After class with Mr Durnoff, Altair had Homeroom with Vera Quadreign. She had been teaching them some basic maths, linguistics and geography the entire week, and Altair was rather enjoying himself. While there was no major battles or exciting secrets to unpeel, at least on the surface, the simplicity of the school life was surprisingly enjoyable.
'Hmm, I've attended a few educational centres during my many iterations, but this one feels different. My mortal perspective perhaps? Not knowing everything beforehand probably plays a part too.'
Altair attempted to put his finger on just what was so different from the past as he went about his day. Breakfast and lunch with Sia, the occasional check-up from Jace, discussions with Elizabeth and sometimes Alexander...the days slowly blurred into each other as Altair gently sunk into the cloud of complacency. Everything was going so smooth, he could almost forget the assassins likely lurking with the Academy poised to claim his life!
But of course, Altair made sure to make good use of his senses while enjoying his education. His eyes and ears were peeled at all times when around anyone but Sia, especially Alexander and those from the religious organizations like Gordan, Zeze and Nezra. And while he didn't show it, he was also keeping a cautious eye on Elizabeth whenever they were together. He had no doubt the Goddess of Knowledge would be amongst the first to detect his nature of an Abomination, and so was rightfully on guard against one of 'Her' believers.
As he carried out this two-faced act, he briefly wondered how his Split Double was doing. He had instructed her to join the Adventurer's Guild at the first opportunity, but he didn't know the requirements or how much progress she had made.
'Hmm, it's only been a few hours, I doubt she could have joined so soon. There's no way a massive organization like the Guild would just allow anybody to join at the click of a button right? At the very least, I remember Euphrosyne making relatively strict conditions to reduce the amount of newbies dying unprepared.'
Of course, the status of the Guild in the Main Universe and Infinite Universe might not have any correlation beyond their name. From his brief few years spent on Orvonia, Altair had come to the conclusion that things were similar at the roots but different drastically as they expanded. It was almost like someone had purposely distorted the original style from the Main Universe into their own flair. 'Well, such a possibility cannot be ruled out. If the System is to be believed, there are other "Creators" beside me in this Universe. They could have decided to reskin everything according to their own desires like an egotistical prick.'
Altair conveniently forgot he had often done such a thing during his days as a Denizen of Infinity, overwriting the original owners of many achievements. Even a Denizen was not free from personal bias, and the vice was even stronger if anything!
After finishing up his classes, he returned to his apartment with his sister and sat down to read over a book detailing the history of the early Modern Era, from the period of the founding of the Augustus Family to the encroachment of the Secret Gods like Polydorus and Ingrid in Orvonia. Despite suffering tremendous losses in the Great War, the Secret and Orthodox Gods were mostly recovered din only five centuries. Of course, "mostly recovered" in this case meant they were no longer bleeding wealth and power. As every Ascender knew, the number of Sacreds, Supremes and Sovereigns had yet to recover to this day.
Altair looked up from his book at the sound of Jace walking through the front door, tossing the keys on the loop as he passed by. He entered the sitting room and glanced over his two wards: one reading and the other deftly flicking a coin between her fingers as she wrote in her diary. Yes, Sia had decided to start writing a diary shortly before they had arrived at Sky Cross and was quite consistent in her posts.
Once, Altair had tried to sneak a look but had been caught. Sia had hung him upside-down from the ceiling for over an hour using her Mana, and only let him down when he groveled for mercy. In fairness to Altair, she had also begun to tickle him ruthlessly halfway through. After internally swearing vengeance upon her for the act, Altair had temporarily given up his reading plans and settled on history books instead.
Jace sat down at the table with a yawn as he rubbed his eyes in a languish manner. "Anything interesting happen today?" he asked casually. Sia tilted her head in thought before shaking her head. "Apart from the usual, nothing. I plan to head to the center with my friends this weekend."
Altair shook his head to express everything was normal, causing Jace to nod slightly and stretch his arms. "Well, I suppose it is still a bit early for anything to happen. Your mother is doing well, by the way. She asked how you're doing."
