“Is this that person?”
The woman looked at me first and asked Shale. When he said yes, he looked at me some more and sat across from me.
“Are you the daughter of the author of this book?” I asked, pointing to a book on the table. She nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m continuing that series right now. My name is Gabina.”
“Continuing?”
“It’s just adding the content that wasn’t there before.”
“Then you know a lot about special blood, don’t you?”
“Isn’t that why you called me?”
Then the story would be easier. Just by the first impression, she didn’t seem to be putting her own interest in answering. I was also comfortable with that side, so while Shale brought tea, I got right to the point.
“That’s right. Does Gabina have any special power?”
Then she shook her head. Huh? But in the book, the person who made it also had special blood.
“No. My mother adopted me when I was young. I didn’t contain any of my mother’s blood.”
“Ah…”
It was the same with me. No, should I say that my mother was the one who didn’t have a special power? However, it wasn’t the important part.
“I’m someone with Perenya’s blood. Although I’m only half of the half.”
“Perenya… it’s hard to find it now. Well, the same goes for other clans. It’s my first time seeing the Perenya clan with my own eyes.”
“Have you met a lot of special blood?”
“My mother had, but I haven’t. I’ve only met them twice. Still, I know many things, so ask me if you have any questions.”
I didn’t refuse and nodded right away.
“You know the ability of the Perenya clan, right?”
“Yes, it’s the imprint.”
“…Can you find any evidence of them being imprinted? Is there a way?”
It was my will to block my mother’s suspicion once more.
“There’s nothing outward. But you can tell it right away. Because the one being imprinted will love you blindly.”
“…Blindly… What if they are already in love before being imprinted?”
Then she said, “Um…” and blurted out her sentence.
“Then it’s a little hard to recognize because that person is already in love, but.”
“But?”
“When the imprinter dies, it can be confirmed for sure.”
“What if the imprint dies?”
“That person will die after them.”
My heart thumped at the words. Was that meaning included in the meaning of imprinting? I couldn’t believe they were going to die together.
“They are going to die after the imprinter?”
“That’s what I said. Their meaning of life disappears. Um, of course, there’s no exception.”
When the imprinter died, their connection was cut off, so I thought they would be free, but they couldn’t be free even after the imprinter died. If I had really imprinted someone… Just thinking about it made me shudder.
“…Thank you for letting me know.”
I thought I shouldn’t use my power no matter what until I died.
“Do you know how to imprint?”
I nodded with a slightly embarrassed face. It was because I didn’t want to say it with my mouth.
“Yes. They have to have a relationship.”
“That’s right, but it’s more intense than that. Judging from your expression, you don’t seem like your special power.”
“To be honest.”
“You can be honest with me.”
“I feel like I’m being cursed.”
Gabina burst into laughter when I spat out words without a little filter.
“I’m sorry I laughed so hard.”
“It’s okay. I don’t think this power is special at all. There is no way to get rid of it.”
Instead of answering in words, Gabina conveyed it with her expression. Of course, I could never get rid of this power, so I felt frustrated.
We talked more. Although she didn’t have special blood, she knew more than I did, as she was the author’s daughter. And most of it was information that was a little bit more than what was in the book, so there wasn’t an overload in my head.
What was interesting among them was the combination of different special bloods. I thought combining two special bloods would allow someone to use both powers, but their power also faded or disappeared when the blood mixed.
The child who came out between them only had one of the powers. I regarded these powers as curses, so I was relieved that no person received double curses. I would be so sad if there was someone like that.
“Is there anything else to ask?”
“Um… how does the one with special power recognize each other?”
“Umm, I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
She told me to ask, but where is the answer? I asked again.
“There is no way to recognize each other. It’s not like there’s a visible sign. You just have to take it out of your mouth and tell the truth.”
“…I see.”
After all, did my mother hear me from somewhere? I hoped my mother wasn’t my real mother. This seemed like a crazy idea. However, no one spread rumors that I had special power at the orphanage, no matter how much I thought about it.
“Ah, of course, their family would know. Because they inherited that blood.”
“…Family?”
“If a blood relative gives birth to a child, of course, you have no choice but to know, right?”
“That’s right..”
Gabina said as if it were natural. Come to think of it, it was natural even for me when I heard it. It was given when they gave birth to their own family.
I shook my head and slowly murmured, “I’m like Gabina. I lived in an orphanage when I was young.”
“Ah, I see. You’re just like me.”
“But my mother knew me well. She already knew I had Perenya’s blood. So, of course, I thought there was a way to find out.”
Gabina said, “Hmm,” and then nodded.
“I see. Couldn’t she have already heard about you from someone?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember clearly as I was very young. But I was sure about it.”
“Then I doubt that part.”
Blood relatives, family…
“Mother…”
“Wake up. What are you doing there like a fool?”
“…”
“Ah.”
“Come on, get up.”
“That’s right. I must have fallen asleep.”
“You are my daughter, Carbella. Don’t forget that.”
“I know it well. Of course…”
Suddenly the memory struck me in the head like lightning. I felt a headache for a moment.
“Gabina.”
“Yes?”
“…Ro, ha… Rohana clan, what is the power of that clan?”
When I asked, pressing down on my temple with my hand, Gabina opened her mouth lightly.
“They have the power to save others by cutting their own life. It’s an incredible power. I think the Rohana family has the strongest power.”
“More, isn’t there something?”
“Ah, there’s one more, but not all Rohana clans have the power. I heard they can go into your consciousness. But I’ve never experienced it myself. From what I’ve heard, they’re able to push your thoughts. The closer the relationship with the other person becomes, the more powerful their power becomes.”
I listened to every word she said.
“I heard that the ones with special blood also make medicines for themselves, is that true?”
“Yes, that’s right. Since the doctor can’t prescribe, each person makes their own medicine that suits them. Even with the same herb, a completely different medicine can be made depending on the recipe of their clan.”
“Can ordinary people make it?”
When I asked again, Gabina answered without any discomfort.
“In any case, my mother taught me to make it, but I don’t think so. I can only make light remedies.”
“Then what about the medicine that thickens the blood of the one with a special power?”
“It’s one of the most difficult recipes to make. My mother said she didn’t know how to make it. It’s only mentioned in the book, but have you seen it?”
“…I have.”
My head throbbed even more. Suddenly, I felt all kinds of information swirling around.
“Ah…”
“Are you okay? You look pale.”
“No, I’m fine. It’s because I haven’t been able to sleep lately.”
“Oh no. I shouldn’t hold you too long.”
The fact that my mother also had a special power. My mother’s words were clear as if she was speaking right before me. The blood-thickening medicine that my mother constantly passed on to me. No matter how much I thought about it, I could only think that my mother was from the Rohana clan.
Why didn’t my mother tell me that? I felt like other questions were grabbing the hem of my dress and pulling it.
“Gabina.”
“Are you okay? Does it really hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. I want to ask you one more question. Can you tell me?”
Gabina looked at me, nodding as if to tell me.
“This is a somewhat presumptuous question… Is there any way to confirm blood ties between the special power clan?”
What if mother is really my biological mother?
Then where did my power come from?
