SUMMER - TWO YEARS LATER
"Paperwork, paperwork… I'M TIRED OF THIS PAPERWORK!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm88xGVjfJ
He shouted as he used a wind spell to blow everything off his desk. The tornado of papers cascaded through the air.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN8Qq2O4ar
"Are you done, sir?" A calm voice asked nearby.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0NEzC9Q2P
He looked up at his secretary standing at the door. Random pages brushed past her as they fell, and she had more paperwork.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wqg4E75x1
"I'm never done, it seems. This dungeon was supposed to be a boon, not more work. I'm tired of all the processing. Let someone else deal with it," he replied, annoyed.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBZwSRGbL4
"We have been, sir, but you still need final approval even if others are overseeing the budget." She watched her boss. He was a mean little gnome when he was forced to work.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFkChFbRcP
He wasn't always like this, but since he started spending more time with his family, he got more annoyed not being able to see them in the evening. She sighed and bent to pick up the stray papers.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgHkmIK81P
"We only sent you the final draft, sir. Most of the projects have been overseen and approved. But with the dungeon opening and the new guild hall being staffed, we need you to confirm the budgets for the staff and approve the pay for dungeon drops."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTImxPqLyp
He waved his hand. "That's nothing new, and you know it. We should have already had this done years ago. Why is it still being processed?" He grunted, watching her pick up the papers.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTLf02otOG
"Because you kept spending time with your nephew and niece at the shop and eating dinners at their house, saying you'd worry about the details later and telling me to put it off till necessary, sir."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIof8VLkRn
He looked at her, dumbfounded. "For two years? I don't believe it."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4f443L6rH
"Yes, sir," she replied calmly. "One year, four months, nine days, if you want specifics. Most things we were able to do had no issues, such as building the guild hall and approving new residents and shops. But the taxes, finer details of contracts, and larger-scale future projects required the mayor's final say."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHahm1GXy9
He scratched his chin, listening, watching her as she stacked the pages neatly on his desk. He looked at them dumbfounded, as if they came out of nowhere.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONUNWknkTm
"Can't this wait till tomorrow?" he asked, not wanting to deal with it.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpXJ5SaSlh
"You said that yesterday, sir. And this does need to be done. The new staff have already been here a week, and it is not good if it affects their pay," she replied calmly.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrO7t8CGDX
He sighed, defeated. "What's the point of power if you can't be with your family?" He whined as if he was tortured.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYseXn1sPak
She sympathized to a point but knew he was being dramatic. He'd seen them every other day for a while now, since he wanted to be closer to his niece and nephew. He made it a habit to spend dinners with them when he could or check on his nephew's alchemy progress.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsq5fTUla1
"If you want, sir, I can sign these documents like the others. If you trust my approval…" She did not like overseeing important documents like that without oversight, but it seemed her boss cared little for oversight and trusted she wouldn't allow corruption.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUMsQQBKKI
He beamed and hopped down from his desk. Though she towered over him, he patted her calf. "That's why I need you!" He beamed. "You can take tomorrow off! I promise today is the last day, I swear! Wolf is near a new breakthrough. I wanted to be there when he does. And Leenia, sweet Leenia! She has gotten so pretty. You should see her. I will need to keep an eye on all the wannabe suitors trying to win her heart!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV8rlNKOu8
He kept rambling about the joys and positives of his family, and she just nodded. This wasn't the first time this happened. She was just hoping she could force him into doing more work, but he was still too aloof about work, it seemed.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD27SagA8s
"Have a safe trip, sir," was her last word to him as he left to go into town and see his family.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOin2XFBtH
She sat at the desk and sighed. The first paper was approval for the new staff in the guild hall. It was a boon and simple thing to approve. It seemed the guild master from the city wanted to oversee the new branch and was bringing one of her staff and son.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpGPc3mrAl
It made filling the last few spots a simple affair. The city was able to handle her departure with little fuss. Getting their side's paperwork done was the only real issue.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGYnfklP6A
With that signed and filed, she went to the next major page—approval of additional residents. Again, easy overall, just more signs of the agreements. But she wanted him to at least understand their growth versus dismissing it.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOlZVjGMO1
The papers went quicker with time. It was not as hard as her boss liked to make it seem, and she was done within the hour. She smiled to herself. At least I get tomorrow off, she thought, seeing the silver lining.
