Act I
[(Fire of Mercy) - Souls purified 3/100. Active.]
I was looking at my chest, the branded rune turned tattoo was showing me something different. It was a guess, but I think the reason I was still alive was because of this ability.
"I'm missing a purified soul. . . I guess I can heal, as long as I have enough." I spoke to myself as the others were speaking to each other, as we all stood around a campfire as Seraphina made stew.
Unlike me and Eclipsa, who had been surviving on forage salads and roasted meat. Seraphina and Chara were lucky enough to have a Dream Essence called [Mother's Pot] it was bronze rank and its ability was enhancing the flavor and nutrients of food cooked using it.
"Well now that we're sticking together, for a while at least until we find a temple. . . We should know each other more, I'll start." As I spoke as I felt my belly turn, it made me smile atleast I know I can still have stage fright.
"I'm Daniel Dawn, I specialize in using a Bow and Staff, I have two Dream Essences, an arrow that doesn't miss and a necklace that enhances my senses." I pointed at the fang necklace around my neck.
"I have five abilities, one of them comes from my Dream name which is 'Merciful Sun'. I just found out that it lets me heal. One other can be used in direct combat and it needs me to be riding a mount, the rest are utility. Oh, Also my Virtue prevents me from killing anything." After honestly giving out my combat abilities everyone had turned silent, the only sound was the stirring of the metal pot.
"I guess I'll go next." Chara spoke, a small smile lingered on his pale cold flushed face. Breaking the silence that appeared, after my sudden revelations of my abilities.
"Call me Chara, I used to be a pretty good fencer, but because of my Virtue I'm back to being a beginner. . . I have three Dream Essences, this outfit." He motioned to his clothes and tartan patterned cloak.
"It has two abilities, one makes it so the wearer would always be comfortable when sleeping. The other is an aura ability that makes everything around me become blurred to the senses of anyone outside the aura." I looked at him, as he ladled himself a bowl of stew and I did the same. Also blurred? Is that why we could barely see their campfire?
"The other one is this cooking pot, my dad bought it for me and like I told you earlier. You can pretty much put anything edible in here and it'll become an incredible stew." He paused as he took a bite and then coughed, I looked at him confused, Cough* I started coughing too as I tasted the stew. It was incredibly bitter, with a powerful taste of wild duck, and an oddly refreshing celery after taste.
"Did you guys use the moss? You do know these stuff are basically Irish moss, which means they're high in bitter, causing Vitamin B." I explained as I took a handful of the flowering extremely moist moss.
"The stew needed more water. . ." Seraphina mumbled, as I shrugged and kept eating the stew. Vitamin B was important and atleast it had an interesting taste.
"Cough* Alright let's continue, I also have this. . . It's a piece of paper that once ripped would scream the things written on it." I looked at the old looking piece of paper Chara summoned, I also saw the large charcoal written words that spelled [Help] on it.
"As for abilities I have three and they're all related to me being a prophet, I can sense intentions. I sometimes get prophetic dreams about the future, past or present and. . ." He paused looking up at the sky.
"I can see into souls." Thud* I dropped my spoon, as I looked at him, and then smiled.
"That's so cool! So you can see your status boulder without being a bronze rank!" I almost stood up in excitement, with Chara being able to do this. We wouldn't need to worry about missing a notice every time it appears while we're busy!
I looked around and saw the other two in the party not looking as excited as I was, one was looking more impassive than normal, the other trying to hide a frown as I saw venom in her eyes.
Act II
I was tired, mostly from almost dying but more of the realization that the girls weren't very trusting, as they shared little about their abilities and Essences. Especially Eclipsa, I think she has a Dream name like me and Seraphina but unlike me she's still hiding as well as her virtue.
I can't wait for her to tell me when we reach bronze rank, she probably had the same advice told to her. Wait, is it really rare for iron ranks to be given Dream names in their first Dream challenge?
