VLADIMIR: The Last Blood Mage

The Second Chance

"I am sorry about that, " I apologized.

"don't think much of it."

After some time, I knew I had to do something. The awkward silence was becoming unbearable " So you haven't told me about the different academies."

"Yes, that's true, but my food would get cold, after eating I will tell you about it, alright? " Chelsea picked up the cooked Phoenix flesh to put in her mouth after she had finished talking.

"All alright then". I used the fork to stab the dead Phoenix, it smelled nice but not as nice as human blood. I began having difficulties in cutting the Phoenix up, and I became frustrated. The knives the bistro provided were not sharp.

"Hahaha, Vladimir what are you doing?". I looked up to catch sight of Chelsea laughing hysterically.

"What? The flesh is tough". I said playfully. Chelsea snapped her fingers, and a waitperson came running towards us.

"Milady, what can I help you with?". the wait person bowed.

"Could you take this meal and cut it up nicely?". Chelsea pointed at my plate of Phoenix flesh.

"Of course,". The waitperson took the plate placed it on the trolley and walked into the chamber's private kitchen.

The waitperson came out of the kitchen and stood in her position. Immediately another waitperson walked into the kitchen and came out pushing the trolley carrying my meal. He got to our table and opened the platter, and the Phoenix flesh was neatly cut.

He placed the platter on the table, bowed and walked away.

"That was fast".

"Hahaha, you could say that. erm...Vladimir eat your meal quickly there are a lot of places we haven't seen".

At this time Chelsea was done with her meal and was now looking at me. "What? "

"Nothing much, anyone ever told you that you are handsome?"

" Not as much as you". I answered before digging into my meal.

"What do you mean? you have insulted me I am a woman how can I be handsome?". I could not make if she was serious or joking.

" PFT-". I almost choked. "I didn't mean it that way, I mean you are beautiful, I thought you would get it".

What she said next I had not expected it at all. "So, you are saying I am dumb? "

At this time, I almost had a convulsion.' what was this girl thinking I had to make it right '.

" I never meant it that way, am sorry".

I had to refrain from saying any more words to save my arse. " Hahaha, I got you, did I not?"

"You really don't know how to play", I said with a smile.

Soon I was done with the meal, and Chelsea paid a total of 180,000. Outside the pavilion, I felt weird in my stomach as my body tried to digest animal blood.

"Chelsea, I have a question".

"Ask".

"I ate a raw Phoenix, how come you paid full price?". I just had to ask.

"Well, it's not the Phoenix meat that costs that much, you are at the Grand Fish Pavilion that's why it costs that much. Come on walk faster I have something to tell you".

" that's a weird theory". I hastened my steps to catch up to Chelsea's side.

"So, about the tests". Chelsea chipped in.

"Yes, I am all ears".

" the Academy of the Western Continent was ranked first during time immemorial. you would have simply got 1 point in all your qualities to get admitted. you would be taught magic based on the type of mana your body collects, there are four main types of mana the body takes and it divides the mages into the aeromancers that control the wind. The terramancers control earth elements, like metal and other earth elements. Next are the hydromancers that control water and the rare ones are the ergomancers that control light. Their opposite is even rarer the umbramancers they use dark essence for their magic. there has been only one umbramancer, Lomu the king of darkness, he had reportedly died of mana exhaustion while trying to protect his only brother the progenitor of the sanguimancers, formally known as the blood clan they use blood essence to make magic. they were vicious, that's a story for another day. Are you still following what I am saying? ". Chelsea asked as we still walked down the road.

"Of course, of course, I get it, I mean what you are saying. Please go on".

"All alright,". Chelsea continued. "All these elemental magic and other magic aspects are taught in all the academies. next is the Northern Continent's academy it is ranked fourth and you would have to get at least 1.5 points, overall to get admitted. After that we have the southern continent's academy which is ranked 3rd, you would have to get at least 2 points overall to get admitted. Next is the Eastern Academy which is ranked 2nd and you would have to get at least 2.5 points overall to get admitted into the school. Then lastly we have the Central Continent's academy is ranked first you would have to get 3.5 points overall to get admitted as well. "

The rest of the day was well spent. I and Chelsea, mostly it was Chelsea who had the time of her life, I was just a bodyguard, to say the least.

At this point, the day was over, and it was getting late, and they had to head home but there were no carriages for rent even for the city lord's daughter Chelsea, now they were stranded.

"Erm, Chelsea what are we going to do now?". I asked.

Chelsea looked around for a bit before answering me". I know a bush part that leads to the mansion from here".

"Where?". I asked.

"Over there". Chelsea pointed to a dark and gloomy forest part that you would normally see in a horror movie.

The trees were high and tall, they seemed to be looking down on us. there were few branches on the trees, mostly at the top, increasing their gloomy nature.

