Chapter 5: Blood-Colored Defiance
3413words
Elena passed through the sea of fire, a faint energy shield forming around her body, a natural protection from her ancient bloodline. She struggled to find the trapped Lady Margaret, her mother who was surrounded by flames in a dire situation.
"Mother, hold on a little longer, just hold on a bit more, Mother, please stay strong," Elena pleaded, concentrating red energy in her hands, trying to strengthen her mother's shield. Her energy resonated with her mother's life force, temporarily enhancing the shield's strength.
Elena tried to help her mother up, but the smoke was too thick, and she collapsed from exhaustion. Her shield began to crumble as the blood-red flames closed in on her, forming an ever-shrinking circle around her.
Alexander rushed into the fire with a wet cloth covering his face, surrounded by a powerful blue shield. His shield was made of ice magic, able to temporarily resist the corrosion of the blood flames. When Elena saw him, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.
"Alexander, please save my mother," Elena pleaded weakly, extending her hand which flickered with a faint red light—her last remaining energy.
Alexander glanced at Elena, golden light flashing in his eyes, indicating he was making a decision. He bent down to pick up Madam Margaret, enveloping her in his shield to protect her from the flames. Then he turned to leave, abandoning Elena alone.
"If you want to live, crawl out by yourself." Alexander said coldly, but he left a faint blue energy trail that could guide the way out. This showed he wasn't completely heartless, just unwilling to openly display his concern.
Elena held her mother's hand, eyes filled with tears. Her hands flickered with red light, seemingly unconsciously transferring some kind of energy to her mother. This was a natural response of blood connection, able to provide life support in critical moments.
"Mother, you must live safely and long." Elena said, a red light flashing in her eyes, which was a manifestation of the ancient bloodline within her.
Alexander disappeared into the thick smoke carrying Lady Margaret. Elena, collapsed from exhaustion, reached out to pull out her silver hairpin. The gem on the hairpin flickered with a faint red light, the result of her energy resonating with the pin.
"Don't sleep. Elena." Elena muttered to herself, red light flickering in her eyes, trying to stay awake.
Elena stabbed her hand with a silver hairpin, the pain keeping her alert as she struggled to get up. The blood from the wound was an unnaturally dark red, with energy seemingly flowing within it, forming tiny symbols. This was another manifestation of the ancient bloodline within her, as her blood itself possessed special properties.
In the temporary shelter outside Black Hawk Tower, Madam Margaret had been rescued and was lying on a makeshift bed, with Alexander standing beside her. Faint blue energy flickered between his fingers as he attempted to ease Madam Margaret's injuries.
"This fire. Was it really set by him? Oh my god. The master. Has he truly become so cold-hearted?" Madam Margaret asked weakly, the protective charms on her body completely destroyed, leaving her without protection.
"Your daughter entered the fire to save you." Alexander said calmly, his eyes flashing with golden light, revealing that his emotions were not as calm as they appeared.
"How is she?" Madam Margaret asked in panic, trying to sit up, but depleted of energy, unable to move.
"The fire was too intense, I only had time to rescue you." Alexander avoided eye contact, clearly feeling some degree of guilt for his decision.
Hearing this, Madam Margaret closed her eyes in pain, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes. Her tears sparkled with a faint light, a natural reaction triggered by maternal love.
"No. Elena!" Madam Margaret cried out in grief, her tears falling to the ground, forming tiny symbols before disappearing. These symbols were characteristic of "Mother's Tears," a pure emotional power capable of producing miracles under specific conditions.
In a corner of the Black Hawk Tower ruins, Elena lay unconscious on the ground, occasionally coughing, her dress torn, her face blackened by smoke. The wound on her palm was still bleeding, the blood an unnaturally dark red, forming tiny symbols. The assistant stood nearby, deep in thought, noticing the unusual properties of Elena's blood.
Alexander approached from a distance, the runes on his armor dimmed from battle, requiring recharging to restore their functionality.
"Come here," Alexander commanded, his voice carrying an aura of authority that caused the surrounding air to slightly distort.
"Here," the knight responded, the runes on his armor flickering, indicating readiness to receive orders.
"My lord, are we not going to save Miss Elena? The aura around her... it's special," the assistant asked, the crystal in his hand flickering as it analyzed Elena's characteristics.
Alexander coldly glanced at Elena lying on the ground. His eyes flickered alternately with golden and red light, as if struggling with some power - the ancient bloodline within him was interacting with the power of Elena's bloodline.
