106: Rest

The meal was delicious, and it hit all the right spots—especially with how tired I was feeling. I barely noticed all the buffs associated with it, even realising I had also earned experience in Manaflair Crust as well.

[Rare] Seared Mana Infused Thunar

• Fire Immunity.
• +5 Endurance.
• +4 Intelligence.
• +2 Perception.
• Sprint.
• Minor Fire Conjuration.
• Minor Blood Sense.
• Major Mana Restoration.

My essence memory basically let me know that Blood Sense did not come from any of the active ingredients, but instead came from Manaflair Crust. I shook my head—I was too tired for deep-diving into this tonight. Lily had already finished her Thunar by the time I’d stopped looking at the buffs on my status sheet and was currently eyeing off my half-eaten Thunar.

With a chuckle, I placed mine on the floor as well. I knew I should eat more, but I was just too tired, and I still needed to have a bath before I slept.

After sleepily saying goodnight to Liane—who was currently hiding her own Thunar from the gaze of Lily—I stumbled my way to the bedroom, only noticing that Lily and Crisplet were both following as I made it to my door.

***

I woke up on a hard surface and immediately panicked. Groggily looking around and realising I was on the floor of my room, with light streaming through the window—why was I on the floor? I looked around, noticing Lily was currently asleep on my bed, and I was still in my clothes, splattered with blood and other fluids from all the butchery yesterday, smelling absolutely terrible.

Did I pass out as soon as I entered the room? I don’t remember anything past opening the door. I really needed to pay more attention to my stamina.

I quickly took a bath, noticing just how cold it was getting in the mornings now. Once I had freshened up and got into clean clothes, I left the room—Crisplet following me—but Lily had not moved once. I also didn’t want to disturb her, but I was starving, and I needed to find Milo, so hopefully I could catch him at breakfast.

Entering the dining room, no one there. Either it was really early, or really late—I didn’t really know at this point. When I made my way into the kitchen, though, I was met with the unmistakable smell of copper and iron. Even though I was smelling it, it felt like it clung to my mouth, forcing me to taste it.

Shaking my head, I pulled out a clean pot, filled it with water from the rune, and got to work cleaning the kitchen properly. I hoped no one else had tried to use it before me.

***

Several hours passed with cleaning, and I was finally happy with the state of the kitchen. There was still an iron tang in the air, but it was far better than when I’d walked in. No one had shown up, so I suspected it was later than I expected.

Pulling out a small amount of boar belly that I had left over and cooked just enough for myself, adding it to a roll I had already cooked. I considered adding something else to it, but this would do. I infused it—not because I thought I would get any decent buffs from it, but more because I wanted to get more experience. It’s also why I toasted the bread.

“I’m going to go find the others, Crisplet,” I said into the oven, wondering if he’d stay behind or come with me, and to my surprise, Crisplet was quickly out of the oven and in the brazier.

As I walked into the hallway, I was startled by a voice.

“The dead has risen!” Liane said, with a smirk.

I was still feeling a little tired, mumbling out, “Morning.”

“Morning? We’re past lunchtime now. You actually had me a bit worried—I saw you had passed out last night and Lily was physically dragging you into the room; the look I received made it very clear not to come close,” she let out a nervous chuckle.

“That bad, huh?” I sighed.

Liane had a very serious look now, the smirk completely gone. “Yeah, that bad. I was distracted by your food and didn’t realise how exhausted you were. I didn’t tell Hari—yet—and I won’t now that I know you’re okay, but you need to look after yourself. Passing out like that leaves you very exposed and in an awkward position.”

I just nodded.

I felt an ember hit my side as Crisplet looked up at me from the brazier, clearly taking Liane’s side in all of this.

Liane sighed. “Sorry—I don’t enjoy being the one to lecture someone, but if I told Hari, you’d have someone watching you constantly again, after an hour of lecturing. I’ve been there myself, and I don’t think you want that.”

I just nodded. Appreciating that it was Liane over Hari—or the others, for that matter.

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“Anyway! Now that the heavy stuff is over, what are you up to?” She asked with a beaming smile.

“I was going to find Milo—and maybe join George and Darren with training,” I said.

Liane looked at me sceptically. “And your stamina levels are up to that?”

Looking them over, I just chuckled nervously a little.

Stamina: 140/360

“No, not really—but I should be fine to watch, right?” I asked,

We made our way downstairs, mostly in silence, before making our way through the small door near the clerks and down the stone stairwell to the caves below.

Once I made it to the bottom, I was shocked at what I saw around me. It was nothing like what it had been just a couple of days ago. When I had left, it was a pretty average-looking cave with a spacious main chamber, but the surface was rough and clearly still a natural cave.

Now, however, as I looked around, the stairwell exited into a spacious hallway, and at the end of it stood two massive doors made out of the very stone that surrounded us.

Pushing our way inside, I just took in the sights, as what was once a fairly dark cave was now a smooth-walled, massive room. The roof was still rough, but the floor and all the surrounding walls were smooth, like they had been carved. At the back, where the crack was that led to the water, now stood another set of doors that were open.

In the main hall, I noticed that George and Darren were in the middle of a spar. They didn’t appear to be really pressing each other hard, but they both looked comfortable with their weapons as their strikes flowed.

When Hari noticed me, he gave me a wave. “Come to train?”