Garden Of The Abyss

"You really don't mind doing this everyday?"

Laying on his stomach as he rested his chin against the plump pillow, Ren could feel her cold palms against his bare back.

"Of course not. We...all have to look out for each other."

Charlotte answered him, focusing as an azure glow emanated from her small, delicate hands.

"Ah...I hope I don't have any permanent scars. Healing magic really is wonderful, isn't it?"

A satisfied sigh left his lips as he kept his arms under the pillow, keeping it in a close embrace. The rejuvenating magic that was being run through his body put him in a euphoric state, easing any pain or discomfort he might've experienced.

"You should just be happy you're able to be healed fully. What you did was reckless…"

"Right, right. I've been reprimanded by just about everyone in this house by now."

--It's already been a month since I put myself in this state. I honestly expected the damage to be somewhat permanent, but most of the burn marks have vanished and my bones are...mostly fine. I owe it all to Charlotte and Beatrice...although it's been weird sharing a bed with her at night. Really, is the difference in the natural mana flow in her room different enough to warrant this? I guess she probably wants to keep a close eye on me to make sure I'm alright, but still! I'm pent up!

"All done."

The constant warmth that radiated against his bare back vanished as he felt Charlotte's weight shift off of the bed before he turned to face her.

"Do you think I can take these bandages off fully soon? Honestly, they feel weird."

"Beatrice told you to wait the full two months. She enchanted those bandages with a natural healing spell, so you better not remove them!"

Even when she tried to be assertive, Charlotte just wound up looking adorable as she puffed her cheeks out--tempting him to pinch them but he contained himself.

"I got it, I got it."

Without a single knock to announce his presence, Sirius suddenly dropped down onto the bed beside Ren. Beatrice's regal bed was large enough to likely fit half a dozen adults, even so--Ren wasn't exactly in the mood for skinship in his current state.

"What do you want?"

"Just checking up on my little brother and little sister, is any other reason necessary?"

Sirius had half a sandwich in one hand, and the other half in his mouth, deduced by the round shape his cheeks took as if he was a squirrel storing nuts for the winter.

"Beatrice will kill you if you get crumbs all over her bed. These sheets are seriously heaven, I think I'll kill you if you ruin them."

Embracing the comfort of the silken, violet sheets, Ren moved his limbs as if making a snow angel on the bed.

"Did you just come here to bug Ren? You know he needs his rest…"

"Actually, I came here because Donatien wants Ren to come to the lecture room."

Answering Charlotte's question, Ren perked up as he heard the reason for the sudden visit into his room of hospice.

"Lecture room? I'm not supposed to train though."

"Beatrice didn't say anything about just studying, right? Need help getting there?"

"No...I'll be fine. Thanks, Charlotte."

Standing up from the bed, Ren gently patted his hand against the girl's fluffy, scarlet hair with a smile before making his way out of the room at a snail's pace.

--Ironically enough, I've wound up back to my hermit ways--temporarily, that is. Besides walking around the house to stretch my legs and get the blood flowing, I'm stuck in Beatrice's gloomy chambers just about every waking hour of the day. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without the frequent visits. Especially Sirius--almost every two hours he's in there checking up on me. I'll have to thank everyone properly someday.

Each step had to be taken carefully, using magic to supersede the natural healing process for his bones came with risks. Until his body had returned to normal capacity, his bones were left brittle as if he were an old timer.

Maintaining his balance carefully with his hand gripping onto the railing, he made his way down the staircase one step at a time, reaching the bottom with both a feeling of victory and shame thriving inside of him.

"Ren! Need some help? Can I get you something? Anything?"

Covered in sweat from his spar with the air, Fai turned towards Ren at the sound of his foot reaching the wooden floorboards beneath his soles.

"How many times do I have to tell everyone...I'm fine."

As a professional freeloader in his past life, he would've thought the bombardment of care displayed by his comrades would be a welcome concept, but it felt more patronizing--even if he knew the intentions they held were pure.

"If you say so. Just know, I'm here if you need me!"

Displaying his one-track mind, Fai resumed his training in the leisure hall, spinning around as he kicked the air.

After a short, yet arduous walk through the house, Ren entered the familiar room that closely resembled a standard classroom, stocked full of grimoires that contained the many theories of magic. Waiting inside in front of the chalkboard, Donatien turned to face his bandage clad student, adjusting his glasses with his usual stoic expression.

"How are you feeling today, Ren?"

"Better."

"I see. I'm sure you've been anxious to resume your study of magic. I have been quite anxious."

Donatien glanced at the desk that held a grimoire wrapped in neat, black fabric, telling Ren to sit with his gaze alone.

"As your mentor, I am partly responsible for the condition you're in. "Detonation"...It was the only tool in your arsenal that gave you the opportunity to win against the seemingly unbeatable foe in front of you. I neglected to realize how dangerous relying on such a volatile spell could be for a novice."

"Did Iris tell you that? Beatrice?"

"--Just my mind, when I'm trying to sleep at night."

Responding to his student's doubtful questioning of his own empathy, Donatien rapidly struck and swiped at the board, slamming the piece of chalk at the newly written text to obtain Ren's attention.

"Defense. This is what I believe you lack critically."

"I have my Veil."

"What good did that do you against the stalker? Veil is but a solidified wall of mana, it sits at the precipice of simplicity. "Defense" doesn't always have to be a shield. That is where the true strength of your dark affinity lies, Ren."

Holding a copy of the same grimoire sitting on Ren's desk, Donatien looked at the text inscribed on the weathered pages.

"Deception. Weakening. Binding. Remember those three words as if they are your mantra. Those are the true strengths widely recognized in the element of darkness. When facing an opponent who wields power beyond your own, attempting to close the gap with reckless offensive magic won't always work. You will need to take away from your opponent, rather than attempt to add superficial strength to yourself."

"...I think I get it."

Ren nodded his head a few times as he listened to the clear words leave his mentor's lips, ingraining them into himself. After the near-death experience with the stalker, there was no choice but to explore every facet of power available to him.

"That brings us to the focus of today's lesson and main objective, a spell I have determined to be a perfect fit for your needs."

"What is it?"

"Araphel: Blackout."

After learning the name and function of the new spell, a surge of impatient energy made its way through him.

"That's not fair. That spell seriously sounds cool--but I can't use it for another month!"

"One month will be enough time to assimilate the entire theory of Blackout into your mind, by the time you're fully healed--you will wield magic beyond the scope of your ability previously."