By The Blood

The wall now displayed the image of a man: blonde hair, blue eyes, a scar across his eye, and an irritated expression. He resembled the typical task enforcer. Despite the constant annoyed look on his face, he was still somewhat handsome. Karl studied the image with a cold, detached expression.

However, the image wasn’t entirely clear. It appeared more like a series of strange lines crisscrossing the painting, making it seem like a puzzle stitched together, with the seams clearly visible.

“Alright?” the Cognizer smiled, her gaze fixed on Karl.

So, this is the man I have to kill. A stranger to me, but clearly not to them. And I suppose I can’t refuse on the grounds of being inexperienced... This means my life is on the line with this mission. Either Harrison kills me, or this lady does. Failing the task will also likely get me killed. Karl almost sighed but managed to hold it back.

After a brief pause, he asked, “Where does he usually show up?” He had considered asking for the exact location, but since the Cognizer hadn’t already provided it, he figured she either didn’t know or expected him to find it out on his own.

With a scrutinizing gaze and a soft smile, she replied, “Very well. When you complete it, dear Anette here will inform me.” Her gaze shifted to Anette. “Make sure not to help him directly, though I know you care for him. It wouldn’t do the faction any good if that became the reason for failure.”

She didn’t answer. Karl could only draw conclusions—she simply didn’t want to provide more information.

The woman then added, “Don’t worry—just keep an eye on Thales Market. You should find him there.”

I see, Karl nodded silently. There wasn’t much choice. Either he completed the task and risked being killed by Harrison, or he refused and was certainly killed by the Cognizer. The better option was clear. But it wasn’t just about survival—joining the faction offered opportunities.

“Alright, I suppose I’ll be going now. I just wanted to see why dear Anette was weakened, and it seems the issue is resolved,” the Cognizer said, pulling a black whistle from her clothes. “Take this.”

She tossed the whistle to Karl.

“When you’re finished with the task, blow it,” she said with a smile.

Karl caught it with one hand, feeling its cold, bone-like texture. It seemed mystical, no doubt able to summon her once the job was done.

The Cognizer glanced back at Anette. “See you. However, you might be needed for another mission soon.”

Anette lowered her head, remaining silent.

Suddenly, the Cognizer’s visage began to fade, turning a ghostly white. Her skin took on a bleached, ethereal hue as if the blood in her veins had been drained. Her legs began to sink into the ground as if she were a pole slowly disappearing into a pond.

The same power as Anette! Karl recognized the similarity. It was the exact same ability! What did it mean? Did they evolve from the same creatures? Despite the turmoil of his thoughts, his face remained calm, watching as the lady’s head finally sank below the surface.

He stared at the ground for a moment, wondering whether, if he stepped on that spot, he too would sink into the earth. But, knowing he wasn’t a Sanguine, it seemed unlikely.

“Master,” Anette called softly, panting while still kneeling on the ground. She seemed frozen in place, her body trembling now and then, unable to stand.

Can’t she move? Karl wondered, but knowing this was the person who saved him, he felt compelled to help her. Gently, he lifted her by the arm and carefully moved her to the bed.

“I apologize for my condition,” Anette said, her tone apologetic.

Karl didn’t respond. Instead, he walked over to the chair on the left side of the room, sat down, and observed the woman. Should I ask her about the faction? Do they really worship demons like people say? Are there any benefits to joining them? He wanted to ask all of these questions, but given the situation, he stayed silent, watching the pale-faced woman panting while seated on the edge of the bed.

“They are called the Mysteries School of Thought,” Anette said with some effort.

Is that the faction’s name? How did she know I was going to ask? Though he accepted the answer, he felt uneasy about how she had guessed his thoughts. It was the second time now. Even the Cognizer had done the same—responding to questions he had never voiced. Was this a power they possessed? If so, he would need to find a way to protect himself from it. His thoughts were his own!

Glancing at him, Anette continued. “We do not worship demons, and contrary to what the outside world believes, most factions don’t worship demons or even evil gods. Some, like the School of Thought, strive for knowledge and the ultimate truth. They develop their own branches and methods to reach their goals. However, each faction has its own principles. The school is, in essence, a school. They seek knowledge and are perhaps the most knowledgeable of all factions.” She paused, catching her breath. “However, there are depraved factions. Those either worship ancient evil gods, ruinous deities, or twisted versions of orthodox gods.”

Karl’s eyes widened. “Twisted versions of orthodox gods?!” he blurted out.

“I don’t know much about them, but at some point...” Anette gritted her teeth, her voice strained as she clenched her newly formed fist. She seemed to be in pain.

Is healing painful? Karl wondered as he silently watched her.

After a while, she continued. “At some point in history, the gods developed alternate, more twisted and depraved versions of themselves. Eventually, factions formed around these beings. Such factions believe that the twisted gods are the true gods. To them, only through madness, excess, debauchery, and other vices can one reach the ultimate.”

They actually believe that? Or maybe the twisted gods influence their minds. Karl thought back to books he had read about cosmic horror. He knew a little about how gods could corrupt mortals, but he was never a fan of the genre and had only read it once, never again.

