Marie frowned as she watched Derek leave. There was a mix of resolve and unsettling eagerness in his stride. She was deeply concerned by the noticeable change in his behavior since their initial violent encounter. The hardened look in his eyes spoke of a readiness or excitement for battle. The thought of Derek facing the kind of trauma that haunted soldiers returning from war wasn’t a future she wanted for him, but his current path seemed to be leading there. PTSD, permanent injuries, or the struggle to readjust were too much for a lot of people to handle after they were discharged.

She turned back to the pot of food and tried to brush away the dark thoughts. Her mind involuntarily replayed the horrors they had encountered. Even Derek’s assurances couldn’t shield her from the nightmares. In her dreams, she saw Derek overwhelmed by goblins, torn apart while she helplessly watched. She tried to separate herself from them, but they were a reflection of reality.

With a deep sigh, Marie tried to refocus on something more tangible, such as the two pots of food simmering on the stove. She stirred them mechanically, her mind still whirling around her anxieties. One hand cradled her tiny baby bump, she momentarily put aside her fears for Derek, directing her attention to the more immediate task at hand.

Stirring the pot, Marie’s mind drifted to the possibilities that lay within her reach. She opened her status window, her eyes scanning the numbers.

Marie Irisson

Level:

4

Titles:

Goblin Slayer (rank 2)

Race:

Human

Classes:

None

Physical Ability:

10

Mental Ability:

13

Emotional Capacity:

18

Magical Capacity:

11

Passive Abilities:

None

Abilities:

None

Experience:

250 XP / 447 XP

Unnamed

Level:

1

Race:

Human

Experience:

117 XP / 309 XP

Marie focused on her magic ability. She felt a mix of curiosity and a little fear as she thought about the power she hadn’t used yet. She remembered the strange feeling from the night before when she improved her magic. She could almost feel a strange energy inside her. Carefully, she tried to connect with this feeling, bringing it into her mind. Feeling unsure, she slowly let the magic surround her. It was like a gentle mist, full of life but almost like air, moving through her in soft, hard-to-grasp waves.

She could move it and shift it without effort. She channeled the magic like waves of the ocean coursing through her body, converging into her mind. Marie concentrated the energy in her mind, triggering an expansion of her senses. It started within her, then extended to her house, and rapidly beyond, to the city, state, and further still, enveloping the planet and stretching into the cosmos. As her perception broadened, her sense of self blurred, merging with the vast expanse around her. She felt an alignment with the universe, a brief unity where her consciousness touched the fabric of space and time.

Marie’s consciousness soared, briefly touching a vast, cosmic awareness. The unfamiliarity of this expansion threw her mind off balance. In an effort for stability, she instinctively sought out Derek. What she saw, however, was deeply jarring: Derek, transformed into a figure of stark violence. He navigated the neighbor’s yard, his figure coated in blood, each movement marked by raw, unrefined ferocity. His face, marred by the splatters of battle, bore a savage smile as he tore through an orc's head with his gardening tool-turned-weapon. This intense, brutal scene captivated and repelled Marie in equal measure. She was irresistibly drawn into the moment, her pulse racing as she confronted this new, savage side of Derek.

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Then, the vision shifted abruptly. The surroundings blurred, colors and shapes melding into a whirlwind of time and space. It was like a lens refocusing, sharpening into a new, chilling reality.

Their city had changed completely and now looked like a bloody battlefield. The downtown streets were filled with the bodies of both humans and monsters alike. The buildings were a hallowed out husk of what they once were, some burned out, some actively on fire. Despite the horrific scene, the greatest impact came from the figure standing in the middle of all this destruction, Derek. Standing alone holding a broken sword, his eyes alight with the red glow of power and rage. A pair of horns curving out of his head, a clear sign of how much he had changed.

Derek always had a hard exterior, but this was different and more threatening, as if he was the incarnation of barely restrained violence. The friendly look he once had in his eyes was gone, replaced by a cold determination. There was no warmth in those red eyes, only the singular threat of death.

The vision overwhelmed Marie and lost her balance. Suddenly, she was no longer in that vast space; she was back in her kitchen. The sudden shift from that amazing experience to her normal surroundings left her feeling shaken. The image of Derek, changed and intense, stayed firmly in her mind. It highlighted the battles he had faced and what he had given up. This scene was like a glimpse into a future where Derek survives the chaos, but at a great cost.

As she lay on the vinyl floor, the mana faded, and her mind’s eye closed with it. She pushed herself up and leaned back against the cabinet, unconsciously holding the baby with one hand as if to support them. She couldn’t banish the image that hung there, his eyes, the pain, the loneliness. The memory of those eyes as they stared into her soul, and her soul quaked… with fear.

That was her husband, her love, her Derek. What could happen to him to cause him to look like that? The epiphany hit her like a truck. That was the future. Derek’s future… her future. No…No..No. No. It couldn't be. Tears streaked down her face as a sob wracked through her body. Why did this stupid world have to do this to them? Why couldn't it have just left them alone?

She pushed herself up, trying to purge the vision from her mind by focusing on her cooking. The magic was still there now that she knew how to use it she could feel it, albeit faint. She focused the magic into her hand and pushed it out into the world. She thought of wizards of fantasy that could levitate objects and make them fly around the room. Pushing magic into the air with a hesitant thought, trying to influence the spoon stirring the pots.

