The moon hung low over the academy, casting silver shadows across the empty training grounds. Kael stood in the center, heart hammering in his chest, palms still tingling from the earlier awakening. The whispers inside his mind pulsed softly, guiding him, nudging him to explore what had just begun.
"Absorb… evolve… survive…"
He flexed his fingers experimentally, willing the faint crimson glow to respond. A small droplet of blood fell onto the stone, and it shimmered, almost alive. Kael bent down, hesitating for a moment, then touched it. Instantly, warmth surged through his veins. His senses sharpened even further. The breeze carried scents he had never noticed: dew on the grass, the faint metallic tang of blood somewhere in the distance, even the quiet rhythm of his own heartbeat.
"Faster… stronger… adapt."
Kael's legs twitched as he moved, testing his speed. He sprinted across the courtyard, more aware of each step than he had ever been. Every motion was precise, deliberate. He leaped over a fallen training dummy, landed silently, and spun on his heel. It was intoxicating, the feeling of strength born from something forbidden.
He stopped abruptly, his mind racing. This is only the beginning… but if anyone finds out… The thought made him shiver. The elders had always spoken of Bloodline Abilities, of lost Primordial powers, but all were considered myths, erased from history. If someone discovered what he now possessed… Kael might not survive the scrutiny.
He couldn't let that happen. Not yet.
Kael's crimson glow intensified as he focused inward, trying to control the whispers. He experimented with a tiny instinct: the ability to sense life around him. He could feel the movements of rats, bats, even insects nearby, their tiny heartbeats beating in rhythm with the faint pulse of his own blood.
"Good… absorb… evolve."
He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath, and focused on his surroundings. His vision shifted subtly, the air itself seeming to shimmer as if responding to him. A rat scurried across the ground, and he reached out with his mind, not with magic, but instinctively, and the tiny creature froze. Then, as if a command had been whispered, it darted away harmlessly.
Kael opened his eyes, astonished. It listens. It obeys. My blood… it commands.
Hours passed in a blur as he experimented in secret. He cut himself lightly, letting the crimson drops fall onto the stones, and each time, the glow responded, coursing into his muscles, sharpening his senses, and strengthening his body. It was as if he were absorbing life itself, not literally, not yet, but the system inside him demanded adaptation, growth, evolution.
A sudden rustle snapped him out of his concentration. Kael turned sharply. From the shadows, a fox emerged, sleek and cautious. Its amber eyes locked with his. Kael's body reacted instinctively. He raised a hand slowly, heart racing. The fox's fur shimmered faintly in the moonlight, then a thin trail of crimson light extended from his fingers. The creature flinched, then froze.
"Absorb."
Kael hesitated. His mind screamed with caution. It's only an animal… I shouldn't
The whispers were insistent:
"Life… essence… evolve."
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. He focused. A faint warmth passed through the fox, harmless but undeniable. It trembled, then darted away, unharmed, leaving Kael with a shiver of exhilaration and fear.
I can't tell anyone… not yet.
He collapsed onto the cold ground, chest heaving. A faint smile tugged at his lips. I've barely scratched the surface…
In the quiet night, Kael felt something else, an awareness, a presence. Something ancient. He couldn't see it, but the feeling pressed against his mind, subtle yet undeniable. The whispers didn't mention it, but he knew it was watching, waiting.
The boy straightened, determination hardening in his chest. If the world rejects me… I will rise alone. And nothing will stand in my way.
A soft gust of wind rustled the leaves, carrying a faint metallic scent. Kael froze. Somewhere in the distance, a shadow moved unnaturally, watching him. He didn't know who, or what it was. But instinct told him danger was near.
"Adapt… survive."
Kael rose, his body trembling but steady. This night had shown him the first taste of his true potential. The Blood Genesis had awakened, and with it, a power the world had long forgotten.
And somewhere in the darkness, unseen eyes followed, waiting for the right moment to strike.
> The journey has begun. But the world will not wait for him to grow… and neither will his enemies.