Reincarnated into a Snow Griffin-Chapter 66

Even though the things that would happen on that day would have many consequences in the future, like the waves around a drip of falling water, the day itself started rather inconspicuous and average, with morning classes, more meditation, reading after lunch, only changing later that day, the moment I went to my hidden place, still intending to proceed with yesterday’s study since I had some... interesting ideas of how to put those Blood Runes to use.

Every Rune has to have energy poured into it otherwise it will just be a pretty drawing, and for a competent rune one needs to surpass at least the first major level of cultivating, and that is, to form a core to contain the energy inside oneself, and not let is simply flow along the veins and meridians.

Is like starting a fire without extra firewood separated, you can even have a small flame at first, but it won’t last.

Distracted along the path I do not notice anything wrong, still thinking about the contents of the book: Blood Runes, just like the name intel’s, use one’s own blood to power the runes, staying like mere tattoos along the body and being activated when needed, however the major problem encountered at such strong power is the payback it has, for as it is used it may cause severe damage to the user, to the point of severed limbs being one of the possible outcomes of overusing such ability, after all it does not only consume energy, but flesh and blood as well.

And yet, being able to simply activate the rune and not have to draw it or be restricted to the quality and endurance of the material being used is... quite an interesting concept and an advantage on itself, if only I could overcome that penalties part... even without a weapon I would be armed to the teeth, my skin been my own armor but without weighing me down.

Perhaps I could adapt it to use mana instead of my own blood, that way it would be extremely beneficial with my constitution and...

I hear something.

I stop once I step beside the bushes and pass the hidden entrance for what reaches my eyes once I get used to the clarity over the top of the mountain surprises me as such than blanks my mind for a second.

For there is a boy sitting on top of my usual meditating stone, one leg stretched out and moving lazily, and the other bent to support his stretched out arm that clearly holding my Rune Book at the front.

The moment of being stunned passes and is replaced by annoyance and anger with a little bit of hesitating fear at having such an important object on the hands of a stranger, and yet not a completely strange at all...

He hops up from the stone with a smile on his face, but I don’t need to see his fluttering red vests with the characteristic golden tiger to know that he is from the martial arts sect, especially when I recognize him to be the boy I saw the other day after witnessing my seniors in that state with I rather not reminisce.

He gives me a cheeky smile that dimples his cheeks, making him look almost innocent while he stands in front of me, both hands behind his back holding my book between his fingers, away from my grasp.

"Hi." He says as if I’m not glaring daggers at him nor he is in hold of something that is mine.

"That belongs to me." I say deadpan, already clenching my fists, ready to fight to get it back.

"Oh, this?" He says, completely ignoring my threatening self and acting way too friendly with me." I know."

His answer only gets me on the edge of my nerves even more.

"Then give it back." I feel like I’m talking with a kid like this, having to explain every step to make him understand.

To my not so amusing self, he ignores any hints.

"Say, you must be really smart right? To understand the things written in this thing, I didn’t understand it at all haha!" He says after moving the book around and hitting his own forehead to make a point.

Of course he would not understand, I think, not only there are unique Runes in it that even a master on the field would be shocked by, but it is writing is an older version of the Common Language, and on top of that using formal speech and complex specific terms from an enchanter.

Not receiving an answer from me however he finally caves in and sights, extending the book in my direction while saying with a small smirk on his face:

"Sorry sorry, how else would I be able to make such a cold beauty like you stop and greet me?"

I only narrow my eyes in response to such words, wondering what the hell is wrong with this guy and why he insists on calling me beauty even though I have my face covered, and reach out to take the book back and be done with this strange exchange.

Only that he pulls the book back up the last second, and while my mood drops even further with the act his smile only brightens up more.

"And... though I don’t mind giving it back to you, there is a price to pay for that." I knew it, and yet when his words come out I cannot help but feel not only enraged by it but be as uncomfortable with the situation.

So with a growing pit at my stomach I ask the dreadful question:

"State your price." I say, dreading that he would shake the book much and discover the single paged make of thin bamboos hidden inside that contained the Blood Runes enchantment.

But his next words make me want to roll my eyes.

"I want an hour of your day from now on." I raise one eyebrow at that.

"... An hour?" I ask, not believing what I’m hearing; he could ask anything, request any completely out of place and overbearing demand, and even though I would not do anything I did not think wise of, for him to ask for such a silly thing... makes me ask myself once more what is he up to really?

And if it somewhat an interest and curiosity of his... then might as well bore him to death so he lets me be. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"And what makes you think that I would keep my promise the moment you hand me my book back?" I say, too truthful and righteous to let the possibility be even though I know I should just agree and exploit that point in my favor later, and yet his next words resonate with the interior motivation I have for not doing so:

"Well..." He says, swinging his body around, enjoying himself with that bright full smile of his. "I believe you would not betray my trust like this, after all only ungrateful bastards would be so despicable as to go back in their word like this and betray other’s trust... wouldn’t you agree?"

The way he describes such a person twists a knot in my stomach as it basically labels a despicable bastard that I know of, the causer of all this mess, and probably for that reason, simply to prove him wrong, to distance myself from that lion bastard as much as possible, the same that did not think twice before betraying his people only to steal what he wanted and feed his own selfish desires, that I decided things out of a whim.

To be compared to such a creature made my blood boil in my veins.

"Very well then, from tomorrow on you will have one hour of my time per day, as agreed, nothing more, nothing less." At that, for the first time, he seems to look more serious even if the smile stayed put, his eyes looking deeply in my direction as the book finally goes back to my hands as he says in a lower voice, deepening his tone and almost making me think that I had just made a pact with the devil:

"As agreed."