CHAPTER 5_Evelyn's Great Hunt: The Paragon

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 "Symbols are runes without power. They''re called symbols because they show the shape and design of a rune without its power. It becomes a rune when it holds power within it."

 <cite>- Evelyn Myers </cite></blockquote>

 My fingers never cramped, and I didn''t get tired. When I felt I''d done enough, I stood up and set the laptop to the side. I began searching for a book in my room. There were papers, but no books to use.

 "Wait. There''s a marketplace, right?" Thinking of it brought up a box in my view.

 [Marketplace]

 [Skills]

 [Spells]

 [Weapons]

 [Materials]

 [Gears]

 [Blueprints/Recipes]

 [Miscellaneous]

 

 I tapped on "Miscellaneous" when I didn''t see a description for what I wanted. In "Miscellaneous," a whole list of nonsense appeared. Luckily, there was a search button at the top-right corner. Tapping it, a black space for words appeared. Thinking of the words showed me what I wanted, and I tapped "Search."

 [Blank Books and Tomes]

 1. Leather-bound Tome

 2. Cloth-wrapped Journal

 3. Hardcover Book with Metal Clasps

 4. Marbled Cover Ledger

 5. Embossed Hardcover Grimoire

 6. Vellum-bound Logbook

 7. Worn Traveler''s Diary

 8. Ancient Script Tome with Blank Pages

 9. Gilded Page Manuscript Book

 10. Dusty Leather-bound Archive

 Blank Grimoires

 1. Ornate Grimoire with Silver Trim

 2. Dragonhide-bound Spellbook

 3. Midnight Black Grimoire with Embossed Symbols

 4. Mystic Gem-embedded Cover Grimoire

 5. Oak and Brass-bound Ritual Book

 6. Ember-stained Pyromancer''s Grimoire

 7. Frosty Leather-bound Cryomancer''s Tome

 8. Illusionist''s Prism-bound Spellbook

 9. Bound Book of Runes

 10. Elderwood Cover Ritual Grimoire

 Blank Scrolls

 1. Aged Parchment Scroll

 2. Magician''s Seal-bound Scroll

 3. Heavy Linen Scroll with Brass Caps

 4. Delicate Silk Scroll

 5. Runic Bamboo Scroll

 6. Scroll with Gold Leaf Edging

 7. Bone-tube Case Scroll

 8. Scroll with Ink-splotched Fibers

 9. Ancient Papyrus Scroll

 10. Wanderer''s Travel Scroll

 Blank Parchments and Loose Sheets

 1. Unblemished White Parchment

 2. Charcoal-stained Parchment

 3. Gold-tinted Papyrus Sheets

 4. Thick Hide Parchment Sheets

 5. Pressed Flower Parchment

 6. Salt-and-Ash Treated Parchment

 7. Ink-resistant Leaf Sheets

 8. Thin-cut Birch Bark Parchment

 9. Herb-scented Parchment

 10. Powder-blue Alchemist''s Parchment

 The word "Dragon" caught my eye. Focusing on it expanded the details.

 [Dragonhide-bound Spellbook - An imposing tome wrapped in the thick, textured scales of a dragon, adding a mystical aura and robust durability to the book. The cover is deep, smoky black with hints of iridescent sheen, reflecting subtle colors under the light. Embedded along the spine are enchanted iron clasps that secure the pages within, each fastened with Draconic runes that enhance its resistance to elements like fire, ice, and magical corrosion.

 

 

 Inside, the pages are made of fine vellum, smooth and slightly warm to the touch, each one ready to capture the essence of powerful spells, incantations, and mystical diagrams. The book, when written in, offers the Wisdom of the Dragons, allowing its user to remember any spell needed at the appropriate time while also boosting the spell''s power with Magical Force from the tome itself.] - [Cost: 2 Small Gold]Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

 I winced at the price. That was almost $2,000. The tome looked good, though, so yes. The added Magical Force and memory were good bonuses.

 "Buy, please."

 The words shrunk back, and a prompt asking for confirmation appeared. Accepting, I watched as light flashed in front of me. A book appeared midair, and I caught it before it hit the ground.

 The book was thick, with a belt strap that locked it, four iron edges, and beautiful scales. Unstrapping it, I opened it and admired the ancient-looking pages. I set it on my table and went back to the marketplace.

 This time, I went to "Materials" and used the search icon again for writing materials.

