Chapter 13: Forgiveness
The air is different. The musty scent of old books linger by the nose. The rows of metal shelves assemble in dignity. Standing upright, the shelves salute to the rising sun as it peaks out from the stained glass windows. The air is still. The air is quite. The sound of pages turning. A lone reader sits in tranquility among the vast world of knowledge.
“Pssst. Hey.” (Sora)
Closing the book, the boy turns his attention to Sora. His demeanor is meek. It matched his unique appearance. Lanky in size, his large round specs look almost out of place. Adjusting his lense, the boy whispered.
“Hey Sora, what brings you here?” (Matsuo)
Sitting down, Sora explained his situation and his current dilemma.
“Hm, I see. Now you’re under a status effect called Shrink” (Matsuo)
“Yeah, you wouldn’t happen to know a cure would you?” (Sora)
Matsuo pondered while tilting his head upwards. His rims once again slided down his nose. While adjusting his glasses…
“Well, I don’t know the cure but there has to be an antidote right?” (Matsuo)
“Antidote?” (Sora)
“Yeah, you know, like potions that cures status ailments instead of HP. Usually made of herbs and japtem” (Matsuo)
“Oh I see! So I just need to make an antidote! Thanks Matsuo!” (Sora)
[SHHHHH]
“Eeek. Sorry!” (Sora)
[SHHHHH]
The librarian wasn’t too impressed with the ruckus Sora was making.
“Hey Sora, it’s not that easy t-” (Matsuo)
“Thanks Matsuo, I’ll catch you later!” (Sora)
[SHHHHH]
As Sora left the school’s library, Matsuo literally tackled Sora from behind.
“Hey Sora! Wait up, I need to explain how to make potions!” (Matsuo)
Matsuo was well versed in apothecary and alchemy. He never made a cure for ‘shrink’ before but he’s made several other types of antidotes. They all followed similar preparation. As he explained the process to Sora…
“W-wait! You’re saying I need that?” (Sora)
“Of course! There’s no other way to make a [moderate] antidote unless you have that!” (Matsuo)
Sweat began to trickle from Sora’s brow.
“Y-you’re joking right?” (Sora)
“Does the great Matsuo ever joke about games?!” (Matsuo)
He’s right, Matsuo never lies when comes down to gaming
*sigh*
***
After dinner, Sora settled inside the capsule. He prayed that everything was okay.
Welcome back Marcus
[Kyaaaa!]
“Gah!” (Marcus)
Marcus felt his flesh being torn away from his back. He stumbled towards the group as he took in the situation. A giant black paw was reaching into their small den. The sound of snarling came from outside the walls. Some sort of creature was trying to dig it’s way in. Marcus looked around. His crops were completely destroyed. Everyone was against the wall, panicking. 1..2..3...18. Everyone was still alive. However Tessel was on the floor with a large gash across his chest. The bleeding stopped but he was on the brink of death.
The axe!
Marcus pried the axe from Tessel’s hands. Blood was pumping. Marcus began assaulting the beast while dodging left and right. After a small contest, the paws retracted. Peering from the entrance, the eye of a red fox. It snarled as it left the premise. Everyone sighed in relief. It was still evening. The sun hasn’t fully set just yet.
“Hey Tessel, are you okay?” (Marcus)
*cough cough*
“D-does it look like I’m okay?” (Tessel)
Good, he’s still breathing
Marcus began planting again. This time he wasn’t just planting food but also herbs. It’s impossible to identify the properties of a plant from the seeds alone. After using his bucket as a makeshift pot, he cooked a vegetable stew over the fire. The taste was bland and unappetizing but no one complained. They used a dry leaf as a platter and their hands to eat. One by one, Marcus identified all the herbs he had.
