Raelis paused, staring at the device, then turned his gaze toward the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I’m sure a device created through the cooperation of the greatest blacksmith and the greatest runesmith won’t produce a faulty result."
"Be that as it may, it costs me nothing to have someone use it," Emperor Kaelith replied flatly, narrowing his eyes. "Do it, or I’ll be forced to do it for you."
"Very well..." Raelis muttered, holding back his unwillingness.
He had a feeling the emperor would re-check his bloodline. He’d already done it twice before. And now, he was doing it again.
But unlike last time, I’ve improved, Raelis thought with a determined look as he approached the bloodline testing device.
He pricked his finger, letting the blood drip onto the marble orb. In the very next moment, a familiar flash of light enveloped the room.
Raelis closed his eyes this time, and when he reopened them, he was met with the emperor holding the bloodline testing device up to his eye, almost as if he were deeply inspecting something.
Then, he glanced back at Raelis and flashed a conflicted look.
"Your bloodline purity has reached 9%. It’s a giant leap," Emperor Kaelith remarked quietly. "I’m sure you can reach the Ember-Blooded rank. But whether you can go higher... that’s beyond me."
"I’m aware," Raelis replied calmly. "Everyone has limits. But the higher you start, the less they matter."
A faint smile tugged at Emperor Kaelith’s lips. "Well said. It seems like I’ve treated you a bit too harshly. You have some potential. Have you decided on what kind of flame you want to absorb?"
Raelis’s brows twitched. free\we\bnov(e)(l).com
Right... that’s what I was missing, he trailed off, holding back a sigh.
Each bloodline rank had a set amount of rules to it. But it also had certain requirements to reach the next rank.
In this case, he needed to absorb one of the existing flames through a ritual.
There were countless basic types. Crimson for raw destruction, Azure for defense. But rarer flames, stored deep in the palace dungeons, were on an entirely different level.
These flames would act as the foundation for his future endeavors, so Raelis had to choose wisely.
And now that the opportunity had presented itself, he intended to use it.
"Your Majesty... I’m afraid I didn’t have the time to consider..." Raelis scratched his cheek. "I was training for the last week, and I just got out."
"I’m aware." Emperor Kaelith nodded slowly. "Your siblings have been scrambling around, thinking you had gotten yourself killed inside. But to everyone’s surprise, you emerged unscathed."
He paused for a moment, then continued. "As for the flame, I’d recommend the Black Flame. Many consider it cursed, but it’s by far one of the strongest basic flames in the world."
Raelis thought for a few moments, then shook his head.
"I apologize if I sound greedy, but... could I attempt to absorb one of the special flames?"
The moment his words fell, the throne room turned cold. Kaelith’s previously composed expression cracked, revealing one of disdain.
"I see..." Emperor Kaelith muttered. "So you’re an idiot then. All imperials are taught basic etiquette. They’re even taught the history of the Varekan family. So tell me, why do you think I should make an exception for you?"
Raelis stared at the emperor for a few moments before taking a deep breath.
He knew better than anyone that someone like him wasn’t supposed to even dream of absorbing a special flame.
But despite all that...
"Aren’t you curious what my limit is?" Raelis asked, and before the emperor could respond, he continued. "No one in the Varekan family’s history has progressed like I have. Even those so-called geniuses who improve their bloodlines by honing themselves in special flames take months, if not years, to see the smallest change in their bloodline purity."
Emperor Kaelith sighed. "Raelis. The higher your bloodline purity, the harder it is to progress."
After a moment of silence, he narrowed his eyes. "But I’m sure you know that. So what is it you’re suggesting?"
If I live like I used to with the only exception being some training, then I’ll never achieve my goals... Raelis thought. I need to take a risk. A very big risk with an extremely big pay-off.
"Let me try to withstand the Ancient Flame Remnant," Raelis said confidently.
The emperor’s eyes widened.
He stepped forward, stopping in front of Raelis. "I thought you were an idiot... but this confirms it. Do you even understand what you’re asking?"
Raelis slowly nodded. "It’s the flame left behind by the first emperor. No one goes near it... because it can erode the flames of others. Those with high bloodline purity avoid it the most, since the higher the bloodline purity, the more lethal the heat becomes."
"And yet you’re still willing to attempt it," Kaelith said, puzzled. "I understand that, in your childish thought process, you think the remnant flame will do nothing. But we’ve already tried sending someone with low bloodline purity. It didn’t work."
Seeing that Raelis’s expression didn’t waver, the emperor could only sigh.
"What am I supposed to tell your mother, Sophia?" Emperor Kaelith asked, pacing around Raelis. "When you die here, do you want me to send your ashes in a letter, or a box?"
"..." Raelis looked down, clenching his fists in frustration.
He wasn’t planning on dying. Not again. Especially not while his mother was still alive.
Raelis glanced straight into the emperor’s eyes and nodded.
"I’m willing to attempt it," Raelis stated. "If I survive 10 minutes inside the room where the ancient flame remnant is being kept, then you’ll let me absorb a special flame."
Emperor Kaelith’s brow rose in amusement. "It almost sounds like you’re trying to order me around, Raelis."
Raelis’s eyes widened. "Your Majesty, I—"
"It’s fine." Emperor Kaelith cut him off. "I’ll allow this suicidal whim of yours. But whatever happens, it’s all on you."
Raelis bowed slowly. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Chin up," Kaelith said with a faint smile. He stepped behind the throne, then glanced back at Raelis.