Lux followed closely behind Nyx as she became more and more focused on following the scent and kept quickening her pace as the aroma intensified. Like an excited hound about to corner her prey. He knew they were getting close as he could hear them now, if only barely.

He glanced behind them to make sure the others were all keeping up which, thankfully, they were. As the sounds grew louder he could pick out the noise the Winter Elf had given from them, there were some others blending together he could barely tell were there underneath the almost overwhelming brash sounds that felt harsh to his sensitive ears. He grimaced slightly and opted to put his enchanted helmet on now.

Relief came quickly as it blocked out the sounds. In combat most would think it a detriment to not be able to hear but, for him at least, shutting out the distracting noise was a boon. He trusted in his sister to inform him of any sound that he might have needed to know about.

Nyx stopped abruptly, pointing to a small flickering light in the distance. They had finally caught up. Lux made hand gestures to the group, motioning to maintain silence as much as possible and to capture, not kill.

Donoma had continued leading the trio through the slightly winding and gently sloping upwards tunnel. They knew it was getting late now, not from the hidden sun or Saelak’s fancy new pocket watch but because their exhaustion was starting to catch up with them as they forced themselves to march onward.

Saelak was getting worried that they would have to find somewhere to rest soon, hopefully to wait out Aster’s acclimation but that seemed unlikely. They had been walking at a quicker rate than normal trying to stay ahead of their pursuers and their muscles were threatening to give out on them.

They had already all gained the “Tired” debuff which halted any stamina regeneration until they got rid of it by resting. Saelak had already experienced that particular debuff more often than he would have liked due to his parents' strict training.

He was about to suggest that they try to stop for a bit to rest and reset the debuff when he heard faint footsteps and looked back to see dozens of people behind them moving quickly, some with weapons drawn. He yelled at his companions, “Run!” and they sprinted down the rocky tunnel.

At the Winter Elf’s shout the Shadow’s discarded all attempts at covertness and chased after them. Nyx, already in the lead, lept ahead of the group shifting in midair into a dark wolf hybrid and swiftly pouncing Aster’s cloaked back. Her black fur shone in the torchlight as she wrestled Aster to the ground, his cloak’s hood caught in the canine’s muzzle and her hands attempting to pin his arms down.

He went still for just a moment before regaining his senses and struggling to flip himself onto his back as he scanned quickly through the combat messages floating in the bottom left of his vision.

Alert! Combat initiated with the Raid: The Shadows!

Nyx used the racial ability: Hybrid Form.

Nyx strikes you in the back for 5 physical damage. You are knocked down.

Donoma used the technique: Quick Draw.

Donoma used the technique: Bright Weapon.

Donoma strikes Robert in the shoulder for 21 physical damage and 10 Light damage.

Lux used the technique: Bright Weapon.

Lux used the technique: Shield Bash.

Lux strikes Donoma in the chest for 30 physical damage and 4 Light damage; Donoma is knocked back.

Saelak cast the spell: Arctic Barrier.

Aster had managed to roll over and stared up into the werewolf’s dark void-like eyes as he tried to push his assailant off him. The wolf’s fur brushed his cheek as the wet nose buried itself into the longer loose curls that hung behind his right ear, taking a deep breath before exhaling and saying in a rough but feminine voice, “Soooo good.”

An involuntary shiver ran down his spine and he pushed against the heavy hybrid again. He could feel the hot breath as she said, “You will make for a most tasty treat,” before pulling herself back slightly to get a clearer look at his face.

Confusion seemed to cross the wolfish face as her head comically tilted to one side and she said, “Wait… Five Blessings? How is-”

Saelak cast the spell: Drowning Requiem.

Nyx’s question was cut off as an orb of water slammed into her face covering her mouth and nose and causing her to wheel backwards in alarm.

“Hitsuki! Get up, we need to run!” Saelak's voice cut through his momentary hesitancy.

“It’s me, Saelak. I finished the acclimation faster thanks to Drake,” Aster replied then grabbed the offered hand to stand up and take stock of the situation. Saelak’s ice wall had cut off most of the group from them including the large knight that had attacked Donoma. She was currently regaining her balance and moving to join them.

He was hoping to inform them about his new moon cycle situation but Nyx had recovered faster than he had expected.

Nyx used the ability: Water Bending.

