196. Naive?
I brought Saffron back to Mavos Academy. The noble woman was exhausted her [Bloodlust] Skill expended a lot of her energy and impaired her cognitive abilities, just a few of several side effects of the temporary power boost. It wasnt like my [Demonic Essence] Skill, which didnt really have any side effects. Like, at all.
It was a very good Racial Skill and I was glad I got it. It could still be improved. I could only stay in my five-ard form for about six hours before I turned back. Although, that was before the Skill leveled up.
Saffron collapsed onto her bed imdiately, passing out. I left her room, returning to the sofa. I was kind of exhausted as well, and since I couldnt transform out of [Partial Mortality] just yet, aning I wouldnt be able to stay up all night and study, so I went to sleep.
--
Here you go.
I blinked, looking up as Saffron handed a vial to . I peered into the liquid inside of the glass. It was crimson like the twilight sky, yet there were dark clouds bubbling up within it. A gray sar moved about the liquid, alive, electric, bouncing from its fringes to the center of the red pool.
Whats this?
Tempest-fused blood, procured as I promised I would. For your Potion of Regeneration.
The noble woman set it down on the table as I lowered my textbook on the basics of weapon enchanting and all that it entailed. My eyes widened, and I excitedly grabbed the vial.
You got this, for ?!
I said I would, did I not? A noble always keeps her promises.
She snorted. I nodded eagerly.
Yep, yep. Well, except for the one ti you didnt by almost outing to Valda. That was yesterday.
Lets not talk about that.
Saffron was just as upset about it as I was. She looked like she was slightly ashad of her own actions. But things worked out in the end, and she was now my companion. As my companion, she was kind enough to get tempest-fused blood, one of the most important ingredients for the creation of a Potion of Regeneration.
Woah.
I held it up, eyeing the moving liquid.
Be careful with it. That vial is made out of special antimagic glass. Its not as effective as banclite, but it is enough to suppress the effects of the tempest-fused blood from bursting out.
Bursting out?
Yes. Blood becos tempest-fused blood when exposed to a mana storm. Well, any liquid, really. When it becos tempest-fused, it contains the power of the storm within itself. It explodes with lightning, zapping things that co close to it until it expends all the mana it absorbed.
Huh.
I gently lowered the vial.
And whats a mana storm?
Its a natural disaster. Like a powerful volcanic eruption or a terrible tsunami. It is rare. Very rare. It happens only when the stars themselves fall from the sky, marking the earth with its radiance and light.
Wait
I cocked my head.
The stars can fall from the sky?
They can and they do. But it does not occur often. Which is why tempest-fused blood is rare. Of course, there are [Alchemists] out there who are capable of replicating it. But their prices run high. This here is sothing a friend of mine had on him, passed down from his family. I bought it off him, since he didnt really need or want it.
You bought it for ?
I stared at her, touched. Saffron rolled her eyes.
Consider it an apology gift.
Aw thank you! Whos your friend by the way?
Must I tell you who all my acquaintances are?
Nope. But Im curious!
She sighed, yet she told .
Hes a Vampire. Like . Adney, a forr adventurer who enrolled into Mavos Academy. Honestly, I tried to use your status as a famous adventurer to coerce him, but he had never heard of you before. So, platinum sufficed.
Thats silly. Im Salvos! Ill introduce myself to him if he really doesnt
Thats not necessary.
Saffron cut off before I could even finish. She sat across from on the couch, sipping a cup of tea as she spoke.
So, I have held up to one of my promises to you, Salvos. Now, while I am in no imdiate rush, I was wondering if you could possibly fulfill your own promise to .
My promise?
I gave her a blank stare, and she pursed her lips.
You dont rember?
I rember a lot of things! But no, I dont rember this.
The Vampire gestured at , then herself.
You promised that that youd share so of your blood with .
I rubbed my chin, in thought. She waited, shifting uncomfortably. Then I snapped my fingers.
Oh!
I paused.
That
Is sothing the matter?
Well, I dont know. Sharing my blood with you sounds painful
I scratched the side of my head. Saffron blinked. She tried to work her jaw.
But y-you
She started, and I giggled.
Im kidding, Im kidding!
I waved a hand off dismissively.
I was just teasing you. Sure, Ill let you have so of my blood.
I created a small flaming dagger, and pricked the very tip of my index finger. A single drop of blood slid down to my palm as I narrowed my eyes. Saffron leaned closer too, frowning.
Whys it red?
She asked, clearly puzzled. Her confusion was evident, and mine was too.
I have no idea. Isnt my blood supposed to be black?
Thats what I should be asking!
Saffron sputtered as I shrugged.
Maybe its a result of my Skill? I an, it does force to sleep and eat neither of which I normally do so maybe it turns my blood into Human blood as well?
She furrowed her brows.
That is indeed Human blood. It slls sweet, befitting of your high level. But
Whats wrong?
I faced her, raising my bloodied palm.
Do you not want to drink this?
If I do, it wouldnt be right now, Salvos. The blood of high-leveled individuals will activate my [Bloodlust] Skill, and its completely unnecessary unless Im planning on trying to kill you here.