Altair snorted from behind his book as he flipped the page. "Yes, I'm sure our condition is at the forefront of her mind" he sneered. Jace sighed and rubbed his face tiredly as Sia stayed silent, not rebuking her brother. "Listen kid, I don't get how you can be so smart at times and so dense at others. You're mad your mom sent you away, I get it. But it was for your own safety, and you're gaining massive benefits by attending Sky Cross. Look at your sister, she understands."
Sia sunk into her chair slightly at being referenced, as she muttered in a slightly sullen tone. "Yes, but she barely even sends letters. All she does is communicate through you."
The room fell silent as Jace struggled to come up with a rebuttal. Altair flashed him a triumphant smirk at Sia taking his side before focusing on his book once again. Jace looked around before standing up and shaking his head. "When you are all grown up and have kids, I'm sure you'll look back and realize how much your mother has sacrificed for you. Don't forget the two of you are technically bastards. Even if House Atrazark has recognized you, the fact is you were born out of wedlock with a criminal for a father."
"Raphaniel has gone above and beyond in trying to keep yo two safe and cared for. I just hope you recognize this."
Jace left them with these words as he entered his bedroom, leaving the two children alone with each other and their thoughts. Sia fidgeted for a minute before closing her diary, making sure to lock it. After Altair's last attempt. she took to changing the code every week to something new. Of course, he was confidant in breaking it in only three days even without using his special Mana, relying purely on his mental facilities.
"Good night brother" she said as she kissed him on the forehead and went into her bedroom. Altair watched her door close before letting out a sigh that didn't match his physical age. He had obviously noticed Sia's despondent mood lately and correctly attributed it towards Raphaniel's lack of contact with her children. To be honest, Altair was also slightly miffed by her lack of presence, even if he didn't particularly care too much. Altair only cared that Sia was upset, and so sought to help her. Of course, his version of "help" wasn't making the two grow closer, but simply making Sia forget all about Raphaniel. As far as he was concerned, Raphaniel was simply the one who brought them into the world and nothing more.
Though deep down, he did feel a slight bit of guilt towards her for this act. After all, he had essentially murdered the real Altair and taken his name, body and fate while the latter was just an embryo.
After reading for another ten minutes, Altair looked at the clock and decided to call it a night. Tucking the book away, he got up and entered his room. After changing, brushing his teeth and fluffing his pillows, he lay down to rest and closed his eyes, content with another day of normalcy.
This feeling was quickly brushed away when a searing pain surged up from within his body, causing Altair's eyes and mouth to shoot open in shock and pain. He was unable to scream despite the boiling agony tearing through him.
Altair felt like his blood was boiling, his flesh and bone breaking down only to reform as something...else. Altair could feel his body changing on a genetic level, and the process was far from pleasant to experience. He gripped his bed sheets ad oceans of sweat flooded from his pores. The blood vessels in his eyes began to burst as Altair could taste blood from his tongue, having bitten it hard.
Time seemed to lose all meaning at that moment, as the sheer amount of pain turned his thought progress hazy. Just as Altair seemed to see a ale fog consume his vision, a flashing light drew him back to consciousness. In front of him, a vaguely opaque panel was flashing in front of his face.
[Attention Host, a Bloodline Transfusion is ongoing! Please bear with the pain and retain consciousness, otherwise there may be serious problems down the line!]
'What...the...fuck?!'
[The System understands Host may be confused! Host's {Split Double} had just acquired a {Noble Vampire} Bloodline and attempted to absorb it. As there is a mystical connection between the two of you, the Bloodline flowed through them into you.]
[Once the process is complete, Host shall receive a boost in their Rank and also increased Attributes. This is undeniably a boon for Host's current state!]
'And what happens...if I black...out?!' Altair managed to force his way through the fog hanging over him to ask this question.
[The process will not complete smoothly, and may cause a backlog in Host's Bloodline. Consequences range from Mana Imbalance, conflicting Affinities, crippled physical, damaged mental faculties and uncontrollable bloodlust towards all non-Vampires!]
'Oh, you bitch'