Wolf was balancing a vial in his hand, watching another vial boil. He knew he was close.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0FSEXCthT
He'd been trying to improve the existing mana potions. As it stood, they cost too much for the mana they gave. He wanted a low-cost version to help those with low mana cast more cheaply.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMCRT1ywx0
He let a drop slowly drip in and watched. The boiling liquid was purple. The vial was green. And the color he needed was blue.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKb0ddEApr
The boiling liquid was an existing concoction known for boosting one's defense versus blunt attacks. The purple vial was a mix of stamina and mana potion for rejuvenation. It wasn't cheap, but he was trying various things to shift the magic from its current buff stats to a mild mana potion. And this was the closest he'd gotten so far.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pp1FAxscK
He felt it was close as he dripped more drops, waiting for the change.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySl2QTaf9g
Every time he'd tried in the past, it had varying effects—from destabilizing the mixture and becoming nothing to a strange poison mix that just upset the stomach. Luckily, nothing fatal, but it was still unpleasant.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAz0vw7XZ9
A bead of sweat dripped, and he kept waiting before adding another drop. How many was that now? Six drops. He knew one more would be the limit. He was about to risk it when the boiling stopped, surprising him. That was new. And it changed colors to a light blue.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO1WPYdNhQ
"No… I don't believe it. It worked?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpOydd40Lz
He started laughing, setting the vial down and turning off the burner. He tested the heat in the bottle. It was cool to the touch. Amazing! Somehow the shift had cooled down the mixture. He made notes in his book, wanting to keep some records.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyjvMki8gA
Defense potion: set to boiling, add rejuvenation potion: add drops slowly, just 6 is needed.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHjbWI6VWk
He stopped writing. Will it make the potion? He hadn't tested it yet. Only one way to know for sure.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIbH60sIOI
"Nina, CAN YOU HELP ME FOR A SECOND, PLEASE?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxGBVyHarT
In the distance, he heard her reply, "OK." He knew she would be here soon and waited.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgvbpPQbZI
"What's wrong, brother?" She wasn't concerned, just curious about what he needed. He was holding a light blue potion. She seemed to recall he was working on something like that, then gasped. "It worked!" she asked excitedly.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy8jqh6c9v
"I dunno," he replied. "I hope so, but my magic is always stuck in me. I can't use it, but you can use yours till you feel a bit weak and drink it to see if you notice a change."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKT4Tri6Dh
"Hmm." She was concerned. It took a lot for her to feel any drain in mana. "I can try, but I never really feel mana loss." She felt bad not being able to help her brother.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5AQ7SYXa6
"You make me jealous," he replied. He meant it too, though not with malice. "Are there any drain-type skills you can do?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UxIa8BGQl
He saw her lost in thought for a moment before replying. "I guess if I rapidly shift rock in and on my body, it can be a bit of a drain. I never tried to do it for long, though?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Y0d3dI43
"It's enough, please try," he pleaded.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnKz44T6nU
"Ok." She focused her power. It flowed like water, though it was stone. In her body and out, it swam over her skin. She made large chunks like armor and focused on pieces like gloves.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxmKLedUPP
She never really cared to do it much. It always reminded her of her past, when they only cared about her power. Though she knew Wolf was different, it still bothered her having it unresolved.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShey5nDmV4
He watched with amazement as he stared in awe at what she thought were simple tricks. But for him, she knew it was a dream he couldn't reach, so she tried to add a bit of flair and make it flow faster and with more patterns. It was also fun to push herself a little. She never wanted to do that before.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzEd8C22mn
He watched in awe. Stone flowing like water, and just as freely. This is real magic… not what I have.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4vMWxPDJ5
She shivered after a few minutes and stumbled a bit. He started to get up to help her, but she raised her hand, warding him off.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfZHLK7Zux
"I'm fine, Wolf," she said. "That winded me a little and made me dizzy, but I'm already recovering, just feeling a bit drained for the first time. Want to hand me the drink?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o9PtEmI5e
He was still a little worried but trusted her and handed her the drink.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkhipEbeI9
"It's untested, so be careful. The worst should just be cramps and maybe running to the bathroom. Sorry if it goes that far," he said, slightly abashed.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBpdPWK0Ks
She laughed at that, taking the drink. "Well, then let's hope I don't poop this out or throw it up," she said cheerfully.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSHRweB0Vg
He was grossed out by how casually she made the statement but kept quiet. She would be the one suffering, not him.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpwalMAQAh
As she drank slowly, she looked to the side. He waited for any effect as she closed her eyes.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vYbJddIRH
"Hmm… it tastes nice? Beyond that, I think I feel it healing my mana. I don't think I'm the best to test this, Wolf. Sorry, I tend to regain mana fast, I think…" She felt bad that this wasn't working.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d66Rxczpg
"It's fine, thank you. No major side effects are good, and it is a weaker mana potion. Even if it did work, the effect will be lower versus a strong one. I will keep it as a test. Maybe Uncle will stop by again today. He has fewer regions. I heard him complain before about the cost of mana potions, so he can test it. Funny enough, he was why I even tried to make this."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaNj62xenL
She rubbed his head with a smile. "I'm still proud of you, brother. I was helping with dinner before you called. Also, Nebo is home today from a delivery in the city. So it will be a big family dinner," she said with more enthusiasm than before.
