CHAPTER 36: THE UNKNOWN BLOODLINE
The Bloodline Realm slowly began to settle.
The golden light surrounding Vee faded.
The mysterious creature remained beside him, its enormous wings folded against its body.
Vee looked at it.
Then he looked at Kai.
Kai stood beside his newly awakened dragon, lightning still crackling around his body.
Vee smiled.
"Looks like we both got something interesting."
Kai glanced at the creature beside Vee.
"Yours is different."
"Yeah."
Vee patted the creature's head.
"I think mine likes me more."
The dragon behind Kai growled.
Vee immediately pointed at it.
"See? Jealous."
Kai's expression darkened.
"Keep talking."
Vee smiled.
"Okay."
Before Kai could respond, Professor Selene's voice came through the communication crystal.
"Everyone, remain calm."
"The Bloodline selection isn't finished yet."
The students returned their attention to the other creatures.
But Professor Selene wasn't looking at them anymore.
Her eyes remained fixed on Vee.
There was something wrong.
She just didn't know what.
Later that day...
The students returned from the Bloodline Realm.
Most of them were excited.
Everyone was talking about their new bloodlines.
Some compared their abilities.
Others were already imagining how strong they would become.
But Serena wasn't celebrating.
She stood alone in one of the Academy corridors.
Her expression was unusually serious.
She had been watching Vee during the entire ceremony.
Something didn't make sense.
She had studied the Bloodline Records for years.
She knew almost every recorded legendary creature.
But that creature...
It wasn't there.
Not even in the oldest records.
Serena immediately turned around.
"I need to speak with the Headmaster."
Inside the Headmaster's office...
Headmaster Aldren looked up from his desk.
"Serena?"
She entered and closed the door behind her.
"Headmaster, something happened during the Bloodline Ceremony."
Aldren's expression became serious.
"What happened?"
"Vee."
The Headmaster stopped.
"What about him?"
Serena took a breath.
"The creature that chose him."
Aldren leaned forward.
"What about it?"
"I don't know what it is."
Silence.
Aldren slowly stood.
"You're telling me you don't recognize a bloodline creature?"
"No."
"Not even a forgotten species?"
"No."
"Ancient beast?"
"No."
"Divine beast?"
Serena shook her head.
"Nothing."
The Headmaster's expression darkened.
"Describe it."
Serena explained everything.
The dragon-like body.
The phoenix feathers.
The wings.
The aura.
And most importantly...
"The other creatures bowed to it."
Aldren's eyes narrowed.
"They bowed?"
"Every single one."
The Headmaster immediately walked toward the Academy's library.
Serena followed.
They entered the restricted section.
Aldren placed several ancient books on the table.
"Search the records."
Serena opened one book.
"Ancient Dragon Bloodlines."
Nothing.
Another.
"Phoenix Bloodlines."
Nothing.
Another.
"Divine Beast Records."
Nothing.
They searched for hours.
Nothing.
Not one record.
Aldren slowly closed the final book.
"This is impossible."
Serena looked at him.
"Could it be a mutation?"
"No."
"A lost species?"
"Perhaps."
"A bloodline that hasn't awakened in thousands of years?"
Aldren stared at the empty page.
"Even then..."
"There would be a record somewhere."
Serena became quiet.
"So what does that mean?"
The Headmaster didn't answer immediately.
He looked toward the window.
"That means we don't know what we're dealing with."
The room became silent.
After a while, Aldren finally spoke.
"Does Vee know?"
Serena shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"Good."
Serena looked surprised.
"Good?"
"We shouldn't frighten him before we understand the situation."
He walked back toward his desk.
"But there's another problem."
"The demon emergency."
Serena's expression changed.
The Academy had been preparing for it quietly.
Something was happening beyond the kingdom.
Demonic activity had increased.
Monsters were becoming more aggressive.
And ancient records suggested that something much worse could eventually emerge.
Aldren folded his arms.
"If that situation becomes what we fear..."
He looked at Serena.
"We'll need powerful people on our side."
Serena understood.
"You think Vee could help?"
"I don't know."
Aldren sighed.
"But I'd rather have him standing beside us..."
"...than against us."
He paused.
Then smiled faintly.
"It's better we put him on our side before the demon emergency begins."
Aldren walked toward the center of the room.
He raised his hand.
A magical circle appeared.
The room suddenly became cold.
Then—
BOOM!
Two figures appeared inside the circle.
The first was a tall man wearing black armor.
A large sword rested across his back.
The second was a woman wearing white robes.
A golden staff rested in her hand.
Both looked toward the Headmaster.
The man spoke first.
"You called."
Aldren nodded.
"I did."
The woman looked around.
"What's the situation?"
Aldren's expression became serious.
"We have a student."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"A student?"
"His name is Vee."
"And?"
Aldren looked toward the window.
"He awakened a bloodline that doesn't exist in our records."
The two guardians exchanged glances.
The woman frowned.
"How powerful?"
"We don't know."
The man smiled.
"Then why are you telling us?"
Aldren looked directly at them.
"Because I want the two of you to train him."
Silence.
The man stared at him.
"You want us to train a student?"
"Yes."
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"And why us?"
Aldren smiled.
"Because if Vee really possesses what we think he does..."
He paused.
"...ordinary training won't be enough."
The two guardians became serious.
Aldren continued.
"I want him to learn how to control his powers before something forces him to use them."
The armored guardian nodded slowly.
"And if he refuses?"
Aldren smiled.
"Then convince him."
The woman sighed.
"This sounds troublesome."
The man laughed.
"It sounds interesting."
Aldren looked between them.
"Then it's settled."
"Starting tomorrow..."
"You two will train Vee."
Far away in his dormitory...
Vee suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo!"
He rubbed his nose.
"...Someone's talking about me."
He shrugged.
Then went back to eating.
Completely unaware that two of the Academy's strongest guardians had just been assigned to him.
And neither of them knew...
Exactly what they were about to train.