The Ytherrian Luminary

Lira sat cross-legged on the ground, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully unfolded the ancient scroll in front of her. The dim light of the small clearing they had found outside the arena flickered as the wind rustled through the trees. The scroll felt heavy in her hands, its weathered paper crackling as she opened it, revealing a series of detailed diagrams and instructions on Blood Manipulation—a technique she had only scratched the surface of until now.

"This... this is more powerful than I thought," Lira whispered to herself as her eyes traced the intricate symbols and runes on the parchment. The scroll outlined several techniques that pushed the boundaries of blood magic, allowing the user to control every facet of their blood. The very idea made her uneasy, but the power these techniques promised was too tempting to ignore.

---

Flowing Red Scale was the first technique described in the scroll. It allowed the user to increase their pulse rate, body temperature, and the number of red blood cells they produced, greatly enhancing their physical abilities. 

Lira's eyes narrowed as she focused on the diagrams, which showed step-by-step instructions on how to channel her energy to activate the technique. She hesitated for a moment, but then placed her hands over her heart, feeling her pulse beneath her skin. With a deep breath, she began to follow the instructions.

"Focus on the flow of your blood... feel it course through your veins..." Lira muttered, her eyes closed in deep concentration.

Slowly, she could feel the change. Her heart rate increased, her body temperature rising as her muscles tightened and her skin flushed. She opened her eyes, and for a brief moment, the world around her seemed sharper, clearer. Her senses were heightened, and she felt a surge of energy rush through her, making her stronger and faster. It was exhilarating, but there was also a danger in it—her blood was moving at an unnatural speed, and she knew it couldn't be sustained for long.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she released the technique, her pulse returning to normal. "Flowing Red Scale... I can't believe how much power it gives," she whispered, catching her breath.

---

Next, she moved on to Crimson Binding. The scroll depicted a series of gestures that would allow her to form her blood into a net, capable of ensnaring a target. The concept was simple, but the execution required precision and control over the smallest details of her blood's consistency.

Lira pricked her finger, watching as a single drop of blood welled up. She extended her hand, her fingers moving fluidly in the pattern described in the scroll. The drop of blood shimmered for a moment, then expanded into thin threads that wove together into a crimson net. She held it aloft in the air, amazed at how light and flexible it was despite its strength.

With a flick of her wrist, she sent the net flying forward, wrapping around a nearby tree. The branches snapped as the net tightened, and Lira grinned. "That could be useful," she murmured, allowing the blood to dissolve back into her skin.

---

As Lira continued to read through the scroll, she came across the technique called Slicing Exorcism. It involved hardening her blood into a sharp, malleable form, making it deadly enough to cut through even the toughest surfaces. The illustrations showed a long, rotating blood disc, similar to a saw, cutting through metal.

Lira stood up, holding out her arm and summoning more blood from a small cut on her hand. She focused, her mind bending the blood to her will. Slowly, the blood hardened and began to rotate in the air, forming a crimson disc that spun with terrifying speed. The sound it made as it sliced through the air sent shivers down her spine.

She aimed the disc at a nearby boulder and released it. The blood saw struck the stone with a sickening crack, carving through it as though it were butter. The boulder split in half, leaving Lira standing in awe of the technique's power.

"Unbelievable," she muttered. "It's like having a weapon at all times…"

---

The next technique was Convergence, a method of compressing blood to its absolute limit. This technique was the foundation for several of the scroll's most powerful abilities, including Blood Edge and Piercing Blood. Lira felt a thrill of excitement as she read through the instructions, knowing that mastering Convergence would unlock incredible potential.

With a deep breath, she extended her hand again, focusing on the blood flowing through her veins. She concentrated, using her cursed energy to compress the blood into a single, solid point. It took immense effort, but soon she had formed a small orb of hardened blood in her palm.

"Convergence… it's like controlling the very essence of life," Lira whispered, staring at the orb. She could feel its power, ready to be unleashed in any number of ways. She tried compressing it even further, pushing it to its limit, but before she could test its true strength, she heard footsteps behind her.

---

Kell stumbled into the clearing, bruised and out of breath. His shirt was torn, and his face was smudged with dirt. He was panting heavily, and there were dark patches of dried blood on his knuckles from intense shadow training.

"You look like you've been through hell," Lira said, raising an eyebrow as she dismissed the blood orb in her hand.

"Yeah, well, the shadows don't play nice," Kell grumbled, collapsing onto the ground beside her. "I've been pushing my limits all day. Trying new techniques, testing the boundaries of what I can do."

Lira nodded, her mind still focused on the scroll. "Learn anything new?"

Kell grinned, though there was exhaustion in his eyes. "Maybe… but I'm keeping it a secret for now. Let's just say I've got something big up my sleeve."

Lira smirked, flipping the scroll closed. "I'm sure you do."

They sat in silence for a moment, both of them feeling the weight of their training. The power they were unlocking was dangerous, and they both knew it. But it was also thrilling, intoxicating in a way that neither of them had experienced before.

"These scrolls…" Lira began, her voice trailing off. "They're powerful. More powerful than I expected. But we have to be careful. Blood magic, shadow manipulation… it comes at a cost."

Kell nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I know. But we don't have a choice, do we?"

"No," Lira agreed softly. "We don't."

They both sat there, staring at the horizon, knowing that the journey ahead would only get harder. But for now, they were satisfied with what they had learned. The techniques they had unlocked would be crucial in the battles to come.