Three months later

Nyx had finally gotten used to her new reality—being able to see. It was still strange to her sometimes, waking up and opening her eyes to a world so vibrant, so full of color and light. There were moments when she'd blink in disbelief, just to make sure it wasn't all a dream. Now that she could see, everything felt so much easier.

"Can you believe it?" she marveled one day, her eyes tracing the outline of the trees swaying in the breeze. "Everything's... alive. The colors, the light, it's like the world had been hiding from me this whole time."

Len grinned beside her. "You probably weren’t expecting it to be this green, huh?"

Nyx laughed, a sound that felt lighter than usual. "I didn’t even know what green was supposed to look like. Now I can’t get enough of it."

Her new vision had made life smoother in ways she hadn’t imagined.

They had taught her how to cook as well.

Nyx crouched by the campfire, carefully holding a few skewers over the flames. The smell of roasting meat filled the air, but she could already tell some parts were starting to blacken.

“Turn them before they burn!” Suli called out, rushing over to help. She grabbed one of the skewers, turning it slowly. “You’ve got to keep an eye on it and rotate them more often.”

Nyx sighed, feeling a little embarrassed. “I thought I was doing it right…” She shifted her grip and started turning the others, hoping they weren’t too far gone.

“You’re doing great,” Ryu said as he walked up with a handful of herbs. “Here, sprinkle these on the meat. It’ll add some flavor, but don’t overdo it.” He showed her how to crush the herbs in her hand and rub them onto the skewers.

Nyx followed his lead, trying to be careful not to mess it up. “Cooking out here is harder than it looks.”

Len, leaning against a nearby tree, laughed. “Welcome to forest life. Lesson one: don’t let the fire get too hot. Lesson two: patience. You’ll get the hang of it.”

Nyx grinned, feeling a little more confident as she watched the meat cook more evenly. “Alright, next time, dinner won’t be half charcoal.”

She could now go out and hunt her own food, a task that felt impossible not too long ago.

“You caught that by yourself?" Suli asked, eyebrows raised as she eyed the game Nyx had brought back. "Not bad, Nyx."

Nyx couldn’t hide her pride. "And I can cook it, too. Wanna help?"

Small tasks that used to frustrate her were now things she did with ease, like combing her hair, no longer needing assistance from anyone. It was such a small thing, yet it felt like one of the biggest freedoms.

"Bet you’re happy I’m not tugging at your hair anymore," Suli teased, watching her from across the room.

Nyx smirked. "You’ll always be welcome to help, but yeah, it feels good to do it myself."

Even learning magic has become easier.

With her sight, she could better understand the flow of energy and see the auroras that surrounded people and objects. The whole world felt different now—alive with magic in a way she couldn’t grasp before. Her aurora skills had skyrocketed, and she found herself studying the hues that danced around her friends. Ryu’s fiery red, Guerim’s bright orange, Suli’s shifting greens and blues, Nabi’s vibrant purple and Len’s shimmering silver—it all seemed so natural now.

The day after she got her sight back, Nyx had gone with the others to visit Griff's cave.

When she saw Griff for the first time, her breath caught in her throat. The majestic Griffin, with his broad wings and sleek feathers, was more awe-inspiring than she could have ever imagined.

“Griff,” Nyx said, her voice full of excitement. "I can finally see you now."

Griff’s sharp gaze softened as he looked down at her. “You can, huh? So, the Snake really did it?”

Nyx nodded eagerly. "Yes! Isn’t it incredible?"

Griff’s expression shifted, thoughtful. “It is... But I’m curious—why would the Snake help you?”

Nyx shrugged. That was the question that kept coming up, but she had no answer for it. The Snake was cold and distant, yet he had granted her the ability to see. It didn’t make sense.

When she wasn’t at Griff’s cave, she spent her time with the Tiger. The Tiger was glad the Snake had helped her too.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Good. Maybe now you’ll stop bumping into things during training," the Tiger teased, a playful glint in his eye.

Nyx grinned. "I can keep up with you now, no problem."

Her training with the Claw of Eternal was progressing faster than ever. Now that she could see clearly, her movements were sharper, her strikes more precise. Every session brought her closer to mastering the technique.

“You’re getting better,” the Tiger told her after one particularly intense practice. “Won’t be long before you’re ready to visit a dungeon.”

Her heart leaped. “Really? You think so?”

The Tiger gave a firm nod. “Keep this up, and you’ll be more than ready.”

The excitement buzzed through her, and she couldn’t wait to tell the others. They were all just as thrilled—everyone eager for the adventure that lay ahead.

After training, Nyx often found herself back at the Snake’s cave, with the others tagging along. Even though the Snake had told her not to return, she hadn’t listened. She never really did when it came to him.

Ryu had been nervous at first. "You sure it’s okay for us to be here? He’s... not exactly friendly."

Nyx just smiled, giving Ryu a reassuring pat on the back. "He doesn’t mind. Besides, we’re not bothering him."

“Not yet,” Len muttered under his breath, though there was a trace of humor in his voice.

To their surprise, the Snake barely reacted to their presence. He seemed indifferent, only glancing at them from time to time but never telling them to leave.

At one point, Nyx had looked up at the Snake and asked, "Why do you let us come here?"

His cold eyes flicked down to her. "I don’t care what you do. Just stay out of my way."

Nyx had smiled at his response. "I’m here because you helped me. And I enjoy your company."

The Snake had only hissed in response, though there was something softer in his tone. Maybe he was starting to tolerate her... just a little.

Nyx had even started tidying up his cave. Every time she visited, she made sure everything was clean and organized. It had become her way of saying thanks.

