Over the next few days, I continued to steal the yin of various girls in the abandoned region. Shade had said that an adult woman would have more to steal, but I wasn’t able to get any to agree to me testing a spell on them.
Men dominated the region, young girls were only common because many families… had no use for them. Even I found it horrible, but that’s just how people were here. A girl couldn’t be good labor, so if they had low or no aptitude, many families just abandoned them. They rarely lived long, since the food given out by the city lord’s mansion would be taken.
Although, even when I did find a woman, they would refuse anyway. Do I seem suspicious or something? I’m not really sure.
After gathering the yin energy in my essence core, I’d send it out in small streams instead of as I had before. This was more focused and made the most use of what I had.
But things did get a bit more complicated in six days. The girls would no longer accept my request to test a spell on them, no matter how much food I offered; it seemed that word of my actions had gotten out.
Well, not my actions specifically. I doubt they knew it was me, it was more likely that they were just being cautious. But this is fine too, I suppose. I needed to take a break to get something dealt with anyway.
“Hmm. Shadow, you can begin whenever you‘re ready.” The examiner’s beady eyes stared at me, and I had to resist the urge to shudder with discomfort. It felt like he was looking at my bare body underneath my clothes…
Even though I knew that couldn’t be the case, it was still unnerving. Damn pervert officials.
My response was just a nod. For one, it didn’t matter, and more importantly, I’ve always been silent. Even if I lashed out and screamed during that night, that doesn’t mean I’m going to keep being like that.
The dagger in my sash was pulled out and drawn across my right palm. Once the blood welled up to the surface, I extended that arm and braced it with my other. Right, I was going to successfully cast Blood Spike so that I could finally be allowed to learn more spells!
As with all Blood Law spells, the first seal had my five hands clenched in a claw-like shape. Then came the seals for designating a single target and bounding the region, followed by the rotation off the wrist that would make the spell go straight…
My ability to perform the seals had always been good, but this time, I could fully keep up with the essence flows as well. I had to thank those girls whose yin I stole; by using up my essence for practice, then using Steal Yin to replenish it and practice more, I finally became able to cast the spell!
As the final seal was completed, I stretched out the fingers of my right hand fully so that they wouldn’t be in the way of the forming spike. Because I had a yin body, the size of the spike was over twice as large as what I’d seen from Coal and the others’ uses of it.
The massive spike - as large as my hand itself - formed and shot forth in less than a second. Of course, the dirt dummy was easily pierced all the way through, and even the wall was damaged slightly.
Turning to the side, I could see the examiner and some other Sorcerers of my batch with wide eyes. I guess the large spike is shocking, but still- “So, do I pass?”
I don’t like to talk, but I guess I’m just too impatient - I really want to learn more spells!
The examiner finally returned to his senses and nodded. Hah, how nice to see that he doesn’t have that perverted look in his eyes anymore. And of course he wouldn’t, he wasn’t even at peak Rank 1, so there’s likely nothing he could do if I really wanted to pierce his skull with a Blood Spike.
“You pass, Shadow.” I immediately turned to leave, but, “Ah, don’t go yet. We’ll get you the certified badge in a minute or two.”
Oh, I forgot that I needed the badge as proof that I could cast a spell. It was the sign that I was an actual Sorcerer, rather than just a trainee - though still just an Apprentice. Plus, it seems like the nearby Sorcerers have some questions for me, though I can probably guess what they are.
“Shadow, why is your Blood Spike so powerful?”, “Hey, you’re just a D-Grade, how come you can cast it even before me?”, and other such questions were asked of me in a barrage.
I ignored them all, but it seems the examiner couldn’t stay still. Probably, he just wanted to show off his knowledge to the kids.
“Did you not listen when your teachers told you that some people’s spells are stronger than others? Shadow here must have a lot of yin in her body, which makes the spells of yin-type Laws, such as Blood Law, more powerful.” But before he could even say anything, a tall, thin figure came through the doors of the examination grounds. “And, don’t pry into the personal methods of others! You know that’s taboo.”
Seeing the figure clad in an oversized black robe with a golden badge on his chest, I immediately bowed alongside all the others in the room. “Greetings to Sir Sorcerer Erjon!” I didn’t shout out like the others, but eh, I don’t like talking. I doubt he’d notice anyway.
