'She did not change, huh', Lewis thought with a smile as he looked the unnaturally fast regeneration process of Jack's wounds.
The woman who healed him was just a beginner rank acolyte at this point, a necromancer with a kind heart, persecuted for her affinity with death energy yet closer to a saint in terms of character. Helena Snow, a grade 4 talent with the potential of becoming a faction leader, a genius who would have died a nameless death in the fire ant uprising in the coming years.
Less than a day passed since Lewis regressed back in time, yet seeing her was a kind reminder that he should not take his victories for granted. He might have experience, but he was by no means a genius. He already became greedy once by seeking an easy growth path, and suffered because of it. He would not repeat mistakes.
Janna looked at the young boy in front of her, standing fearlessly after defeating a 210-pounds-heavy knight who had served as a Dalian Imperial Knight for four years before discovering magical affinity and joining the Magical Court. Jack Blast was, by no means, an easy opponent. As an intermediate body refinement acolyte, Janna saw Jack as someone with the potential to become her disciple in the future.
She had sent Jack to test Lewis strength, and imprint the crimson clan strength into the deepest marrow of his bones. However, Lewis did not just win. He would have killed Jack if she did not stop him. It seemed like he could predict she would act in the middle of this duel.
'Was he testing me instead?', Janna thought, 'What a frightening monster...The Magical Court is growing more ruthless as the years pass...'
Lewis interrupted her thoughts: "Did I pass the test?"
Janna nodded: "You are now an official member of the Crimson Clan. Everyone, welcome our youngest properly!"
A great roar spread through the crimson clan manor. Members of the clan were extremely happy and drank to their heart's content. Each faction was very unique in dealing with relationships. The Arcane Faction was more a merchant union than a faction. Its members were bound by contracts, but they would often find loopholes to leak information and seek the best opportunities.
The crimson clan was more similar to a band of mercenaries, who would do anything as long as it was well rewarded. Necromancers, renegades, assassins, nobles...There were a lot of profiles in this clan. It was diverse, yet at the same time, they shared a common will: becoming stronger at any costs. Loyalty was feeble in the crimson clan, but it was ruled with fear. Every major faction had its own means of punishing traitors. But the crimson clan was far more ruthless. It would not stop at chasing you and killing you. Your soul would suffer for eternity, if you were careless enough to betray it.
Yet, the crimson clan was a nice atmosphere. It was rough, and brutal. The commissions were often challenging moral compasses, but at the same time, it was the closest thing that Lewis could call a home. Better still, old companions were alive. They did not remember him, but he could remember quite a few of them. Most of them would die over the next ten years, but they all contributed to the person he became. They helped him forge the unwavering character he became.
"Feels good to be back", Lewis muttered before falling asleep, exhausted and relieved from his successful regression and joining of the crimson clan.