"When Lady Margaret learns that the Count not only sent people to eliminate her but also killed Elena, she will surely hate the Count intensely, and then tell me everything she knows," Alexander analyzed calmly, the pressure in his voice intensifying, showing his determination.
"But... her blood... has ancient vibrations," the deputy hesitated, obviously curious about Elena's special nature.
"Once you and I joined the Black Hawk Guard, we both became demons and evil spirits. Being soft-hearted is fatal," Alexander said seriously as he turned to leave, with the runes on his cloak flickering, forming a faint trail.
Alexander turned and left, while the deputy watched his retreating figure and muttered under his breath.
"What happened to not saving her? You said compassion could be fatal." the deputy muttered, noticing the faint blue trail Alexander had left behind, a marker indicating the way out.
The deputy looked down at Elena's self-pierced palm, still bleeding. Energy flowed within the blood, forming tiny symbols that composed an ancient array with self-protective functions.
"Quite ruthless. This power in the blood... seems familiar." the deputy remarked admiringly, recognizing the properties in Elena's blood, though uncertain of their origin.
In Margaret's temporary quarters, Alexander was interrogating her. Sound-blocking barriers surrounded the room, with runes on the walls glowing faintly, preventing their conversation from being overheard.
"Are you still keeping secrets for such a man? He was willing to let your own daughter die. Don't you want him to face retribution?" Alexander questioned, golden light flickering in his eyes as he used the power of true speech to enhance the effect of his interrogation.
Lady Margaret hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. Her amulet was completely destroyed, unable to resist Alexander's pressure, making it easier for her to speak the truth.
"I'll tell you. I—" Lady Margaret was about to speak when Alexander suddenly sensed something and made a gesture for silence. His eyes flashed with golden light as he detected approaching danger.
Lady Margaret immediately stopped speaking. Alexander vigilantly scanned the surroundings, discovering someone lurking outside. There were faint hostile energy fluctuations in the air, the mark of an assassin, indicating someone was preparing to attack.
In another room, Elena slowly regained consciousness with the deputy guardian by her side. Her palm wound had been given basic treatment, but her blood was still faintly glowing, forming complex symbols.
"Where is my mother?" Elena asked weakly, the wound on her palm emitting a faint red light, a manifestation of the ancient bloodline within her.
The deputy remained silent, vigilantly looking toward the door with a hand on the sword hilt. The runes on the sword hilt began to glow, sensing danger approaching—a special ability of Black Hawk Guard weapons to warn of potential threats.
Suddenly, black-clad figures broke through the window. They carried concealing power, but the ability began to fail after entering the room. These assassins were using "Shadow Step," which could temporarily hide their forms, but couldn't completely conceal them under strong perception.
Alexander drew his sword to deflect the incoming dark arrows. These were not ordinary arrows, but "Extinction Arrows" infused with deadly poison, capable of taking lives silently. Blue flames flickered on Alexander's sword—the power of ice, an ancient ability that could freeze enemies' souls.
"Be careful, my lady!" Alexander warned, deploying a shield to protect Lady Margaret.
Alexander rushed out the door and joined his deputy, the two of them fighting together against the assassins. After a brief fierce battle, a killer broke through their defense line, charging toward Lady Margaret. The killer's dagger gleamed with deadly poison—it was the "Extinction Poison," a malicious power capable of corroding souls.
Elena sat up and saw golden characters appearing before her. The blood-colored text flowed slowly in the air, as if alive, foretelling what was about to happen.
"The Book of Fate?" Elena asked in surprise, reaching out to touch the text, feeling the fluctuations within.
The words 【Margaret perished in flames. Died unnaturally】were gradually dissipating, and new words 【Margaret pierced by arrows, died unnaturally】appeared. The text, formed of blood, flowed slowly, showing that fate was changing direction.
"Blood marks aplenty, the ending is fixed. Ancient bloodlines cannot change the web of fate." The voice of the magic book echoed in Elena's mind with a hint of mockery.
Elena recalled the scene when she changed her mother's fate earlier. The wound on her palm emitted a stronger red light, resonating with the text in the Book of Fate.
In the flashback, after slapping Alexander, Lady Margaret woke up. The energy wave produced during the slap seemed to have affected fate, changing the original ending.
"The lady is awake." The maid exclaimed with joy, as the monitor showed her vital signs returning.
Elena touched the golden text and found a small amount of blood on her hand. The energy in the blood resonated with the text, causing the words to slightly deform, showing that fate was being influenced.
