Born in Blood



Liam was now a little more than 14 years old. 

There was no pumpkin pie or hug of warmth for celebration. 

In fact, Liam didn't even celebrate.

That sentiment had died with Eve, replaced with a merciless drive to move forward.

Currently, Liam was in his basement holding a pair of blades, standing opposite to a bulky, steel-reinforced training dummy.

Liam looked taller by several inches, with his broad shoulders and lean body highlighting his growing physique. 

His lustrous blonde hair was shortened, reaching just below his neck. 

Inspecting the katana and wakizashi in his hands, he grinned. 

It was a Rank 2 lower-tier item!

Glowing, blood-red writings riddled their surface and gave the blades a dangerous air. 

Liam made significant progress during the peaceful period. 

There was no fighting, cursing or pain… of course, besides the cuts and migraines Liam inflicted on himself.

His core was slowly approaching the peak of the solid-stage, thanks to the 'Ora' Well's benefits. 

His body had long entered the middle-tier of the third Rank, and more than half of his body could turn to mist. 

Liam hadn't left the House of Honor for months on end, only leaving to buy pills or elixirs.

Despite this, his reputation in the academy had not diminished in the least.

Nobody dared to challenge him after what had happened to the Voist family heir. 

Rishe had lost face… in more ways than one. 

He didn't make his presence known after the duel, but Liam could guess he was scheming a way to get back at him.

In the third month of Liam's seclusion, Nord had visited him with a proposal.

10,000 'Ora' Stones in exchange for him to stay in his mansion. 

He wouldn't interfere in any of Liam's studies or work, and quietly cultivate in some unused room.

After some thought, Liam agreed, but for a completely different reason than money.

With Nord's simple personality, the boy wasn't capable of scheming anything.

A few weeks after that, Rin appeared and proposed the same thing.

Liam declined, but the deaf girl offered twice Nord's amount, which gave her a place in the house.

Meanwhile, the academy had split into two factions.

Purists, consisting of nobles who protested against the results of the duel and a peasant from inhabiting the House of Honor. 

And reformists, consisting of commoners who opposed the nobles and called out their victim mentality.

One thing was for sure, it was a sign for Liam to leave. 

Although he wanted to stay for another year and indulge in the academy's facilities, the heat on his back was growing hotter.

Teachers and students were asking questions of his origins, Kalia had visited more than once, and his professors were beginning to grow suspicious of his abilities.

That, paired with Rishe's silence, gave Liam the heads-up he needed.

'If I stay another three months, I could probably break through to the second Rank of the core… but it's risky.'

In situations where his freedom was under threat, Liam would rather not gamble.

Not to mention, there wasn't anything important to learn knowledge wise within the academy. A fourth year curriculum didn't exist.

It was regretful, since Liam hadn't visited the inheritance site Veila had promised at the end of the year, but a necessary sacrifice nonetheless.

Putting those thoughts aside, Liam's eye fixed to the two meter large steel dummy in front of him.

SHING!

In an instant, Liam's form blurred, reappearing behind the dummy… which now lacked an upper body.

KRSH!

With a metallic crash, the dummy fell stiffly on the basement floor.

Liam examined his blades after the attack. The inscriptions and materials held strong, with minor nicks on the edges.

'Good enough.'

Liam then spread his mental waves around himself and thought of a specific image, then activated the King's Eye.

Compared to the industrial surroundings a moment ago, it now resembled the Headmaster's office, complete with ornate furniture and paintings on its ethereal wooden walls.

Illusions had their limits. 

With a closer look, anyone could tell the construction was fake due to the missing details.

Not only that, but it only covered a small portion of his surroundings.

'I've gotten good enough with it… it's about time I leave.'

Liam left the basement and gathered both Rin and Nord to a private and isolated room.

The red-eyed boy looked stronger and more matured compared to a year ago, and his hardened gaze showed it.

Rin was the same, only she resembled more of a woman instead of a tomboy, with her growing violet hair and matured features. 

Most of her coldness had melted away at that point, and she didn't glare as much around the two.

"I need you two to do me a favor," Liam asked with an even tone, making the pair raise their brows.

"What?" Nord asked curiously.

"Don't leave this place unless someone forces you to. Skip a few classes too. Also, swap your tokens with mine."

"You two can have the House."

Nord was confused and visibly shocked, but knew better than to ask questions and receive a vague answer. 

Rin mirrored the same look, but even a blind man could see his unwavering decision to leave and never come back.

She tried to grasp any emotion from his stern expression, but couldn't find any. 

In the end, they both nodded and gave their tokens to him. Rin was reluctant at first, but she could claim for a new one with the correct excuse.

"Good luck with… whatever you're trying to do. I guess this is goodbye," Nord said with a solemn tone.

Liam remained silent. Sentimentality wasn't really his strong suit.

"You can enter your rooms now."

The two lingered for a second, staring silently at him. 

After exchanging a nod, the two left and entered their rooms.

Liam heaved a sigh, hid his presence, then activated the Shadow Clone spell. 

Slowly, the layers of darkness separated from his body and started to form a clone. 

Upon its completion, Liam carefully shaped his mental energy and applied it to the clone's entire figure. 

He did the same to his own body, then activated the King's Eye.

Instantly, Liam's appearance changed to Nord's, and his clone became the spitting image of Rin.