16 Bloodline Awakening

Once I had finished he was looking at me in amazement. "So you did all of that without a bloodline awakening. That is really impressive. About your eyes I am guessing that you are like me, a forgotten clan member."

"Forgotten, I don't really get what you mean sir."

Sigh. "So you do know that you are a descendant of one of the five great clans of the Imperium right?" Seeing me nod he carried on, "Well those who did not know that they are descended from one of the great clans are called the forgotten. As we have forgotten about our heritage or so they say."

Surprised at how nice the general was answering my questions, I smiled slightly. Then I indicated that I had understood what he had said with the slight movement of my head. "So anyway sir, you asked for me to be here."

"Ah yes Adoh, on behalf of the duchy and its military system I wish to apologise for the suition you were found in. I would also like to apologise to your dead comrades. I know what it is like to lose those whom you fought with. This battle will go down in the records as probably one of the worst military disasters that has ever happened before." After saying that he stopped for a few minutes as if deciding something. "Since you have already been in combat your's and the other eight surviors training will be deemed complete. So I would like you to come back to the keep at night and I will personally oversee your first bloodline awakening.

This was a huge honour. "Thank you sir so much. You have no…." He cut me off suddenly.

"There is no need to apologize. This is the least I could do for all nine of you. In fact it should be me being thankful that I have just gained some excellent warriors after all not many can survive a demon attack without any preparation or having undergone an awakening. Now go, come back here later tonight."

I gave another salute then left the room. I followed the way I had come leaving the keep saying bye to the guards. Not knowing what to do until this evening I decided that I should try and find the other's and see what they had been up to.

Thinking the easiest way to find them was by going back to the infirmary and asking one of the staff there if they knew anything of where they had gone would be the best way to find them. So I did just that. I passed everything I had on my way to the keep but in the opposite direction arriving much quicker back at the infirmary than the time it had taken me to get to the keep.

After entering one of the staff saw me. It was the woman who had me sign the forms. "Back so soon Adoh, you must be hunting injuries. Maybe it was so you could come back and see me." She sent a slightly flirtatious gaze in my direction.

Much to her disappointment though, "I am here to find out what happened to the others who I came in here with yesterday." Muttering something under her breath she looked through files similar to the one she made me sign earlier. After taking out eight of them she looked them over. "It seems here they had said they would be staying in the barracks in a temporary residence until they are assigned to a unit. It is area K, building four."

"Thank you for your help."

As I left I heard a quiet voice, "It's no problem but why couldn't you have just come back for me not your comrades."

After leaving I went back towards the keep as I had seen the barracks on the way. Once I got into the barracks area. I could see loads of buildings. Walking down the main road until I found area K, I saw loads of off duty soldiers trying to relax and enjoy their time. Area K was different though as it had barely anyone in it at all. Looking at the buildings they each had numbers on their doors. I went past each building until I got to the building with the number four.

It was a small building with probably only twenty rooms and most. It had a tiled roof and had a few windows. Knocking, I entered the building. On entering I saw the others talking excitedly. Seeing me they all stopped. "Adoh, did you see the general as well." They all said that at the same time. It was like they had rehearsed it but seeing their faces nearly breaking down into a laughing fit I knew that they hadn't.

I proceeded to tell them about my time with the general and everything he had said. Our discussion went on for a long time before we all knew it, it was time for us to go for the awakening. As we walked to the keep everything was quiet and dark. It was like the fort was deserted, a stark contrast to the day. Passing the guards at the gate, we were let in without any fuss. I looked for the guard I spoke to earlier but he was not there. I had assumed that the guard shift had changed.

We entered the keep being guided by what seemed like a low ranking logistics officer. We went down a few flights of stairs to an underground room. Not that you could tell though as it looked exactly the same as the rest of the keep.

We entered a well lit room. There were only two other people inside, the general and another man I did not recognise. The room itself was fairly plain except for a magnificent statue of a battle worn dragon. There was also a massive runic carving on the floor. It was in old draconic I think which is older than the script my father taught me. The writing was all in red, with an ornate looking dagger laying in the middle.

"Adoh, may you please enter the circle and go to where the dagger is laying."

Walking to where I was told. I didn't say a word. Once getting there I was told to stand still but pick up the dagger first. Then the other man beside the general began to mutter a language I haven't heard before. He slowly got louder and was repeating what he said over and over again.The markings on the floor began to glow red. "Now cut your hand Adoh, letting your blood drip onto the floor."

I did what he said immediately. Cutting open my hand letting my blood flood onto the floor. When it touches the markings. They lit up even more furiously than before. Then scaring me, my blood turned into fire. The fire followed my blood back into my hand.

I screamed in pain. It felt like I was burning inside of my body. Then I saw something. There was a figure shrouded in black, in his hands was something but I couldn't tell what it was. Behind him was what looked like a massive dragon but like the man I couldn't see it clearly.

Then the vision stopped.