Aether Beasts

After Zirani was done explaining everything, Sandra frowned and I could tell through the bond she was frustrated and a bit annoyed.

"Why is it we always run into problem after problem?"

"Bad luck in some cases and curiosity in others," I answered. "I mean it's not like we would have done anything about the slaves if we hadn't tailed the three who harrassed Misty and we wouldn't know about this without Aneva. We could ignore this, but well that's not us."

"True enough." Zirani sighed. "This trip isn't going to be as easy as we first thought. We need to get rid of this danger as soon as we can before it's too late and more people get involved. If this expedition is broken then it's going to be near impossible to get to my lands let alone back to the city."

That was a frightening thought, being stranded in the great scar with no vehicles or idea of where to go. It would basically be a death sentence if this danger didn't get to us first that was. I had tried to contact Aneva while Zirani had been explaining things, but she was still in that forced state of dormancy and no matter how I mentally prodded or poked, she wouldn't wake.

"So what's the plan?" Misty asked.

"We have Aeverie who will be a huge help," Zirani said. "But we should also do what we can. Misty has a connection with the Red Ribbons so she can further pursue that and see if she can find out more about this Alchemist from the vampires. While she does that, I will aid Aeverie, and Sandra can look around the Umbrin."

"Which leaves me," I said. "I guess I should have a look around some of the other groups. I don't think any of them will object."

"Well then." Sandra clapped her hands together. "Should we get to it?"

"It should be time to continue on in a few hours," Zirani said. "So yes, and make sure you're with the right group. Misty sticks with vampires, Sandra with Umbrin, and Aiden you go where you feel you can find something. Our main lead may be the vampires, but we can't rule out the others."

"This means less training doesn't it?" I asked.

She nodded. "Unfortunately yes, but only until this has been resolved, and remember, you don't need me to train. We had this talk a month ago. I will help, but you can and have trained yourselves."

The four of us would split up to do what was needed, and though I knew we would be spending less time together, I wasn't too worried about it since we had our bonds which also made me feel close to all of them. They were all just a thought away.

Before we left, however, we decided to spend the time until we had to move together as we were all comfortable and It would be odd if Misty had only left for a few minutes to come back right away, not that it would really matter. From what Misty told me as we relaxed the vampires had great respect for her, not just because she beat their second but also because of her bloodline which she explained was important to vampires.

"It's sort of like a family name," Misty explained. "The purity and power of your bloodline signify one who is descended from powerful vampires from the common sort, though by descended they mean sired."

"Sired?" Sandra questioned.

"That's when a vampire makes another vampire," Misty said. "Some places don't have rules on it, but others, the few peaceful vampire places and those that allow outsiders, do have rules, and in those placed siring a vampire without permission can lead to ad earth sentence or worse."

"What would be worse?" Sandra asked.

"Slavery," I said, and an odd thought came to mind. "Misty, do vampires drink blood from other vampires, or is that seen as cannibalism?"

"Kin drinkers." She shook her head. "It depends on the place. It can provide a vampire with a boost in strength, though the process is more than just drinking the vampire's blood. It has something to do with the cores and essence as well."

Eventually, the time came for the vehicle to start back up and after confirming each of us knew what we were doing, we split up. Misty headed to the vampires while Sandra made her way to the Umbrin clan. Zirani planned on riding with Aeverie which left me alone, at least for now. I still had to decide where to head.

"You sure you don't want to come along?" Zirani asked for the third time.

"I'd rather not have to deal with Aeverie advances and Julian's glares."

"I'll see you later then." She headed out the door and I leaned back in my seat.

Before I thought about the groups the first thing I did was try to reach about for Aneva, and to my surprise, she was awake now, though in what seemed to be a foul mood.

"Don't bother." She sounded tired and annoyed. "I can't answer any of the questions you're thinking of right now, not even hints."

"Can you at least tell me why you can't tell me?"

"No," she answered. "I should have never said anything, to begin with."

"But then chances are we wouldn't have found out about this danger and would have just gone on as normal right up until it was too late and we died. Remember if i die you die too."

She scoffed. "How could I forget."

"Well since your awake and I'm not leaving until we next stop, how about we begin in on the ways to sense my divine bloodline." I still didn't plan on letting her change my mind, but I would try the meditation and maybe the shock.

"Fine, but the meditation isn't going to lead to anything."

"Well, I can still try," I replied. "What do I need to do."

Aneva sighed but then guided me into a meditative position similar to the one Zirani had me use when she was teaching us the meditation technique for aether absorption. Though this time I wasnt focusing on my core, in fact, my cores would be a problem since whenever I looked inwards it was usually to my cores that had ingrained it in me. I would have to try and ignore them and focus on something deeper still

"Now close your eyes and clear your mind of everything," she said. "Imagine nothing but empty space. Continue to focus and follow my voice, but let it remain as an addition. Don't focus on it. Follow, but don't focus. Now, I doubt anything will happen, but now I want you to think of your divine bloodline. As you've said, you know it's there, and you reached out and touched it before. Do so once again, but this time focus on where it is, create a mental image, a ball of golden power, or whatever suits you."

I took a calming breath and reached out. It took a lot of effort but I finally felt the power, and just like all the previous time before, I barely grasped anything. I followed what she said, and instea of focusing on controlling or pulling, I tried to sense where it had come from.

Minutes passed as nothing happened, and I held back a sigh at the lack of anything.

"I warned you, it's not a quick pathway."

"I know, but I was hoping," I replied, opening my eyes. "Let's try a few more times and if there is no progress then." I hesitated. "Then we'll try the shock."

Each subsequent attempt proved just as fruitless as the first. There were a few times when it seemed like something might happen, a rising feeling, but then it passed and I was once again left with nothing. A few times I also got distracted which meant I had to start over. I could see how it might work over a long period of time, but I didn't want to wait that long, which meant it was time to move on.

"Are we done now?" Aneva said impatiently?

"Do you have somewhere else to be?" I asked. "I did say you could walk around as long as you are invisible but we're moving."

"I simply tire of this." She sighed. "So, are we done, or are you finally going to try another method, like you should have from the start."

"Fine." I raised my hands "Let's try the shock, but I swear if I feel any pain then our deal is done."

"Of course." She smiled. "No pain, but there will be plenty of discomfort."

I shook my head and was about to allow her to manifest when a sudden blaring alarm sounded around me. The room flashed red for a second and I was on my feet in the next, confused as to what was happening. Then Zirani sent me a mental message and my hands tightened into fists.

"Beast attack."