Mclery looked around, his eyes scanning the strange lab filled with glowing test tubes and unknown liquids. He couldn't make sense of what any of it was. Zem, his silent companion, followed him closely, observing everything with curiosity.
Suddenly, the heavy stone door of the cave creaked open. Raven stepped in, holding a bunch of wild fruits. Mclery immediately retreated into a corner, watching him cautiously. Raven didn't seem angry this time. Instead, he casually tossed a fruit in Mclery's direction.
Mclery caught it and looked at Raven. The fire that once burned in Raven's eyes had dimmed. There was no hatred there now. Raven gestured for him to come closer.
Hesitantly, Mclery approached.
"Why did you bring me here?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.
Raven studied him for a moment before replying, "Because I saw something in you that no one in the Aushadhi Clan possesses."
Mclery frowned, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Your manaless body," Raven said plainly.
Mclery didn't show any reaction outwardly, but inside, he felt disheartened. Before he could speak, Raven continued.
"But there's something else, something even rarer. Your body doesn't contain mana, but it attracts it. Mana stays around your body for a while before fading away. That makes you unique."
Mclery asked, "So… what does that mean?"
Raven looked him straight in the eyes. "It means I want to give you my power—fulfill my unfinished wish."
Mclery blinked. "What?"
"I'm dying," Raven said, his voice calm but his eyes flickering with rage from the past.
He took a deep breath and began to explain.
"Uri, the current leader of the Aushadhi Clan, had a sister—Nia. When their father was choosing a successor, he declared a battle between the two. Nia was a brilliant fighter and loved experimenting with new medicines. She worked with me in the Aushadhi Lab. We… we cared about each other."
Raven paused, as the memory visibly pained him.
"One day, Nia was searching for herbs mentioned in a traditional scroll near the Doved Belt. That's when some members of the Beast Clan attacked her. She couldn't escape. They killed her on the spot and Uri became the new leader,"
Mclery listened in silence.
"Everyone believed it was for the scroll. I was devastated. While the Peace Guards began their investigation, I was filled with rage. I tracked those beasts down and brought them back to the clan for questioning. And that's when I learned the truth."
He clenched his fists.
"Uri had orchestrated it. She promised the Beast Clan the ancient scroll in exchange for eliminating her sister. That scroll contained knowledge that—even with just a slim chance it could bring someone back from the brink of death."
Mclery's eyes widened.
"I wanted to expose her. But before I could, Uri silenced the captured beasts and accused me for there killing. She claimed I had murdered the Beast Clan for bloodline magic and out of revenge they killed Nia. Everyone turned against me."
He added bitterly. "She ordered my arrest."
"In my fury and desperation, I touch the taboo and use my Healing magic and beast clan magic blood and fused to make a new magic system call bloodline magic . I used bloodline magic to challenge her. But I acted hastily. The side effects of the ritual struck me immediately. I lost… and I had to flee."
Raven looked down at his hand, trembling slightly.
"But now… I understand bloodline magic better than ever. The problem is, I can't use it on myself anymore. The body, filled with mana, Can't use Bloodline magic beacuse Bloodline magic eat Mana from the inside out."
He looked up at Mclery again.
"But you… your body doesn't contain mana. Bloodline magic will work perfectly on you. And that's why I want you to take my power. To reveal Uri's truth. To bring justice."
Mclery stood in silence, processing everything.
Who was right? The respected leader of the Aushadhi Clan—Uri—or the traitor of Aushadhi Clan—Raven?