YESTERDAY...
"A physical enhancement?" Neil let himself take it in, this new influx of information he had longed to know. Florence ignored his reaction, walking ahead as the younger of the two followed her.
Since the day Klein submitted himself to Florence, she had been using his body for several experiments. Though he initially thought of carnal desires, it soon was evident each night Klein came home. His unexplained potency for magic, his cold attitude coming back, it all just returned after that first night.
"You shouldn't be too worried, I won't kill him or anything..."
"Somehow that just makes things even worse," Neil said to her, his arms crossed as he could only look down. He hated that Klein took the fall, seeing the way he is now. He should've sacrificed himself, he should've done something about it instead of just watching.
Klein was a different story, but that changed ever since they arrived in Aloysius. Neil hated to admit it, but he knew Klein was carrying most of their weight.
"The first afternoon he came in, Klein tried to guilt me into letting you both go... Hah! I can't believe he'd actually use Amari like that..." Florence quietly chuckled, glancing at Neil who wasn't fazed by the jab at his brother. Turning back to the street, the alchemist brought out a vial from her back pocket.
"Have a look at this, Neil. This might give you an idea..." She flicked Neil's shoulder to get his attention, turning to Florence who had a vial in her hand. It was bubbling on the inside, as the purple liquid remained still while in her hand.
"Your blood is unique from other humans, more specifically the humans from our world." She pointed to the vial with Neil watching as Florence took the small plug covering the lid.
Without warning, Florence chugged the entire vial in one go, shocking Neil as he stopped. "W-What're you-" Florence raised her hand once again, stopping Neil before he could say another word. He watched as lines started to glow on some parts of her body, going down from her neck and spreading throughout her entire body.
Florence didn't look bothered in the slightest.
"I've been mixing it with monster blood, and the results were..." Florence shook her head as she said this, putting the vial back in her pocket as Neil was confused. "Adequate, to say the least." A few seconds later, the dim purple glow disappeared from her body as she took a deep breath. Wiping off some sweat from her face with her arm, she exhaled as Neil started to think about the change.
Injecting monster blood... Neil winced at the thought, images flashing in his head involving Klein with animal parts on his body. His older brother with cat ears and a tail, or turning completely into some half-baked hybrid monster. Florence was content on her work, even though it risked potential diseases that only he and Klein knew.
"Humanities potential, demi-human or demon, are almost always inherited from their parents. One of the reasons why I decided to have you and Klein become my experiments, even using my own blood..."
What the fuck... Neil was shaken when he heard the last part, thinking of all the diseases he or Florence could pick up. He would hope that her healing potions work, otherwise, Neil would be alone with Amari. After what happened to them a few days ago, he'd hate for that to happen again.
"Wait- Your blood?"
"Yes, and we've gone through injuries and sicknesses because of it... I'm not exactly human either..." Florence let the last two words drag, as Neil still was starting to get fearful. Jokingly patting his back, Florence laughed at his fear as she began to walk ahead.
"I believe the ends justify the means, as long as it's within my standards." She said, scuttling as Neil had to match her pace from behind. He didn't like hearing that, it just only made him feel more guilty about Klein being the de facto person to go to her. But Klein wanted it to be him, and Florence didn't seem to mind... "At this rate, my new work won't go anywhere..."
"Well, I'm glad that you haven't turned us in yet..." Neil said, thinking back to the day she had exposed them near the apothecary. They were glad that she wasn't as loud.
Florence nodded in agreement, her eyes closed as they were right outside the inn.
"It is like I said before. If Klein complies then you'll have no need to worry, I give you my word..." Her tone was serious, opening the door as she went inside first. Leaving Neil conflicted, Florence turned to see his indecision to come inside.
Seeing this, she walked back to Neil who seemed to be in a blur.
"I'm not going to be taking any risks yet, Neil. I know you two care about Amari a lot," Florence moved her hand up past Neil's shoulder, her serious expression softened as she tapped his head. "I don't want to hand you two over," Her crimson eyes pierced into Neil's brown, giving a long smile as she slid her arm back down.
"That would just break her heart and she would be all alone..."