He spent a bit more time on experimentation to make sure it was stable and repeatable before bottling the new potions.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4SNuXabhR
There was a knock at the door. He heard Leenia say she would get it in the distance, followed by the laughter of a familiar voice.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR03B0lskC
"You're growing more every day, child! I missed you."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvzp1dlPsZ
"Uncle, it's been a day, two at most, since we last spoke. I don't grow that fast…"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3f7ClCky9
"Nonsense, child, I see it clearly. You will be stepping on me and over me easily in no time! I do miss the days you were small enough to hold. Sweet little thing as big as me, even as a baby!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyjE2UThpU
"Uncle, how many times are you going to repeat those same jokes? They stopped being funny a year ago…"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmo8arILbO
"Nonsense, child. I see Nebo there trying to hide a smile. At least he gets my humor. Where is your brother? At least he understands me!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNCym8Lpaf
"Wolf, my boy, have you mastered being an alchemist yet? I can always use a grow potion if you're interested in my business."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ToTQ7ucDE
He laughed at his joke and enjoyed being with his family.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMvfxdh3TY
"Nice timing, uncle. I do need your help."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y1xTbvjdw
Wolf proceeded to show him the light blue potion. He took it, examining it, and others were also curious what its effect was. Before Wolf could speak, Nina excitedly said what it was.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgQzVB0X7S
"It's a mana potion! Well, a weaker one, but that's by design. It's a cheaper version to help reduce cost."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodDVEvhCD0
Wolf glared, mildly annoyed. She'd explained it before him, but she did help him test it, so he bit his tongue.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPmtoyP2Dn
Uncle was watching him, expecting him to say more. He had concerns, but more for details than anything like doubt.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0XPwbI8zH
Wolf sighed but focused, not letting Nina's over-excitement ruin the moment. "Uncle, it's as she said. A new mana potion. But her mana is too strong to test its effect. I was hoping you could help me know how well it works. There are no side effects we can see. I made sure I only used safe, tested versions of healing and mana potions."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNlTalgoNu
He nodded and smiled, looking at the bottle in his hand. "I did rush to get here. It tends to be hard for my legs to move quickly, so I used wind magic, which helps me move more easily and also gives me a nice boost! So if I could get mana back easily and cheaply? Why would I say no?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV9AI0EKoK
He opened the bottle, smelling it. There was a pleasant mint berry scent—faint, but it was there. Their usual mana potions had a strong medicine-like scent, so this was different.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFxOLAvV8W
He drank it easily enough, waiting for the effect. It was incredible. He felt his magic return, which surprised him. This was supposed to be a weaker effect? It feels like a normal mana potion! It also scared him to think how much mana the beastkin had. She did not feel its effect… scary.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXdU1MrsHc
Wolf waited, watching his uncle with a serious face drink the potion. It went from a face unknowing what would happen to a happy, surprised look from his uncle.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OSpFZKzU5
"Well, do you feel anything?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqwn2E2ZF1
"My boy… this? This is amazing and is worth selling. I don't know why they have not marketed this before!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnkKDmn0M0
"I think it's because it's cheap. Well, that and those with money tend to want the best, not the cheapest. They probably don't want to risk a weaker potion when things go bad and you need mana now."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSCbI1BE5e
He mused to himself, picturing a bad outcome where the mana potion he made cost lives versus the better one saving them.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1OVekscas
"Nonsense! They don't have a choice, that's why!" His uncle saw Wolf's defeated look and wasn't having it. "My boy, this is an amazing thing. I promise, not everyone needs power. Sometimes they just need a boost. This alone gave me back at least an hour or so of mana, and that was one drink! I can use this for hours and fly all day!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9z3GBtHTz
He started laughing at that thought, zooming around, not worried about mana.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yVWbzspf1
Mom and Dad, hearing all the ruckus, joined everyone in the living room, wondering what was happening. Wolf shared his invention with them, with everyone agreeing it was a major change and proud he'd made it. Even Nebo was looking forward to marketing it to the city to help spread his achievement when he mass-produced more.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirltGe5Iqi
"Ok," Dad said, "we're all riled up, but let's eat, and we can talk about this more over dinner. Your mother worked hard to feed us all. Let's not let it get cold."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ACMw7bS4Y
Mom playfully swatted Dad. "It's nothing new. We haven't eaten many times before. Though I did make a couple of jam pies from the berry jams we have been saving, so that will be a treat!"
