SUMMER - TWO YEARS LATER
"Paperwork, paperwork… I'M TIRED OF THIS PAPERWORK!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZN54V08wW
He shouted as he used a wind spell to blow everything off his desk. The tornado of papers cascaded through the air.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8ReAyD7yx
"Are you done, sir?" A calm voice asked nearby.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpfyWVx7sS
He looked up at his secretary standing at the door. Random pages brushed past her as they fell, and she had more paperwork.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAQ6Pa7wTH
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBkcLRI0GD
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocW8FAfK0J
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNyxmiRJTu
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixNEgS8KTp
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyWW4dMkgG
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL8cAz0wyS
He looked at her, dumbfounded. "For two years? I don't believe it."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ozSGW0Sag
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bcnM2ZY8T
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ9EmQk44R
"Can't this wait till tomorrow?" he asked, not wanting to deal with it.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNpAKfrnTh
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAO7tqcbyH
He sighed, defeated. "What's the point of power if you can't be with your family?" He whined as if he was tortured.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDfjY3HUvH
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVjEuNLqAk
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpTcWv84FE
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!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvohAxpbbuQ
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jyDTPXlqh
"Have a safe trip, sir," was her last word to him as he left to go into town and see his family.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4m0bikq9d
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03sTQwcadk
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3cC8hMumv
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtOYD3cg0M
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XB344up0e
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyJmBvul6J
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLeQzKXnGh
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfDRAeZOj2
He felt it was close as he dripped more drops, waiting for the change.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthYXsdyZNt
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh2UU1NgmW
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoEYwcZHbc
"No… I don't believe it. It worked?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDltJcXjoJs
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1qR2OosJh
Defense potion: set to boiling, add rejuvenation potion: add drops slowly, just 6 is needed.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpc0wNZV8y
He stopped writing. Will it make the potion? He hadn't tested it yet. Only one way to know for sure.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSF11gwhQK
"Nina, CAN YOU HELP ME FOR A SECOND, PLEASE?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNnzniwtXE
In the distance, he heard her reply, "OK." He knew she would be here soon and waited.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4869raKFi
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimgraO5uBA
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeuUGx0iTr
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sxLat2ZVj
"You make me jealous," he replied. He meant it too, though not with malice. "Are there any drain-type skills you can do?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxBpFwxqkg
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?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUoPx2Lll3
"It's enough, please try," he pleaded.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9fmjEzdnV
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY37KfAQ0zo
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC6kNDYfdR
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbEAcF87Ex
He watched in awe. Stone flowing like water, and just as freely. This is real magic… not what I have.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffNheJA85v
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B89VzhIxk
"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?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb5KyVJUwr
He was still a little worried but trusted her and handed her the drink.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t6Q26mfFF
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kwMJOw8GS
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6lRFKOhTD
He was grossed out by how casually she made the statement but kept quiet. She would be the one suffering, not him.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqwD0pvblB
As she drank slowly, she looked to the side. He waited for any effect as she closed her eyes.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe2LumQykS
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0mBmym5W5
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wiit5awop
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs1FJ4bBSA
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x5ppp4ZHb
"You're growing more every day, child! I missed you."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sTw8djmZR
"Uncle, it's been a day, two at most, since we last spoke. I don't grow that fast…"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRXJ83KIeP
"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!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lmB6BIhta
"Uncle, how many times are you going to repeat those same jokes? They stopped being funny a year ago…"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3q9WnIWmx
"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!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITTrwpiOrx
"Wolf, my boy, have you mastered being an alchemist yet? I can always use a grow potion if you're interested in my business."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aC8ncM2RU
He laughed at his joke and enjoyed being with his family.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BopaU1ui1
"Nice timing, uncle. I do need your help."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAYALgAzl2
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMQLV5v5al
"It's a mana potion! Well, a weaker one, but that's by design. It's a cheaper version to help reduce cost."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgx14MIvNO
Wolf glared, mildly annoyed. She'd explained it before him, but she did help him test it, so he bit his tongue.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0DRMvrAUJ
Uncle was watching him, expecting him to say more. He had concerns, but more for details than anything like doubt.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8pLPGnkmr
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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxTM7GPoPX
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?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsJk6UO7JW
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8RAR7paJb
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xvbXoeedF
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFepHTm55ul
"Well, do you feel anything?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilehARJz29
"My boy… this? This is amazing and is worth selling. I don't know why they have not marketed this before!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDzldv5J1U
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOSb0TxFYu
He mused to himself, picturing a bad outcome where the mana potion he made cost lives versus the better one saving them.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa5htcp0MM
