Bit by bit, the darkness scattered, and scampered away, as a dazzling white light, with a hint of crystal blue at its centre, pierced through Death. From just a small speck in the distance, it soon spread to cover his entire vision, and his Heart. The peace, and warmth… it reminded him of Yuri. It reminded him of her persistence to never give up, no matter the odds stacked against her. And most important of all, it reminded him of the promises he had made to her. There was still so much for him to do, so many Oaths to keep. How could he die then?

“Is the sleeping handsome finally awake?”

“…Almost,” Alnea said, feeling his head spin as his senses returned to him. Not from a sensory overload, of course. He reckoned that his headache was because of how exhausted his Spirit was. Not that his body was in any better condition. Or so he thought, until he understood what his senses were telling him. Cool, refreshing feeling, the kind that he only felt in his Spirit after it absorbed the chains of his Oaths, was spreading to every corner of his body. Even his Spirit was feeling an unprecedented state of relaxation. How did it feel like he was almost exhausted to death just a while ago?

“Where am I?”

“Why don’t you open your eyes, and see for yourself?”

Good point, Alnea thought, and opened his eyes, only to see a greenish blue light. Wherever he looked, all he saw was the greenish blue light, stretching endlessly into the distance. And all he felt was a cool sensation on his skin… The sensation of being submerged in water…

Alnea forcefully subdued the panic in his Heart. Since he could hear Yuri’s voice, it meant that she knew where he was. And she surely would not just sit aside, and watch him drown. Unless it was to make him feel the breath of Death once again…

Alnea shook his head, and suppressed his thoughts once again, before taking a more careful look at his surroundings. He was sitting on the soft, muddy floor of some water body, with water surrounding him all sides. And yet, he did not feel any suffocation. Nor did he feel the urge flail his limbs about in useless attempt to swim to the surface of the water. For some reasons, the water was soothing his nerves, and washing away his fatigue. Even his headache was beginning to fade with time. Most important of all though, the scars on his body were fading away with every passing moment.

“…A Fortune Spring?”

“How? Are you surprised?”

“But weren’t we supposed to stay away from Fortune Springs?”

“This Fortune Spring is different. Rather than helping its visitors improve their abilities, it is geared more towards healing them. Even if that had not been the case though, you would have had no problem in enjoying a Fortune Spring?”

“…What are you talking about? Didn’t we agree to experience a Fortune Spring only after breaking through our bottlenecks?”

“So?”

“So, how could I…”

“Finally noticed?”

Alnea closed his eyes, and entered his Spirit State. His Spirit… It had recovered completely. His headache… it was probably due to something else. But he did not have the leisure to care about his headache. His Spirit… he could feel it. Not just from the strength it had, but also from how much more substantial it was than before. It was still a False Spirit, but his Spirit Power had reached the Intermediate Stage.

“How long have I been asleep?” Alnea said, as he left his Spirit State, and opened his eyes.

“Around two days…”

“I have been in the Fortune Spring for the past two days, and it has not forced me out yet?”

“Like I said, this Fortune Spring is a little different. Its waters… they are practically teeming with Mysteries of Life.”

“…The Razorback Black Water Turtle’s lair?”

“Still sharp as ever.”

“Are there other Oren Beasts around?”

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“Relax, I have already taken care of them. There is no one else in the Fortune Spring other than you.”

“…How are you watching me then?”

“Guess.”

“…Still stingy as ever.”

“…It looks like you have recovered just fine,” Yuri said. After a moment of silence, she added, “How did facing death feel like?”

“…Not something that I would want to try again. Where are you, and Cecilia?”

“…Waiting for you on the bank of the stream.”

“I will be there in a moment,” Alnea said, and began swimming his way towards the surface of the stream. It was not too deep, probably only around ten or so metres. His body was too stiff though. And sore. The Fortune Spring might have healed him, but he had to pay his dues for treating his body so roughly. In any case, it took him a little longer than he had anticipated to break the surface of the stream.

