Survival.
The instinct that has driven every ancestor of life to rise higher still pulses within all life forms. It takes as many forms as there are languages to name it.
Yet its essence is simple: the desire to survive, to thrive, to leave behind progeny, until death finally claims you.
Who, then, could dare judge something so sacred? So inherently honorable?
Nobody. Not even the Vita.
The Vita rewards the victorious. As long as one is not greedy with their survival.
The one who kills out of greed would ultimately meet an untimely misfortune. No matter if they are man or beast. The Vita is equal in that manner.
It rewards one, but is just as quick to fuck up everything they had or stood for, if their reasons change.
The Vita is just.
Thus, the wolf corpses that stained the earth with their blood did not anger the Vita. On the contrary, it congratulated the victorious four against such unlikely odds. It congratulated their survival.
The Vita was ready to share their harvest, as a reward, as long as they were willing to take it.
And willing they were.
"Is everyone wounded?" Blanc asked as he watched the four wolves who managed to escape go beyond the reach of his sight. They have won.
"I am very well, actually. I fear I may have needed this," Celine replied, approaching him.
"I wish I could share that feeling, my love, but I can't. I would rather not share in such dangers. Not until I am healed." Blanc replied to her. "How about you, Kael, Lune? Are you hurt?"
"No," Kael shook his head. His mind was lost in thought, as his eyes locked with the lifeless eyes of one of the wolves he had killed.
These were his first kills. It should have been the stag from before. But it wasn't. It was these wolves. He felt… good.
With a roar, Kael jumped, excited to the point that it scared Blanc, who took a step back from his little brother.
"Kael?" Blanc asked.
"AHAHA, finally! I am finally worthy of a harvest!" Kael yelled as he jumped up.
Blanc chuckled, hearing him, but turned a bit towards Lune.
"Are you hurt?" he asked her.
"I am unhurt, brother. I'm just glad it's over." Lune replied, nodding along to her own opinion.
It seemed the warrior of the two did not share her twin brother's levels of excitement, but she was happy to have survived nonetheless. She was now truly a warrior. A true Noble Blood.
It made her smile a bit as the adrenaline wore off in her body.
The smile did not miss Blanc's eyes as he spoke, "You all did well. Kael, Lune, I am proud to have witnessed your greatness today. Truly. I wish I could tell this story to rest. But I cannot. Now comes the reward. Bring your kills in front of you."
With a nod, all turned and went towards the wolves they had put to rest, including Blanc.
Considering all the detached parts that some of the wolves had, the count stood as follows after they finished gathering: Blanc had five kills. Celine had seven kills. Both Kael and Lune had four each.
A total of twenty, fairly shared between them. After all, those who make the killing blow can harvest that being's Raw Vita.
"Sister Celine," began Lune, her eyes wide at the kill count Celine had, "You are strong."
"Haha," Celine laughed, "Thank you, Lune. I just got lucky."
"No need to be humble, my love, you did great with the bow," Blanc added. "However, I must ask. And I'm sorry, but I will expect an answer from you, Celine."
"What is it?" she asked, curious.
"Have you harvested wolves before, or will these be your first Marks?" Blanc wondered.
Celine giggled, finding funny and slightly cute the fact that Blanc felt bad asking her about her Marks, but she replied nonetheless, "No Marks from wolves."
"That's good." Blanc replied, "I am not sure how much Raw Vita one can harvest from wolves until the Mark turns black, but we will harvest slowly. One after the other." He said, before turning towards the twins. "First, I will explain how it works for our new harvesters. So listen closely."
Kael and Lune now stared at Blanc, focused on every word that was about to leave his lips, making sure that they would not miss any of it. After all, this was not just a harvest for the essence of one Raw Vita. Both had four to absorb. More than an abundant harvest.
And such a harvest can surely end badly if they do it all wrong, even if they have witnessed it before.
"My love, could you help me remove my tunic?" Blanc requested.
"What for?" Celine asked, despite still coming near him.
"I think it might be easier to show them first and then explain it. Hopefully, the Mark will choose to place itself somewhere on my chest or back so they can witness it." Blanc replied.
"I see, very well," Celine nodded.
A few minutes later, with the pain from the wound on his shoulder and the toll of battle weighing on him, Blanc stood topless before the three.
The wound and all the Marks of Raw Vita that were found on his upper body were now plain for them to see. They all knew he had them. But seeing him now gave all three a sense of awe that they could not put their hands on clearly as to why that was.
He felt wild, like the beasts dead at his feet.
Slowly, he dragged one of the smaller wolves aside and knelt beside it.
With a sharp exhale, he showed his left hand to those watching and placed it slowly on the chest of the beast.
As the bottom of his palm connected to the wolf's chest, his mind fell deep below once more, turning the world silent, even though his eyes still saw everything around him.
His body stiffened, muscles locked in place, making the beginning of the harvest a success.
The second part began shortly, as small mist serpents of crimson and amber rose from the wolf and swam their beautiful dance through the air towards his body.
It was already a common occurrence for Blanc to see them, yet they still looked as magnificent as before.
As they swam from left to right, and left again towards his own chest.
Once they touched his skin and began swimming inside of it, towards his heart, they began pulsing, taking after the beating of Blanc's heart.
Once they reached his heart, a red mist began rising from Blanc's right shoulder, where the wound lay, sending a wave of warmth and comfort through his body.
The serpents had found their place. And in return, they granted Blanc a huge favor.
His wounds began to heal, and two distinct marks appeared on either side of his shoulder.
At the front, where the sword had pierced him, a faint outline of a bite mark now circled the entry point. At the back, where the blade had exited, the shape of a paw had formed.
Before his mind could return, now that the harvest was nearly completed, for a moment, Blanc felt as if he were the wolf itself.
He felt confident, yet slightly panicked at the thought that someone was in his pack's territory, now needing to kill them.
Who were they? He asked himself.
It made Blanc want to rush out of this feeling to protect Kael and Lune and Celine, once more if need be, but before realizing, the sounds returned to his mind, and the muscles and mind relaxed, realizing what had happened.
Then, he felt the rewards of the harvest. He felt sharper, stronger; his lungs felt larger, easier to gather air inside them.
And his brain felt clearer, as if some sort of fog had left his mind, as if it had never been there.
The Raw Vita of the wolf had been harvested. And there were four more waiting for him.
But before he could do that, he turned his now sharper eyes towards the three witnesses.
He grinned, seeing how intense their stares were.
"Any questions?"