Chapter 35
Old Soul
In the dimly lit alley behind the Adventurer's Guild, Adom stood amidst the remnants of a battle that had tested the very limits of his being. The adrenaline of combat was fading, replaced by an acute hyper-awareness of his surroundings, a side effect of the incredible powers he had just unleashed. The world around him seemed sharper, the colors more vivid, the sounds clearer, almost overwhelming in their intensity.
Adom examined himself, his senses so heightened that he could perceive the very pores of his skin, the subtle shifts in the air currents, and even the faint hum of Essentia that flowed through everything. It was as if he was seeing the world for the first time, through a lens that magnified the beauty and complexity of the mundane.
His body, a focal point of this newfound perception, was a marvel in itself. He could feel the Phoenix's power coursing through him, an inferno contained within flesh, rebuilding what was torn asunder almost instantaneously. The sensation was both terrifying and exhilarating, a constant cycle of destruction and rebirth happening within him. It was a vivid testament to the raw power of the Phoenix Rejuvenation skill, a force that defied the natural order.
"Can you feel this, Bennu?" Adom whispered internally, his voice a mix of awe and uncertainty.
"It's amazing..." came Bennu's awestruck reply, a sentiment shared by both. The bond they shared allowed Bennu to experience the world through Adom's senses, and in this moment, the sheer wonder of their combined capabilities was laid bare.
Adom chuckled softly, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet alley. "This is supposed to be your power, and yet, it seems I'm the one getting acquainted with it firsthand."
Bennu's response was laced with his characteristic wit. "Well, considering everything I know comes from your memories, it's only fair you get to experience some surprises on your own."
The levity of the moment was a welcome respite, but Adom knew they couldn't afford to linger in this heightened state for too long. The system had warned him of the dwindling reserves of the Rejuvenation skill, and he was all too aware of the toll such power could take on his body if left unchecked.
With a deep breath, Adom extended his senses outward, searching for any sign of Helios's aura. The vampire's presence had been a looming threat, a shadow that had darkened the edges of their miraculous victory. Adom's enhanced senses, a gift from the Aetheric Echo skill, reached out across the city, spanning an astonishing radius of 3000 meters. The clarity with which he could sense the world around him was unprecedented, every heartbeat, every whisper of movement was like a note in a grand symphony.
But Helios was nowhere to be found. The vampire had vanished, leaving no trace of his dark essence for Adom to detect. It was a relief, yet the knowledge that such a foe was still at large weighed heavily on him.
Knowing the immediate danger had passed, Adom focused on retracting his senses, the world gradually narrowing to a more manageable scope. It was time to deactivate the skills that had so dramatically altered his perception and abilities.
[Deactivating Flameheart Resonance...]
[Deactivating Aetheric Echo...]
[Phoenix Rejuvenation - Cooldown Initiated...]
The system's notifications appeared before his eyes, a familiar sight that brought a sense of normalcy to the extraordinary events. As the skills were deactivated, the overwhelming surge of power began to ebb, his senses returning to their human limits, the vividness of the world dimming to its usual hues.
Adom's level, which had soared to 102 during the battle, reverted back to 13, a stark reminder of the temporary nature of the power he had wielded. Yet, the experience had not been without its lasting effects. Then, the system displayed his updated status, a detailed account of the gains he had made:
[Status Window]
Name: Adom Sylla
Level: 14 (+1) Level up!
HP: 300/300 [+50]
Strength: 15 [+3]
Agility: 14 [+2]
Endurance: 13 [+3]
Essentia Capacity: 120/120 [+20]
Perception: 10 [+2]
Skills:
[Flameheart Resonance] - Cooldown: 30 Days
[Phoenix Rejuvenation] - Cooldown: 7 Days
[Aetheric Echo] - Available
[Quick Reflexes] - Available
[Temporal cognition] - Cooldown: 26 Days
Effects: None
Turning to Eren, who had watched the transformation with a mix of fear and fascination, Adom offered a reassuring smile. "We should leave before our luck runs out," he suggested.
As Adom spoke, he noticed the Eren's gaze fixed on him, not with the awe or fear he had expected, but with an expression bordering on disbelief. Adom's suggestion to seek a healer was met with silence.
Breaking the awkward quiet, Adom quipped, trying to lighten the mood, "What's the matter? Got something on my face?"