 [Silver Inkbrush – Delicate brush with silver bristles, excellent for detailed work] - [Cost: 10 Coppers]

 Paying, I caught the inkbrush when it appeared. For the next thing, I went back to "Miscellaneous" and found something that caught my attention.

 [Bound Book of Runes - An enigmatic volume bound in rich, dark oak wood with brass corner protectors engraved with nature symbols of warding. The cover is adorned with intricate runes carved into the wood, inlaid with silver and copper that glimmer faintly. Along the spine, additional protective runes are etched deeply, serving both as decoration and a shield against unwanted magical influences.

 

 

 Inside, the thick parchment pages are slightly rough, made to handle the weight of runic inscriptions without wear. Each page has faintly embossed grids, guiding the writer to place each rune with precision. The book usually takes on the aura of the magic school written in it and, when better runes are made, replaces the original book wards with them. The Bound Book of Runes connects to its writer with a mental link, offering memory of each rune written within its pages and their intent.] - [Cost: 1 Silver]

 

 

 [CURRENCY - C: 90, B: 9, S: 98.49, G: 0.2, P: 0 +]

 The Bound Book of Runes appeared. "Alright. Ignoring that breakdown of my coins, let''s get this started."

 I arranged my laptop on the table, left the Spellbook aside, and set the Bound Book of Runes on the table.

 Heading to the kitchen, I found a plastic can in my trash bin. Growing an incised claw, I ripped through the can. Hmm.

 Disposing of the unneeded top side, I went back to my room with the base. Stopping at my baby''s room, I opened the door and peeked in. I didn''t see when she passed out. She was asleep, so I tucked her in and covered her with the blanket. Making sure her windows were open just slightly, I left her room.

 I set the can base to the right of my table. I slit my left palm open with my claw and watched my blood drip in. I could have used the blood I got before, but my blood was tagged as special.

 I slit the palm again when it healed and again. I didn''t stop until I had blood in the can to the base. I felt my life force diminish. Luckily, the life force stayed in my blood.

 I went back to the kitchen and took out my blood bottle. It''s one thing biting a guy; it''s another thing drinking it like it''s water now. I inhaled sharply.

 "It''s my life now. I''m stronger, faster, and can do magic. I''m gonna keep my baby safe in this madness coming." I opened the bottle and tipped it over into my mouth. The blood was cold but still sweet. I didn''t exactly like it.

 It was like drinking cold tea or coffee.

 The lifeblood was still in it, which was what mattered. I set the blood back and headed upstairs. Time to work.

 Taking the brush, I used my left hand to scroll up on my laptop to the top. I dipped the brush into my blood and tapped a bit to avoid excess. "Hmm. The brush absorbs the liquid."

 I brought it to the book, and before I wrote, I shrugged and decided to start with an appreciation.

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 From Evelyn Myers - The First Vampire. This took a lot of work. I hope it helps. For my Baby Kayla.

 On the second page, I paused.

 I won''t let the world burn. Not when my precious child still stands on it. If I have to drag everyone to good times, then I will.

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 Evelyn Myers, The First True Vampire

 I turned that page and looked at the third one. I remembered Vampire Genesis and had a thought.

 To all the vampires who read this. I hope you learn well.

 Evelyn Myers

 I turned the next page and then another. Here, I redipped my brush and looked up to the laptop. I wrote. I bore my intent and will, the meaning for the rune, as I wrote. Taking my brush up, I stared at the rune. It was a dark red, with a pulse of silver flowing through it. My intent and will flowed back into my mind. I shuddered, then smiled.

 I leaned forward and kept writing.

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 [5:00 AM]

 I stood up and stretched. A human thought. I didn''t feel any stress. I shook my head and looked at all my work. I''d written pages of runes and even added more to the original ones on the laptop.

 While working, I had the brilliant idea for a first spell, one that I wanted to try now before anything else.

 What if my book got lost? Or I needed it in a jiffy? Taking the Dragonhide Spellbook, I skipped six pages before stopping. I marked the rune for one at the left top edge of the page. I moved my brush to the center.

 "Calm down, Evelyn. Be careful." Any work I imprinted on the page would be stored and empowered.

 I drew the first symbol like I had done in the rune book. It was memorized already, even without the book''s memory aid. A disc, then another thick circular band around the first disc. On the first disc, I drew the blood rune for Bind. The first rule of Blood Magic, one made on its own by the virtue of my existence, was simple:

 Any rune that needed to use Blood Magic must be written in blood. The second was that the rune must be one I''d given intent to serve as the Blood Symbol.