How many heroes were just like me and Eclipsa, that hid their Dream name until they reached bronze or silver before revealing it to others. . . I should ask Constable Emmer when I get back, the thought sounds too much of a conspiracy to not ask about, especially after I become a Hero.
"Hey, are you awake?" A familiar voice whispered in the dark, I was about to sleep but my senses screamed as I heard Eclipsa. I was about to whisper back and tell her a small joke about me not trying anything but then, someone else whispered in the dark first.
"Yes. . . I am." It was too curt for me to not realize, it was Seraphina who answered back into the darkness of night. The words I was about to say never left my lips as I pretended to sleep and just listened. There was a long silent pause, I almost thought Eclipsa fell asleep but then she whispered again.
"Can I ask you a question?" Eclipsa sounded unsure, it wasn't a rare tone. She always sounded like that, especially before we did something mildly dangerous.
"Why not." Seraphina answered, her voice was neutral as always. I still can't read her even after being one of the few in our batch that interacted with her regularly.
Thinking about it now, Seraphina and Eclipsa had that in common they both acted like loners in the batch. Both of them never joined a group, one refused those that tried, the other never had any offers.
But is it that bad? I and Chara didn't join a group either, I sometimes see him eat with Eclipsa. At first I thought they were a thing, but seeing how the two interacted earlier. I guess I shipped the two, too quickly. . .
"You're a Winter, practically Dawn city royalty. . . Why do you only have two Dream Essences? Shouldn't you have more." Eclipsa turned quiet after her whispers. Her words made me think, was Seraphina from a rich family like Chara?
I doubt it, she didn't have any maids helping her like Chara did. Or did I not see them? She wasn't blind like Chara, so her servants might have just been in her room all the time or like Chara dressed like the Academy staff. I just didn't notice them helping her with her daily life.
"Actually I had three, but I traded two of them to Chara." Seraphina didn't sound bitter about such a lopsided trade. But then again the two Dream Essence she had were very useful, a durable long sword that can shift its length and an amulet that doubles her stamina.
I wonder what she got from the trade, and was it worth it? I mean like me she was almost naked. Wearing a rough grass and clover vine bikini, I'm guessing the outfit Chara was wearing and the paper were the things she used to trade.
After the answer, Eclipsa didn't say anything again for a long stretch of time, it was actually becoming awkward. Was she hesitating or did she fall asleep? Is this what people call pillow talk? Is this how she'll be if I start dating her? My line of thought broke as Eclipsa spoke again.
"Why. . . You sound poorer than I am, and I'm an orphan." I can hear something I've never heard from Eclipsa's voice before, why was she so frustrated? And confused.
"When my Mother died, she took most of our family's wealth in Essences with her. The rest was used to keep our household alive, but eventually both our clan Dream and Nightmare Essences had run out. . . My sword, and both the outfit and paper charm that Chara has were all from my first Dream Challenge." I listened as Seraphina spoke, her usual cold voice spoke like she wasn't the one telling her own story.
"Still, you're from a clan! Why would Dawn city let your family become so poor. . . Atleast with all your privilege, you shouldn't have become just like me and Daniel." A chill came to my spine as I heard the heat in Eclipsa's voice, she usually hides her emotions.
Not as well as Seraphina, but she still hides them. . . This conversation was doing something to her, I guessed she was empathic. Also it kinda hurts to be called poor, even after I worked so much since I was 11.
"The city helped, a lot actually. . . Thier the reason my father is still alive, and being taken care of." Seraphina was being measured, I guessed even she needed to hide a few things.
I hope when they start trusting each other they could be more open, like me and Chara. He was the first one I told about my Virtue and Dream name, mostly to ask for his views as a rich boy in the post apocalypse.
It wasn't much different from what Constable Emmer advised me on, he was even mad that I told him such important things. He even made me promise to not share my Dream name again, atleast we enter the Dreaming.
"Can I ask you a question?" Seraphina broke the quiet she made, I heard someone swallow a hard breath, before Eclipsa answered.
