Mmph, so soft...
So comfy...
"Fortune."
I missed this so much...
"Fortune."
Wanna sleep forever and ever and ever...
"Hey, Aden. Wake up Fortune."
So soft...
"Oi, bud! Wake up! Wake up! Virgilia's here."
"!!!... Hweh?"
Opening my eyes, I see the crew all risen up. Gee, how much time has passed?
"Pack up, we're leaving."
"Already???"
"Pursuers." Virgilia reminds and I remember everything from yesterday. Come to think of it - that day was absolutely awful.
"Yeah, right, I'm going."
Leaving the inn, I see that our carriages are about to depart and we hop into ours. Virgilia casts another automaton horse of sorts and gets in as well with the help of Aden.
"Alright, go!" Leonid shakes the reins and the carriage begins to move.
"So, how's the farmer guys doing?" Aden asks and catching her breath, she answers "Managed to find a clergyman to keep a watch over them. The daughter seems to be slowly recovering as well."
"That's sweet. It's nice that we get at least one survivor out of all of this. Though it's weird how the attacks plainly don't match from what we've seen in that cabin."
"Urk..."
"Get used to it. Anyway, I mean, if the Daemon is so keen on eating, why didn't it eat the hunters as well? Perhaps we'll never know..."
"..."
"Anyway-anyway, what's the next plan, Virgilia? Another commission or?..."
"We're going to teach Fortune haemomancy."
"Haemo-whatwasthat?"
"Haemomancy. You, Fortune, are going to be taught haemomancy - the art of blood. You see, since you're cursed; you can't relay your soul onto weapons of your choice - even that pitiful knife won't become your magical conductor, as your magic is bound to your body."
I feel like I heard something of this caliber before, something about those magical conductors and relaying...
Yet...
I feel like I need some recollection on that.
"What does that mean?"
"Ah, right. You can see my staff right? This – is a magical conductor, a magical weapon from which your magic is effused. To make something a magical conductor – you must have strong attachment to it – thinking of it as if it was your limb, your core, your heart. However, as cursed beings are detached from the world – they cannot relay their soul."
"Hmm..."
"One of the ways to circumvent this is haemomancy - so that you're able to fend for yourself. Your capabilities have shown to be potentially great asset for support and disruption; however, there's so much you can do with mere support. Usually – cursed ones have thick enough blood for it to work."
"..."
"The amount of blood taken USUALLY isn't much. Just don't be reckless and know your cues. I've practiced it myself in the distant past. Your blood will even carry on your magic, becoming a great ranged asset."
"Huuuuuhrrrrrgghh..."
"Hey, we still have a promise to keep; no slacking." Virgilia gruffs and slumps even deeper. "Émile, could you please fetch me Virevite?"
"Sure, drink up!" Émile gives her the flask with blue starry liquid in it and she greedily drinks it until it's half full.
"That should speed up the recovery... Aurgh... Thank god I taught you guys out of drinking it just because it tasted like blueberry fizz..."
"It does?"
And at that question, everyone glared at me except for Leonid (because of the road) - well, I paid my price for curiosity. I don't even know what blueberry fizz tastes like.
"Gwah... I should be fully recovered by the time we get there." Virgilia wipes her lips with the back of her hand and closes her eyes in exhaustion.
"What was that anyway?" I ask and before Aden could answer, Virgilia begins to speak
"That's magical energy. Your body might be fine, but on the inside, you might feel burnt out, not mentally - but spiritually. Alternatively, your body may be weak and your mind be fragile, but your soul is on fire, willing to fight. Just as how your body can get exhausted, your energy can be depleted and it CAN affect you mentally or physically. Creating a fully conscious and functioning complex lifeform, especially out of "nothing" takes a massive toll: just in general casting high level spells will take a toll on a human.
