38 - Blood is Thicker (Patreon)

Rayna surprised Phoenix by arriving earlier than everyone else as the Wayfarer was setting up her new tool kit and going through her [Guide Book] to help display the tattoo options for her friends who had all agreed to play test canvas.

She was planning to test it on herself first by putting a mana regeneration tattoo on her thigh where she knew it wouldn’t normally be seen in case it turned out horrible. She was putting a lot of faith in the knowledge tome helping her mediocre art ability.

Based on the information she had absorbed in her knowledge tome on magical tattoos, even if she messed up so much that the magic didn’t take, it wouldn’t be a complete disaster as it could be covered up later with a functional version. Once the magic took hold, however, it would remain and take up the “slot” on the body.

She could have multiple tattoos but they couldn’t be placed too near to each other or offer the same effects. Plus, they needed to be the same Caste as she was. If it was lower, the power of her own Caste would burn off the attempt, which sounded painful, and if it was too high… Well, that sounded even more painful and limb-explodey.

Another interesting thing she found was that there were larger tattoo templates that took up more “slots” for more powerful effects. However, her basic skills with no abilities to back them up made those as much of an impossible dream as brewing a legendary potion of miracles.

Even if it didn’t look the best, though, as long as the runes were right, she knew it would still be functional for providing mana in a pinch. The Crystal Caste tattoo would slowly gather mana over time which she would then be able to trigger like a mana potion when it was full.

“Are you sure you don’t want to train with an actual tattooist first?” Rayna asked from the seat she had set up earlier as the voxen watched Phoenix carefully prick her skin with the small needle at the end of the device she was holding that reminded her of a quill pen. It was currently infused with the magical ink she had mixed together earlier and was a shimmery blue color that she was hoping would turn out pretty.

“I don’t have time for that. Besides the plans currently being made to take down House Ruwena, there’s still a blood moon going on, remember?” she replied absently as she concentrated on not messing up the intricate pattern of swirling runes, “Paul told me earlier that he would be back with our mission for the assault on some place called ‘the Stronghold’.”

“Are you ready for another mission?” the bard asked curiously, glancing at her with those slitted pupils in amber.

Phoenix spared a glance at those eyes and asked, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Rayna squirmed in her seat a bit awkwardly, either due to the conversation topic or because her two fluffy tails didn’t seem to like that particular chair design she wasn’t sure, “Saiya said she talked to you about what happened to her after our mom and aunt died… While I haven’t been through something like that, I saw what it did to Saiya,” the voxen paused for a moment as though struggling to find the right words, “Um, I just wanted to tell you… Well, I yelled at you before, but I was just worried, ya know?

“I don’t want you thinking I wanted you to kill people. Even though something like that was gonna happen. Like, you were totally right to put him down. I mean…” the Striker gave a frustrated groan and rubbed a paw down her face, “I’m so not good at these kinds of talks. This is more Saiya’s thing.”

The bard gave a heavy sigh and looked back towards Phoenix who had paused her tattoo work to watch her friend curiously, “What I’m trying to say is that I’m glad you’re safe and proud of you for protecting others despite your aversion.

“I might not fully understand the emotions you’re dealing with but I was able to be there for Saiya and I wanted you to know that I’m here for you as well. I like to think I make a good support for my sisters.”

Phoenix’s eyes went wide at the statement as she asked, “Sisters?”

Rayna grinned at her and nodded, “Definitely. After everything we’ve been through, we’re bonded by more than just blood relation but by the blood we’ve had to spill to protect each other.”

The Wayfarer returned the smile and turned back to continue the tattoo while she spoke, “There’s a saying from my old world that’s often misspoken. People will recite ‘blood is thicker than water’ to say that one should always side with family: their blood.

“The actual quote however is ‘the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb’. It was meant to say that the relationships we make are stronger than the ones we’re born into. That the family we choose is the strongest bond we can make,” she explained, then paused for a moment and added, “I didn’t fully understand it until now.”

“So you feel the same?” the Striker asked with a hint of excitement.

Phoenix glanced at the happy voxen before turning back to stabbing her thigh some more, “I think so. I’ve never had siblings before, though. I had fellow patients, and some became friends, but most weren’t there for long or were there long enough to pass away. My best friend, Jin, was only two years older than me. She died when I was fifteen.”

After a pause to double-check the pattern in her [Guide Book], she said, “I only had my mother for most of my life. Now I have Paul and all of you.”

