LEVI
A familiar ceiling greeted me when I opened my eyes. My mind felt groggy as I did not move and stared at the ceiling. I did not know what happened after that that bronze spear..
'Effie..'
Effie was the one who had attacked me it seems, and Shashi was there too. My body hurt slightly, my adrenaline had passed and I was no longer augmented, I could think clearly now. My earlier hatred and killing intent was overshadowed by a sense of sadness and disappointment.
When I finally moved to sit up, I noticed that Shashi was sitting beside my bed in a chair, her eyes were closed. It seems they had brought me back to our lodge. But why? Why would Nephis allow it when she had tried to kill me?
Shashi looked sickly pale, however she looked just fine the other day. Had something happened to her while I was out? How long was I out for anyways? While I was thinking, in the corner of my eyes I noticed Shashi open her eyes.
At first, she was surprised to see me, however she got over her surprise rather easily as I saw a hint of relief in her eyes.
"You were out for a while." She leaned closer to me as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "I was worried."
I awkwardly put an arm around her, flustered by the sudden contact. "I am alright.."
After staying like this for a few long seconds, she let me go. Her expression turned a bit more serious as she crossed her legs. By the look in her eyes, I could tell she had many questions. I also had some.. I leaned my back onto the wall, I called back the cut down robes and summoned my red cloak instead to cover my torso.
"I apologize for interrogating you like this just when you have woken up, but I have questions.."
I nodded.
"Well.. Nephis told me what happened. And it seems she thought you were an assassin and assumed she had enough proof to get rid of you."
After a pause, she asked a question with a hesitant voice.
"How did you survive that..?"
I let out a sigh, now answering immediately. By the way she talked she had most likely saw my pierced heart, perhaps that was why she looked so pale. She was the one who healed my heart.
"I suppose I owe an explanation.. It is my flaw, immortality."
Shashi stared at me with the same expression she had before, however her composure broke after a few seconds and her eyes widened.
"What kind of flaw even is that? Isn't that more like a superpower..?"
I simply shrugged. I also did not know what the spell was thinking when it gave me a flaw like this.
"Well I guess it would explain your unnatural endurance.."
"Does anyone else know?"
It wouldn't be very good if the others knew about my flaw. The flaw didn't really have any ways to be exploited, still it would have been best if it was kept as a secret.
'Well who knows? Maybe there is someone out there with an strong aspect that makes people age.'
I scoffed mentally at the thought.
Shashi shook her head to my question. "No, Effie was there too but I hid your wounds from her."
Then Shashi started talking about what happened after I blacked out.
"And guess what? I unlocked my aspect legacy!"
Now it was my turn to be shocked. She had unlocked her aspect legacy when she was just a dreamer? What kind of luck was that?
"Well.. what did you get as a relic..?" I asked hesitantly.
"I promise to tell you once we are out of this hell." She winked at me.
I stared at her, then rolled my eyes. I examined her skin color once again. Sauntering to the edge of the bed, I held out my wrist. In response she just eyed me.
"You look pale. Drink up, you healed me so consider it as a repayment."
She looked hesitant at first, she reluctantly reached out her hand to my wrist and grabbed it. However instead of leading it to her mouth, she pulled me closer to her and leaned into my neck. I could feel my face go hot when breath ghosted on my skin.
Just as she was about to bite, there was a knock at the door. Shashi immediately backed away from me, I could swear that I heard her curse under her breath. Without waiting for us to respond, Effie opened the door.
When the huntress entered the room, she eyes both of us.
"I was not interrupting something was I? Pretty boy looks pretty red and you look pissed. What were you guys doin' huh??"
Effie gave Shashi a coy smile. However it died down when Shashi didn't reply to her. She turned her gaze towards me and gave me smile with a hint of regret under it.
"It is good to see you up. Sorry for the wound Levi."
I only nodded, not giving any further responses. I somehow did not mind Effie's attack at all. After all she was simply trying to stop me from killing her employer, I suppose I did not hold it against her.
"Well.. if you are alright know.. It would be best if we had a meeting now."
I got up from my bed, stretching out out a bit. I did not really want to see Nephis this quickly. Shashi mentioned that she was regretful of her actions, however that did not mean I will immediately forgive her, I still hated her guts as much as before.
"I suppose a meeting is important."
***
We were sitting around a table. Me, Shashi, Effie, Nephis and Cassie. Cassie was not involved in this situation so most likely Nephis had told her.
Or she knew it beforehand and did not do anything about it.
I felt sick at the thought. Did she also know that Sunny was going to leave? I hoped that was not the case. Tearing my gaze away from Cassie, I looked at Nephis. Who still hadn't said a single word, she was simply looking down at the table. I had never seen the proud legacy look like this. It also made me want to forgive her.
But I was not a fool of course. Many people would call my way of thinking as petty, but if I was not immortal she would have killed an innocent person.
When she was going to speak up, I immediately assumed that she was going to apologize. So I cut her off by speaking first.
"Save it if you are going to apologize. You think just a simply apology will fix everything?"
Nephis did not hesitate when she spoke up once again. "What can I do in order to fix things between us?" She spoke with determination.
I shrugged nonchalantly. Nephis stared at me with a baffled expression. I also did not know what to do about this situation.
"I will be clear, I don't think I will ever trust you for a long time. However I do not want to leave the hunting party either. I want you to grant me two wishes."
I was being truthful when I said I was not going to trust her after this. What she had done was simply stupid. Nephis seemed reluctant at first, but she silently nodded.
"My wishes are simple. You give one soul shard of every soul shards you earn in each hunt."
I let my request sink in before continuing.
"My second wish.. I have not decided yet. But I will ask for it when the time comes."
"Alright.. I am thankful that you will be staying.."
***
After the meeting ended, I got outside along with Shashi. She was accompanying me since I wanted to get some fresh air. I had let her drink some blood while we were in private, from my wrist of course..
I did not know what is waiting for us in the future, but I did not have a good feeling about it. The foundations of our already fragile relationships had been shook, not once but two times already now. First Sunny's leaving and now this situation. The future looked grim to say the least.