“Here!” Cecilia said, bringing his attention to herself. She was standing on the right bank of the stream with Yuri, and waving at him with a smile. Nodding back with a grin, Alnea swiftly made his way towards the girls, only to shiver with cold the moment he got out of water.

“…Has the Night Canyons always been so cold?” Alnea said, stretching his body, and rubbing his palm to fight the cold.

“…Only to those who like challenging its depths without any clothes,” Yuri said in amusement, while Cecilia looked at him with a flushed face.

“What are you talking about? Who is without…”

Him, Alnea thought, as he remembered what he saw when he was within the Fortune Spring. Except for the sole piece of tattered innerwear covering his private parts, he was practically naked.

“Where are my clothes?” Alnea said in exasperation, as he fought the urge to dive back into the waters. “Why am I naked?”

“What do you think happened? Do you not remember the state you were in when fell unconscious?”

“…Can you two look away?” Alnea said, hunching down to cover as much of his body as could. With the state that he was in, even his Aspect was not enough to hide his embarrassment.

“Why are you being so shy?” Cecilia said, trying to sound as bold as she could. “You are Wanderer now. Such things should not be enough to disturb your Heart.”

“…I might have believed you if you were not blushing, or looking at me with such wide eyes.”

“Who is looking at you with wide eyes! Pervert!”

“…Say that after you stop looking at me.”

“I am not looking at you. I am looking at the Fortune Spring behind you.”

“…Why are you blushing then?”

“Pervert!”

“…Says the one who enjoys seeing me naked.”

“You are the one who is naked. How is it my fault?”

“…Stop playing around,” Yuri said, throwing his storage bag at him. “Although we have cleared the area, this is a Fortune Spring after all. We never know what kind of Oren Beast might show up here in search of their Fortune. It would be best if we can leave as soon as possible.”

“…My sword—

“It is in the bag. Along with your dagger.”

Nodding at the girls, Alnea hurried away into the darkness to get ready. Changing in front of the girls… He was not so shameless. Still, he did not go too far. Just enough so that the girls would not be able to clearly make out his figure. They could still peep at him through the senses of their Spirits, but they should not so shameless. Probably.

Suppressing his stray thoughts in the depths of his Heart, Alnea took out his golden black robe from the storage bag, and put it on. And the moment he did so, he felt all the chill, and cold melt away from the warmth of the robe. At the same time, he also felt his confidence return to him. Strapping his sword, and dagger back into their place, and putting on his wooden sandals, he walked back to the girls with a big grin on his face.

“So, how have you two been these past few days?”

“…Staying on the lookout for you in case you got injured grievously, and then guarding the Fortune Spring for you, while you had your beauty sleep. We have not even eaten anything for the past two days. How do you think we have been?”

“…Hungry?”

“…Can I hit him?” Cecilia said, turning towards Yuri, while gritting her teeth. “Don’t worry. I won’t hit him too hard… And we also have a Fortune Spring to heal him, just in case.”

“…What do you mean just in case?” Alnea said, wisely stepping away from the violent girl. He did not stop teasing her though, shaking his head in a dramatic manner. “Your face is betraying your intention, Lia.”

“…What did you call me?”

“…Lia. Isn’t that a good name? Short, and crisp. Just like you.”

“At least I am taller than you.”

“So, you agree that you are crisp?”

“…Has advancing to the Intermediate Stage made you forget the last beating I gave you?”

“You two… at least look at the time, and place before flirting.”

“Who is flirting with this barbaric boy?” Cecilia said, in a much higher tone than her usual voice, while her face flushed even more than before. However, the more embarrassed she became, the more Alnea felt the urge to tease her. Yet, something at the back of his mind told him that he might really end up getting beaten if he kept teasing her. Though missing such a perfect opportunity to tease Cecilia was a pity, for the sake of his health, and for the greater good of the team, he chose to let her go.

“So, what are we going to do next?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Yuri said, returning his grin with her own. “We are going to continue where we had left off. To fight as a team, and improve as much as we can before the Heterodox Wanderers come looking for you.”