Bloodmarked

“You are the living embodiment of our resistance. The revelation after centuries of hiding. The pain-weld blade. Wound turned weapon.”

Vera’s words show The Power and Pressure of Legacy. Though Bree inherits Vera’s power, she also takes on her expectations. Bree doesn’t want to be someone’s “weapon” but feels like she must honor her ancestors.

“Instead of forging weapons, typical Rootcrafters commune with ancestors to request access to ambient root—and there doesn’t seem to be a limit with how they use it after that, from healing to memory walking. But Vera’s Bloodcraft spell takes it one step further. In the cave, red root flames ignited within me and flowed from my body, down my arms and hands. I breathed out crimson fire that scorched isels and burned through their demon flesh—but only after they’d attacked me first.”

This quote contextualizes how Bree’s unique powers work: Legendborn steal “aether” from the air while Rootcrafters borrow power from ancestors. Vera’s Bloodcraft bound root to her descendants’ bodies. Like root, this power is meant for protection, not offense, and the power is borrowed, not taken.

“‘I gave you this post with the expectation that you would protect the Scion of Arthur’s life with your own.’

Sel is so furious he can barely speak. ‘And I accepted the post under that condition,’ he spits. ‘As a child.’”

Merlins are forced to enter their Oaths as children before they can properly understand what they mean and give informed consent. This tactic keeps the Order in control of Merlins at a great cost; like all Merlins, Sel is now bound to fulfilling these Oaths to repress his demon nature.