Born in Blood



The caravan arrived at its destination shortly after – parking beneath a large hotel-looking building. 

Robert came out and addressed the soldiers, his daughter and wife – who looked vastly out of his league – standing behind him, giving Liam strange looks.

"We'll settle here for the night," said Robert, pointing to the hotel. "Good work, men."

The group entered the building, a well-dressed servant guiding them to their respective rooms.

Liam entered his own, staring at the furnished and luxurious space for barely a moment, before creating space to practice his arts. 

'I didn't get a chance to test out my blood draining spell… but that's probably for the best. Revel kidnapped countless nobles and used it on them… he's definitely first on the most-wanted list,' Liam thought.

Since midnight fell, he began cultivating. 

Two hours quickly passed. Liam felt his core expand ever so slightly, but just like his mental sphere, he didn't feel close to the next stage, let alone a breakthrough.

///

Throughout the next day, Robert made multiple stops throughout the city, visiting various businesses and establishments.

Liam took it upon himself to explore the areas surrounding the city – most shops sold inscribed weapons and armors, but others offered techniques and spells.

During the nights where most soldiers were asleep – and those awake weren't strong – Liam concealed his presence and decided to sneak out, changing into a different pair of clothes. 

He decided to sell his unwanted martial arts and weak techniques – he kept the higher ranked ones, since they could garner unwanted suspicion.

As if his paranoia wasn't enough, Liam made sure to sell in small quantities, and in different shops – adding a hefty sum of 'Ora' Stones into his already huge savings.

It turned out, Erivol citizens really, really hated Ucladdians. The grudge spanned over multiple decades, and not just because of the tournament. 

From what Liam heard, even the ruling patriarchs hated each other, but the validity of that claim wasn't verified.

Meanwhile, there wasn't much to do from Liam's side. The city was safe from any sort of threat, beast or human.

More than once, though, a vindictive group of nobles attempted to scare the group – shouting insults at anyone they could find.

Obviously, they didn't try anything too courageous. Not with the soldiers there… and a strange kid that gave them a blank look, which strangely caused a shiver to run down their spines.

Pretty soon, the week ended, and it was time to head back home. 

Robert had a joyous look on his face. He'd traveled between multiple cities to and fro, but never with so much security and peace. 

The man gathered everyone up early in the morning and set out towards Ucladd.

"I have to be honest, I'd love to have you as my personal guard… although the Reilos family isn't too well known, we could offer high pay," said Robert, conversing with Liam inside his carriage.

"I'm already with the Royce," Liam responded, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the noble in his space. "Plus, it's not like I can even if I wanted to."

Robert wasn't discouraged. In fact, he decided to press a bit harder.

"Lad, I'll cut to the point… what if I offer you my daughter's hand in marriage?" asked Robert with a hopeful look. 

"That way, you won't have to be disloyal to the rulers, and still work for me. Think about it, young man. Her vermillion eyes and scarlet hair, how would your children look? She's a bit older than you, but it isn't a major issue by Echorian law."

Liam felt uncomfortable listening to Robert's description of his daughter… and how far the man peered into an imaginary future. 

His face grew distant as he peered out the window.

Liam had a twisted idea of what love was. 

What even was love, anyway? Was it what Eve held for Liam? But what kind of love was that? Was there a way to measure it? How did it increase? It was too complicated.

'...I'm good, thanks,' Liam thought, his face subconsciously turning cold. 

'What marriage? What children? What wealth? I couldn't care less about your measly ambitions. I'd rather be someone that could splinter a mountain by flicking a finger.'

The atmosphere within the carriage gradually changed, causing beads of cold sweat to run down Robert's face. He grew unnerved, an anxiousness churning within the depths of his soul.

He no longer felt safe inside that carriage.

"N-Nevermind, haha," concluded Robert, shouting for the coachman to stop his carriage so he could exit. "I'll be out of your hair, young man."

Liam remained silent, his gaze fixed towards the window.

For the rest of the ride, no one bothered him.

///

The trip back went relatively safely after the initial attack.

There was a large group of Rank 3 Spit Lizards that would intersect with the caravan's path, which Liam himself decided to take care of – he figured testing out his drain ability on magical beasts was much safer and easier to do.

He separated from his caravan and decided to attack the lizards before they arrived. It didn't take long for Liam to eliminate all of them – Spit Lizards were ridiculously slow, requiring a full minute to charge a powerful stream of water. 

Liam simply killed one, then used its body as a cover for any attacks shot his way, before rinsing and repeating.

Shortly after killing them, he caused his nails to grow black and sharp, piercing the lizards' body with it. 

He felt blood gulping through his fingers and into his bloodstream, which the spell automatically sorted to become nourishment. 

'This really is a masterpiece. Not only does it absorb blood, but it suits it for the human body,' Liam thought. 

After finishing what he needed to do, he dumped the lizards' dry body into a waterbed for other beasts to devour.

Soon, the caravan arrived at Ucladd.

Liam exited his car and so did Robert, but the latter didn't approach too close to him.

"Thank you for your excellent service, young man," he thanked, handing Liam a jade slip, which was the sign of a completed mission.

Liam limited to a nod before returning to his quarters, intent on checking out how Eve was doing.

Before he could, though, his half siblings blocked his path, their personal guards looking uncomfortable standing behind them.

'If I don't slaughter you two in the most painful way imaginable, I won't live with myself.'