Cassian looked puzzled, his expression softening as the red glow around him faded. Wiping the lingering tears from his face, he asked, "What did you say, my lady?"
Katherine, still visibly shaken, ignored his question and asked instead, "Who else has seen you use your domain?"
Her sudden and unexpected inquiry caught Cassian off guard. They had been discussing something entirely different moments ago, but the seriousness in her tone made him pause. He furrowed his brow, trying to recall. "Well, a lot of people, I guess. Those cultists too... but they all died. So, really, it's just Julius and Cassandra who've seen or felt my domain completely."
He hesitated before asking, "Why, my lady? Is something wrong with my domain?" His confusion was evident, but beneath it was a flicker of concern.
Katherine shook her head, exhaling deeply as she tried to steady herself. "No, there's nothing wrong," she said, her voice calmer now as she composed her expression, as if weighing her words carefully before continuing. "But you need to understand something, Cassian. You domain is a bit special than others—it's something incredibly rare. Your domain... it's special to the Ven Dyke family. Really, really special."
Cassian tilted his head, still confused by her reaction. "Special how?"
Katherine sighed, leaning back slightly. "From the thousands—no, maybe even millions—of Ven Dykes throughout history, only a handful have ever awakened a domain . As far as I know, there aren't more than a hundred people who've ever awakened this type of domain."
Cassian frowned, clearly still at a loss. He scratched the back of his head, trying to process what she was saying. "I... I don't really get it," he admitted. "I'm too new to all this circle warrior stuff. I mean, I only know the basics from the book you gave me, some lessons Julius taught me, and a few things I picked up from my colleagues who are circle warriors. But none of it seemed important enough to really dig into."
Katherine gave him a small, knowing smile, her expression softening. "First, you should know that domains are categorized into different types," she began. "The most common that increase Physical powers called physical types Domains, like the Domain of Might, which enhances raw strength, or the Domain of Swiftness, which focuses on speed. Then, there are Mental Power Domains, which allow the wielder to manipulate objects or control weapons with their mind. Occasionally, a domain can be a blend of both physical and mental abilities."
She paused, letting him absorb the information before continuing. "Next are Elemental Domains, which have a hint of elemental control, like a mage's affinity. These domains allow users to command elements like fire, water, or wind. Lastly, there are Special Domains—incredibly rare and unique powers. For example, the Domain of the Titan is rare, but not unheard of."
Cassian frowned, still processing her explanation, but one question stood out. "What's the difference between the Domain of Might and the Domain of the Titan?" he asked, his confusion deepening.
"The Domain of Might only increases strength," Katherine explained, her voice steady but serious. "The Domain of the Titan, as its name suggests, grants a human the power and resilience of a titan. But it's actually one of the simpler rare domains."
She paused before continuing, her tone dropping slightly. "And then, there are domains like the one some members of the Ven Dyke family have awakened before and lately you—the Killing Domain. It's one of the strongest types of domains. As its name implies, it makes a person exceptionally skilled at killing. It enhances physical prowess, sharpens instincts, and sometimes even grants the ability to predict short-term future movements. In its later stages of development, it can awaken an incredibly rare and terrifying power—the power of death and blood."
Cassian froze, shock written across his face. The pieces began to fall into place, her words making an unsettling kind of sense. 'Blood' That word struck a chord. The Ven Dyke family was infamous for two things: the blood they had spilled and the flames they had ignited, using their own blood as fuel.
The image of the First Grand Duke loomed large in his mind—the Duke of Blood and Fire, a name that still commanded respect and fear. It was now clear to Cassian that the domain he had awakened tied him directly to that legacy.
Cassian felt a wave of overwhelming realization crash over him. Katherine's words echoed in his mind—he had awakened a domain that could place him on a path comparable to the First Grand Duke. His throat felt dry as he gulped, struggling to steady himself. Finally, he asked, needing confirmation, "My lady, does that mean I could become as strong as the First Duke?"
Katherine smiled softly at his question, her expression a mix of pride and caution. "It's more complicated than that," she replied. "Having a Killing Domain doesn't mean all domains of that type are identical. Each individual is unique, and so is the domain they awaken. The First Duke had abilities tied to controlling fire, while your domain grants healing and pain immunity. Even though both are rooted in the essence of death and killing, the way they manifest and develop differs entirely."
As Cassian was deep in thought, Katherine smiled and pulled out an old-looking scroll from seemingly nowhere. "You've got a serious advantage over the First Duke. Times have changed, and you can do things he couldn't. One of the biggest is becoming a Circle Warrior."
She handed the scroll to him. "Here, take this. Memorize it. It's the first part of our family's mana-gathering technique. This version's been updated recently. Way better than the old one my mother used back in the day."
Cassian took the scroll, his confusion giving way to curiosity. He had forgotten that just opening a domain didn't automatically make someone a Circle Warrior. Circle Warriors were something else entirely—miracles, really. They were the result of strange phenomena, like a person's will, their mastery over weapons, and their ability to steal the world's power in the form of mana to fuel their own strength. All of this combined to form strange, intricate circles on their body, giving them the title of Circle Warriors.
The real theory behind Circle Warriors was too complicated for Cassian to fully grasp, and honestly, he didn't need to. It wouldn't serve him any purpose other than becoming a burden, so he chose to focus on what mattered instead.
"Circle Warriors are on a whole different level," she said, leaning back slightly. "These days, domain types don't matter as much. With the right mana-gathering technique, a Circle Warrior can cover any weaknesses their domain might have. You can even pick up abilities, like controlling elements or tapping into universal laws. Things like time, space, or darkness. Pretty cool, right?"