Drowning Requiem is absorbed.

“Oh resh,” Saelak said before casting another barrier and dragging Aster down the tunnel and they all began to run again. With no chance to catch their breath let alone use any of it to chat.

“Five Blessings, Lux! I saw them!” Nyx was pacing back and forth between the walls of ice. She had shifted back to human form and began talking once they had made a small hole in the first one and were slowly making it large enough for all of them to pass. Only three minutes had passed and she wasn’t too concerned about catching up to them again soon.

“How is that possible?” Lux asked through the opening, having removed his helmet briefly. “There’s no way all of those witnesses would have missed two extra Blessings.”

“I know, right? There are too many accounts of him just being a Trimagi like his companion,” She stopped her pacing, “Wait… his companions… there were still just the two…” She quickly went to the hole and peered through to look into her brother’s eyes, almost getting hit in the face in her excitement, “Lux! He’s gaining Blessings! The metallic scent from the inn, the Blood magic by the stream, he’s either unlocking latent ones or the deities themselves are granting them for some reason, or perhaps some other way, but he’s gaining more!” She gave a childish squeal of delight twirling herself around, “He’s soooo special, Lux! Hurry and let’s get him back, we were so close!”

The wall shattered suddenly into hundreds of snowflakes leaving the group a little shocked. Lux just observed the flakes for a moment, “Huh. Looks like it has a duration.”

He joined Nyx and placed a hand on her shoulder to try calming her, “Sister, if he really is gaining Blessings you know that makes it even more likely that the Enclave will keep him and that we’ll need to hand him over sooner rather than later.”

Nyx looked distraught at the information, “What? Whhyyy?” she whined at him, “You promised, brother.”

He shook his head, “He’s too dangerous, Nyx. We can’t risk him growing more powerful than he’s already become.” With that, he moved forward towards the other wall as it too shattered into harmless snowflakes. He put his helmet back on, clearly signalling the end of their discussion, and motioned for the others to continue the chase.

Aster could feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest as they forced their run, their stamina draining continuously. 700/ 460, his little meter read. He was losing about 10 stamina a minute while in a run like this but he knew Saelak was struggling with his lower Dexterity.

After 15 minutes of them running like this, Saelak waved them forward, gasping out, “Go on… without… me…” He took a few deeper breaths, “I’ll… slow them… down…”

Aster just shook his head, saying between his own breaths, “We’re not…leaving you…”

Donoma yelled over her shoulder at both of them, “Shut it… keep runnin’!”

Another 10 minutes and Aster glanced at the party display and his friend’s stamina meter, displayed under his own, in the top right of his vision: 100/ 290. He frowned, realizing that the slower knight wouldn’t be able to continue. Before he could suggest resting for a moment, he felt a pulse of heat sweep through him starting from his chest.

It was so strong that it caused him to stumble in surprise which caused the others to slow down to look towards him in concern. He was about to reassure them when another wave swept through his body and he fell to a knee, clutching at his heart that was beating wildly.

Alert! The Maniac calls for your tribute. For the next 24 hours, your Blood will act as a conduit for their purpose.

‘Blood for the Blood God.’ Aster thought wryly before a final wave of heat and hormones tore through his mind, flooding his senses, and the world went crimson.

“Aster?...wheeze… What’s wrong?” Saelak panted, resting his hands on his slightly bent knees.

Aster looked up at his party and he smiled as though he hadn’t a care in the world, “Nothing.” He stood then, dusting himself off before placing his hands on his hips, “Actually, I feel great.”

“Aster… yer eyes…” Donoma said cautiously, “They’re like… really red. Is that you, Hitsuki?” she asked after a moment’s thought.

Aster gave a laugh, “No, it’s still me, just a side effect from my new bond, no need to worry. About anything really.” He gave a shrug and looked back down the tunnel from the direction they had just come. After a split second he said, “You guys go on ahead, I’ll take care of the pests,” then started walking back towards their pursuers.

Donoma snagged a hold of his arm, causing him to half turn towards her and look up into her golden eyes, “Wait, Aster, somethin’ is off.”

