Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2690: Blood Storm

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, TSR Guild Headquarters

While the group was busy celebrating, I glared at Yin Widow, blaming her for not informing me right away that they were trying to break the dungeon seal. The Blood Rule Stream Spirit had already warned me that the only way Blood could leave the dungeon seal was by gathering directly outside it, within the innate blood rule rune she shared with Cortney. Things could have turned out so much worse.

’Why the fuck didn’t you tell me they were trying to break the dungeon seal?’ I mentally barked at her, while the rest of them tried to pull me into their celebration of having successfully broken the dungeon seal.

’Was I supposed to?’

That answer immediately made me realize why Redfall had grown into such a fucked up, heinous adult. Apparently, even Bloodkin were prone to stupidity and being shitty, especially if they were stupid and shitty people to begin with. That was why I had to be more careful about whom I choose to make my bloodkin.

’Just go report to Redfall,’ I said in disappointment. I noticed that, despite acting nonchalant, Yin Widow was actually hurt by it. She looked genuinely sad about letting me down. Before leaving, she bowed and promised, ’I will do better, master.’

I didn’t take it to heart. She had an entire lifetime to do better, and she still hadn’t changed. I doubted becoming my Bloodkin would change that either. Ignoring her, I had Hive Spirit make a note not to assign Yin Widow any important tasks and to use her purely for combat. Then I had it update me on everything Yin Widow had observed and done within the dungeon seal.

However, I noticed something was off with Bloodette. Physically, she seemed fine and in peak condition, but her expression said otherwise. Just as I was about to reach out to her, blood tears began rolling down her cheeks. Considering she was blood, I hoped it wasn’t as serious as it looked.

"Bloodette, are you alright?" Cortney asked as I drew closer.

"I should be happy that I finally broke out of the dungeon seal that trapped me for what felt like an eternity," Bloodette said, her voice shaking, "but I don’t know why I can’t help feeling sad inside. I feel like crying out loud, like I suddenly lost something very precious to me..."

She broke down into loud, inconsolable sobs, leaving Cortney and Petra, who tried to comfort her, completely at a loss.

Bloodette’s cries only grew stronger, strong enough to form multiple small cracks in the space around the basement. Blood began to ooze from them, as if the space itself were weeping alongside her.

I sensed it wasn’t limited to the basement either, but spreading outside as well. My suspicions were confirmed when my calamity daughter gems and the grimoire network reported that all five regions were experiencing heavy rain, except it wasn’t water. It was blood. I had a feeling it wasn’t just the five regions either, but the entire card world caught in a blood storm.

Seeing Bloodette like this, DreDre hovered nearby, clearly at a loss over how to comfort her friend. I could sense that her realm was drastically falling from the ruler class. I guess in the core she still hadn’t changed. She was still the cute pixie that cared about others more than herself. Especially her friends.

I was just as helpless. I had no idea what Bloodette was feeling. She said it felt like she’d lost something precious to her. I activated my primordial soul pupils and checked her again and again. Aside from her severed connection to the dungeon seal, she was exactly the same as the last time I’d seen her.

She couldn’t be talking about the dungeon seal itself, could she? It was the only thing she seemed to be missing from, at least as far as I could tell.

All of us could do nothing but watch Bloodette cry uncontrollably, everyone except one greedy little reptile. Lil’ Baem was still eyeing Dredre, especially now that Dredre was distracted by Bloodette’s crying and her realm was slowly dropping.

I reached out and pulled the tiny Dredre into my arms before warning Lil’ Baem’s clueless master, "Corey, watch your pet snake. This is the second time I know of that it’s tried to eat Dredre. If she doesn’t behave, I’ll train her for you."

"Wyatt, don’t be so sensitive," Corey shot back immediately. "Dredre and Lil’ Baem are good friends now. She’s just playing with her, trying to cheer her up since she’s sad and all."

"The drool on her mouth says otherwise," I pointed out. The moment Corey noticed it, she immediately and mercilessly smacked Lil’ Baem on the face, shouting, "Baem, you swore to me that you wouldn’t treat Dredre as food, but as a friend!"

Lil’ Baem hissed back in protest, which only made Corey angrier. "No," she yelled, "sucking on her is not okay. She is not a candy."

Lil’ Baem hissed again, like it was trying to bargain. Corey’s eyes widened in disbelief. She’d clearly reached her limit. "No sucking, no licking, no smelling, and definitely no biting her. Timeout. Go guard the city."

Sensing her mommy’s anger, Lil’ Baem immediately started acting cute. Seeing Corey waver, I said, "Don’t tell me you’re falling for the oldest trick in the book."

"What can I do? She’s so damn cute," Corey replied. "But don’t worry. I made her swear to me that she won’t harm or eat Dredre, or any pixie for that matter. She might still try to lick or suck on her, though."

She said that while still firmly ordering Lil’ Baem to go watch over the city. However, I stopped her, informing her that the Houndragons were already patrolling the city’s skies and that her pet snake might mistake them for snacks as well.