「Soreness...」
The first sensation that hit Tatsuya was an overwhelming stiffness, like his body had been compressed into a cube and left to dry out under the sun for days. His limbs were heavy, and his mouth was parched. Slowly, he blinked, his vision clearing as he opened his eyes to the world around him.
Darkness stretched out across the room, broken only by the flickering light of a nearby campfire. Shadows danced along the cracked stone walls, casting long, wavering shapes over the ancient ruin.
Tatsuya groaned as he forced himself upright, his joints crackling from the movement. Every inch of his body ached—like he had been ripped apart and hastily stitched back together. He flexed his fingers experimentally, staring down at his hands. His skin, pale before, was now stark white, yet his muscles felt leaner and stronger.
His gaze traveled down his arms, across his torso, and to his legs. He felt... different, like he had outgrown his own skin.
"This body..." Tatsuya muttered, his voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. He ran a hand down his abdomen, feeling the hard, defined muscles beneath his torn and bloodied clothes. "I was shattered... How is this possible?"
The sensation of his own strength felt foreign to him, a sharp contrast to the broken mess he had been after the fall. He was taller, more solid, and the faint energy humming beneath his skin was undeniable.
Across the room, Yuki sat with her back to him, her hands extended toward the flames as if absorbing their warmth. Her long, white hair cascaded down her back, and she looked calm, collected—indifferent even. She glanced over her shoulder, her red eyes gleaming in the firelight, observing him with a quiet intensity.
"You've awakened," Yuki stated, her voice steady, as if she had been expecting this. "After you became unconscious, I reassembled your body."
Tatsuya blinked in confusion, still sluggish from his deep sleep. "What...?"
Yuki turned to face him fully, her expression remaining stoic, though a slight smile—sharp and almost amused—played at the corner of her lips. "I force-fed you the flesh of both the King Spider and the Iguana monster. As a result, you evolved into what the species book refers to as a 'mummy.' Congratulations on your evolution, Master."
Her tail flicked lazily behind her as she spoke, the tip swaying from side to side.
Tatsuya stared at her, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You... rebuilt me?" The words felt strange on his tongue. "And... you evolved too!" His eyes roamed over Yuki's new form, now humanoid with long, sleek hair and delicate features. "Yuki, you look incredible!"
Yuki remained still, her red eyes unwavering as she watched him. But as Tatsuya scrambled to his feet, eager to get a closer look, his excitement got the best of him. "You're so... cute!" he exclaimed, his hand outstretched, fingers itching to touch her large, twitching ears.
Before he could reach her, Yuki's tail snapped through the air with a sharp thwack, striking him square in the face. The force of the hit sent Tatsuya stumbling backward, landing flat on his back with a groan.
"Gah...! Why does this always happen?" Tatsuya groaned, rubbing his bruised cheek as he stared up at the cracked ceiling.
From his position on the floor, Tatsuya caught a glimpse of his reflection in the polished stone near the altar. His once pale orange eyes now glinted with a bright, fiery intensity, and his fangs, though still sharp, had receded slightly. His skin, while still pale, held a healthier tone, and his body appeared more toned, more defined—closer to that of an adolescent boy, maybe around twelve or fourteen years old.
"What kind of mummy am I exactly?" he mumbled, still lying face-down. "I don't see any bandages..."
Yuki sighed, her tail swaying as she returned her attention to the fire. "Mummies are two steps above ghouls and three steps below vampires," she explained, her tone flat, as if reciting from memory. "Their magical abilities and innate powers are significantly stronger, and each mummy typically develops a unique ability tied to their origin."
Tatsuya groaned again as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. His muscles still ached, but at least he wasn't sprawled out like a corpse anymore. "Innate powers, huh..." He rubbed his sore neck. "That sounds promising."
Without saying a word, Tatsuya shuffled closer to Yuki, this time moving cautiously to avoid another tail strike. He sat beside her by the fire, letting the warmth seep into his tired muscles. After a brief silence, he leaned his head against her shoulder, quietly grateful for her presence. Yuki's tail twitched, but she didn't push him away this time.
Yuki's tail moved toward the collapsed bookshelf at the back of the room, retrieving the species book she had been reading. Wrapping her tail around the tome, she brought it to her hands and flipped through its pages until she found the section on mummies.
"Based on what I've read, your blood ability appears to be tied to your nature as an undead," Yuki said, her voice calm as she skimmed the book. "It's called Soul Tapestry, a manifestation of your existence. Your blood carries with it the ability to age anything with ill intent toward you. It activated with the saber-tooth, with me, and with the Iguana monster."
Tatsuya's eyebrow twitched in surprise. "Wait—Soul Tapestry? Sounds way too mystical for this world."
Yuki nodded, flipping to a diagram showing intricate symbols. "It is, in essence, a skill tree—something more than just magic. It's directly connected to your soul, and as a mummy, your control over it should be far greater than before."
Tatsuya leaned in, eyes narrowing as he tried to grasp the concept. "A skill tree...?" he muttered, his disbelief evident. "I've seen how grounded this world is with magic. How could something like that exist here?"
Yuki shrugged, clearly unfazed by his skepticism. "Our blood bond is living proof of mystical powers, but if you want to dismiss it, feel free. Tomorrow, you'll get to test it out." She yawned, her red eyes softening slightly as exhaustion crept in. "Your body's still recovering, and the transformation drained your mana reserves."
She gestured toward his throat, and Tatsuya swallowed reflexively, realizing how dry his mouth felt. The hunger was there, lingering like a dull ache, but it was manageable now.
With a heavy sigh, Tatsuya lay back down, staring up at the flickering shadows on the ceiling. "You're right," he murmured. "Tomorrow, we'll finally have this temple mostly monster-free. And I..." His voice trailed off as exhaustion weighed down his thoughts. "I want to do so many things..."
Yuki's tail twitched, but she didn't respond. The campfire crackled softly in the silence, and soon the weariness in Tatsuya's bones pulled him into a deep, dreamless sleep.