Bloodmarked: The Beast Within

The creaking of the wooden carriage echoed in Zion's ears as his eyes slowly fluttered open. 

His body ached all over, a dull throbbing pain radiating from his chest. 

The smell of dried herbs and fresh vegetables filled the carriage.

As his vision cleared, he noticed a figure sitting across from him. 

A girl with short auburn hair and bright green eyes gazed at him with concern. And she appeared like she was eight years old.

"He's awake," the girl said.

She leaned forward with a relieved smile. "Father, he's awake!"

"Ah, so you're finally back with us, lad," the coachman's voice was deep but kind.

He looked at Zion while holding the reins or strap leather. 

He appeared like a burly man with a thick beard. 

The kid reached for water in a leather flask and handed it to Zion. 

"Here, drink this. You've been out for three days."

Zion's throat was parched, and he drank greedily. 

The cool water soothed him as he tried to sit up, wincing from the sharp pain in his chest.

"Don't push yourself too hard," the girl said, placing a hand on his arm. "You were in pretty bad shape when we found you."

"What's your name?" the coachman asked loudly.

"Zion," he answered in a hoarse voice. "Where am I?"

"On the road to Nepil City," the man replied. "I'm Oscar. That is my daughter, Maya. We're merchants delivering fresh vegetables to the city."

"We found you lying near the roadside in the forest, half-dead and muttering about blood and bears. Lucky we spotted you before a wild animal found you."

"The… the bear…"

Zion's eyes widened as flashes of the fight returned. 

The bear's roars. 

His fingers twitched as he recalled the feeling of blood surging unnaturally through his veins.

'I… I killed it,' he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"You were muttering something about blood when we found you," Maya said, tilting her head. "Did you really fight off a bear in that condition?"

Zion nodded weakly. 

"It… it wasn't normal. The baby… he talked. He—" 

He stopped himself, realizing how insane it sounded.

Oscar raised an eyebrow but didn't press him. 

"Whatever happened, you're lucky to be alive. We patched up your wounds the best we could, but you'll need to see a proper healer in Nepil City."

"But I don't have any money for healing."

"That is fine. That is not too much." 

"By the way what will you do after healing?"

"I got separated from my companions. We were traveling to the capital of Elaris to become Elite Knights," Zion explained. "I need to follow them."

The man rubbed his chin. 

"But the capital is still far from here. You'll have to pass through three cities to get there. Did you awaken your affinity with the Affinity Sphere?"

"Still not."

"Find out your maximum affinity here. If it reaches 60% up, you'll pass their requirement and can join the Elite Knights. The Nepil City office will help you get there," Oscar explained.

"What if it's below?" Zion asked.

"Then you can't become an Elite Knight," Oscar replied firmly.

But Zion was confident he would make it since Tata had chosen them, and he believed they all had more than 60% maximum affinity.

Maya handed him a small piece of bread. 

"Eat this. You'll need your strength."

Zion accepted it with a grateful nod, chewing slowly. 

"Thank you. I owe you both."

"No debt between kind souls," Oscar said with a grin.

"Just make sure you don't go picking fights with bears again, aye?"

They all shared a small laugh, and Zion felt a flicker of warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the bread.

---

Arriving at Nepil City

The towering gates of Nepil City came into view. 

The city's tall stone walls stretched endlessly, manned by vigilant guards clad in armor. 

Merchants, travelers, and adventurers crowded the entrance, forming a long line of people waiting to be inspected.

"We're here," Maya said with a grin, gazing at the city with wonder. 

"Nepil City… so many people!"

Zion's eyes darted from face to face, taking in the vast crowd. 

It was nothing like his village.

Stone-paved streets stretched beyond the gates, filled with colorful banners and the shouts of merchants advertising their wares.

"We're here," the father announced as they stopped in front of a building.

Zion got down with Oscar and entered the healer's house. 

Inside, other patients were lying on beds, some with severe wounds, others missing limbs.

"Most of the people here are adventurers. The healers can only close wounds so they heal faster, but they can't restore the body to its original state," Oscar explained.

His expression darkened. 

"Ever since that incident with the foreign kingdom, no healer has been able to fully heal injuries."

"What do you mean?"

Oscar's face shifted into a grin. 

"No, no, it was nothing."

When the healer arrived, carefully removed Zion's bandages and began the healing process. 

The wounds on his chest and legs were closed, leaving big scars.

However, Zion's forefinger and middle finger were now partially missing.

He clenched his hands tightly, refusing to give up hope.

After stepping outside, Zion bowed deeply to Oscar and Miya.

Afterward, Oscar handed Zion a small pouch of coins and a set of old, but clean, clothes.

"Take these," Oscar said, pressing the pouch into Zion's hands. "Consider it a parting gift. The road's rough for a lone traveler."

"Thank you… truly," Zion's voice was heavy with gratitude. 

"One day, I'll repay you both."

"No need," Maya said, smiling brightly. 

"Just stay alive."

"You can visit us in Virna Village before you leave Nepil City," Oscar called out.

With that, they waved goodbye, and Zion's heart felt both heavy and light as he watched them leave.

---

Zion's first stop was the Adventurer's Guild. 

The place was filled with adventurers wearing various outfits and armor suited to their respective job classes. 

A swordsman, mage, tanker, and more.

As he approached the receptionist, he noticed a long line of young people waiting.

"Man, there are so many kids here today," he muttered.

"This is the last day of recruitment for the Elite Knights," an adventurer nearby replied. "That's why they're testing their maximum affinity to see if they qualify."

"Why don't you apply? You're qualified to be an Elite Knight," the adventurer suggested.

"Nah, freedom is the best!" he responded casually.

This was the conversation Zion overheard while standing in line.

When his turn finally came...

"You're here for an Awakening or applying to be an adventurer, boy?" asked the guild receptionist, a woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue.

"For Awakening."

Zion filled out his personal details and went to the next step which was the Awakening process.

He followed the receptionist to a room or chamber where the Affinity Sphere was located.

"Step up and place your hand on the Affinity Sphere."

Zion's heart pounded as he placed his hand on the cold, smooth surface of the sphere. 

Light swirled within it, colors blending into a stormy hue. 

Slowly, the colors darkened into brown and filled one-fourth of the Sphere.

"You Awaken your Earth Magic," the receptionist announced. "Thirty percent."

Zion's heart sank. 

'Only thirty percent?' 

He needed at least sixty to qualify as an Elite Knight.

"Thirty…" Zion's voice trembled as he pulled his hand away. 

He stepped back, eyes distant. 

'That's not enough. I'll never… I'll never be with Myr as Elite Knight.'

"Go back to the desk again and wait for your I.D."

When the receptionist saw his expression, deep in thought and looking sad, she said,

"Hey boy, you can't be an Elite Knight, but you can still be an Adventurer."

But after receiving his ID, he walked aimlessly, his mind filled with thoughts of how he would reunite with Myr.

---

As night fell... the Affinity Sphere sat quietly in its chamber, locked away in the guild's storage room.

Without warning, the sphere's dark glow intensified. 

The black aura swirled violently and crimson streaks surged inside the Sphere. 

The entire sphere turned blood-red, vibrated violently then—

Crack! 

A jagged fracture snaked across its surface.