Free Web NovelChapter 31: Memory Of A Dark Past
The wind continued whistling down the entrance, filing the cave with it sounds.
I squatted beside the dead bear laying lifeless.
While Quinette watched closely.
Degrading began to creep in and fragments of light drifted from the bear’s body.
I stretched my collection out to them, each fragment dissolving in my hand.
A crawling feeling moving through my veins.
The body of the bear radiated. Then slowly turning into nothing but light I collected.
[Absorb: Mana Fragments
I checked[ Mana Fragments] as it ticked up slowly as I absorbed, keeping my focus straight.
Until I filled my Mana capacity — that was when I’d be able to forcefully level up.
Since the magical creatures were really creatures with active mana forced into them, mutating their genes.
When they died, the remaining active mana had nowhere to go but disperse into the air, turning into ambient mana.
That was my job — to collect the mana before it turns ambient.
Then it won’t be able to level my Mana capacity.
The bear’s body fully degraded.
But after absorbing it, I stared at the numbers that had stopped ticking.
[Mana: 600/1000]
[Mana Pool: 1000]
[Mana Fragments: 48/500]
Tsk.
Quinette leaned in closer.
"Any luck?"
"Nope, it’s not enough. It barely increased my mana capacity."
She then studied me.
"I don’t notice any small change in your mana."
"That’s why I said it’s not enough."
"Fine, but it worked — you can absorb Mana Fragments. That’s at least good news we can clutch onto."
"I believe so."
Quinette then walked deeper into the cave for better warmth. She sat on the ground, back rested on the wall.
I was still squatted before the bear’s body.
I watched her rub her hands together, keeping them hidden between her legs.
She was cold but still couldn’t admit it.
But I could help this time. I didn’t have fire affinity to start a fire. With my ice affinity, I focused on the ice.
[Adaptive Learning] activated. Adapting to the structure of ice, with its properties.
I formed a blade. The shape was very crude. Apart from that, it was functional — the sharp blade of ice was what I wanted.
I got to work.
Peeling the fur from the bear’s body. It was easy for me, having some experience skinning pigs when I was in the village. My skill was still fluid.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like. You’re cold. We need to keep warm. This is also an option."
I fully took the fur from its body. Getting my hands dirty, the smell of copper intoxicated my lungs.
Its hide was still fresh. I ripped a sleeve of my robe, using it to wipe it clean.
I walked to Quinette.
"Here." I wrapped it around her, keeping her warm.
"What are you going to use?" she asked with a worried tone.
"Nothing, I’m fine. I’m already adapting to the cold." I sat beside her. "Unless you want us to share?"
"..." She was speechless, then she adjusted, moving farther from me. "Umm. Promise you don’t do something... unaware."
I smirked. "I promise."
I knew the time would come when I’d eventually need to use Dragonpotent to mate and draw power to both of us.
Plan B, if I can’t gather enough mana fragments from slain magical beasts.
Till then I needed to plant seeds — a little teasing here and there.
When the time comes, she would be a little more open to agree.
I joined her under the extra warmth of the fur, moving closer than needed, resting shoulder to shoulder.
She looked the other way, hiding her face once more.
But the scar on her face was clearer from my view.
A warrior who gets flustered easily. Hmph.
"The scar on your face — did you get it from a battle?"
"No, and I don’t want to talk about it."
She blocked the scar with her hand, still avoiding looking my way. From the tone of her voice when she spoke, I knew the scar held a heavy secret.
Which I was curious to know. "Why? I have a scar too. On my wrist." I showed her the scar traced around my wrist, which I had gotten from the assassination attempt at the mansion.
She glanced at them. "There’s a big difference between our scars."
"Like what in particular? They are the reminder of the wounds inflicted on us by people who hate us."
"Well, mine had a very good reason to."
"What are you saying? You deserved the scar?"
I tilted my head.
A silence.
Then — ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"Yes." Quinette spoke, hanging her head down as her hair cascaded over her face.
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but a scar she deserved? It couldn’t be from a battle. It had to be something personal she was holding in.
"Did you lose someone?"
"I grew up an orphan. No parents or siblings. Neither did I have a family member to look up to... That’s enough. I don’t want any more questions."
"Well, it’s your choice and you chose to answer."
I leaned back against the wall. "The only people I believe deserve to be hurt, killed, punished, are those who have done the same to innocent people. However, if innocence differs based on one’s perspective, it’s hard to point out who’s innocent and who’s not."
Quinette chuckled, shifting her gaze to peer at me. Her flustered face was gone.
"So what are you trying to say?"
"I believe you’re innocent, from my perspective, and don’t deserve the scar. Because at least..." I trailed off, briefly looking out of the cave before returning my eyes to her.
"At least I know you. While the one who inflicted the damage is unknown."
Quinette shook her head. "I’m not innocent."
"From your perspective you’re not... To me you are."
"I said I’m not!" She raised her voice. It echoed through the cave.
An oppressive silence followed.
I remained calmly seated beside her, staring at her, because I didn’t expect such an outburst from her.
She’d looked calm and composed all this time. Meeting her in the mansion, her face was neutral with nothing to read. This part of her had never surfaced.
Her eyes were burning with anger as her breath heaved, attempting to calm it down.
"You seem upset?"
"Are you — fine. You said I’m innocent, right. Then tell me. Look me in the eyes, and with honesty, answer me..." She paused her voice cracked. "Have you ever killed... A child?"
