Rey's eyes widened with shock and fear, and his immediate action afterwards was to hurriedly sit up from the bed he laid.
He looked like someone who had survived the mass of hell and come back to life.
For the first few seconds, Rey's mind was blank as he stared at Uncas cluelessly.
Uncas was merely a superficial existence in his vision; he particularly did not note his features.
Rey was just simply gaping into space, not picking up anything.
"What is this…?" he muttered in ragged breaths.
A few more seconds passed and he managed to turn his head about as if trying to examine his current location, but Rey still could not register anything mentally at this moment.
"What is… What is this pla— Aahhh!"
His head suddenly felt like it was being split open with several axes.
Rey grabbed the sides of his head and screamed out in anguish.
"Aaahhhh!" he turned restlessly, nearly gouging out his eyeballs and yanking his head from his neck.
However, he just couldn't even though those were guaranteed methods of relief for his current predicament.
Rey slumped back on the bed, shaking his head restless.
Uncas rushed to his side with his fingers still pinching his nose to stop him from bleeding.
"Relax, friend," Uncas tried to calm him down. "You are safe now. You are safe."
The younger dwarf rubbed Rey's chest, channelling a strange light greenish energy into his chest but it was not working seeing how Rey continually resisted him.
As if heaven had answered his heart's prayer for help, the four-footed man from earlier rushed into the room, panting as he had raced on his way back here.
"What's the matter, Uncas?! Is he awake?!" the dwarf bawled.
Thanks to Rey's scream of agony, the man made his way back to the room to see what was going on, only to meet Uncas struggling against the youth who was unconscious just some minutes ago.
The dwarf hurried toward the two young men to quell the situation.
Using the little time that Uncas had bought him, he quickly drew a circle pattern over Rey's chest and then a square within the circle, before proceeding to inscribe some summon inside of this strange pattern.
Laying it over Rey's bare, chiselled torso, the dwarf proceeded to channel a similar form of energy to Uncas'.
"Tss! Tss! Tss!" the man kissed his teeth as he pressed down gently between Rey's chest and abs, pushing some of that energy deep into his body.
He looked at his son who was not far away from having a nosebleed and gave him a nod of approval.
"You've done well, Uncas," he said. "Go and get yourself treated. I will take it from here."
Uncas stood up and bowed before his father and then left the room, leaving the rest up to him.
With Uncas gone, this four-footed, brown-bearded man could now fully concentrate on the restless lad in his care — Rey Avalon.
"You are a strong brat, boy,'" the man said in a manner of a compliment to Rey. "Such a strong desire to live and yet so much anger in one person."
After some time, the dwarf's magic started to take effect and Rey found himself feeling lighter and more relaxed.
The pain that nearly shattered his skull was gone and he was more at peace.
His physical torment was properly addressed by this dwarf and his son. However, the turmoil in his mind still haunted him.
Memories of his past became a bane to his spirit instead of something that brought him joy.
Tears endlessly rolled down from the corner of his eyes as Rey stared cluelessly at the rocky ceiling of the room.
The dwarf couldn't help but feel pity towards the boy and shake his head, regretting whatever had happened to Rey on his behalf.
Regardless, he continued to inject his magical energy into the boy, providing him with a soothing, warm feeling on the inside.
This process lasted close to two hours before Rey made somewhat of a full recovery.
He was much better and more welcoming than when the dwarf met him with Uncas.
Rey raised a finger, pointing in the direction of the ceiling. This gesture surprised the dwarf as he reflexively followed the lad's finger to where he was pointing.
"What is that?"
The dwarf blinked a few times, wondering why Rey was asking such a silly question.
However, he did not hold it against the green-eyed boy since he might still be a little bit disoriented.
The dwarf merely chucked at the question, patting his big stomach as he laughed.
"Such a silly thing to ask, boy," he uttered, turning to Rey.
"It's a ceiling. Well, you are an elf, so I guess you haven't seen such a rocky ceiling before. You know we, dwarves, are more crude and homely to nature when it comes to our architecture."
Rey just looked at the dwarf as he yapped something but said something in response to this.
The elven boy was simply too weak to say too much. Even the little he said put a strain on his body and so he chose to just stay silent.
However, in this case, he stayed silent because this dwarf had not answered his question which left Rey confused as he appeared lost in thought.
"Alright, boy. Get some rest now. I will tell Uncas to bring you some food and clothes," the dwarf said as he rose to his feet, rubbing his nostrils for a bit.
"...Also, you need to shower. Hahaha!"
He ruffled Rey's white hair and left him alone to his thoughts.
However, this was only because he was satisfied with the effects of his magic and remained confident that Rey wouldn't have any traumatic stress episodes for the rest of the day at least.
Rey watched the dwarf leave the room, continually staring at the door for several seconds until his attention was drawn once again in the direction of the ceiling.
Bzzt-!
A resplendent panel hovered above him, placed between his eyes and the rocky ceiling as he stared at it.
He could read the words clearly but for some reason only he could see it.
By asking Rey such a question, the young elf easily deduced that the dwarf did not know what he was talking about.
The dwarf simply couldn't see it. Neither could Uncas as well.
The panel slightly shook, like a glitching screen, before steadying itself in one place.
< Host detected! >
< Host has met the requirement for awakening the system >
< Host has died and returned to life >
< Host has drank Drop of Life >
< The Drop of Life flows through your veins >
< Host has received the Blessing of the Fairy Goddess Eris >
< Host has received the Blessing of the Elven Goddess Fraeya >
< Mother Nature favours and blesses you >
< Host has awakened the Cultivation System >
< Host — Rey Avalon >
< Integrating… >