"By the old gods," Sera whispered, dropping to one knee instinctively before catching herself and rising. "Dragon Blooded. I never thought I'd live to see one."
Zeph approached cautiously, his enhanced senses taking in the changes in his friend. "Cid? Are you... still you?"
Cid turned to face them, a smile spreading across his features—familiar yet somehow more. "I'm still me," he assured them, his voice carrying new harmonics that seemed to resonate with the very mountain around them. "Just... more complete now. As if I've reclaimed a part of myself I never knew was missing."
He extended his hand, a surge of anticipation coursing through him. The Void Blade responded, coalescing into existence with a soft hum. It wasn't the shimmering, transparent thing he remembered. Now, it was solid, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Dark, polished metal gleamed in the light, etched with intricate, swirling patterns that seemed to shift and writhe as he watched. He could feel the thrum of power resonating from the hilt, a tangible connection to Bellera's Qi.
He willed the blade away, the connection severing with a faint mental click. A quick thought, and his outfit skill activated, the familiar fabric shifting and re-forming to offer a bit more coverage. He ran a hand over his arm, the texture now smooth and human once more. So many evolutions... he barely recognized the person he'd been before.
Then, Bellera's
intimate and close voice echoed in his mind:
"I will rest now. It's been a while since I could rest." The connection faded, leaving a strange sense of emptiness.
As Bellera's presence receded, the last of the scales vanished. He blinked, a flicker of surprise registering in his mind. His reflection stared back, subtly altered. His eyes... they burned with a vibrant, almost unnatural green. Intricate patterns, like glowing emerald filigree, radiated from the black, vertical pupils. The iris wasn't smooth, but textured, alive – reminiscent of reptile scales, or perhaps the delicate veins of a plant. Lighter, yellowish-green highlights danced within, adding depth and an unsettling intensity to his gaze. He looked less like Cid Walker, and more like something... else or perhaps this was always him.
Sera studied Cid with a mixture of awe and scientific curiosity, her ancient eyes taking in every subtle change. "The dragon blood has fully awakened in you," she said, circling him slowly. "Those eyes... they're the mark of the Primal Dragons, the first of their kind. Not even in my time were there many who bore such eyes."
Cid flexed his fingers, feeling the new power coursing through his veins. It was different from his vampire abilities or his shadow magic—more elemental, more primal. "I can feel it... like a storm brewing just beneath my skin."
"The tournament is tomorrow," Zeph reminded them, his voice cutting through the reverent atmosphere. "How are we going to explain... this?" He gestured vaguely at Cid's transformed appearance.
Cid considered this, then closed his eyes, focusing inward. He reached for the new power within him, guiding it rather than commanding it. Slowly, the emerald glow of his eyes dimmed, the draconic pupils rounding to a more human appearance. The faint shimmer of scales beneath his skin faded completely.
"I can control it," he said, opening his now-normal crimson vampire eyes. "At least the outward signs."
Sera nodded approvingly. "Impressive control for one so newly awakened. The dragon blood must have been stirring in you for some time, preparing for this moment."
As they made their way back through the tunnel, Cid felt the mountain itself responding to his presence—subtle shifts in the air, whispers of ancient magic brushing against his consciousness. This place was alive in ways he was only beginning to understand.
"We should return before we're missed," Zeph said as they emerged from the fissure into the cool night air. "The last thing we need is to draw attention before the tournament even begins."
They descended the mountain in silence, each lost in thought about the implications of what had transpired. As they raced across the golden plains back toward the barracks, Cid found himself processing the fragments of memory and knowledge that Bellera had shared with him.
The Walker family—his family—had carried dragon blood for generations, diluted but persistent. His ancestors had been gatekeepers of sorts, moving between worlds, maintaining balances that most never perceived. And now, that legacy had culminated in him—vampire, ascendant, and dragon-blooded.
As they approached the barracks, Sera placed a restraining hand on Cid's arm. "One moment," she said softly. "There's something you should know before we rejoin the others."
Cid and Zeph paused, turning to face her expectantly.
"Dragon-blooded beings are exceptionally rare, and for good reason," Sera explained, her voice pitched low. "They are... catalysts. Their presence tends to accelerate events around them, bringing both opportunity and crisis. The fact that you've awakened now, at this specific moment…
Cid cut her off, his voice firm. "Ever since I embraced the Crimson Reaper, my life has been irrevocably altered. I wasn't strong, not by any measure. I lacked even a single ability, and with my parents consumed by the war against the Xelthrans, they had no time to guide me in Qi. I was resigned to a difficult existence. But becoming a vampire… it granted me the life I always craved. Though it's a path paved with chaos, and though my rapid growth in power is… unsettling, I've resolved to embrace it, consequences be damned. I appreciate your warnings, but whether you voice them or not, opportunity and crisis will inevitably cross my path. I will meet them head-on, with unwavering resolve. And I hope the family I've found, the bonds I've forged, will stand with me."
Sera was struck by his words. A profound admiration and respect bloomed within her. In that moment, she bowed before Cid, dedicating her existence to him as her King. a system message materialized before him, the purplish-red screen shimmering with an ethereal glow: "The Vampire Original Queen, Seraphina, has pledged her allegiance to you. By accepting her through the system, she will become an official member of your Condemned family. Do you accept her?" Without a moment's hesitation, Cid tapped 'Yes'.
The moment Cid accepted Sera into his Condemned family, a profound connection formed between them. It was more than just a pledge of loyalty—it was a binding of souls, ancient and powerful. A soft crimson light briefly enveloped them both, sealing the pact in vampire tradition.
Zeph watched with solemn understanding, recognizing the significance of what had just transpired. "Well," he said with a half-smile, "I guess our little family keeps growing."
As they approached the barracks, the twin moons of Barrow cast long shadows across the compound. Most windows were dark, the students within resting before tomorrow's trials. Cid paused at the entrance, his enhanced senses scanning for any sign they had been missed.
"All clear," he murmured, his deep voice barely audible. "Everyone's asleep."
They slipped inside silently, making their way to their assigned quarters. As Cid prepared to part ways with his companions, he felt a strange ripple in the air—a subtle disturbance that raised the hairs on the back of his neck.
"Did you feel that?" he asked, his voice low and tense.
Sera nodded, her expression grave. "Something's changed. The balance has shifted."
Before they could discuss it further, Cid's system pinged with an urgent notification. The message was brief but chilling:
"Warning: Temporal anomaly detected. The Other Ascendant has breached dimensional barriers. Expected arrival on Barrow: 72 hours."
Cid's blood ran cold. The Other Ascendant—Bazar's agent—was coming here, to Barrow. The tournament, their training, the rescue mission for Dee... everything was about to collide in ways none of them had anticipated.
"We need to tell the others," Zeph said, reading the message over Cid's shoulder. "First thing tomorrow."
Cid nodded, his mind already racing with implications and strategies. "For now, get some rest. Tomorrow's tournament just became more than a simple competition."
As Zeph departed for his quarters, Sera lingered, her ancient eyes filled with concern. "This is what I meant about being a catalyst," she said softly. "Events are accelerating around you. The Other Ascendant shouldn't have been able to track you here, yet somehow, he has."
Cid met her gaze steadily, his resolve unwavering. "Then we'll be ready for him."
As Sera finally departed, Cid entered his assigned room, closing the door behind him. In the solitude, he allowed his control to slip, just slightly. His eyes shifted back to their draconic state, emerald fire burning in the darkness. He summoned the Void Blade, its form materializing in his hand with a thought. The weapon hummed with power, resonating with his newfound draconic nature.