He grabbed hold of her hand with the arm she wasn’t grasping and, with a quick twist and yank, pulled her against him, “Don’t worry, Sunshine,” he gave her a charming smile, “I’ll get rid of them quickly and then we can all rest together,” He leaned forward slightly to whisper up into her ear, “I know how much you like sharing a tent. Perhaps if I ask him, Saelak would do more things you’d like.”

She pushed away from him in shock, “What is wrong with you?”

He shrugged indifferently, “Lots of things, at least according to others.” He turned once more and continued walking away from them.

Poor Saelak was still trying to process what he had just seen; Aster never behaved like this before. Donoma was right, something was seriously off. He called after the half-elf, “Aster come back, even if you want to fight, we need a plan!”

He did even look back as he said with mirth, “I have a plan: Stab the puppy!” He hadn’t even left their sight when the raid appeared before them again, letting out battle cries and Aster unsheathed his sword.

Congratulations!

You unlocked a hidden ability within the item: Crimson Destiny!

Due to your Blood Blessing, Affinity Link has been established.

Aster grinned widely and quickly checked his weapon’s stats again.

Crimson Destiny

Forged on the night of a full Carnal Moon, during the month of Insaluna, by a Blood Blessed master crafter, this blade desires the life blood of its enemies.

Quality: [ Masterwork ]

Availability: [ Mythic ] [ Unique ]

Type: Weapon - Sword

Level: 16 (56,139 / 58,500)

Effects:

+16 Dexterity. (1 * level)

+16% Critical Strike Chance. (1% * level)

+16% Critical Strike Damage. (1% * level)

Applies a bleed for 16 damage per minute. (1 damage * level)

Fated: This item gains experience along with its wielder.

Bound: This item is bound to its wielder and cannot be wielded by another person unless given freely.

Affinity Link: This item is more powerful when bound to a Blood Blessed. Additional abilities become available:

Leech: Heal the wielder for half the damage dealt by this item.

Blood Channeling: Blood spells and abilities can be cast through this item, increasing their effects by 16%. (1% * level)

Trauma: Wounds caused by this item won’t mend without Blood Magic.

His smile turned feral at the further improved katana and he met his assailant’s head on, showing his full prowess with a sword after years of training.

You used the technique: Sprint for 5 qi.

You used the technique: Adrenaline Rush for 50 qi.

You strike Lidia in the abdomen for 71 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 43 health.

You strike Milan in the leg for 63 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 39 health.

You critically strike Alois in the abdomen for 144 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 80 health.

He cut through the first few enemies with ease, letting his muscle memory take over. He easily succumbed to the flow of battle and weaved his way through bodies leaving only pain, blood and tears in his wake.

Lux gave a low growl as he watched his prey single-handedly taking out his raiders. He would have been leading the charge if it hadn’t been for his sister freezing on him, he shook her again, “Nyx! Snap out of it, what in the abyss is wrong with you?!” He asked, trying to read her lips, not wanting to remove his helmet and chance the noise overwhelming him.

She was staring at Aster as though mesmerized, “His scent… it shifted again.” She breathed deeply through her nostrils. Instead of the warm campfire she had scented before, it was now a raging inferno. In place of the light breeze: a twisting tornado, in lieu of the slight tang of copper was freshly forged steel, and the tinge of blood replaced by a mound of fresh kills… and the other intoxicating aroma she couldn’t correlate to anything, was pulsing and binding it all together, threatening to overwhelm her as she gave a shudder and almost whispered, “It’s… wild.”

He forced her to look into his face instead of the half-elf’s, “Our people are going to die! Snap out of it and catch the bastard!” He scowled as she didn’t respond right away and turned away from her, donning his shield once more and unsheathing his sword, deciding to take care of this threat himself.

You used the technique: Sprint for 5 qi.

You used the technique: Blade Whirl for 10 qi per second.

You critically strike Tomas in the arm for 148 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 82 health.

You critically strike Vera in the leg for 122 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 69 health.

You critically strike Simon in the abdomen for 160 physical damage.

Crimson Destiny applies a bleed for 16 damage every minute.

You gain 88 health.

The bloodshed continued for a few seconds longer before Adrenaline Rush wore off and Aster stopped channeling Blade Whirl. His trail of carnage was suddenly interrupted when his sword clashed with a large white and gold shield.

Lux used the technique: Shield Wall.

