before: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1374871248/ next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1389706635/ Chapter five Sera My forearm burns. My blood drips slowly onto the ground, leaving a boiling trail. The blood light hovering in front of me is dim, powered off the user’s energy—and blood, of course. I walk into the darkness of the cave, looking, searching. My eyes strain with every new step I take. I force my hand into a fist, egging myself to continue. “Time becomes insignificant when you use blood magic. It slows, blending together past and now.” The boy had said while he set the little girl in his lap. “It gives passageway to the emotions and pasts of whoever the blood’s owner is, whether it’s your own memories or others. Blood never forgets because blood just is.” The little girl had pouted, annoyance coated her expression. “You’re talking like Pa again, I don't know why he doesn’t just teach me, you don’t even have hemo… hemokey…” “Hemokiniesis” The boy filled in cooly. “Yeah! That thing!” The girl has finished, crossing her arms. The boy had rolled his eyes, smiling fondly at the girl. “Because Pa is busy, and I had to learn this stuff before my power even came in. Now, can I get back to my lesson?” The girl sighed dramatically, though nodded a yes. “Okay, uhmm…” The boy paused, thinking “Ah, yes. Blood Memories. They are often a flash, something that doesn’t take time. The user’s mind and body knows if time matters, and can tell the magic to make it quick. It’s kind of like how your body knows not to roll off into the water while sleeping on the docks, the brain tells the muscles not to move.” Though it can also happen as a mirage as well, like a doll given life. We can attempt to control magic, and try to choose what happens, yet it can never fully be caged. Just like you.” He had teased softly, a soft smirk on his lips while he tickled the little girl’s side. The girl broke out into giggles. “Corvinus, stop!” He had chuckled softly and his hands fell to his side at his sister’s request and brushed a wild red curl from the girl’s pale face. “I believe that is the end of today’s lessons, my little flame.” The girl had rolled her eyes at the name. “ I’m almost six! I’m too old for nicknames.” “Enjoy them while you can, Seraphine.” And that I should’ve. But now he’s dead. And all I can do is search. The mirage fades as I realize how far I’ve traveled, the wound on my forearm starting to scab over, though still feverishly warm. My eyelids have become heavy. So, so heavy. Despite myself, a yawn escapes my lips, the blood light flickering. The air here is thicker, dustier, muted even. It’s like holding your breath. I look ahead as far as I can without giving myself a headache, I’m almost to the end. I can feel the iciness of the flowstone coated walls, the only thing keeping me from passing out You’ve been starved before, Seraphine, keep moving. I grit my teeth, annoyance coating each shallow breath of mine. There—next to that boulder. Is that- The blood light flickers again, dimming significantly and my legs finally collapse. Not now, not now. I have to squint to see, but right there next to the boulder is a pool of blood, dried, black and crusted with age. My arms drag me along, growing closer to it, though my left arm snags on something, re-opening the almost healed wound, making me bark out a shout. My head buckles before I catch myself, my neck becoming weak, barely able to support the weight of itself. I focus my attention back onto the pool. It’s far, but close enough to make out an image on the large rock, painted by blood. A symbol of sorts… I recognize it instantly. That’s the mark of- I can’t finish my thought as the light pops, showering me with blood, and fatigue finally takes me under. My body falls, torso scraping a sharp stalagmite, leaving me bloodied.
