From that day forward, the head servant began to teach them how to use the force.
Using the force is the basic thing for all Soulbearers, but it is something big and unique for ordinary humans.
They would wake up in the morning, and the head servant would serve them food. Afterwards, it would be training the force from morning until night.
It was a boring subject for the six-year-old Vacuse.
The force itself does not give that much power. It is basically to enhance the body. But then, before the era of Pathways and Soulbearers, force users dominated the world.
But Vacuse did not just relax because using force was something he could do in his dreams. Instead, he even worked harder. There was a technique he found out years later, but it was already too late for him.
It is the technique of forcing the force into the bones to make them stronger. Adults could not use it because their bones had already formed, but for a kid like Vacuse, it was the best way to spend his time.
While others were forcing their bodies to produce the force and enhance their physical attributes, Vacuse was forcing it into his own bones.
A painful process that would leave him soaking in sweat and sometimes make his nose bleed. It left him turning in his bed, but the thought of squeezing his father's neck and the idea of ruling the House kept him going.
It might seem like a little gain, but when two powerful equals meet, then it is the little things like that that would decide how the fight would go.
Vacuse also felt satisfaction that he did not feel in his past life because he dominated the whole dorm. There were no more bosses, as he was the single one that stood above them.
It was petty, but Vacuse did not care. What is the use of a second chance at life if he will not do what he did not do in his past one?
He did not let it get to his head, though. He knew just how much of a frog in the well he was.
"Today will be your last day in this dorm and your last food here. I must commend you all. You have more potential than the last batch," the head servant said, his eyes turning to Vacuse as he said the last word.
The head servant waved his hand as he continued. "Today, you will be given meat, and you will bathe, scrubbed clean, as you will be meeting the House Head and..."
Suddenly, the head servant jerked back as he stared in Vacuse's direction, as if he had been stung by something. Just a second ago, he felt an intense wave of bloodlust. But surely he was mistaken?
Vacuse's hand was clenched tight, and his jaws were gritted. He would be meeting his murderer? The one that killed him? His blood seemed to have been set on fire, and he wanted nothing more than to stand up and inflict his revenge right back.
But he calmed himself.
If he should behave rashly, then his death would be even more useless than the last time.
He took a deep breath.
The head servant continued. "You will be performing the first rite that will prepare for the second rite, where you will be bound with a Dragon or Dragonkin."
The Dragon pathway has the Dragon and all the Dragonkin, like the Drake, Dragonet, and such.
The head servant shook his head. "I will give you a warning. Once the rite of the Blood Hearts begins, I advise you to immediately know your place, or else..."
He did not say any more.
The thing was, the dorm that Vacuse was in was not the only dorm for Drenvar's bastards. There are other dorms, and all of them will be competing together.
Even the two children that are legitimate will join them as well.
In the last Blood Heart rite, Vacuse did not reach the Blood Tree.
The rite is just that all of them would be thrown into the wilderness that is in the Vorrakyn's territory, and the first set of people to get to the Blood Tree at the center and eat from the blood fruits would pass to learn of the Dragon Pathway.
The Blood Heart fruits are herbal fruits that were said to be planted by a Blood Dragon once. The effects of eating them would make the soul space expand.
The blood fruit is one of the remaining precious treasures of the Vorrakyn. It is also one of the ways the House is financing itself. As such, the fruits on the tree cannot even be enough for twenty people out of about two hundred bastards.
The Blood Heart rite is called so because everyone would turn against each other to reach the fruits.
After giving his explanation, and after they ate, the head servant led them towards the bathing areas, where they were scrubbed clean by servants and then given robes of red and white with the Dragon wings of the Vorrakyn on them.
After that, they were led to the main hall, where they were to wait for the arrival of the family Head.
They were given short blades that would fit into their small hands, real swords. All their training must be put to use.
Vacuse stared at the sword. He cannot kill Drenvar now.
But taking revenge is not his only goal. He also wanted to rule and build House Vorrakyn to stand beside and higher than all the other Great Houses in the Empire.
So for that, he must use Drenvar until he was powerful enough to kill him. That means he must draw his attention.
One thing that Drenvar and all the other members of the House have in common is the idea that strength rules all.
Vacuse must draw and hold Drenvar's attention. He must become a being that stands above all his children. He must be made the heir.
Using the rules of the House that he learned since his past life, Vacuse turned to the head servant. "Since the day breaks, it is already the start of the Blood Heart rite, right?"
The head servant suddenly felt uneasy, but he still answered. "Yes. In the past, we began to attack each other once day breaks."
Vacuse nodded, and then he bowed to the head servant. "Thank you."
Then he drew his sword.