Chapter 11 Affinity

"You feel like your body is boiling, right?" Jane's father asked her.

"Yes, I am." As Jane shifts her attention to her body, she noticed that she was sweating buckets and shaking like crazy. At first, she thought this was because she was so worked up about her brother being gone.

Don't get her wrong, she is very worked up about her brother. But this was different. It was like her body was reacting to something.

"I and your mother are currently actively strengthening the seals in your body, for you to hear our explanation."

Her father walked up to her. Flipping his palm a colorless crystal ball appeared in his hand. "Give me your hand, Jane." Adramalech said softly. Jane gave her hand, for her dad to grasp.

He swiped his nail past her fingertip, a little cut opened. He held her hand above the crystal. A single drop of blood fell onto the sphere. The blood got absorbed. For a moment nothing happened. But then the ball started to shine brightly in a multitude of colors.

The brightest color is crackling black lightning. The brightest after that is a gaseous dark red, a red sphere, and a golden fog. There are also three little flames dancing inside the crystal ball. A normal orange color, a golden one, and a very dark red one. There are three more colors, but they aren't shining as bright as the other ones.

Jane couldn't take her eyes off the colors. They are so pretty. They swirled around each other never mixing and it felt like they respected the others. It was magical.

"Affinity. Lightning rank, unable to determine, but at least higher than what is possible. Demonic rank 9. Blood rank 9. Holy rank 9. Fire rank 9. Variant fire rank 9. Variant fire rank 8. Void rank 7. Death rank 6. Illusion rank 3." Her dad stated, looking at the sphere of swirling colors.

Jane blinked her eyes at her father's words. "What does that mean? Is rank 9 high?" Her dad smiled. "Rank 9 is the highest an affinity can be." "But what about the unable to determine one?" Jane asked. "That one will need a little bit more of an explanation. But before that, I want you to drop your blood on this crystal too." Adralamech flipped his other palm. A square colorless crystal appeared in his hand.

Inside this cube, a face and genderless puppet stood.

This time Jane actively put her hand forth, for her dad to again make a little cut. The drop of blood falls on the crystal cube.

This time, instead of a colorful display of lights. Dull objects formed. Some are bigger than others. The puppet inside the cube also reacted. A dull grey light started to shine from its full body.

The biggest object are two axes, that could cut both sides, crossing each other. A big sword was the second biggest object. After that came a spear and as last a bow.

The dull grey light is mostly concentrated from the waist up. The light of the legs is comparably dimmer than that of the upper body.

"Martial affinity. Fist rank 9. Kick rank 6. Weapon affinity. Dual double-bladed axe rank 9. Greatsword rank 8. Spear rank 6. Bow rank 5."

"Do you see now, how talented you are? The universe is vast and this world has currently just joined, not even an hour ago. This world right now is the lowest of the lowest, its potential though, is even higher than our homeworlds. For a foreign individual of your talent to properly nurture, this world needs to strain itself a bit for you. Even though you are blessed by this world's spirit." Jane's father says.

"We already knew your talents, we did such a test the moment you two could handle it. You have to know that your brother is slightly more talented than you." Uriel says while approaching Jane.

Jane felt a little relieved, hearing these words. She wasn't feeling jealous in any way. Just relieved. If her brother is even more talented than her. He has a higher chance to survive and come back.

Jane hugged her mother. "What do I have to do to go and search for Ben?" Uriel sighed. "We can't stop you, can we?" Jane shakes her head. If her parents think they can stop her from looking for her twin brother, they are sorely mistaken.

"In this world order, the thing one needs above anything else is strength. Having connections to powerful existences is great and all, but what use is that when you are dead? An act of meaningless revenge?" Adramalech says seriously. What does an ant's death mean to a higher existence? Nothing, what use are you to them if you are dead.

"Then, how do I become stronger?" Jane asked expectantly. Jane's dad laughs. "Hasty much? You just found out you are not human and that the universe is more vast than you ever thought possible."

Jane pouts. "No, the only thing I care about right now is going to search for Ben."

Uriel sighs again. Looking at her daughter caring so much about her brother warms her heart, but at the same time, it worries her. What if this becomes an obsession.

"For you to grow stronger, you need to know more about this new world order. But first things first. We'll need to take out the seals inside your body." Uriel touches Jane's chest and retracts her hand, taking with her golden rotating arrays.

"You are strong, Jane. In a moment you will experience searing pain. But I know you will push through." Adramalech softly says to Jane. Adramalech knows Jane won't falter in the face of pain. He has put her through even more torturous training before.

Jane's eyes flash with determination. Her demeanor suddenly changed. She felt that same feeling from before. When Ullr talked to her. That feeling of freedom. A big smile surfaced on her face. 'This is it. The feeling.' Jane thought. Her parents back off to give her some room. The heat in her body flares up. Taking over her whole body.

"Ack!" Jane grabs her stomach and falls to her knees.