The moment her fingers touched the orb, Serena felt a tingle run up her arm. It wasn't unpleasant, nor did it burn, sting or itch. Instead, she just got the impression that the sensation had been transmitted directly to her brain and even her very soul via her fingertips. A second later, the glow dimmed slightly before vanishing, which suggested whatever energy the orb contained now flowed through her instead.

Before she could linger on it for more than a few seconds, another strange occurrence happened. Before her eyes was a semi-transparent blue curtain or sheet. When she focused on it, it covered much of what she could perceive but when she tried to dismiss it, it shrunk and drifted to the upper left corner of her sight before dimming.

What in the worlds is this?

Serena had never experienced such an unnatural event like this. It reminded her faintly of the paper screen doors of the Celestial Imperial Palace and she treated the screen, as she decided to name it, with caution.

Words began to be written over it, revealing something rather alarming.

Through the act of interfering with the sacrificial ritual devoted to Balar, you have stirred the ancient being from his torpor though only a small amount. By accessing the mana and taking it for yourself you are-

The screen went black as if it was shut down by some outside force. Chills swept through her body and the very air seemed to drop several degrees.

“No.”

It was a simple word spoken by Ravana, but Serena could practically sense his loathing and rage coming off him. She glanced back at Mint, who was blissfully unaware of the calamity unfolding. "Care to elaborate on the rejection," she asked carefully.

"Some mongrel is trying to approach you. I will not allow any of these weaklings to mess with my plans," Ravana said slowly.

That didn't sound good.

"I'm going to ignore your attempt to manipulate my situation because I am already aware of how little I currently know of the area."

Ravana seemed satisfied with her answer. "You should be more cautious. Had I known that acquiring the mana here would attract the backward and pathetic attempts at some kind of higher power in this insignificant world, I would not have told you to do that. That creature may seem harmless, but it is no doubt plotting against us."

Her mind flashed briefly to the words that had appeared across the screen. She knew that Ravana would use anything to get under her skin. However both of them were unfortunately bound to the other, and so they would need to come to terms and find some mutual agreement. No doubt Ravana had planned to discuss such a thing once they arrived in some safe area.

"Well? What did the mana feel like?" Ravana asked curiously. His voice sounded odd as if he was containing his true thoughts and emotions regarding it. He didn't seem particularly surprised about what happened and treated it like it was something he expected. As much as she wanted to ask why she knew better than to pester him right now. Not when he appeared so intent on her answer. "I would imagine it would be some kind of Sanguine Affinity at the very least."

"Sanguine Affinity?" Serena questioned, her voice distant to her ears.

"The affinity for Blood Magic and Blood Manipulation. Necromancy or plant-specific affinities would have been another possibility but unlikely." Ravana explained, his voice sure.

The information that had been transferred to her did include flashes of insight into bloodletting of self and others, along with some basic spells and rituals. Blood would enhance the power and effectiveness of her spells and crafting more now, though it would be trial and error to use them practically in battle.

Using blood was seen as a primal or even primitive skill set by her kinsmen, and she couldn't quite shake the thought of how it would be seen if she used it.

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"Yes, I acquired the Sanguine Affinity."

Her mind still felt fuzzy and disjointed, and the last few hours were beginning to catch up with her. The amount of time she spent crafting, exploring, and generally trying to survive would take a toll on anyone—and she hadn't slept properly since coming here. Her fatigue must have shown in her response because Ravana sighed heavily.

"Rest when we get to this village. There we can plan and talk in length."

Serena nodded and walked away from the tree. Once outside the ring, she looked back to see if any signs remained of what had transpired there. Mint was too busy being curious and was investigating the tree that was no doubt angered by what she had done.

"He's going to get himself killed," Serena muttered. It was like herding cats with this pixie.

"Let him die," came the ever so helpful response from Ravana. "We just need to find a road and follow it. He has fulfilled his promise to the best of his limited ability."

She didn't even have time to counter that the tree turned vicious. The creature let out an enraged roar that sent chills down her spine.

Roots pierced the ground and shattered the stone slabs. The sudden action caught Mint by surprise as he was smacked down to the ground by some of the colorful vines.

As soon as they hit the ground, the roots began wrapping themselves tightly around the pixie. They held tight while he struggled against their hold until finally the root wrapped itself completely around his body and pulled him closer. Then, without warning, the entire mass of roots broke free, leaving Mint trapped within its grasp.

It was then that the branches lashed out and grabbed both of his wings, pulling him towards the base of the tree where the trunk met the ground. His struggles grew weaker, and he could feel the life slowly draining from him. A second branch reached down and lifted him higher before slamming him into the bark of the tree.

Serena sighed bitterly and reached for some pouches on the side of her backpack. Both of them were easy to reach and contained very separate categories of crafted items that she had hoped to avoid using for as long as possible.

A small pouch at her belt contained a handful of vials containing different liquids ranging from acid to fire. Another larger bag was stuffed with various types of potions that varied in color, size, and potency. All of which she needed to use now.

With shaking hands, she poured two of each liquid into a glass vial. One bottle contained the corrosive acid she'd made herself; the other was a small cylinder of a silvery liquid. It was a volatile mixture that would burst into flames at the slightest hit and was used as a thrown weapon by itself.

When the contents were ready, she gently shook the unstable creation and tossed it toward the trunk. When the projectile landed, the chemical reaction inside caused the container to explode, bursting into silver flames that quickly consumed the tree. Parts of the vines that trapped Mint fell to the ground, writhing in agony before being reduced to ash.

Serena carefully cut away the vines wrapped around the pixie and picked him up. She cradled his body to her chest and glanced over him to see how badly he was injured. Thankfully, most of his burns seemed superficial but not all. His wingtips and arms had been burned, causing him great pain. Bruises colored his pale skin, creating an uneven splotching against the green scales. He had fallen unconscious so he wasn't aware of the depth of his pain, but the tiny young man moaned in his sleep.

Her eyebrows furrowed and she became hesitant about how best to attend to him. She tentatively touched his chest, noting where there were some wincing, and Serena feared one of his ribs was worse off than she would have liked.

While he rested in her lap, she examined the rest of the area. Her attention focused on a nearby pile of stones and dirt that was left behind after the tree's demise. With trembling fingers, she dug through the rubble and found several pieces of wood.

One of these was a piece of bone, and another was part of a leg. The last item was a single tooth, and upon examination, it appeared to be human.

That explained why the tree had attacked her friend. There must've been some kind of connection between it and the human sacrifices.

After making sure her vials were carefully placed on some belts for easy access, Serena wrapped alchemically produced [Burn Salve], [Medicinal Ointment], and [Medical Linen] around his body and wings. He resembled something that had been mummified in a particular way than anything alive, but the slight rise and fall of his chest reassured her.

“You are too soft,” Ravana mused. He didn’t seem to care for her decision on sparing him. "For your sake, I hope the destruction of some local ritual site isn't connected to you."

"I wasn't going to let someone associated with an Archfey be killed," She said, and judging by the slight return to normal temperature, the monster was appeased.

Ravana's voice was light and amused. "I see. You intend to have the pest feel he owes you a life debt. At the very least, he would be more favorable to you and would sing your praises to his superiors."

Serena nodded slowly. "Yes… That is what I'm hoping."

"It would seem that we will have a promising and beneficial relationship."

Her gaze darkened as she held the boy to her. Her gaze went to a dirt road that led to this ritual site before following it.

That's what I'm hoping for.