Red Falu: (Grade: C) Used for making potions and cooking. Consume: +15 hp/leaf
Blue Siniy: (Grade: C) Used for making potions and cooking. Consume: +10 mp/leaf
Helix herb: (Grade: C) Used for making potions and cooking. Consume: +10 sta/leaf
Rosemary: (Grade: C) Used for making antidote and cooking. Consume: (minor) cure: fatigue
Thyme: (Grade: C) Used for making antidote and cooking. Consume: (minor) cure: silence
Mint: (Grade: B) Used for making antidote and cooking. Consume: (minor) cure: burn
Yarrow: (Grade: B) Used for making antidote. Consume: (minor) cure: bleed
Following Matsuo’s instruction, Marcus started grinding Red Falu and Yarrow. He then squeezed a giant leaf for some water. He combined the red paste and leaf’s juice into the bucket and heated it over the fire. The liquid became more viscous as Marcus continue to stir.
[ping]
You've created (minor) red healing salve.
Description: Apply to wounds. Can be used with bandage. +150 HP. Cure (minor) bleeding
Through special action(s): (New) Sub-skill alchemy: Apothecary beginner level 1
+ 5 intelligent, + 5 wisdom
Marcus quickly cooled down the salve. He then started treatment for Tessel’s wound. Like magic, the gash started to close and the skin changed from purple to a pale brown. Everyone sighed in relief. Marcus was happy but at the same time disappointed. He didn't have any herbs that would cure ’shrink’.
As night fell, they heard the sound of babies crying out in the distance. Marcus quickly snuffed out the fire as he peeked outside. Buzzing around in a red glow were the fairies!
Marcus stumbled back into the den as he told everyone to stay quiet. Cold sweat broke out. Some were shivering in fear, while other held their eyes shut.
The sound of babies wailing continued from above. The cries were full of sorrow, however their face told a different story. What Marcus saw was a complete transformation, from the smile of an innocent child to the face of an old man, growling in irritation. The fairy’s complexion has morphed! Wrinkles were prominent around their angry eyes. Their cheeks sagged and their mouth opened so wide that they could probably swallow Marcus whole if they tried. While their white skin glowed in a pinkish tone, their heads was pulsing in a bright red. It looked like a pimple that was about to erupt.
[Waaahhh! Waaahhh!]
As everyone’s held their breath, the glows slowly vanished. Everything was silent.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“...” (Marcus)
[Kyaaa!]
A GIANT EYE! Peering in the hole was the eye of a fairy! The seething anger quickly dissipated into a serene smile. The eyes was still terrifying.
[giggle]
“...” (Marcus)
[Ehehehehehehe! Ehehehehe! EHEHEHE! ROAR!]
The room started to shake. Everyone started to scream as the demon was banging it’s head at the entrance. The forehead of the demon started to bleed as it threw a tantrum.
That’s it!
Marcus grabbed his bucket and ran towards the entrance. Everyone gasped! What was Marcus planning to do with a bucket?
As the fairy continued to assault the tree, Marcus held out the bucket…
*drip*
A drop of blood… Marcus wanted the blood. What Matsuo told Marcus was simple. For most (moderate) antidote, you usually need something from the monster that caused the ailment. Typically their blood.
Quickly, Marcus started a fire! He crushed some Red Falu, Blue Siniy and Helix herbs, and mixed it with the blood. He didn’t know the proper recipe but he prayed something useful would appear. Time was of the essence. Cracks began to form on the walls. Marcus knew the tree wouldn’t hold up any longer!
[Bang! Bang!]
Marcus continue to stir vigorously! The moonlight started to pour through the cracks!
[BANG! BANG]
Everyone was terrified. The screams were getting louder.
[BANG! -CREAKKK- BANG!]
Come on! PLEASE, SOMETHING!
[BANG! BANG!]
“Kyaaaaa” (villagers?)
The tree collapsed! Everyone was in a frenzy as dust filled the air. The laughter of fairies started to surround them.
[giggle]
3...4? How many were there? Everyone prayed, they knew they were going back. Going back to the hell they escaped from….
“Oh Please God. Please save us!” (villagers?)
Slowly the dust disappeared. Standing above them was a large shadow. What was it? Was it death?
The moon started to shine down on the villagers. They looked up with tears in their eyes.
“...Sorry, I’m no God... but I’ll be your hero...” (???)
