"GHA!!!!"
Kain vomited into the bucket, his face pale and his pupils still trembling from the immense, vivid pain. That was something he wouldn't soon forget.
Yet... His strongest emotion at that moment was - disappointment.
Tap.
Greyna tossed the leech straight into the trash. The Red Swirl was still on Kain's chest, working at full power.
"Shit... Boy, what did they do to you?" Derek gulped in disbelief. "I was sure Yerez's skills would be enough, but... your sign just turned that leech into mincemeat!"
"That's not the point. The power of the Sacrifice's seal depends on the quality of the blood."
"The quality of the blood...?" Yerez rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
She nodded. "Yes, but I don't know more than that. I prefer not to mess with fanatics and cultists. They're willing to do anything for their deities on the Bridge."
After a few moments, Kain turned to Greyna, piercing her with a glare. "And? That's it? Don't you have any options? Anything! If you can't do it, then tell me who can!"
"Khm... I have both, but I'm afraid you won't like it."
Kain brushed his mouth. "It doesn't matter. When I go to bed, I don't want to think that in the morning I might find myself tied up in a cage for a ritual."
"In that case, wait."
After a long rummage through the depths of her bottomless warehouse, Greyna returned with a black flat box, like one for a necklace.
An unusual black needle appeared in their view, jagged but not like a saw but like a gruesome key.
Greyna placed Kain on the bench, holding the needle tightly. "This curious thing will give you one week. At least I hope so, it all depends on the strength of your blood."
"What do you mean?"
"Unlike a brush or leech, this needle cannot clear a curse/blessing. The purpose of this needle is to contain the curse by temporarily disabling all effects. That is, as long as the needle is active, the Red Swirl will not grow, and it will become impossible to track you."
"Hah, that's what it's all about. And? How does this needle work?" Kain asked.
Greyna smirked insidiously.
"You're about to find out."
With obvious enjoyment, Greyna thrust the needle into Kain's chest, hammering the final nail into the coffin lid with such force that the needle went in, completely piercing his heart as the tip hid under the top layer of skin.
"Ouch..." Derek sighed.
Yerez turned to the side.
A bright flash of light traveled across the Red Swirl, trying to get rid of the needle, but the light achieved nothing.
"Fuck..." Kain, breathing heavily, rolled over. "Why did I come here...? This is some kind of torture chamber."
He glanced at Greyna.
"Haven't you worked as an executioner before?"
"Unfortunately, no, and stop snarking. You better listen to me," she sat down cross-legged. "If you want to get rid of the Red Swirl, you will have to go where the actual experts are - at the Forgotten Tomb. I doubt that you'll find anyone at the Hollow Patch who can erase your Red Swirl if I can't do it."
'The Forgotten Tomb...?' Kain shuddered. 'Isn't that the place Valkyra mentioned?'
Greyna waved her hand. "I won't hide it, that could be dangerous for you since you're a Sacrifice, but at the Forgotten Tomb are not only fanatics from various cults but also blood masters, many Awakened among them."
"You... You're Awakened?" Kain asked.
"Hah, of course, I am. Me and Derek, Yerez is a common man. You're Tainted, I realized that right away. I'm sure you want to know how I defined that, right?"
He just nodded weakly.
"Well, it's simple. Derek and I can see the runes around you because you're Tainted. You're not Awakened, unlike us, yet. When you find the Ascension R,une you'll be in line with us. However, someone like Yerez doesn't see the runes around me or you."
With a thoughtful gaze, Kain looked down. "I think I get it. Derek mentioned runes as well. Does that mean I can see the other Tainted? They're on the same power stage as me, aren't they?"
"What a bright fellow. It's like that. When you spot another Tainted, you'll see white, calm runes clustering around one. It's not that you're both Tainted, it's that you have the same Rank."
"Got it. So you don't see the runes around the higher Rank Awakened?"
"Not exactly. The Awakened see each other's runes always, almost," Derek entered the conversation. "Old Eye, Yerez mentioned him. If he wants, he can hide his aura from us, we can't see his runes since we're weaker. He, on the other hand, can always recognize Awakened and common people if they're weaker than him."
"Hmm..." Kain hummed. "What about Core? Does it have any effect on the runes and the way it recognizes?"
"Nothing specific I can tell you," Greyna shrugged. "The Blighted Shattered and the Blighted Apostle see each other's runes and can't hide their presence since they're of the same Rank. However, the Shattered one will realize that the Apostle is standing in front of him."
Kain's eyes went wide in confusion.
"How?"
"It's a natural process. It feels like the ability to distinguish colors, smells, or temperature. Like recognizing whether the person in front of you is beautiful or not, tall or short, thin or fat. When you become an Awakened, you'll know what I'm talking about."
After a few moments, Kain nodded.
It was simple. Awakened always only saw runes around their equals or weaker ones. The stronger ones could hide their aura at will. The runes did not cluster around mere humans.
"So? What do we do next?"
Tap.
Derek's hand fell on his shoulder.
"Heh, perhaps we couldn't get the Red Swirl off of you, but we can get your body in shape. Go ahead, into the hot springs. Not only will you rest, but you'll get stronger!"
...
At the same time, the figure climbed up the slope, following the call of the amulet. It took Valkyra only a few hours to reach her goal.
The amulet swayed, pointing ahead to a city full of lights hiding among the fang-rocks.
"The Hollow Patch...?" she muttered. "Right, I should have realized it earlier. It's the best place to blend in with the crowd. But, with the amulet, I can find him even there."
Valkyra was about to leap forward when the amulet shuddered. Before she could react, the amulet exploded, one shard leaving a scratch on her cheek.
"This is strange... Kain Linch, are you trying to run away from me? Know this: you won't succeed. I will flip the Hollow Patch upside down, but I will find you!"