Crimson Core

The next morning, after what seemed like seconds after Darcy had just slept, she felt movement from beside her. She opened her eyes to see what was happening only to see Kai wake up and walk out of the room.

She decided to follow him.

‘Kai your training today would be different.’ The deity informed Kai as they walked out of the mountain Tiger house.

‘Let me guess…Today, I will run around the school thirty times?’ Kai’s sarcasm was on an all time high.

‘You wish…now go to the bamboo forest west of this place, then I will instruct you on the next step to take.’

‘I wish!?’

The central School of magic was so huge that different parts of it had different climate and ecosystems.

Kai changed his direction toward the bamboo forest while Darcy followed behind ‘Where is he headed to by this time?’

After some time of walking, Kai got to the bamboo forest. ‘Now what do you want me to do?’ Kai asked the deity immediately after they got to the forest entrance.

‘Walk inside and follow my instructions.’ Kai followed the deity’s instruction and walked deeper into the forest. ‘Now you would train your arm strength and your endurance as well as your leg strength.’ The deity informed.

‘Tell me what you want me to do… Stop talking too much.’ Kai was visibly uncomfortable.

‘Oh, you can now talk to me as you like huh? I wanted to give you a mild training, but I have changed my mind. Now this is what you will do: Bend 10 bamboo trees and hold them down, if your body would allow.’

Kai was initially shocked but had to still do it, he brought it upon himself. He also knew that, the pains the deity would let him have if he disobeyed her would be limitless.

“Let’s try this.” Kai decided to jump in the air and catch the bamboo trees with their shoots.

Kai stood in place pushing all his magic essence to his legs the ground beneath him caved in. Kai had gotten used to the essence within him, fairly quickly. It was mostly the Devil’s heart and the deity that improved his assimilation with his blood essence. It felt like his second nature.

Secondly, it wasn’t really that hard to control his essence, he had it since birth, locked away somewhere in him, but he still had it. Most mages had to find their affinity element, that was the first step to becoming a mage; the process of finding it took a lot of time. Kai skipped it giving him an advantage— not really, he started elemental manipulation later than others, so his advantage simply put him on par with every other mage out there.

—whoosh—

Kai jumped fifty meters into the air and held some bamboo tree shoots before falling back down, the tension in the bamboo didn’t let Kai land, suspending him in the air.

‘Focus your magic essence on your arms.’ The deity suggested.

Kai followed her suggestion and focused his blood essence into his hands increasing the pressure on the bamboo trees, letting him land slowly on the ground.

Most mages had to find their essence within their body and use it as a link to the elemental essence on the outside. Kai on the other hand, used his essence to strengthen part of his body. He used it as an enhancement or an equipment of some sort, strengthening parts of his body.

‘Now remove your magic essence from your legs and hands let us train.’ Immediately Kai followed the advice he started seeing the sky.

—whirl, dash—

The force from the trees sent him flying. ‘Try again or else…!’ The deity threatened.

‘Okay…okay, no need to threaten.’ Kai went to try again. And the same ordeal repeated itself.

’Try again…

’Try again…

’Again…

’More challenging this time, try again…

This went on throughout the morning, from before sunrise till when the sun rose. By the time Kai got the hang of the workout, the sun was already out.

‘This is torture!!’ Darcy screamed in her mind.

After the workout, Kai was covered in bruises and his clothes were shredded. ‘You know I won’t heal you. you have a fan, we don’t want to traumatize her do we?’

The fact that Kai was sill walking was simply a miracle, his bones could be seen from his bruises— scratch that, deep cuts. Nonetheless, his body seemed to scream of an immense profoundness; His muscles, although slim, burned with vitality.

Kai was about to step out of the forest when Darcy stopped him, “Take this.” Darcy handed him a piece of clothing from her spatial engagement ring that she got from her fiancé.

“Thank you,” Kai took the clothes from her and changed right in front of her. Darcy’s jaw dropped to the ground. She had guessed he was gifted but the size was something she had never seen.

—Snap, snap—

“Let us go, you are not done with being my guide.” Kai walked out of the forest with Darcy behind him.

