Shifting back slightly, he closed his eyes and stared at the system one last time.
His current information read:
[Name: Kent Starshine]
[Race: Demi-Blood Demon]
[Affinities: Starless Night, Blood Bane]
[Soul Class: Divine]
[Soul Grade: Dormant]
[Energies: Soul Radiance, Life Bond, Firmament]
[Abilities: Star Shard, Blood Control]
[Attributes: ...]
He already knew most of the more important things listed in the system: his affinities, physical attributes, and abilities. They were all vital pieces of information he needed even if he already had a basic knowledge of them from the original story, while everything else was quite basic, almost academic, and already known to him.
In the end, he hadn't been able to come up with a conclusion as to why the system had refused to complete the description of his third ability—[Crimson Shard Covenant]—but he at least had a faint idea of how it was supposed to end.
It all tied back to the fact that he was now a Blood Demon and could survive for as long as he consumed blood. It didn't matter what it came from, just as long as it wasn't poisonous. But since he was a Divine Vessel, things were going to be different.
How different it was, he didn't know, but it was going to at least have something to do with his Divine Soul. Souls were basically the advantage that those of the Divine had against those below them, but it could also be their greatest flaw.
And right now—because of that reason—he dreaded his ability—[Shard Body] the most.
He sniffed the air abruptly, a strong and pleasant aroma instantly pulling him from his thoughts. He turned his head and gazed at the entrance, lingering for a moment. Then, he took a tentative step forward, and the sound of knocking on his door resounded only a moment later.
Before he could reach to see who it was, the door slowly creaked open, and through the small space by the side of the door, an adorable cat-like ear suddenly appeared in his view. It turned and moved strangely for a moment, and then the door opened further.
He was a bit perplexed; his eyes narrowed and were slightly filled with surprise as he saw everything happen.
"Kate?"
As soon as he said her name, the door was pushed open and a teenage female Felyrian dressed in a colorful green blouse rushed in. Kate kept tapping her feet repeatedly on the floor as she approached him.
The tapping of her feet slowed as she stopped in front of him.
"So... How's it going?"
Her ears twitched and her tail swung wildly, causing Star to narrow his eyes further and furrow his brow. Already unable to discern the playful girl's body language, and only now further confused, he stepped back slightly.
Then, he thought for a moment and replied.
"Uh... better than most."
He paused for a moment.
"... I think."
Kate looked at him and then turned around in her usual cheerful manner.
"Eh, nothing would make it better than a good dinner."
Then she casually approached the door.
"The food won't wait!"
'Yeah...'
Hesitating for a moment, he took a few tentative steps forward and then followed behind her. He paused for a while as he went past the door and stared back at the room he had just woken up in. After a while, he reached forward with his hand and closed it with a dull click behind him.
Kate waited, tapping her feet on the ground.
As soon as he was ready to continue moving, she gestured down at the corridor below them, its walls worn smooth by time rather than care. Faint torchlight lined the passage, casting long shadows that stretched and shrank as they moved. Here, the air was warmer—thick with spice, smoke, and the strong aroma he had perceived back inside room.
Kate descended the stairs, taking two at a time while Star followed slowly behind her. The steps spiraled downward, uneven beneath his feet, each one slightly different from the last. He couldn't tell whether they had been shaped deliberately or eroded into their current state by centuries of use.
Either way, they felt old.
By the time they reached the bottom, he could already hear the faint sound of voices, a certain sweet and playful one drawing his attention from the rest. He paused and stared at the door for a moment.
Kate simply glanced back at him, shrugged, and continued forward. She pushed the door open and then gestured for him to come inside.
He took a step forward, the full weight of the noise and pleasant aroma suddenly crashing into him. He almost wanted to let out a gasp at the flavorful scent, but instead glanced inside the room.
A long table stretched across the room, already occupied. Plates had been set on the table, and the food had already been served, and there was a quiet conversation going on.
He counted everyone that was currently in the room. There were four of them—excluding him—and Katerina sat at the very end of the table, holding a glass of a very recognizable red liquid. The other two, a man dressed in a hood and a lady elf, sat across from each other on either side of the table, leaving him and Kate by the door.
The young Felyrian casually walked into the room. She stood by the end of the table and pulled out two seats; then she patted the table and looked toward him.
"Don't just stand there. The food's already judging you."
He hesitated briefly and took a few more tentative steps forward.
Kate, seeing his awkward motion, casually walked over and gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Come on... before it gets cold."
They both walked forward in a rather awkward manner, and on getting to the table, Kate swung her tail, gesturing to one of the seats. It was a seat at the other end of the table, opposite Katerina... and, more importantly, the closest to the door.
The room grew subtly silent as soon as he sat down, and everybody else in the room quickly threw glances at him. Well, all except for the hooded man who continued to eat his meal without a care for anything else.
The elf stared at him for a moment, her pale blue eyes radiating in the glow of the orange torch lights illuminating the room. She had silver hair, a slender body, and pale skin.
Her gaze turned somber.
"You look rather famished."
Star gasped quietly, his attention immediately grabbed by her sudden words, but Kate instantly pushed a tray of food toward him.
She looked at him and smiled.
"Here, dig in."
He hesitated for a moment before picking up the utensils. The warmth of the food seeped into his fingers, and the mouthwatering scent filled his nostrils. His stomach grumbled quietly while Kate's ears twitched, her cheeky smile growing wider.
He smiled back at her.
"Thank you."
She tilted her head and took a cut from her own meal.
"Eh, don't mention it."
A pleasant, almost relieved smile appeared on the elf's face as she turned her gaze back to her own meal. For a few moments, only the sound of cutlery and low chewing filled the room.
After they were done eating, the hooded man pushed his chair back and stood up, his gaze turning to Katerina.
Then his voice echoed flat.
"How do we get to the Nameless ruins?"
Katerina swirled her drink and glanced around at everyone before taking the last sip of her drink. Then she dropped the glass and wiped her lips with a red napkin.
Then, she spoke with a mildly sly smile.
"We will leave before dawn, and as for our travel... Well... you need not worry."
The hooded man lingered for a moment and then turned around.
"A few hours, right? Well then, I'm leaving to go get ready."
With that, he slowly walked away, throwing a quick glance at Star before approaching the door. Though the boy had not seen him clearly, he caught a glimpse of the man's gaze, and it seemed empty and dark.
He couldn't tell if he simply didn't have eyes or if they were too dark for him to comprehend.
Immediately after he left, Kate stood up and quickly began picking up the trays and plates they had dined with. After a while, however, she finally spoke.
"Why is that guy always so... gloomy?"
The elf sighed.
"That's a question you should ask him."
Kate turned away and continued what she was doing, but from the look on her face, Star could tell that she wasn't considering the elf lady's suggestion.
And after sitting quietly for a while, he finally decided to ask a question.
"So... What will I be doing during the journey?"
The three ladies instantly turned toward him—Kate in surprise, the elf lady with faint apprehension, while Katerina had a wide, curved smile on her face.
She pushed her seat and elegantly stood up.
"Oh, you? Well you will be the most valuable piece of this entire expedition... I did say you were of great value, did I not?"
Then she walked to him and gestured to the room's exit.
"Come with me."