When I opened my eyes, I saw faintly glowing phosphorescent crystals on the ceiling.
My head throbbed.
Breathing was still difficult… but I was alive.
"Where… am I?"
I checked my body.
The wound on my leg had been bandaged.
The bruising on my chest had faded.
Just then, I heard a sound.
A faint chirping…
Someone was beside me.
I turned my head.
And I saw it.
⸻
A small, plump, fluffy creature.
About knee-high.
Its body was covered in soft, white fur.
It had enormous turquoise eyes.
With its tiny paws, it gently reached out to touch me.
Two round ears peeked out from the sides of its head.
Delicate wing-like extensions trembled softly behind its back.
Its tail swayed gently, ending in a cotton-like puff.
"What… are you?"
It wasn't scary.
In fact, it was… too cute.
It approached and rubbed its nose against my neck, making soft purring noises.
New Species Discovered: Fluffern (Lv.3) — Passive
"I don't think it means any harm…"
My eyes landed on a small basket beside me.
Inside were familiar herbs.
Silverleaf… and Morning Dew Flower.
"I gathered these near the cave entrance. So… it used them to heal me?"
It must have crushed the herbs with its tiny paws and applied them to my wound.
I managed a weak smile.
"It has healing instincts. Smart little thing… but can you speak?"
I raised my hand and called out.
It chirped back adorably:
"Piii-piii!"
"Hmm… I guess that's a no."
⸻
I had no idea how much time had passed.
There was no time indicator on my system window.
"I told Garon to wait outside… is he still there? Or did he return to the village for help?"
The Fluffern puffed up its cheeks and placed its paws on my lap, as if trying to comfort me.
It tilted its head and made soft purring noises.
"Thank you, little one. But I can't stay here for long."
⸻
Slowly, I stood up.
My leg still ached, but I could walk.
I began to move forward.
The Fluffern followed me, hopping along.
I wandered through the inner tunnels of the cave.
The air was cool and damp.
Only the faint glow of the crystals lit my path.
Suddenly, a narrow opening on my right caught my attention.
I heard… voices coming from inside.
"Voices?"
I carefully approached.
I bent down and peeked through the narrow gap.
⸻
Below, there was a wide stone platform.
About three meters deep, at the center of the round chamber, six men stood.
All of them wore long white cloaks.
Wide hoods draped from their shoulders, though their heads were uncovered.
Their faces were pale and cold under the dim light of the cave.
In the center…
A man was kneeling, shackled by his wrists and ankles.
His head hung low, his breathing labored.
⸻
One of them spoke:
"The ritual was nearly complete. If we had arrived any later, the child would've been sacrificed."
Another sniffed beside him:
"They've started drawing power from their own blood now.
Even daring this much is testing the Guild's patience."
⸻
At that moment, my eyes locked onto one of the men's faces.
My heart raced.
Lucian.
"That's… him! That's Lucian!"
A strange excitement surged inside me.
Knowing I wasn't alone here…
Finding him…
Hope filled me.
"Yes! It's him! That's definitely Lucian!"
⸻
Lucian stepped forward.
His hands were clasped behind his back.
He stared coldly at the chained man, his calculating eyes unwavering.
And right then…
His appearance struck me.
His long, straight blonde hair flowed past his shoulders.
Under the light, his hair shimmered like golden threads.
A few strands fell across his forehead, accentuating his sharp features.
His sapphire-blue eyes…
Bright and deep.
There was both calm and calculating coldness within them.
As if he could analyze anyone and anything in seconds.
His skin was pale and flawless—smooth as porcelain.
Prominent cheekbones, a sharp, refined jawline.
He was tall.
Broad shoulders, a lean but disciplined body visible beneath the cloak.
The white robe only made his lethal grace appear even more noble.
And at the corner of his lips… that sly smirk.
⸻
"Is this Lucian?
He's far more… alive than the character I knew from the game."
⸻
Lucian's voice echoed sharply:
"You've stated your source.
You acquired the dark magic texts from illegal alchemists along the Northern Strip."
The chained man raised his head, his voice cracked:
"I… I only sought power… just to protect my family…"
Lucian's gaze remained completely unmoved.
"Noble intentions… do not change the fact that you consorted with forbidden magic."
There was a moment of silence.
Lucian took a deep breath.
He extended his hands forward.
Thin streams of violet light began to swirl in his palms.
The man tried to pull back in fear:
"No… no, please—!"
Lucian's voice was ice-cold:
"The purification will now proceed."
⸻
The violet light pierced into the man's chest.
He screamed as dark energy was pulled from his body, drawn into Lucian's hands like black smoke.
Absorbing Corrupt Essence…
The man's body trembled… his eyes emptied…
And then he fell completely still.
Target Eliminated.
⸻
I stood frozen.
The excitement from earlier turned heavy inside me.
My breath caught.
"Wh… what did he just do?"
"Lucian… did that with his own hands…"
⸻
Lucian kept his palms closed for a moment longer, absorbing the last traces of the corrupted essence.
Then he exhaled deeply.
There wasn't a hint of regret in his eyes.
One of the other mages asked:
"Is the purification stable?"
Lucian gave a small nod:
"Stable.
No residue leaked.
The child has been transferred to a secure location.
We'll prepare the report and deliver it to Garen."
I was still trembling.
Moments ago, I had been ready to call out to him.
But now… I couldn't even open my mouth.
"This… is Lucian?"
"He never had scenes like this when I played the game."
My heart pounded with both joy and fear.