After the initial greetings to one of the city’s three True Sorcerers, the examiner quickly asked the question that was definitely on everyone’s mind. “Sir Erjon, what brings you here?”
“Hmm…” The lanky man didn’t say anything, instead looking at the damage done to the training dummy and the wall behind it. Then, “Who here is Shadow?”
Instantly, all of the gazes turned to me, and of course, the man’s gaze followed. I just nodded.
“I see. Well, I happened to be visiting and heard that someone made a hole in the wall with Blood Spike, so I thought I’d come check it out.”
Hearing his words, I used all my effort to stop my face from twitching. Really, only a True Sorcerer could be so free as to do something so ridiculous. I quickly caught something tossed my way and then looked at Sir Erjon with wide eyes.
“Ah, I just brought that over since I was already headed here.”
In my hands was the certified Sorcerer badge of Fortress City. A brick wall made up the background - the symbol of the city - with the numeral for Rank 1 on it. I’m glad to finally have this, but the situation just feels a bit off. Ugh, I can’t really put a finger on it, but it feels like Sir Erjon wasn’t just doing this randomly.
I can’t tell why.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Also, I thought things were done, but it seems like Sir Erjon isn’t done with his whims yet.
“Shadow, do you want to switch to using another Law? Of course, it’d have to be a yin-type one, after all, it’s rare to see someone whose spells are so extremely strong compared to the norm.” Sir Erjon is… being sincere, at least as far as I can tell.
But I tilted my head, since I wanted to know more. Thankfully, he added on, “It could be because you have a ton of yin, or very little yang, who knows. But we only teach Blood Law because it’s the cheapest in terms of materials.”
Huh, could it be that they don’t know about pure yin or pure yang bodies? Actually, I wonder if I could even use a yang-type Law, given that I have no yang… Well, it doesn’t really matter I guess.
“At least here- let me think. For yin Laws, our city has Metal, Water, Blood, and… Actually, I guess that is all we have. So, perhaps Water? Of course, it’s your choice, Shadow.”
I initially shook my head, but then thinking that it wasn’t a yes or no question and that I’d need to give a good reason, ended up having to speak - “I’ll stick with Blood Law. I’m bad at learning, so I’d end up going through a lot of materials…”
“I see. Well, just play along with me for a bit, yeah?” As I was wondering what he meant by that, he began walking out of the room. Uh… Should I follow? Seems he forgot to mention, so he stopped and looked back. “Right, follow me to the library.”
So, leaving behind the room full of still-stunned people, I walked quickly to catch up to Sir Erjon.
I feel a bit uneasy, since I can’t see his face. But that’s just because of the hood of his robes. But still, I almost jumped when he spoke all of a sudden.
“What do you think is most important in a leader? Feel free to say whatever.”
Uh… In a leader…? Wouldn’t it be the strength to make others dare not disobey? But even though he said I’m free to say whatever, is that really the case? This is obviously the type of thing where he asks that to see if I’m loyal to the city lord or-
“I said to speak freely, Shadow.” Ah, I’d gotten so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice he stopped walking. We are walking quite slow. But Sir Erjon’s eyes… It feels like he’s staring directly into my thoughts.
“Y-Yes. Then…” Well, hopefully nothing bad comes out of this. “A leader needs to be strong.”
“And why do they need to be strong?”
“Um. So that nobody dares to disobey.”
“Is that so… Well then. How do you approach a difficult problem?”
Is he going to ask me a bunch of questions on the way to the library? That must be why we’re going so slow. But… I can’t guess what it might be for, other than to see if I have the potential to rebel. Whatever, I’ll just answer. Ugh, I’m more annoyed at the fact that I have to talk.
I’m sure with this type of question, he won’t mind me thinking about it, right? I’m not an idiot who rushes into things, after all. A problem, I’d want to look for a loophole, but that doesn’t apply in every situation. So then it’d have to be- “I’d look for a way to avoid the problem.”
“Hmm. Well, even if I can guess the answer… If you have to get past a locked door, what do you do?”
I see why he says he can guess. “I’d look for another way in.”
“And if there isn’t another way?”
“Then I’d use a spell to break it down.”
We’re probably halfway to the library by now, but it seems the question game is still going… “Makes sense, then next, how would you complete a task when only given the goal and no other information?”
“Start moving and gather information on the way.”
