"I am Zave Skykend," the middle-aged man introduced himself.

"Aiden Falcavin," he replied, looking around the relatively medium-sized room. He was in bed, with his body bandaged from below the neck to his thigh. Instinctively, he looked under the blanket.

"Don't worry! Though you're bandaged, there's no injury there," Zave said, laughingly, causing Aiden to feel a bit of embarrassment.

"That is quite a terrible and cruel injury! I wonder how you survived," Zave said. "Do you remember what bit you?" he asked curiously.

"I don't know what it was, but it looked terrifying—a mix of ghost and undead. Skinny body, grey skin, scarlet eyes, sharp canines, pitch-black hair," Aiden described.

"Norticle!" Zave's eyes widened. "As I thought. But can it bite someone this many times? Or... How many ghosts were there?" Zave asked.

"I didn't count, but many," Aiden replied.

"That makes sense," Zave thought.

From Zave's reaction, Aiden could tell he knew about them. "Do you know them?" Aiden asked.

"Yeah! It is one of those dark creatures you can't easily stumble upon. The chance of survival from even one is close to one percent," Zave said.

"Why?" Aiden asked.

"It eats souls, usually animals, plants, sometimes humans, and even other dark creatures. But it rarely bites."

"Congratulations! You are safe, sane, and haven't turned into a Norticle," Zave said with a smile.

"What? Do I change into a ghost-like creature like them if I get bitten?" Aiden horrified.

"Yes. Norticles can't reproduce like any other being. They select their vessel, inject their venom, and the vessel slowly transforms into their kin. I heard it usually takes 48 hours to notice symptoms, but that is for a single bite. In your case, you were bitten in 21 areas. Given the intensity, you should have changed by now, but you haven't. So, you are safe!" Zave reassured him.

"This is like a vampire scenario," thought Aiden.

"For the sake of precaution, can I take a blood sample? I must do another examination for confirmation," Zave asked for his permission.

"Fine," Aiden extended his right hand. Zave took an item from his pocket. It looked like a syringe. He removed part of the bandage cloth from Aiden's arm. Many bite marks were present. Zave penetrated the needle into his vein and began drawing blood.

"How did you save me?" Aiden asked. He didn't know what happened during the ritual; he was only vaguely conscious.

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"I found you in the middle of a mess. But strangely, you were the only one alive there, though in terrible condition," Zave said.

"I was the only one alive? What happened to that cruel old man and the green monster?" Aiden wondered.

"I must say you are courageous. You are quite young but faced a Norticle and saved my granddaughter from the monster," Zave praised while drawing blood. He finished, transferred the blood into a vial, and put it into his pocket.

"Me? Saved your granddaughter?" Aiden was confused. "I only saved a young girl from that green monster after I teleported here. Is she his granddaughter?" he thought.

"Didn't you smash the troll on the head and help the young girl escape?" Zave asked.

"Yes," Aiden replied. "Is that your granddaughter?" he asked and got an affirmation nod from Zave. Aiden thinks, "I saved someone, and her relative saved me! Is this what karma all talking about?"

"She is the only loved one that I have left in this world. You returned her to me, and I owe you for that," Zave said sincerely and emotionally.

"It just happened accidentally," Aiden said.

"Accidentally or intentionally, you saved her, and that’s what matters," Zave said.

"Anyway, you should get some rest. I will see you soon. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Zave said, turning to leave the room.

"I'm hungry," Aiden said, halting Zave's steps.

"I’ll ask Mineo to bring something to eat," Zave smiled.

"No! Not a cat! I mean, I don't want to be beaten by a fat cat again!" Aiden replied jerkily.

"Hahaha, fine," Zave said and pulled the door open. A small white creature was at the doorstep. It noticed Aiden before he did. It rushed toward him with clumsy steps and jumped on him with its mouth wide open.

"Shit! What is this white devil doing here?" Luckily, Aiden extended his left hand to block its bite. When Zave saw this, he laughed even louder.

"All unique creatures love to bite you," Zave joked.

"What is this?" Aiden asked in irritation.

"It is called a Fluffkins. Harmless, it loves to bite when it likes someone, It was one wo showed a way to you that's why I can help you," Zave said as he left the room.

Later, Leorna—Zave's granddaughter—brought him a plate of food. The plate had chunks of meat, two baked corns, and a glass of light pink liquid. When he took a sip, it tasted like delicious, creamy milk. The Fluffkin drooled while looking at the meat. Aiden noticed, cut a portion of the meat, and placed it before the creature. Its eyes twinkled, and its cute long tongue emerged, swallowing the meat piece in one gulp.

"So cute!" Leorna thought, watching its actions.

"Are you fine?" Aiden asked Leorna, diverting her focus to him.

"Yeah! I am always fine," she replied, confused.

Seeing her confusion, he asked, "Do you remember me?" but she said no.

"How has she forgotten me?" baffled, Aiden finished the food.

In his laboratory, Zave took out the vial. He sat before a crystal ball, smoky inside. He dropped a bit of blood on the crystal ball, and the blood vanished as if sucked in. He placed his hands on the crystal and closed his eyes. His consciousness dived into the crystal ball. He could feel and see things inside clearly. The drop of blood floated inside. He deeply looked into it. The microscopic level vision of the blood appeared in his mind.

"Everything is normal!" he was surprised. He opened a drawer and took out another vial of black liquid. He did the same as before, dropping the liquid on the crystal. He placed his hands on the crystal and closed his eyes. The interaction between the blood cells and the venom of Norticles became visible. The venom didn't attack the blood cells. It coexisted with them, slowly mingling, but no changes occurred. His hands trembled.

"Fu' k," he muttered, shocked. "So that's why he's alive and hasn't changed, not because of the medicine," he realized. He had thought his newly invented potion could cure Norticle venom, but his happiness was shattered by this discovery.

"Looks like I have to meet my friend after a long time," he thought, resting his chin on his joint hands.