Do you plan on
No.
Saffron sat back, playing with an empty vial in her hand.
What I need is Demon blood, not Human blood.
Whats the difference?
The blood of a mortal is not the sa as the blood of Spirits or Demons. Mortal blood only gives a temporary increase in abilities. But the effects of drinking Spirit or Demon blood is permanent. And its results will always be the sa, regardless of the level of the source of blood. It will empower my [Vampiric Essence] Skill. And if I can max it out before I receive my evolution at Level 100...
She trailed off. Shaking her head, Saffron placed the vial before .
Im not going to ask you to give your blood to now. Just whenever you can what are you doing?
I transford out of [Partial Mortality] before her very eyes, and dug my own claw into my skin. Black blood seeped out, quickly filling the vial to the brim. I shut it with a cork, handing it back to the Vampire.
Here you go!
Saffron just stared at . Then she massaged her temples.
Y-you did you seriously just do that?
What did I do?
I tilted my head to the side.
You just you need to be more wary of others, Salvos. What if this had been a trap by to reveal you to the Headmaster or a teacher?
You wouldnt do that. Youre my companion!
Well, what if I lied about that too?
She crossed her arms, but I wasnt too worried.
Its fine! I know that no one is hiding around here. Ive got a Skill.
Since [Planar Navigation] wasnt a tid Skill, nor did it have a cooldown, I was free to use it whenever I had to. I got into the habit of frequently activating it just to skim my surroundings for any suspicious activity. Right now, it was active because I was transford out of [Partial Mortality].
That still doesnt change my point
Sighing, Saffron dejectedly accepted my blood.
You shouldnt be so easy to trust others, Salvos.
Thats true. But youre not just others.
I smiled as she raised a brow.
What does that an?
You were my friend before all this happened, Saffron. You taught a lot of things, gave an important family artifact, helped out with getting into Mavos Academy, and let stay with you even though Ive inconvenienced you many tis. Now, youve accepted for who I am. Why should I still treat you with mistrust?
Because I could potentially trick you and ruin your life?
I laughed, although Saffron was not as amused.
Maybe thats true, but thats the sa for anyone and everyone I et and reveal myself to. But I dont and wont treat Daniel or Edithe that way. Also, the fact that youre even lecturing about this ans you arent planning on tricking or whatever. So, youre not just so stranger to , Saffron. Youre my companion.
She opened her mouth. Then she hesitated. The noble woman shook her head, leaning back on her seat.
You keep saying that, Salvos. What exactly does that an?
To be my companion?
Saffron nodded, and I tapped a finger on my chin.
Hmm
Do you not know what it ans either?
I do! Its just difficult to put in words.
I folded my arms, scrunching up my face as I wracked my brain for the right words.
To be my companion is to be more than just a friend. To be soone I can trust in. To be soone who trusts in and accepts for who I am. To , they matter more than anyone else in the world. They experience the world with as I do with them. Even if we arent always together. Even if we sotis fight or argue. Were still bound together as companions.
Sowhere, out there, Haec was waiting for . My first ever companion. I trusted that he believed in my return, just as I trusted that hed wait for to return. And it was not just him.
Daniel and Edithe were having their own adventures. I wasnt sure when Id ever see them again. But a part of was always with them. Wed always be companions, no matter what.
Saffron considered this for a mont before speaking out.
So family?
Family? No Im not related to my companions by blood. Unless you can beco my sister by drinking my blood?
Frowning, I considered the implications of this. If Saffron could drink my blood and beco my sister, did this an I was the sister of everyone I ate? After all, I usually swallowed their blood whenever I tried eating them.
She scoffed.
No, I dont an it in that way. By family, I an it in a figurative sense. A group of people not necessarily a blood relative whom you can confide with. People whom you know you can rely on, even in tis of trouble.
I blinked. Then I gave her an excited nod.
Yep! Thats it! Exactly like that!
Saffron took a deep breath.
You know, now it feels like I have a heavy burden on my shoulder just from being your companion.
Hey, its not a Title I give out lightly.
I grinned, and she stared at .
As in Title, and not title?
Yep!
Even though I dont get any Stat boost from it?
Its not an actual Title now, but it will be.
You are one egotistical girl, arent you? Yet, I dont exactly doubt that as a possibility.
I know.
I wasn't really complinting you by saying that.
I know.
I repeated myself as I curled my lips. Saffron returned a smile. Then she stood up. Pocketing the vial of Demon blood, she started past back to her room.
Thank you.
She spoke softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
For trusting . Even after I nearly betrayed your trust with Valda. I promise I will not betray your trust again.
I stared at her, eting her red eyes for a mont.
I trust you.
I nodded confidently. Shaking her head, Saffron continued and stopped by her doorway. She held up the vial of Demon blood.
By the way, Im probably going to drink so of this right now. Just to let you know, it gets drunk. So, uh, Im probably going to go and pass out.
But its not even sunset.
I know. But yesterday was incredibly stressful, and Id like to intoxicate myself now.
Saffron slamd the door shut. I stared at the closed door.
Huh.
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