Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Chapter 569: Erdania

Bloodlines

The three of them retreated to their private apartments to talk and discuss what they want to do.

“I can’t believe that it is really happening,” Selia said as she dropped to the couch, a happy, excited smile on her face. Ryun took the chair in the corner and Erdania leaned on the couch next to Selia.

“It is,” Ryun said. “But we have decisions to make before it becomes reality.”

They had talked a lot about their advancement in the months since they decided to try and have children. Mainly, they hadn’t advanced at all. They’d decided not to risk any complications, which was why none of them had evolved their Class or made their Bloodlines.

Ryun leaned forward in his seat. “Based on what Yuron said, we need to be smart about this. Especially since our Bloodlines could merge with one another.”

Erdania nodded. “We should be careful what we put in them, too much power can be a hindrance.”

Selia reached up to the headrest and put her hand over Erdania’s, gripping it tightly. “You’re right, this isn’t for us, it is for our children and their children’s children.”

“I worry about some of my perks, what would happen if I put Adaptive Infinitum Chassis into a Bloodline? Would a baby born without Endurance even survive? Would it have enough regeneration to recover from the effects of Gravity? Or would it need to be born in the lowest tier Territory possible just to have a chance? To be carried there even?”

Erdania blinked, she hadn’t thought about it. His perk was powerful, but he had gained it later in life, when he could survive its adverse effects. Suddenly, her fears started to rise again. She had already been worried about keeping their children safe, about being a good mother. Now she also had to worry if something that she could pass on to them would kill them too.

“That… is a good question,” Selia said slowly. “Perhaps we should each pick a single thing that we do want to pass on. Something that would be beneficial, and then add a few more perks that won’t be a determent to them.”

Ryun tilted his head, then nodded. “The only thing that I have, that I could pass on and consider a benefit are my eyes.”

Erdania frowned. “You sure? That would make them… different.”

Ryun nodded. “I don’t know how the Bloodline would work, Yuron implied that not all of it would be active since birth, but my eyes would be something that would make our children stand out and also give them an advantage.”

He was right though, having eyes that could see Essence would give their children an edge.

“I also don’t want to push them in a direction because of what we pass on to them,” Ryun continued.

“What do you mean?” Erdania asked.

“I don’t want to pass on a Bloodline that would force them to follow our Paths, to pick our affinities, like Void or Oblivion. I want them to make their own choices, follow their own Paths. I think that we should make Bloodlines that would give them an advantage, but be broad enough to allow them to have their own preferences and most importantly be able to make their own choices.”

Erdania closed her eyes. As a child, she had been robbed of choice, it was why she lived her life as she wanted to. Why she indulged, why she lived without care. She had vowed long ago that she would never be forced into anything ever again. It had taken her a long time to grow beyond her trauma, and still it reared its head from time to time.

“Yes,” she said softly. “Choice is the most important thing we can give them.”

Selia’s fingers tightened on hers. “I agree. Let’s see what we can do then.”

They huddled together and went over their sheets, finding which of their perks they would use as the core of their Bloodline. For Ryun it ended up being his Astral Eyes, Selia also picked her eye perk, the Eyes of True Insight—the perk she gained from the fruit Ryun gifted her.

Erdania’s choices weren’t as powerful as theirs, but it was more than likely that their Bloodlines would merge in their children, so that meant that what was more important was for her choices to be complementary. She picked Stamina of the Dragon for her first perk, not the strongest perk, but something that would be useful to their children.

They didn’t know if the order of perks picked mattered, but they went on the assumption that it did, and they decided on three perks per Bloodline. Enough to help their children, but not overwhelm and push them toward to follow in their footsteps. They tried not to pick the choices that had too much specific flavor text, because they didn’t want them to be an influence.

Ryun was the first one that made a Bloodline, and as soon as he was done he shared it with them.

“I’ve lost the perks, but I still have their abilities. They almost seem improved,” he said distractedly, and Erdania felt him pull in Essence into his body and push it through his conduits. “Definitely better.”

He had chosen three perks for his Bloodline: Astral Eyes—Sights Unseen, Master’s Conduits, and Eternal Qi Control Master—Endless Threads. They tried to use as many of their named perked as they could.

With a wave of his hand, he showed them the new perk.

The Essenceborn Bloodline

The Essenceborn Bloodline grants the ability to see all Essence at the cost of regular sight, as well as complete mastery and control over any Essence within the Cultivator’s Conduits. Command over Essence comes easier to the bearer, and affinity with all Essences is significantly increased.

The bearer of this Bloodline gains +75 wisdom, +25 vitality, and +25 intelligence, per Path Stage to base stats.

The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.

“That is powerful,” Selia said. “Especially for someone that just started their Path.”

