Born in Blood

Liam broke the chains holding the slaves captive using his sword, then led them towards the carriage the slavers left behind. A large brown-maned steed was still well and able to pull them.

"You're free now. There's a village a few clicks that way."

Liam gestured towards the east while addressing the slaves inside the caravan. Some looked at him with contempt and anger for killing an innocent girl, while the others were just happy they survived.

"They'll give you food and water for work, now move along."

A young man decided to sit in the coachman's seat and steer the carriage, prompting Liam to walk back home. His back displayed a slight loneliness, as his figure disappeared into the thick fog.

***

A few minutes earlier.

Boom!

A figure instantly emerged from the mountain slope, his pale face staring in the direction of the explosion.

He shot out like a bullet towards it, reaching it after a few minutes and finding nothing but dead corpses warming the snow.

He didn't fail to notice the Leader's hand lacking the space-ring he gave him.

"Stupid rats, unable to complete something as trivial as this. They deserve to die." He uttered under his breath, stepping over their dead bodies and trampling them.

The figure's face was seemingly tired, his breath deep and raspy while a frown rested on his face. After investigating the scene, he spotted carriage tracks towards his left, in addition to footsteps to the right.

Instantly, his expression softened into one of understanding.

'The slaves can wait. I want to know who killed my goons.' With that, his legs began to sprint towards the footprints.

***

Liam quickly wiped out the 'Ora' imprint from the Leader's space-ring, before inspecting it.

The space was stacked with different kinds of parchment papers, confusing Liam as to what their purpose was.

Besides that, there were a few 'Ora' stones and some gold. One specific paper caught his attention.

Inspecting it, Liam's eyes widened.

'Isn't this the same parchment as the one from Vamar's ring?'

He took out both from his ring and put them side by side.

Both writings on the leather paper were different from any kind of text he had been familiar with.

It had a series of red diagrams beside each other, each one made from blood.

'It resembles a spell...'

The only thing he could read was a small text at the top, stating its name in the Echorian language.

'Fire Blaze Prototype. Rank-1.'

'Prototype? Wha--!'

Suddenly, thick bloodlust spread from behind him, with noises of quick steps entering his ears.

Clang!

A blood-red odachi -- radiating sharpness and lethality -- smashed against Liam's Night Blades, sending him flying the distance and rolling on the snow.

Had he not shifted himself in time, the blade would've pierced right through his spine.

Liam grunted, before pushing himself off the ground and looking for his attacker.

The man he saw didn't match his image for just how much strength was in the previous strike.

His face was wrinkled and pale as a ghost, his brown eyes drooped while his body was skinnier than a twig.

He took raspy breaths and seemed to be in discomfort, even coughing now and again. He seemed to be in his fifties, with graying sideburns and a sharp beard on his chin.

With an ominous tone and interest gleaming in his eyes, he grinned, "Such reflexes. It's no wonder you killed those weaklings."

He took time to breathe between sentences while scanning Liam's body head to toe.

"Milk has just dried on your lips, and you're already this devilish. I wonder what kind of threat you'll become when you grow older."

Liam grimaced inwardly at the man's condescending tone, but kept a calm face.

'There's a reason he's this cocky, he doesn't even consider me as a threat.'

His mind raced, the air around him turning dark.

'I still have two revitalization pills with me. If I get too injured, I can use it and continue to fight. There's still that unknown pill, but I can't use it unless my life is in danger.'

The pale old man started to chuckle at the sight, his breath wheezing out of control before he forced himself to calm down.

"A cornered mouse will bite the mouser." He stated with a wet cough, taking out a Jade from his ring and throwing it towards Liam.

"Since you've made me laugh, I'll let you live, kiddo. First give me back the space-ring you stole."

Liam had no choice but to comply, catching the Jade and carefully throwing the ring to the man.

"In the off chance that you're curious about those spells, come back here when you're a Magus. The name's Revel."

A sense of relief formed in Liam's heart, but he didn't dare let his guard down, limiting himself to say one word.

"Why?"

The man shifted his solemn gaze towards the night sky -- his eyes brimming with strange emotion -- then looked back at Liam.

"I could use a disciple."

Revel turned around and left at that point, his figure merging with the frosty mist before disappearing.

Liam didn't spare a second and started to run the opposite direction.

'Damn it! I'm still weak!'

He sped up before finally reaching Ucladd's borders, reaching his house, and making his way inside his room through the back window.

He heaved a deep breath as he sat down and inspected his weapons.

The barely used Night Blades had cracks all over its surface, causing Liam to grimace.