Chapter 42: The Enigma of the Bloodline

The sky drew its curtain, and the moon ascended to hang high above the nocturnal expanse.

Bathed in moonlight, Qi Lin wore an expression of profound contentment, as though she had returned to the tender embrace of her mother.

“Ailin, I can’t help but feel that Qi Lin appears… quite comfortable, wouldn’t you say?”

Nia, her head tilted slightly and the ears atop her head twitching with curiosity, addressed Ailin beside her.

Ailin, who had been leaning against the iron bars, opened his closed eyes upon hearing Nia’s query, casting a sidelong glance at Qi Lin, who seemed to radiate light under the moon’s glow. “It must be an ability bestowed by her racial bloodline, though I’m not entirely certain. Still, it bears repeating: we don’t even know what race she belongs to.”

Upon hearing Ailin’s words, Nia gave a thoughtful nod of her small head.

Indeed, the topic of Qi Lin’s true race was one they had never once heard her discuss.

Initially, observing her slightly pointed ears, they had conjectured she might be a hybrid of elves and humans. However, that theory was unequivocally dispelled the night she erupted in a frenzy, drawing blood from both Ailin and herself.

Yet, the most Qi Lin had ever divulged about her lineage was the congenital bloodlust that afflicted her. They remained ignorant of such a race, and even their elders had never spoken of it.

While it was conceivable that their elders had spoken of it and they had simply forgotten, Ailin, too, was oblivious to the identity of this race cursed with an innate bloodlust. This strongly suggested that their elders had, in fact, never spoken of it—perhaps they themselves had never even encountered mention of such a race.

Observing Nia’s descent into increasingly profound contemplation, Ailin rubbed his forehead with a sigh.

“Nia, perhaps you should simply ask her directly? It would certainly be preferable to you spiraling into these convoluted thoughts.”

“Pardon? What was that you said?”

Nia, still lost in thought, first froze upon hearing Ailin’s words before slowly regaining her composure, though a look of utter bewilderment now clouded her features. Clearly, his earlier statement had failed to register.

Ailin rolled his eyes, resigned to repeating himself. “Wouldn’t it be simpler to just ask her what race she is?”

“Oh? Ask her directly? Might that not be… a little impolite?” Nia blinked her large eyes, considering.

Ailin slapped his forehead, a hint of exasperation crossing his face.

“What could possibly be wrong with that?”

“Well… how to explain it? In essence, consider this: Qi Lin’s race is afflicted with a congenital illness, and she rarely speaks to us about her people. Don’t you think this might be deliberate? Perhaps she’s trying to conceal something?”

Ailin remained silent, observing Nia’s increasingly incoherent rambling.

“‘…I’ll ask on your behalf,’ he offered.

With a sigh, Ailin concluded, then proceeded directly to Qi Lin, who was still basking in the moon’s radiant glow.

Noticing Ailin approach Qi Lin, Nia swiftly fell into step behind him.

“Qi Lin?”

Ailin halted, gently calling out Qi Lin’s name, her eyes still closed in repose.

A sound reached her ears, prompting Qi Lin to open her eyes, her gaze falling with a puzzled expression upon Ailin beside her and Nia, who was peeking curiously from behind him.

“What’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, Ailin sternly suppressed the investigative curiosity that had long stirred within him. His gaze grew solemn as he fixed his eyes on Qi Lin, then inquired, “Do you have any kin? And Qi Lin, what… what race are you, truly?”

“Ah?”

The moment the question left his lips, Qi Lin froze, her mind, however, racing at an astonishing pace.

‘How am I to answer this question? Should I speak the unvarnished truth? But what if the Bloodline are an infamous race in this world? What then?’

“Qi Lin? What’s wrong?”

Observing Qi Lin’s silence and descent into thought, Nia prompted her.

“Oh? Oh, no, I’m quite alright.” Snapping back to reality, Qi Lin pursed her lips and offered a small nod.

“Have you heard of the Bloodline?”

