“Alright, alright! Congratulations, Ninth Vein, you passed!”
Hearing Grinner’s shout, Malakai paused his movements.
Grinner released his legs, allowing him to land back on the ground.
Grinner had a small smile on his face as he spoke.
“You passed all the tests exceptionally. Congratulations, you’re placed in the Advanced class for all the disciplines.”
Malakai nodded calmly, steadying his racing heart.
Though he didn’t show it, clashing with a Blood Champion had shaken him. He released his powers, allowing his vita and blood to settle.
“Now I can attend the sessions?” Malakai asked.
“Yes, Ninth Vein,” Grinner replied.
“Alright,” Malakai said simply, placing his scythe back into its holder behind him, just in time for Grinner to reach into his jacket and pull out a small book.
Grinner stretched it toward him.
“Ninth Vein, this contains everything you need to know about the training grounds, its rules, benefits, and how everything works.”
Malakai collected the book and immediately started going through it.
‘Perfect.’
His eyes sharpened as he flipped through the pages. This was exactly what he needed.
The main reason he had wanted to join the training sessions in the first place… its incentives.
‘According to this, a test is held every month for each discipline. Depending on rank, rewards will be given.’
The rewards varied for each discipline, some tailored specifically to help youths advance faster.
Malakai took mental notes of each reward listed and couldn’t help but nod slightly in approval.
They would be greatly beneficial.
Grinner silently waited as Malakai continued reading.
After a few minutes, Malakai closed the book and turned to face him.
“Are you done, Ninth Vein?” Grinner asked.
Malakai nodded.
“Alright then. Let me take you to your first discipline.”
Malakai followed Grinner back through the courtyard, retracing the path they had taken earlier.
As they moved, they passed by several instructors who had witnessed the spar.
Many of them were still visibly rattled, whispering among themselves and shooting quick glances at Malakai as they spoke.
‘Why does it look like they’re plotting something?’
Valentine’s voice rang out eerily in his mind.
‘That’s just how Sanguines look.’ Malakai responded immediately.
Valentine wasn’t convinced.
He had seen the same hardened expressions on the Highbloods and Pulses earlier, but then, it had been obvious. Now Valentine was gazing at the same look.
‘Are you sure? They look like people about to rob a bank.’
‘I’m sure.’
The training camp was of utmost importance to the Sanguine Clan. It wasn’t something just any faction could control.
It was directly under the Sovereign’s authority and nothing happened here without his consent.
While it was possible for Pulses or high ranking Highbloods to sway a few instructors into becoming their eyes and ears, that was the best they could do.
Anyone who dared to harm a youth inside the camp would be signing their own death warrant.
They wouldn’t even live long enough to take a second breath.
“Ninth Vein.”
“Ninth Vein.”
The instructors bowed and paid their respects as Malakai and Grinner passed through.
Soon enough, they reached the exit of the main building.
Malakai was instantly met with another scene, one he had seen earlier when he first arrived.
Unlike before, when the grounds had been filled with wandering youths, now small groups had formed in different parts, youths seated cross legged on the grassy ground, eyes closed, while instructors paced around them, speaking softly.
‘This isn’t everyone.’
With just a brief glance, Malakai had already noted something odd.
The youths scattered outside were mostly younger, around twelve or thirteen years of age.
“This way, Ninth Vein.”
Grinner’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He led Malakai west, toward a large, round building not far from the main hall.
As Malakai entered, he was immediately met with a large, circular hall filled with older youths, all seated cross legged facing the center with their eyes closed, where an instructor sat camly.
‘So this is where they all went.’
The moment they stepped in, Malakai’s gaze swept across the room.
The older ones, the ones he had noticed missing earlier, were all here.
But just as he scanned the room, Malakai’s eyes sharpened.
His gaze paused on three figures.
‘Aren’t they…’ Valentine’s voice murmured in his mind and Malakai instantly confirmed it.
‘Other Veins. Yes.’
Valentine remembered seeing the Veins during the meeting with the Sovereign.
‘Can you tell me about them?’ Valentine asked curiously.
Malakai’s gaze lingered a moment longer on each of them before deciding to answer.
Each of them had an undeniable air of superiority around them, a presence that set them apart from the rest of the youths in the hall.
He gestured subtly toward the far end of the room, to a girl seated quietly at the very back. Her face was calm and gentle, as though she couldn’t hurt a fly.
‘That’s the Sixth Vein. Aurelia.’ Malakai started, ‘From what I’ve observed, she’s quiet and rarely speaks. But I’ve noticed her observing me, and everyone, more than once.’
Next, he gestured toward a youth seated not far from them, a boy with a stoic face and a calm, composed aura.
‘That’s the Seventh Vein. Maximus. Honestly, I don’t know much about him. He doesn’t interfere with anything. I’ve never seen him interact with the other Veins either. He’s always… indifferent.’
And then, Malakai’s gaze suddenly turned cold. His hand clenched slightly as he shifted to the last figure.
It was a youth with a small, easy smile on his face, even as he sat with his eyes closed while training.
Unlike the others, he was surrounded by other Sanguine youths, giving off a friendly, approachable air.
But Malakai knew better.
‘That’s the Eighth Vein. Julius. Ignore the smile. He’s as twisted as his parents.’
‘His parents?’ Valentine asked, surprised.
‘Yes. He and Aurelia are the children of the Third Pulse, Varnel and Khana.’
Valentine made a small sound of understanding before he hesitated.
‘You sound… pained. Do you have a history with him?’
Malakai lifted his gaze away from Julius and faced forward.
‘I let my emotions get the better of me again,’ he admitted quietly in his inner thoughts.
After his parents’ death, Khana hadn’t been the only one who had made his life hell. Her son had too.
In fact, Julius had been the first.
Malakai had still been reeling from his parents’ deaths when Julius had approached him, pretending to be a friend.
Malakai had believed him.
He had trusted him.
And the betrayal that followed had ended up becoming one of the worst experiences of his life.
Some of the scars that littered his body had been caused by Julius. But the deeper scars were the ones carved into his heart.
Julius was of the many reasons Malakai would never again trust anyone in this clan.
