The Asshai's Bloodmage

 Inside Rafael's room in the Garden of Beasts, Aisha helped Rafael mix various ingredients inside a wooden tub. There were various poisons and strange ingredients, as well as potions that were added to the bath water from time to time. A strong smell of ointment was already spreading throughout the room, but the two of them still continued to add more herbs and other ingredients. After another 5 minutes the mixing was finally complete.

Aisha stepped away from the bathtub and Rafael took off all his clothes and entered her naked. At that moment the young Asshai'i turned red and turned her face away for a moment to avoid seeing her master's body. Meanwhile Rafael, who had submerged his entire body in the water, began to feel his skin heat up, then tingle and finally begin to burn before a comfortable warmth flowed through his body before the process started all over again.

After Zhang obtained the body refinement technique, Raphael used the Order's gold coins and purchased a huge set of ingredients meant for all Sages. He wasn't the only one going through such a procedure. In Zaya's room, she and Liza were in two different bathtubs. Zhang was receiving help from his Dornish assistant. While Jhon, Jack and Vitarys prepared the bath alone. Omar was the only one who had two girls helping him prepare his bath, the sisters who had an affinity for water seemed to be quite comfortable in their room…

With nothing much to do in the bathtub, Rafael started looking at the system alerts.

[Body strengthened by 0.02%]

[Body strengthened by 0.01%]

[Body strengthened by 0.03%]

These messages occurred at each refinement cycle and sometimes the numbers were even smaller. But Rafael was satisfied, this would be his first time making these refinements and over time it would all add up. When the refinement was finished he then opened his system status.

Blood Mage System

Name: Rafael

Magical Affinity: Fire and Earth

Occupation: Magician's Apprentice / Merchant / Leader of the Order of Sages

Titles: Red Sage / Master of the Order / Pirates' Terror

Domesticated animals:

Fire Worm

Blood Raven (new species)

Alterations:

-Reinforced respiratory system

-Strengthened cardiovascular system

-Enhanced Senses +25%

-Improved lower muscles, joints and bones

Body reinforcement: 1.67%

Spells:

Alteration

Synthesis

Separation

Fireball 2/2

Shadows Cover 1/1*

Shadow substitute 1/1*

Totems:

Fire Totem 1/1

Earth Totem 0/0

Innate Spells:

Fire Breath 3/3

Resistances:

Resistance to prophetic magic (average)

Disease resistance (low)

Poison resistance (low)

Curse resistance (low)

Control resistor (extremely low)

Missions +

System Skills+

Artifacts and Relics +*

I got up from the bathtub looking at the system, there were many changes, but they were all slowly preparing a base for a more agile body focused on spells. The current refinement only gave me a little over 1.5%, but I believe I should continue gaining this effect until the free technique loses its effect. My Fire Breath is my strongest spell now with 3 uses per day. My understanding of the element has increased a lot and the improvements in the respiratory system have also increased. But I've kept this spell hidden until now, I know how rare innate spells are so it only does me good to keep it hidden. Besides, having a hidden trump card against my enemies is a good thing. After getting dressed, I looked at some ingredients left over from the refinement and called Aisha into the bathroom again. She appeared and said:

"Master, are you done? I brought your dinner from the dining hall since the meal time is over."

"Yes, I am done. Thank you. I will eat dinner and then meditate and sleep. You can take the leftover ingredients and prepare a bath for yourself as well."

"Thank you, master. Have a good meal and a good rest."

***

In Yun Hai's room on the third floor of the tower, he and his brother Yun Zhe were having dinner together. His brother chewed a large piece of meat, swallowed it, and then asked,

"Brother, have you thought about their proposal?"

I haven't decided yet. I have received an offer from another group in the city. I am waiting for their response about their position. There are benefits for both sides, but you know our people's position with the Valyrians.

"I know, but the empire is almost gone now and there are few people left alive, we shouldn't hold a grudge against commoners who were never Dragon Lords. Besides, I told you how the mission went this week, he seems like a good person and even helped me with the extra points in the mission. There's also that person, they were all exterminated in Yi Ti… Could he be a survivor?"

"There's no rush yet and we haven't been given a deadline either, let's wait until the second test is over, until then all we need to do is study and improve, as for this matter involving the Zhangs, pretend you never met that person, now go to sleep tomorrow classes start again…"

***

 In another room, still on the third floor of the Garden of Beasts. Little Liu's mother was trying to convince him to accept the offer from the Order of Sages. While his father was even harsher, pointing out that they were both invited too, but they could only go if his son accepted the invitation since they weren't qualified for such an invitation. But the boy kept throwing a tantrum.

"I won't! I'll become a disciple of the Master of Beasts, I just need to prove my worth first. Until that time comes, you guys need to hold on." 

His father tried to dissuade him a few more times but in the end he decided to give up, only time could change the child's mind and his own dreams.

***

 In the Yin and Yang Tower, Natasha let out a deep sigh, in her hands was an invitation to the Order of Sages. She had not yet made a decision, but she heard about the large-scale recruitment of members that the group was doing. When she asked her master his opinion on the matter, he said that she should choose her own path. This made her think for a long time before finally agreeing to accept. But not before settling a few matters first.

***

 Crow's Corner was the most famous bar in the city of Pentos, many popular figures of the city gathered in that establishment. The place was not only famous for its drink and food, but as a meeting place for clandestine and shady business. Assassins, wandering Mages, Priests and all sorts of criminals went to the famous bar to look for work, hire people or buy and sell illegal items. Those who ensured the safety of the business conducted here in this bar were an organization known as the Black Hand.

Few knew about the leaders of this organization, but many had already experienced its power. Inside the basement of the Raven's Song bar, a rare type of Master was there, the Master of Prophecy Laura, and her brother the Shadowmancer Master Yuri were sitting across from each other with an open letter on the table. This letter was the invitation to join the Order of Sages. Laura then said: "I didn't expect the Wise to create an organization, they are far away from us, why are you trying to recruit us?"

"We are not sure, we promised him a favor for warning us about his totem, but it seems that his warning was to get us out of Valyria alive. So he saved our lives, do you think he predicted that he would need us and that is why he saved us?"

After Yuri finished, Laura added, "Only if he was the Greenseer could he foresee so far. Besides, I would never have seen his ship, the 'Whisper of Valyria' when I used my visions. Furthermore, I used my powers again when we received this letter and all I saw were glimpses of Asshai. This confirmed that he is not the Greenseer, but that his anti-prophecy powers have grown stronger."

"In the letter, he mentioned information about the Century of Blood, and said that information about these events is only available to members of his Order. He really caught us here... I'm fine with accepting his invitation, what about you? I'll leave the decision in your hands."

Laura sighed and then began to write her reply. Rafael didn't know it yet, but soon he would gain the power of two Masters in his Order and the most precious disciple of Master White Shadow...

***

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