CHAPTER 288: PROFESSOR CHARLES SCOTT SHERRINGTON

The next morning, one of the instructors told Eleanor during physical training that she must report to the Bloodline Institute after the session. Eleanor obeyed. She returned to the dormitory, freshened up and went straight to the institute.

After giving her cadet number at reception, she was led to an unnaturally white hospital cabin. In fact, the whole building was painted such a sterile white that it made her uneasy. The only interruptions were the beeping machines and a few pieces of equipment.

The staff member who had shown her the room left after instructing her to wait for the healer. There was only a chair, a desk and a bed. After a moment’s thought she chose the bed, leaving the chair for the healer.

She looked around at the machines. Just as she reached to examine one, Nora’s voice chimed in her head. "Master, these machines are on a local Wi-Fi network. I’ve already accessed their mainframe. Most are running equipment checks, like in the previous room. I already have the blueprints."

"Can you get into their server?" Eleanor asked.

"I did on your last visit. There are only medical records of cadets and staff. Nothing immediately important," Nora replied.

"Copy them all," Nora continued. "They might not be important now, but if anyone later turns against you, those records could reveal their physical condition. We never know what the future holds; information is the best weapon against adversaries."

"Okay. I can store them, but I’ll need to remove some books to free up space... it’s a large amount of data," Nora said.

"Don’t worry. Tell me which books you need to remove; I will read them later. Also, copy every blueprint of the devices you can find in the Bloodline Institute. I’m thinking of establishing a hospital when I return to the kingdom," Eleanor said.

"Many of these devices are built with rare materials. It will be difficult to produce enough for a functioning hospital," Nora said.

Eleanor replied, "You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll find a way to recreate these machines. Just copy them... we might not have another chance later."

At that moment, the door opened and a middle-aged man stepped inside. He was of average height, but carried himself with the straight-backed bearing of a soldier. His face was sharply sculpted, his jaw strong, his mouth firm, giving him a commanding presence. A neat grey moustache framed his upper lip, and his striking silver-white hair was swept back from a high, broad forehead that spoke of intellect and discipline.

His eyes were a pale, piercing blue, set deep beneath prominent brows. There was a keen, restless energy in them... the kind that belonged to a man whose mind was always observing, questioning, connecting.

He looked at Eleanor, who immediately stood to attention upon seeing the professor’s robes. Before she could speak, he said, "I am Professor Charles Scott Sherrington. You must be Eleanor Raynor... granddaughter of Fiona Raynor."

Eleanor nodded. "Yes, Professor."

Charles continued, "Your grandmother is a good friend of mine. She asked me to look after you. I was tied up with an experiment and working with a few other lunatics... so I couldn’t get free until yesterday. But I’ve kept tabs on your progress here at the academy, and I see you’ve been doing well. That was a relief."

"I was requested by your grandmother to prepare a bloodline-strengthening potion for you, and I received your commission notice from the academy. Since I couldn’t leave my research, I sent the potion ahead to the institute. Later I learned that you had taken the awakening potion instead, so I decided to wait until my research was complete. I hope you don’t mind the delay," he said, almost hurriedly.

"No, Professor... what are you saying? You made the potion for me, and that’s more than enough. Thank you," Eleanor said.

"That’s a relief," he said with a smile. "You may not know this, but I had to leave my family behind in the kingdom when I joined the academy. You know the rules. Besides, how could I possibly explain my long life to my descendants? I received the invitation to join when I was seventy. I already had grandchildren by then. So, my wife and I decided to fake our deaths and come here. Your grandmother helped me greatly with that, and she’s assisted my family many times since. Some of my descendants are now business partners of your clan. I just hope they don’t do anything foolish and remain loyal to your clan."

"Don’t worry," Eleanor said. "We Raynors have always taken good care of our partners."

