11:43 pm.
Graham's Lodge House, Luxen City.
Vivian raised her hand and aimed it at Torr's palm.
[Fire Arrow].
Woo-sss…!
"Argh…!" Torr groaned as he bit down hard against a twisted cloth between his teeth when an arrow made out of flames burst out of Vivian's hand and shot through his palm, leaving a hole and burning the flesh, before finally disappearing when it struck the metal slab.
His face was pale, he had dark eyebags, his cheeks were sunken, and his body was covered in sweat with Felize and Gaze sitting on his side and supporting him.
They came here around 6:30 p.m., had dinner, and then started the Awakening Ceremony around 7:30 p.m.
"I'll be casting the next one," Vivian said as she shifted her hand and aimed at Torr's wrist.
[Fire Arrow].
Woo--sss…!
"Arrrgggh…!" A hole appeared on Torr's wrist and he leaned forward, almost falling down to his face and into the metal slab, but Felize and Gaze caught him, preventing him from doing so.
Hmm…
I wonder if it's good to just let him lie down and tie his arm to the metal slab…?
Vivian shook her head mentally.
He might choke to death from his own saliva or whatnot…
Also…
I remember a nurse I dated told me that if someone loses consciousness and was lying down, they should raise their legs…
But is it true…?
I'm not gonna lie…
That woman was a bit dumb…
Well…
Like they say…
Having an degree doesn't you're smart…
If you're an idiot with an IQ of 70 or lower and then you got a degree…
Now you're just an educated idiot…
And I've met a lot of people like that…
Hmm…
I wonder if the same applies here…
"I'll be casting the last one and then heal you. After that, we'll take a break once again."
Felize and Gaze nodded. Torr, on the other hand, was focused on trying to stay awake and not feel the pain.
Right…
Now that I think about it…
Tying him would be pointless because it's not like I have unlimited mana…
Yeah…
That was a stupid idea…
Vivian shifted her hand to Torr's forearm.
[Fire Arrow].
Woo-sss…!
"ARRRGGGHHH…!" A hole appeared on his forearm and he fell to the side but Felize and Gaze caught him once again and forced him to sit straight.
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped Torr's body and cured his wounds.
"Okay, let's take a break," Vivian said and then got up. "We will resume once I recover enough mana."
"Yes, Honored Priestess," Felize and Gaze replied.
The twisted cloth between Torr's teeth fell from his mouth as forced himself to stay awake.
"Y-Yes... Honored… Priestess..."
***
Day of Satur, 7:13 a.m.
Rays of sun slipped between the curtain windows.
Torr had his back leaning against Gaze's chest while being barely conscious. His face was so pale, his already sunken cheeks along with his dark and heavy eyebags became worse, and he was covered in sweat.
Felize took the twisted cloth between Torr's mouth and then wiped his face with a dry towel.
[Heal].
A faint yellow light enveloped Torr's body.
Vivian glanced at the windows.
It's already morning…
She returned her gaze to the three teens.
"We will continue this later tonight and meet at the usual time and place later," she said and then got up.
Felize and Gaze bowed.
"Yes, Honored Priestess. And thank you."
Torr gave a very weak and slow nod.
"T-Thank… you… Ho… nored… Pries… tess…"
Vivian nodded.
"All of you have done well."
She went over to the section where her things were, picked up her things, and then headed to the door. But before opening the door, she turned to them one last time.
"I will also order some breakfast for all of you."
"Thank you for the very kind offer, Honored Priestess," Felize said. "But we've been out for 2 nights straight and our families have been worried, so we promised them yesterday that we will have breakfast with them every morning. But if --"
Vivian held out her hand.
"You don't have to explain any further. I understand. Even I would feel the same if I were your parents."
Felize and Gaze lowered their heads.
"Thank you for understanding, Honored Priestess!"
"Well, I have to go now. I'll see you all later."
***
Vivian strolled down the busy streets with her poleaxe on her hand that she was using like a walking stick. There were several people around -- most were heading to some place to get breakfast or buy something for breakfast, others were opening shops, and a few were cleaning the streets.
Back to the compound now…
Should I sleep…?
The other night I didn't sleep but was fine the whole day…
Last night, I also didn't sleep…
I feel a bit tired…
But I'm still more or less fine…
Hmm…
What should I do…?
And come to think of it…
Next week is the Ranking Match…
But I have yet to properly level up my [Lightning Mastery]…
The memory of Marie donned in armor looming over her while holding the blade of a sword against her neck flashed inside her head.
Tch!
She clicked her tongue.
This Awakening Ceremony deal with the kids is taking so long…
And why didn't that other kid already have his [Dark Mastery] opened so that I could also learn that…?!
She let out a sigh.
Aside from my [Lightning Mastery], I also still need to level up my [Light], [Wind] and [Fire Mastery] to Level 4…
And Level 4 takes 500-1,000…
Fucking hell, man…
I'm really wasting so much time…
She shook her head mentally.
I already gave my word…
And plus…
I could think of this as a long-term investment…
Yeah...
A long-term investment...
But seriously…
Next time…
Whenever I meet another person who could help me open a Magic Art Affinity…
I should never ever agree to this kind of setup ever again…
This was a big mistake…
Well…
At least this was a good lesson…
Like they say, you live and learn...
I just hope that kid will open his [Dark Mastery] as soon as possible before I find another way to open mine…
Yeah…
That would be nice…
So should I sleep or not sleep…?
She thought about the new area she was farming.
Well…
The monsters are stronger…
There's also stronger Adventurers…
Yeah…
I can't risk it…
Perhaps if I have a complete set of armor to protect from poison and paralysis…
Then I can take more risks…
But seriously…
Why hasn't the kid opened his [Fire Mastery] already…?
Why did he have to wait for me…?
I mean…
[Fire Mastery] can be opened by simply burning one's self right…?
And he's 15 years old…
I think…?
But whatever, the point here is that, in that at least a decade of his life, and a boy, he never played with fire…?
Even I played with fire when I was a kid…
And my father was very strict…
So how is that even possible…?
Not to mention that this world is currently in the medieval period…
So how is that even fucking possible…?
Wait...
Now that I think about it…
This body also had the Fire and Poison Magic Art Affinities…
And I had to personally open it…
And the owner of this body even had the [Village Girl] Lore…
What the fuck…
What kind of village life has she been living that she hasn't even opened her [Fire Mastery]…?
She shook her head.
I guess this just proves it…
Whether it's my world, this world or any other world, humans are just stupid, lazy and fearful or afraid of pain…
"What a bunch of fucking losers, man."