“Does that mean you’re going to accept Lord Wayland’s offer of adoption?” the bard asked curiously.

“I did last night. Or this morning? It was still dark outside. We haven’t filled out the paperwork or anything yet but he seemed really happy that I agreed,” she replied and then began the process of spreading a layer of a powder mixture she had made earlier over the still-wet tattoo.

“Congratulations!” her friend replied, with a clap of excitement, “You’re officially joining the ranks of the nobles! That means I can take you to the really wild places when the blood moon ends.”

Phoenix scrunched her nose as she gave the pugilist a dubious look, “The nobles are the wild ones?”

Rayna gave a mischievous smirk that looked extremely fox-like to the Wayfarer, “They can afford to be. Whenever we’d visit a city where they gathered, they would always throw money around to show off and make crazy things happen.”

The redhead’s curls shook in dismay then she used the feather portion of the device to dust off the powder and the two women looked over Phoenix’s first tattoo. It almost reminded her of the runeforged tattoos with the metallic glint it gave off but it was condensed and tightly swirled around in the localized area.

“Not too bad when I have a pattern to follow,” Phoenix commented as she moved her thigh to watch the light reflect off of it.

“Alright, me next since I’m here,” Rayna said excitedly as she pulled the chair over and started looking through the [Guide Book] like it was a catalog of tattoos, which it obligingly provided.

“Hey, since I have you here and, you know, sisters share things, could I get you to do something I’ve been dying to see for a while now?” she asked while cleaning her tools in preparation for the next one.

The bard raised an eyebrow at her and said with a slight warning, “It better not be my arse. Too many creeps think it’s okay to take a peek just cause they wanna know how tails work.”

“What? No, I mean, I guess now that you mention it I am cur–” she broke off the thought at the flat look the voxen gave her and clarified, “Actually, I’m good. I just wanted to see your full profile. Just touch the book and think of your whole self.”

The Striker nodded in understanding and soon she had the precious information added to her compendium.

Profile: Rayna Dewsong
Species: Voxen (Sandstep)
Current Caste: Crystal 9

Attributes
Strength (Gem): Crystal 9
Agility (Swift): Crystal 9
Fortitude (Dance): Crystal 9
Mind (Song): Crystal 9
Magic (Shatter Bard): Crystal 9

Natural Talents
Fantasia Attunement
Movement Disposition
Crystal Attunement
Nomadic Heart
Tails of Power

Titles
Orphan
Clan Leader
Slayer
Adventurer

Aspects

Song

- Echolocation (Perception Passive)

- Siren’s Cry - Crystal 9 (85%)

- Percussion Strike (Class) - Crystal 10

Dance

- Stepping Tune (Movement Passive)

- Blink Step - Crystal 10

- Sonorous Stomp (Class) - Crystal 9 (82%)

Swift

- Agile (Boon Passive)

- Beyond the Boundary - Crystal 10

- Swift Encore (Class) - Crystal 9 (76%)

Gem

- Gem Encrusted (Utility Passive)

- Arcanist Gem - Crystal 10

- Gem Distortion (Class) - Crystal 9 (69%)

Shatter Bard (Class)

- Reverberate (Aura Passive)

- Battle Symphony - Crystal 10

- Shatter (Class) - Crystal 9 (96%)

The other members of their chosen family began to show up as Phoenix had started work on the tattoo Rayna had picked out. It behaved like a minor sprint ability that would grant a burst of movement speed when activated. The small tattoo looked like a silver wing made out of runes that went on her ankle.

Saiya was the next to show up and picked out a different small tattoo that she put on the back of her neck and would allow her to slightly boost the effects of her next heal cast. This could make her critical life-saving abilities more impactful at the most dire of times.

When Uriel arrived, he picked the same tattoo as her, having a similar issue with burning through mana at a dangerous rate. Luckily for Phoenix, Rayna had taken up the job of filling in the silence so that she could focus on the task literally at hand. She was nervous about making a mistake with her friends despite them all seeming completely unconcerned.

Their leader was the last to arrive and he didn’t look particularly happy as he explained that their party had apparently been put on standby temporarily. He wasn’t able to get many details but it sounded like they were being considered for something particular in the larger expedition that was being planned.

“The expedition sounds like a good opportunity, though,” Rayna pointed out, “Means they're looking at us like a real party now instead of one made from brand new Adventurers or outsiders they don’t fully trust,” the bard said, then glanced over at Phoenix for a lingering moment before adding, “It might also be the fact that a Wayland is in the party now.”

