Amid the ice and snow, Raging Bat beat its wings, sending great swaths of snow flying.
A pitch-black figure stood atop Raging Bat's back, gazing impassively at everything he had caused. As countless snowflakes whirled past him, he raised a hand and caught one. Feeling its chill and watching it swiftly melt into water in his palm, the Blood Scion's scarlet eyes rippled with emotion.
The three people in the snow watched silently, not daring to disturb him.
Yet each wore a different expression.
Freeman's face burned with fervor, and unintelligible murmurs kept spilling from his lips.
Amuel stuck her backside high in the air and lowered her head again, using the snow to hide her terrified eyes. The woman from Talin had seen Arcana-level power before but never experienced it firsthand, and more thoughts began to stir within her.
There was no shame in doing certain things to stay alive.
If she could also stay fed and warm without having to work, all the better.
Byrne, kneeling on one knee ahead of them, was different.
The youngest member of the Blood Clan had nothing but heartache in his eyes.
His heart ached for his elder brother.
He knew very well that the scene before them must have awakened a memory from some period of his brother's life.
What followed only confirmed the young Blood Clan member's suspicions-
The Blood Scion jumped down from Blood Bat's back and gently set his feet on the snow.
With a crunch, crunch beneath his feet, the Blood Scion walked off into the distance.
Byrne immediately rose and followed.
As a member of the Blood Clan, Byrne had that right.
Freeman and Amuel did not dare.
A Blood Descendant and an outsider silently watched the Blood Scion's retreating figure.
More thoughts surfaced in their