Chapter 14: Little to Know

After seeing Purple duel Scar, Julien developed a spiteful fixation. There was something he couldn’t help but want to confront her about.

It took Julien several days to gather his courage, but he finally approached Purple, who’d been in the infirmary for a while now.

Losing to Scar in their duel led to Purple, alongside more than a dozen others, being sent to patrol the Eighth District, Montreal. They were tasked with killing all Scarlet Kins missed by the Moon Killers and Royal Knights.

However, they weren’t met kindly. As a result, many people, including Purple suffered injuries that kept them bedridden for days.

Getting to Purple took real effort, yet Julien found himself wishing he’d made Scar come along.

Purple’s calm demeanor didn’t change, but her purple eyes stared into Julien’s soul so deeply he missed his parents.

“Uhm… who are you?” Purple asked.

Julien gulped.

“Ahhh. Hm. Call me Julien.”

Purple met him with a stretching silence.

A seat sat beside her bed, and Julien made himself comfortable. Flickering his fingers, he spoke again.

“This has to do with my predecessor, Mystery. He was a very close friend of someone in your family…”

Purple frowned. “Did you say ’Mystery’?”

When Julien responded positively, a soft smile tugged on her lips.

“Uncle Peter died recently… I can’t help you with anything beyond what he left behind in memory.”

Julien nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! That’s what I want. I want to know if we can continue what they started.”

The silence that followed made Julien question his right to happiness. It stretched on for a while before Purple finally spoke.

“My family’s Inheritance, the Thread of Souls, was gone for a long time due to reasons I can’t reveal. It’s weaker now, and I don’t retain all the memories of my fallen bloodline.”

She adjusted herself on her bed, pushing through her wounded leg.

“Tell me about your Inheritance and why you think you can help. Mystery had sworn allegiance to my family, but you aren’t him, and I don’t know the full details of their arrangement. I only have a general idea of what you want.”

Julien fist-bumped silently, already jubilant in his head.

The Vey family Inheritance, Thread of Souls, were threads crafted from the souls of dead family members dating back to the Red Day, three hundred years ago. They contained memories, wills, and secrets known only to the Veys. What the threads could truly do remained mysterious.

“Blood of Zion tilts toward creation magic, but it also relies heavily on manipulation. By the standards of true creation and manipulation magic, mine is a joke… but it’s not powerless.

“I haven’t awakened the remaining two states of the Inheritance, but I do just fine.”

Julien bit his finger and began carving sculptures from the blood. From something as tiny as a bug to something as large as his head, though the big one collapsed soon after.

“Blood of Zion isn’t like other blood manipulations. Even the smallest drop can create something almost a hundred times bigger. The catch is, the more blood you use, the stronger it becomes.”

Like most Inheritances, it was rare to encounter more than five types. Blood manipulation had its perks too, though they all worked differently.

“Why would you need me? With that power, your Inheritance alone could turn you into a Moon Killer before I even blink.”

Julien’s red eyes met her purple ones. He didn’t need to say more. The determination in them was enough to make Purple reconsider.

Sigh.

“Serving my family isn’t easy. Not everyone’s comfortable with their souls being used as threads after death, and being a blood manipulator would probably creep most people out.”

Julien smiled.

“I’ve already lost everything that mattered. Other people’s opinions mean nothing to me. All I want is Quagmire, the Clown of the Living. If serving your family gets me closer to killing him, then that’s enough.”

Purple furrowed her brow.

“That’s an ambitious dream. You do know Catastrophe‑level threats are unkillable, don’t you?”

Julien’s clenched fists trembled heavily.

“Only myths are unkillable. If it exists, it can die. That’s what I’m chasing.”

They sealed their alliance with a handshake after a brief conversation. Then Purple shared something, as she’d intentionally saved it for after they’d agreed.

“Your Inheritance is still too young to have made enemies. The Vey family, on the other hand, was blessed with two soul‑manipulation Inheritances: Spirit of the Lords and Souls of Converse.

“With you at my side, we’ll begin with my enemies. If I fall, the Vey family will abandon you without hesitation. As my sworn ally, you must prevent that outcome. Do so, and I will ensure you have every resource you need for your revenge.”

Julien rushed to agree.

Both his parents had been murdered by Quagmire, so he’d sought out the family with the most ancient conspiracies regarding the clown. What his plans were and what Mystery and Peter had planned were all mysteries.

Mysteries Purple and Julien would gladly take to their graves at the moment, though they might die protecting them first.

“Tell me, how did you manage to lose to Scar? He didn’t even bother using his flames on you.”

…

Julien’s conversation with the bedridden Purple lasted for hours, longer than he’d expected. But it was worth it. From the little-known Nice family, he was the only one remaining of his lineage.

Julien Nice worked odd jobs after his parents died. He was only eight. Hell, they paid him five bronze coins a day, barely enough for an hour’s survival even for a child. Sometimes he had to crash at the Moon Killers’ base in the Maroon quarter.

The hardship only fueled Julien’s desire for vengeance. He’d become the Vey family’s puppet if that’s what it took. And Purple? She was all in. One look at her eyes told him she’d sacrifice anyone for the Vey family’s future.

Making friends was difficult with his anxiety, a defense built from years of abuse. But he had Scar now. Outsiders saw him as calm and collected, but with Scar he could actually be himself. Keeping the Purple alliance secret from him though? That hurt.

Nonetheless, the Vey family had what he needed. He couldn’t get strong enough playing by the rules.

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