Chapter 413 Fruits of a Poisonous Tree (2/2)
A nervous chuckle burst forth fro priest's lips ”Naturally! She's a Prelate! She's only a single step away froful look ”Then we'll have to take care not to offend her”
The priest gave a sasp ”To offend a Prelate…” He didn't finish the words, instead shaking his head as if the very idea of it bordered on blaspheh a series of hallways and passages, until finally, they reached a large chamber that held a nunized as Gods fros Then, after the young priest exchanged a feords with a white-cladwomen appeared
”These acolytes will see you to your chaht to you shortly Once you receive your bloodlines, you are to rerate them”
Arran furrowed his brow ”We have to stay here? Why?”
”These are greater bloodlines,” the priest said ”Fully integrating theo awry, it is best that you are here, where help is at hand”
”Do things often go… awry?” Kaleesh asked, his expression wary
”Not at all,” the priest replied ”It is extremely rare for problems to occur Still, for those rare occasions that trouble does ee, it is preferable that you are here in the Sanctum Now, unless you have further questions, I'll have you escorted to your chambers”
Kaleesh nodded, then turned to Arran ”Good luck”
”Same to you”
A few minutes later, Arran found hiant, it was sohts ould norreater bloodlines If not for the location, it would have been vastly preferable over the inn room where he'd spent the past few days
Yet here, in the cataco did little to ease his worries After what he'd learned from Lady Merem about Roshan's intentions, he knew that the church was his eneht, one would be corrupted — a poison to put hiiven him a complete bloodline to counter the threat, but he was fully aware that there was no certainty with such things If her prediction was incorrect and the church used a differentto help hi Roshan's sches grew further when an hour passed without sign of any priests carrying bloodlines The young priest who'd escorted theht shortly, and by now, Arran was clear that so now All he could do ait and hope that the church had not caught on to his plans
Nearly two hours had already passed when the door finally opened, revealing a figure that was unwelconed a surprised expression ”I had not expected to see you again so soon”
”I've co you your bloodlines,” the Archon said He put down a small wooden box on the table at the center of the room, then continued, ”But first… I understand you visited Lady Mere?”
”I did As I told you in our previous conversation, she took an interest in me before I came to Sacrifice Naturally, I could not reject her invitation”
Of course, there had been no invitation, but he did not expect the Archon to know that While their visit to the Citadel was iht should have theof it
Roshan silently looked at Arran for several seconds before giving a small nod ”Very well Now, as for the matter of your bloodlines…” He opened the wooden box, revealing four small vials and a dozenamount of Natural Essence ”I understand that you have chosen the Sage's bloodline While not necessarily a bad choice, it will do little to help you survive the Desolation After giving the rant you two additional bloodlines”
For a moment, Arran was dumbstruck ”Two?” he finally asked, a tremble in his voice ”Which ones? And why?”
”The reason is simple,” Roshan said ”I value both you and your bloodline, and I do not wish to see your life wasted in the Desolation While growing your strength will ultimately depend on your own labor, these bloodlines should help grant you a better chance of survival As for the ones I chose…”
He took two vials from the box and carefully placed them on the table, then continued, ”Within these vials are the Guardian's bloodline and the titan's bloodline Together, they will greatly help increase both your strength and your resilience I do not think I need to explain how useful that will be in the Desolation”
Arran briefly remained silent Then, he asked, ”Is this because of ht chuckle escaped the Archon's lips ”I can not deny that I wish to earn your loyalty Hopefully, these gifts can serve as a first step toward that goal Receiving this many bloodlines carries a small risk, however”
At this, Arran frowned ”What sort of risk?”
”To receive four different bloodlines at once takes a toll on one's foundation This shouldn't be a probleth, but nevertheless, I've also added several pills that will help strengthen your foundation With those, the risk should be minimal”
Arran's frown deepened ”But there is still a risk?”
”There is,” Roshan confir these bloodlines may cause a backlash Thus, whether you choose to accept them must be your own decision If you wish to delay the matter, that is fine as well — if you return several rant you these bloodlines”
It took Arran sohter
Roshan was eventwo additional bloodlines the effects of the corrupted Hungerer's bloodline would be masked, and when Arran fell ill, he would only have himself to blaraciously offer to help, winning not just Arran's dependence but also his gratitude
As for hi the bloodlines, that was clearly an iain additional strength before braving the dangers of the Desolation
Had Arran not already learned from Lady Merem what Roshan intended, the plan would have been a perfect one But as it was, all the Archon would accomplish was to hand treasures to a future eneifts,” Arran said, the joy in his eyes entirely real ”This is an opportunity I cannot squander — not with my journey into the Desolation this close”
Roshan nodded slowly, a serous place, even for one as talented as you If these bloodlines help keep you safe, then I alad to bear the cost”
There was a core of truth to that, Arran knew With the effort Roshan had put into this, he would doubtless feel no suish if Arran lost his life in the Desolation
”Speaking of cost…” Arran produced a single Warlock's ae's bloodline”
Roshan laughed, then shook his head ”Keep it With what I've given you, a single amulet makes no difference whatsoever”
Arran did not object While the Archon see him as many bloodlines as possible, Kaleesh wasn't as lucky For hireat deal
”Now then,” Roshan said ”I will leave you to absorb your new bloodlines As for the pills, I suggest you take two every week, starting toest,” Arran said In truth, he'd already Sensed how potent these pills should be, and he already knew they would help hioodbyes and left the room, Arran turned his attention to the box in front of hirin on his face as he looked at the unexpected windfall
In a single ained four bloodlines from Roshan, a fifth bloodline from Lady Merem, and a dozen pills whose value he suspected would nearly le bloodline
Even if the price of these treasures was to becole most powerful faction in the Imperium, he could not help but feel that it orth it