While sitting in the carriage Leylin felt a strange resonance in his blood, a subtle pull when he looked at Ivy.
"Do I feel this way because she's like me?" he murmured, his voice soft but probing, his heart quickening with curiosity. "Someone with a Warlock bloodline…"
The connection was fleeting, a whisper of kinship, but it fueled his resolve to study her blood, a key to his Saint Knight experiments and unlocking the secrets of bloodline a bit further.
"Let's go!" Anna's voice was gentle, warm with reassurance as she clasped Ivy's small hand, guiding her into the noble carriage.
Leylin reclined inside, the velvet cushions cradling him, his eyes closing as the carriage swayed toward the Great Canyon Margaret.
His heart was calm, the destination aligning with his plans, making Ivy's delivery no burden.
"Ivy," he said, his voice low and deliberate, a trace of intrigue softening its edge, "I have some interest in your family's bloodline. I require you to coordinate with me on some experiments, do you understand?"
His words hung in the air, heavy with purpose, and Ivy's body quivered, her breath catching.
"As you wish, Lord!" she replied after a long pause, her voice shaky but resolute, fear and respect warring in her tone. Leylin's heart flickered with approval, her obedience a small victory, though a pang of guilt stirred for her fear.
"Hm," he grunted, his voice neutral, closing his eyes again, the carriage's rhythm lulling him into quiet contemplation.
As darkness fell, too deep for travel, the group camped, raising tents in a tight circle. Four young Knights patrolled the perimeter, their armor glinting, their eyes sharp to ensure Leylin's rest.
The wilderness stretched endlessly around the campsite, a sea of shadowed grasses swaying under a sky strewn with stars, the air sharp with the bite of a freezing night.
A blazing bonfire crackled at the camp's heart, its golden flames casting fleeting warmth against the chill, illuminating the faces of Leylin's retinue with a flickering glow.
Tents dotted the clearing, sturdy canvas shelters for the Knights, one shared by Anna and Ivy, and a larger one for Leylin, its entrance framed by the fire's light. The scent of woodsmoke mingled with the savory aroma of grilling meat and simmering broth, a comforting counterpoint to the wild's untamed edge.
Leylin sat cross-legged on a white sackcloth spread over the grass, his black hair lustrous in the firelight, his handsome face serene as he meditated.
Ivy Langster, the last scion of the Langster Family, sat nearby, her small frame huddled close to the fire, her sapphire eyes reflecting the flames.
The Langster Family, a minor Warlock lineage, had dwindled to near obscurity, their incomplete meditation technique lost two centuries ago in a tragic accident. Rumors of their legacy lingered, but the thinning of their Warlock bloodline and the absence of an official Magus had relegated them to the Magus World's fringes.
A family clinging to scraps. Without suitable meditation techniques, Warlocks were shackled by their bloodline, unable to wield the mind runes of Acolytes, and the Langsters' reliance on orphan Acolytes like Miles had barely sustained them.
Ivy carries the Langster blood, a nobility once now a shackle, a tight grib squeezing the life out of their descendants.
Miles, the white-bearded Acolyte who had died protecting her, had been a loyal housekeeper, fighting to deliver Ivy to safety after the Yale family's brutal war obliterated the Langsters.
One month ago, and she lost everything. Ivy, now in Leylin's care, was the final thread of the Langster bloodline, a fragile link to a fading legacy.
Anna tended a metal pot over the fire, the broth's rich aroma mushroom and meat blending with the sizzle of barbecued meat and grilled fish skewered on forked branches.
Golden grease dripped, hissing in the flames, and Ivy, seated nearby, stared at the food, her hunger evident as she swallowed hard.
Leylin soon completed his meditation and opened his eyes.
Behind him, Greem and Dexter stood, their Grand Knight auras steady, their faces etched with loyalty.
"Milord," Greem said, his voice deep and earnest, a spark of curiosity in his eyes, "about the Saint Knight meditation technique… how does it differ for us?"
Dexter nodded, his tone eager, "We lack the spiritual talent of a Magus, but can we truly harness such power?"
Leylin's lips curved into a faint smile,"Knights don't have the spiritual talent for magic like a Magus," he said, his voice rich with knowledge, "but as Grand Knights, your spiritual force is three or four times that of a normal human. The issue lies in your magic circulation, it's inadequate for crafting runes needed to study spell models." He paused, his eyes glinting with revelation. "But if you refine your magic nodules, practice to increase spiritual force, and carve a circulation path with runes and reagents, you could channel an unbelievable force through your bodies. It's akin to a Knight's life seed, but this power could rival a Magus."
Greem's eyes widened, his voice fervent, "So we could stand against a Magus?"
Dexter added, his tone hopeful, "What reagents would we need, Milord?"