Standing like a tower was Marcus! Hoe in hand, he was ready to fight!
“ROAR!” (Fairy???)
“You’ve done enough harm demons, it ends now!” (Marcus)
Swinging his hoe with all his might, he knocked the fairies to the floor. Quickly he pounced. Jamming his knee into their guts while pounding their face with his Hoe.
[ping]
Though special action(s): Grind is now Crush!
The fairy face was a bloody pulp. It wasn’t over just yet. The fairies started diving at Marcus from the sky. Little horns grew from their temple. Instead of calling them fairies, it would be more appropriate to call them demons!
Marcus tumbled to the left as the demons whizzed by! He was up against 4, but he knew reinforcement would come. He needed to be quick. He equipped the axe with his left hand.
Carnage ensued as Marcus continued to massacre the demons one by one! Then reinforcement came from the south! Fireballs started to rain down on Marcus.
Change of plans. Marcus tumbled over to the villagers. He scooped them all up and shoved them into his sack. He started to run! The forest has caught on fire! 7 demons were now on hot pursuit! Marcus munched on some Red leaves he pulled from his inventory.
If it wasn’t for the night, Marcus would have ran straight into another group of Demons. The red glow was slowly being masked by the raging inferno.
Gotta run! I can’t kill all of them!
Marcus was confident in fighting 2-3. But fighting a whole army was impossible. He didn’t know where he was or where he was running. But there was only one thing on Marcus’s mind. DON’T STOP!
He continued to munch on some more yellow leaves for stamina. He looked back. The demons were still chasing him!
[ROAR!]
What to do? What to do?
A sudden thump knocked Marcus over. He held onto his sack, not only were the villagers inside, but also Diloria!
Marcus was on the ground. Slowly the demons started to circle Marcus. He knew what was about to happen. They were going to shrink him again!
He quickly felt around, his axe and hoe was gone! He notice a glint of metal behind the demons…
Fuck…
Marcus was now trapped. He quickly looked into his inventory. Time was ticking. The red light started to swirl around Marcus. That’s when Marcus saw. The flute.
He started to play the flute! In the midst of the roaring demons, the sweet melody was being played. It was calm. Serene. Marcus didn’t know how to play the flute but he continued to play. The trees began to vanish in the red light. The demons were spinning faster and faster.
Marcus felt the nausea. He felt the migraine. But he continued to play.
The sweet melody grew louder and louder. This was it. Do or die.
As the ground started to glow, Marcus couldn’t keep up. He couldn’t play the flute anymore. He felt like gagging.
The flute fell to the ground as Marcus vomited. The feelings started to sink in…
Despair.
All hope was lost. The flute was a sham! Why did Marcus believe the words of Annalise? What the hell could a flute do at a time like this?
Rage.
Marcus was pounding the ground. He was stupid. He should have kept on running. He should have fought with his shovel!
Remorse.
Marcus started to cry. The villagers. He promised he’d help them. He promised to be their Hero. He felt pathetic.
As tears slowly rolled down Marcus cheeks, he kept crying out.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Hic- I-I’m sorry!” (Marcus)
As the light started to blind Marcus vision, a gust of wind blew from where the flute was!
The demons were all scattered on the ground. The light dimmed. The shadows returned.
Marcus was confused. He slowly gazed towards the sky….
It was magical. A silhouette of a woman was floating in the center of a full moon. Her dressed was like a nightgown, hanging ever so gently from her supple curves. Her thin waist only accented her hips all the better. Marcus couldn’t make out the details but he could tell she was beautiful. Like a goddess.
The enigma grew as the women raised her arms towards the sky. The leaves started to rustle as the bodies of the demons were being sliced by air. Whoever this woman was, she just saved Marcus.
Slowly she floated back down and raised Marcus’s chin with her delicate finger.
She smiled as Marcus stuttered...
“W-who a-are you?” (Marcus)
Her faced started to glow in a serene white hue. Marcus felt his body being healed as she whispered to him…
“Hello Hero, my name is Una…the queen of the Fairies” (Una)
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