A horrific sight beyond words spread over Vesba's periphery, making his skin crawl with disdain
"What the hell is that?"
The boy's chest, more specifically his sternum, seemed to be… eating itself.
Mangled bones that resembled teeth ate away at the boy's own flesh, the very source of the carnage itself. An infinite cycle of gluttony was happening in front of him, with each moment more harrowing and disgusting than the other.
The mass of flesh seemed to swirl in glee, greedily gnawing itself over and over again.
And yet, his eyes did not react. He just stood still. Except for, of course, the contempt and revulsion at the abhorrent scene playing right before his very eyes.
Glancing around, he noticed that the others were watching, too, confused and disgusted, but overall curious as to what was happening at that very moment.
Almost all of the people present had various experience with carnage and murder before in their time, with the exception of the young boss.
They did not find the situation all that dangerous — creepy, maybe, but not dangerous. If that was the case, they would have already killed the unconscious boy once and for all, just to end the carnage.
And yet, they didn't, letting the boy live for just a day longer. At least until they find a threat within the boy.
Apparently, did not pose any. Which would have most likely made the boy a tad bit melancholic.
Glancing back, Vesba instantaneously regretted doing so. The carnage was still ongoing, with no end in sight. The scene every bit as harrowing, discombobulating, and disgusting as he had left it.
….Until Selen pointed something out.
"He's healing."
Edging closer to the sleeping boy, the young sage inspected him, igniting several hand-carved runes at the temple of her glasses by imbuing mana into it.
Several runes lit up. The light it exuded was small, paltry at best, but incredibly potent. Though it may have looked like nothing, the eyeglasses was a very expensive magic item. That is, if the creator would even dare part with it.
'Judging by her possessive disposition, that seems to be very unlikely,' Vesba regarded the glasses with a curious look. While he wasn't interested in the item itself, he was intrigued by the enchantments it potentially held.
He spoke in deep, low voice that betrayed the raging tempest of disdain and confusion in his mind and heart, a deep scowl forming on his forehead:
"What do you mean?"
Selen passed a glowing hand over the boy's stomach, inspecting the damage. Or, much more likely, the healing that she accused to be happening.
Vesba could almost see the frown on her face forming as the young sage muttered under her breath:
"My apologies, I misspoke. I say healing, but from what my glasses tell me, it is more likely to be self-regeneration."
Vesba frowned himself, his eyebrows furrowing in deep thought.
'That couldn't be… It simply isn't possible.'
Self-regeneration is a very high-level spell that only the most privileged of Adorned are taught. Even then, very few ever learn them to be effective in combat situations, with the most likelihood of acquiring the spell at full efficiency being the most instinctual and barbarous class of the fierce Berserkers.
Though regular Adorned can also learn this spell through diligent effort and rigorous practice, that process usually takes around four or five times longer than more privileged Adorned could. With most even not reaching the point of acquisition. Not to mention the varying effectivity, conditions and restrictions that the spell was attached to.
All of this coupled with the immense amount of talent required to make this dream-like spell a reality easily put it at the top of any frontline mage's wish list of wanted spells and abilities, as well as other numerous backline Warcaster and Stormcaster's book of spells.
Vesba's frown deepened.
"This shouldn't be possible…"
Indeed. To be able to make a self-regeneration spell, no matter how crude or inefficient it may be, is still an achievement worth noting. Specially when the person in question is no more than a ten-year-old kid with recently awakened magical abilities, a poor upbringing, and next to no training whatsoever.
That is just… simply…
"This is just too damn interesting!"
A smile of mischief overcame the giant's mouth, illuminating his brown face.
Feeling a nascent wave of wild intrigue wash away the ceaseless fear and instinctual disdain he felt, the burly giant looked to the young sage and gestured to the boy.
"Well, aren't you going to help him? At this point, you might as well. Since you're here and all."
At his behest, Selen had no choice but to help the boy. She did not look pleased about it, however.
Frowning, she pointed her wand to the young boy's core. A soft, golden light began emanating from twisted enchanted wood. The green essence flowing inside seemed to swirl and pulsate even as her magic flowed through it like liquid emerald. As it did so, a bead of sweat flowed down her cheek as a seed frustration befell her.
"What's wrong?" Vesba's voice sounded genuinely worried, and at the same time curious as to what would cause such a talented mage to have any problems.
Selen ground her teeth in annoyance as she looked at the gnawing monstrosity that is the boy's body.
"It's not working."
Vesba scowled.
"What?"
Then, he cast a dubious glance at her enchanted wand. Suspicious.
"What are you talking about? Is your wand defective or something? Or are you just rusty from being cooped up all day? I told you to come spar with us once in a while! Look what it did to you, cheeky girl."
"I'm not cheeky!"
Clearing her throat, she cast a morbid glanced at the boy's chest. There was a look of utter horror on her face. Her voice was cold and serious as she said, her tone so low that it almost sounded frozen:
"Something's blocking my magic."
◇◆◇◆◇
"Ngh~ Five more minutes…"
Lieren awoke as if he was on a boat in the middle of the ocean, rocking side by side by the undulating waves of deep dark ocean.
Still, he refused to wake up.
…Until a piercing pain assailed his leg, that is.
"Ow! What was that?!"
With a start, he got up and looked fro the perpetrator that interrupted his precious, beautiful sleep. His head moved from one corner of the room to another, glancing around furiously.
But nobody was there. Not a single soul.
He tilted his head and slumped back down on the soft bed. His back felt ached and sore, but he didn't mind. The softness more than made up for that.
"That's weird."
The room was a bit lavish, but not overly decorated. There was a window that overlook the courtyard where he could just about peek the paved floor where he had been mercilessly struck like a ragdoll and sent hundreds of feet into the air like a cannonball or some other type of furious projectile by the blind woman.
Though she looked and acted like a neutral pacifist, her battle form and combat art were flowing and grounded, her movements seemingly blending into the next with fluid efficiency. The energy in her body seemingly bended to her will, and the channels in her body was so advanced that her mana flowed like a tranquil river and struck like a merciless tide at her will.
It was beautiful, flowing, and calm. It was as though she was the gushing wind, her movements tranquil one second and furiously destructive the next.
It was nothing short of inspiring. Both of dread and awe.
Lieren could not wait to analyze it and dissect it for himself.
A gluttonous grin crept up the side of his face like a hungry monster, caught by an object of great envy and primal lust. This was his greed speaking, his never-ending desire of knowledge and infinite curiosity overtaking him, as if possessed.
Checking the state of his body and soul, despite not really knowing how to, he made sure that he was not actually possessed by the mysterious being inside of him.
"..."
After a long moment of silent inspection, he sighed and closed his eyes, a hint of disappointment evident in his eyes.
"So it really is just me. That's kind of sad… and weird."
A voice resounded beside him.
"Yeah, it is."
Lieren jumped out of his bed like a frog, surprised and agitated by the unexpected voice.
"Who… who are you?!"
The voice — or rather the woman — smiled coyly, amused and entertained by the boy's energy.
"My name is Selen… Selen Votum."