"Sure, ask me anything, I'll be honest." Eclipsa's worried words made me smile. I've been with Eclipsa long enough to guess that her Virtue has something to do with lying. She either can only lie or tell the truth, I'm still not sure which one it was.
"How did you know I was from a clan?" Seraphina sounded curious, just like when I gifted her something I got from another girl, who failed a confession. It was a small carrot cake, with 'I like you' on its head.
"I heard it from Catharine, she told her friends to not insult you, because you're also from a clan." Huh, wonder how Cathaine knew, was she childhood friends with Seraphina? I honestly should have known she was from a clan especially after spending so much time with her, mostly because Chara was busy most of the time . . . Not thinking about it, I think I just had too much free time.
After Eclipsa answered another long stretch of silence appeared, but I couldn't fall asleep. There was too much drama happening between the two, hopefully they didn't notice me pretending to sleep.
"I have another question." Eclipsa spoke again, her voice was strange, I didn't recognize the tone.
"Why are you helping the flower boy? Isn't he a burden." The question almost made me sit up and look at her in disbelief, why would someone ask something like that?!
"Why? Aren't you doing the same with the big guy?" The hell! Even you Serphina, why are you two so cold, also I'm a burden? Why? I've been doing my best.
"No, they're not the same. Daniel saved me. . . I don't think I can save someone, I'm not like you or Daniel." I can hear anger in her voice, also was Eclipsa gritting her teeth? I wonder if her virtue makes her feel pain every time she tells the truth. . . I was right her Virtue was lying after all, and that whenever she tells the truth she would feel pain.
Act III
"Becuase I wanted too, the reason I saved you Eclipsa is because if I did not I would have regretted not doing anything for the rest of my life. . . I'm not the kindest person, I just know that if I do not try then I'll end up regretting it." I finally whispered, my voice was tired but still I tried sounding as gentle as I could.
There was a stretch of silence again, I guess they were surprised I was still awake. But still I can't keep silent after them sharing so much about each other, they should know me a bit more too.
"You idiot, you should have let the girls talk." A mirthful voice came, a familiar chiding. I knew it! I wasn't the only one listening in. In the end I ignored Chara, as I whispered again.
"Do you three know the story of Heracles?" My question wasn't answered, so I continued.
"He was from a legendary time filled with heroes much like our own and as a son of a god, he was born to do amazing things. But because his father is an ass, cheating on his wife and birthed him as a bastard. Hera was angered and cursed the Hero to live a vile life." I paused remembering more of the story.
"He tried his best to right the wrong his father had done, but it was for nothing. Even after completing 12 impossible labours to appease the vengeful goddess Hera, it did not help, as she was still mad and vengeful." A smile came to me, this was one of my favorite Hellenic stories. I got lost in it, telling them of his legendary labours but then I remembered why I was telling the story.
"In the end everything was taken from him. His wife and children were killed by his own hands due to madness brought by the goddess herself. His honor and titles were stripped by his king as he was banished from his home." I took a pause, my throat drying from my story but I continued.
"Now for the question, even after all that he suffered, why did he never hate the Goddess Hera? even taking her name and becoming Heracles the champion of Hera." The stars were beautiful, especially after the campfire was gone.
"Becuase he was afraid of the goddess, and he wanted to live." Eclipsa answered, her voice unsure, but the tiredness was more apparent than anything else.
"He wanted to right his father's mistake. . ." Seraphina answered, her own voice was just as tired as Eclipsa's, but it sounded warmer than normal.
"He was a masochist, much another big guy I know." Chara's ribbing felt painful, but I can clearly hear he was most tired among us. After his words I gave them time to think about their answers before I spoke.
"I never knew the real answer. . . he never told me, but I always thought it was that he hated his father more than he ever feared Hera, that in the end when he finally died forgiven by the goddess, he regretted nothing." I wonder if I can be the same in this lifetime, to die without any regrets so my next would be easier or should I start looking for a way to forget memories that I don't want to remember.