As the relentless burning rays of the sun pierced their way through the light fluffy clouds that hung peacefully in the sky Theia and her new master quickly climbed inside the carriage while the driver and James both respectfully sat outside the carriage while taking turns in controlling the reigns as they head off to the capital.
"Listen here girly" Master Onbo began while sitting infront of Theia inside the elegant sandal wood carriage.
After confirming she was Indeed listening the old man slowly pulled out a somewhat sinister looking amulet from his robe. Shaped from a metal pitch black in color, it's form was of a classic pentagram with one difference. Seated in the center of the star was a blood red cross that seemed to be cut out from some gemstone she hadn't seen before.
"Master, what kind gem is that cross cut from? The only gemstones I've seen have all been of bright coloration. To be such a dark crimson red is truly unique." Theia asked with a cat like curiosity burning to life in her eyes.
Seeing this Onbo was obviously ecstatic when his new disciple showed such enthusiasm when learning of somthing new.
"Well to start your aura has a somewhat.... 'dark' feeling to it, thus this little thing will help you hide this feeling from others aswell as conceal your aura to a certain to degree. However this cross that you pointed out is somewhat special.." Master Onbo paused as if waiting to see what her reaction would be, however he would be destined to be disappointed as Theia continued to stare at him with that childlike curiosity.
"Ahem.. This cross is cut from a bloodstone un-tainted by holy magics. From what I could tell from getting a brief reading of your aura alone you have two dominant attributes coexisting in harmony inside of you. You'd have to allow me to get a clear reading of your spiritual core to be 100% sure, but from what I can tell one of those attributes is blood. This blood stone will allow you to tap into this attribute without needing to have blood prepaid before." Master Onbo said with a cheerful grin as if he wasn't concerned that his new disciple was attuned to such a controversial magic, however only he knew how worried he was on the inside.
Even though he had never taken another disciple before, he had seen how the templars of the church would treat any child found to be born with such 'tainted' magics.
He found this behavior truly disgusting. In his eyes all magic was simply a tool to be used. For example take someone with a hammer. If that person killed another person with that hammer you wouldn't call the hammer evil, you would blame the person wielding the hammer.
For him magic was the same. Sure the nature behind things like Sanguimancy (Blood Magic) and Umbramancy (Dark/Shadow Magic) might be a bit unsavory but at the end of the day the only thing that truly mattered was the intent of the wielder. If he could train this girl before him to use her gifts responsibly then that would be the best outcome.
"In other words this Stone will not only allow you to use your magic better, but it will also remove the need to draw blood from yourself or someone else to use it. My only other concern is your other attribute... I cannot even begin to guess what exactly it is... even your blood attribute is extremely different from the others I've seen. From what I can tell this unknown attribute seems to keep you blood attribute in check, while your blood attribute obediently follows whatever it's told. Usually those with multiple attributes will have have troubles keeping every attribute in harmony with each other; however it seems you have no need to worry about this. As for this unknown element itself it feels very similar to umbralmancy, but is very different at the same time. The main difference is that I feel traces of every attribute from it. Hell! I can even since some unique one that even I have never seen before." The old man's tone was very serious as he spoke, his eyes never once retreated from her gaze as she soaked up every word he had to offer.
After seeing that he finished speaking Theia respectfully took the amulet and wore it around her neck and said with a serious expression.
"Thank you for your teachings master. I will make sure to keep these things in mind" Meanwhile in her mind she exclaimed 'Maybe this old master isn't so weird after all'
However what he said next immediately made her change her mind.
"You better girly! Or else I won't let you pursue my daughter even if you beg!"
'What does his daughter have to do with anything that was just said? Besides I haven't even seen her! Why would I want to pursue her!'
"What a weird old man.." Theia couldn't help but mumble as she stared at this old man with a weird gaze.
'Okay she may have been to hasty in choosing a teacher! Is it too late to turn back?'
Despite what she was feeling on the inside she still retained the gentle smile on her face as she sat in a rather relaxed posture with her hands placed in her lap.
After explaining a few more important things and enjoying a light chat Master Orbon finally brought up the thing he had been wanting to ask the most.
"Tell me girly, where did you get that book in your tail?" As he spoke Theia couldn't help but notice the sharp glint that ran through her master's eyes as he stared directly at the pale colored book that sat snuggly in her curled tail.
'Whats with this old man's mood swings? One second he's putting up a noble front, the next he's goofing off and now he changed to have such a scary demeanor' Theia screamed inside but still refused to break her polite attitude.
'Just reamber what mummy told you; Always treat elders with respect no matter how weird or unusual they seem!'
After taking a short yet deep breath to calm her nerves she finally spoke.
"Why? Is somthing the matter?" Even though she had already acknowledged this old man as her master and had to respect him as an elder, she wouldn't easily hand over her new favorite item even if he begged and cried!
"Mn.." The old man hummed as he stroked he long white beard, but otherwise didn't respond as he watched Theia's fluffy tail curl tighter and tighter around the book.
"Tell me honestly girly... Your truly a virgin right? Or did you happen to kill someone recently?" Even though the old man trusted this girl's character after speaking with her for a while he still had doubts in his mind.... after all... that book.. it was somthing that should not exist in this world!
In all his years of living he had only seen one other like it.. just thinking about it made him shiver... It was as if that book back then was alive and was calling out to him. Thankfully he wasn't alone at the time and thus was not the one who gave into temptation first. Soon after his colleagues had opened the book it was if their very souls where sucked out of their bodies.. as for what happened after he'd rather not recall it.
After sagely securing the book he had given it the title of "The Book Of Whispering Souls" though others had given it the unofficial name of the "Necronomicon" seeing and all who read it would without a doubt become insane and either kill themselves or have their souls eaten by the book.
Evertime he looked at the girls book he would get the same feeling he had gotten back then except this time the book didn't seem to be luring him in, but driving him away. What was even stranger was that it didn't seem to affect this girl in the slightest in fact the book seemed rather attached to her and her to it....
The only way he could see this happening is if she had made some kind of sacrifice to this book. But since he couldn't tell what the nature of this seemingly living book was he couldn't guess if that sacrifice might be sexual in nature or sinister.
He had even guessed that maybe the book in his memory and this one had no correlation to each other after all Demons exist in this world... maybe it was just some Demon who made a deal or somthing right?
Even though this possibility was more plausible he still couldn't shake the feeling that his "Book Of Whispering Souls" was eerily similar to this one.