Silence.
The darkness receded.
Kano felt his body grow heavy. His heart still beat, but with each pulse, it slowed.
He sank to his knees. The stone floor was cold, but he hardly felt it. His gaze slid to the sword lying beside him, its blade flickering with the remnants of flame.
The Lich's crystal...
It was gone.
The darkness that had swallowed the mine began to dissipate.
Cracks.
At first, soft, like a whisper.
And then...
A sudden snap.
Kano lifted his eyes.
Statues.
Thin lines of cracks ran along their surfaces. At first, tiny, barely noticeable, and then growing larger.
And...
Revival.
The first to open his eyes was the dwarf in heavy armor. His stone skin began to crumble into dust, and then, gasping for air, he collapsed to his knees.
Then one by one, the dwarves, the warriors, the adventurers—everyone consumed by the curse—began to return to life.
Some of them held their heads in their hands, others stared around in fear. They didn't understand what had happened.
But they were all alive.
—"They... they're alive," Kano whispered, but his voice was too weak.
He felt himself falling again.
The darkness called to him.
But not this time.
—"Kano!"
Strong hands grabbed him as he nearly fell to the ground.
—"Damn... You really know how to push yourself," muttered a familiar voice.
Elgot.
The mage was exhausted, his face slick with sweat, but he had already regained his senses. His hands glowed with soft magical light.
He tried to heal Kano.
But the blood wouldn't stop flowing.
—"Come on, kid, hang in there..." he muttered, pouring the last of his mana into healing spells.
But it wasn't enough.
Kano felt his life slowly slipping away.
Around them, shouts began to rise.
The dwarves helped each other, the adventurers were starting to rise, looking around.
But his consciousness was fading.
Elgot looked at him, gritted his teeth.
—"What the hell is this...?" He poured more mana into Kano, but the bleeding wouldn't stop.
His hands trembled.
It wasn't enough.
He felt panic rising in his chest.
And then suddenly...
A soft hand rested on his shoulder.
Elgot lifted his head.
Before him stood her.
The statue that had been petrified only minutes ago.
Her skin was no longer cold and stone-like.
Her long red hair cascaded in luxurious waves over her shoulders.
Her thin lips stretched into a mysterious smile.
Revena.
— "Let me," her voice was calm, soft... yet somehow too confident.
Elgot gritted his teeth.
— "Don't even think about it, demoness."
Revena's smile widened.
— "What, the old womanizer doesn't want to accept help?" Her voice dripped with honey, and a playful spark danced in her eyes.
Elgot clenched his fists.
— "I'll manage on my own."
— "You said that before, when you were hiding in my chest," she whispered, leaning closer.
Elgot gasped, his face turning bright red.
— "That... was a necessity!"
Revena merely caressed his shoulder gently.
— "Well, fine. If you don't want to..." She straightened up, flaunting her curves, running a hand over her neck, making it clear she wasn't going to press.
Elgot clenched his fists tighter.
He hated this.
— "Fine, but only this time."
Revena smiled and leaned over Kano.
Her chest brushed lightly against his face as she pulled out a small vial hidden between them.
Elgot turned away, grinding his teeth.
— "You really do love the drama..."
— "Scoobies always know how to highlight the moment," she whispered, opening the vial.
She made him watch.
Even now.
Revena held the liquid to Kano's lips, leaning down and trailing her fingers along his throat.
— "Drink, boy."
The liquid was warm.
Sweet.
Kano felt it flowing into him, burning the pain from within.
And then...
Revena leaned in even closer.
And kissed him.
Kano jolted, but she held his head firmly.
Her lips were hot, her breath light.
A pleasant warmth radiated from her, filling his body.
Something changed.
His chest no longer burned with pain.
The wound closed.
She wasn't just healing him.
She was giving him something.
Kano shuddered.
But within moments, she pulled away, a satisfied smile on her face.
Elgot nervously coughed.
— "And that... was also a necessity?"
Revena laughed.
— "Of course."
She stood up, ran her fingers over her lips, and looked at Kano.
— "I must say, your blood... tastes better than I expected."
Elgot took a deep breath and exhaled.
— "That's the last thing we needed..."
Revena licked her lips.
— "Why are you so nervous, old man? Or are you jealous?"
Elgot turned away.
The dwarves, who had fully returned to their usual state, gathered around.
One of them approached Elgot and Kano, placing a hand over his heart.
— "You saved us."
His voice was firm but full of gratitude.
— "We won't forget this."
Kano, already starting to regain his senses, smiled.
— "Then… let's have some hot ale, and we're even."
The dwarf laughed.
— "Oh, human, you're definitely coming with me to the tavern."
Elgot sighed.
— "This is going to be quite the adventure..."
He shot a quick glance at Revena.
She just smiled mysteriously.