Saka sat up from the ground, his breathing unsteady. Sweat dripped down his face as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
His gaze shifted to Alex, who was lying motionless on the floor. It didn't take long for Saka to realize that Alex had truly passed out.
The soft, steady breaths coming from his nostrils reassured him that Alex was alive, but that was the least of Saka's concerns at the moment.
Even now, shivers coursed through Saka's skin. The lingering sensation from earlier unsettled him, but he eventually mustered the strength to stand on his feet. He steadied himself and turned his attention back to Alex.
'This boy… who is he? Saka thought, his brows furrowed.
'Do the faction leaders know about his capabilities?'
He replayed the events in his mind, recalling the moment Alex's eyes had glowed red. The power he had felt wasn't just overwhelming; it had carried an undeniable sense of influence, as if Alex had tried to force his will upon him.
"That glowing red in his eyes… it must have been some kind of power. An influence ability," Saka mused.
'I guess it didn't work on me, but still...'
The more Saka thought about it, the more uncertain he became.
'If the leaders know about his power, then it's not my place to punish him for what he did. In fact... maybe he has a special connection with them,' Saka concluded, his thoughts clouded with doubt.
The thought lingered in Saka's mind, refusing to fade. He could still recall the strange sensation he had felt just moments ago.
It was as if Alex had attempted to use some sort of influence magic on him—but it didn't work. At least, that's what Saka believed.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Saka turned his attention to the remaining people alive in the room.
"Luckily for you, I don't enjoy shedding blood, especially that of normal humans," Saka said, his voice steady yet commanding. "However, I must ensure that what happened here today never gets out."
His sharp gaze swept over the terrified group as he continued. "I will erase your memories of everything that happened. Come forward peacefully, and I promise no harm will come to you. Resist, and I will send you to join your fallen comrades who now lie lifeless on the ground."
The weight of his words struck fear into the survivors.
Immediately, one of them stepped forward, trembling uncontrollably.
"Please... please," the man stammered. "Make me forget. Make me forget everything that happened today!"
He dropped to his knees, pleading desperately.
Saka said nothing. Without a word, he reached out and placed his hand firmly on the man's head.
Saka was a mage—a powerful one within the Dragon Roar Faction. Though many mages existed in the faction, there was something that set Saka apart from the others.
To become a mage, one must have an affinity with one of the basic elements: water, fire, earth, or air. While there are rarer elements that some possess, these four are the most common.
Saka was a mage with an affinity for water. However, having an affinity alone wasn't enough to become a mage.
Once a mage discovers their elemental affinity, they must choose a specialty within that element—a specific focus or "job." Some call it a profession, while others simply refer to it as their path.
Under the water element, for example, there are various specialties: healing, combat, and others. Saka had chosen to master the healing job.
As a water healer, Saka used the water within a person's body to accelerate the natural healing process. This ability allowed him to close wounds, mend broken tissues, and even purge diseases. By manipulating the water in a precise and controlled way, he could target infections, flush toxins, and restore balance to a person's body.
However, the same principles that allowed a water mage to heal could also be used to harm. A skilled water mage could disrupt the water inside a body, causing internal chaos. But Saka had always focused on healing and rarely used his powers to hurt others.
Saka had mastered something unique when it came to using the water within a human's body. By manipulating this water, he could send commands directly to their brain. This skill allowed him to influence people in extraordinary ways—making them tell the truth, forget specific events, or even follow his orders without resistance. It was a rare ability, even among mages.
At this moment, Saka focused on the man standing before him. Using the water in the man's body, he began to channel his instructions. His voice was calm but firm as he spoke, syncing each word with the commands he was embedding into the man's mind.
"You will forget what happened today," Saka said, his tone unwavering. "You will forget the reason why you were here, and you will stop going after Doctor Anna Wyndham..."
Saka suddenly paused. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Why had he said that name? The thought lingered for a moment, but he shook it off and continued. He couldn't afford distractions now.
He resumed giving the man further instructions, ensuring the commands were clear and precise. Once he was finished, Saka added a final directive: "You will sleep for a few hours after this."
The man's body began to relax as Saka's influence took hold. His eyes fluttered shut, and within moments, he slumped to the floor, fast asleep.
Saka turned his attention to the remaining people in the room. Each of them lay scattered across the bloodstained floor, their faces pale with fear. None dared to resist.
One by one, Saka approached them. He repeated the same process for each person, speaking his commands aloud while using the water in their bodies to ensure compliance. His voice remained steady as he erased their memories, wiped away their motivations, and compelled them to forget everything about the incident.