That potion that I used is "Virevite" and upon consumption it smoothens the recovery of magic, because otherwise the process is extremely exhaustive. It also has a numbing effect, as if you're on low energy - you're also going to feel pain in spite of having seemingly no injuries. It's sort of a spontaneous pain that you feel very deep inside, like an invisible knife piercing you in the chest.
...
Aden, you don't have to explain everything to Fortune by yourself. Who's his mentor, me or you?"
"Come on! I just want this little guy to be briefed on everything! He looks so perpetually confused by everything!
Besides, you didn't mention the physical counterpart to "Virevite" - "Rejuvite"! That basically helps you to recover injuries faster. And well, the thing about these potions - and why you shouldn't drink them recreationally - is that they're a medication. Drinking too much of those can cause nausea, diarrhea, tension headaches et cetera, et cetera... There!" Aden looks so proud of himself after explaining that reggieweed thing to me, huh?...
"Sigh... You seem to be really eager with him, way more than back when we found Émile."
"You know, trying to carry on your legacy and such." Aden smirks and Virgilia is not amused, saying she's not that old, causing Aden to snicker a little. It's really hard to take them seriously like that (annoyed)...
"You know, since we woke up really early and it's going to be a long ride AND Bijou's squad is on guard, why don't we have a nice snuggle party? Pretty sure Leonid will wake us up."
"Hmph." He grunted
"... I need to make sure." Virgilia murmurs and crawls towards the edge of the wagon bed.
"Oi! Bijou! My crew wants to rest, is that okay with you?!"
"Ah?! Can't hear you!"
"I said that my crew wants to rest! We want to go to sleep!"
"Aah~! Go on! We'll be on check!"
"Thank you!"
Virgilia crawls back and slumps back again. This time Émile slumps next to Virgilia and Aden follows in tow, slumping next to them.
"Oi! You can choose whatever position you want, bud! Come on don't be shy!" Aden exclaims and... Not being comfortable being with Virgilia just yet, I slump next to Aden.
"O-Oh? Are you sure, bud? You could've slumped between Virgilia and Émile for comfort."
"... Don't want to suffocate, plus putting Émile and comfort is a bit of an oxymoron."
"Hey!... But I suppose you're right, can't tell when spikes start to appear once more; so I suppose I'm a safe bet."
Lying down, Aden then whispers into my ear
"Is it suffocating because of Virgilia's supple bu--?"
"NO!!!" I yelp and Virgilia hisses, telling me to pipe down "... Sorry."
Given that they're hugging each other, reluctantly I wrap my hands around Aden and fall asleep...
...
"Sis... Are you still mad at me?..."
"Urgh, about what?"
"You know... When I tried to calm you down..."
"... No, I should be the one apologising."
"W-Wha?..."
"I just lash out. That's all. Sorry."
"..."
"It's just... I don't know what to do anymore. I feel so awful now. Everything just became some sort of noise that blends into one another! At times I seriously think about ending it all!"
"..!"
"... But, can't leave you all alone, can I? Without me, you would surely be dead. So say thanks to your sis for being alive."
"T-Thank you..."
"That's what I'd like to hear.
...
Come here."
"?"
"... Every touch feels so disgusting to me now, especially from men, but... Maybe I'll try to not freak out. Come on, come to your big sister."
...
"There-there... Damn it still feels creepy and nauseating...
...
But also comforting."
"..."
"You know, receiving hugs from you isn't that bad. You may hug me whenever you like. As long as you're not bothering me at least, got it?'
"!!!"
"Hah... Damn, you have such a stupid little face... I love it.
You are the only person I'll ever love, A---"
---
"Moving up in the world?"
"Yes. So I'm afraid I won't be able to help you folks as much as you would want to."
"Don't be. In fact, it was rather surprising to see such strong talent be allotted to only starter commissions, the ones that don't pay well and are almost entirely put up by us folks..."
"You think so?"
"Yes! You are sort of a local legend in our parts; so we'll be cheering you on, Argent. As long as you're on a righteous path that is, haha."
"Righteous path...
...