"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!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lrx8IMGo1
He started laughing at that thought, zooming around, not worried about mana.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOvxqQ7aV2
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJfXjiSMfx
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3tkE3k7Xr
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUEOa8A64U
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptUmTb7dXq
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d89XjFKOq
So in all, there were seven of them feasting tonight. A rare sight, as they always seemed to be busy.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewLXh615rZ
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hnIWsHmFv
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBHiiphUdD
They grew up so fast it made her weep a little, drying her eyes.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ737BzWRmp1
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw9Emud14d
She heard her husband laughing in the distance. Maybe he'd had too much to drink. He was usually more reserved.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUxWEsAD5k
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp08daPCAd
She grabbed the tray with the cooled pies and turned to bring them from the kitchen when she heard a loud clang!353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMEMr9LJ2f
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZTtgaHbZb
"Odd? I can't feel my arms."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3juS8rWOUD
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLky1m8mVuS
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JkrNSUY7a
It was absurd. He was seeing things. It was only after hearing her body thump that it shook him into action.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeOXzBb6HA
The laughter died instantly. Silence crashed over the room like a wave.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3AkBlUvls
The whole table was a swarm of movement. Everyone trying to help, everyone in the way. It was chaos. He was scared.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqjhSxmI1H
What was happening!353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QHwWF1mY4
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzNCsr3YCd
"I'll get some water and rags," Nebo said while running to the kitchen.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQa0xerAtr
"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…"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnfQjvQNgk
Wolf was lost in thought. A curse? The dungeon was why? Is Mom dying?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkwcSBFunc
"Can you save her? Will she be ok?" He asked in a weak voice.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwi2kUigmO
Nina gripped him tighter, trying to help him, and Leenia, seeing his distress, came to hold him too.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcMYly00Ch
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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjJ6kfXhAe
He watched Dad gently lift her.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sLKr97V6x
"Son, we're going to the church. They might be able to help her. Clean up here while we're gone."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaskSmijrc6
"NO," Wolf cried. "I WANT TO GO TOO."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJi77It52e
He knew he was acting like a child, but he didn't care. He couldn't lose his mom, not like this.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTKjfOySDW
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjW6jzNQnk
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaTyL4RXFd
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBepI6ck8n
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpGV88Za9G
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3c3alRORQ
Why can't I have the power to help? I was told I had amazing power and could do nothing.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtDayEQdba
"The gods are cruel," he finally spoke.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xWIsHQFod
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzQiKN1bMK
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYWfXUXjqt
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk7az4B7lH
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRon5Wr1RMQ
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvOCDAQGKN
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?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvD9SnDV4E
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpVvRLvtt3
Another knock, less this time—even lighter, maybe? Guess they don't want to bother me. It must be earlier than thought.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgMo7jXXUu
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9sLWlqFBU
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?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTyAM5RMhm
The young man looked up at him with a sad face. He looked fragile. He knew this kid, but from where?353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE01OVDhhiK
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59cAKGVgiZ
"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?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMGRc5HJkO
He looked around, squinting. He did not see anyone else, so he did not bring her.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzMsbL1gPd
"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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5lq8XnbNy
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsZopU6f7u
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVF8P1LL45
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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhXYTryZdu
He frowned, knowing what was to come.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH2bCeoSmj
"Why would they allow that? Do they not care?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviJ2uLMd2Y
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVzHs04S1J
"Really!" he asked, hopeful it wasn't as bad as he thought. But he saw Herbert shaking his head and deflated once more.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKfH7mzEIE
"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…"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvhPbp4RdO
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn4Y7XhTRZ
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFGgzzgGqn
He sighed, feeling defeated. "Thank you anyway. Sorry I bothered you."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPASRZLu8l
He turned to leave.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiHbkJff3u
"Eh?! Where are you going, child? You want to make a cure, no?"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKurX2Fh1sy
He wasn't sure why the kid was leaving.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBhEBJcx5N
"You already said you couldn't make the cure and spent years trying. Me being here won't help anyone…"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADkiYEoIhn
"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!"353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn7qQFPMYJ
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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHN0HZiXtb
"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."353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkQQTUhlvD
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vCpcVSSLY
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.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oy1b4zCX4
Two days passed with unknown fears before they heard the words they desperately needed to hear.353Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4ZyMPbPRs
She was awake.
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and then Add to home screen.