“Where are we going?” Darcy asked helplessly as she followed Kai from behind. She had a lot of questions like, Why were you training like that? Did you get possessed by something? Am not enough for you? What do you want from me? And the list went on forever.

Kai stopped. “Walk faster…” Darcy took his words and walked towards him.

“We are going to visit a friend of mine…Nelson.” Kai whispered.

A few days later…

Darcy and Kai were outside the school of magic and were seen walking towards a fabric merchant’s emporium.

“Hello…dear customers! What type of fabric may we interest you with.” The emporium’s attendant welcomed them with open arms and a professional smile that appeared to have been honed for years.

“What is your most expensive fabric?” Kai said with the aura of a wealthy man.

“Oh, that would be handled by my master, please sit I shall inform my master of your presence,” the attendant said to them politely as he led them to the VIP section of the emporium.

Kai and Darcy were offered tea as they waited, but Darcy could not just hold in her curiosity as to the main reason Kai was there.

“Kai…” Darcy called out.

“Darcy what is it?” Kai dropped his cup of tea and gave her his full attention.

‘This man…’ Darcy thought for a while before responding. “Do not mind my curiosity but what are we doing here?”

“Humph…” Kai chuckled. “I said we were here to see a friend, did I not? Just play along and look sharp.” Kai thought to himself, ‘I hope this works.’

“All right if you say so, but so you know, my curiosity has not been satisfied.” Darcy proceeded, her best, to look as elegant as she could. After all, she was the daughter of a Noble, in name and actionage.

Darcy was a bit less restrained around Kai, for some reason they seemed to have a deep connection with each other.

Kai was about to say something else when the servant returned. “My master says you should meet with him in his office, Come this way please.”

The servant led Kai and Darcy deeper into the emporium. “Master, they are here,” the servant informed his master.

“Let them enter,” a male voice sounded from inside the chamber.

Kai and Darcy walked through the door, into the office which looked more like a lounge than an office.

“My esteemed customers please do have a seat,” the same voice sounded again but this time in a polite manner.

The voice belonged to a fairly handsome man. He was adorned in expensive jewels, and even his clothes looked like a masterpiece. He looked wealthy.

The wealthy man’s eyes followed Darcy as she sat down, of course she was a beauty to behold and Darcy seemed to have tickled the wealthy merchant’s fancy

Kai noticed it, the sparkle in the man’s eyes as it followed Darcy’s plump figure. ‘This is …this is good.’ Kai laughed within himself.

‘He is a greasy pervert…but how could he be Kai’s friend?’ Darcy asked herself as he also noticed the way the man looked at her.

—Snap, snap—

The wealthy merchant snapped his fingers to call in his servants to serve the couple drinks. “You said you wanted to see me?” The wealthy man asked with his eyes alternating between the both of them.

“Well, I know you don’t know me…” Kai began.

‘I thought you said you knew him?!’ Darcy screamed in her head whilst keeping her face as expressionless as possible.

“…but I am getting married soon…” Kai continued, “…and a friend of mine, an academic bureau official, sent me here that you sell the best fabrics.” Kai gave the merchant a bright smile.

“You are Fergus right? I was told you would come around but I did not know you would be bringing your future wife with you?” The merchant smiled seductively at Darcy before continuing. “No one told me you would be bringing a goddess to my humble establishment.”

Darcy held back the expression of disdain from her face. ‘Even if he is my pretend husband you don’t have to be so direct…ugh.’

“Hahaha, master Nelson you are too modest. I could not call your shop modest at all.” Kai sounded as polite as he could. ‘…Excellent!’ Kai could not help but grin.

Kai and Master Nelson, the merchant talked for some time, leaving Darcy to just sit there and be beautiful.

Kai’s acting was top-notch. After some time of talking and choosing fabrics. “Ahh…my good friend, the sun is already in the center of the heavens, I have to go.” Kai said as he stood up and bowed “…Keep the fabric, I will come tomorrow for the payment. By the way, you have very nice tea.”

