Millie moved away from the window and climbed onto the ornate bed, lying back to stare at the ceiling. It looked very soft, nearly consuming her.

"Would you like to meet the others again?" Nova asked, feeling like looking around a bit.

"No..." She shifted against the sheets, a look of discomfort crossing her face. "This bed is too soft. Like the one at the school. I couldn't sleep there either."

'Oh, so that's why she was on the floor. Well, part of the reason, at least.'

After four years of sleeping on thin bedrolls over stone floors, luxury could feel alien. Wrong. "We can put some boards under the mattress if you'd like. Make it firmer."

She just nodded, closing her eyes.

'She needs time,' Nova thought. 'And safety. Real safety, not just the illusion of it that this place offers.'

He turned his attention to studying the room, considering his options. The space was large enough, and with the right formations, he could work undisturbed. The Blood of the Mountain King burned in his core, waiting to be refined.

"I'll be doing some formation stuff on the floor here, Millie. Practising a bit."

Without opening her eyes, she hummed in agreement.

Nova moved to the middle of the floor and equipped the fragment of Noctis. It still had plenty of time remaining.

'Okay, let's see… First, I should make sure she doesn't hear any screams from inside. And that she can't see me, obviously.'

[You have learned the skill: Barrier of Silence (Master - 42%) {Grade 6}]

[A barrier that completely blocks all sound from escaping its bounds.]

The first circle of runes spread across the floor, glowing with a soft blue light. Nova layered the next formation carefully over it.

[You have learned the skill: Veil of Shadows (Master - 87%) {Grade 6}]

[Creates a dome of pure darkness, blocking all light from entering or escaping.]

Memories of past pain flickered through his mind as he worked. The burning irons in his second life, the poison that had eaten through his bones in the sixth, the creative tortures of the void cultists in his eighth… Pain was an old friend by now.

[You have learned the skill: Chains of Binding (Expert - 93%) {Grade 7}]

[Ethereal chains manifest to restrain the target, binding both flesh and essence in place.]

The restraining formation would be crucial. The blood of an Ancient Beast wasn't something to be trifled with. Even though he could take pain, he didn't trust himself to be in total control. And the blood could have unforeseen effects that he would be unable to stop in the moment.

'Then some protection, just in case.'

[You have learned the skill: Shield of Warding (Master - 15%) {Grade 7}]

[A powerful barrier that prevents energy and objects from passing through.]

And finally, the centerpiece. Nova's fingers traced complex patterns in the air as he laid down the most crucial formation.

[You have learned the skill: Bloodforge Crucible (Master - 80%) {Grade 8}]

[A formation forcing blood to fuse with the body, granting most of its power to the user. The effect increases with the power of the blood, and so does the strain it puts on the body.]

Nova studied his handiwork with satisfaction. Five layers of formations, each one perfect in its own way. The entire floor glowed with overlapping circles of power, like the blueprints of some grand machine.

On the bed, Millie stirred. "It's singing," she mumbled, half-asleep.

"Just some practice," Nova assured her. "Get some rest. I'll wake you when it's time to eat."

She nodded drowsily. It seemed like she felt safer in this place than the school, allowing her to drift off to sleep.

Nova smiled, staring at her tiny form in the way too-large bed. She was still wearing the white robe of the church, but she didn't seem to mind much. In this place, he was the one dressed strangely.

He looked back at his formations, double-checking every line and rune. 'Well then... time to see what the blood of a mountain can do. I can't say I'm looking forward to it… but I still need strength.'

With a final breath to prepare, he centered himself in the middle of his creation. The formations hummed with latent power as he activated them one by one, starting from the outermost circle.

The silencing barrier shimmered into place. Then came the veil of darkness, followed by the protective ward. Each one clicked into position like the tumblers of a cosmic lock.

Nova stripped off his clothes, setting them carefully aside. No need to ruin them with what was coming. Then he reached into his core and drew forth the Blood of the Mountain King. It emerged as a perfect sphere of deep crimson, hovering above his palm. Even in this small amount, it radiated ancient power.

'Here goes nothing.'

He let the sphere fall. The blood splashed across the Bloodforge formation, igniting the runes with burning red light. In the same instant, Nova activated the final two formations.

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The chains manifested instantly, wrapping around his limbs with crushing force. Then the blood began to move.

It crawled up his legs like living mercury, spreading across his skin in intricate patterns. For a moment, it was almost beautiful, but then it began to burn.

The pain hit like a hammer to every nerve. The blood wasn't just touching his skin—it was forcing its way inside, burrowing through muscle and boring into bone. Each drop carried the weight of eons, the power of a being old as the mountains themselves, and it was remaking him from the inside out.

Nova kept his mind clear through decades of practiced meditation. He had endured worse. This was just another form of tempering.

'... This feels worse than dragon breath. I should have started with lesser blood to let this body get used to the process, but it's too late now!'

"Shhh—Fuck, this burns." Shielded from the world, he could say what he wanted. And he felt like cursing.

Time lost meaning in the darkness. There was only the burn of the blood, the grip of the chains, and the steel of his will. His muscles quivered with effort, sweat coating his skin despite the blood's heat burning it away instantly.

Just when he thought it might never end, the pain intensified. The blood made its final push, searing deeper than ever before. Nova's teeth ground together as his body fought against the chains. Breath came in sharp hisses through clenched teeth. His consciousness was nearly fading, with bright spots appearing in his vision.

Then, suddenly, blessed relief.

[Body Cultivation skill Searing Blood Refinement {Grade 8} has reached the first level.]

[Your body has absorbed the essence of an Ancient Beast, greatly increasing your physical capabilities. The effect is equal to a constant Physical Force of 6000 and Physical Resilience of 8000.]

