Floating among the every changing landscape, the Bloodgrass that was growing on the tethered balls sparked, roared with flames, froze the chains around them, seemed to disappear and phase. There were a multitude of things happening to each of the grove balls. The blood that fell from the far island flowed along a current of energy, it passed alongside the Bloodgrass and the mist that passed with it kept the plants fed.
There was cultivation, dozens of different types of grasses were being grown but all of them looked like sub-species from the Bloodgrass. One in particular got her attention, it was mottled like the Dragon Egg Crystal. As she approached the ball in the air, she felt a resonance. A Pulse beat in the core, dozens of hearts beating as one. Hana watched the plant bloom, then make seed. She pulled the seeds off one at a time and held them in her hands.
Each gave its own small pulse. 'Master, this is really not normal. Where are you?' Looking around, she didn't know what had happened but it was miraculous. The moles were flying around, blood was gathering and raining and the stars above brought Ethereality into the mixture. Things looked like they were phasing in one spot, when Hana noticed that the Bloodgrass nearby was also phasing, she saw the Stars tub had been burrowed into landscape, a blood channel was flowing into it and more blood was coming. They started to react and act like fountains, producing even more blood and blood energy along with it.
There was an awning that had been made with woven Bloodgrass, standing underneath, Hana watched the moles rushing around. None of them seemed bothered by her presence and they all seemed like they had their own things going on. Small huts, burrows along underneath of the floating islands, like a beehive had been created. The fliers were doing a majority of the construction and the buildings went down. Hana wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't taken the time and upon inspection, she saw a small population of the moles had made their nests.
Bronze Eggs sat in Bloodpools that gathered along the trickling spills that surrounded each of the islands. Hundreds of eggs could be seen on the surface, great broods and each were constantly irrigated by the Blood flow. A solemn look came across Hana, she covered her mouth to hide her gasp. 'So many.' Hana finally realized how the Minotaur was able to have so many moles at his disposal. Then she wondered if they were controllable. 'These little guys would be amazing.' Each of the Moles were only about the size of dog, when they stood up or flew they were more or less humanoid looking and intelligent.
'They need a name..' Hana kept thinking to herself, she wasn't all that original with her naming either. 'Mollens. Okay, I'll call them Mollens. But doesn't that mean they'll all need names too? Ugh.. so many. Her eyes were darting around at the eggs, each was giving off its own distinct aura. "What am I doing?" She snapped out of it, her master had already given her instructions. "Don't neglect their development."
"Phiiiiii!" Hana flew to the Blood Nexus aperture and whistled.
It caught the attention of all the moles and they came rushing over like a pack of dogs. They stood and swayed and watched her flying. She was larger, twice their size. They could feel a familiar feeling, it translated to treating her like the mother. Hana didn't know if it was smart to become their leader but she couldn't allow anyone else to take charge of them. Her blood coursed through this world, specifically, it was an experiment, one that could be disastrous if left unattended.
"My name is Hanahaksu, even if you can't understand me please believe that I am here to help." She kept her tone graceful and free. The moles were making critter noises among themselves and stood still like they were awaiting instruction. 'It can't be this easy? Can it?'
Hana made a ball from the blood and extracted the solids from of it. There were small fragments of mottled crystal. Her eyes lit up. She gathered the blood in a massive ball near the vortex, using it to help her in the process.
Spinning it into a cyclone, Hana laid a barrier to surround the centrifuge. There was separation, small bits and heavier materials rushed to the barrier and were pinned against it. As the swirling motion pulsed, more and more particulates gathered on the surface. 'Its not enough' Hana pointed her hand at the Bloodfalls and directed all of it to her position.
"Compress!" Hana screamed, she tried a technique she had seen her father and the Alchemy labs performing. There was a red light, her hands hurt and started to bleed. There was no elegance in her motions, skipping big portions of the spellwork. She tried forcing it, there was a small explosion. She backed off and her head hurt. 'Shit, backlash?' She held her head and lowered herself to the island for stability.
Surrounded by the Mollens, she lost control of the blood vortex and it disappeared. A torrent of blood came crashing down and doused everyone. There was a reaction she didn't expect. The Mollen began to howl and jeer. 'It's like they are excited' Hana's fingers were digging into the soil, she could feel the vibrations of the Mollen inside, all of them were beginning to synchronize, beating as one.
'School!' Hana snapped out of it. It was time for school. She looked at her clothes, they were soaked in blood again. She sighed, flew to the overhang next to the portal and changed. When she grabbed the token, she heard it.
Thumping. Like a hundred fists pounding on the doorway. 'Impossible, that guy can't still be there!' She figured that he would have gone away, 'I'm going to be late!' Hana was more than pissed, she was wondering if she would be punished. Either way, when she didn't show up in class, Grandmaster would find out. Hana threw out a summoning formation and called Caoimhe.
