On that dark night, in the middle of a plain covered in grass, the eyes of a dying Daniel began to glow as his body writhed.
Seeing this, Ebony gently lowered the boy's head to the ground, where it had been resting on her legs. She felt a strange magic she couldn't understand, unsure whether it was dangerous to stay close, so she stepped back.
"Is this normal, old man?" the blonde asked as she looked at Richard, the ghost rider.
"Yes, yes, yes, of course… Well, I don't know. I knew the recipe, but I've never actually had to use it. To be honest, I might've mixed up an ingredient. Maybe it was a maiden's tear and not a cat's, but hey, she's kind of two in one, right?" Richard said with a faint smile, clearly amused.
Hearing that, everyone present—Ebony, Lucian the elf, and Veronica the cat girl—could do nothing but shout the same thing at once.
"You've got to be kidding me, old man!"
Meanwhile, Daniel's body began to shine intensely. The green light surrounding him was dark and radiated a heavy magic tied to life itself, so strong that it withered the grass beneath his body.
But then, without warning, Daniel's body stopped writhing, and the magic around him began to flow directly into his mouth, as if it were feeding his life.
After that, his body lay still. His breathing returned to normal, his breath visible in the cold air, and his skin regained its usual pale tone.
Everyone present let out a sigh of relief upon seeing his condition improve—everyone except Richard, who sighed in disappointment, secretly hoping for something more interesting.
"(Ah, how disappointing. My lord's journal clearly stated the antidote recipe, but I was curious about what would happen if one component was changed. I guess a savage's tear still counts as an animal's tear—)"
Richard's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an intense wave of magic erupting from Daniel's body.
In that moment, surrounded by a greenish fire made of pure magic, Daniel slowly stood up, his eyes devoid of any iris, completely filled with that same green glow.
But almost immediately, the boy closed his eyes and, breathing calmly, began to control the magic, which stopped surging violently and gradually faded away.
When he opened his eyes again, they had returned to normal. In that moment of clarity, the fifteen-year-old boy saw a system message floating before him.
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
Congratulations!
You have obtained an ultra-rare achievement. You have survived an Undead curse, but not only that—you were purified by the essence of a Visitor, and you have also consumed the essence of a Savage! Your Warrior body has reacted to this combination of energies, achieving a successful hybridization! You have obtained your second Trait!
Traits:
- - Avenger of the Betrayed {D}
- - Devourer of Rot {B}
- - (Undefined)
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
Daniel fell silent after finishing the message, not understanding a single word. He wasn't the sharpest of the group.
"Ahhh, good thing that's over… you idiot, how could you worry us like that?" Ebony said irritably, resting her hands on her hips.
"Well done, kid. For a moment I thought you were going to die, but I guess you're tougher than that," Lucian said, crossing his arms.
"Don't think I won't collect for my help, boy. That tear wasn't charity," Veronica commented, pointing a finger at him. Despite her cold tone, a faint smile slipped through.
Daniel looked closely at his companions, his vision now adjusted to the darkness of the night. Lucian's clothes were torn from his fight against the banshee—necessary if he wanted its tears.
Ebony's clothes were dirty, with blackened patches from the explosions caused by the skeletal soldiers. She had risked herself to protect him when he was helpless.
"I… um… thank you all. I'm sorry for the trouble," Daniel said, lowering his head, embarrassed at being a burden.
"Hey, stop making that face. Next time it'll be your turn to watch our backs, idiot!" Ebony shouted as she stepped closer and lightly punched his arm.
Lucian placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, wearing a friendly smile.
Those gestures weren't forced. They weren't lies. There was genuine affection in those actions, beyond any obligation. But Daniel didn't understand that yet—it was as new to him as the warmth of a hug is to a newborn baby.
"(What stupid faces… What fake smiles… what… strange people…)" Daniel thought, letting out a tear so small it barely managed to roll down his face before reaching the ground.
After a few moments of relieved smiles and tired sighs, the group decided to make camp and sleep, while Richard kept his promise and stood guard.
Lucian suggested camping near the Midnight Inn, but Ebony and Daniel, fearful of the necromancer who watched over that place, insisted on moving several meters away.
Lucian gathered some firewood and started a campfire. Ebony fetched water from the river and, using her purification magic, made it drinkable, then heated it to make some coffee Daniel had bought in the city they'd left behind.
Hours passed filled with teasing about the elf's torn clothes and the blonde's dirt-covered appearance. This time, even Veronica, who usually avoided talking to the others, seemed less serious.
Lying on the grass and gazing at the stars above, none of them wanted to sleep, even though they were protected by a ghost rider who stayed hidden in the forest, away from the group, as the campfire's light bothered him.
"You know… I already told Ebony this… but I want you all to know too… My real name is Daniel, and I… Well, I'm not part of the cult. I just ended up there because of my brother… I don't actually believe any of the bullshit those crazy bastards preach," the boy confessed with a relieved look.
"I… don't like leaving the city. I hate having to travel far from my comfortable bed and sleep out in the open. I could never tell my father—he was happy when I went with him… but it's not so bad now…" Veronica said as her cat ears twitched, as if trying to hide.
"Mmm… I…" Lucian tried to reciprocate without revealing anything inappropriate. "I never planned on getting married… I thought I deserved to die alone like the rest of the half-breeds… but since I'm immortal, I was going to join some war next year so I could finally die…"
Hearing those confessions, Ebony felt a strange relief in her heart. They weren't her secrets, yet she still felt a weight inside her grow lighter.
"I… I had a group of friends some time ago… We lost a competition, and I got so angry that I pushed them away and ended up here… Now that I think about it, maybe I should've stayed with them. They must've felt just as bad as I did about losing…" Ebony said, her voice filled with shame as she admitted her fault.
That night, in that moment, the four traveling companions felt the weight of their lives lift from their shoulders. It wouldn't last forever, but it was enough to sleep in peace.