“Master,” Anette called weakly, her head lowering as her breaths became more labored. She clenched her hands into her dress before saying, “I’m going to pass out soon. When I wake up, we need to leave.”

Karl frowned. “Why?” Why was she taking him somewhere? What if he ran away while she slept? Did she trust that he wouldn’t? Or was Abraham also spying on him? Realizing there were too many unknowns, he held back a sigh and waited for her response.

“I don’t know why you haven’t remembered, but until you do, we need to train you.” Her head dropped as sweat trickled down her cheeks, past her jaw, and dripped onto her dress.

I forgot? What did I forget? Is it me or the original Karl? He pondered for a moment before giving a simple nod. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered escaping, but after hearing about training, he realized that even if he managed to flee, he might end up in an even worse situation. This was Canen, and who knew what dangers lurked here? He couldn’t take that risk, especially since there was an opportunity to grow stronger. And if he could achieve that, then escape might become a viable option. But that would come after he had taken what he needed from the Mysteries School of Thought.

Smiling weakly, Anette’s eyelids grew heavy before closing. Her body swayed like dust in the wind before she collapsed onto the bed, unconscious.

Karl gazed at her for a moment before sighing and leaning back in the chair. Should I just wait until she wakes up?

Night fell faster than Karl had anticipated. The city was now shrouded in mist, or so he believed.

The woman had awoken. She glanced at him and said, “Alright, master. We also need to re-teach you many things... again.”

Again? Karl wanted to ask but quickly held his tongue. He assumed the answer would be tied to the memories they said he had lost. Until he figured that out, it was best to let them talk. Since he couldn’t read their thoughts, he could at least listen carefully.

Anette placed a hand on his shoulder, and then, her legs began to sink into the ground. Karl’s legs followed.

This is the same power that saved me from the explosion, he noted, watching as the ground slowly consumed him. Strangely, he felt nothing, as if the earth were merely air. Soon, his head passed through the ground as well.

By day, Canen was a city shrouded in a relentless red hue, veiled by red dust and a dark, clouded sky. It felt oppressive, distinct, and foreboding. But at night, the mists descended, transforming the city into a realm of obscurity.

High noble manors and keeps became eerie and ghostly, looming like shadows hidden behind a thick veil. The streets narrowed within the white fog, and every square or market was reduced to a lonely, silent world devoid of life. Supposedly, even thieves and noblemen dared not venture into the mist—only those with exceptionally strong hearts roamed freely. Stories circulated that those who entered the mists were replaced by mirror versions of themselves, colder and more wicked than before.

Is there any truth to those myths? Karl wondered, standing on the ledge of a flat-roofed building. The building’s purpose was unclear, but from its wooden structure, he assumed it belonged to a commoner. Beside him, Anette’s hand gripped his shoulder tightly, ready to steady him should he lose his balance. They gazed out over the city, where shadowed buildings loomed in the night, and the mists made everything appear to shift in the darkness.

Weak lights flickered from the occasional window, but those small orbs of light were rare, as no one wanted to attract attention in the misty night. A cool breeze swept across the rooftop, stirring the fog and brushing it against Karl’s mist-dampened face. He didn’t mind the cold, but tonight it felt excessive. If not for the woman beside him, he would have started shivering like a frail old man. But not in front of others. Never show weakness in front of others. Not now.

“Master,” Anette said, her voice cutting through the silence, “I aim to help you recover some of what you’ve lost today. I believe to complete Madam’s task, you need to be prepared.”

Weren’t you told not to help me? And what have I lost? Time? for keeping watch on you? Karl thought. The time I spent keeping an eye on her? He wasn’t sure.

“Every day, either I or Abraham will be responsible for training you,” Anette continued.

That works for me. Strength is what I need right now, Karl thought as he lowered his gaze, staring at the mist-covered dim city below.

“Tonight, we’ll be visiting some members of an evil faction—the Newmans.”

Wait, aren’t you also part of an ‘evil’ faction? And why the hostility toward the Newmans? Shouldn’t factions like yours stick together? Karl almost sighed. He didn’t understand the faction dynamics, and now he was being dragged into an attack on one of them. It felt as though the world was teaching him harsh lessons, but what did he even do to receive it? Leading the beastmen to their deaths?

“But first, take this.” Anette pulled a large, ornate mirror from her clothes. She handed it to him and then placed her hand on his shoulder, her complexion growing even paler, almost sickly white.

What’s she planning? Karl didn’t look at the mirror he’d been given. Instead, his attention remained fixed on Anette, who was becoming increasingly transparent, her body fading like the surface of a still pond. The mist passed through her as though she were nothing more than air, intangible and fleeting.

She vanished!

Though the situation called for surprise, Karl felt only a dull sense of curiosity, a muted emotion. He suddenly raised his hand, his face creasing into a frown.

He wasn’t the one moving it!

What’s happening? He watched as his hand waved at the mist as if trying to push it away.

Then, he suddenly heard a loud voice echo inside him. “Master!” The overly familiar voice rang out.

The lady? Is she somehow... inside me?

“This is a power from my second and current evolution,” Anette’s voice boomed within Karl. The sound traveled through him—his heart, his bones, his blood. Every part of him vibrated as her voice resonated within his body