At Dazien’s confused look, the Striker went ahead and explained for Phoenix as the beginner tattooist continued working on Uriel’s right bicep where he wanted to place the tattoo. Only certain tattoos had placement requirements like Rayna’s.

After the Defender had congratulated her as well, Phoenix inquired, “Why would being a Wayland change things? You and Saiya are already nobles and have been Adventurers for a while now.”

“Ya, but our clan is known for music, not amazing Adventurers. Plus, we’re outsiders; they’ll pick cultivating their own people over us. Not to mention that, currently, the Wayland family has the most political power in the city, second only to the Duke.”

“The Rule of Caste,” Uriel stated as if that was explanation enough.

“Yup,” Rayna continued, “Everyone knows Lord Wayland will likely ascend to Ruby during the blood moon. The other Emeralds can sense his power, despite none of them being combat-oriented, and we all saw and felt it during the siren battle. Once he cultivates his Caste again, he’ll be the sole Ruby Caster in the tundra.”

“So because I’m now his heir, I’m suddenly being treated differently?” Phoenix asked, not quite liking the sudden shift that felt undeserved.

“It could also just be the results from our last mission,” Dazien interjected, “We did well. The report the fort commander gave was well received by the AOA. Plus, we’ve been fairly consistent in our results, if not in which types of missions we accept.”

He strolled over to look at the glowing book that was hovering nearby with images and brief descriptions of the tattoos Phoenix could do. The group made a few more speculations but there wasn’t much they could do until the AOA called for them.

They chatted comfortably as Phoenix finished Uriel’s matching tattoo then knocked out Dazien’s as the last one. He had chosen a similar tattoo to her and Uriel but his replenished health instead of mana. When she finished the shimmering red swirl of runes on his bicep, mirroring his best friend, she began cleaning up the mess of tattoo supplies trying to stall for time to gather her courage.

“I, um… I’ve been wanting to talk to all of you about some things,” she said hesitantly during a lull in the conversation. They immediately focused on her, as though they had been waiting all along for her to approach them like this.

She felt even more uncomfortable under their gazes but swallowed her anxiety and said, “It’s about my secrets… I think I’m ready to talk about them,” then she tapped at the center of her chest, “The first is this one.”

The voxen twins looked confused for a moment and Phoenix pulled down the collar of her dress far enough for them to clearly see the Soul Mark emblazoned on her pale skin. Both of them looked shocked at the discovery that she was Favored by six different deities. The scene they had witnessed with the Cultivator finally made more sense. However, neither of them spoke, allowing her to continue.

“Dazien and Uriel saw it before. After I got hurt in a fight,” she explained briefly, “I didn’t tell them why I got it though except that it was tied to a divine quest,” she said, gesturing towards her book, which they had all become accustomed to the odd ability over the last few months of it chasing after her with information and ill timing.

She made the quest reappear for them as she summarized, “The quest has three parts. First, is to find the three lost relics of the Tyrandian Monarchy. Second, is to find its heir. And third, is to overthrow the current regent and place the heir upon the throne. I get a bonus if I manage to avoid causing a civil war.”

The other four members of her party stared in silence as they processed the information and Rayna was the first to ask, “Wait. The gods want you to fix Tyrand?”

She nodded solemnly and then went over the story of her encounter with Hero and Rebel shortly after meeting Paul. Phoenix even pulled back her sleeve to display the rainbow runes tattooed around her wrist binding her in an Oathbond to the two deities which made most of the group, save Rayna, all the more somber. She also added that she hadn’t really brought it up because her only clue from Scholar was to hit Sapphire Caste first.

The Shatter Bard seemed the most excited, “A quest from Hero! That’s amazing, Phoenix! I’m even more stoked to hit Sapphire now! Once the blood moon ends, and we get done with the parties, we’re totally gonna go on this epic quest, right?”

Phoenix was caught up by the Striker’s enthusiasm but said with a bit more reservation, “I would love for you all to join me. I don’t think I can do this on my own.”

She paused as she glanced towards Dazien who seemed unusually quiet as he stared at the book deep in thought, “That is, if our party leader is okay with it.”

He glanced up with his amethyst eyes but, before he could respond, the door to the room opened and Paul ordered the group, “Follow me. We’re gathering at the AOA building. The announcement is happening now and the expedition is about to begin.”

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