Reith shook his head, dispersing the image. He couldn't do that to Isho.
"Yeah, I gotta admit. I am jealous, Isho," Reith chuckled, rising to his feet. "However, I'd be dead if you didn't step in, so I'm glad. A dead man feels no emotions."
He smiled, turning to Bandar.
Isho smiled. "I'm jealous of you too, so it's only fair. Right now, we have to get you out of here. You know how it is. Those with cultivation have a higher say. If you die here, no one would make a sound."
There was no mistaking the emotion in Isho's eyes.
The air grew stiff, a result of the silent and judging stares.
It was a battle of defiance. By saving Reith, Isho had drawn the battle line between himself and the city, and he didn't care.
"Yeah," Reith agreed. "So how do I leave?"
He was watching Bandar; this pile of muscles wasn't planning to give them a chance.
The golden bird on Isho's shoulder made a sound, attracting their attention.
Seeing the look on Isho's face, Reith frowned. "What's wrong?"
Isho clicked his tongue. "With my F-grade talent, I can't do anything. I'm like a dead person with a PhoneI 61. I could protect you with my path's sentience, but she said she's sleepy."
It was instead a helpless situation.
"It's a she?" Reith raised his brow, looking at the bird.
The ground rumbled before Isho could speak to him about priorities, and the air erupted with a screeching sound.
Bandar was moving the chain like a whip, increasing its speed.
"I'll cover, and you run for it," Isho focused on the attack, and with that, the dome dispersed.
Reith took off his necklace. It was a gift from his sister right before she disappeared.
"She said only for emergencies. It's time to find out what she meant," he muttered, crushing the stone within.
A bright blue light shone, blinding his eyes, and a strange sensation caressed his nerves.
"So it was her magic," Reith smiled right before he vanished.
Instantly, he was right in his room at the church.
Reith looked at the old book in his bag.
"That's some great magic, Riesa. Thank you."
He never expected less from her.
Soon enough, he sat cross-legged on the bed, the book in front of him.
The color of the cover was brown and slowly fading. There was a strange circular symbol on its back, and no matter how hard he tried, Reith couldn't open the book.
He frowned. "Nothing. Nothing's working. Father, what did you give to me?" he said, glaring at the book.
Reith narrowed his eyes. "Does this thing need more Hana?" he muttered to himself.
Due to his triple SSS talent, Hana was never a problem for Reith, but he knew it was a blessing and would never take it for granted.
A soft white light flowed from Reith's hand and into the book. "Well, it's now or never."
If this book wanted to suck every last drop, he would give it all.
A thud echoed in the room as Reith dropped to his knees. All Hana had left him, and the book was plain as ever.
Reith sighed. "This is pointless! How do I protect them if I can't open a simple book?"
He tossed the book in anger.
At that moment, a voice echoed in his ears.
'Blood. In blood lies the true life. Through blood, life and redemption are given. With blood begins the new covenant. Blood is the price.'
Without thinking, Reith grabbed a pin from his table and stabbed his finger, holding it over the book.
A drop of blood fell on the book, and the room shook.
"Amazing," Reith gasped as a bright light shot from the book's center, passing through the ceiling and shooting into the sky.
Pure energy, raw and intense, filled the room, and Reith had never felt such thicker Hana.
The phenomenon disappeared as soon as it came.
"What just happened?" Reith's eyes turned to the book, and on its cover were some words.
"Cultivation of the Heavenly Path," Reith said with a smile, relishing each word.
It was like the path was explicitly created for him.
He opened his laptop and decided to browse the path, but it was blank.
"It's a brand new path? I've never heard of it before."
Reith felt frustrated. This meant he would have to figure it out by himself.
It could mean trouble for him. A new path was hard to come by; if anyone knew of its abilities, they could take off his head for it.
Energy flowed through Reith like a rush, and his smile widened.
"I'm now a mage."
He fist-pumped into the air until he remembered something.
Holding the book carefully, Reith opened it, and on the first page were actual words.
He wanted to turn to the next, but he couldn't.
"I only have access to the first."
His eyes ran through the words.
"The true path to cultivation begins with a single step."
The air twisted as soon as the words left his lips, distorting into a heavy force.
Reith felt his body expand as pure Hana flowed into his veins.
"A breakthrough?" he thought aloud, willing the energy to flow to his heart—the organ of cultivation.
A golden glow surrounded the room before the energy erupted with a roar.
Reith opened his eyes, and a sentence appeared on the book's page.
"Core Realm, Initiate Stage."
Reith couldn't believe his eyes.
He had broken into his first mage rank. Although he had a long way to go, he couldn't stop the joy in his heart.
The Core Realm was the first for all mages; at this point, a mage could create their future.
"I'd show you my new strength, Isho."
He chuckled, but before he could do anything else, the building shook, causing him to stumble forward, the book slipping from his hand.
Another loud boom filled the air, and the smell of smoke caught his attention.
The marching sounds and loud yells filled his ears, making him uneasy.
Outside the church stood a large crowd. Reith's mom and his grandfather were tied up to a pillar. His mother was unconscious, and blood flowed from her head.
Reith gritted his teeth.
These people had finally shown their true colors. A few men stood outside the church, torches of fire in their hands while they raged loudly.
"Bring out the trash! This church still stands because we thought you could amount to something."
"There's no need for the church if it can only produce useless scum! Come out, boy, and face your punishment for wasting our resources."
Their angry voices filled the air as Reith made his appearance.
He gritted his teeth, his eyes focused on his family.
"How dare they? And you want me to forgive these people, Father? Look at my mom," he muttered, clenching his fists.
Someone stepped out of the crowd with a broad smile on his face, causing the expression on Reith's face to shift from shock to anger.
"Bandar! You are going too far."
Bandar chuckled from where he stood. "Trust me, Reith. I was dragged here. They wanted me to teach you a lesson, but now that I think about it, maybe I will."
Before Reith could make a move, a heavy chain lunged at him, slamming into his chest in a split second.
Blood escaped his lips as his vision swam. His eyes teared up at the intense pain that filled his body.
For a minute, Reith couldn't feel his body. His eyes moved to his mother.
"Is this how I die, Father? Unable to protect them?" he thought out loud, blood spilling from his lips.
Bandar moved closer.
"The great genius is at my feet, and this time, no one is here to save you."
He grinned, his chain moving above his head.
"Don't worry, Reith. I wouldn't kill you. You'd be my new punching bag, and you'd beg for a death that would never come."
His laughter became louder, and he moved again.
Reith felt the rush of air as the chain sliced toward him. The fire in his heart dimmed, but everything changed with the sound of a voice.
"Reith, let me help you."