(Amber’s POV)
I was struck with a sudden burst of pain. When I used that spell, I was expecting it. With Magic Control so low, having that low amount of remaining MP... I knew the risk.
It was pure luck that I am still alive. Using spells that consu more than your current MP makes you drain HP.
Maybe the items I have on , the ones that are still without being appraised and identified, had a reduction to that. What I an is that I was lucky. I could have easily died in that mont.
I find my body heavy as I stir awake. I pull myself from the tiled ground as I rember what I did. That was a stupid risk.
"You are finally awake." I hear Aurelia’s voice.
I look at her...and then I see Kathrina at her feet on the ground.
I rush towards her and hold her.
"Kathrina! Kathrina! Answer !" I scream at her.
I shake her, wanting to see a reaction. She does not react. I cannot see the light in her eyes.
I check her pulse... is there, but weak.
"W-we need to take her to a healer! She is-"
Aurelia places her hand on my shoulder. Even through the fabric, I can feel the hard scaled on it. She slowly shakes her head.
"I have seen this before. I told you I recognized that creature."
"She is not coming back."
Aurelia’s words fall on like heavy stones.
"W-what?"
My hands hold tighter around Kathrina.
"I can sense her soul, Amber..." Karina adds. I turn towards her. "Is there but... is hollow."
As if she could hear her, Aurelia continues explaining.
"I took an old friend to a monk, a healer, a soul whisperer... nothing. They all said the sa. Sothing ate their soul."
I feel sothing cold run through my whole body. I look down at Kathrina. What do they an? She is there, but just a whisper? "H-her soul was devoured...?"
"If we were-"
I hear the sound of a rock rolling, which made Aurelia silent. She grunts.
Aurelia stands up. I have my eyes stuck on Kathrina.
I try to rember the ga. There must be sothing. Anything. Anything that deals with the soul, any chanic, any item. Nothing. Nothing about soul healing. Heck, I don’t rember any monster that can eat soone’s soul!
What kind of creature was that? It took way too much to kill. It was like it did not belong to this Dungeon Level.
"Here..."
I look up.
I gasp.
Aurelia is handing a dagger.
"She was important to you. I can do it, but it’s better if you do."
"W-what?" I ask in confusion.
What is she thinking?!
How could I do that to her?!
"I am not going to kill her! There must be sothing we can do! The ga allows you to do-"
"Ga?" Aurelia squinted her eyes. Then she grabs my collar. "What the fuck are you talking about, a ga?! Think straight for a second! I understand what you are going through, but she is suffering!"
"There must be a way! I know! And even then, I know there are ways to revive-!"
"You are talking nonsense now, Amber!"
"Amber, not everything works like that ga," Karina says. "Aurelia is right, she is suffering."
"There is no way to revive anyone, Amber! When people die, that’s it!"
"A-and why must I be the one that kills her?!"
"She is a follower of Ellen, isn’t she?" Aurelia lets go of my collar. "My relationship with the gods is bad, but the whole trifecta believes in dying by rcy in the hands of a loved one. If there is no way to recover, if there is no healing... if they are going to die eventually while suffering... they want a loved one to do it."
Aurelia takes my right hand and gives the dagger. With her hand, she makes wrap my fingers around the hilt.
"Sorry, Amber. But she is right." Karina nods.
"Believe . If you want to help her, this is the most you can do for her."
I rember her words.
"Don’t you think it’s the saddest feeling? The feeling when you need soone the most, when you are in trouble and you need soone to save you or give you company... No one cos."
I barely know her. I barely managed to ask her any questions.
All she wanted was to be soone who would be there for others, to protect them, to give them company. That is why she ran when she thought I was in danger, why she did not doubt jumping into danger when she heard a scream of plea for help, why she had no doubts about fighting a dragon that she could not kill.
I think that is why I was so happy when I saw her.
I haven’t felt that emotion in years.
Soone I know will be there when I need it.
That was her objective.
Maybe she noticed I was lost and confused, why she wanted to get us a room in the inn.
She wanted to give company she knew I did not have.
I was the one who nad her and gave her description.
If I had been silent about her, not having said anything, she would be fine. I put her in this situation; she is suffering in my arms because of .
And when she needed soone else... no one ca. What would she have thought in those monts when she found the monster? How must she have felt during those last monts?
My hand presses against the hilt of the dagger.
*Hic*
My sight is blurry.
My throat is dry and tangled.
Is this the only way?
"A-Amber..." I hear her voice.
"K-Kathrina?" I react when I manage to register what I heard.
"I... enjoyed... eting... you..."
I press my teeth. I hold a cry. My hands tighten, and Aurelia releases my hand.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
My hand falls heavy on her neck.
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