Aster looked up towards the taller paladin’s face only to be met with a matching white and gold helmet completely hiding any features. Aster recognized them as the enemy that had fought Donoma and gave a wicked grin, “Now that’s not very nice, I’d like to know what my enemy looks like before I end them.”

The paladin gave no indication of responding to their words and Aster gave a small growl of annoyance before feinting a strike towards the armored knight’s leg and turning it into a high kick aiming for the head.

You used the technique: Empowering Steel for 5 qi.

You strike Lux in the head for 32 physical damage and 5 metal damage.

Lux’s helmet flew off of him and as he flinched, preparing for the inevitable rush of sounds, but he was caught even more off guard when a single clear note pierced through his senses. He staggered backwards a bit and stared at the source of the sound. A heartbeat later his enemy’s magic sang for him. It was nothing like he had ever heard before and he lacked the words to describe the almost gentle music that rushed towards him as the man lunged forward once more saying, “That’s better, now let’s see if the pretty blonde can fight,” and they began a deadly waltz.

If Aster could have heard what the stunned paladin was listening to, he would have recognized the clear notes as similar to those of a grand piano, which the denizens of Selesola had yet to discover, with the flurry of notes as though it was a sonata written by Rachmaninoff himself. It was an aggressive melody as the crimson bladed warrior faced off with the unbeknownst wolf before him.

Lux was barely keeping up with the crazed swordsman, so entrancing was the melody that surrounded him, almost keeping time with their movements and exchange of blows despite its chaotic nature.

Lux used the technique: Bright Weapon.

Lux used the technique: Shield Bash.

Lux strikes you in the chest for 28 physical damage and 10 Light damage; You are knocked back.

As they disengaged, with Aster being knocked back a few meters, a wall of ice separated the two of them suddenly. Saelak and Donoma were coming up to him and the ice mage grabbed the arm not holding his sword, “Aster, please. I’m begging you. Let’s go. You’ve done enough. You bought us time to flee while they tend to their wounded.”

Donoma watched them warily, not liking the behavior Aster was displaying one bit, but not willing to abandon her friends. She nodded towards the exit, “Come on, all of us need rest.”

“What? But I’m winning! We can eliminate the threat right here and now!” Aster objected, pulling his arm from Saelak’s grasp. “Why should we run? We are strong!” He glanced between his friends, “All of us are.”

Saelak shook his head, his courage seeming to forsake him as he began to succumb to the fear of not being able to protect the one he loved most, “I know you’re strong, Aster! I’ve been saying that since the day we met, but this isn’t you! If you keep going- being reckless like this, you- you’ll get killed!” His ice blue eyes glistened behind silver spectacles as tears started to well up.

Aster paused, staring up at his oldest friend for almost a half minute, and in that moment he saw before him that scared kid in the woods again and he knew that he had to protect him from the wolves once more. His tone changed to one of finality, “Go, Saelak. Take Donoma and flee from here. I’m the one who’s ‘Wanted’.” When the elf didn’t move he almost growled, shouting, “Leave me! I don’t want you here! You’re just a bothersome kid getting in my way!”

Those words did make the tears fall. The young man’s hurt was clearly evident and Donoma was about to object to Aster’s treatment of her friend when there was a dulled shattering noise, causing Aster to turn to see a shower of snowflakes where the icy barrier had been.

The raid of Shadows had gathered together and were preparing to charge them, Lux and Nyx at the front, both in their hybrid werewolf forms now, and Aster was only able to recognize the white furred wolf-man due to his signature white and gold armor. He gave a feral grin to the paladin, eager to begin their battle once more.

Lux and Aster were so focused on one another that neither of them noticed the she-wolf raise a pointing index finger, with her other hand bracing it, as she looked down the length of it like a pistol. At the tip of her finger it looked like a small black hole was forming and Nyx chanted “Darkest Snipe” which caused Lux and Saelak to react at the same time. Lux attempted to knock her trajectory off while shouting at his sister, “No!” as Saelak yelled, “Watch out!” pushing Aster forcefully to the side.

He stumbled a bit, not expecting the friendly fire, and time seemed to slow for him as the orb of darkness shot out from Nyx’s finger at a speed his eyes couldn’t follow. What he could see, and the only thing that filled his vision now, was the dark afterimage piercing through Saelak’s chest and the spray of crimson that caused Aster’s world to stop.