Born in Blood

The first thing Liam did was grab Kamjin's limp body and throw him at Aki's doorstep. For no particular reason, other than they were both blacksmiths. Although Kamjin looked like a decrepit old man, Aki wasn't exactly young, despite the lush red hair and supple skin. She was 131 years old, while the Iron Hammer was 251. Both were dinosaurs. After he was done with that, he called over the figureheads of the Temple and arranged for a meeting.

***

"I'm gonna be leaving for a while."

Those were the words that Liam chose to open the meeting with.

Everyone who held an important role in the clan was present, from Aki to Kamjin. There was a pregnant pause… leaving only Kamjin's snores to echo across the wide halls. "How long?" Jane asked with a tinge of concern in her voice. Liam wasn't the strongest cultivator the Temple had, but he was its cornerstone and core. If he left… the Temple wouldn't be defenseless, but would stagnate in terms of development and power.

"Years," Liam said casually. "Maybe more."

Silence.

Valerie looked like she was going to cry. "Is this for your Path?" Jax asked.

"Yeah," Liam said. "Verium and Jane will be in charge. I'll be in touch, but don't contact me unless it's an emergency." Valerie was crying now, but her quiet sobs blended in with Kamjin's air-shaking snores, creating a funny balance.

Still, no one was laughing.

Well, Liam wanted to laugh, but with how heavy the mood was, he held himself back. "And… you're going where, Sire?" Kerian asked curiously. "Will the Echorians not seek you out?" Liam paused.

"The ocean," he said. "I'm not worried about them." "Will you take anyone with you, my Liege?" Jargon asked. Valerie raised her head with a hopeful look.

"No," Liam denied, and Valerie hung her head in despair, crying. "I'll be meeting with Bill McGill, and he'll show me the ropes."

"Take your time," Verium said with a proud smile. "We'll spread the word and keep this quiet. Should Alucard know?"

Liam paused. "No. But if he asks, tell him the truth." Those present nodded.

"Meeting adjourned!" Liam shouted like some sort of judge, striking the air with an invisible gravel. "I'll leave on my own tomorrow. Make the others think I'm in seclusion."

They nodded again, then dissipated into the shadows.

"Val, stay behind."

Valerie's sobs stopped instantly, as though switched off. She raised her head with a sunny look on her face. Val?

That was a nickname! They were on a nickname basis now?!

Just then, Liam took out a handful of cores, which belonged to humans, and several parchments covered with vampiric characters written in blood. One of the cores was brighter than the others, but its contents were purely dark!

It was a Rank 6 core, resembling a black diamond. It was the Empress's core. "Could be in any way you know how. Maybe a direct way one could use it to nourish their bodies and cores?" Valerie grabbed the techniques from Liam's hands and examined them. Her dark eyes seemed to glow on their own.

And among the parchments were Liam's Blood Bonds. "Could you find a way to utilize these cores?" Liam asked her.

Valerie paused, a little confused. "Could be in any way you know how. Maybe a direct way one could use it to nourish their bodies and cores?" Valerie grabbed the techniques from Liam's hands and examined them. Her dark eyes seemed to glow on their own.

This was her Path, which allowed her to study other techniques and inscription methods, even copying them to a degree.

This was the Path of Obsession.

By now, Valerie had already been informed of Liam's eating predicament. Using human cores in some dark alchemy arts wasn't uncommon, like Jane's specialization. However, eating it directly was akin to a death wish. Liam had eaten one of them once, and he spasmed and convulsed like a fish out of water. For two hours straight. After a solid minute or two of silence, she looked conflicted.

"I'm… not sure. Cores are what power a cultivator as a whole. Eating them raw is severely fatal to the body."

"My body's special." Valerie chuckled. "The parchments I gave you could serve as inspiration. Study what fits and whatnot."

Liam spent the next few minutes explaining what Blood Bonds were and the different methods she could improve it with. If Blood Bonds were deemed too useless to Liam, he could just give it to the Temple as a way to secure their protection.

Otherwise, it was too much of a hassle for him to rework and renew, when White Matter was above and beyond its capabilities. "I'll see what I can do," she said with a smile, which turned to a smug look. "But what do I get in return?"

Liam sighed. "What? Hair?" "Something long lasting, please."

Liam sighed again.

A moment later, he used his nails to sever off a finger. SHING!

The finger leaked no blood whatsoever, since Liam had used Transfiguration to control it.

Then, he handed the finger to her and grew another. Valerie accepted it with a sunny smile. "Now leave."

Nodding happily and laughing under her breath, she used her shadows to disappear.

Having Valerie take care of this little side project didn't go against the independence of Liam's Path. It was like planting a seed in hopes that it would bloom into a tree. Whether or not it would be ripe was another issue.

With that done, Liam took out his Jade and called Bill McGill.

Seconds passed in silence.

Minutes.

Three minutes later…

And finally, he picked up.

"Billy here," a voice said. "Who dis?" Liam furrowed his brows. Party music blared from the background of the Jade. "Liam."

Silence.

There was a frantic whispering noise, which no doubt belonged to Bill himself, and the music suffered an abrupt stop.

"Heeeey, Liam! Sorry for the delay, man! Ha ha, I was just… y'know, doing… things. Anyway, I assume you've called 'cause you're interested in my proposal?" "Yes."

Awkward silence.

"G-Great! That's good to know, man, good to know. I'll… uh… I'll come and get you then, yeah?"

"Okay."

"Same place, right? Ilali?"

"Yes."

Silence.

"Uh… where is Ilali, again?"