EA Chapter 33 - Power in the Blood

As Luna had expected, Kane was going through a steady kata on one of the training platforms. His weights had been left stacked off to one side, allowing his movements to flow with uncanny swiftness and agility. Calvert was seated a short distance away, reading from a sheaf of paper and occasionally shouting directions at his understudy.

“Cutting windmill claw!”

Kane swung a blow with one hand, his fingers curled like the talons of a swiping beast. A whirlwind flared around his digits, qi setting the tips aglow.

“Knee shattering kick!”

Kane whirled back, jamming a foot backward like a kicking horse. A small shock wave of wind erupted at his blow, sending a tremor racing through the platform.

“Wow, impressive,” Luna said, slowly making her way down the steps toward the platform. Her voice made the two look up. “Keep going. The air won’t know what hit it.”

Kane smirked. “As cutting and vicious as ever,” he said, slowly relaxing his stance. “The philosopher, Calotene, tells us that the world itself is the greatest foe of mankind. I suppose I’m taking his words more literally than intended.”

“Hallo Luna. Saw your fight the other day. Smashing work, I must say. A touch brutal, but your skill is undeniable. Hard to believe you’re only in your first year,” said Calvert, smiling wryly.

She feigned a bashful smile, folding her hands behind her back. “I am a prodigy, sir,” she said. Inwardly, she wanted to laugh. Prodigy didn’t even begin to cover it. If this frail body was at the peak of its potential, she could show the people of the Citadel what true magic was. In due time, Luna told herself.

“That’s certainly true,” Calvert replied.

“So,” Kane said, slowly stretching his arms to his sides and rotating his hips from one side to the other. “What brings you out here?”

“Just... a little question about your brother,” Luna replied, giving a small smile. “Namely I want to know what he was about to hit me with before Yifang stepped in.”

Kane paled, his normally stoic expression replaced with one of unease. Even Calvert tensed a bit. “Ah. That,” he eventually said, returning to his kata.

“Yes, that.”

“Well...” Calvert stood from his folding chair, a strained smile on his face. “I believe I shall grab some tea. That way if people end up discussing something that absolutely should not be discussed, I will be able to say I was not present to hear any of it.” He offered a nod to the two and hastened away.

He was smart enough to know they’d talk about it regardless, even if they had to sneak away to do so. And the man’s scholarly nature meant that he just couldn’t stifle people seeking to learn.

“It’s... well you were probably told it’s a big deal, and not something to be spoken about.” He met her eyes, and the flat look on her face. “But I know you’re not the type of person to let a little thing like that hold you back.”

Luna smiled faintly. “Perceptive.”

Kane sighed and rolled his eyes. “And alas, I am unable to deny the requests of pretty girls.”

Luna’s smile faded, replaced instantly with an irritated glare. “Don’t push it,” she said.

“Fine, fine. So sensitive.” He sighed and took a seat on the edge of the platform, wiping some sweat from his brow. “What my dear brother tried to do, desperate as he was to beat you, was call upon his bloodline ability. It’s a technique held only by those descended from the ancient ruling families of Elthreme.”

“Must be a power known only to a small portion of the populace,” Luna said. “Or, in theory. Over many generations there are doubtless many... illegitimate branches to each ruling family.”

Kane let out a small bark of laughter, rubbing the back of his head. “Well, true. The thing is, it’s not guaranteed that every person with royal blood can tap into those fabled abilities. It’s something of a modest percentage thing. To say nothing for the fact that it can only be tapped into with proper training. In theory, I can do it just like Aryn can. Except I was forbidden from studying it.”

“Oh?” Luna tilted her head to the side. “It must be rather dangerous indeed.” Certainly, that surge of strength from Aryn had been enough to make Luna (temporarily) second guess herself.

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Bloodline abilities use primordial qi, energy in its rawest and most powerful state, bringing out an almost unparalleled destructive strength. But for as good as it is at destroying our enemies, it’s the kind of power that’s almost impossible to direct or constrain when it’s unleashed. Of the accounts that make it into historical texts, that power was near as dangerous to our allies as it was to our foes. Certainly, it could kill the strongest monsters around... and anyone else not smart enough to get to cover.”

Luna nodded knowingly. Yes, that was similar to what had happened to those who invoked divinity in her old world. The power of the gods did not mesh well with mortal minds. Becoming a conduit for the divine led to those fools brandishing more power than they were capable of handling. “I was under the impression that the gods were our foes, save for Zehud.”

Kane shrugged. “Only if you fully believe the old tales. And anyway it wasn’t just Zehud in those stories. He gave a lot of divine power to his human champions, rendering them demigods. And it was they who created Elthreme. Or, what would become Elthreme.”

Luna digested this, staring off into the distance. It was a standard creation myth, not unlike the kinds she had heard from the many kingdoms she had conquered. It was usually a glamorous tale of gods sending saintly champions to the world who, coincidentally, ended up becoming the progenitor of the ruling dynasty.

She’d lost track of how many kings and emperors claimed to be have the blood of gods flowing in their veins. She found it no different to the blood of the common man. It spilled the exact same way, and tasted about the same too.

“Regardless,” Luna said, returning her gaze to Kane, “this power can only be accessed by those born with the potential, and trained with it?”

“Essentially. It’s a power that lurks in the blood.”

Luna smiled faintly. “I see.” Well, that wasn’t insurmountable as far as obstacles went. If she really wanted to access these bloodline powers, there were ways of doing it, even if folks would consider such methods to be unpleasant. But that would require seeing what the power was capable of, first and foremost. “I’m guessing whatever text contains information on bloodline magic is under a firm lock and key?”

“I’d assume so, not that I’d know. The archives are so damn massive there are parts to it that even I haven’t seen yet. Well, regardless, you shouldn’t go asking around about it. With how destructive that power is, the faculty really don’t want students egging the nobles into trying it out.”

“Of course, of course.” Luna’s smile broadened, fake and mocking. “Wouldn’t want such potent power being misused, would we?”