The words had barely left his mouth when Zeke felt a sudden impact against his chest as Snow buried herself in his embrace. He gently stroked her silvery white hair, holding her small body close. Zeke looked down in wonder—Snow had never been this affectionate before. It made him realize just how hard the last few days must have been for her.
"it's gonna be fine," he murmured soothingly.
He felt her nod before she slowly pulled away. Her eyes were rimmed with red and slightly puffy—she had clearly been crying.
"How is he?" he asked, glancing at the shrouded bed in the corner. He could vaguely make out the outline of a man beneath the fabric, and a pervasive cold emanated from it, making him shiver.
"Not well," a deep voice answered. Zeke looked to the second occupant of the room, Elder Fang, the man who had pronounced him as good as dead only a few days ago. "His state remains unchanged since his return."
Zeke nodded, looking down at the girl who had remained standing in front of him. "Can you help him?" she asked, hope in her eyes.
Zeke's expression turned complicated. He had no problem telling the guards, Polaris, and even Frost that his chances weren't great. But somehow, telling Snow the same thing now seemed infinitely more difficult. There was a trust in her eyes that he didn't want to betray. However reality seldom conformed to ones's wishes.
"I don't know, little one," he said honestly. "I will need to get a closer look first."
Snow nodded, stepping out of his way, and Zeke slowly approached the bed. However, before he could even take a few steps, his path was blocked. Zeke shot Elder Fang a confused look. What was it now?
"I'll be watching you closely, human. Lady Snow might trust you, but that doesn't apply to me. If I feel you doing anything, I'll kill you right away."
Zeke frowned, knowing he'd have to take a dangerous risk. His entire plan hinged on invading Winter's body with his Blood Magic. He paused, meeting Elder Fang's gaze. "That won't work, Elder. I either go all in or there's no point in trying at all."
Elder Fang snorted. "I knew this was going to be a waste of time."
"Zeke…" Snow said from behind him, her eyes already turning watery.
With a deep sigh, Zeke turned to Frost, who had remained silent up until this point. "Can you hold the Elder back?" he asked straightforwardly.
Frost hesitated, sizing up the older man. "I can," he said eventually.
Elder Fang whipped around, facing Frost with a shocked expression. "You would betray the tribe for this human?"
Frost shook his head calmly. "You have been locked in here for too long, Fang. Whilst you've been playing nurse in here, the tribe is on the brink of collapse. I fear that without father, there will not be a tribe for much longer."
Elder Fang's face distorted momentarily before resignation washed over his features. "Is it really that bad?"
Frost nodded firmly. "The only reason we've held on this long is that the Frostscale chief is hesitant to enter the mountain. He's likely afraid of Father, but that won't protect us forever. We need him back if we're going to survive this."
"And you think the human is our best chance?" Elder Fang asked.
"Best? I'm not sure. But do you see anyone else here? As I see it, he's our only chance."
Elder Fang's gaze returned to Zeke, a flurry of complicated emotions crossing his face. However, all strength seemed to drain from him after a few moment, and opened the path. "Do what you must, human."
Zeke nodded, his focus already on the bed. He pulled away the curtains and was immediately assaulted by a chill so frigid it seemed to ignore his clothing and invade his very core. Through his own foggy breath, Zeke finally saw the figure lying in bed.
The man before him was nothing like Zeke had expected. He looked young, only a few years older than Frost—young enough that they could easily be mistaken for siblings. But it was clear to anyone who saw him that he wasn't ordinary. Just gazing at him made Zeke's heart race, as if something in his blood recognized the danger in the man's presence.
Elder Fang took a few steps back, nearly leaving the room. Zeke turned, his gaze questioning, but the Elder stayed silent, watching his chief with reverent eyes. It was Frost who answered. "Blood Suppression."
Zeke furrowed his brows. Blood Suppression? Why had he never heard of this term before? Yet, before he could ask, Akasha had the answer ready for him.
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<p style="text-align: center"> [Answer] </p>
<p style="text-align: center">Blood Suppression is a phenomenon usually seen in monsters. It describes the instinctual fear one feels towards a member of a higher species. In extreme cases, it can even lead to complete deference and obedience.</p>
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Zeke looked between the three spectators. Elder Fang seemed barely able to stand, while Snow and Frost were relatively less affected. "Why is it not affecting Snow? She is by far the weakest here."
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<p style="text-align: center">Snow, being a direct descendant of the Progenitor, is of the same lineage and has a higher purity. She is closer to the origin of Blood Suppression, whereas the Elder is several generations removed.</p>
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Zeke nodded slowly, getting a grip on this new concept. "Are humans not affected by it?"
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<p style="text-align: center">Generally speaking, the further removed the species, the less severe the Blood Suppression, however, in cases of a massive difference in strength, even humans will display the same syntoms.</p>
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Zeke clenched his fists, taking stock of his situation. "I don't feel very deferential or obedient. The only thing I can sense is that my Mana seems to be a bit sluggish."
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<p style="text-align: center">The heart in our chest belongs to a superior lineage, and their blood flows through our veins. If Host were more evenly matched in strength, it would be the Progenitor facing suppression instead.</p>
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Zeke smirked. So, the heart was finally proving useful. He reached into his shirt and touched the pendant Maximilian had made for him to suppress his Draconic presence. The artifact had served him well, but it was more of a hindrance at the moment. With determination blazing in his eyes, he pulled it off.
The moment the pendant left his chest, it was as if a dam had burst. Years of suppressed aura flooded out all at once. Zeke took a deep breath, the cold air stinging his lungs, but a wide smile spread across his face. It felt as though a great burden had been lifted, one he hadn't even realized he was carrying. It was like finally breathing after emerging from beneath a heavy, suffocating blanket.