"The blood is almost dry. My blood... can change fate?" Elena realized, finally understanding the special nature of her blood.
Elena suddenly stood up and pushed open the door. A determined red light flickered in her eyes, showing that she had made up her mind to change fate.
The fierce fighting ended, Alexander and his deputy repelled most of the assassins. The hallway walls bore traces of battle, with runes flickering unstably, some even damaged from energy overload. Lady Margaret walked out of the room and saw Elena at the other end of the corridor.
Mother and daughter called out to each other with joy and ran towards one another. Everyone lowered their guard as the energy fluctuations in the air gradually calmed down, and the battle seemed to be over.
At that moment, a dark arrow glowing with dim green light suddenly shot from the shadows, piercing through Lady Margaret's body. This was the ultimate form of the "Arrow of Extinction," almost imperceptible to ordinary senses. The symbols on the arrow erupted upon hitting the target, releasing deadly toxins.
"Mother!!!" Elena cried out in despair, her eyes blazing red as her energy exploded due to extreme emotional fluctuation.
Elena rushed forward to embrace her fallen mother. Lady Margaret was gasping for breath, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. The blood sparkled with a faint glow, as if resisting the poison on the arrow, but this resistance was futile, as the poison had already invaded her soul.
"Elena, you must, you must be careful of your father, protect yourself." Lady Margaret said weakly, reaching out to touch Elena's face, leaving a final mark of maternal love.
After Lady Margaret finished speaking, she slowly closed her eyes and died. The energy surrounding her body completely dissipated as her soul left her physical form. Elena was overwhelmed with grief, the red light in her eyes grew more intense, and the ancient bloodline within her awakened due to the extreme emotional turmoil.
"Why? Why would you do this to us? What did we do wrong?" Elena asked in grief, unconsciously gathering red energy in her hand, forming a miniature vortex.
Elena picked up a fallen sword from the ground, pointing it at the assassin subdued by Alexander. Her red energy immediately wrapped around the sword, forming a dangerous blade.
"Tell me, who sent you?" Elena demanded, her voice carrying an imposing pressure that made the assassin involuntarily tremble.
The assassin remained silent, and Alexander stabbed his leg with his sword. Blue flames scorched the wound, causing extreme pain, a common interrogation technique used by the Black Hawks.
"Speak!" Elena roared, red light flashing in her eyes, releasing powerful pressure.
"It was the Count," the assassin revealed the truth, unable to resist under the dual pressure.
"Why?" Elena asked in shock, unable to believe her father would do something so cruel.
"Because the lady knew too much." The assassin answered painfully, looking at his burned wound where the flesh around it had begun to rot.
Elena hesitantly pointed her sword at the assassin, Alexander walked behind her, gripped her hand, and together they drove the sword into the assassin's chest. Their energies merged on the blade, forming purple flames, a combination of red bloodline power and blue ice power, possessing devastating force.
"Hold the killing sword steady." Alexander said calmly, golden light flickering in his eyes as he imparted his experience of killing.
After the assassin fell, Elena collapsed, throwing away the sword and kneeling beside her mother's body as the hairpin slipped from her hair. The jewel on the hairpin extinguished its light, losing its energy support.
A few days later, in the makeshift memorial hall of Wester Castle, Lady Margaret's portrait was placed in the center, surrounded by burning blue candles. These candles, known as "Soul Candles," were said to guide the souls of the departed to their resting place. Elena knelt before the memorial, weeping, with faint red light flickering in her tears—a manifestation of the ancient bloodline within her. The Count walked in holding a scepter, its runes flickering unsteadily with his emotions.
"Elena, your mother was morally corrupt. Father is being most merciful by allowing you to pay respects here. Don't blame your father." The Count said coldly, his scepter emitting a threatening glow, demonstrating his resolve.
Elena raised her tear-filled eyes, her gaze icy. A dangerous red light flickered in her eyes, and the ancient bloodline within her surged with anger.
"My mother was with you for many years, and in the end she didn't even have a gravestone. Is this what you call fulfilling your obligations?" Elena questioned, her voice carrying a faint pressure, a natural manifestation of the bloodline power within her.
"How dare you speak to Father like that!" the Count rebuked angrily, his scepter glowing brightly, releasing an intimidating force in an attempt to suppress Elena's defiance.
Isabella walked into the memorial hall, surrounded by a soft white light, which was a manifestation of the elven bloodline within her, capable of calming conflicts and alleviating suffering.