Master Nelson walked towards them, held Darcy’s hand and kissed it. He looked into her eyes trying his best to at least attract her. “Your wife is truly beautiful~” Then he turned to Kai and said, “You can come tomorrow to pick up the fabric, and as for the tea…”

Master Nelson had his eyes locked on to Darcy for some seconds then back at Kai. “…I would be happy if you dropped by in the evening to have a spot of tea with me at the blue pavilion it’s not too far from here.”

“Actually that’s where we stay and since you insist, then we shall gracefully accept your invitation.” Kai smiled and left with Darcy. ‘I can not believe it was that easy, too easy.’

After they had left, Master Nelson had Darcy on his mind all day. ‘I need to get her into my bed…this night.’

As Darcy and Kai walked out of the fabric emporium, Darcy could not hold in her curiosity any longer.

“Kai…” Darcy called out as they walked side by side.

“What is it Darcy dear?” Kai bent his head towards Darcy to whisper to him.

“What do you want to do with that man? Will you let him have me if he requests?” Darcy asked, paralyzed with curiosity.

Kai gave her a warm smile before he replied. “Darcy, what I am about to do not many would approve of it. You will have your answers soon, just come with me.”

After Kai said that he was lost in thought. ‘I would need to go to the blue pavilion, but I have almost no money with me, What to do? What to do?!’

Kai was lost in thought so deeply that he could not hear what Darcy said to him any more.

After some time of walking, they got to the front gate of the blue pavilion. “Kai, what are we doing here?” Darcy asked.

“Did you not hear what I told that merchant, We are staying here, remember?” Kai said, gently patting her head, trying his best to look as loving as he could as they were in public.

Kai held Darcy most affectionately as they entered the inn and all eyes were on them.

A tall silver-haired man and a beautiful blonde girl with big hazel-colored eyes walked in side by side, hands locked together.

Kai had just walked to a table and sat down with Darcy when a server came to them. “Welcome to the prestigious blue pavilion, What would you care for?” The server asked as politely as he could.

“A room and a meal will do,” Kai answered the server.

“Very well, follow me.” The server led them upstairs to their accommodation and Kai picked a very large room, furnished with bamboo furniture.

Kai and Darcy settled in the room. This was Darcy’s chance to ask her questions as her curiosity was getting the best of her.

“Kai, can you give me the answers now?” Darcy asked.

“Why not? But first I have something to tell you…” Kai walked up to Darcy. At a time Kai got too close for comfort causing Darcy to back up; he kept walking till she was up against the wooden wall. Darcy’s breathing became hard and unsteady.

“…What is it that you desire?” Kai’s eyes glowed a black light as he spoke in a profound melancholy voice so unfamiliar to Darcy yet so suggestive and alluring, forcing her to say her deepest desire, locked away deep in her heart.

In actuality, Kai did what he did out of instinct, it felt like the most natural thing to do.

Tears began flowing from Darcy’s eyes as she spoke. “My mother…her death wish was for me to become a great mage; I desire to become a great mage.”

‘You can grant it to her, but she would be loyal to you, that’s the clause. That amulet you found on Baron Mason’s body should do the trick, but don’t give her yet, I’ll tell you what to do.’ The deity informed Kai.

‘Alright.’

“I will grant your desire…” Kai paused before continuing, “But I want something else in return.”

“What?! I am stronger than you, you know?” Darcy was in a state of disbelief. She still had her free will nonetheless, the only thing different now was her heart. At the moment Darcy could not lie to Kai, what ever came out of her mouth was how it was in her heart.

“Do not underestimate me.” Kai was visibly restraining his anger, He hated when people underestimated him or was it the corrupted soul that felt this way?

“Okay… Okay, what do you want in return?” Darcy asked half-heartedly.

“You… I want you.”

This was something Darcy had wanted Kai to say to her, and he was saying it now, Darcy could not stop herself from blushing, Kai looked so manly and dominant. She could perceive pheromones seeping out of his body at that time.

Darcy was about to lean in for a kiss when Kai stopped her and walked towards the table on the other side of the room.

‘What just happened? I thought he said he wanted me. And…he is rejecting me?!’ Darcy was in distress.

Kai took out the amulet he wore and placed it on the table. ‘What should I do to it now?’ Kai asked the deity.

