Ruger softly thanked the retreating figure. The petite girl merely waved without looking back.
Once Ruger was alone in the room again, he paused, then began taking out several bottles of blood he had prepared long ago.
Perhaps because the stranger had left, or because she sensed Ruger's intentions, the Blood Curse Doll poked her head out again and clung beside his face.
Ruger studied the bottles of blood in his hands.
A Blood Curse Doll was essentially a magic puppet, a wizard's creation. From another perspective, however, it was a furry doll that had acquired spirituality, similar to those adorable little fairies, yet different. Its nature was rather more sinister, and the power of curses brewed within it. Some objects, after successfully awakening their spirituality, might even gain the Fairy Kingdom's recognition through a fortunate turn of events. Blood Curse Dolls, however, fell outside its usual scope of acceptance.
For that very reason, feeding one required some care.
After some thought, Ruger put the other bottles away, keeping only the bottle of blood taken from the ambush victim in Burning Blood City.
The Burning Blood City resident he had killed in an ambush had displayed obvious signs of modification. His bloodline must have come from some supernatural creature, which meant his blood must also have qualified as a low-grade supernatural material. More importantly, he had died in an ambush, so some of his resentment was bound to linger in his blood. Blood from someone who died while experiencing intense emotions was among a Blood Curse Doll's favorite foods.
Ruger had not made up this principle. Old Lunse had explained it to him.
The reason certain ancient contracts and similar arrangements required a mark left in blood was that freshly shed blood carried a trace of its original owner's soul