50 Test(2)

A silence that was only punctured by the sound of the hooves of the Blazing Tera impacting the ground every time it paced around while threateningly seeing the man who had displeased its master came over the area, while even the old man looked shocked due to the revelation regarding the truth behind everything that had affected Edmond's family.

Edmond had still not descended from the Tera, and he had flown here on a separate one that was apparently adept at carrying those who were injured. On the way, Aaron had found out that he had also been sedated temporarily, as there were always many cases of the jostling during the flight causing even more injuries.

Aaron was mostly puzzled by three things in what the man had just said.

First, how the hell was it possible for anyone to go through another person's memories, and find something that only the two of them had known about? Well, three, if Woof was counted.

Aaron was 100% certain that no one else had been watching, so he didn't have grounds to say that the man was probably mystifying the fact that he had been spying on his 'test subject' by calling it 'going through memories'.

Second, wasn't a heir supposed to be an offspring of an individual? That was how it worked in the jungle, at least. A Tera which was the major predator in a region would groom its offspring to take its place, or at least grow strong enough to do the same in other places.

And, finally, what the f*ck was a Lifeblood Tera?

No mention of it had been present in the booklet, nor had he heard about it from anywhere else. Granted, he had only been in the human world for a few days, but this felt like it was something important that should be known by all.

After making the proclamation, the man had begun to walk toward the Giant Eagle in which the palanquin that was transporting Edmond was present.

His stride was so confident that no one would even think of stopping him, and even Aaron felt rooted to his place.

He had all these questions in his mind, but he knew that this was not the right time to ask them.

Fully intending to keep an eye on each and every moment of the City Lord so that he would miss nothing, Aaron kept watching, but he suddenly had to turn his head as he heard heavy footsteps begin to approach him.

It was the Official.

Walking over to the two of them, he first addressed the old man.

"How have you been? Mentor still speaks about the days he spent growing up with you. He wishes he could directly interfere more as you are involved, but you know how it is?"

This made a smile appear on the old man's face.

"I always said he would look down on all of creation from above, one day. I know, and I understand. His influence is making Anissa more and more unruly by the day, though."

A loud laugh erupted from the man as he heard this, but that laughter instantly cut off after a 'humph' from the City Lord, who was near the palanquin while fiddling with something in his hand.

Aaron had only divided his attention after telling Woof through their contact to keep an eye on the City Lord, so he hadn't seen exactly what the man had taken out. Woof would always make sure that its fur, or some part of its body was touching Aaron in moments of conflict, just so that these kinds of communications could be made.

By the time Aaron turned back to him, the Official was looking at him inquisitively.

"That's a very nice Lifeblood Tera you have there. The Master says that there is only a 30% chance that a 'Survivor' will emerge with an offensive Lifeblood Tera. It is purely based on luck. Although almost all 'Survivors' go on to do great things, it is there few who achieve the most. After all, in this world, offense comes first."

Aaron couldn't resist it anymore. So, he decided to ask.

"What is a Lifeblood Tera?"

Hearing this question, both the old man and the Official raised their eyebrows, before expressions of realization flashed across their faces.

"Right! In the heat of the moment, I forgot that you just emerged. Oh, that reminds me, my other duty was also to give you the 'Survivor Orientation'. If mentor finds out I forgot, he'll have me go to the Forest of Memories again, so, old man, keep this under wraps!"

Huh?

So this was actually someone absent-minded?

Originally, Aaron had thought that this was some kind of cool guy who was perfect, from the impression he had given while standing there after speaking before.

Yet, now, an expression of fear had crossed his face when he mentioned that forest, and he had also slapped his forehead when he began speaking.

As the man began speaking again, Aaron perked up his ears to listen.

"Information about Lifeblood Teras is not present in any of the typical orientations because it is not needed for typical new Ascenders. For Survivors, though…it's kind of how they, well, 'survived'. A Lifeblood Tera is any Tera that forms an even deeper bond with the Tera Master than what is made possible by the Core. Many factors are involved in the making of this bond, and even after so long, all aspects of it have not been explored. In some cases, the potential of the Tera goes up, and in some cases, the Tera Master even gains potential in other Paths. In some cases, both grow stronger, too. There is one negative also, though: if a Lifeblood Tera dies, the Tera Master will be severely injured, and in some cases, it can even lead to death. However, it is widely accepted that this risk is worth it, as all the benefits, and the fulfillment that comes from one cannot be put into words."

Aaron's eyes had widened as he heard all these fantastical things. So, when the man paused, impatience even appeared on his face, but it faded away as the man continued after checking to see whether the City Lord was still occupied with whatever he was doing.

"At the end of the day, the conclusion made by the World Government after serious research is that it is the connection during life-and-death situations that is formed with the Tera that causes this bond to be born. It is almost always already present in Survivors, as they have already been through many such situations. In such cases, a Tera Master does not even need to form a conventional 'bond' with a Tera. Wait…if you are a Survivor, you would already have tried binding your Tera, and realized that it was not like it was written in the Orientation…are you not who you claim to be? Is that not your Lifeblood Tera? Have you not formed the Lifeblood Bond that makes all these things happen?!"

The last sentence was uttered with growing anger, but it was ignored by Aaron who had turned to look at Woof.

He had been right all along!

Ever since finding out about the Bond, and the unbalanced Binding process where the Tera would be the one taking all the risk, it had felt…wrong to have to subject Woof to it.

This was his friend whom he owed everything to.

Without hesitation, he knew that he would be ready to die if it meant that that could save its life.

So, having to ask and make such a friend undergo such a process, even though there were benefits, had just felt so…revolting.

Did he care that he would be injured or might even die if something happened to Woof?

Of course not, because that just might happen anyway, even if the Bond didn't exist.

Without any further ado, and with full confidence that this was how it was supposed to be, Aaron bent and laid his hand on Woof's soft fur.

"Owooo?"

As Woof asked Aaron just what the f*ck did he think he was doing in such a situation that was so dangerous, it suddenly felt something…calling to him.

That call was familiar, yet new. It had the feel of this man who was its family, but it was also something unique that it had never felt before.

"Awoo?"

For a moment, even it was carried away from the scene, and it asked Aaron what it should do.

"If you trust me, accept," he sent, using a bevy of emotions and images that depicted all the times they had walked into dangerous situations even though one of them didn't want to as they trusted the other.

"Row!"

With a sound that said that he was asking silly questions to which the answers were obvious, Woof accepted, and instantly vanished with a flash of bright light.

"He-he just did it. Master spoke about it…he said it is one of the most beautiful moments that between a Tera and a Tera Master that one can witness in this world. The forming of a Lifeblood Bond. H-he was right. Hey, who's cutting onions around here?"

A rush of feelings and sensations assaulted Aaron, but he had no time to analyze them.

The reason behind this wasn't the statement filled with emotions spoken by the Official, who was even looking up at the sky as if he wanted to convince himself that his eyes were watering because of looking into the sun.

No, it was because of a different statement spoken in a cold voice, coming from the direction of the palanquin.

"Right, everything is ready. Now, then, Mr. Survivor, please come over here, so that we can replay the scene. I've changed his memories so that he thinks that you two have been captured by me, and that I'm offering him the position of an heir to a City Lord if he does one simple thing: killing you, and taking your Tera. His parents will live lives of opulence and luxury, and his siblings, if any are born, will have the lives of those privileged brats he was always jealous of. If he doesn't do it, though…they will die. Oh, don't look like that. It'll all be fake, but for him, it will be real. I…just want to see the look in his eyes when he makes the right decision, again, just so that I can be sure."