"Let's go. Don't be such a wuss, it's scary but it is not risky we would be home in no time, let's go".

Chelsea tugged at me to join her in entering the forest path that supposedly led to her house.

We entered the forest path, and it was just quiet, even too quiet I could hear Chelsea's breathing as though she was breathing down my neck when she was walking ahead of me.

We had walked for some time. I was about to ask her if she was sure of where she was going when we heard it.

*ROOOAAARRRR*

The sound of a roar, "I thought you said this forest path was safe!".

I shouted to Chelsea as we let our legs take control. We ran as fast as our legs would let us.

We had been running for some time, and the forest was getting even darker. The worst thing happened; Chelsea tripped.

"Chelsea can you still run?". I came closer to where Chelsea lay on the ground.

" Vladimir, I have my bone sticking out of my Legg!". Chelsea's bone was sticking out of her leg, and she was losing blood. Not so surprisingly, I had the urge to lick the blood coming out of her injuries.

But I snapped out of it.

" Vladimir, go straight ahead the manor should be at least a mile away". But how could I just leave her here, her father would end my life if I left her there.

" I can't, let's go. I would carry you home". I tried to lift Chelsea off the ground.

At this point, the roaring beast dashed out of the bushes and stopped 4 meters in front of us ready to pounce on us.

The beast had black eyes with red pupils, and black fur and looked like a Panther. Its claws had a shine to it. The beast's froth was red, lava red and when it dropped onto the ground it made sizzling sounds.

"Vladimir what are we going to do? It's coming closer". I had to do something about this.

"I am coming". I left Chelsea there and walked towards the beast as it ran towards me.

"Vladimir!!, no!!!".

I ignored Chelsea's screams as I marched towards the running beast. My fingers grew to turn into claws, my fangs grew as well.

Then we collided I slid under the beast as it jumped over me. It was a quick fight, and my claws were deep into the beast as it died in my hands.

I walked towards Chelsea, before I got to where Chelsea lay I felt a sticky liquid run down my face and I felt a slowly growing pain in my chest.

My sight blurred as I became light-headed, and my steps became unsteady as I fell to the ground hearing only Chelsea shout my name.

" Vladimir!!!".

Everything became dark... I had died.

I was not sure how long had passed but when I had my eyes open all I saw was darkness.

Deep black darkness.

I could not even see my own hands in this darkness. " Chelsea! Chelsea!! Chelsea!!!".

I called out to Chelsea, but I was answered with erie silence. 

I began to panic a bit. ' How long will I be here? ' I asked myself.

" Don't be too boisterous". A gruff voice echoed throughout the place I was as two red eyes lit open.

" Who- who are you?". I asked the eyes.

" Hmmm, you are not Kozak, who are you? Your blood smells like his.". The 'talking' eyes ignored the question I had asked it.

But I was too scared to feel offended.

"What happened to me?". I asked.

"Well, I am the god of death and you just died."

"What? What do you mean I am dead?". This time I was really scared.

"You did die, but because you have my heart you came here, to my domain".

"Could you bring me back?". I asked.

" Hahaha, I could but you have to do something for me but first let's deal with this darkness. A little light would be good".

* Snap...snap*

I heard the sound of fingers snapping twice and lanterns lit all over what looked like an endless hall of statues.

*snap*

I heard another snap, and boom I was seated across a table from this being that looked like a man, dressed in otherworldly clothes. One word to describe him...Beautiful.

"So, you wish to go back, I have a way, do you want to hear it". he leaned back into his seat and placed his hands on his chin.

"Yes".

"I am in dire need of something you have. In exchange, you would go back to your former life as though nothing happened. I will throw this bonus offer as well, I see you are in a magical era back home so I would grant you limitless power, in exchange for what I want ".

At this point, my interest was piqued. "What is it that you want?". I asked.

"How do I put this...I want your Soul".

"My- my soul?". I stuttered.

"Yes, I need your soul". At this point wanted to stand up but there was this pressure holding me down in the seat.

"How would I still be alive if you took my soul?". I had to get out of this.

"Don't worry about that, you'll still be the same, you will still have your memories and some feelings".

* crack*

The pressure increased to the point I could it bear it. I was breaking apart it was unbearable.

"A- I - I, do it". I just could not bear the pain any longer.

"Excellent CHOICE!". The scene changed again. This time we were in what looked like a sacrifice hall, he lay on a stone altar opposite the stone altar I laid on.

"SAFIT " he cast a spell.

Strings of energy grew out of his body and immediately entered my body.

At this point, I felt something leaving me and something else replacing what had gone.

This went on for some time before I started to feel dizzy.

"Bye". He said as I closed my eyes.

"I might be seeing you soon".

The next moment I was assaulted by a blinding light on my shut eyes. My head was laid on something soft I opened my eyes to see Chelsea's teary eyes.

" Vladimir, mffh mffh, you are alive"