Whatever you say... Neil loosely shrugged, agreeing with her as he was beginning to head back inside. As the two were walking upstairs to the lodgings, he heard a whisper come from behind as Neil subtly turned his head back to the alchemist.
"Just... Keep an eye on Klein, ok?" Neil stopped to think about Florence's request, before nodding as the two reached their apartment. It's not like he wasn't already doing that, what with how restless he's been.
"Klein..."
"Were almost there, just a little bit more..." Neil tiredly followed his older brother, stepping over some sticks as they took the trail to a familiar spot. They had been doing this almost every single day, whenever they weren't out on a quest they'd be here every morning. Get up early, have breakfast. then head out to the same open space they landed in for training.
"Neil?" Neil looked to see Laila right beside him, walking along together as Amari was up ahead with Klein.
"I-I'm alright, just feeling a bit drowsy from last night." He answered as the Laila took her hood off to let the breeze brush across the top of her head. More specifically her animal ears, as he had discovered through weird circumstances that she was a demi-human.
As to what kind, neither Klein or he was sure.
I guess I could understand why he wants to stay here, but this far away... Neil knew why Klein kept coming back to this spot, still remembering the day they had arrived in Aloysius as they fell thousands of feet below. Yet they survived, frozen in place before being literally dropped on their heads.
Nothing... Klein was getting restless as the days passed, checking the time once again to find no sign of a difference.
Turning off his music, Klein turned back to his group to find them doing relatively fine. Albeit, one was lagging behind with their new mage staying by his side.
"Don't fall too far behind!" Klein called out to the two, waving for them to come closer as they began to slow down. Taking out his fist, he gestured Amari to bump fists which she happily obliged. He was glad that Amari was finally coming into her own, she even made a new friend in Laila.
Maybe things would be better if he stayed...
"Nope!" Klein kept repeating to himself, trying to shake off the loneliness he was beginning to feel. He had a family that was left behind in another world, but it's not like he cared about it. Klein was on good terms with his parents, but the scars had been set for life.
Maybe he'd need to have a talk with Neil later...
"Mister Klein, are you alright?" Klein checked Amari who had a worrisome expression on her face, concerned about her guardian as he shielded his exasperation with his arm. The demi-human reached out to his arm, pulling it down as he choked up when she moved closer.
This feeling...
"Mister Klein, you've been acting unusual since yesterday... Is everything okay?" Klein wouldn't lie, she was easy at discerning his feelings. It's not like he was a good job hiding it, he was as sensitive as a balloon burst with the slightest touch. But in his defense, it was only during situations which involved his family so he was ok... Right?
"Not really," Klein admitted, turning back to the trail as Amari watched as they finally reached the clearing. Putting everything at a nearby tree, Klein began to check his satchel for everything he'd need. A book consisting of an array of spells lay in his hands, skimming through a few pages as to prepare.
As the others arrived, Klein began putting on his brown gloves. Tightening it by using straps connected, double-checking the black ink painted all over the rough texture. Neil looked on in suspicion as his older brother was satisfied with something, putting his hand down as they came to a stop.
"We've been- Or well, I've been tormenting us with physical training for the past few weeks... I think its time we move on from that." To his surprise, Neil let out a sigh of relief with Amari nodding in agreement.
"No offense to you, Mr. Klein... But I think we're prepared for what you have next." Amari said, feeling shy as her other guardian patted her on the back.
"You don't have to be so nervous Amari, trust me when I say this: Klein deserves feedback more than anyone here." Neil made sure to let that last part drag, both of them turning to Klein as he nodded.
"Yeah, I think I'm fit enough to fight goblins and slimes." Neil was confident, remembering their last mission with the party going better than expected. With the help of their newcomer Laila, they managed to get off unscathed. They were grateful that Laila was there, with their coordination plus her dark & light spells pulling their weight.
"Since your so sure of yourself brother, you'll go first in what I'd like to call..." Klein turned to the open space, raising his hand to one of the distant trees.
"The fundamentals of magic... Inpulse-"
Calling out a familiar spell, Laila watched with the others as lightning began to envelop Klein's hand. As he put his index finger down, his palm was completely open before completing the spells name. The writing on his glove glowed a blue haze, with Klein covering his eyes.
