To understand why Jester now stood in Aurora—and why he even had a body to inhabit—one had to trace events back a few hours earlier.
*
Michael exhaled and willed the skill to activate.
His body trembled as blood essence seeped from his skin, followed by torrents of mana and, finally, a shard of his very soul. Pain stabbed through him, nearly buckling his knees, but he held firm as flesh, bone, and veins wove themselves into form from the crimson mist.
He quickly realized he could strengthen the vessel further by pouring in more essence—but the backlash was immediate. His own attributes dimmed.
Immediately, Michael stopped the reckless drain.
Michael exhaled sharply as the last threads of essence settled into the forming figure. The crimson mist solidified into pale flesh, long dark hair cascaded down its back, and faint green light flickered in its eyes—an eerie, younger reflection of his own.
