[ ] = Doruuk's Toughts
< > = Nymeria's Toughts
{ } = System Message
Finally. After hours I spend reading, I find what I'm looking for. The yellowed pages clearly detail the three methods to awaken an elf's lost powers.
First option: matrimonial union. An elf lacking their abilities can awaken them by marrying another elf of the opposite sex who possesses active powers and knows how to use them. The union of two souls strengthens both, allowing the one suffering from the defect to awaken their dormant essence.
Second option: the spiritual journey. The elf must undertake a pilgrimage into wild nature, meditating and reconnecting with their ancestral origins. Only through this purification of the soul can the powers return to flow.
Third option: the most extreme and dangerous. A complete blood transfusion. The elf's heart, nourished by new and pure blood, releases the blessing of abilities once again, as if the individual is completely reborn. The blood must be extremely fresh—it cannot remain exposed to air for more than a minute.
[Three choices. Three Weird choices.]
[The first? Ridiculous. I don't have enough money to buy another elf. I'd have to sell myself so many times I'd lose count.]
[The second? Impossible. Time isn't on our side.]
[Only the third remains. I don't know exactly how it works, but I'll have to discuss it with the others. Maybe we can find a solution.]
I close the book decisively and rise from the creaking wooden chair. My time in the library hasn't been wasted.
[Finally, I have what I'm looking for. At least this.]
But when I think everything is going the right way, I'm wrong. Gravely wrong.
As soon as I cross the library's threshold, my eyes fall upon a scene that makes my blood boil in my veins. Nymeria is surrounded by two shady-looking men, trapped against the stone wall of an alley.
[Is it possible that things can't go smoothly even for a moment?]
The first man, tall and robust with a scar running across his left cheek, approaches her dangerously. "Hey beautiful, how are you?"
Nymeria's eyes are filled with terror, but her voice trembles only slightly. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The second, shorter but broad-shouldered, laughs with a shrill laugh. "Don't be afraid, we're not bad people."
"He's right," adds the first, moving even closer. "We just want to help you."
"I don't want any help from you. Move away." Nymeria's voice becomes firmer, but I can hear the fear hiding behind that facade of courage.
"Come on, don't be like that," insists the first man, his voice becoming more honeyed, more dangerous. "We're talking to you calmly and you're getting agitated. Stay calm. Come with us, we'll show you the world."
"Yes, yes, come with us. We'll make you very happy," echoes the accomplice, his eyes gleaming with malicious light.
"Move away!" Nymeria shouts, desperation now evident in her voice. "My master will be waiting for me!"
"Forget about him," snarls the first. "We'll make you happier."
"No! Leave me alone!"
At that moment, both men grab Nymeria's wrists with brutal force. Her cry for help splits the air like a blade.
"Help! These men are harassing me!"
A crowd begins to gather around the scene, but no one moves. They all stand there, motionless as statues, watching without doing anything.
[Why isn't anyone going to help?] [And where are the guards?] [Everyone here is a coward.]
My eyes fix on the two aggressors. There's something wrong with them.
[Maybe they're too strong?] [But not stronger than me.] [Or maybe they are...] [They might be physically strong, but not mentally.] [I'll show them.]
I push my way through the crowd, my heart beating like a war drum.
"Let go of her wrist!" My voice cuts through the air like a whip.
The second man turns toward me, his face twisted in an arrogant sneer. "Hey! Who are you? Want to play hero, huh? Get away from here before we beat you like an insect."
The first bursts into a coarse, vulgar laugh. "Hahahaha!"
I remain firm in my position, staring both of them in the eyes.
"Hey! Acting tough, eh?" The second takes a step toward me, his hands beginning to assume a fighting position. "I'll show you when I smash your face."
That's when I notice it. Their fists begin to glow with a golden, pulsing light.
[I see these two possess Luminous. Their fists are glowing.] [I must move with caution.] [The Luminous is probably combat-type.]
{The character has used "Escape"}
[I can't give them time to think.] [They're about to attack me!]
Before they can move a muscle, I spring like a coil. I grab the fruit crate sitting next to a vendor and hurl it at them with all the strength I have.
The crate explodes in a shower of apples and oranges, distracting them for the necessary time. I make a lightning leap and throw a devastating punch behind the first man's head. The blow resonates like thunder and he collapses to the ground, unconscious instantly.
{The character's strength has increased.} {Uneasiness has increased.}
The second man, seeing his companion on the ground, hesitates. I draw my dagger, the blade gleaming menacingly in the sunset light. His eyes widen with terror.
His Luminous only works with bare fists—he has no weapons. The slightly increased uneasiness is confusing him, making him hesitate between attack and flight.
Right at that moment, finally, the city guards arrive.
"Come on! Take these two!" shouts the captain. "We'll have a nice chat with them."
[Ah, finally you arrive.]
I address the captain coldly. "Take these two. They saw a woman alone and thought to disturb her."
"Thank you, sir, for your intervention," the guard responds respectfully.
[My only reason for not killing them directly is to avoid getting into trouble. Otherwise, I would have eliminated them already.]
[I noticed their Luminous immediately. Once they decided to attack me and clenched their fists, their hands began to glow like sick stars.]
I approach Nymeria, who is still trembling against the wall.
"So, Nymeria. Are you alright?"
She nods quickly, her eyes still glossy. "Yes, master. Thank you for saving me."
"Don't mention it," I reply with a dry tone. "You're my property, and I don't allow anyone else to touch you. Get this straight: where we're going will be a hundred or a thousand times more dangerous than this place."
"Alright, master."
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes, master."
"Good. How was the food?"
"It was good."
"I'm glad you liked it." I pause, then add: "And I've already found the solution to your ability problem."
Nymeria's eyes light up like stars in the darkness.
"Really, master?"
"Yes, really. But the solutions aren't simple."
I explain the three options I discovered in detail. I see the hope in her face fade as she understands the complexity of each possibility.
"They're not easy," I admit, "but stay calm. We'll find the solution."
With a barely audible voice, she whispers: "Alright, master."
"Now let's go to the base to discuss the options."
"Master," she says hesitantly, "it's getting evening. Isn't it better to go tomorrow?"
"No." My voice admits no objections. "Until we find a solution for you, we're not going anywhere."
We begin the journey toward the base while the sun sets behind the mountains, painting the sky blood red. When we finally reach our destination, night has already wrapped the world in its dark cloak.
"I found the solution!" I shout, unable to contain my excitement.
But as soon as I enter, I see Zaira, Eldon, Otis, and Kael asleep on their beds, evidently they've been waiting for us for hours.
"Wake up!"
Kael jumps to his feet. "What happened?"
"It's just us," I respond with an ironic smile.
Zaira rubs her eyes, irritated. "Finally you're back. We've been waiting for you since this morning."
"Did you find the solution?" asks Eldon, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Yes, I found it!" I can't hold back a triumphant laugh.
"Really? Which one?" Otis has gotten up too, now completely awake.
I tell them everything in the smallest details, word for word, without leaving anything out.
Zaira shakes her head, skeptical. "But these three solutions aren't feasible!"
"Unless we buy another elf slave and make them marry," adds Kael, "but we don't have enough money to buy another one."
"And for the second, we don't have enough time," observes Otis.
"The only one left is the third," concludes Eldon.
"But how do we change her blood?" asks Zaira, perplexed. "And we need fresh blood too."
I make a dramatic pause, then smile. "I have a solution."
"And what would that be?" asks Zaira, suspicious.
My answer hits everyone like lightning: "I'll give my blood to Nymeria."
Chapter-End.