Chapter 43: Itch

“Hey—are you okay? Can you hear me?”

Like a voice from the horizon, when sensation returned, it felt like I’d only blanked out for a moment.

But I knew, without doubt, I’d fainted at that critical moment.

“Who… is it?”

The eyeball’s final mental attack was overwhelming.

My mind felt sluggish, clouding when I tried to think.

I couldn’t piece anything together, only noticing I was leaning against something warm, a familiar voice coming from above.

Then, a cool liquid dripped past my lips.

“Minty… too spicy,” I mumbled, pushing my tongue against my lips—

“Don’t—don’t spit it out! You’re badly hurt—this is healing medicine… drink it.”

“Ugh—”

Eyes closed, I felt a hand grip my jaw, forcing my mouth shut.

The spicy liquid flooded my mouth, then vanished like it seeped away.

Seconds later, a warmth spread from my spine’s center—

“It’s working… but not enough,” the voice muttered.

“I’ll use the rest.”

Why—

The hand released my jaw, the cold bottle touching my lips again.

Though awake, my mind was chaos, instinctively rejecting the spicy taste, lips clamping tight.

“Good, open up, be good—it’s not bitter, just one sip…”

“Mmm… hmm?”

I made babyish noises, but the voice, like a patient nurse, clumsily coaxed me.

Somehow, I trusted it, my tense face softening.

“Right, right, like that… relax.”

The spicy taste surged down my throat, turning into warmth flooding my body, rushing to my brain—

My soul felt enveloped in a cozy haze, like gentle fingers brushing wounds.

The numbing pain shifted to a restless, itchy heat—

“Urgh—ah…”

My body felt strange.

The comfort of healing wounds mixed with an indescribable, feverish itch, filling every corner of my frame—

Lost in this odd sensation, pain and relief intertwined.

Unknowingly, the body, revitalized by the Essence of Life Elixir, flushed with color, fine sweat beading on my skin.

“Urgh—”

My body squirmed, as if movement could ease it, instinctively pressing against the warm, soft thing beside me, rubbing like an animal scratching on a tree.

“Don’t—don’t do that—what’s happening?”

Lost in sensation, I didn’t notice the boy’s stammering voice.

***

“Ah… achoo!”

A violent sneeze broke the silence, a jolt to my skull waking me.

I saw the stone temple ceiling above.

Inner ruins—the phrase flashed in my mind.

I realized this was the legendary Roen Kingdom inner ruins, stirring Romern’s factions.

I was drenched in cold sweat, my dress clinging icily.

Standing, I found the pervasive pain gone.

“What… happened?”

I paused, then heard a voice nearby.

“Ah… you’re awake?”

It was Nolan, facing the wall, sitting cross-legged like a praying monk.

“…”

I stayed silent, then spoke.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah… that… you don’t remember?”

His words made me look up.

The boy’s expression was unlike usual, tinged with unease.

“Remember what? More importantly, why’s your face so weird?”

“You—it’s you…”

Nolan opened his mouth, as if bursting with words, but choked, unable to speak clearly.

“What did I do?”

I frowned, recalling my grave injuries, then fainting under the eyeball’s mental attack…

Nolan saved me, didn’t he?

“Forget it… nothing,” Nolan sighed, deflated.

Silence fell, an awkward air lingering.

I didn’t know why Nolan was here, but as the protagonist, appearing anywhere wasn’t odd, right?

“You… my injuries… what happened?”

Unable to bear the quiet, I broke the silence.

Yes—fatal wounds that should’ve killed Kritiya, now inexplicably healed?

My vitals were steady, even travel’s fatigue gone—

With a little time, Kritiya would wake, right?

I felt my heart, hoping to sense her presence, clinging to that hope.

“Ah… sorry, I wasn’t sure. You were in bad shape… I found a healing potion, so…”

Nolan said, showing a crystal vial.

“Healing potion?”

His words sparked a guess.

“Could it be…”

“It’s… a lot happened…”

Nolan pointed aside.

I saw a corpse in rusted armor, skin withered, sprawled near the temple entrance.

“You did that?”

“Uh… not exactly me…”

Nolan hesitated.

“But… I did kill someone…”

He lowered his head, as if only now processing the act.

“First time?”

I looked at Nolan, pausing, then stood, walking to his side.

“Yeah…”

“Was he trying to kill you first?”

I asked, thinking.

“Probably… yeah?”

Nolan stared at the ground, uncertain.

“Then don’t overthink it—”

I said firmly.

“Save your pity for true innocents, not this messy debt.”

“Tiya… you sound like you’re used to death…”

Nolan turned, sighing.

“I’m not… but you will be,” I said softly.

“What?

Okay, I get you… don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Nolan shook his head, standing slowly beside me.

“Forget me—how do you feel?”

“I’m… okay,” I took a deep breath.

“So, what did you do?”

“Do?”

Nolan scratched his hair.

“A potion… a spoil, I worked hard for it.

The guy said it’s called the Essence of Life Elixir.”

No wonder…

I thought, only alchemy’s masterpiece could heal such fatal wounds so thoroughly.

Protagonist’s luck?

I struggled for it, but he got it first.

Since Nolan’s arm needed healing, fate handed him the reward—like destiny’s gift.

“How many bottles?”

I turned to Nolan, asking.

“Huh? You need more? I think just one…”

“One?”

His words silenced me.

“You’re sure?”

“Uh… yeah, just one.

I found it in this hall, searched after—other bottles were empty…”

Nolan’s voice trailed off, noticing the girl’s terrifying stare.

“Uh… what’s wrong?

Even if you glare, I can’t make another—it’s all in your stomach…”

Nolan said, a bit guilty.

Was she mad he used an unknown potion?

Her heartbeat was fading; he had no choice but to use John’s healing potion…

Nolan swore he didn’t know it’d have that side effect.

But the more he thought, the more her dazed voice, writhing body, and flushed, soft limbs clinging like an octopus haunted him.

“I… I didn’t mean it,” I heard Nolan mumble, head down, but I couldn’t focus on him—

So… the potion meant for Nolan’s healing saved me and Kritiya instead?

I thought, looking away, a heavy weight pressing my heart.

I couldn’t spit it out or fake outrage, asking why he didn’t keep the only bottle for himself, an outsider—because I didn’t want Kritiya to die.

We both benefited; acting coy would be hypocritical.

“Fine… forget it,” I said softly, as if dodging the topic, stepping forward, away from Nolan, to the temple’s entrance.

Looking up from under the eaves, I gazed at the disturbed, ancient ruins—

The sight made me forget my troubles in shock—

The eyeball—it was here!

The eerie eyeball, the evil god’s hunt target, empowered by sacrificial magic, glowed purple, hovering like a patrolling angel over the underground ruins.

“Don’t go out!”

As I reeled, Nolan rushed up, grabbing my wrist, spinning to shield me with his back—

“Careful!”

“It can’t see us in this hall—go out, and it’ll attack!”

I heard the boy say.