A/N: This chapter was quite challenging to write, so I'm not entirely sure it's error-free. However, I'll make sure to review it in the next day or so to ensure it's easy to read. Please bear🧸 with me! 🙏 Also, I'd love to engage with readers, so if my book aligns with your tastes, feel free to leave a comment. I'll be sure to respond anytime I can. :}
PS: It's taking care of now so your safe to readđź‘Ť
Chapter 6: A Tale of Blossoms and Blood
The rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed across the quiet Maetral countryside as Ain and Sophie rode side by side, the tension of their recent battle fading into the cool evening air. Sophie's dark brown hair, now freed from its ponytail, fluttered in the breeze. As she cast Ain a sidelong glance, her lips curling into a sly grin.
"You were quite impressive," Sophie teased, her tone casual as she clasped her hands behind her head. "But I still had it in the bag."
Ain raised an eyebrow, unsure if she was joking or serious. He had clearly seen her struggling moments before he intervened. Was this just one of her personality quirks? He pondered silently, trying to understand her reasoning. But before he could respond, a deafening boom echoed in the direction where the bandit leader had fallen.
"Was... that you?" Ain asked, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"Uh-huh," Sophie replied, smiling brightly. "It took a while, though."
Ain's gaze lingered in the direction of the explosion. "Will... he be okay?"
Sophie's expression didn't change as she shrugged. "Unlikely. He's probably dead."
The nonchalance in her tone surprised Ain. However, he didn't flinch at her words, nor did he feel anything resembling pity for the man who had likely perished. Sophie, noticing his composed expression, tilted her head curiously.
"Interesting," she murmured. "I thought you might be unsettled after hearing that, but it seems you've also spilled your fair share of blood."
"Apparently," Ain replied flatly. "What about you? You don't seem like a killer."
Sophie chuckled lightly, her laugh oddly serene. "Since you've decided to stick with me, and considering your strength is undeniable, I suppose I can share a bit about myself."
Sophie then paused to straighten her posture, her voice taking on a more formal edge as she continued. "My full name is Sophia Angelis. I was born into the Count Angelis family—Count Noah's second daughter, to be precise."
Ain turned his head slightly, intrigued by her sudden shift in tone.
"As the second daughter, I was seen as little more than a tool for political marriages," Sophie explained, her steady voice now tinged with bitterness. "Unlike my elder sister, who was groomed to inherit our family's lands, I was raised solely to be sold off, to be used by House Angelis—merely as a way to secure alliances with more powerful houses. For a while, I managed to refuse their matches, as I promised more worth due to my superior control over Ether. However, things soon took a turn when a higher-ranking family—the Thelistan family,( a Marquess household)—requested my hand."
"The Thelistan family?" Ain repeated, unfamiliar with noble politics.
"Yes. Their third son, Roove Thelistan, was the intended groom. The problem wasn't just that he was a bit overweight," she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust, "but that he was also a delusional fanatic, often calling himself 'Magnus Rex Maleficus.'"
A/N: This translates to 'Great Evil Monarch' or 'Great Evil King' in Latin.
Ain suppressed a laugh at the ridiculousness of the title, managing to stay silent as Sophie's expression hardened.
"I refused, of course. I wasn't about to let my life be tied to someone like that. Unfortunately, my father didn't accept my refusal. He said I had no choice, as it was my obligation as an Angelis. I was to marry Roove, no matter what—no objections." She paused, her hands tightening on the reins. "So, I ran away. I dropped my family name and fled, aided only by an anonymous sum of money my mother left for me."
"Your mother supported you?" Ain asked.
Sophie nodded. "She did what she could, but she was powerless to defy my father. She, too, was married off for political reasons—as she was once the youngest daughter of a viscount."
A brief silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of the horses' hooves.
"However, my father didn't take my escape lightly," Sophie continued. "He publicly disowned me, which I didn't care about at first. Until things took a darker turn. After my public disownment, my family's political rivals—the now-defunct Augustus family—started targeting me to humiliate the Angelis name. They hired low-ranking villains to kidnap me and tarnish my reputation. Their goal was to disgrace the Angelis family by ruining me publicly."
Ain's jaw tightened at the implications of her words, but Sophie's calm voice continued without hesitation.
"The first time they attempted to kidnap me, I managed to defeat the villain they hired—a man named Rayon. However, when he begged for his life, I couldn't bring myself to kill him, so I spared him." Her voice dropped, heavy with regret. "That was a mistake... a grave mistake. Because that son of a bastard backstabbed me the moment I turned away! Before I knew it, I was in chains, helpless."
"And?" Ain asked, his voice soft but insistent.
