Born in Blood

Face to face with the unknown stranger who knew him in such detail, Liam felt incredibly weirded out.

He wasn't afraid or anything.

The woman before him didn't look too strong. 

She looked like an inscription master judging by her book and pen, both of which were heavily inscribed. 

The pages weren't just filled with pictures of Liam. There were also formation diagrams and complex systems that Liam took a glimpse of.

'Is she a Rank 5 Zenith or what?' Liam thought.

And why was she so damn obsessed with him?

One had to be sick in the head to love an unhinged, murderous maniac hungry for power. Especially to such an unhealthy, sick degree. 

Blushing, the woman lowered her head. 

"My name is Valerie. I'm… just a very big fan… I'm so glad to finally speak to you like this…"

Her tone was reserved and timid… but Liam knew what crazy people looked like. 

This was one of them. 

"Say, can I have a lock of your hair?" Valerie said enthusiastically with a broad, sunny smile, showcasing her sharp canines. "I promise not to do anything weird with it."

Yup. Definitely sane. 

Liam gave her a heavy look. 

Ringed around her obsessive eyes were dark circles, as though she hadn't slept for a very long time.

She looked like the type to reside in the corner of the classroom. 

In short, she was a total creep!

"Where do you even know me from?" Liam asked her. "I've never seen you in my entire life."

Valerie blushed a little again, idly fiddling with her fingers, sharp nails painted black. 

"I was there when you fought as the Blood Demon, back in Echoria."

"I watched as you were bloodied, marred in wounds head to toe… and yet you still won!" 

The woman's tone grew enthusiastic. 

"I've been looking for you ever since…" 

Silence.

That far back?!

That meant that this person… had been following him his entire life? 

From the tournament, to the academy, to his escape from Ilali, and all the following events, up to now?

But she didn't seem malicious at all. 

Quite the contrary. 

But that still didn't justify this stalker-like behavior. 

"Okay… and?" Liam said a little impatiently. "What do you want?"

"Can I join the Temple?" she asked instantly, stars shining in her abyss-like eyes. "Please?" 

"No."

Silence.

The denial was too fast! 

Valerie's face was crestfallen. She hadn't expected such an outright refusal.

On the other hand, Liam honestly couldn't care. 

This behavior was borderline disgusting.

What if it was a man who did the same thing to a woman?

Yeah… it didn't sound too pleasing.

Liam rose to his feet, intending to leave. 

"Wait!" Valerie blurted, panicking. "I don't intend to join just because I want to die by your side! I have a lot of expertise that could be of service to you! Just hear me out!"

Liam recoiled a bit in disgust. 'Die by your side?'

"What expertise?" Liam asked. 

Valerie calmed down a bit, but still looked unstable, even as she tried to look calmer than she was. 

"I'm a dual-specialist with inscriptions and formations. I'm just a few years away from perfecting my Path to the next level and becoming a Rank 5 Zenith. I can break down different methods and techniques, study them and imitate them to a small degree. I'm an exceptionally hard worker too. And a lot, lot more!"

There was a brief pause…

Indeed, that was a long resume. 

Copying methods and techniques were perhaps one of the hardest things for an inscription master to do. 

Each inscription method was more unique than a snowflake. Even a 'small degree' of copying them was marvelous.

Even Liam with his King's Eye couldn't do much with it. 

There was a major difference between the 'Meanings' of a method and its overall structure.

Not to mention, she was about to become a Rank 5 cultivator?

'Wait…' Liam thought.

A light bulb flickered above Liam's head.

An idea!

'I still need to have the Temple run by someone if I'm gone somewhere.'

'And there are Abominations to study and analyze… but I won't be able to multitask so many things at once.' 

As Liam considered it, Valerie looked like she was resisting the urge to bite her nails.

She seemed worried about Liam's response.

"What do you want in exchange?" Liam said. 

"A lock of—"

"I'm not giving you my hair," Liam interrupted with a slight frown. 

"A few pairs of your bloodiest clothe—"

"I'm not giving you my clothes either," Liam interjected again. "Or anything pertaining to me."

"Okay, okay! But I get to join, right?" Valerie said with newfound excitement. 

Liam had a feeling she was going to do those things anyway. 

"You're not allowed to annoy me, either. And you do know this benefits me more than it does you, right?" 

Valerie nodded repeatedly, like her head was gonna fall off. "Am I in?"

Liam shrugged his shoulders. She seemed happy with it. "Yeah. Whatever."

Valerie jumped up and down in joy. 

Liam honestly questioned her age. Zeniths were supposed to be old and wise, yet this one was anything but.

"I'm leaving now," Liam said. "You can find the Temple and tell them I sent you."

"Can I come with you on the dragon instead?" Valerie asked pleadingly. 

"No," Liam responded instantly. "You can walk."

Despite the harshness in Liam's voice, Valerie just blushed in response, albeit a little bit sad.

'What a strange creature,' Liam thought. 

Then, he made a beeline for the tunnel that led to the peak of the floor.

Just then, a familiar, mock-filled voice rang out to the entrance of the restaurant.

"Look who it is," a handsome young man with red eyes said, laughing. "The desperate loser that confessed to the Queen." 

Liam looked at the source of the voice, letting out a tired sigh.

It was none other than Nord and Rin.

Liam was about to retort just then… but chose to remain silent. 

At times, silence stung more than hurtful words!