__________ POV Ashton__________
A beautiful land filled with natural splendour, a lake of pure unadulterated vitality standing right in the middle of it.
Laying in it will heal just about anyone instantly, it will also extend their lifespan to a great degree. This might be one of the biggest reasons for my former seemingly endless vitality.
The lake seems to heal all wounds, and it seems to consider ageing a type of illness too, it completely stops it beyond a certain point.
At least I assume so, I used to take baths in it daily near the beginning of my life. And I completely stopped ageing around that time too. At the ripe young age of 26.
Now, I can assume that all of the other reagents I consumed also had a lot to do with that. But the spring is likely to be the actual reason for my 'immortality'. I doubt Nitro Rice can extend the lifespan to such an extent.
I still remember the time I took Netero, Zigg and Linne to visit it... Well, it's not the most pleasant of memories...
'See?! If you take a dip then we can all live for countless years together.' That is what I said in my childish innocence. I may have been old, but I was still not all that developed in many aspects.
The looks they gave me should've said it all, but I kept insisting for a while, only to be one day rejected outright.
The three of them all had their own reasons to refuse my offer. Netero wanted to become the strongest in his natural lifespan, saying that he might take me up on my offer after a few years.
But he never did, he never even brought it up. Linne only said that she thought it wasn't 'natural'. She had nothing against me, but she didn't want to live for so long apparently.
Zigg only said that he didn't want to watch generations of his own family perish while he was still 'young and immortal'. It was heart-breaking for me at the time to see them all reject my offer.
That even might've been something I used to try to distance myself from them further. Especially Linne, since she said it wasn't 'natural' which made me feel quite bad at the time.
As I was also technically 'unnatural' in her view. It is a bit silly to think about it now. With a more mature outlook on things, I can tell that she didn't mean to insult me in any way. But I couldn't at the time.
And that drove a wedge in between all of us. I still hung out with them, even a few years after leaving the Dark Continent.
But, the second I realised that they were starting to age, I separated myself from them.
Now, I'm revisiting the spring out of curiosity. I remember this place being a sanctuary, none of the beasts even touched it. My teacher called it, 'The source of life'.
It was more of an iconic place than the actual heart of the Dark Continent. Now... All I can see is a dying plot of land. The vibrant colours of before are now painting a bleak picture.
The trees bent down and broken, the rainbow-hued leaves are all dried up and broken. The flowers are long since dead.
Where the lake once stood, there is merely a puddle left. A small, not even ankle-deep, puddle... It's both sad and infuriating at the same time.
You always see humans crying about how other humans are badly affecting the ecosystem.
But I guess this is much in the same nature. A place that was supposed to be protected by the beasts is ruined by them.
"Is this the place you wanted to show me?" Asked Pitou curiously, a finger touching her chin as she looked around at the desolate scene.
"It used to be beautiful scenery... I feel saddened that you won't get to experience it." I said as I patted her head.
My sadness was masked properly, she couldn't tell anything was wrong through my poker face. But seeing the 'Spring of Life' in this state isn't a pleasant experience.
I guess it could be because I'm associating it to how the people I brought here are now. The memory of them will live in me for a long time. But I won't ever be able to personally experience them ever again.
Linne may be still alive. But she doesn't have long. I could see it. She's also aware of it. I prefer to remember her for who I knew her as, rather than who she has become.
I slowly walked towards the puddle. Entering the 'Crater' that was once a lake. It was a deep one too. But now it's just a jump of 50-60 meters.
Pitou followed me, such a fall didn't really bother her, as she's still physically superior to most Nen users.
"Are we heading for that puddle?" Asked Pitou, still looking around the crater.
I can tell that even with this bleak scenery, she was at least having fun. Not cooped up in a cave or sitting around in a camp.
I guess she's the explorer type. That can be nice, she will wish for power soon though. I can already tell it's been on her mind, especially since it seems like she wants to accompany me through dangers too.
"Of course. I feel like taking a closer look~" I said as I gained a spring in my step.
Although this was a puddle, it was still around 4 meters in diameter. I crouched down and took some 'water' in my palm. I drank it down with a smile.
"Is it safe to drink?" Asked Pitou while looking at me.
"It's safe. It can only be good for you." I said as I slowly got up. I could feel my vitality slowly replenishing. Pitou also took some of it and drank.
But she didn't look all that interested in it. I opened a small rift underneath it, sucking it all up in my void space. Then, I proceeded to drink it all.
Well, gradually. On my way back to the cave and while resting for a few more days. Slowly, my appearance reverted to my previous 26 year old one.
Pitou was startled to see the change. But I just told her that I can change my appearance a bit. Which is technically all that the pond did. It also made me regenerate faster.
Still not to my previous level, but it is manageable. After a while, I packed everything up and prepared to leave. Pitou reluctantly entered my void space and told me to take care.
I was about to leave the cave, but I was stopped by my other 'roommate' who finally decided to stop ignoring me.
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