Chapter 153: Kael’s admission
The surname "Rivermist" was entirely fabricated, a generic name my father’s people had created specifically to avoid connection with the Blackwood family. Official documentation supported the orphan background story, and nothing in the records indicated any relationship to our duchy.
Sylvia recorded the information without visible suspicion. "Kael Rivermist. And his current rank?"
"Elite rank. Newly advanced but with solid fundamentals."
"The examination will be comprehensive - combat assessment, theoretical knowledge, and magical aptitude evaluation. When would you like to schedule this?"
"As soon as possible. Within the next few days if the academy can accommodate it."
Sylvia made notes on her forms. "I’ll coordinate with the examination committee. The sponsorship fee is 300,000 points, payable now regardless of examination outcome. Are you certain you want to proceed?"
"Yes."
[-300,000 Points]
The substantial deduction registered, but I’d anticipated the cost. Kael’s admission was worth the investment for multiple reasons beyond mere point value.
"The examination will be scheduled within three days. I’ll send notification through your communication crystal with specific time and location. Your candidate should be prepared for rigorous testing across all disciplines."
"He will be ready."
Sylvia stamped the official documentation and filed it appropriately. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Thank you for accommodating this, Instructor."
She nodded dismissively, already returning to her previous work. I exited the office satisfied that the process was underway.
Now I just needed to inform Kael that his academy admission examination was imminent.
--
As I made my way back to my dormitory, the familiar notification pulsed through my consciousness indicating my daily reward had become available.
[Daily Login Available!]
[Would you like to claim your daily reward?]
I pressed yes without hesitation, curious what the system would provide after the recent string of valuable acquisitions.
[Congratulations! You have received: Bloodline Evolution Card]
A card materialized in my hand, its surface shimmering with iridescent colors that seemed to shift and flow like living aurora. The moment I touched it, information flooded into my mind.
[Bloodline Evolution Card]
[Rank: ???]
[Details: This card can evolve the bloodline of any being. The bloodline rank must be below Mythical rank. The card can be used on self or others. Single use only. Cannot be stopped once activated.]
I stared at the card in genuine shock, my mind racing through the implications of what I was holding. This wasn’t just a powerful item - this was potentially world-changing depending on how it was utilized.
Immediately, multiple candidates appeared in my thoughts. I could use it on my parents, elevating their bloodlines to higher tiers and dramatically increasing their combat potential. But that seemed excessive and would raise questions about the source of such a miraculous transformation.
I could use it on Kojiro, elevating whatever bloodline traits he possessed and making him an even more formidable guardian. That had genuine tactical merit.
Or... the egg.
I carefully retrieved the mysterious egg from my storage space, its swirling colors as mesmerizing as always.
[Mysterious Egg]
[Rank: King]
[Details: Mysterious egg of an unknown species containing a beast that can reach King rank at maturity.]
While the egg’s maximum potential was King rank, already extraordinary, that didn’t necessarily mean its bloodline was at the absolute peak. Supreme rank bloodlines like my vampire heritage were almost non-existent and the limits were certainly not king-rank. The egg’s creature likely possessed Legendary or Mythical-rank bloodline heritage.
If the bloodline was Legendary rank, the Evolution Card would upgrade it to Mythical - a substantial improvement that would enhance the hatched creature’s capabilities. If the bloodline was already Mythical, the card simply wouldn’t activate and I could save it for another candidate.
Testing it on the egg seemed like the optimal strategy. Either I’d enhance an already powerful companion to even greater heights, or I’d confirm the creature possessed maximum bloodline potential and could consider other uses for the card.
With my decision made, I activated the Bloodline Evolution Card. The crystalline surface began glowing intensely as magical energy gathered.
A prompt appeared in my consciousness: [Select target: Self or Other]
I focused my intent on the egg held in my other hand. [Target: Mysterious Egg]
The card dissolved into pure light that flowed like liquid toward the egg’s surface, wrapping around it in spiraling patterns of brilliant illumination that made me shield my eyes against the intensity.
The transformation had begun.
The moment the light from the dissolved card made contact with the egg’s surface, I felt something profound happening. The transformation wasn’t subtle or gradual - it was immediate and dramatic.
Pulse! Expand!
The egg began growing rapidly, its size increasing at a visible rate that made me take several steps back to give it space. Mana started radiating outward in powerful waves that distorted the air around it, creating ripples of energy that made my enhanced senses tingle with recognition of enormous power being channeled.
Flare! Surge! Intensify!
Luckily, I was inside my private dormitory room rather than a public space. The magical disturbance would have been impossible to explain to curious onlookers or concerned instructors. The privacy wards I’d activated earlier contained most of the energy signature, though I could feel them straining against the pressure.
The egg continued expanding until it reached twice its original size - now roughly the dimensions of a large watermelon rather than the melon-sized object I’d been carrying. The swirling colors across its surface became dramatically more vibrant, the purples deeper, the crimsons brighter, the golds more lustrous, and the blues more intense.
Connection... forming...
But what truly shocked me was the sudden sensation of a link establishing itself between the egg and my consciousness. It wasn’t verbal communication or even clear imagery - more like an instinctual awareness that transcended normal perception.
I could feel the heartbeat of the creature developing inside. The rhythm was slow but powerful, each pulse radiating life force that resonated with my own vampiric bloodline. The connection wasn’t intrusive or controlling - more like becoming aware of a presence that had always been there but was only now making itself known.
Thump... thump... thump...