The oppressive silence in the room was shattered as the leader of the group, a man who had been leading the chant, suddenly opened his eyes. His pupils were an unnatural shade of blood-red, shaped like a sharp-edged triangle that seemed to pierce through the darkness. As his eyes focused, a twisted smile spread across his face, growing wider until it contorted into a manic grin.
He began to laugh—low at first, then building into a crescendo of madness that echoed off the stone walls. The sound was eerie, filled with a sinister joy that sent shivers down the spines of those present.
"Finally!" he bellowed, his voice filled with fervor. "The god has bestowed His blessing upon us! The curse that shackled us, the relentless pursuit that hounded us—no more! We are free! We are chosen!"
His laughter grew even louder, almost frenzied, as he threw his head back, arms wide in a gesture of triumph. The others in the room watched him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear, as if they were witnessing something both divine and terrifying.
"The path forward is clear!" he proclaimed, his voice reverberating with unholy glee. "No longer will we cower in the shadows, hunted like beasts. We are the blessed, the anointed! Our god has opened the way—no one can stand against us now!"
The dark energy in the room seemed to pulse with his words, the carved symbol on his chest and back glowing faintly with a crimson hue. The severed heads at the statue's feet appeared to smirk in the dim light, as if sharing in the leader's deranged joy. The air thickened with an overwhelming sense of dread, as the leader's laughter continued to echo, mingling with the chanting that had resumed in a fevered pitch.
******
Katherine leaned back in her chair, her fingers gracefully flipping through the pages of the book she had given to Cassian earlier. With a slight smile playing on her lips, she glanced down at him, seated under the table, diligently massaging her feet with the scented oil.
"So, how much have you read?" she asked, her tone casual yet curious.
Cassian looked up, his hands never pausing in their work, and replied, "I've read up to the section about professions developed through the use of mana."
Katherine's smile widened as she adjusted herself in the chair, getting more comfortable. The dress she wore today was elegant, flowing around her in soft waves. This time, it was sleeveless, with a plunging neckline that revealed the alluring curve of her cleavage, accentuated by the tight fabric pressing her breasts together.
"And what are those professions, then?" she inquired, her voice tinged with interest, as she relaxed into her seat, enjoying both the massage and the conversation.
From where he was under the table, Cassian could only see up to Katherine's legs, which were bare. He found himself wondering if the rest of her was equally uncovered, but he didn't dare to look further. Instead, he focused on answering her question.
"The main two professions are mages and magic warriors, both of which use mana," he explained, his hands continuing their rhythmic massage. "Mages deepen their understanding by forming mana hearts, which help them control the mana around them. Magic warriors, on the other hand, use surrounding mana to strengthen their bodies. There's more to each profession, though. Magic warriors aren't entirely dependent on mana like mages. They can develop other mystical abilities, like domains, sword senses, and other skills honed through combat training."
Katherine nodded thoughtfully as she listened, her expression one of interest. Cassian hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But, my lady, there isn't anything mentioned about warrior circles in this book. I looked through the other pages too, but I couldn't find any reference to them."
Katherine raised an eyebrow in surprise at Cassian's confusion and then smiled as she realized her mistake. "Ah, I see the issue," she said, her tone more understanding. "This book is at least a millennium old. Back then, the concept of warrior circles didn't exist. Warriors were ranked by tiers, like novices, and they used something called 'seals' instead of circles. It was only about seven centuries ago that a new type of warrior emerged, one that relied on warrior circles instead of seals."
Cassian's confusion deepened as he tried to grasp what she was explaining. Circles were already a mystery to him, so the mention of seals from centuries ago only added to his bewilderment. Katherine noticed the puzzled look on his face and decided to clarify further.
"Seals, as the name suggests, were constructs where warriors would absorb mana into their bodies and then 'seal' it within them using specific magical techniques," she explained. "These seals were formed through the mana-gathering techniques of that time. A circle, in contrast, is a blend of those ancient seals and more modern concepts like domains. You can develop a domain without a mana-gathering technique, but your body will remain purely human unless it's baptized with mana. Becoming a circle warrior is complex; acquiring a mana-gathering technique suited for warriors is already a difficult task."
Cassian absorbed Katherine's explanation, still trying to wrap his head around the intricate history and complexities of mana usage. He continued to massage her feet, his hands moving in rhythmic, practiced motions, while his mind churned with questions.
"Have you ever seen a warrior circle before?" Katherine asked, placing the book on the table. Cassian shook his head, and she continued, "They appear around your hands, forming intricate patterns unique to you, as they're made from a blend of your mana and domain. To become a first-circle warrior, you must create a mana seal and develop a nascent domain. This achievement makes you a first-circle warrior, or in the old power system, you'd be called an Iron-tier Initiate Warrior."
Cassian began to grasp the concept. "So, to become one, I need to obtain a mana-gathering technique and develop a domain field."
"Sounds about right," Katherine replied, relaxing back in her chair as Cassian continued massaging her feet. "Developing a domain is the hardest part. While you can create one without a mana-gathering technique, many wait until they've acquired one. It's said that you must stare death in the face a few times to develop it. Even in our military, warriors who've opened a domain are uncommon, and those who've advanced to higher circles are rarely seen. You've met Tyron, right? People like him are rare. That's why he could get an unknown person like you a position as a servant to the Duke's daughter."