When he was done, they all lay unconscious on the ground. The room was silent now, except for the faint sounds of shallow breathing from those he had influenced.
Saka stood still for a moment, scanning the room with a critical eye. The air felt heavy, and the stench of blood lingered, but at least his work was done.
Meanwhile, a deep frown was etched on Saka's face.
"Why do I keep telling them to stop going after the boy's mother?" Saka muttered to himself, confusion clouding his thoughts.
The question lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. He couldn't understand why the name "Doctor Anna Wyndham" kept slipping into his commands. It was as if something beyond his control was influencing him.
As Saka delved deeper into his thoughts, a series of notifications appeared on his interface. Messages from several members of the faction flooded his screen. He quickly scanned through them, his expression growing more serious with each passing second.
Taking a deep breath, Saka activated the communication interface and began issuing instructions.
"Alright, everyone," he said, his voice firm. "I'm giving you a direct order. If possible, use the wands for this task. Make sure every memory of what happened here is erased. No one—and I mean no one—should remember the scream or anything that followed it. Make sure all individuals leaving this hospital do so without these events in their minds."
He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully.
"Also... erase any memory of the staff here calling Doctor Anna a witch doctor," Saka added, his tone sharp and deliberate.
Once he finished giving his instructions, Saka sent the message and closed the interface.
Turning his attention back to Alex, who still lay unconscious on the ground, Saka's frown deepened. The boy's peaceful expression only added to Saka's unease.
"Just what have you done to me?" Saka wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper.
He stood there for a moment longer, staring at Alex as a mix of frustration and uncertainty filled his mind.
---
Meanwhile, back in Anna's office, she remained unaware of the chaos her earlier scream had caused throughout the hospital. She was still recovering from the shock of nearly losing a close friend.
Due to the pain inflicted on Doctor Guity by Saka, Guity had passed out and was now unconscious. At the moment, he was resting on Saka's shoulder as Saka stood silently in the doorway. Along with Guity, the two other injured bodies were also slumped against Saka, being carried effortlessly on his shoulders.
Anna, who had been hugging Sera for comfort, suddenly broke away. She turned toward the door, her concern shifting sharply.
"Alex… my son… where is he?" Anna asked, her voice trembling as she began moving toward Saka in a near rush.
Before Saka could respond, another voice came from the hallway.
"He is here," the voice said.
Anna froze as a second Saka stepped into the room, this one carrying an unconscious Alex in his arms. Despite Alex's current state and the inexplicable sight of two identical people standing before her, Anna didn't pause to question anything.
Without hesitation, she ran straight to the Saka holding Alex. Her eyes widened at the sight of her son's limp form, but she didn't hesitate.
At first, Saka thought Anna might struggle to carry someone as heavy as Alex. To his surprise, she scooped Alex up with ease, cradling him as if he weighed nothing, and quickly backed away.
Meanwhile, Sera, who had been silently watching, stepped forward. Her expression was sharp, her gaze fixed on the two identical men.
"Who are you?" she asked firmly. Then, after a moment, she clarified, "Or more accurately… what are you?"
Anna, who had been carefully checking Alex's condition, paused. She turned her head toward Saka, her eyes narrowing as she waited for his response.
"That's something I can't tell you," Saka said firmly, his gaze steady. "But it's in your best interest to keep whatever happened here today to yourself. Doctor Guity never attacked, and I will ensure something like this doesn't happen again."
With that, both versions of Saka turned to leave.
"Wait!" Anna called out, her voice urgent.
The Saka carrying the unconscious bodies continued walking without pausing, disappearing from the room. However, the one who had brought Alex stopped and turned back to face her.
"Why... why did you save me and my son?" Anna asked, her voice trembling with a mix of gratitude and suspicion.
Saka looked down at the unconscious Alex in Anna's arms, his expression unreadable. Then his eyes shifted back to Anna.
"All I can say is that someone doesn't want to see you hurt," he replied.
Before Anna could press further or ask another question, Saka vanished, leaving the room in an instant.
Anna stood there, staring at the spot where he had been just moments before. Slowly, she turned to look at Sera, who wore an expression of equal confusion and disbelief.
"There's no way that scum still cares, is there?" Anna muttered, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Sera didn't respond, her silence echoing the same doubts that filled Anna's mind.
Meanwhile, Alex, still unconscious and cradled in Anna's arms, remained in a deep slumber.
In his mind, he found himself once again in the dark, empty space—a realm he had visited before. This time, however, there were no visions or memories playing before him. Instead, a system message appeared, glowing faintly in the darkness:
[System Update]
[0.000001% of Bloodline has been unlocked.]