"Sister, please stop arguing with Father. Family harmony should be valued above all," Isabella persuaded, gathering healing power in her hands, trying to ease Elena's pain.
"Do you know how my mother really died?" Elena asked coldly, red light flickering in her eyes, refusing Isabella's comfort.
"Bandits from Black Hawk Tower caused trouble. Your mother unfortunately died tragically." The Count's expression changed slightly, the glow of his scepter weakening, revealing his guilty conscience.
"Is that so? Whose hands exactly did my mother die by? No one in this world knows better than you, my lord Count." Elena sneered, unconsciously gathering red energy in her hand, forming a tiny vortex.
"Insolence!" the Count roared, violently swinging his scepter to release a force of impact that struck Elena.
The Count slapped Elena across the face while the shock wave hit her, making her stagger backward. This impact not only caused physical damage but also temporarily disrupted the target's energy flow, preventing them from using their abilities.
"Get out and kneel!" the Count commanded, pointing his scepter toward the door, releasing a force of expulsion.
Night fell, and rain poured down heavily. The rainwater seemed to contain faint energy, forming brief symbols when it hit the ground, a manifestation of natural forces that typically appears after significant events. Elena knelt outside the main gate of Wester Castle, rain soaking her entire body. Two maids watched from a distance, not daring to approach.
"The master said not to bother the young lady," one maid whispered, the light from the lantern in her hand was dim, almost extinguished by the rain.
"You're just holding a grudge because the young lady scolded you a few days ago. Everyone knows you were spreading gossip about Martha, driving her to drown herself in the well," the other maid retorted, the charm on her wrist flickering, indicating her emotional fluctuation.
"I wouldn't dare hold a grudge. These are the master's words, do you dare disobey?" the first maid defended herself, the lantern light flickering, reflecting her nervousness.
"You greedy social climber." The second maid said angrily, turning away. The light on her amulet dimmed, indicating she had given up the argument.
After the maid left, an umbrella covered Elena's head. Symbols on the umbrella dispersed the rain, creating a dry space. It was Alexander approaching with the umbrella, holding the hairpin she had dropped. The jewel on the hairpin emitted a faint red glow in his hand, resonating with his golden energy.
"I can help you get revenge," Alexander said calmly, golden light flickering in his eyes, showing his determination.
Elena sneered, the red light in her eyes responding to Alexander's golden glow, forming a peculiar resonance.
"Help me? My father was no good person, and what kind of good person are you? You just want to use me. Trying to make me your pawn - don't dream of it," Elena mocked, gathering weak red energy in her hand, showing her vigilance.
"Miss Elena, don't you realize that you have nowhere to go?" Alexander asked rhetorically, extending his hand to show the red glow that had reappeared on the hairpin, the symbol of Elena's bloodline power.
"Nowhere to go?" Elena said firmly, "I'll carve a path with my blade." Her eyes flashed with intense red light, revealing her determination.
At that moment, the world before Elena's eyes suddenly turned blood-red, and she felt dizzy, almost collapsing. Powerful crimson energy permeated the air—the power of the Book of Fate, attempting to influence her decision.
"Accept your destiny, Elena. The ancient bloodline within you is awakening, but you cannot control it yet." The voice of the magic book resonated in Elena's mind, carrying a warning tone.
Elena braced herself with her fingers against the ground, preventing herself from falling, with a cold sneer curling at her lips. Red energy flickered between her fingers, leaving tiny symbols on the ground that formed a simple resistance array, temporarily shielding her from the Book of Fate's influence.
"If blood congeals, fate is cast. But if blood remains wet, the outcome can still be changed. Now that Isabella hasn't become a duchess, I still have a chance to live." Elena said firmly, the red energy in her hands growing more intense, forming a miniature barrier.
"Such an outcome will only be more tragic. The ancient power of blood, if uncontrolled, will lead you to destruction," the magic book warned, its voice tinged with unease.
"Then I'll take that gamble." Elena clenched her fist, red energy gathering around it to form a miniature vortex.
Cold rain poured down in sheets, the energy in the rainwater resonating with Elena's red energy, forming a peculiar field. The camera zooms in on Elena's cheek, her gaze gradually changing from grief-stricken to determined and sharp, the red light in her eyes growing stronger, indicating her resolve is intensifying.
The camera pulls back, Elena's figure in the rain appears lonely yet defiant. Around her, the symbols formed by raindrops hitting the ground become increasingly clear, composing a mysterious array. This is nature's response to her determination, signaling that a turning point in destiny has arrived.
