"A parrying dagger?"
I nodded confidently as I held the six inch wavy blade that ended in a spear like point with a simple straight hilt in my off hand, "It feels right…did I choose wrong?"
"No but your choice isn't complete. The parrying dagger is a companion weapon meant to be used in tandem with something like a rapier or a backsword. Until you can regrow your other hand you will be limited in close quarters, nevertheless there are a few knife forms I can teach you."
For several months I spent almost every waking hour fighting, training my reflexes and learning how to plan in the heat of the moment. With every passing second, there was new and vital information to process, what was my opponent doing, what could they be planning, did they have any obvious weaknesses? I learned quickly but never came even close to matching Atravius in skill, it was frustrating at times but even I could see the rapid advancement I was making. Unfortunately I still felt under prepared when Atravius announced it was time for me to learn something else.
I almost argued against the choice when Atravius told me I would learning how to control the Aether inside of me.. At first like all the skills I had learned it was near impossible. My mind had to be perfectly clear in order to perceive the tiny fluctuations within my body where the Aether resided. So I would sit in absolute silence for long periods of time until my mind eventually tuned out the world around it.
After each successful attempt however the time I needed to clear my mind shortened until it became near instantaneous.
But that was only the beginning of my Aether training. The next step was to then take my ability to sense my internal energy and extend it beyond my body.
"As you know everything has some modicum of Aether within it. Develop your ability to sense aether and it can become a sixth sense that can perceive everything around you within a set distance."
Despite the seemingly advanced nature of the technique I found it relatively easy to apply the skill. But I realized it wasn't using the sixth sense that proved difficult but mastering it. At the start I could barely differentiate between Atravius and the stone platform we stood on. Even when logically I knew the ancient vampire should be glowing up like a beacon with the amount of Aether inside him.
Even when I refined my abilities to what I believed was my limit Atravius was only slightly more noticeable than stone. I only found out after what I now assumed was a week of consistent practice that the Vampire had fooled me.
"The fact you can see me at all is a miracle within itself. I am passively restricting my presence after all."
Atravius went on to explain that by consistently circulating his internal Aether at the same frequency as his surroundings he could become almost indiscernible from my sixth sense.
When I asked him if he would reveal his aether so I could see what he looked like, the Vampire actually laughed out loud.
"If I did that, I would most likely send you into a coma. Revealing one's full presence is considered to be an all out declaration of war. You'll learn about it at the Academy."
But Atravius took pity on me and decided to teach me how to conceal my own presence which he called aura. Like everything else, mastering it took some time but eventually I was able to get a firm grasp on the skill.
"Now that you have some modecome of control over your internal energy. Now you will learn the art of invoking."
"Invoking?" I repeated questioningly as it was the first I had ever heard my teacher mention the subject.
"Allow me to demonstrate," Atravius held out his hand and an orb of blood hovered into the air above his palm, "Using Carnomancy I could shape my blood into any form I wished. However I would continuously have to supply the construct with aether and mental energy. But if I invoke my will onto the blood…"
Atravius trailed off as he opened his mouth and spoke with a haunting reverberating voice, 'Seek.'
Faster than I could track the sphere of bloodshot from Atravius' hand barreling straight for my chest. Trying to move aside proved pointless as the orb followed my movements splashing harmlessly against my skin.
"Now imagine if I had sharpened my blood into blades with Carnomancy before invoking my will. The correct combination of effects can be the deciding factor in a fight. Unfortunately your aether reserves will be rather limited meaning you will have to be even more selective with your use of incantations."
Despite the vital advice Atravius was giving me I could only focus on his blood dripping down my chest and imagining what I could accomplish If I reached his level of power.
Shaking my head I snapped out of my reminiscing as I looked up from my freshly healed hand to stare into my teacher's eyes.
"You have come a long way Ramos, I will admit you have exceeded even my most hopeful expectations." Atravius said with that same tenderness I heard in his voice a year ago when we first met and he spoke of his long dead student, "But not even I know what your future might hold. What you must do is no small feat, while society at large may believe I am dead, you are still a student of mine and I expect you to carry yourself with the pride and responsibility that title deserves."
Atravius then reached into his pant's pocket and pulled out a ring that he offered me on his open palm. I gingerly accepted the piece of jewelry and took a closer look.
It was carved from a singular piece of unadorned bone bleached to a pure white. For a moment I wondered why Atravius would give me something so unassuming before I examined the ring with my Aether sense.
My eyes widened as the ring lit up like a torch to my sixth sense and the countless hidden inscriptions were unveiled.
"That is a Storage Ring, it can hold any non living object and preserve perishable items for centuries at a time. Simply infuse the ring with Aether and it should follow your will."
Slotting the ring onto my left hand I followed Atravius' instructions and blinked as I suddenly became aware of what the ring held. Some were miscellaneous, such as clothes, camping supplies and other various items. But one object in particular caught my attention
Imaging the item appearing in my hands there was a brief surge in Aether from the ring before I felt a weight settle in my palm.
Looking down I stared at the thick white leather tome with pages yellowed from age, "What is this?"
"A compendium, while I only taught you how to kill using the gifts I gave you. I remember why you unknowingly agreed to my proposition. Carnomacy at its most basic essence is control over life itself, the ultimate creation. It is only fitting that some of the best weapons, armor and artifacts have been produced by Vitamori hands. That book is a compendium formed over millennia regarding the countless applications of our Blood Sorcery…I hope it serves you well."
I stared at the book in awe and a feeling akin to reverence welled up inside me, "Thank you, I'll treasure this for as long as I live."
"Good, now prepare yourself, we have a guest."