Sophie glanced at him, her expression clearly not wanting to say anymore. "Long story short, I managed to escape. But not before I lost my purity—fortunately not in public view. I also managed to kill the bastard in the end tho it was an accident. Looking back, it was unfortunate that I couldn't take him back with me for torture." Sophie said as she glanced up. "However that was the first time I took a life, which ended up changing me as the blood on my hands made every kill after that easier."
She then looked down, her eyes distant. "There were still four more attempts after that, each more brutal than the last. Each time, I had to kill to survive."
"And your family?" Ain asked.
"My mother," Sophie said, her voice softening, "was the one who ultimately saved me. She convinced my father to investigate the Augustus family. When their crimes were revealed, the Count was arrested, and the family fell. But by then, I was already someone else—a woman who could no longer see the world in shades of gray."
Ain let the silence hang, absorbing her words. Finally, he said, "That's quite a story. But there's one thing I'm still curious about—how exactly did you kill the bandit leader?"
Sophie smiled faintly. "During the fight, my ability, which you saw earlier, wasn't at its full capability. I had concealed my Primal Pattern. The one I ended up using is called Blood Blossom Torrent. It's essentially implanting a controllable blood-coated plum blossom petal into your opponent, which can be detonated at any time and anywhere within their body. So when I injured him, I implanted a plum petal in his blood, which made its way to his power core. Upon reaching it, I detonated the petal... due to his inability to control his power core. The unstable energy in his core amplified the explosion, which, like nuclear fission, slowly started disintegrating him from the inside out until…"
"Until he exploded," Ain finished, recalling the earlier boom.
"Exactly," Sophie said.
Ain nodded, impressed despite him basically handling all the bandits alone. "You, however, were even more impressive than I was," Sophie said, her tone lightening. "Tell me, how many stars does your battle intent have?"
Ain hesitated. "Stars?"
"Yes," Sophie replied. "The star-shaped indicators that appear next to your ability when you open your status window. People's strengths are mostly judged by the number of stars their abilities have, alongside their level."
"Um," Ain muttered, recalling the faint star-shaped symbols he'd noticed in his status window. "I didn't pay much attention to them. What do they mean exactly?"
Sophie expressionlessly explained. "Stars are a universal measure of an individual's potential and skill in combat. Each star represents a level of mastery, with five stars being the pinnacle. Few ever reach that."
Ain considered this, realizing it was another piece of the intricate world he had forgotten about. "And how many stars does your battle intent have?"
Sophie grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Two. But don't let that fool you—it's enough to handle most situations. I assume yours is at least two?"
Ain shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I'll have to check later."
Sophie's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she suspected he was being modest, but she didn't press further. Instead, she shifted the topic.
"I guess you also don't know what Primal Patterns are" Sophie asked hoping he had some idea about it however that thought got quickly squashed as Ain replied with a nod.
" Sheh." A soft exhale escaped Sophie's lips as she adjusted her posture on the saddle, preparing herself for a detailed explanation. She took a deep breath, steadying her thoughts.
"Primal Patterns," she began, her voice calm and authoritative, "are the foundation of Ether manipulation. They are intricate pathways—runes, if you will—that channel Ether to produce specific effects. Each pattern follows strict rules and requires exceptional precision. Imagine it like weaving a delicate tapestry; even one misstep, one thread out of place, and the whole thing unravels."
Ain nodded thoughtfully, intrigued. "So, they're similar to abilities?"
Sophie shook her head slightly, her expression focused. "Not exactly. Abilities are fixed and rigid—they adhere to strict formulas and are often tied to specific affinities, such as Flame or Frost. Primal Patterns, however, are more versatile. They depend on your mastery of Ether, not just a natural affinity. Even someone without a powerful innate ability can learn a Primal Pattern, provided they have the discipline and understanding to do so."
Ain's curiosity deepened. "That's fascinating. How does one learn them?"
"There are two primary methods," Sophie explained. "The first involves rigorous training and experimentation—learning to manipulate Ether in specific ways until you uncover the pattern on your own. The second, and more common route, is through a mentor or teacher who imparts their knowledge. Many advanced Primal Patterns are passed down from masters to students, refined over years of practice."
Ain's mind whirred as he thought of a possible connection. "Is that how you learned the Blood Blossom Torrent?"
Sophie smiled slyly. "Yes and no. I did train under someone—a wandering Ether Knight—but he only taught me the basics. The Blood Blossom Torrent is my own creation, an evolution of what he taught me. It's rare, but not impossible, for someone to develop entirely new patterns."
Ain's eyes widened slightly. "So you can create your own Primal Patterns?"
"In theory, yes," Sophie replied, her tone measured. "But in practice, it's incredibly difficult. You need an intimate understanding of how Ether flows and reacts to various conditions. Most people stick to known patterns because they are safer and more predictable. Experimenting too freely with Ether can lead to disastrous consequences—explosions, Ether poisoning, and worse."