It was a rare event—everyone was at the dinner table.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaLlZUiboB
The table used to not fit them all, but they'd planned for huge gatherings since it kept happening and expanded it to hold up to eight people. It made dinner a little more cramped in the room, but it was still amazing to have so many in one spot.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzVvtFz7pH
His mom, dad, both his sisters—Nina and Leenia—and his brother. He didn't really feel close to Nebo, even though he'd accepted his sister as family, but they were family too, he guessed. And his uncle even managed to swing by.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr7xtBTPnE
So in all, there were seven of them feasting tonight. A rare sight, as they always seemed to be busy.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeLPqMaEkd
There was so much cheer and drinking with playful banter. Candlelight flickered across smiling faces. The room was warm, almost too warm, filled with the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread. Laughter echoed off the walls. Everyone was… happy.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OP2DBu23L
Mom excused herself to bring the desserts to end the evening on a high note.
Elinor was so proud of her kids. They'd managed so much in so little time. Her daughter was always helping with the shop, and her son was always trying to make something new.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cq8BAY5Ec
They grew up so fast it made her weep a little, drying her eyes.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5M3AGSxhQ
She was also proud of her stepkids, Nina and Nebo. It started as more of a consoling thing to make them feel welcome and ended up feeling like her own kids. The fact that they both loved her like a mom made it easier for her to accept them. They were abandoned, from what she was told. She wasn't sure how true it was, but she didn't mind being their new mom.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2BGoMwTRt
She heard her husband laughing in the distance. Maybe he'd had too much to drink. He was usually more reserved.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn5HfVaGlC
Uncle Victor had that effect. He'd been trying to get more involved lately. She didn't mind. It was nice. It reminded her of old times when they all would adventure.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbMNhXnAwX
She grabbed the tray with the cooled pies and turned to bring them from the kitchen when she heard a loud clang!322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNHL5SWAd
Surprised, she looked down, wondering what the noise was, and saw she had dropped the tray. The pies had scattered across the floor, jam bleeding across the wooden boards like spilled wine.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZCAQbrEWH
"Odd? I can't feel my arms."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWVM07VKzP
She was halfway to the table when it happened. She looked up to see if anyone noticed this happening, but all she saw was darkness and then nothing.