Erdania shook her head. “Just being able to command Essence on the level that you can now would be incredible, being able to see it too is…”

“Yes,” Ryun just said simply. “And it added the part about affinities. That wasn’t something that I had before. Is this the result of the synergy between the perks I chose? It doesn’t impact me that much since I am firmly focused on the End, but our children will benefit, especially when they need to choose their path.”

He was right, it was an new effect, and very powerful.

They moved on to the next one, and Erdania put all of her perks in and fashioned her Bloodline with her three perks: Stamina of the Dragon—Enduring Stamina, Empty Mind—Reactive Focus, and Calm Mind. She felt the effects, her perks had given her some boosts, but now those seemed slightly increased. Then once she was done made it visible to them.

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The Enduring Body and Mind Bloodline

The Enduring Mind Bloodline allows the bearer of this Bloodline to train and through intense physical effort increase endurance. The effectiveness of their endurance is 120%. All stamina types regenerate at triple the base rate. Base mental stamina is doubled and the mental state is reinforced against any adverse effects. Mental fortitude increased and base resistance against all mental effects is doubled.

The bearer of this Bloodline gains +75 intelligence, +25 vitality, and +25 endurance, per Path Stage to base stats.

The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.

“That is incredible,” Selia said and Erdania relaxed. She had worried that her Bloodline would be less impressive compared to theirs. But even she could admit that what she had gained was solid. Stamina both physical and mental was the backbone for everything a Cultivator did. And her Bloodline was a good advantage for any of their children, without being restrictive in its nature.

“Being able to raise endurance through training is a powerful thing,” Ryun commented.

That was the new effect for her Bloodline. She knew that it would be a boon to anyone on lower tiers of power, when stats matter a lot more. The unique effect was powerful.

Finally, it was Selia’s turn. They had considered using both hers and Ryun’s mental perks, but ultimately they had other perks that were more useful, which was why Erdania had used hers. Her mental perks might not have been as flashy as theirs, but they were useful and as her Bloodline proved, powerful in their own right. Selia had ended up using only one of her mental perks in her three: Eyes of True Insight, Mature Lindwurmar, Imaginative Mind—Projecting Thoughts.

Selia didn’t comment once she finished with her perk, instead she just showed it to them.

Echo of Lindwurmar Bloodline

The Echo of Lindwurmar Bloodline grants the bearer the eyes of Jikharuud, the last Lindwurmar. Allowing the bearer to pierce through and gaze into the souls of all they lay their eyes on. Seeing the deepest parts of and gain insight into who and what they are. Their bodies contain the blood of the old race, granting them unlimited lifespan from birth and improved physicality—all physical stats are 110% effective and stat imbalance reduced by 80%. Their mind is their playground, granting an unrivaled imagination.

The bearer of this Bloodline gains +25 intelligence, +25 strength, +25 dexterity, and +25 vitality per Path Stage to base stats.

The originator of the Bloodline retains the bonuses of previous perks.

“It made it in,” Selia said once they had the chance to look.

One of the reasons why she had picked her Mature Lindwurmar perk was to see if its lifespan effect would make it in. That alone would make Cultivation much easier, if their children didn’t need to worry about growing old.

“I still don’t know if it is a blessing,” Ryun started. “Or a curse.”

Selia rolled her eyes and swatted at him. “It will give them time.”

“Death is a good motivator,” Ryun added, but didn’t argue more.

As far as Erdania was concerned not having to worry about their children growing old was a boon.

“Your unique effect is powerful too,” Erdania commented. “Having all physical stats be 10% more effective… For every hundred stats it would be as if they had a hundred and ten. That will add up quickly.”

“It will,” Selia agreed. “It will provide a good foundation for our children.”

Ryun tapped his fingers on the table in front of them, then spoke up. “We still don’t know how our Bloodlines will interact, or how they would even manifest in our children. I doubt that they will gain everything at birth. Yuron implied that the Bloodline unlocked over time.”

Selia grimaced. “He didn’t know much, I guess that is to be expected. If there are other children out there with Bloodlines, they would probably keep it a secret, and he had only helped one, if he was being truthful, and I have no reason to think otherwise. I guess that with this as with everything else we will be pioneers.”

Erdania wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but there wasn’t much that they could do about it.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” she added.

Selia turned in her seat to look up at her. “Are you sure that you’re all right with me carrying all the children? I know that we talked about it but…”

Erdania walked around the couch and sat next to her, taking her hand in hers and squeezing it. “I’m fine with it, having only one of us in that state makes sense.”

They had talked extensively about it. It wasn’t just that being a mother was Selia’s dream, it was the reality of their life. They were powerful individuals, and they had enemies. They didn’t want to put both of them in a vulnerable state. “Not that you will be helpless, but…”

Selia nodded in understanding.

“And there is time,” Erdania added. “We can have more children in the future, I can carry them then.”

She wasn’t quite sure if she wanted that, but… She knew that she was loved, that her two most important people around her trusted her. Perhaps she could let herself experience more than she had ever allowed herself before.