Ain's thoughts raced as he absorbed this information. "Are these patterns visible in the system?"
"Not directly," Sophie responded, shaking her head. "Your system might recognize a pattern once you've mastered it, but it won't necessarily display it under your natural abilities unless it aligns perfectly with your Ether Affinity. That's where an Izent Teacher comes in. They can use specialized tools, like Ether stones, to 'read' your patterns and assign them star ratings based on their refinement and strength."
"So, if I learn a pattern outside my affinity, it wouldn't show up in my system, but an Izent Teacher could still detect it?"
"Exactly," Sophie confirmed. "Mastering patterns outside your affinity is more challenging, but not impossible. It requires adaptability, creativity, and a strong will."
Ain's interest grew. "Are there limits to how many patterns one can learn?"
"There's no strict limit," Sophie said, "but in practice, most people master only a handful—three or four—because trying to learn too many patterns at once can dilute your combat effectiveness. It's better to focus on a few and perfect them."
A/N: This arc is getting too long, and I haven't finished implementing some key points, so I'm skipping the smaller details don't worry I will find away to implement them in another arc.
Thirty minutes passed, their teacher-student-like dialogue fading into the background. Ain and Sophie rode side by side, the steady rhythm of their horses' hooves echoing in the quiet countryside. The sun began to dip lower, casting long shadows as the landscape darkened, the fading light painting the fields in hues of orange and purple.
Ain had calmed, his mind processing the depth of their conversation. A growing sense of understanding settled in, but his curiosity remained sharp. After a brief silence, he asked, his tone more relaxed, "Are there other forms of channeling abilities beyond Primal Patterns
Sophie's expression shifted, a glint of respect and caution in her eyes. "Ah, now you're asking about the Primal Stage," she said. "It's an advanced form of Ether manipulation that transcends Primal Patterns. While Primal Patterns are powerful in their own right, the Primal Stage taps into Ether on a much deeper level. It's a stage where you shape Ether itself to your will, surpassing the constraints of normal patterns. Those who reach the Primal Stage can essentially create their own reality within their sphere of influence—bending the very laws of Ether."
Ain felt a strange feeling of familiarity hearing that. "That sounds incredible. How does one reach that stage?"
"Through years of intense training and self-discovery," Sophie replied, her voice thoughtful. "The Primal Stage isn't just about raw strength; it's about understanding Ether to its core. You must become one with it. Few reach it, and even fewer survive the process."
Ain felt a strange spark of acknowledgement stir within him.The Primal Stage seemed like the ultimate power, but something about felt familiar as it raised more questions. "And if I can't reach the Primal Stage?"
Sophie's smile was faint but knowing. "You can still become incredibly strong. But the Primal Stage is the ultimate mark of mastery and what separates Sentinel heros from Supreme ranked heros. Once you reach it, you no longer follow patterns—you create your own path, unbound by their limitations."
Ain's mind was a whirlwind of possibilities. He had been feeling weird feeling of as if he was getting praised during this conversation however he didn't believe a power so vast could be connected to him. "Is there a history to this?
Sophie cracked her neck, her tone shifting to one of reference "There is, indeed. The first person to achieve the Primal Stage was Atrax. Although he was a villain his mastery over Ether was unparalleled as such he couldn't be compromised, his immense power combined with him reaching Primal stage had shook the whole continent fortunately shortly after Atrax's discovery Valorion, the legendary hero, revealed that he himself too had managed to attain Primal Stage shifting back the power balance in favor of heroes.
After the continent became stable Valorion then revealed the Stage pattern he attained —Mind's Eclipse. It's rumored that with it, he could not only manipulate a persons minds but also bend thier reality itself, could have been a disaster if Atrax had gotten that tho." Sophie chuckled lightly
However Ain wasn't in a mood for laughter anymore his mind flashed with the weight of the words, and he felt a strange sensation creeping up his spine, a subtle pressure in his head as if something was trying to break through. Mind's Eclipse... bend reality? His thoughts scrambled, his brain working to make sense of the implications.
Something didn't sit right.
As his mind cracked under the intensity of the realization, fragments of understanding began to fall into place. Mind's Eclipse wasn't just a power to manipulate or control. It was something far more insidious—something that could leave even someone as powerful as Atrax stripped of his memories.
Ain's breath caught in his throat as the truth hit him. Valorion was behind it. He erased Atrax's memories—the one thing that could have stopped him.
Sophie noticed Ain's sudden shift in demeanor, her gaze sharpening as she watched him. "Ain?" she asked softly.
Ain looked at her, his expression clouded with the weight of his thoughts. So that's how I ended up in the slums…