The spoon wobbled slightly, responding to her mental nudges. Marie’s eyes widened in surprise and a small gasp escaped her lips. The spoon began to stir the pot on its own, albeit clumsily. The sensation of controlling the magic was exhilarating but also deeply unnerving. She quickly released her hold on the magic, and the spoon clattered against the pot, returning to its inanimate state.

“Wow.” she muttered, as she stared with astonishment.

The sound of the doorbell pulled Marie back from her thoughts. As she opened the door, her initial relief at seeing Derek quickly turned to concern. His appearance was jarring - an ice pack was crudely strapped to his head, blood seeping through the bandages beneath it. A medical chest seal stuck against his bare skin covering a serious wound. Despite his attempt at a reassuring smile, his movements were labored, his breathing shallow.

“I’ll survive,” Derek said. “I took a few injuries, but they are healing. Give me a few minutes. I need to clean up and I’ll be inside.”

Marie nodded, still frozen on the stairs, watching the look in his eyes searching for the demon. As he turned and walked through the door into the garage, his usual steady gait was replaced with a careful, measured tread, highlighting the physical toll of the encounter. She turned, as he started banging around the garage, head back into the kitchen. She stirred the pot with her magic. The practice and the earthy aroma of chili peppers and Cajun seasonings helped ground her in the moment instead of reflecting on the demonic image.

It didn’t take Derek that long in the garage and he entered the house, naked, holding only his pistol. She watched him with a pleased smile as he sat at the kitchen table to clean the firearm. He glanced at her only for a moment, giving her a knowing look. As soon as her eyes met his, all she could see were the glowing red eyes and horns.

She wanted to talk about it, but he wouldn’t understand. How could she explain it to him? ‘hey, I learned how to use magic and I saw into the future where you turned into a demon.’ No, that wouldn’t be helpful. He was already injured and by the looks of it, he had been close to dying if the chest seal were any indicator. His breath was steady and calm, so whatever injury he received healed. How could she get him off whatever road that caused him to become what she saw? She didn’t know, but everything she saw up to this point; the violence, the eagerness, the willingness to get stronger, and the fierce intensity in his eyes; were all indicators of the path he was travelling.

Marie’s eyes lingered on Derek, tracing the lines of fatigue and resilience etched into his form. “You look like you’ve been through a lot,” she murmured, her voice a soft echo of her deep-seated concern.

Derek responded with a hint of nonchalance, “Yeah, the increased physical ability... it hastens the healing. The worst is already healed, just dealing with the aftermath now.” His tone was light, yet he avoided direct eye contact, betraying a vulnerability he was loath to admit.

The air between them shifted as Marie broached a topic heavy on her heart. “Since this all began, I’ve seen changes in you. There’s a directness, a confrontational edge that wasn’t there before.” Her hands unconsciously entwined, a visible manifestation of her inner conflict.

Stepping closer, her voice barely above a whisper, she confessed, “There’s a shift in you, Derek. A readiness to embrace danger, a lean towards aggression. It’s as if you’re harboring a storm within, ready to unleash at the slightest provocation.”

Derek’s façade of indifference cracked, his features softening as he leaned back, creating a physical and emotional distance. “I’m just trying to navigate this… new world, to keep us safe. That’s all there is to it,” he said, his voice a mix of reassurance and defensiveness.

Marie, her heart in her throat, continued, “But it’s not just about facing danger, Derek. The way you cut off your brother, the intensity in your eyes during a fight... It’s as if you’re drawing from a well of anger, and I fear it’s changing you.”

Derek drew a deep breath, his gaze finally meeting hers. “I’m trying to be what this world demands. But underneath, I’m still the same person,” he assured her, but his words seemed to hang uncertainly in the air.

Marie’s gaze, fraught with a tumult of emotions, met his. “I see all you’re doing for us, and I’m grateful. But this anger, this harshness... I’m afraid it might erode the gentle, thoughtful man I fell in love with.”

Moved by her heartfelt words, Derek crossed the room, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “I understand your fears. This world is relentless, but I won’t let it strip us of who we are, of what we have.” His voice was a low rumble, filled with an unspoken promise to shield not just their bodies, but their souls from the ravages of their new reality.

Marie appreciated his love and embrace, but she knew that was a half truth at best. He would sacrifice himself for her sake. They stood there, holding each other in the warmth of their kitchen, a momentary respite from the chaos outside. Marie knowing how good the lie felt, despised herself for allowing Derek's words to comfort her, but the truth and reality was more harsh than they knew.

The violence wasn’t just a means to an end; it was becoming exciting. The life and death battles, getting knocked down only to get back up to crush his foes, it was exhilarating, and he wasn’t scared of combat. He was only scared of leaving Marie alone.

Marie’s concern had cast a new light on their situation, reminding him of the importance of holding onto his goodness amidst a world that was continually pushing him towards darkness.

“Go take a shower.” She said with a smile, while pulling out of his embrace. “You smell like orc blood.”

After Derek retreated to the shower, Marie found herself alone in the kitchen. Her gaze lingered briefly where he had exited, a mix of concern and resolve in her eyes. The hearty foods, now stirring themselves gently on the stove thanks to her newfound magical ability, emitted a comforting aroma. She inhaled deeply, the familiar scents helping her to keep a clear mind. The mundane task, now tinged with a hint of her emerging powers, served as a grounding reminder of the normalcy amidst the chaos.