“Dual…” His words were barely audible. What is he mumbling about? “What do you look for in a companion or partner?”
Companion or partner… Even though he probably means something like a teammate, I can’t help but think of something more. Of course, the people I’ve been with until now aren’t ones I would be with if I had the choice. Coal and the others… They’re too- I don’t know. Uncaring.
“Someone strong, who’d look after me.” Ugh, saying something like that is embarrassing, but I’ve already committed to saying what immediately comes to mind.
From there, the questions continued, but at this point it was just Sir Erjon asking the question and me responding instantly. I guess he realized that we’d get to the library before we finished, so he chose to speed it up instead?
If I could choose one type of environment to live in, which would it be? Well, it’d have to be home.
If I was given a treasure that could increase my aptitude immediately, but there was a way to make it increase my aptitude even more, what would I do? I’d experiment to see if I could figure out how to make it better and decide from there.
Which is more appealing to me: a family heirloom, a powerful weapon, or a method to cultivate faster? I guess Sir Erjon doesn’t know that Mom’s pendant is why I killed that man. Of course, the answer has to be an heirloom.
How would I prepare for a potential threat? Figure out a way to avoid it or get someone else to deal with it. Otherwise, eliminate it.
How would I make my way through a crowded market? I’d want to stick to the edges and avoid being pushed around. Well, if I had the ability to, I’d love to just push my way through, but I obviously can’t.
When I receive unexpected news, what’s my first instinct? Think about how I need to react.
So, we eventually stood by a side door of the library. I guess it makes sense, given that if we went through the well-used front door, everyone would be making a big deal about Sir Erjon showing up.
“Last question, then. What type of risks are you most willing to take?”
I still don’t get the point of this, but given how long it's gone on, it must be something interesting at the least - if not important. “I’ll take any type of risk. I have nothing to lose, after all.”
To me, it was just a standard response, but I guess it was different for Sir Erjon?
“Ah, I shouldn’t do this, but all of the questions are out of the way so it shouldn’t matter.” After shaking his head, he looked at me with an obviously strange gaze. “Heritage, Bloodthirst, or Vampirism?”
Oh. “So that’s what all the questions were about.” Perhaps because of all this talking, I happened to voice my thoughts immediately.
The three paths of Blood Law. I remember the teachers talking about them. Paths, Schools of Thought, or whatever else people want to call them - in essence, a way of using a given Law. Similar effects, similar materials, similar hand seals and essence flows.
Heritage is about bloodlines and the power of one’s own blood. Bloodthirst is about mass bloodshed and carnage regardless of for whom. And Vampirism, named after the mythical vampires, is obviously about taking the blood of others to strengthen oneself.
Heritage is the most consistent, I guess, and is the path that Blood Spike is part of. You can always rely on your own blood - I mean, if you can’t trust your own blood… Might as well be dead, right? And while Vampirism sounds nice, I already have Steal Yin, so I don’t think it’s that useful. Plus, I doubt it has even a single method of letting me get rid of impurities faster or whatnot, so it can’t compare.
Hmm, when I think about it like that, my choice does surprise me, but it’s my decision to make. Even if I myself don’t know why. “My choice would have to be Bloodthirst.”
“Bloodthirst…” I know my thoughts are roaming, but I can’t help but think there must be something strange with Sir Erjon’s hood. He’s obviously stroking his chin - or beard, I don’t know if he has one - with his hand, but I can’t see his face at all.
Well, he didn’t think for long. “I got a feeling from your first and last answers, but… Just from your responses to all those questions, you’re most suitable for Heritage, followed by Vampirism. So I’d suggest you learn spells from those two, but the choice is yours in the end.”
Was he just trying to help me? I almost reflexively narrowed my eyes, but I stopped myself since it’d seem like I was suspicious of him and thus being disrespectful. Of course, I do feel like he’s suspicious, but like before I can’t really come up with a reason for why I feel like that.
Still, I bowed as thanks. And since I’ve been speaking so much, I have no excuse to not also say, “Thank you for your guidance, Sir Erjon.”
“No need.” His voice sounded strangely far away. By the time I looked up, he was completely gone from my field of view, even after looking in all directions. Ugh, no wonder he’s known as the leader of all Wind Sorcerers in the city.
Well, whatever. I was going to come here anyway, so time to check out the library.