‘Put some drops of blood on it to make it yours, and make Darcy pour some drops as well.’ Kai followed the deity’s instruction as he bit his thumb, blood came out and he let it drop on the amulet.

Darcy became curious as to what Kai was doing, she inched closer to see for herself. Before she could get to where Kai was she saw a bright glow from the table Kai was at. She walked closer towards the table to see that the red glow was coming from an amulet.

Kai turned around and held Darcy’s hand, exposing her thumb. “…!!”

Before Darcy could ask Kai what he was about to do, Kai had already brought her thumb to his mouth and bit it until blood came out.

“Ahh! What did you do that for?”

Kai brought her finger to let her blood drop upon the amulet despite her struggle. After what seemed like seconds Kai let Darcy’s finger go.

Darcy was shocked. “What did you do to me?” She hadn’t even let what happened digest in her mind.

Kai was calm as he answered, “I said I will make you a great mage did I not?”

“You did,” Darcy answered.

“You did not even let me finish what I wanted from you. But enough of that, here, wear this around your neck,” Kai handed Darcy the amulet that had changed from its former world shape to a black heart-shaped hard material covered in exquisite designs.

Darcy took the amulet and looked at it with prying eyes. “What is this?” Darcy asked.

“Humph…” Kai chuckled. “I hate to repeat myself. What do you have to lose? If it does not work, you can give it back to me.” Kai smiled in a sinister manner.

“hmmph…” Darcy begrudgingly wore the amulet; after some time of waiting and nothing happening, Darcy had a smug expression on her face. “See nothing happen—”

Darcy’s voice was cut off when the amulet glowed again and her sight became blurry, her expression changed form being smug to utter shock and disbelief. What she felt within that short period could not be described into mere words. To put it simply, She could feel every part of her body at that moment surge with immense vitality. She could even feel her blood passing though her veins and arteries. It didn’t take long before she was overwhelmed and fell to the ground.

‘Is she okay?’ Kai asked the deity as he walked towards Darcy lying on the ground.

‘Yes she would be fine, she just passed out from the blood surge into her body, she would be fine.’

‘Blood surge?’ Kai asked the deity as he lifted Darcy off the floor and carried her to the bed on the other side of the room.

‘Well yes, your blood essence is pure power, The amulet gives her an amount she can handle, to make her body stronger and her magic essence purer.’ the deity explained.

‘Anything else I should know? I do not want any more surprises.’ Kai placed Darcy on the bed and walked towards the bathroom.

‘Well yes, I will tell you later today, Do not think much of it?’

Chelsea lay on her bed with her legs touching the floor and her upper body on the bed, in a not-so-ladylike manner. ‘Why do I miss him so much?’ Chelsea asked herself. She held a pillow close to her chest and was lost in thoughts.

—Knock, knock—

“Who is it?” Chelsea asked as she sat up to maintain a ladylike posture on her bed.

“Milady it is Victoria, may I come in?”

Chelsea fell back on her bed. ‘It’s only my personal maid.’ “Come in.” Chelsea called out.

—Click—

Victoria entered the room and bowed. “Milady, my Lord sends for you in the garden.”

“Right, I will be along,” Chelsea replied to Victoria as she stood up from her bed. “… Let us go.” She walked out of the room and Victoria went along behind her.

Moments passed before Chelsea was in the garden, walking to where her father sat drinking tea and looking at the sun about to set.

“Father…” Chelsea bowed.

“Chelsea…the view is beautiful Is it not? Come sit with me,” Lord Marshall gestured for Chelsea to sit beside him.

“It is lovely… Father you sent for me?” Chelsea sat down beside the Lord Marshall.

“Tea…?” Lord Marshall poured tea for Chelsea. “…yes, I sent it to you, I have a question to ask you.” Lord Marshall’s expression was solemn.

“Yes, Father?”At this point Chelsea became tense.

“I want to know…do you have feelings for Kai?” the air became heavy as Lord Marshall looked intently to Chelsea for answers. The silence seemed to go on forever; Chelsea finally gathered the courage to speak.

“Father… I…”