He couldn't even feel the faintest hint of suppression any more.
Two muffled thumps echoed, and Zeke turned to see Snow and Frost collapsed on the floor. They struggled to stay conscious, their eyes barely open as they stared at him in shock. Their faces were a mix of disbelief and helplessness as they watched him standing over their father's unconscious body.
Zeke blinked slowly, an embarrassed look on his face. With everything he had just learned, he should have expected such a result. He smiled awkwardly but didn't quite know what to do. He had no control over his suppressive aura. Feeling helpless, he turned back to their father.
Now that he had overcome the suppression, he could use his powers freely. He immediately scanned the man before him. Space was a miraculous force, and his sphere of awareness easily penetrated Winter's formidable presence, giving him a clear understanding of the situation.
A frown spread across his face. By all appearances, Winter was a corpse—no blood flow, no heartbeat, no breath. The only sign of life was the slight fluctuation in the Progenitor's brain activity.
His heart sank. The situation was worse than he had anticipated. Winter was on his last leg.
Zeke raised his hand to use his Blood Magic but then lowered it. There was something else he could try first. With a flick of his mind and a burst of Mana, he established a mental connection with the being in front of him. His proficiency with [Telepathy] made it almost as effortless as speaking aloud.
A moment later, he felt the connection snap into place and gingerly addressed the Progenitor. "Can you hear me?"
At first, there was no reply, but then he heard a low growl. The noise was so feral that all the hairs on his body stood on end. His heart was racing a mile a minute, and it took him a few deep breaths to get himself back under control.
"I am here to help."
After a pause, a deep voice answered, "Why?" The voice was sluggish, as if the owner had just awakened from a deep sleep.
Zeke paused, a bit of hope returning to him. The man was alive, after all. He thought about his answer for a bit. This wasn't someone he could brush off with a few empty platitudes. "Your children asked for my help."
The deep voice chuckled. "Frost, maybe, but Polaris likely can't wait for me to bite the dust. Far too ambitious, that one."
Zeke bit his lip. "I wasn't talking about her."
For the first time, genuine emotions could be heard from the voice. It only said a single word, but it was filled with so much hope and desperation that it almost stole Zeke's breath away. "Snow?"
"She is here," Zeke said. "I brought her from the human continent."
There was a long pause, and Zeke was almost beginning to think that the Progenitor had returned to his slumber. "I will not forget this favor, Dragon. When I recover, you'll have the pick of all my riches."
Zeke smiled though there was no joy in it. "Can you?"
The Progenitor remained silent for a long time. "I don't know," he ultimately said.
Zeke felt helpless as well. It was good to confirm the man's sanity, but seeing the extent of the problem made the situation seem even more hopeless. The poison had spread throughout his entire body, and it was only a matter of time before it eroded his last defenses.
The Frostscale chief was likely waiting for this exact thing to happen. The poison seemed to possess a certain sentience, and Zeke suspected its creator would know when it had completed its work. It became clear why the enemy was so hesitant to attack the tribe—he could probably sense that Winter was still alive.
Zeke hesitated to talk about this but decided the situation couldn't get much worse. Perhaps learning about his tribe's plight would inspire the man to keep fighting. "The situation is dire," he said. "Your mountain is being sieged as we speak, and it's only a matter of time until the defenses collapse."
Winter took the news better than expected. "I suspected as much," he said, a slight growl to his voice. "Can I ask you for another favor, Dragon?"
Zeke furrowed his brows. "That depends on the favor, but I'll hear you out, at least."
Winter didn't hesitate. "When the worst happens, can you bring my daughter away from here?"
"Just her?" Zeke asked, a bit confused by the favoritism. Despite his flaws, Frost was a filial son who cared deeply for the tribe. It didn't seem fair to exclude him.
The Progenitor chuckled. "Frost would never leave, even if I ordered him to, so what's the point? As for Polaris, she'll be fine either way. That girl likely already has an exit strategy prepared for herself. But little Snow is different. Too pure that one."
Zeke paused. Even in his current state, Winter had a good grasp of the situation, and Zeke couldn't help but agree with his words. The prediction regarding his children was most likely wholly accurate. With a sigh, he decided on his answer.
"I swear it," he sent. "As long as I draw breath, I will do everything in my power to protect Snow. But I do have one request in return."
"Anything," Winter replied without a moment of hesitation.
Zeke took a deep breath. "I need you to keep fighting with everything you have. I'm not ready to give up on the tribe just yet."
Winter chuckled. "Cheeky brat. That's not much of a favor, is it? I would have done that even without you asking."
Zeke found himself smiling. "Likewise."
The two fell into a companionable silence for a time before Winter finally broached another topic. "Will you help me?"
Zeke sighed. "The poison inside your body would eat me alive if I tried to extract it. Besides, I don't think I have the strength to even pierce your skin."
Winter chuckled. "I am pretty strong, aren't I?"
Zeke smiled. "I've met stronger beings, but you barely make the top five."
Winter's chuckle grew more profound, but when he fell silent, his presence turned severe. "There is nothing you can do?"
"Not quite," Zeke said after a moment of thought. "There are two things that might be able to help. I think that with another breakthrough and the right preparation, I might stand a chance."
Winter hummed noncommittally. It was clear that he didn't place much hope in that possibility. "What's the other thing?"
Zeke hesitated. He wasn't sure if it would help or hinder the man's recovery, but he knew he'd regret it if he didn't offer. "I could let you speak to your daughter if that is what you wish…"