A man hobbled down a strange hallway, using a golden staff to steady himself. The corridor was lined with shelves displaying unsettling items—some were almost human, but just off enough to send a chill down anyone's spine. None of the parts were connected to bodies; instead, they floated in jars or rested on pedestals, appearing strange and lifeless. As the man passed a jar containing a disembodied head with glowing red eyes, the jar vanished with a faint shimmer.
He entered a dimly lit room with a stone table at its center, a space that seemed reserved for dark rituals. Walking around the table, he set the jar down carefully and unscrewed its lid. The man stared into the dead, clouded eyes within, speaking in a low voice, "Tonight's the night of the full moon… little alpha, you will help me." A low, unsettling laugh escaped his lips, filling the room with a chilling echo. "You know what they say—if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Raising his staff, he swung it over the jar, beginning a soft chant.
Eli awoke feeling strangely drained. He had expected to feel recharged, but an odd fatigue hung over him, heavy and thick. He looked down and realized he was connected to a fresh IV. How much did I go through in one night? he wondered, a flicker of worry crossing his mind. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the focus marble to check its stats.
The marble's attack stat had hit 200, and its defense had increased significantly, but his frown deepened as he read the description: "Items upgraded beyond Level 9 may gain special abilities but risk breaking permanently." The marble's increased stats were impressive, but Eli knew it wasn't a weapon like a knife or hammer. It was simply a marble, something small enough to carry around without arousing suspicion. Though it could prove useful in emergencies, he doubted it would have the power of a true weapon.
The special ability that could be unlocked at Level 10 intrigued him, but he knew firsthand the agony of reaching Level 9, and he wasn't eager to push his limits again anytime soon. Where would I even find the energy for another Level 9 item so soon? he thought.
He dragged himself to the bathroom to freshen up, and on a whim, decided to try upgrading his black ring using a drop of the Mind's Gate potion. But even after a single drop, the ring didn't budge. Frustrated but not wanting to waste the potion, he carefully tried to pour the unused drop back into the vial. Some slipped past, and he instinctively licked his finger to save the rest.
Instantly, it was as if a gunshot went off in his mind. His thoughts sped up, images flashing faster than he could process. In his mind's eye, he saw Stiles's leg and how strangely lively he'd seemed after eating the cactus fruit. The loft came into focus next, specifically the eerie sensation of being watched that had lifted after Peter was sent to the hospital. His thoughts spiraled, everything blurring into a chaotic whirl of light and sound. For an instant, he saw the room as a network of fine, almost invisible threads. He followed one that led to his ring, realizing he would fail if he tried further upgrades now.
Another thread glowed blood-red, leading far into the distance. He heard faint screaming and a chant he couldn't decipher. Just as he felt on the verge of understanding, the vision collapsed, and a splitting pain shot through his head. He clamped his mouth shut, stifling a scream that threatened to escape, not wanting to worry his parents. He held his head, breathing hard as the pain pulsed in waves.
Digging through his bag, he pulled out the fox fire potion. He wasn't entirely sure of its effects, but he remembered it seemed to have some healing properties. He downed the vial, and almost instantly, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach, but it wasn't painful. The energy spread from his core to his hands and feet, with the majority flowing to his head. Though the headache persisted, it was no longer blinding.
Later, in the car with his mother on the way to the hospital, Eli sat quietly in the back seat, still feeling the effects of his strange episode. His mother glanced at him in the rearview mirror, noting his silence and change in demeanor.
"Eli," she began, her voice soft and steady, "I know being sick like this can be hard. I see it every day, how it can weigh down on people." She hesitated, watching him carefully. "Every day, I work with patients who are struggling. And over time, you start to sense certain things… And you know what? I don't feel that with you. You're strong," she said, her voice filling with conviction.
Trying to lighten the mood, she added with a smile, "Once we know what's going on, we'll kick this illness right out the door, okay?"
Eli managed a small smile, though tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He wasn't crying because he feared his condition; he was crying because of the intense pain he was still in and the worry his mother's words stirred.
The drive felt long, but when they finally arrived at the hospital, Eli quickly stepped out, leaving his mother a bit puzzled. His head still throbbed, but he had a plan. Moving quickly, he went to the room he usually used, taking the key from the nurses' desk. When he opened the door, his eyes immediately landed on the cactus he had left on the counter.
In a moment of clarity, he thought back to Stiles. The only way Stiles could have gone back to school so quickly was if he still had some of the cactus's energy left in him, Eli reasoned. Perhaps it had healed his leg while they slept.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the cactus fruit, ignoring the spines that pricked his hand. With his current Defense level of 222, he barely felt them. Taking a deep breath, he pulled off his ring, set it aside, and ate the fruit. As he swallowed, a gradual wave of relief washed over him, dulling the headache further until it disappeared completely. He lay back against the bed, finally feeling like himself again.
He sat up a moment later, spitting out the seeds into his hand. Thank goodness I didn't swallow those, he thought. The fruit had done its job—his pain was gone. But to his surprise, the cactus plant was still there, vibrant and intact. Why didn't it turn to ash like the first one? he wondered. He reasoned that maybe the first plant had simply been old, giving up its last bit of energy to produce the fruit.
Carefully, he placed the seeds in the empty vial that had once held the vitality potion, vowing to never drink the Mind's Gate potion directly again.