**TW - Emetophobia
“Holy crap, Rowan, are you okay?” I exclaimed, panic rising in my voice. When they didn't respond, I gently shook their shoulder. A faint groan was the only indication they'd heard me. Rowan's normally vibrant, curly auburn hair now clung to their heart-shaped face, sticky and soggy from the aftermath of their sudden illness. Their athletic build, toned from years of digging through refuse piles for parts, seemed momentarily vulnerable. I turned to Ly, whose concerned expression deepened the creases between his eyebrows.
Ly stepped forward, his hand glowing with a soft, pale green light. “They should be fine,” he reassured us. “It looks like that first ability activation just took a lot out of them.”
Ms. Pierce nodded, eyes wide with worry. “Thank you, Lysander. Kaida, can you carefully pick Rowan up and help bring them to their room? We need to get them cleaned up.” She quickly thanked the remaining guests for coming and ushered them out, eager to restore a sense of normalcy to the evening.
I lifted Rowan with ease, their lean yet muscular frame feeling surprisingly light thanks to the physical enhancements granted by my own Awakening. My Adapt & Conquer ability had transformed physical challenges into opportunities for growth, making tasks like this almost effortless.
As I navigated the hallway, I carefully avoided bumping Rowan's head on the doorframe. Their dad followed closely, carrying a wet washcloth to clean up the remnants of their episode. Ly brought up the rear, cradling Rowan's remarkable creation – the intricate device born from their Mind Forge ability – and placed it gently on Rowan's desk.
Once in the bedroom, I laid Rowan on their bed, trying to make them as comfortable as possible. Mr. Pierce began wiping away the residue from their hair and face, his touch gentle. Rowan's eyes flickered, but they remained unresponsive.
I stepped back, giving Rowan's dad space to tend to them. Ly and I exchanged a concerned glance.
“Thank you for all your help you two, but I think we should let Rowan sleep this off for the night. We'll make sure they're taken care of and we'll call you when they wake up or if anything changes.”
“Thank you, Mr. Pierce. Please don't let Rowan try out the device until we’re here.” Ly said with a thin smile. He reluctantly stepped away from the desk with the glowing azure disk hovering above it.
“Yeah, I really want to see it in action. I'm sure it's amazing” I said over my shoulder as we both walked out.
Ly and I continued chatting with each other as we made our way through the narrow, crumbling streets. Flickering streetlights cast long shadows across the worn pavement, and the once-vibrant murals had faded to mere whispers of color. Weeds pushed through cracked sidewalks, and rusting hulks of antique vehicles lined the curb.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“Do you think this is going to happen every time their ability triggers?” I whispered to Ly.
He shrugged. “I've never seen anyone pass out like that before, but Rowan's ability seems pretty intense.”
“Me neither. I really hope they can come home tomorrow.”
As we turned onto our street, the dilapidated buildings seemed to close in around us. But amidst the neglect, our small, three-bedroom home stood out – a beacon of tidy resilience. Ivy crawled up the exterior walls, as if trying to reclaim the structure, but the windows sparkled, and the door creaked open to reveal a cozy interior.
We stepped inside, and Ly shut the door behind us, enveloping us in the warm glow of table lamps and the comforting scent of simmering dinner. The aroma of slow-cooked stew wafted from the kitchen, where a small, solar-powered cooker Rowan had jury-rigged months ago hummed quietly.
After shedding my shoes and coat near the door, I trudged upstairs, the weight of the evening's events still lingering. Ly had already settled onto the couch, lost in thought. I smiled, knowing he'd be there for a while, processing everything.
As I entered our small bathroom, the soft glow of the LED lights above the sink flickered to life. I gazed at my reflection, noticing the faint smudges of exhaustion under my eyes. A warm shower would help wash away the stress.
I turned on the water, letting it heat up as I quickly checked my core interface. A gold display blinked to life in my vision.
—
Adapt & Conquer
Tier 1
Unlock the art of resilience with Adapt & Conquer. After combat, you may enter an 'Adaptive State' – a meditative period of accelerated recovery and physiological adaptation.
In this state, your body analyzes the obstacles you overcame, optimizing your physical potential for future challenges. Every fight becomes an opportunity for growth, enhancing your resilience and combat potential.
—
Combat Log:
Last Engagement: 3 days ago
Adaptive State Duration: 2h 15m
Physiological Adaptations: +12.3% Strength, +6.4% Agility, +2.4% Endurance
I scanned the log, satisfied with the progress I'd made.
The shower's temperature had reached perfection. I stepped in, letting the warm water wash away the evening's tension.
As I began to unwind, my thoughts drifted back to Rowan. What would tomorrow bring for them? Would their ability continue to take such a toll? I made a mental note to check in on them first thing in the morning.
The water's soothing heat helped clear my mind, and I lost myself in the even rhythm as the droplets pattered against my face.
After drying off, I slipped on pajamas and crawled into my warm bed. Rowan had repaired heated blankets for all of us years ago, making the bed all the more comfortable. Their ability truly was perfect for them, except for that nasty side effect. At that moment, even knowing they were going to be okay, I hated not being able to help them. Rowan was always there for us, and this wasn't a problem that I could punch away.
Despite my racing mind, as I turned over, I felt myself beginning to drift to sleep, soothed by the warm hug of the blanket gifted by my best friend.
The darkness closed in, and I let out a deep breath, letting go of the worries for now. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I just slept.