Eren, hesitating at first, finally let out the words in a mix of shock and embarrassment, "You're naked."
The realization hit Adom like a cold gust of wind, quite literally, as he suddenly became acutely aware of the breeze brushing against his skin. Glancing down, his suspicions were confirmed; the flames that had enveloped him in battle, while protecting and rejuvenating him, had also consumed his clothes, leaving him in a rather compromising state of undress.
"Well, this is awkward," Adom remarked with a chuckle, trying to brush off the embarrassment with his usual humor. The gravity of their recent life-and-death struggle seemed to momentarily fade in the face of this unexpected predicament.
Scanning the alley for any sort of makeshift covering, Adom spotted a piece of tattered cloth from what appeared to be remnants of a banner or some sort of hanging decoration. With a sheepish grin, he quickly fashioned it into a rudimentary loincloth, securing it with a piece of string he found amongst the debris.
"Improvisation is key in situations like these, don't you think?" Adom joked, trying to ease the tension. Eren, still in disbelief but now with a hint of amusement, couldn't help but let out a laugh, the absurdity of the situation momentarily overshadowing his pain.
With his modesty somewhat preserved, Adom turned his attention back to Eren's injured arm. "Let's get you to a healer now," he said. The bizarre interlude had lightened their spirits, but the urgency of their situation remained.
The streets of the city, usually bustling with the daily throng of merchants, adventurers, and commonfolk, offered a peculiar sight that morning. Adom, with his makeshift loincloth and bare feet, alongside Eren, whose injured arm hung awkwardly by his side, drew more than a few curious glances from passersby. Their odd appearance, particularly Adom's, was a stark contrast to the usual attire of the city's inhabitants, making them an instant topic of whispered conversations and speculative stares.
As they navigated through the winding streets, the silence between Adom and Eren grew heavy, filled with unspoken questions and lingering thoughts from their recent ordeal. Adom, sensing Eren's contemplative mood, decided to address the elephant in the room.
"You might have questions about me, or the rune on my back that you've been glaring at before I covered it," Adom said, his voice casual yet laced with a hint of firmness. "I'll be honest, I will not tell you anything about me."
Eren, taken aback by Adom's directness, responded with a mix of defiance and curiosity. "I didn't care and wasn't gonna ask anyway," he retorted, his gaze fixed ahead as they continued their walk. "I looked at the rune on your back because I've never seen it before, yet I've seen a lot."
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Adom chuckled at Eren's attempt to appear indifferent, the tension between them dissipating slightly with the exchange. "Nice try, but I will not explain," Adom replied, a playful edge to his words.
Laughing again, Adom shook his head. "Such a kid," he remarked, only to be met with a sharp retort from Eren.
"Kid? You've called me that before. And, you act way too mature for your age. Are you using a changeling spell or something to hide your real age? I s that why you're so strong? Are you a ranker?" Eren's questions were pointed, his eyes narrowing as he awaited Adom's reaction.
Caught off guard, Adom fumbled for a moment before replying, "Not really, I just have an old soul," followed by a laugh that sounded more nervous than he intended and ignoring the other questions.
Eren sighed, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. "You even joke like an old man," he muttered, then made another attempt to probe about the mysterious rune. "So, about that rune..."
"Aha, trying to be slick, aren't you?" Adom caught on, deflecting with a playful tone. Eren, undeterred, huffed, "I'll find out sooner or later, anyway."
The conversation shifted as Adom noted Eren's persistent interest in runes. "You seem to have a keen interest in them. Ever thought about studying them formally?" He asked, hoping to know if his level 6 was due to a rigorous training he received from a sorcerer.
Eren's eyes lit up at the question. "I've always wanted to study at Xerkes one day. It's been a dream of mine." He said, not really saying anything about that.
Adom smiled, a genuine warmth in his gaze. "I am a student there," he admitted, revealing a sliver of his life for the first time.
Eren's reaction was a mix of surprise and excitement, his earlier frustrations momentarily forgotten. "Really? What is it like? Do you study runes too?"
Adom's smile widened. "It is an ... interesting experience. And yes, runes are a part of my studies, among other things."
Upon reaching the healer's establishment, a modest but well-kept building adorned with symbols of healing and restoration, Adom and Eren were greeted by the aroma of medicinal herbs and the soft hum of healing spells at work. The healer, a middle-aged woman with a kind yet discerning gaze, looked them over with a practiced eye.