Casting a wary glance at Ketia, who rode ahead, Qi Lin leaned in conspiratorially, almost like a thief, to whisper into Nia and Ailin’s ears.

In truth, she had been reluctant to speak, but witnessing the undeniable gleam of curiosity in Nia and Ailin’s eyes, she cautiously began to answer.

‘She had considered it: if she truly wished to uncover any trace of the Bloodline in this world, she would have to speak openly. To keep silent would yield no information whatsoever.’

‘Furthermore, for reasons unknown, she harbored a suspicion that she might be the sole Bloodline existing in this world.’

‘This, of course, was merely a conjecture formed after observing their reactions to her mentions of a bloodlust disease and similar ailments.’

“Bloodline…”

As Nia murmured, her head bowed in thought, Qi Lin’s slender hands, already slick with perspiration, clenched tightly.

“Bloodline… I haven’t heard of such a thing.” Nia looked up, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Ailin, have the elders ever spoken of them?”

“‘…The elders have never mentioned it,’ Ailin replied, emerging from the depths of his memories, his chin still thoughtfully pinched. ‘The term ‘Bloodline’ is entirely new to me. And yet, how remarkably fitting a name it is for a race afflicted with such a congenital bloodlust.'”

Observing the genuinely puzzled and unfeigned expressions on Ailin and Nia’s faces, Qi Lin blinked in surprise.

“These two words, ‘Bloodline’—are you truly hearing them for the very first time?”

“Indeed! So, you—no, your Bloodline, then—have you always dwelled in seclusion, hidden in the shadows?” Nia asked, her voice brimming with eager excitement.

‘After all, to live in seclusion, concealed within the shadows, silently observing the development of other races, all to prevent the harm that their bloodlust might inflict upon the continent’s inhabitants—this explanation was simply too logical! Nia found herself unexpectedly moved by the thought.’

‘…Good heavens, I didn’t expect there to be no Bloodline in this world?’

A wave of astonishment washed over Qi Lin.

“This… I’m truly not sure how best to answer you.” Qi Lin scratched her cheek, feeling a distinct awkwardness regarding whether the Bloodline truly remained hidden in the shadows. She found herself at a loss for how to address Nia’s inquiry.

“What are you mumbling about over there?”

Ketia, riding ahead, heard the murmurs from behind. She pulled on the reins, bringing her horse to a halt, and spoke with a deep voice.

“Nothing.”

Ailin, his arms crossed over his chest, responded to Ketia on behalf of the group.

“Hmph, I hope so.”

Ketia cast a dismissive glance at Ailin, then gave the reins a sharp tug.

The white horse, which had only just ceased its forward momentum, once again unfurled its wings.

This time, however, its flight was not forward, but downward.

As it transpired, during their conversation, the trio had already reached the Imperial Capital of the Candilac Empire.

Nia ceased her inquiries about the Bloodline, her attention now drawn to the immense capital city that loomed like a mountain amidst the wind-whipped, snow-laden ground. Her brow furrowed with palpable worry as she gazed upon it.

Ailin, too, fell into a profound silence.

From within her cage, Qi Lin observed the heavily armed knights, the throngs of citizens moving in and out, and a colossal castle that appeared immense even from their aerial vantage point. A deep anxiety began to stir within her.

Qi Lin remained uncertain of what awaited her once they entered, for she, and not Nia or Ailin, was the one specifically named for apprehension.

‘May it not be anything ill-omened!’ Qi Lin mused silently to herself.

“Colonel Ketia, you’ve returned.”

The Captain of the Knights, steadfastly guarding his post on the city wall, witnessed a white horse drawing a prisoner carriage descend. He hastened forward, and upon recognizing the rider, immediately rendered a respectful salute.

“Indeed, I’ve returned. Open the city gates; I must report back to His Majesty.” Ketia dismounted, taking her horse’s reins, and instructed.

“Colonel! Please wait a moment.”

With that pronouncement, the Captain of the Knights swiftly made his way to the city gates and unbarred them.

“Colonel Ketia, come in!”

Ketia nodded in acknowledgement, then led her horse towards the now-open city gate.

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