“You don’t have to do that,” the Snake had told her once, his voice low and gruff.

“I know,” she replied with a light smile. “But I want to.”

At first, the Snake had been annoyed by her constant presence, and by the noise her friends brought with them. He would let out exasperated sighs or glare at them, but after a while, he stopped trying to chase them away. He ignored them until they finished whatever they were doing and left. But, truth be told, he was starting to get used to them. Not that he’d ever admit it.

Yet there was one thing that still puzzled Nyx: why had the Snake given her the ability to see? She found herself thinking about it during quiet moments. Had he felt pity for her? Or was there something else? When she had asked him once, his response had been cryptic, as always.

“Don’t question what’s done,” he had said, and that was that.

But Nyx knew there had to be more. For now, though, she pushed those thoughts aside. She had a new world to explore, and plenty of adventures ahead.

At Drac’s cave

At Drac’s cave, Nyx watched in anticipation as Drac extended his large, scaled claw, revealing a delicate silver necklace.

“What’s this?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement.

Drac’s eyes glinted with a rare softness. “It’s a gift for you. Just like the magic bag and pouch, this necklace has its own enchantments.”

Nyx’s eyes widened as she took the necklace, marveling at the pale blue gem that shimmered in the light.

“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “What does it do?”

“This necklace creates a protective shield around you,” Drac explained, his voice deep and rumbling. “It guards against physical and magical attacks, and it activates on its own when you’re in danger.”

“It’s amazing!” Nyx said, clearly thrilled. “I’ll name it Rion.”

A notification appeared before her:

New Animus Obtained

Rion - Magic Necklace

Level: F

Can Level Up: Yes

Materials Needed:

10 Red Magic Crystals

20 Yellow Magic Crystals

30 Purple Magic Crystals

Nyx admired the necklace, noting its delicate craftsmanship. The silver gleamed softly, and the pendant’s pale blue gem had an almost ethereal glow. Tiny engravings of swirls and stars adorned the setting, adding to its mystique.

“You like it?” Drac asked, his gaze softening as he watched her reaction.

“I love it!” Nyx replied, beaming. “Thank you so much. I can’t wait to use it and explore dungeons. I’m already thinking about the perfect gifts for everyone who’s helped me.”

As Nyx eagerly clasped the necklace around her neck, her friends gathered around, their curiosity piqued. Len’s eyes widened as he took in the intricate design.

“Wow, that’s stunning, Nyx!” he said, a broad smile on his face. “It looks like something from a legend.”

Suli leaned closer, her gaze fixed on the pendant. “It’s so elegant. And it’s got that faint glow. Drac really outdid himself.”

Ryu nodded in agreement. “It’s got a magical aura to it. I bet it’ll protect you from all sorts of dangers.”

Nabi fluttered excitedly around Nyx, his tiny wings buzzing. “It’s like you’re wearing a piece of the sky! It’s perfect.”

Guerim, though usually more reserved, looked at Nyx with a warm smile. “You deserve it. It’s great to see you so happy.”

Nyx beamed, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Thank you all! I can’t wait to try it out. And I promise, I’ll find something just as special for each of you when I get the chance.”

Drac gave a low, rumbling chuckle. “You deserve it. I’m sure you’ll find something special.”

Nyx fastened the necklace around her neck, feeling its gentle magic. Her happiness was palpable, and she eagerly looked forward to future adventures, excited to give back to those who had supported her along the way.

That night after Nyx got her eyesight

That night, as Nyx settled in and the others began to relax, Drac stormed over to the Snake, his anger barely contained.

“Why did you help Nyx today?” Drac’s voice was sharp, betraying his frustration. “You’ve made it clear you didn’t want her around. So what changed? Why did you intervene?”

The Snake met Drac’s gaze with a mixture of irritation and confusion. “Honestly, I don’t know. It was as if something just took over me. I saw her struggling to protect those creatures, and despite her obvious inability, I felt this overwhelming urge to step in.”

Drac’s eyes narrowed. “An urge? So, you’re saying it wasn’t a rational decision?”

The Snake shook his head, clearly agitated. “No, it was more of a reflex. I saw her fighting an impossible battle, and something inside me just reacted. It’s not something I can easily explain or justify.”

Drac’s expression hardened. “So, you just acted on impulse? That’s not good enough. You’ve always been in control. Why would you let something as trivial as this change that?”

The Snake’s frustration mirrored Drac’s. “It’s not about control. It’s about something deeper. I’ve never acted on impulse like this before. It’s unsettling and infuriating.”

Drac’s anger flared. “You think it’s unsettling? Try dealing with someone who disrupts everything they touch, and then gets saved by the likes of you. She’s not just making waves—she’s creating storms.”

The Snake’s eyes flashed with irritation. “I’m aware. But sometimes, even when you try to remain detached, emotions have a way of forcing their hand. I didn’t want this, but it happened.”

Drac’s tone was firm. “Well, whatever the reason, Nyx seems to have a knack for affecting everyone around her. Even you, despite your best efforts to stay aloof.”

The Snake’s silence was heavy with frustration. He knew Drac was right, but accepting it was another matter. Deep down, Nyx’s persistence and vulnerability had somehow reached him in a way he hadn’t expected.

Drac’s voice was clipped as he turned to leave. “Keep an eye on her. She’s got a lot of potential, and clearly, she’s making more of an impact than either of us anticipated.”

The Snake’s response was curt. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Drac walked away, the Snake stared into the darkness, grappling with the frustrating and confusing emotions that had driven him to act against his own judgment.