Blood Master

Test his mage talent?

He Xi's alarm bells went off!

What the hell!

What if that dwarf mage really did discover something? Wouldn't it immediately expose who had made the pillar?

Then his tearful performance just now, accusing the "culprit" of nearly smashing his house, would look ridiculous, wouldn't it?

No! Absolutely not!

But refusing outright would look suspicious.

He Xi's thoughts raced, but he put on a curious expression. "Mr. Duggan, did you come all the way to Plint just to test his talent?"

"Yeah..."

Cyril gave a vague reply, his voice tinged with disappointment and embarrassment.

He Xi guessed the reason immediately.

It seemed Cyril's test results hadn't been very promising.

He put on a gentle expression. "Becoming a mage can't be easy, Cyril. Could you tell me exactly how the test works? I'm pretty curious about the world of mages too."

Unlike Otto and Ferdinand, the two servants, Cyril couldn't speak to them as an equal because of their master-servant relationship.

Cyril felt he could relax and speak more freely around He Xi.

He Xi was always coming up with outlandish ideas, and he was quick to understand things.

Before he knew it, Cyril had spilled everything that had happened over the past few days—the visit from Duggan, the unusual nature of the Insect Mage, the strange communication tests, and the frustration of trying countless kinds of insects without ever forming a "unique bond"...

He Xi listened with great interest. He hadn't known the world of mages had such an obscure and unusual branch.

Spending all day dealing with insects?

Looking at the undisguised disappointment on the young baron's son's face, He Xi decided to give him a hand.

After all, Cyril had always treated him well.

"You..." He Xi stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Have you tried mosquitoes?"

"Mosquitoes?" Cyril was taken aback.

Over the past few days, he and Duggan had tried beetles, mantises, ladybugs, fireflies, and even the bad-tempered rhinoceros beetle. But mosquitoes... They were so common that somehow they hadn't tried them.

"No..." Cyril answered honestly.

"Why not give them a try?" He Xi launched into his act again. "I think mosquitoes are actually incredible insects! They have huge potential!"

"Incredible?" Cyril looked confused.

What could mosquitoes do besides buzz and suck blood?

"Of course!" He Xi began his earnest analysis. "Just imagine: if you could control a whole swarm of mosquitoes, the sheer wall of buzzing would be enough to drive your enemies to distraction and send them into a mental breakdown."

He paused, then emphasized his next words. "And there are countless kinds of mosquitoes! Some carry terrible diseases, like malaria and yellow fever... Anyway, they're really powerful!"

Cyril was dumbfounded. Could mosquitoes really be that powerful?

It sort of made sense. But the problem was...

"But... He Xi," Cyril said glumly, "the problem is, I can't control them! Mr. Duggan is testing my ability to communicate with them..."

He Xi smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice, as if sharing some forbidden secret. "I heard something once, though I don't know if it's true... Supposedly, there's a special 'ritual.'"

"A ritual?" Cyril's curiosity was piqued.

"That's right!" He Xi looked solemn. "You have to offer your own blood as a 'tribute.'"

"Offer... my blood?" Cyril instinctively covered his arm.

"Don't panic!" He Xi waved a hand. "I'm not asking you to slit your wrist! Just... let the mosquitoes suck your blood!"

Cyril: "..."

"Of course, you can't just let a mosquito bite you and call it a day," He Xi continued, spinning his tale. "While it's sucking your blood, you have to focus with all your might and devoutly recite an ancient incantation..."

Cyril was even more confused. "An incantation?"

He Xi cleared his throat and chanted in a low voice:

"Wings that hum through the dark of night,

Messengers who drink life's nectar!

I offer my flowing blood as tribute,

And summon you!

Heed my will!

Bow to me as—

'Blood Master'!"

Cyril: "..."

The corner of his mouth twitched.

This... sounded like some clumsy tale made up by a bard. And "Blood Master"? That was so embarrassing!

He Xi seemed to read his mind and gave him a look that said, "You wouldn't understand." "Don't find it strange, Cyril.

"All things have spirits. Mosquitoes have their own beliefs and worship, too. You have to show sincerity and respect, and use blood and incantations to build a bridge of communication!"

He patted Cyril on the shoulder and spoke earnestly. "Give it a try! Mr. Duggan's still here, and there's nothing to lose. What if it works?"

The instant his hand touched Cyril's shoulder, He Xi's thoughts stirred.

The [Swarm Leader] trait is next to useless to me, but for Cyril, it might be his only chance to become a mage.

The moment the thought surfaced, the mysterious orb of light in his mind responded.

[You have selected a target: Human · Cyril]

[Granting target the trait—Swarm Leader]

After the series of notifications had finished,

He Xi withdrew his hand without a change in expression, as though he'd merely offered a casual gesture of encouragement.

Cyril hadn't noticed a thing.

He was simply looking at He Xi's sincere expression, torn between his conflicting thoughts.

Reason told him this was absurd.

But deep down, his resentment and longing to become a mage scratched at him like tiny claws.

Duggan would soon be returning to Fernandez... This might be his last chance...

If I'm going to try, then I'm going to try! At worst... I'll just get bitten a few more times!

"All right..." Cyril nodded with difficulty. "I... I'll give it a try."

He Xi smiled with satisfaction, then added, "I won't go back to the manor with you. I might be moving away before long."

"Moving away?" Cyril was startled. "Where are you going?"

"Who knows?" He Xi shrugged and gazed into the distance. "Maybe... I'll go see Fernandez."

Cyril's eyes lit up at once. "Really, He Xi? You're going to Fernandez?"

"Maybe," He Xi said with a smile. "If you pass the test and become an Insect Mage, perhaps we'll run into each other in Fernandez."

The thought lifted Cyril's spirits.

If he really became a mage, he could not only get away from his annoying father and breathe the air of freedom.

He could see He Xi again, too!

He was about to ask He Xi more about his plans when something caught the corner of his eye—

On the road in the distance, a party of carriages and riders bearing torches was heading toward the manor.

Through the flickering flames, he could just make out the familiar banner on the lead carriage, emblazoned with a sharp eagle claw.

This was bad!

His father was back!

And... instead of training at the manor, he'd run off to watch the commotion...

Cyril's face went deathly pale.

"He Xi! I have to go! My father's back!" he cried incoherently, forgetting all about his questions. "Thanks for the suggestion! I... I'll go try it right away!"

Before he'd even finished speaking, he turned and bolted like a startled rabbit, racing toward the manor. He was almost charging like a warrior.

He Xi watched Cyril's panicked retreat and waved, unable to hold back a laugh.

He really couldn't bring himself to feed mosquitoes on purpose.

Giving the trait to Cyril was putting it to good use.

As for whether it would work...

The trait had already been given.

The rest was up to Cyril's own fortune and... the mosquitoes' mood.