"Patience," Leylin said, his voice warm but firm, a spark of amusement in his tone. "The reagents are complex, I need to research bloodline essences, rare herbs, and enchanted metals. The runes require precision, etched with spiritual force. It's a long path, but you're capable." His heart swelled with their enthusiasm, their questions sharpening his own vision.
"Refine your spiritual nodules daily, I have already added some notes in your meditation techniques." he advised, his tone encouraging, "and I'll guide you as we secure the materials."
"Thank you, Milord," Greem said, his voice thick with gratitude, bowing deeply, his heart alight with purpose. "We'll deliver great results, I swear it."
Dexter echoed, "Your faith in us drives us forward," his tone vibrant with resolve, their loyalty a tangible force.
"Master… the broth is ready…" Anna's voice was soft, as she scooped a steaming bowl, adding grilled fish and barbecued meat, presenting it to Leylin with a bow.
Her care was evident, her heart in every gesture, and Leylin smiled, his voice gentle, "You've worked hard."
The words carried a rare warmth, and Anna smiled, "It's my honor, Master." She retreated, distributing broth to the others, her movements graceful.
Leylin poured the meat broth into his mouth, the warm, savory blend of mushroom and meat bursting across his palate, a fleeting comfort that eased the night's chill.
His heart lightened, the simple pleasure grounding him. He glanced at Ivy, clutching her bowl but hesitating, her eyes darting to him.
'Waiting for permission.' he thought, a faint sigh escaping, his voice heavy with acknowledgment. Only after he took his first bite did she eat, her dry rations and broth a stark contrast to her past as a Warlock heiress.
'Once a princess, now a survivor.' he mused, his heart stirring with a mix of pity and realization of cruel fate that binds all living beings.
"After you're done eating, Anna, bring her to my tent," he said, his voice calm but firm, "I need a sample of her blood."
The night grew colder, the bonfire's warmth faltering against the wilderness's bite. Inside Leylin's tent, insulated by thick canvas and warmed by a small brazier, the air was cozy, lulling the senses.
Ivy entered, led by Anna, her silhouette shivering, her hands clutching her skirt, pale ankles exposed. Fear clouded her beautiful eyes, but Anna's gentle grip steadied her, her voice soothing,
"It's alright, Ivy." Leylin smiled sensing her nervousness, and he spoke softly, his voice reassuring, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Come here and pull up your sleeve."
Ivy hesitated, then obeyed, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a jade-white arm, her breath hitching. "It's going to hurt a little, but don't be afraid," Leylin said, his voice gentle, producing a large needle, its gleam catching the brazier's light.
Ivy trembled, her fear palpable, and Anna knelt beside her, her voice warm, "It's okay, don't worry, child. You're a child of destiny to have met the kindness of Milord, just do as he says."
Leylin rolled his eyes, a wry amusement in his chest, She sounds like a swindler, but her words worked, Ivy extending her arm with a shaky nod.
The needle pierced her vein, and Ivy winced, her face crumpling as if she might cry, but she held strong.
He drew the blood swiftly, his movements precise, and waved Anna to take her back.
"Am I the villain for her now?" he murmured, his voice a mix of self-mockery and unease, rubbing his chin as he studied the needle.
The "you bullied me" look in Ivy's eyes was quite amusing.
"A.I. Chip, begin the experiment, prepare the microscope," he said, his voice turning solemn, shaking off the daze. His slender hands moved with expert grace, like a dancer weaving through a complex pattern, setting up the analysis with practiced ease. By morning, a pink liquid gleamed in a vulcanized tube, and Leylin's expression was unreadable, a mix of curiosity and frustration.
"A.I. Chip, scan!" he commanded, his voice sharp with anticipation, a blue glow flashing in his eyes as it swept the test-tube.
[Beep! Detected a trace of ancient creature's bloodline in the drop of blood. Pala Night Hawk! Unable to purify further!] The report was a blow, and Leylin's lips pressed thin, his voice low, "Unable to purify, at least for now."
Ivy did carry a trace of an ancient bloodline, a pity that the inheritance of the Pala Night Hawk bloodline ends with her. The traces had already thinned to the absolute minimum and only a bit of aura could be extracted from her blood but it did not have many uses.
"From this density, even if Ivy was completely exsanguinated, or made to bleed some blood from time to time, it wouldn't be enough to even purify a single drop of the pure ancient bloodline."
However, Leylin did not feel particularly disappointed.
Leylin has something that can change this situation. That is the Bloodline Crystals. He can use this to increase the purity of bloodline.
'Looking at her bloodline density, I would need to exhaust a large amount to help her breakthrough as a warlock, even then she will at most only be able to purify her Bloodline to a Level 3 Acolytes.'
Bloodline crystals is a rare item, especially in Southern Coast where the resources are scars. The idea of using such an item on someone to reach just Acolytes level is preposterous.
Leylin knows that he cannot help Ivy much, the price was very disproportionate to the results. She cannot use any other meditation techniques either, For her it's either a Warlock or a normal human.