'Hu-ooh' Caoimhe spread her wings when she arrived but quickly put them away when she saw her surroundings. There was a puzzled look on her face. Hana tried to communicate the danger ahead but Caoimhe seemed to understand, the foliage on her back seemed to grow thorns and raise. Her flowers ran red, Caoimhe stepped into the rain and spread her wings. Branches and build, she soaked herself entirely and the Basket drake took on the color of war.
Green grassed grew beneath Caoimhe's body. All the blood around her was soaked up like a sponge. 'Caoimhe!' Hana was shocked, it looked like her friend was readying herself to die and Hana almost cried. The Basket Drake could sense her feelings, it nudged the driest part of its wing toward the door and signaled that she was ready.
"Then, lets go." Hana held the token and then pressed her palm to the barrier.
It opened.
Hana tried stepping through the portal but a hand was already reaching in. She grabbed it and threw the man inside.
The Mollen had their eyes widen like their deity had just been violated, a red glow came from all of them and every Mollen that was present started to devour the man. Bits were torn from his flesh and his body scattered into a few pieces. They howled again and then brought everything that wasn't devoured over to Hana. 'An Offering? Eeesh, what a creepy offering.' She hid her disgust and waved her hand to collect his hands and skull.
There were lots of teeth marks on both of them like the Mollen had decided to control themselves after the threat was gone. She didn't know what to think but she smiled and pet one of them that looked more humanoid than the others. Then, she left and closed the portal behind her. Caoimhe seemed lost and was still absorbing the blood that covered her body. The red basket drake would take a while to absorb everything, Caoimhe howled and followed behind Hana. They had to make it to the sect, and it had to be fast.
There was no beating Caoimhe's speed. Hana was just worried that she would be covered in blood. There was no way around it, she flew by herself and had Caoimhe do her own thing. Rather than going directly to class, she would have to report the attack, thankfully she had evidence.
Stopping at the Gates to the Sect, she was giving off a blood soaked aura. The guards reeled and then held out their spears. "What is going on!"
Hana tried explaining but one of the guards blew a horn. Caoimhe landed behind Hana and glared at the guards. "No girl, they just misunderstand. Sit here for a while and absorb the blood, its important that you be okay." Hana patted the top of Caoimhe's head turned around to the guards. "There seems to be a misunderstanding, please call an Elder."
She waited and a moment later there was already someone who had come. "Turn off that alarm." Elder Forey brushed his shoulders. "What is this core disciple being stopped for?" He inspected her and flinched. "Why are you giving off such a murderous aura?"
Hana was stunned, she smelled her armpits. "Am I?"
There was a estranged look on Elder Forey's face but he shook it off and replied. "Of course you're giving off a murderous aura, how can you not know that! And... and. You're covered in blood. Explain yourself."
"Oh, this. Well, some guy followed me, he attacked." She put her hand out and materialized his remains, they fell to the floor. "This was all that I could find when he was killed. Some beasts devoured him while after he started attacking me." 'Well, at least it is not a lie.' Hana felt confident in her explaining.
"What does that have to do with your Aura? Why are you giving off such a dangerous aura?" His face turned away in disgust. Elder Forey put his hands together and walked forward. "Come with me, you must see the Patriarch and explain."
'Umm.' She almost hesitated but answered "Of course, I will trouble Elder to lead the way then."
Following behind, the guards also came along. Caoimhe stayed at the gates as she was commanded, she laid in the sun on a stone block a few dozen meters from the gate, a thick fog surrounded her in red.
"Your aura is very potent, if you can, please turn it down immediately." Elder Forey gave Hana some advice while they walked. "If you don't know how, well, I'm sure you'll raise enough attention when we get inside." They strolled up the stairwell and further up the mountain toward the Castle.
"Elder, I was on my way to class. I would not have been late if I hadn't been stopped, if possible, this disciple would like to trouble the elder to inform my Teacher, Elder Kesra." Hana was as respectful as could be.
Elder Forey scoffed a bit. "Don't make demands, just come along. If the Patriarch deems it necessary, it will be handled. Don't fall behind." The guards behind Hana walked closer in an effort to intimidate her, it did little.
The palace looked a lot like the Bent Pagoda Tower in Tower City but it was purple in stone. Hana had been to the castle once before but never before the Leader of the Sect. 'I wonder what will happen.'
Making their way through the central hallway, guards were ordered to leave. They knew that matters of the Sect, especially investigations, were strictly confidential.
A door slammed behind them and the throne room was quiet.
"Patriarch, we have an issue at the gate. The alarms were rung when this Disciple approached with a bloody and malicious aura." Elder Forey gave his conclusion to the Patriarch.
As the Patriarch stood up, he was old but refined and strong in his movements, he spoke in a loud voice. "You may leave us. Clear the room. All of you, leave us to speak." The patriarch waved his hand and people started to fly out of the door.
Alone, standing before the Patriarch, Hana looked up.
"Hmmph. So. Tell me about yourself, there is no reason to hide." The Patriarch looked at Hana, scanning over her from head to toe like he was memorizing her features.
"Disciple greets Patriarch." Hana clasped her hands together and bowed gently.