Blessing

The enraged elf opened her bloodied eye and glared at Nolan. "I'LL KILL YOU!" She roared.

The larva simply jerked his body and dashed backward, escaping the cage. The elf screeched furiously, struggling to cast a spell. Seeing her tantrum made Nolan chuckle as old memories flooded back.

'Don't act tough. You can't even cast a basic spell, let alone kill me. This cage has anti-psyche minerals embedded in it.'

The elf panted heavily, glaring at the larva with unwavering anger.

'Aww! Don't make such a face. I'm not going to eat you... for now.'

Nolan flew toward the elf's body, landing and crawling across her face. The elf clenched her jaw in disgust as the insectoid left a slimy trail in its path.

"G-Get away!" She sneered.

'Hmm. If I go away, who will save you? That human?' Nolan teased as he examined the elf's mutilated lower half.

'This is bad. I don't think I'll obtain any decent traits if I eat her. Obtaining traits is like gambling, my last two traits were just my luck shining on me. But generally, the prey's physical condition affects the trait drop rate. Eating her now wouldn't be optimal.'

"Then what do you want?" The elf asked in desperation, her hatred for insectoids boiling inside her.

'A blessing.'

The small larva's words were far too bold for his size. An elf's blessing, this action is affiliated to a sacred ritual of the passing ceremony, where the old high elf decides it is time to pass the mantle and cremate themselves alive. The old high elf blesses a strong regular elf and passes his most treasured traits to the newer generation. That regular elf then becomes the candidate for the honorable position of the tribe leader. For this foul, rotten insect to request such a thing was beyond insulting.

The elf spat. "No! I would rather be eaten alive than bless your kind."

Nolan turned to the giant eye. 'Looks like you don't understand. I'm showing you mercy, a chance to get revenge.'

The elf paused, intrigued by the suggestion. Revenge... a second chance.

'If I consume you, I might fail to harvest your strongest trait, and you'll die. But if you bless me, you may survive. Possibly long enough to strike back at your enemies.'

At first, the elf didn't bought the strange larva's words. But she knew that she didn't have much options, if anything she needed a way out of this cage. Therefore after a long pause, the elf's eye blinked in agreement.

In his mind, Nolan smiled wickedly.

'Elves are still so easy to fool. Poor righteous bastards. Some things never change.'

"Promise me you will free me after I bless you." The female elf pleaded.

'Yes. I promise.' Nolan answered swiftly.

The elf took a deep breath and gathered what little strength she had left. "Come closer to my mouth."

Nolan obliged, flying up. A faint headache took hold as the elf began chanting.

"Under the watchful eyes of my ancestors, by the guidance of the Goddess Gaia, I, Freyna Kelar Hoslina, bestows the mantle of the Elder to this... benevolent creature."

WHOOSH!

A brilliant light burst through the storeroom, forcing many creatures to wince and cower. Nolan opened his eyes to a notification screen, his head throbbing in pain.

[You have been successfully blessed by a high elf!]

[You are the first insectoid in the entire cosmos to be blessed by a high elf.]

[Your reputation has increased.]

[You have gained multiple abilities!]

This was the moment that would decide the elf's fate. A blessing only passed traits that could be adapted by the recipient's potential. In simpler terms, the young elf's or any recipient's level matters the most on which specific traits he/she can obtain, on a detailed term class and other things affect the obtainable traits too. But the insectoids do not have any levels, logically the insectoids could learn the strongest trait of the elven species right off the bat.

With anticipation, Nolan opened his status screen:

[Name: Nolan Jones

Race: Greydust Beetle

Species: Insectoid

Current stage: Larval

Quest: Build the strongest intergalactic empire

Abilities: Strong mind (B-), Golden lips (A)

Mutations: Fragile Wings (E-), Sharp Vision (D)

Evolution: (N/A).]

[Strong Mind (B-): Protects the user's mind from psyche attacks and external stress. Enhances focus in tense situations. Reduces overall stress and chances of insomnia.]

[Golden Lips (A): No matter how poorly written a song is, the user will find the perfect rhythm to perform it beautifully. The user's voice will calm and soothe allies.]

Even if the larva's face couldn't show complex expressions, the elf sensed the chaos in Nolan's mind.

'Golden Lips? Strong Mind? How? I'm an freaking insectoid, I don't even have lips! What am I supposed to do with these useless abilities? Even with my human mind, I doubt I could wield these abilities fully.'

Disappointed by the outcome, Nolan sighed in frustration.

"I... I gave you my blessing. Now keep your promise." The elf pleaded weakly.

Nolan said nothing, staring blankly at the air. The elf focused her mind to read his thoughts.

'I am a man of my word. I will release you.'

The elf's ears perked up in relief.

'After I secure the surrounding area.'

"Wait! You promised! You can't-" The elf panicked as Nolan slowly walked away from her.

'I did promise to release you... but I never specified when. Sit tight.'

This was the last thought the elf heard before the larva vanished from her sight.

Meanwhile, in Luke's office, Captain Opal was examining Luke's corpse when the chubby psyker stormed in.

"Have you still not located Mark?" She barked.

Opal glanced up, then stood.

"I will. The corpse is still warm. He couldn't have gone far."

The psyker stomped over and grabbed Opal's collar.

"Find him!" She snarled, her voice shaking with rage.

Opal felt his head grow cloudy under the weight of her psychic pressure.

"The mothership is coming, and I don't want any disturbances. So find him... and kill him. Now!"

With that, the psyker forced Opal to his knees before storming out in anger.