The clouds dissipated and night fell, yet the dungeons remained cloaked in darkness. In Daniel's room, he lay asleep, with Elena resting atop him, the covers shielding them from the cold. Elena slowly opened her eyes, blinking as exhaustion coursed through every inch of her body.
She glanced around the room, only to find herself lying atop Daniel's body, his warmth seeping into her own. A sense of comfort filled the air. Their bodies were still closely entwined. Embarrassment flooded her face as she tried to rise, but a sudden pain surged through her joints, forcing a groan from her lips. She grumbled angrily:
"Damn it… this hurts. That idiot always drives me insane."
Her eyes fell on Daniel. He was still asleep, a peaceful smile playing on his lips. She reached toward his neck, momentarily tempted to end his life—but then she remembered her own life was now tied to his. Tears welled in her eyes, falling silently onto his bare chest, muffling her sobs.
After a few minutes, she regained her composure. She wiped the salty tears from her face, determination slowly returning to her features. She staggered toward her clothes with halting steps, as if walking across shards of broken glass. After dressing, the time came to leave.
She reached the door, but couldn't help casting one last look at Daniel. Her expression was unreadable—complex and tangled. Quietly, she slipped out, fearing he might wake… or fearing falling deeper from a height she didn't know how to climb down from.
Daniel opened his eyes and exhaled slowly, thinking about everything that had happened. He had revealed one of his hidden powers—the Cursed Blood—a mystery even to him. This ability poisoned anyone who drank his blood. The symptoms would begin three days later, causing full-body paralysis and, eventually, death within two weeks.
Ironically, his blood was both the poison and the cure.
It was one of five abilities granted by the cursed tattoo on his back. That mark had appeared when he was twelve, carved painfully into his flesh. Yet his will to survive had helped him endure and unlock these powers.
His abilities included:
1. Cursed Blood – Slowly kills the target; usable on both enemies and allies.
2. Bloodlust – Instills terror in enemies, causing momentary paralysis.
3. Serpent's Agility – Grants him internal and external flexibility.
4. Serpent Eyes – Enables him to see in complete darkness.
5. Organ Regeneration – A semi-immortality that allows his body to regrow damaged organs, though it takes months.
He had kept these abilities hidden, but Elena's life had forced his hand—and now they had become one of his most dangerous weapons, perhaps even against the king himself.
Meanwhile, outside, Elena found her mother waiting for her in the hallway. Lina's face was etched with worry, the burden of fear having drained the color from her skin and weight from her body.
With panic in her voice, Lina asked:
"Are you alright? Do you feel any symptoms?"
She examined her daughter from head to toe, her eyes betraying the deep fear and affection within. This wasn't like her usual composed self.
Elena answered softly:
"I'm fine. There's no need to worry. Honestly, I feel like I've been reborn."
Lina exhaled in relief, the tension melting from her shoulders. A smile gently touched her lips.
With renewed calm, she said:
"Let's go somewhere else. We need to talk."
Elena nodded in agreement—these walls had eyes and ears.
In the royal chamber, a somber and mysterious atmosphere prevailed. The lanterns cast dancing shadows, and four emerald eyes stared across from each other—questions glowing within them.
Lina sat at the table facing her daughter, a warm cup of tea between her palms. Finally, she asked:
"Tell me what happened in that room. Did you find the antidote?"
It was a question that demanded an answer. The royal physicians had yet to discover a cure, and time was slipping away like a sharpened blade.
Elena answered with a hint of sarcasm:
"I don't know, Mother. He didn't give me anything. His blood flowed through me, and suddenly I felt… alive again. But I can't explain how."
Lina followed with another question:
"How did you drink his blood? Wasn't it that same blood that almost killed you? Now you're telling me it healed you in the same way it poisoned you?"
Blushing deeply, Elena struggled to find the words, but finally spoke:
"He forced me to drink it… directly from his mouth. A few minutes later, I felt stronger. And yes… we also… shared intimacy afterward."
Her cheeks burned red.
Lina fell into deep thought, piecing together the events—from the blood-drinking to the symptoms, then to the apparent cure. Ideas began to form, dots connecting in her mind.
Finally, she had a theory. She just needed confirmation… a hint from Daniel to see the full picture.
Elena noticed the intense stillness on her mother's face and softly asked:
"Did you figure something out?"
A short question, but it carried weight. Elena knew her mother too well—such silence never came without cause. Lina's thoughts centered on Daniel's mysterious powers… especially the cursed tattoo that had appeared from nowhere.
Lina snapped out of her trance and replied hesitantly:
"Let's not jump to conclusions yet. There's a way to confirm the source."
Elena could tell her mother was trying to shoulder everything alone again. But that didn't mean she would sit idly by.
Determined, she said:
"Let me help you. Just tell me what you need, and I'll do it—whatever it takes."
Lina smiled warmly, touched by her daughter's maturity. Daniel had changed her. Nearly dying had forced her to grow.
Lina spoke with calm and care:
"There's no need. What I need from you now is to focus on recovering your strength… get back to your training. Leave the rest to me."
Elena opened her mouth to protest, but her mother's firm gaze silenced her. She didn't want to burden Lina further, so she held her tongue and swallowed the words she had wanted to say.