CLANG.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWiBBKi3ej
Over the laughter at the table, he was the first to notice something wrong. When he looked to see what happened, he saw his mom staring ahead and then falling.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcWiZUDZAe
It was absurd. He was seeing things. It was only after hearing her body thump that it shook him into action.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1uoi3wqsr
The laughter died instantly. Silence crashed over the room like a wave.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2QmZGcIcu
The whole table was a swarm of movement. Everyone trying to help, everyone in the way. It was chaos. He was scared.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEsUnMcvR1
What was happening!322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMSHpyudY2
It seemed Dad and Uncle were calm and shooed everyone back. Nina grabbed him for comfort, and Leenia was near Dad and Uncle, trying to help Mom.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuswHhuYHSX
"I'll get some water and rags," Nebo said while running to the kitchen.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3zHRb5Xea
"No need," Uncle responded. "It's the weakness curse. I've seen it before many times. We've been trying to avoid it. It seems this new dungeon will damn this village too…"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC75pYrpADS
Wolf was lost in thought. A curse? The dungeon was why? Is Mom dying?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEKdp6uIZg
"Can you save her? Will she be ok?" He asked in a weak voice.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy01OqTWQU
Nina gripped him tighter, trying to help him, and Leenia, seeing his distress, came to hold him too.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37jIG2o12u
It was then that Nebo spoke up. "It's rare, but it happens. It's not fatal unless they get unlucky hurting themselves. But the cure is very rare. So people with low magic try to avoid the dungeon, as that was known to cause it."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Q9y3r9PL
He watched Dad gently lift her.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbR740z51A
"Son, we're going to the church. They might be able to help her. Clean up here while we're gone."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c9u6Lvs2J
"NO," Wolf cried. "I WANT TO GO TOO."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZJblY6zmH
He knew he was acting like a child, but he didn't care. He couldn't lose his mom, not like this.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWzY8Mt0tP
"Wolf…" his uncle said slowly. "It's hurting all of us, but more people in the church would only hurt her recovery and slow the priest down. I promise you, see her tomorrow when she awakens. It just weakens the body and makes you always tired but never kills. I wouldn't lie to you, child, I swear."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxyEujWHUt
"Come on, brother. Nina and I will help and will stay with you, ok?" She sounded calm, but he could see the tears in Leenia's eyes and felt the tears from Nina.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcrpX3aY3Q
This was supposed to be a good day. Why?
The rest of the evening went by in a slow blur. The food and drinks, so full of flavor, now were bitter and flavorless—a grim reminder of what they had lost.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftpx9vonWC
The pie stained the floor, mixed with his tears, as he slowly cleaned it. His hands shook as he wiped up the jam, the sweet berry scent now making his stomach turn. Dad, Uncle, and Nebo left for the church. He was bitter that Nebo got to go, but he was older and more mature. He probably went so someone could rush back to let them know if she woke. But it still wasn't fair.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOUv8XgdJN
A few hours passed with no news. Even as it got later, none of them wanted to sleep. They huddled together in the living room, taking comfort in each other's touch. They were warm, but he only felt cold. His chest felt hollow, like something had been carved out of him.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrSJdimFYr
Why can't I have the power to help? I was told I had amazing power and could do nothing.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrovmOUx2N
"The gods are cruel," he finally spoke.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYbXi1Ebo6
"Don't be like that, brother," his sister gently admonished him. "The gods bless us, and they did not hurt Mom. She just wasn't strong enough for the magic, is all." She trailed off, new tears falling from her eyes.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfgOvERsWf
He didn't care why. He knew he needed it changed. It was too late now, but when the sun rose? He was going to see Herbert. He'd trained for years for this day. He would save his mom at any cost.
The night passed slowly. None of them wanting to sleep or talk, but the gentle comfort of those who shared your pain and loved you rocked them to sleep. None of them dreamed. They just passed the time with the darkness till there was light.
He rubbed his eyes. It was another late night trying and failing for a solution. He did a quick search of the shelves near the table to find something to help.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaIIIrWMxo
He had a few stamina potions. They helped, but not with fatigue. There was a different powder for that—an amazingly simple idea from the boy who'd apprenticed under him to help pep him up.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKyCfEbmZn
He wondered how the boy was. It had been a while, but this project was more important. So much time spent, and no closer to solving it.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQohogNP1Hw
He drank the mix to help wake up. Despite looking like lemon, it was not tart nor sweet. Instead, it was an odd, bitter bland. Odd, he thought while drinking the mix, but the taste never lasted long enough for him to care. The effect was what he wanted, not flavor.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGr3T3gdE1
A gentle knock was at his door. He wasn't sure if he even heard it. More herbs at this hour? What hour is it?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg1MrPOzfk
It was hard to know the time. His darkness magic tended to hide what little light from outside, and he never cared enough to learn to control it. Magic was a means to an end, nothing more.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUCIJQ80Pr