“Good,” Selia smiled. “I can’t wait.”

“Should we start thinking about advancing out other focuses after you conceive?” Ryun asked.

Selia rolled her eyes. “Already thinking about advancement, huh?”

Ryun had the presence of mind to look chagrined. “Sorry,” he said, but his eyes held the hunger for more.

Selia sighed. “I guess that we can. We should probably talk with Yuron first, well, at least I should. I don’t think that advancing my Class would have any effect. It didn’t change my body, only gave me more stats, but I’m not the expert.”

“You’re right,” Ryun said as he moved from his chair to sit on the couch next to them on Selia’s other side. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “You often are.”

“I am the brains of this family after all,” Selia shook her head, but her lips were turned upward. She reached and patted his cheek with one hand. “And you are our advancement fanatic.”

“Wait,” Erdania interjected. “What does that make me?”

Ryun and Selia exchanged looks, then looked at her and answered in one voice. “Muscle.”

Erdania blinked, and they chuckled. She narrowed her eyes at her, but then sighed. “Yeah, I guess that you’re right.”

“Of course we are,” Selia said with a grin on her face. “Don’t worry, we love you all the same.”

Erdania reflected on just how safe she felt with them. There was a time, long ago, when she could’ve never imagined this life. And yet here she was, loved and in the process of starting a family. She wished that she could go back and tell her younger self that it would all be all right in the end. But perhaps her journey was what had led her here in the first place. She knew that she wouldn’t want to risk changing things, that nothing was worth losing what she had.

She pulled out a small jade tablet, a recording array that Yuron had given them. “You want to look through this?”

“We should,” Selia said.

They each placed a hand on it, and started to read. The information flowed into their minds, and with their bond and mental perks they finished it in record time.

“Well,” Ryun started. “I didn’t expect a lot of the things his faction offers.”

Selia had a conflicted expression on her face. “Yes, I don’t know if I like a lot of it.”

Erdania could understand why. It was… close to things that were dangerous. “Do people do that, you think? Actually ask for certain physical traits for their children?”

It seemed that Yuron and his staff had perks that could ensure that the children looked exactly as their parents wanted, as well as other things.

“I remember people talking and discussing it on my old world, before the Framework arrived,” Ryun said slowly. “Even then it was highly debated.”

“I can understand picking a gender for your child,” Erdania said slowly. “But ensuring how they will look? How tall they will grow? That seems… excessive.”

“Do you want to do that?” Selia asked, her voice soft, as if she was worried that she would set her off. Erdania’s childhood had some similarities.

“No… I don’t think I would,” Erdania answered. “I’d rather be surprised, have fate or the Framework make the choice.”

“We already know that one of the children will be a girl,” Ryun said.

“That is true,” Selia added. “And you think that we should leave the other two to chance?”

“No reason to meddle,” Ryun shrugged. “And it isn’t like I particularly care what they are or how they look, as long as they are healthy.”

“And as long as they want to advance, right?” Erdania joked, but Ryun’s expression was serious.

“It would be preferable,” he said, then saw Erdania’s and Selia’s expressions. “I mean,” he paused. “I would love them anyway. But… I do yearn for people who can follow in our footsteps.”

Selia shook her head. “I can’t imagine any children of ours not wanting to reach for the Heavens.”

Erdania nodded, she couldn’t imagine it either.

“Should we call master Yuron now, you think?” Selia asked.

Ryun chuckled. “I know that you are impatient, but give the man the time to settle in. He’ll be here for a long time. We aren’t in a hurry, are we?”

Selia sagged. “Right, we aren’t.”

“But,” Ryun said as he stood up. “We should at least ask him to join us for dinner. He is our guest after all.”

Erdania stood too and offered her hand to Selia to help her up. “We should probably keep away from business topics for the dinner. We don’t want to come across as too impatient.”

Selia gave her a look. “I can control myself, thank you and please.”

“It’s please and thank you,” Ryun added.

“Is it?” Selia narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t know actually,” Ryun shrugged. “I barely speak with people as it is. Language and conversations aren’t my strong suits.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be correcting me,” Selia raised her eyebrow at him.

“Yes, love,” he smiled. “I’ll leave the talking to you.”

That was probably for the best, Erdania agreed silently. Selia was the best out of the three of them with words. They headed out of their room and found a servant, informing them that they wished to invite their guests to dinner.

Selia headed to the kitchen to make sure that everything was up to her standard. Ryun and Erdania remained behind.

“She is going to be a force of nature as a mother,” Erdania said.

“She’s going to be the best,” Ryun agreed.

They hugged and leaned into each other. Somehow, she still couldn’t quite believe that their life had reached this point. But, she found that she quite liked it.

Despite her fears, she found that she too was getting excited. She couldn’t wait to see how motherhood would change her, and what the future held for them.