Chapter 83: Blood Heal
After a month.
The grey stone walls of the personal training chamber of the Marquess’s mansion were quiet as Jaden sat in a lotus position with a few spell books sprawled before him; the only thing that brightened everything was the light mana cores embedded all over the room.
However, he was there and not at the same time as he stood on the mirror-like sea and white world of the [Epiphany zone]. Before him were three sigils humming with a faint glow.
Blood. Metal. Will.
The first one was deep crimson that flowed without stop, the second was similar, but it rippled between various colours, gold, silver, grey and many more, the last had no colour, it simply was.
It was his first time seeing the manifestation spell books of Mark Magics within the [Epiphany Zone]. His first time with the mark spells wasn’t smooth because they had dug themselves in his very soul.
Anyway, the sigils before him represented Blood Magic, which allowed one to shape and control blood. Metal Magic, which allowed one to shape and control metal—similar to what Maria did—and Will Magic, which allowed one to shape and control the will of self and others.
He raised his hand and looked at his palm, a symbol similar to a black hole pulsating with hunger was there. Jaden hadn’t seen it before, but now he understood what it was.
"This is the hunger of the grimoire... and because I got the mark from Jamie, similar to him, I also have only one slot for the mark of war... It would’ve been great if I could get spell books of other marks too, but each great nation and holy land keeps its mark magic spells to themselves." Jaden muttered as he sighed deeply.
Because the awakening of a mark depended heavily on one’s birth, most people usually had the same Mark as their parents, allowing the great nations and holy lands to monopolise the spell books for themselves.
"To obtain the other marks, I have to either travel to all of the great nations and holy lands... or I can gain enough merit to enter the Heavenly Archives of the royal family in Fatherion," He heaved a sigh and muttered again before shaking his head. " No point in thinking about it right now..."
In the previous month, Jaden had tried to gather as much information as he could and based on that, he had made a plan for his journey to regain his memories. He still didn’t know how to regain them, but he knew that whatever the method, he would need strength for it.
So his current goal was simple: he wanted to reach the realm of an Elite before leaving the academy and becoming a wanderer.
Yes, he had chosen the path of a wanderer—drawn to the seven red zones. Areas under the control of an S-rank nightmare or star beast. Most of the continent had nightmares and star beasts, but they were low-ranked. A danger for mundane humans, yes, but for the Arcane Knights, they were mere obstacles.
Jaden simply wanted to enter the red zones and capture the nightmares or star beasts to upgrade all of the grimoires to gold rank before reaching the Master rank. Allowing himself to use the magic of all the marks and affinities that he already had.
"Let’s focus on this one." He mumbled as he focused on the three sigils before him, and three blue screens flickered into existence.
[Blood Heal ★★: Heal yourself by absorbing blood. The potency depends on the amount of blood and the bloodline. (Can lead to mutation if used recklessly)]
[Metal Spikes ★★: Summon spikes a few steps away from yourself.]
[Hum of Despair ★★: Weaken the will of anyone looking at you. (Heavily taxing to the soul)]
He looked at the screens with a thoughtful look as he rubbed his chin. He had to choose one of the sigils, and now it was time to do so.
"Blood Heal simply allows me to heal myself using blood... as for the mutation, the system keeps me safe from it anyway.
Metal Spikes would be good, but I can do the same with my Scion of Ice enchantment.
Hum of Despair... Isn’t it similar to Mournful Wail?" he concluded as he looked at the sigils with an examining gaze.
He turned silent as he pondered over his decision. A few moments passed just like that, and he finally made his choice and stepped closer to the sigil that hummed with flowing crimson.
He grasped the sigil as it seared and melted, merging into the black-hole-like mark on his palm... Everything turned silent for a moment before the mirror sea rippled, and Jaden’s knees suddenly gave away as a familiar pain ran across his body and soul.
Jaden gritted his teeth, and the pain began to run wild; it felt as if his head was splitting apart, and ants were running through his veins. Blood dripped out from his eyes, nose and lips.
A blue screen appeared before him.
[Host has awakened his mark of war.]
Jaden’s lips widened into a bloodied grin as he finished reading and muttered, pushing back the pain for a moment.
"Ah... how much... I missed this pain..."
He spoke like a true masochist before laughing like a madman as the pain coursed through him. This time, however, the pain was less than before.
A few moments passed, and another message appeared before him.
[Congratulations, you have learned a 2-star spell: Blood Heal]
[Experience +30 (Spell Learned)]
[Ding!]
[Level up!]
[Host has reached level 16!]
Seeing the new messages, Jaden’s grin widened even further, and his laugh became louder... soon, the pain died down, and Jaden tried the spell right after.
The blood which was dripping down his face was now pooling beneath him. He placed his hand in it and mumbled.
"Blood Heal..."
The pooled blood rippled, slithering into his skin—yet nothing happened.
"So it doesn’t work on my own blood...? Figures."
He stood up as he spoke.
"I have to reach the Expert rank before entering the academy, as most of the second years are Adept..."