 So, when I wrote the first symbol and imbued my intent into it, it shimmered with silver light. On the circular band, I created three bridges, splitting the band into three spaces. In the first space, I drew the rune for Lifeforce. In the second, I drew a rune for Call. In the third, I drew the rune for Summon.

 I created another thick band of blood. This one I didn''t divide. Instead, I created a twisting vine of blood around the band. This signified the last band in a spellform and the kind of band it was. For this spellform, it was a locking band. I drew the rune for Seal on the band and stopped to watch the spellform shimmer.

 Below, I wrote the next part of the spellform. This was a permanent spell that couldn''t be broken unless you drained all the blood in your body. It was giving me ideas for curses and what to do with people who I needed to punish but not kill.

 The incantation was an activation matrix, a way for the spellform to understand you knew what you were doing. This was something I did due to the permanence of this spellform.

 [By the blood of my essence, I bind this item to me,

 Through my lifeforce, let its power flow free.

 When I call upon it, let it come to my hand,

 When I summon thee, by blood shall it rise.

 Guard this spellbook, my lifeforce allow only, as I command shall it be, till the blood in my veins run no more, and the spark of life shine no more.]

 The incantation held the secret to the final rule of the spellform. While my blood was the ink used to write it, Blood Magic saw it as a catalyst, a link, not the activation. Meaning to activate it, I needed to drop my blood on the bind symbol and then speak the incantation.

 

 

 

 

 [Blood Magic - Spellform: Blood Binding (Legendary)]

 [Use the Sigil of Interconnectedness to bind an item to your blood permanently and summon it to your hand when needed. Locks your spellbook unless your lifeforce is detected.]

 [Cost: 10 Lifeforce for Binding, 1 Lifeforce for Call, 10 for Summon, 5 Lifeforce/day for Seal]

 [Cast Type: Incantation, Intent, Runic]

 [Reward: 1 Platinum]

 

 

 Spellform Details:

 Effect 1: Bind an item to your blood, creating a permanent connection.

 

 

 Effect 2: Summon the bound item through your blood when casting the spellform, and to your hand with intent.

 

 

 Effect 3: Lock your spellbook, allowing access only when your lifeforce is detected.

 There was a flashing light again to the side. Another message came up when I focused.

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 [Greetings, Entity 000001, Evelyn Myers. We congratulate you on the creation of a powerful spellform. Through the aeons, no magic has been able to bind anything to one’s lifeforce—only to one’s magical force. Your creation is a very powerful thing, as while magical force is a good way to bind items, it can be overloaded and the item unbound. With this spellform, the Collective will begin changing many bindings to utilize it for security. Currency notifications will be disabled to avoid distractions. Note that an additional reward of voiding all taxes on the sale of this spell has been given. Warning: Your spell has caught the eyes of some individuals. Rest assured, until the five-year buffer for allowing newly integrated worlds peace expires, no higher lifeform can disturb you. This does not mean other means won’t be taken to reach you. It is advised you make haste to grow in power to avoid falling under the whims of the powerful.]

 I blinked away the notifications as a bit of worry filled me. I wasn''t stupid enough to ignore what anyone who wanted me would use to get to me. Kayla.

 For a split second, I had the thought of changing my baby. There’s nothing bad about being a vampire.

 Would there be any negatives to changing my daughter?

 The light was back.

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 [Greetings Entity 00001, Evelyn Myers. While there are no visible negatives to changing your daughter, the Collective will pause any physical changes. This will ensure that she grows at a standard pace. Immortality will set in on her 16th birthday, and aging will stop on her 18th birthday. This is the age deemed appropriate for newborns and children to be initiated into the system, both now and in the future. If you wish to change your daughter, special packages will be granted to her to boost her survival, giving you peace of mind to focus on your task.]

 I liked how they added why they were doing this. It was as they explained before—my daughter was the reason they knew I would push to succeed. Keeping her safe and alive was in the Collective''s best interest if they wanted me to work for mankind''s safety. Well, my continent''s safety.

 Was it playing favorites? Maybe. Did I care? No. If it was for Kayla, I didn''t mind.

 "I can''t just change her though. I need to know what she thinks about all this."

MillionNovel

CHAPTER 5