Another knock, less this time—even lighter, maybe? Guess they don't want to bother me. It must be earlier than thought.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSme7g8l9SH
He yawned. The potion was slowly taking effect. He wanted to see who was here. This time he was short on moss—it was never enough. Hopefully this shipment had more.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOYLpRWAwF
As he opened the door, he was surprised to see a young man who looked familiar. Black hair and tall, but no package? Is he not bringing me herbs?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6OElAUHPf
The young man looked up at him with a sad face. He looked fragile. He knew this kid, but from where?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQroZeEgStI
"Mr. Herbert, sir. I need your help. I mastered the craft like you told me to a year ago, but I need you to make me a potion to help my mom."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbksKLJN75T
"Eh? Oh, IT'S YOU, CHILD! It's been too long! And you say you mastered the basics of alchemy? Wonderful, wonderful! I will need to see your notes as proof, but I trust you, and that can be done in time. What was that? Need help? I suppose I know a few brews. If she had a minor sickness, that wouldn't be anything hard to cure. Though the church handles major healing, unless it was something that needed a potion immediately?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GsagFLk5O
He looked around, squinting. He did not see anyone else, so he did not bring her.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlabEjDstfv
"I was told it was a weakness illness caused by dungeons. There is a potion for it, right? There's one for everything?" he asked hopefully.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYnXgDcx9B
He looked at the old man with bags under his eyes, seeing it took him a minute to process what he'd asked. Then a defeated look appeared, and he deflated, knowing the next words were not going to be good.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraI5gfubKO
"Boy. What do you think I have been spending my life trying to make all these years? There is a cure, but the time and rare herb required—nobody wants to make it."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2huImaHpwg
He rubbed his eyes, still feeling the lack of sleep. "Only one alchemist in the city can make it, and he contracts out the cure for one a month. And even then, he tends to sell it overseas or in other lands for profit. And again, nobody likes to make it. I've been looking for cheaper alternatives or, at the very least, making more than one a month. They're suffering in the city already. Now it has spread into this village, it seems."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocjxyQlXxD
He frowned, knowing what was to come.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBNDazvRJv
"Why would they allow that? Do they not care?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm5oDhKd6N
"It is not that simple, boy. The king cares, and so do the mayors in the villages. But the weakness never kills, and the churches support the people. That's part of what keeps so many grey robe priests busy. They can also recover in time."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4988MtEdw
"Really!" he asked, hopeful it wasn't as bad as he thought. But he saw Herbert shaking his head and deflated once more.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghRw8YoZMo
"Beastkin naturally recover 99% of the time within a year or two at most. Very rare any suffer more than that. But humans? Decades can pass if they are poor, waiting for a cure, and many pass, always suffering…"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMQjuUjxqk
He wanted to comfort the boy, but this was something he'd struggled with for decades, not being able to help. At least now he wouldn't be alone trying to save others.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkakbeamLY7
Wolf felt something break inside him. He'd come here expecting answers, expecting hope. Instead, he'd found the truth—that his mother might suffer for decades. That the power he'd been promised meant nothing.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1KcSalGxr
He sighed, feeling defeated. "Thank you anyway. Sorry I bothered you."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz7fOVuZGu
He turned to leave.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hzmotROYy
"Eh?! Where are you going, child? You want to make a cure, no?"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZpsl2mfy5
He wasn't sure why the kid was leaving.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmBDddfrDF
"You already said you couldn't make the cure and spent years trying. Me being here won't help anyone…"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbSiMzH895
"If life were that easy to solve, there would be no problems… I never gave up, hoping for the day I could solve it. I admit I failed. But I still have my notes. And you will have yours. If we keep trying, we will be that much closer to a cure. The gods will let us heal them, but only if we don't give up. Surely you know that? You have been doing alchemy this whole time!"322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJIjQq1rIY
He still felt lost. "Okay, let me get my notes. I will see if anything helps, but I never tried to find a cure. I never knew this existed."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpMvZHkFtO
"It's fine that your notes are incomplete. I will review them anyway. Mine will give you decades of knowledge at your fingertips. Your notes will just be me checking your progress more than anything."322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFudLYqc7bB
Wolf wasn't sure how he felt. He came here wanting to save his mother, but maybe instead he could save more. He wasn't sure if he could. Herbert tried for years, but as he looked at his hand, he felt the stir of power. It was there. It just didn't listen to him. But now… maybe.
Wolf left Herbert's home unfulfilled. He wanted a resolved outcome that would save his mother. Instead, he had more of a burden—one he did not need to fulfill, but he still felt obliged to.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeklvk0Iuu1
His sisters managed to get some sleep, and they all wanted to check on Mom. But Nebo told them there was no change, and it was best to let the adults work out the details.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl3ClbNcwY
Two days passed with unknown fears before they heard the words they desperately needed to hear.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfOGcR4Xty
She was awake.
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gPuTHwCIy
and then Add to home screen.