Born in Blood



Liam inspected the dagger from different angles.

'That's definitely why it worked. I barely adjusted the meanings and writings…'

'There's no other difference between this and normal magical beast parts except that. Besides, my entire inscription method is focused on blood, it's no wonder it had such an amazing effect.'

Liam grew pensive.

Doesn't that mean his inscriptions could be realms above others as long as he used corrupted beast parts? 

Though, he would have to hold back his Primordial Forging technique in order not to suffer the corruption effects of the blood.

'A perfect forged item would be one with both Primordial Forging and Blood Weaving working together… but I guess that's not possible.'

But Liam thought about the availability of mutated and corrupted magical beasts. 

'I shouldn't depend too heavily on it. I'll continue normal studies on the side, until I figure out how to weave the two together.'

Finally, after another two hours of cultivating and expanding his mental sphere, it was time to leave.

"Me and Nord will go explore the village. You three stay behind and focus on… whatever it is you're doing," Liam said to Rin, Gerald and Nessa.

Rin quickly gestured to Nessa: 'Tell him I want to come too.'

"No."

Liam's answer was immediate, causing the purple-haired girl to raise her brows.

He had already figured out the sign language Rin and Nessa used between themselves. 

He didn't want any plans made behind his back, and knowing it could help speed up their communications by plenty.

Mental transmission didn't work well with her for some reason. Although she could receive them, she couldn't relay them back.

The sea of consciousness expanded and developed from the brain, and by extension, the senses had to be functional before it awakened. 

"You stay back with them in case there's an attack. They're weaker compared to you."

Nessa and Gerald looked offended for a split second, but didn't say anything.

Rin remained silent, before gesturing with a slight smile. 'Why didn't you tell me you understood me? I would've asked about your forging technique even more.'

Liam shook his head with a sigh, before leaving through the front door.

Nord lingered for a bit and gave the remaining three a proud smirk. 

"Hear that, losers? I'm the one he took with him."

Rin's eyes turned cold as she slapped her left hand over her right elbow – her right fist clenched – a universal sign that needed no explanation.

///

Liam and Nord climbed up the mountain again, looking over the village again.

Perhaps because of their time to sleep, there weren't too many people traversing its dark streets. 

[Only use mental transmission,] Liam relayed with a focused face, his blades stored in his ring. [And don't wield your glaive. If they're normal humans, we could ask them questions.]

Nord gave him a firm nod from the side, before the two began treading down the slope.

As they got closer to the thick walls surrounding the space, Liam remarked the stains of dried blood all around it. 

They belonged to corrupted beasts, he realized.

'Someone killed them,' Liam's focus grew sharper. Suddenly, he felt like he was being watched. [Be careful. There's someone around we need to be worried about.]

[Who?] Nord relayed. 

[I don't know. Chances are, they're watching right now. Just act normal until they make a move, and don't make it look like we're communicating.]

Nord was smart enough not to nod in response.

Still, the thick black border walls were made from normal obsidian stone, the same material as the mountains.

The pair climbed over with a strong leap, then dropped down with a light step on wet, cultivated fields – atop which lay strange fruit that Liam didn't recognize at all.

They were white and droplet shaped, but had a strange energy around them.

At the same time, Liam noticed how the sounds of thunder and lightning had been muted, replaced by a quiet stillness.

[Someone's coming,] Nord warned with a slight frown. 

[It's a normal farmer. Put on a smile,] Liam replied.

Opposite to them, an old man wearing a non-la cap and loose farming clothes came to the fields, when his squinted eyes spotted Liam and Nord, he flinched backwards, fear growing on his face. 

"Greetings, senior!" Liam smiled warmly and made a friendly wave. "Can you help us out? We've lost our way."

A chill ran down Nord's spine at Liam's sudden personality change. If he didn't know any better he would've imagined it to be genuine.

The farmer looked like he didn't understand, shooting Liam and Nord a skeptical gaze. 

Seeing that their words received no response, Liam tried the vampiric language. "Do you understand me now?"

A look of surprise fell on the man's face. He smiled, displaying his toothless mouth.

"...I do". he responded in the same tongue, suspicion lessening. "Sorry I got scared, it's just I haven't seen you two before. Are you with the Outsiders?"

Liam waved a dismissive hand. "No, it's my fault for showing abruptly and unannounced… but yes, I am."

The old farmer beamed. 

"Wonderful! It's a bit early this year, but who will you bring out this time? Also, where's Niveh and Shirzx?"

Liam pursed his lips. 

Nord looked confused. Unlike Liam, he hadn't spent a day in language class, and thus didn't understand a single word. He simply played along and put on a forced smile.

"Why don't you show me around and I can pick from there? I'm filling in for them at the moment, but don't worry, they'll return."

Liam's gentle smile seemed to melt away the man's skepticism and worry. Although the boy's accent was a bit off, he pronounced the words perfectly.

"Alright," the old man nodded excitedly. "I'll gather all the children around and bring them to you."

Liam suppressed a deep frown from appearing on his face.

'Children? Outsiders? Has this person never gone outside?'

The man turned around and used his hands to amplify his voice. 

"Wake up, everyone! The Outsiders ha—"

Abruptly, the man froze, his movements tensing.

A bad feeling churned in Liam and Nord's chest, the hair on their skin rising.

The man's neck slowly creaked a whole 180 with a deathly look on his face.

Both of them contemplated unsheathing their weapons that instant, but a moment later, the man's head rolled off his neck with a burst of blood.