her title's ability to float the crystal beside her as she walked. Langternem moved restlessly within, its lattice-like body curling and uncurling, but it never revealed any eyes or clear features. "What are you?" Vina asked softly, not expecting a response. The crystal remained silent while the entity inside spun and bended in erratic patterns.

As she foraged through the rocky plains, gathering enough food to sustain herself and her Smarmel, Vina continued to talk quietly to Langternem. Her words were half-formed thoughts, questions about her journey and the challenges ahead. The act of speaking aloud, even without a response, was calming. It helped her sort through the tangled emotions and gave her a sense of companionship, no matter how unsettling the floating crystal was.

When Vina climbed back onto her mount, Stine spoke again in a hushed voice. "I'm not saying you're the same as Kaliq. My intent lies elsewhere. Your class, your abilities, and even your title were explained by Trina’s system. Yet, every time you explore the blood path, it becomes less defined. I wonder how many times you've experienced a 'system error.'"

Vina gritted her teeth at the familiar phrase. "I said those exact words when I improved my Blood Runes skill while climbing the stairs to The Halos Family Home. It was daytime. The sun was overhead. How did any shadows hear me?"

"The Gardens of Halos cast long shadows, day and night," Stine replied.

Vina sighed, feeling the tension build. "You're focusing on the wrong things, Vina. Has anyone told you that you avoid topics that cause you emotional distress?"

Vina clenched her fists, tempted to pull Stine out of the bag again. "So what? I get system errors sometimes. Eilin says it happens to people. How is this connected to anything?"

Stine's voice was measured but insistent. "She claimed it happens rarely. As the dictator of a different system, I can confirm that claim. Nearly none of my people will ever see a system error in their lifetime. You've seen at least two in a narrow window of time. There's a reason for this."

Vina's frustration grew. "Stine, Trina has been asleep for the last seven hundred years! Of course, her system is falling apart. She hasn't been awake to maintain it."

Stine's response was quick. "You're rationalizing. The system isn't failing for anyone else but you and those who came before you. Soon, those who follow closely behind you will face similar consequences."

Vina's brow furrowed as she thought about each strange event in the system. "You're saying the taboo against blood classes and skills is real, and that Trina designed it intentionally. That can't be right. Why would she name my masterpiece and give me my title?"

"Obligation," Stine replied. "She was obligated to do so by her own rules. If she hadn't named you Asharaina and you'd risen to prominence, many more would doubt Trina. She's delayed the inevitable, but not stopped it. Soon, others will see the flaws in her system, just as you and Kaliq have. No doubt, she hopes you will revive her before that happens."

“That seems doubtful at the moment.” Vina muttered. "I can't find enough aspects to revive her, and no one will give me theirs." Memories floated through her mind that she knew weren’t her own. All of them warned her about Trina’s less than sincere moments. “I have many of Kaliq’s memories, but they don’t really make sense. The system for blood classes existed when he became a Blood Infusionist. I mean… his progression wasn’t perfect, but it was defined.”

"He took the furthest steps within the system for a blood class. Trina had to define his path to contain Langternem," Stine said. "The path has always existed but was never documented within Trina’s system before Kaliq." Stine squeaked from the bag.

"Just like Blood Runes?" Vina asked, her voice wavering with realization. "No one seemed to know the skill existed until I learned it. Even Kaliq couldn’t figure it out."

“Kaliq never managed to learn blood runes or runecarving, but the system had a name for both skills,” Stine squeaked softly, in an almost hinting manner.

“If they are part of the system, then Trina knew,” Vina said, understanding Stine’s line of reasoning.

“Someone other than Trina knew,” The small creature corrected. “Afterall you created your own skill, Vibrance Tracking, just recently. Trina knew about the skill already through her own words and hints, but you registered it with Trina’s system for your own people.” Stine said. “So, what does it mean if the system doesn’t know about a skill?” Stine asked.

Vina felt her heart sink. "Either Trina doesn’t know, or she doesn’t want it in the system," she whispered.

"Do you really think someone who could create a system like this wouldn't know?" Stine asked, its question pointed.

Vina shook her head, her hope in Trina's integrity faltering. "She must know. If she does, then she's keeping things out of the system purposefully. She doesn’t want people learning blood skills unless it benefits her." The realization settled like a heavy weight on her shoulders. She looked down at the bag, where a single eye peered out from under the flap.

Stine's voice grew quieter. "I'll ask you again, Vina. What will Trina do if you destroy Langternem?"

Vina hesitated, struggling to reconcile her hopes with the harsh truth. She had wanted to believe in Trina, to see her as an ally who would help save her sisters and the world. But with Kaliq's memories and Stine's unsettling revelations, the cracks in Trina's facade were impossible to ignore. With a shiver of disappointment, Vina answered truthfully, "She'll stop me from teaching my people."