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Chapter 33: An Infant's Cries I
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Val on the other hand kept his bow still tied to his back, instead, he pulled out his rapier. The gorgeous work of art of a weapon is ready to be used as intended. Perhaps... Just perhaps, he won't use it as an arrow.
They cautiously walked into the mansion. Interestingly, the door was wide open just like the outer walls' gate. Someone or something was seemingly inviting them in.
"Val, you seem to be quite sensitive to things, so if you sense anything wrong let us know," Selena said, already assuming that his soul curtain's type is Elliptical.
Val nodded before saying, "Ok, but I sense nothing so far." His rapier was gracefully resting in his hand.
His stance was naturally perfect as he elegantly walked after the group. Those were all however just appearances as his hand is ready to move at any moment.
His rapier was anticipating what's to come. That's what he considers to be the perfect stance and movement for a user of rapiers such as himself.
In fact, he is working on creating a more elegant way in the way of the bow. The perfect stance as he calls it.
The mansion was quite large. They were first met with a splendid set of stairs leading to the upper floor.
They chose to start with that under the assumption that if anyone is in the house, they'll likely be there as the upper floor is where the master bedroom and important rooms usually lie.
However, they found nothing. They stayed together because the golden rule for hunters is to never ever leave each other's side.
There was nothing except for house stuff and decorations. "There is a bit of dust here and there. The last time it was cleaned should be a week or so." Selena spilled her observation and Val added further.
"Also, a house such this obviously needs workers to keep it going, yet there was none.
I also noticed that there isn't any jewelry or valuables anywhere on the upper floor despite it being obviously the main area of the mansion."
Selena nodded with a frown, not liking this at all, "Then let's head back downstairs."
They started their search on the first floor with carefulness and cautiousness. Selena was the one leading the group. As for Lucas, well, Selena couldn't risk letting him lead in such bizarre circumstances.
"You can smell that, right?" Selena asked Val, tension was apparent on her face.
"Yeah... The stench of death." He nodded as they halted their steps. They stood not far from the room's door, the latter being the stench's source.
"Let's clear the rest of the house first before taking a look at what's inside. I won't feel safe otherwise." Selena said, giving the inconspicuous door one last glance before moving on, and no one offered any objection.
It wasn't long before they found themselves facing that same door again, after looking through the rest of the house.
"I can push the door or break it with my spear from afar." The one who rarely speaks, Boarlian offered his assistance.
However, Selena shook her head before turning her attention to Val, "I believe your family has some accomplishment in this field, so mind performing the famous Helious blood arts for us?"
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Val raised her brows before letting out a chuckle, "I do actually. I do mind. Such blood arts require one's blood. In this case, my blood instead of blood ether, so that won't happen."
His answer baffled Selena as she looked at him with pure confusion, "But don't ones of this level require just a few drops of blood. Will that kill you?"
Val was confused in return, "It won't, but it will leave a cut mark on my body."
Selena was even more baffled as were the rest of the group, even Lucas and Boarlian know a bit about the Helious family due to Selena's teaching.
"Doesn't your family specialize in blood arts? Are you telling me that you don't use the ones that require actual blood?"
She still remembers him using the art blood spear during their precious contract which made her even more confused.
"Of course, I use such blood arts but only when they require blood that is not mine." Val honestly answered as if it's a matter of common sense.
"What does that mean??" Lucas couldn't help but question.
"Don't mind the details. I also heard that your family has accomplishments in this field. Way higher than mine actually.
I was actually just joking earlier. I just wanted to let the performance belong to the best, and that's naturally you. Please, go ahead."
His explanation was... Well, an art that could leave even the god of speech baffled. He left even Natalia's face twitching.
His lies were horribly obvious. The problem is that they know he knows that as he added with a chuckle of his own.
"Why the baffled faces? I was just trying to be funny, entertaining and change the tense atmosphere lest that tension gets to you.
Entertainment is something you all should learn about, it's the greatest supplement to life."
Natalia really didn't know whether he was serious or not. However, she has a hunch that what he said is true. A family specializing in blood not using other things' blood? Unlikely.
It's not like the Soanov family doesn't partake in similar practices. It's a seeker's duty to have something to seek. Some seek the forbidden.
"I would still like to see the accomplishments of your family though so go ahead."
Even after all he said, he still pushed all responsibility on her because he never really bothered to learn any ether art that requires his blood.
Despite knowing that they might save his life in the future, he still chose not to. Instead, he simply chose the alternative which he prefers not to use in front of the group.
Selena released a sigh while shaking her head, "I really shouldn't have asked. I don't know why I expected anything different."
She then closed her eyes and lifted her hands, bother had output runes on them. They shone emerald green, an enchanting scene of nature forming before her hands as she uttered the required Nether words.
The ether required more than 17 different Nether words, each with different frequencies, yet she finished the casting of the art in a matter of seconds, 5 seconds to be exact.
It all depends on one's proficiency in ether casting and hard work. How much practice they have with the art contributes to how fast and stead they can cast it.
That's extremely important as it could mean the difference between life and death. Seekers can reach states where words can come out of their very soul, and she's approaching that stage.
An emerald green vein formed before her, one that started extending as it made its way towards the door. Gravity had no effect on it as it flew above the ground.
Selena's control over it was also exceptional as the vein wrapped around the doorknob and started turning it, slowly but surely.
Then it started to push the door open, giving a view to what lies inside. Selena hastily dismissed the art lest it consumes more of her ether. Just it existing consume her energy, all due to the resistance the world applies to seekers.
Val really really wanted to utter his observation of her action. He really wanted to remark about art she used which seems to be a high tier one, yet it didn't seem to consume much from her.
The only explanation he could conclude is that her aspect is the same as the aspect of the art she performed. A benefit of seekers' aspect seed if awakened is the extremely low consumption of arts of the same aspect.
Sadly, Val has yet to even create his aspect seed let alone have it be awakened.
Val said nothing as he noticed the group's reaction to what lies inside. It really felt like fate was playing a joke on them, or this is what specter hunters have to face every contract.
Val on other hand thought nothing of it. He felt like it was normal, and he would be surprised if anyone expected otherwise.
Selena took a deep breath before nodding at the calm Natalia. They then moved to each side of the door while keeping a distance from it.
They did their best to look into all sides of the room from outside. Who knows if something is hiding, waiting for an unknowing prey to enter the monster's jaw.
"Lucas! Get it back together. Also, cast whatever ether art you know for safety. Do it now because we likely won't have a chance later." Selena's tone was stern as she did the same as what she advised.
What they found themselves faced with is a man, a hanging dead man.