As the eting ended, the others left the tent, leaving behind only Naisha, Mother Venice, Gil, and Draven.
Naisha closed the curtain door, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
She checked the corners, listening carefully, ensuring no one else was there.
Then, she turned to the group.
"Now, let’s get to the real topic."
She took a deep breath.
"Status."
A glowing interface appeared before her.
[ Naisha Sylvaine, 21, Female.
Identification: Verdant
Race: 50% Human Blood and 50% Elf
Class: Phantom Dancer Assassin, Rank B
Abilities: Blink Mastery
Skill:
Phantom Mirage A: Each blink leaves behind a fading illusion that distracts enemies.
Shadow Fade D: Hidden
Blink FrenzyD: Hidden ]
Naisha’s expression was unreadable.
She turned to Draven.
"About your skill..." she muttered.
"50% Elf?" Draven muttered.
Draven’s smirk twitched.
"I didn’t know you were that special, babe."
Naisha ignored the comnt.
"It only appeared after you used your ability on . My race, my class, my skills... everything."
Draven’s playful smirk faded.
He glanced at Mother Venice and Gil.
They were waiting for an explanation.
Draven sighed. "First this skill appeared after defeating Gorvex."
He continued, "And I learn Verdant has a curse."
A heavy silence filled the tent.
"Not because you’re ’God’s unfavored,’ but because you were literally cursed... by soone."
Mother Venice’s face remained calm.
But Gil tensed.
Draven walked forward, placing a hand on Gil’s shoulder.
The mont he made contact, an interface flashed before Draven’s eyes again, like when he touched Naisha.
[Barrier detected. Do you want to shatter it right now?]
"Yes!" He quickly answered.
Suddenly, Gil’s body began to glow.
Then the glow shattered.
[Multiple negative effects detected: Curse, Debuff, and Magical Restriction. Attempt full removal?]
"Yes!"
[Purging Curse... 30%... 75%... 100%]
[Removing Debuff Effects... 100%]
[Dispelling Magical Restriction... 100%]
[All negative effects successfully removed.]
A strange weight lifted from him.
The change was instant.
He felt lighter.
Stronger.
Sharper.
His breath caught in his throat as the sensation rushed through his entire body.
This...
This was what Naisha felt.
The realization hit him hard.
But before anyone could say a word...
Draven collapsed.
His knees hit the ground again.
His arms trembled, barely holding himself up on all fours.
Then blood.
A violent cough wracked his body, crimson splattering onto the dirt beneath him.
Naisha pulled a cloth and handed it to him.
His skin beca pale as the blood continued to pour out from him.
After a minute, Draven felt better.
Draven sat up, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"Show your status now," Draven asked Gil.
"Status!"
[ Gil Piercer, 33, Male
Identification: Verdant
Race: 50% Human and 50% Demi-Human
Class: Arcane Sharpshooter, Rank A
Abilities: Eagleborn Precision
Skil:
Hawk’s Eye A: Hidden
Skypiercer Shot A: Hidden
Stormburst Arrow: Hidden ]
—--
"Verdants have always suffered from negative effects," Draven began. "They were sealed by an unknown."
Draven paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"Verdants actually have abilities. Just like the other I.Ds."
Mother Venice’s breath hitched.
Her usually calm deanor wavered.
She turned to Draven, realization hitting her like a wave.
He can lift the seal!
But at what cost?
Naisha continued to explain, her voice steady.
"Draven can remove the restrictions, but..." she hesitated, glancing at him. "...this is what happens to him."
"That’s why we didn’t tell everyone."
Mother Venice’s eyes widened.
The revelation shook her to her core.
For a thousand years, Verdants had been hunted, persecuted, and forced to live in hiding.
Generation after generation suffered.
Now...
Now there was hope.
A chance for Verdants to break free.
A chance to beco whole again.
Her heart pounded.
This changed everything.
But then, her eyes fell back on Draven.
His breath was uneven.
This wouldn’t be an easy path.
Not for the Verdants.
And especially, not for Draven.
He was carrying a burden that wasn’t his own.
And with each seal he lifted, that burden grew heavier.
Mother Venice clenched her fists.
Her hope was real.
But so was her fear for Draven too.
Mother Venice’s voice was steady.
"So, what’s your plan, Draven?"
"Nothing on my mind for now. Let’s just focus on our destination."
Then he added. "So far, I can only lift one curse at a ti. I think if I do it again now, I will pass out because of the blood loss, and I can’t afford that if we run into stronger enemies."
His hand rested on his stomach as he muttered to himself.
"I think I need more iron to recover faster."
Naisha shifted slightly.
"And what about our skills? How do we explain them to the others? I managed to hide mine while we were traveling, and luckily, no one noticed fight Second using my Blink."
Draven was silent for a mont before smirking.
"Let’s tell them."
Gil raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"It might encourage them," Draven said simply.
Naisha frowned.
"But if they know, they’ll pressure you. A lot of Verdants will want their curse removed."
Draven waved a hand dismissively.
"Obviously, I’m the one who decides. They can’t waver ."
Mother Venice’s expression darkened.
"I know you can handle it," she said slowly, "but we can’t tell everyone yet. If word spreads to the towns, they will hunt us no matter where we go. The Zarathon kingdom and all the Slaves Hunter will hunt you."
Her warning hung in the air.
Draven clicked his tongue, knowing she was right.
If people learned that a Verdant could awaken abilities, it wouldn’t just bring hope.
It would bring danger.
It wouldn’t just be slave hunters after them.
It would be nobles.
Kingdoms.
Powers beyond their reach.
And the Verdants already living in slavery?
They wouldn’t just be hunted.
They would be exterminated.
"Fine. Then let’s just share it with those we can trust."
Draven’s smile returned.
"We need to improve our strength anyway."
But Draven just wants to stroll around and discover strong opponents.
Naisha saw through him.
"I don’t like that look. You’re planning sothing that’s not good."
"I’m just thinking, what if I get left behind a little and maybe run into a few beasts? That will not put anyone in danger, isn’t it?."
Naisha clicked her tongue.
"Anyway, we need a healer skill," Draven said, shifting the conversation. "Do other I.D.s have healing abilities?"
Mother Venice nodded.
"Yes, I read about it in history."
Draven exhaled.
"We need one, but I don’t understand the trait or qualification needed by a person to have that skill."
Mother Venice explained.
"As I read in one of the books, a skill doesn’t just appear randomly. It develops based on a person’s lifestyle and intentions. Their experiences and instincts shape it."
She continued, "From the age of five, individuals begin forming unique skills. But only those with Crimson, Azure, or Luminous IDs can manifest them."
For example, Deka possesses an unintentional skill: Barrier.
He developed this skill due to being constantly bullied.
Instead of fighting back, he only wished to be alone and protect himself from harm.
Since he was gifted, he was able to manifest a barrier at a very young age and later improve it.
Naisha’s case is different.
The traits of her skill, speed and sneak attacks, were already a part of her instinct to move in another direction in her mind.
She already had that trait, and that is why the blink skill appeared on her.
Draven clicked his tongue.
"So that ans... a healer’s skill has to co from sothing in their nature."
"Yes, there are a lot of ways. Like a desire to help the dying," Mother Venice paused and thought.
Then she added, "I think I know soone in our village who can be a healer."
After a couple of minutes...
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