Born in Blood



Liam couldn't help but feel excited going back to the academy. 

'There's much to do. I haven't even begun forging something suitable for my prowess. I can probably match Rogan's blades now.'

Although the level of experience was vastly less, Liam had the King's Eye. Not to mention, Rogan didn't have the 'cook' method Liam had invented. 

Out of all his new advancements and progress, Blood Weaving was still the area he most improved in. Liam smiled just thinking about it. 

'I'm also close to the middle-stage of the Rank 3 body. It'll take a week or so to get past that point.'

Liam remembered the 'House of Honor' over the Hole.

'I should be strong enough for that now, right?'

///

A week passed. 

The train had finally arrived at the underwater terminal. 

Liam and the rest had promptly exited. 

There wasn't much that changed inside the academy while he was gone. It looked the exact same, but it looked like most of the students were on break.

The giant bubble was still holding strong, but the few students lingering around the terminal looked much stronger compared to before.

They gave Liam and his group shocked looks, as though they had grown another head.

"I guess we depart from here," Nord said solemnly, his gaze forward. "It was a fun journey, but I'm sure we won't see each other anymore."

"Probably not," Liam confirmed casually as he began to walk to his dorms, but the others were headed in the same direction.

"I'll be here until I graduate, maybe accept a high ranking position in the Royal army. Deafie is obviously heading back to the dragon. What about you, Lawrence?" the delinquent asked curiously, dodging the kick aiming for the back of his head.

Despite the squabble, they were still curious as to what Liam was going to answer with. 

"The Celestial Ranks."

"Thought so," Nord and Rin nodded to themselves. 'Touching' the stars only meant one thing, after all.

Nessa gave the three youths a quiet side glance. Although she didn't approve of their maniacal personalities, they made her realize the harsh truth of the cultivation world. 

"Thank you. I will repay the safety you all have given me if my family ever grows."

Exchanging a solemn nod with the group, Nessa departed. 

From there, Rin and Nord left after exchanging a few more words, and Liam was alone once again. 

Just how he liked it. 

Nord and Rin's personalities weren't too annoying compared to the snobby nobles… but he wouldn't deliberately become friends with them just because of that. 

'I haven't been teleported to the Headmaster's office yet. I'll meet with him later. First, I'll wait for the rewards.'

As he made his way towards his accommodation, Liam garnered more than a few strange looks from the passing students. 

"The Golden-Eyed Vagrant is back!" a shocked voice shouted in the distance.

Liam felt his headache worsen. 

Scowling, he quickly found his dorm and entered.

The small house had not changed in the least during his time abroad, which relieved him quite a bit. 

Although he wanted to get straight into forging and inscribing, Liam didn't have any materials on hand. In the first place, he wouldn't start anything before receiving his rewards.

'Also, I'm going to need the third Psionic Rune…' 

That would undoubtedly reveal his new status as a Rank 2 Magus, but then again, it was just a matter of time before it got out anyway.

Liam made his way to the basement, then steeled his gaze and heaved a slight breath. 

"You're watching, right?" 

Liam seemingly spoke to himself. 

Silence answered his question.

"Don't be difficult… tell me what you want. Didn't you tell me we'll talk more?"

Silence.

Liam clicked his tongue in annoyance. He spent the next few minutes speaking to himself, but nothing useful came out of it. 

In the end, he just began cultivating out of frustration.

///

Two hours passed. 

Still, his rewards didn't arrive.

Frowning, Liam decided to leave his house and head towards Reye's office, but when he opened the door, the Headmaster was looking straight at him with a sly smile.

"Miss Kalia thoroughly praised your work. May I come in?"

Liam softened his grimace and nodded, then stepped aside for the man to enter. 

He half expected the Headmaster to be pissed off at him for Gerald's death, but Reye didn't bat an eye.

"This place is a mess… how can you call this a home?" Reye asked with furrowed brows, looking at the scattered piles of clothes and misplaced furniture. 

"I have no time for cleaning."

Reye opened his mouth to reprimand him, but shook his head and gave up. 

"I'm honestly relieved you're back. Most of the teachers haven't been briefed on your mission, and that damn Janice has been pestering me constantly about where you went."

The Headmaster's tone grew angrier as he spoke, but then calmed himself down seeing the weirded out look on Liam's face.

A moment later, he took out three individual rings from his pockets.

Liam's eye flashed with greed for a split second.

"Relax," the Headmaster said, noticing the look. "Not all three of these are yours."

Liam looked dejected, but the Headmaster shook his head.

"I'm here to grant you a choice between three options."

Noticing Liam's confused expression, Reye began with an explanation.

"Your achievements in the Korsan Lands have been nothing short of amazing, and it wouldn't fit the Royals not to graciously reward you for it. Kalia simply thought you would be the type to appreciate a choice."

Smart of her.

Reye began to explain the choices.

"As a general reward, you'll be given a base reward of 450k 'Ora' Stones, four Rank 3 spells, a Rank 4 martial art, and a Rank 3 cultivation technique of your choosing." 

Liam was about to interject. The rewards were basically the same as before, but Reye stopped him instantly.

"You have the choice between a base Rank 5 tempering method, not attuned with your element, or a Rank 4 darkness cultivation technique, or a darkness spell that progresses with your mental sphere."