"-TILLAM!"
Just as he spoke, a huge flash of lightning burst out from his hand launching him back to the floor as it struck the tree.
"What the hell was that?!" He rolled across the ground as Neil went to check on him, finding his brother to be relatively ok. Klein slowly got up, looking at the tree he launched the spell to.
"It'll do..." It had successfully hit its target, as the three now had a huge black spot at the centre of its trunk. He not only hit his target but struck at the very middle of the tree. "Now then..." Klein slowly got up from the grass, removing one of his brown gloves before handing one to Neil.
"Put that on," Klein said, as passed the glove on to his younger brother. "It's time you learn some real magic..."
H-Huh? Neil stood there confused, they were going to teach him that kind already? Klein had already begun strapping it onto his hand, with his younger brother gulping as he looked back to the tree. The black spot uncovered him, having not used something that dangerous.
...
"Alright Neil, can you tell me how many methods of summoning a spell are there?" Klein asked, with his younger brother rubbing his chin in thought. The four of them were seated under a tree as Laila sat behind Neil, the latter still thinking.
"Three?" Amari raised her hand first, as Klein gave her a thumbs-up as he took out a book. Sifting through the first few pages, he showed it the three as he began to explain.
"From what I know, there are three different methods. I've shown you one, with my hand raised as my fingers went through weird transitions. I'm just going to call them gesture spells." Neil took note of what his brother was saying, going on as Klein gestured him to stand up. Amari did the same, fashioning Klein's other glove as they stood beside each other.
"After my first visit with Florence, she took me to the back of her shop to test my skills out. The thing about magic here is that it runs on stamina, so the more you use it..."
"The more tired you'll get." Klein nodded at his brother's conclusion, walking a fair distance away as he shouted from afar.
"Exactly! I don't know the full story, but what I do know is that these spells can be manipulated and altered into something of our own making..." Taking out a piece of paper, he re-read the words before checking back to Amari and Neil.
"Some of which can be extremely dangerous." Scrunching up the piece of paper he threw it into the air, before pulling out his sword. Slashing at the piece of paper, lighting up in a burst of orange flames. The blade that he took out clashed against the paper, as its shaft was lit on fire.
"No way..." Neil as astounded at what he was seeing, both Amari and him looking closer at Klein's sword. He was perfectly fine from head to toe, along with the handle and guard that he held with both hands. It was almost like a video-game character buffing their weapon. "Klein that was fucking amazing-"
"LANGUAGE!" He shouted, slapping his younger brother's shoulder as the latter reeled back in pain. Before he could apologise, he felt himself being stood up by Klein as the young man brought his arm up in front of him.
"Raise your hand and point copy me!" Klein put his hand up, showing a hand sign he had seen before. Neil, feeling a bit pressured did the same as his brother, doing the same sign. Almost mirroring Klein as he did one more symbol, Neil began to feel his hand heat up.
"Oh shit oh shit oh shit-!" Neil his hand begin to vibrate, shocking to him as he quickly grabbed his wrist. He felt the waves spread from towards the right side of his body, his arm beginning to feel numb. "K-KLEIN! WHAT DO I-"
"Just point it at me!" Neil was shocked, his brother wanted to take the full blow of what was about to come out of his hand. Panicked, he pointed it to one of the trees as a ball of electricity flew out of his palm. As it was blasted at one of the trees, Laila and Amari watched as it began to lose its form.
Soon disappearing entirely as it made contact with the tree.
"NEIL YOU FU-..." His sudden shout was enough to cause the two to jump, looking at their brother gripping his head in frustration. They could see Klein stopping himself, stepping away for a moment as he attempted to calm down through looking away. After what felt like minutes of an awkward silence, the brother turned back, seemingly ok.
Klein walked to Amari and Neil, embarrassed as he went to lift his brother's arm. He could see his little brother was sweating already, noting that one spell must've taken quite a bit out of him. They'd need to improve their stamina, otherwise who knows what'd happen if they were attacked.
It was unlikely, but one can't help but be prepared.
But to Neil, he couldn't be any more wrong...