"How will you be paying for the treatment?" she inquired, her voice carrying the weight of experience, having seen many patients in varying states of distress.
Adom quickly interjected before Eren could respond, ensuring the healer's attention was solely on the task at hand. "He's the one in need of treatment," he said, gesturing towards Eren. "I'm fine. And I'll cover the costs for his care."
The healer nodded, her expression softening as she directed Eren to a chair near a small, intricately carved table that served as her workstation. Adom, standing close by, watched as the healer prepared her instruments, a mixture of traditional healer's tools and a small, sleek device that seemed out of place among the more conventional items.
To facilitate the payment, the healer presented the Sorix to Adom. "Please input your information here," she instructed, indicating a smooth, glass-like surface on the device. Adom, familiar with the technology, placed his palm over the surface, allowing a soft, ethereal glow to envelop his hand. The device, designed to access a centralized registry of individuals and their associated credits, seamlessly verified Adom's identity and deducted the necessary amount for Eren's treatment.
The system was a marvel of magical and technological integration, allowing for transactions without the need for physical currency or possessions. It relied on a network of magical signatures unique to each individual, stored in a secure, ethereal ledger accessible only by authorized devices. This method of payment ensured that transactions were swift, secure, and devoid of the need to carry anything beyond one's own presence.
With the payment settled, the healer turned her full attention to Eren. She began her examination with a series of gentle, probing spells, her hands glowing with a soft, healing light as she assessed the extent of his injuries. The room filled with a calm energy, the ambient magic weaving through the air, seeking to mend and restore.
Eren, initially tense, gradually relaxed under the healer's skilled care. Adom watched, a silent guardian, his thoughts a whirlwind of recent events and revelations. Yet, in this moment of calm, there was a sense of reprieve, a brief respite from the chaos that had become a constant in their lives.
As the healer began her examination of Eren's injury, her experienced eyes quickly discerned the nature of the fracture. Eren's half-hearted explanation that he had simply "fallen" did little to convince her, but she chose not to press the issue, understanding that her role was to heal, not to judge.
Medical magic, especially in the intricate and nuanced world they inhabited, was an art form as much as it was a science. Drawing upon the foundational principles outlined in medical magic, the healer set to work, her hands aglow with a soft, radiant light indicative of Essentia manipulation.
The process of healing with magic was a delicate balance between knowledge of the body's natural healing pathways and the ability to guide Essentia to accelerate and enhance these processes. The healer's understanding of anatomy and physiology allowed her to visualize the precise structure of Eren's bones, muscles, and connective tissues, identifying the exact location and severity of the fracture.
With this mental blueprint in place, she began to channel Essentia, sourced not from her own reserves but from a specially prepared Essentia crystal. These crystals, dense with stored magical energy, were the cornerstone of effective magical healing, providing a potent and sustainable source of power for even the most demanding spells.
As the healer's spells took effect, the Essentia flowed into Eren's injury, guided by the intricate runes etched on the healer's crystal. These runes, symbols of restoration and regeneration, served as conduits for the Essentia, directing it to the site of the fracture.
The magic worked at a cellular level, stimulating the body's natural repair mechanisms while providing the energy necessary to expedite the process. Bone cells, known as osteoblasts, were encouraged to multiply and lay down new bone material, knitting the fracture back together. Simultaneously, the surrounding tissues, bruised and strained from the injury and subsequent inflammation, were soothed and repaired, the Essentia reducing swelling and promoting healing.
This process, while seemingly straightforward, required a significant amount of Essentia. A fracture like Eren's, which might take months to heal naturally, could be mended in a matter of days with the aid of medical magic. However, the Essentia cost was substantial, enough to deplete two adults if not for the aid of the Essentia crystals.
As Adom observed the healer at work, he was reminded of Assia Noss, a name that would one day be synonymous with revolutionary advancements in medical magic. Assia, a brilliant mind in the field, would go on to save millions of lives during the wars through her innovations, her techniques allowing for even more efficient and effective use of Essentia in medical magic.
Adom knew of Assia's future contributions well, as they were part of the world he had left behind. Her fame would begin to rise with her participation in the Olympiads, the very one he had refused to participate in.
