Chapter 295: White Raven’s Arrival

"What does that mean, exactly?" Zara asked with a frown. Uhtred, on the other hand, remained silent, already understanding exactly what Diya meant.

"I’m saying that even though we don’t know what makes up those last percentages of DNA, we are certain that for the transmutated body parts to work at all... for there to be any semblance of control, it must be vastly superior to all the other transmutated parts," Diya said.

"Which also makes it more likely that this is the main focus of the Prime Sapien Project. Nothing works at all without those unknown DNA," she added.

"...So you’re saying that these Prime Sapiens have what? Some type of superior DNA or bloodline?" Zara asked, her question eliciting a quick nod of assent from Diya.

That response seemed to make Zara pause and frown in thought.

All the while, Uhtred covertly observed her expression. He knew she possessed an Eternal bloodline just like he did, so the same thoughts must be playing through her head.

What kind of unknown bloodline or DNA did the Prime Sapiens have that enabled them to control four separate strains of human DNA in one body?

Granted, the Prime Sapien they had captured still had clear issues controlling his Transmutations properly. But for the most part, he was still able to remain in control.

Using him as a baseline, the Ancient Variants clearly had some secret, superior bloodline they were working with.

It’s clearly not an Eternal bloodline, for sure, Uhtred concluded with certainty.

Based on how seamless his own Transmutation had been so far, it seemed the Eternal blood running through his veins had a fair bit of merit. It was definitely superior enough to handle his Gnostic Eye.

Which means, in theory, I could actually be the perfect specimen for this Prime Sapien Project thing, Uhtred thought darkly.

...Well, Zara and I, he added.

Of course, he knew Zara was only a Half-Eternal based on what he had seen on her status. But then, on his own status panel, his race was written as Human, without any additions.

However, he knew that designation wasn’t accurate. Based on what he had learned from Towermaster Lorien — particularly about his heartless father — he was very much an Eternal. His situation was just unique because his human traits were dominant enough to trick the System into classifying him as a pure human.

"—That’s why it pains me that we can’t get anything out of that Prime Sapien," Diya spoke, dragging Uhtred out of his thoughts. "We could’ve found out more about this unknown DNA... and more."

She let out a weary sigh, leaning back in her seat in frustration, when all of a sudden, a knock was heard from the meeting room door. It opened up partly, revealing Dennis.

"Dennis? Why are you knocking—" Diya had only begun to ask, when Dennis opened the door wider, revealing another figure present.

"White Raven?" Diya blurted in surprise.

"Boss," Dennis greeted, stepping in fully and motioning to the woman behind him. "The Mistress of Nordrheim, White Raven, brought up to your meeting room upon arrival as you requested."

"Ah, yes." Uhtred stood up and walked around the table to greet their visitor. "White Raven. You actually arrived earlier than I expected. I thought you wouldn’t come until the very last day."

The calm, dark-haired and pale-skinned woman shook Uhtred’s hand in greeting, then replied in a soft voice:

"Ah, well, I felt compelled to be here earlier than I intended."

Her words were casual, yet at the same time, odd enough that they drew Uhtred’s attention. He nodded in response and offered her a seat, moving back to his own seat at the head of the table.

At the same time, the moment he sat, he fluidly activated his Gnostic Eye to peer at her details:

[Name: White Raven]

[Level: 32]

[Species name: Human]

[Core Grade: Rare]

[Class Name: Frost Seiðkona]

[Core Rank: Nascent (Ice and Shamanic Magic attuned)]

——

[Attributes]

Strength: 97

Agility: 98

Endurance: 94

Vitality: 123

Intelligence: 140

Perception: 132

Willpower: 129

Luck: 19

——

[Innate Skills]

Ice Storm (Level 8)

Scry of the Seiðr (Level 7)

Blizzard Armor (Level 7)

Intermediate Ice Magic (Level 7)

Mind Frostbite (Level 3)

——

The moment Uhtred laid eyes on White Raven’s status details, he paused.

Frost Seiðkona? he thought, his memories jogging at the familiar word. Aren’t Seiðkonas like Norse witches?

His mother, Freja, had Nordic roots, and she had made it a point to pass on the little knowledge she had to him even at his very young age before she passed, so Uhtred wasn’t fully ignorant of Nordic culture.

It was why that name rang a bell in his mind.

Yeahh... I’m right, Uhtred thought, looking further down White Raven’s status details. She had affinities for Ice and Shamanic Magic. She even had a skill called "Scry of the Seiðr" — Seiðr was literally the religion practiced by the Norse during their thriving eras.

Looking at her status details one more time, Uhtred mulled over White Raven’s statement again. Now that he knew her class and affinities, her statement had a different meaning. Did the Shamanic aspect of her affinity drive her to arrive here at this exact moment?

"You felt ’compelled’ to arrive earlier than you intended, you said?" he asked, his voice laced with meaning.

He stared at White Raven with a pointed look, making Diya, Zara, and even Dennis sense that something weird was up.

White Raven looked straight at Uhtred, holding his gaze.

"Yes. I wonder why that is..."

"Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. If fate has guided you to my doors this early, then it must only be for one reason." Uhtred stood up, his chair dragging across the floor sharply behind him. "I’d like you to see something, White Raven. I have a... strong feeling you’d be able to help out."

.

.

.

"Are you sure about this, Uhtred?" Diya moved close to Uhtred, whispering sharply.

Right after Uhtred’s statement, they had left the meeting room and headed straight for the facility where the Prime Sapien was being kept.

It was clear that, for whatever random reason, Uhtred suddenly felt the urge to show their high-value prisoner — one that no other faction knew was present here, even if they suspected it — to White Raven.

"This is so unlike you," Diya pressed. "Even if White Raven can be considered an ally, isn’t this too trusting of you? She’s only been here for less than ten minutes!"

"I fully agree with Diya on this one, Uhtred," Zara added from the side. Her expression remained calm and collected, unlike Diya, who looked clearly worried. But one could still tell that Zara was concerned.

"Leading a visitor to the secure facility... Are you sure you aren’t being beguiled?" she said.

Uhtred chuckled in response. "Trust me on this one, guys. I know what I’m doing. I believe she can help fish out information from that fucker before he dies."

"That’s exactly what a person being beguiled would say," Diya quipped.

They reached the entrance to the facility and entered with White Raven in tow, the guarding ascenders watching with vigilance. They descended to the bottom floor of the underground facility, returning to where Uhtred had stormed out of less than an hour ago.