'Oh, that's more than I expected! Now my body should be able to handle any punishment I want it to, not even needing to rely on essence.'

[Unique effect obtained: Mountain King Regeneration.]

[Your flesh never tires, regenerating wounds and lost limbs in a matter of seconds. Only deadly blows will be able to stop you from rising again.]

'Yes! I hoped this would carry over! Damn it, now I want to hunt more monsters.'

[Your body has adapted to blood refinement. Future attempts will be easier, but will also grant a lesser effect.]

'Yeah, I know already. The body can only hold so much blood essence at once, so the available space lessens with each use. But I doubt I could ask for a better sample.'

He released a shuddering breath as the chains dissolved. Every muscle ached, but beneath the pain, he could feel new strength flowing through his body. The blood had changed him, made him more than human.

He looked down at his skin, seeing faint red patterns tracing his veins like tattoos. Although they would fade with time, the power they represented was his to keep.

'Worth it,' he thought, reaching for his clothes with trembling hands. 'I should get cleaned first, but I can't exactly walk around naked. Sorry, clothes. Maybe I'll ask for a robe after a nice bath?'

Nova dismissed his formations, watching the intricate patterns fade from the floor.

He flexed his fingers experimentally. The movement felt different now—more controlled, more powerful. He placed a single finger against the marble floor.

'Let's see what this body can do now...'

With the slightest pressure, his body started lifting from the floor. His entire weight focused on a single finger barely registered as a challenge. It wasn't a great test, but satisfaction curved his lips.

'That's with pure physical force, no essence involved. And my resistance should be even higher... I could probably take a normal sword strike without breaking the skin now.'

He caught his reflection in the window. The red patterns tracing his veins made him look almost ethereal in the evening light. But beneath the surface changes, he could feel the deeper transformation. His muscles felt dense as steel, and every movement carried a new weight.

'This should help significantly with controlling the fragments. And if I need to protect Millie...'

He glanced at Millie's sleeping form, torn between letting her rest and maintaining a normal schedule.

'It's better if we're in sync, since I doubt she will want me to move around without her. I could probably leave her alone, though. There shouldn't be any danger here, and the rooms seem secure…'

But after a moment's deliberation, he approached the bed. Better to be on the safe side.

"Millie?" he called softly. "Would you like to take a bath? We can sleep properly tonight instead."

She stirred slowly, blue eyes blinking open. "Mmm... okay." She sat up, hair tousled from her nap.

Outside their room, they nearly collided with a petite figure turning the corner. A girl about their age stood before them, with straight black hair in a firm ponytail and piercing grey eyes.

'Is this the prodigy among prodigies?'

"Oh, new kids," the girl said, looking more annoyed than happy to meet them. "I'm Animo."

"I'm Nova, and this is Millie," Nova responded, studying her carefully. Nothing jumped out to him about her behavior, but he noticed her eyes seemed unusually clear. They analyzed him, just like he was analyzing her.

"You must be the prodigy everyone's talking about," he said casually.

Animo's lips curved in a slight frown. "That's me."

"Prodigy?" Millie asked, shooting glances at Nova. "Like me?"

"Well, almost," Nova replied. "You're a specialized prodigy, though, while she probably has a wider grasp on stuff."

Animo seemed interested, studying Millie closely. "What makes you a specialized prodigy?"

"Uhm, my trait says I'm a magic prodigy."

Animo's eyes lit up. "Oh! That sounds like a great trait! I've always been meaning to learn more about normal magic."

Nova furrowed his brows at her words. They seemed unlike a girl with a newly completed soul. In fact, her whole pattern of speech seemed strangely mature for her age—even considering her status as a genius.

'... Okay, so I was chosen as a prodigy by the pearl because of my unique trait, and maybe also my status as a reincarnated person. Is she the same? Would she reveal it if she was?'

He tried poking carefully at her knowledge, keeping his tone casual. "Always? How long ago did your soul complete?"

"Just a few weeks, but the books I read rarely had much info about runes and spells… But now I can read all I want!" She flashed him a bright smile, filled with the excitement of a child.

'That's either great acting, or true excitement… So either she's wary of me as well, or she's just a very clever child.'

"Oh, I should read some stuff when I get the chance, then. I heard you learned how to sense Soul Power very quickly. Could you give me some tips?"

Her smile faltered at his question, looking past them down the hallway. "Sorry, but I'm quite busy today." She turned to leave, then paused. "But welcome to Damascus."

"Wait—" Nova called after her. "Could you point us toward the baths?"

Animo sighed. "Follow me. It's on my way."

She set off down the corridor, walking soundlessly across the polished floor. Nova followed behind her, with Millie staying close to his side.

"Will you help me bathe, Nova?" Millie asked timidly.

"Uhm…" Nova glanced at her anxious face. "You can probably do it on your own, right? Remember the water-heating spell I taught you?"

Millie's fingers tightened in his sleeve. "But… I'm scared of the magic."

"Right… Hey, Animo?"

"Yes?" The dark-haired girl didn't break stride.

"Are there restrictions on genders in the baths?"

"Of course." She glanced back at them. "You two want to enter together?"

"Yeah, we're new to baths like these. So far, we've only been washing with cold buckets of water."

Animo's brows furrowed as she stopped walking. "Is that so? I get the sense you will be fine, though."

"I'll figure something out, but Millie here… Maybe you could help?"

Animo's expression softened slightly as she looked at Millie. "I… I guess I can show her briefly how it's done. But then I have to leave."

"Great! Thank you, Animo!"

"Don't worry about it." She waved off his gratitude, continuing to lead them down the corridor.

'At least she seems kind, whatever the truth is.'

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