After the healer assured Eren that his arm would be fully healed in four to five days, gratitude filled the air as they expressed their thanks and departed. The immediate necessity following their leave was for Adom to procure some attire; his makeshift garb was hardly suitable for the public eye. After acquiring some clothes from a nearby vendor, Adom turned to Eren with a sense of urgency.
"I've got a few errands to run," Adom announced, his tone carrying an unspoken weight. He handed Eren a sleek, metallic card he had obtained from a bank distributor. Eren's confusion was evident as he examined the unfamiliar object.
"What's this?" Eren inquired, his brows knitting together in puzzlement.
Adom took a moment to compose his thoughts, understanding the gravity of what he was about to propose. "I don't know the full extent of what you owe those people, but it's clear they're dangerous. They've got special guards in their pocket, and they know where to find you and your mom," he explained, his voice steady but gentle.
Eren's gaze flickered with a mix of fear and defiance, the reality of his situation sinking in.
Adom continued, "I won't pry into the details, but I strongly advise you to leave the city with your mother. Cair Icarus, especially the city of Ansford, is far enough to ensure your safety."
Eren, still processing, looked from Adom to the card in his hand, his expression one of disbelief.
"This card," Adom elaborated, "is essentially a cheque. It contains 100 thousand cauris. With the current economy, that's more than enough for you to buy a new home in Ansford and start afresh, comfortably."
The casualness in Adom's smile belied the magnitude of his generosity, prompting Eren to respond with a hint of annoyance, "I get that you like your jokes, but this is too much, Adom."
"I assure you, I'm dead serious," Adom replied, his eyes locking with Eren's, conveying the sincerity of his intention. "Cash it out as soon as you can and get out of here."
The silence that followed was thick with realization as Eren stared at Adom, the gears turning in his head. Finally, the reality of Adom's offer settled in, and a mix of gratitude and overwhelming emotion welled up within him.
"Thank you," Eren managed to say, his voice strained with the effort of holding back tears.
Adom, caught off guard by the intensity of the moment, let out a nervous laugh. "Hey, none of that now. If you start crying, I'll never let you hear the end of it," he teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Eren's concern for Adom's safety resurfaced as he pondered over the looming threat of Helios. "What about Helios? He's seen you. How will you deal with him?" he asked, the worry evident in his voice.
Adom's response came with a light-hearted chuckle, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand. "I highly doubt they can get to me within the walls of Xerkes. That place is more fortified than you might imagine," he assured, a glint of confidence in his eyes.
The conversation then shifted to a future reunion, with Eren inquiring how he could possibly get in touch with Adom again. "How will I find you?" he asked, the thought of losing contact with his unexpected benefactor unsettling.
Adom's answer was as cryptic as it was reassuring. "I'll probably be in Cair Icarus in about a year's time. Don't worry, I'll find you," he said, his tone laced with a certainty that left little room for doubt.
Eren, puzzled, pressed on, "But how?" His curiosity about Adom's mysterious ways had grown with each passing moment.
Adom simply met Eren's gaze, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Really?" he asked, as if the answer was obvious. The unspoken understanding between them was clear; if Adom intended to find Eren, no barrier would be too great to overcome.
With a final heartfelt thank you, Eren turned and dashed away, the card clutched tightly in his hand as if it were a lifeline. Adom watched him go, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. The brief encounter had left an indelible mark, a reminder of the intricate web of lives and destinies that intertwined in the vast tapestry of their world.
Adom, engrossed in his thoughts about the upcoming expedition and the day's events, was suddenly startled by the unexpected appearance of what appeared to be an owl. The bird, with its silent, graceful flight, swooped close enough for him to feel the brush of air from its wings. There was something eerily familiar about it, a sense of recognition that tugged at the edges of his memory. For a moment, he paused, watching the owl disappear into the morning sky, the fleeting encounter leaving him with a lingering sense of curiosity and déjà vu. Then it clicked.
Adom noted the owl's swift movements, its resemblance to Headmistress Ravenshadow's familiar striking him. This unexpected encounter in the city's heart made him ponder the implications of its presence. Could the Headmistress be surveilling him, or was it merely a coincidence? He realized the importance of crafting a believable narrative to explain his own actions, should questions arise. The need for caution and a well-thought-out response was clear, as the consequences of being linked to this nocturnal visitor could be significant.