The professor suddenly remembered why he had come. He shook his head lightly. "Ah! I got carried away. Your potion. You’ve already awakened your bloodline, so now I’ll administer the bloodline-strengthening potion... one specifically designed for werewolves. It may enhance your bloodline to the next level, though how far depends on your luck. Since you’re a werewolf, the potion will first affect your physical body. It will push your body to its optimal condition before advancing your primary bloodline.

"The academy records show you possess two awakened bloodlines. Which one evolves, or whether both do... I can’t say. But I can guarantee this potion won’t harm any werewolf. If you’re ready, we can proceed."

Eleanor smiled at the professor. "Don’t worry, I know what this potion does. It’s just that I’ve read about the after-effects... I’ll need a lot of food to replenish my strength once my body changes, and I’m not prepared for that. The dining hall is closed since we’re still adjusting to the food pills. Could you help me with that?"

He said, "Don’t worry. I have a general idea of how much food you’ll need. It will be ready by the time you’ve adjusted to your upgrades."

"Thank you," Eleanor said.

"No need. I’m always eager to serve the Raynor clan in any way I can. Now, focus on your potion. You’ll experience a great deal of pain. I can administer it while you’re unconscious, but the effects won’t be the same. The best results come when you remain conscious and guide the energy through your body, allowing every part of it to benefit. As for how to guide it... you’ll understand instinctively," he explained.

"Don’t worry, Professor. I can handle it. Please proceed," she said.

The professor stood. "You’ll need to lie down on the bed. I have to strap your limbs... otherwise, your burst of strength might cause harm to yourself or your surroundings."

"I know the drill. Thank you again," Eleanor replied.

With that, she lay down. Professor Sherrington pulled the straps from the corners of the bed and secured her wrists and ankles firmly. Then he drew several cords from the nearby machines and attached them to her head, the sides of her throat, and both wrists. The machines came alive with a soft hum as he switched them on.

He picked up a syringe, drew a vial of Eleanor’s blood, and injected it into a crystal bottle he had brought with him. Then he placed the bottle inside a specialised device. From the same machine, he pulled a cord and connected it to Eleanor’s wrist. The needle pierced her artery with a sharp sting.

Moments later, a hot substance began to flow into her veins through the tube. The heat surged toward her heart before spreading outward, growing in intensity until it felt as though molten lava was coursing through her body.

Eleanor was prepared for this. Her heart felt as though it were being scalded from within, the same searing heat flaring through every part of her body. She gritted her teeth, trying to anchor herself against the pain.

"The room is soundproof," the professor said calmly. "You may shout if you need to. Don’t worry... I’ll stay beside you throughout the process."

That was the last thing Eleanor wanted to hear. She clenched her jaw so tightly her teeth began to grind.

Suddenly, a surge of scorching energy exploded from her heart, spreading violently through her chest and racing towards her head. Her eyes flared with electric light, and her hair lifted as though caught in a storm.

She could feel the energy spiralling out of control... wild and erratic, thrashing inside her like a living current. Panic clawed at her. She wasn’t allowed to use her abilities to resist the pain, but her eyes burned as if reminding her of another power entirely... the Eye of Wisdom.

She triggered it at Level One. In an instant, the panic vanished. The pain remained, sharp and consuming, yet no longer overwhelming. Her mind entered a strange, crystalline focus. She could perceive the energy itself... a radiant flow rising from her heart and branching through her nervous system. All distractions faded.

She concentrated on the new current surging through her body. Most of it flooded into her brain, as expected... the organ of ceaseless activity. Only faint trickles reached her legs, and beyond the knees, there was almost nothing.

She strained to guide the energy towards her hands and feet, where it was weakest. It took several attempts, but at last she succeeded. The energy within her torso spread evenly, and her limbs began to receive their share. The crushing pressure in her head eased.

She let out a silent breath of relief... but it didn’t last.

Without warning, her body began to shift. The transformation came unbidden... her true werewolf form forcing its way through. It began at her head, then her heart, then her torso, until the change consumed her entirely.

She tried to fight it, but her control shattered. Agonising pain surged anew as electricity arced over her body, snapping and crackling through the silver fur now covering her skin.

Then, everything went dark.