Chương 23: Telling Solluha'r
As the vibrant atmosphere of the gathering quieted, a voice pierced through the air like a bell, clear and resonant.
"Attention, all warriors of the tribe!"
The voice belonged to a female elf, her tone was soft and feminine but it was also commanding and filled with the weight of responsibility. "The wandering Drugan Warriors have discovered a dungeon!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd, the sound growing like a low hum as the orcs and elves exchanged glances. The news was electrifying, the kind of discovery that stirred both fear and excitement. But the voice wasn't done.
"It was no easy task," the woman continued, her voice carrying a tone of pride and exhaustion. "They faced numerous challenges, fought against the elements, and scoured every inch of the land until they finally found it. This dungeon is not for the faint of heart, and only those who have reached the third to fifth stages of the Mag'Durotan may enter!"
Volk's heart thudded in his chest, THUMP-THUMP, the rhythmic pounding almost drowning out the rest of the woman's words.
The Mag'Durotan stages three to five.
He was only in the second stage, yet the thought of entering that dungeon tomorrow stirred something deep within him—a gnawing temptation.
"Those who wish to enter," the woman continued, "must come prepared tomorrow. This will not be a simple test of strength. It will be a trial of your very will and soul. Only the worthy will survive!"
Volk's mind raced. He could feel the pull of the dungeon, like a magnet drawing him closer. The thought of the crystals in his possession only fueled his desire. But he knew he wasn't ready—he was only at the second stage.
Suddenly, Grak'thor's deep, knowing voice cut through his thoughts like a knife. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Volk turned to face the elder orc, his thoughts betrayed by the look on his face. Grak'thor's lips curled into a knowing grin.
"You want to enter that dungeon, don't you?" Grak'thor said with a chuckle, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and understanding. "You can do it tomorrow. Use the crystals that I gave you, and then, when you're inside, use it as a chance to gather even more crystals for your partner."
Volk's eyes widened in surprise. How did Grak'thor know exactly what he was thinking? He glanced down at his right hand, where the crystals lay, their smooth surfaces glinting in the firelight.
"Okay," Volk finally said, his voice resolute. The idea of entering the dungeon tomorrow filled him with a mixture of fear and anticipation, but Grak'thor's words gave him the push he needed.
Grak'thor nodded approvingly. "Good. And when you return, we'll take a look at your Grum-gar form. It's important that you understand it fully."
Volk nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of purpose settling within his head.
Grak'thor then waved him off with a hand, a gesture that was both dismissive and encouraging.
"Go on," Grak'thor said with a grin. "Go to your partner. She's waiting for you."
Volk didn't need to be told twice. He turned and left the gathering, his footsteps THUD-THUD-THUD against the dirt as he made his way back to his tower.
The journey back was quick, his mind focused on what lay ahead. When he reached the tower, he didn't hesitate. With a BAM, he slammed the door open, the wooden structure groaning under the force.
The sudden noise echoed through the empty halls, startling Solluha'r, who had been sitting quietly in the room.
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Volk?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and concern.
Volk's intense expression softened as he saw her startled reaction. He hadn't meant to scare her. An apologetic look crossed his face as he took a step forward. "Have you eaten already?" he asked, his tone gentler now.
Solluha'r's eyes flickered to the bundle in his hand, the smell of cooked meat wafting through the air. She shook her head slowly, her expression one of confusion. "I haven't eaten for a year now," she said and her tone of voice was soft like it was natural.
Volk blinked, taken aback by her response. Then he remembered—she was an elf. The thought left him speechless for a moment. How could he have forgotten something so important?
Regaining his composure, Volk held out the bundle towards her. "Look, I have meat here," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. He unwrapped the bundle, revealing the perfectly cooked meat, its scent rich and enticing.
Solluha'r's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the meat. She was incredibly sensitive to mana, and what she sensed—or rather, didn't sense—left her stunned. "Volk… how did you manage this?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "There's no trace of hazardous magic particles on this meat. Was it thoroughly cleaned?"
Volk hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He could see the genuine astonishment in her eyes, and it made him nervous.
Solluha'r continued, her voice gaining momentum as she recalled her studies. "When I was still learning from the elder elves, they told us about the dangers of hazardous magic particles in meat. They spoke of countless attempts to cleanse it, using various spells and methods. They even explained why there were so many labor orcs in the offsprings—because the food they consumed was often contaminated, and it was nearly impossible to remove all the hazardous particles. And now, you're telling me this meat is completely free of them?"
Her words spilled out like a torrent, her shock evident with every sentence. Volk could barely keep up. Should he tell her the truth? Should he admit that it wasn't just a simple cleaning process, but something more? Would it be a problem if he became a shaman?
Solluha'r, sensing his hesitation, placed a hand on his arm. Her touch was gentle, reassuring. "Volk," she said softly, her voice a calming presence in the whirlwind of his thoughts, "you don't have to hide anything from me. I won't tell anyone."
Volk looked into her eyes and saw the sincerity in them. She wasn't just saying this out of curiosity—she genuinely wanted to help him, to support him.
Taking a deep breath, Volk finally spoke. "I don't want to be a shaman," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Solluha'r's reaction was one of shock, her eyes widening at his confession. But then, as the meaning of his words sank in, she nodded slowly. "I see," she said, her tone thoughtful. "I remember you awakened the Orc magic ability, the Grum-gar form. If you became a shaman, it could be detrimental—maybe even a disadvantage. I understand why you wouldn't want that."
Volk let out a sigh of relief, the tension that had been building in his chest finally releasing. He hadn't realized just how much he needed her understanding, her acceptance.
"There's more," he said after a moment, his voice steady now. "I have the ability to absorb hazardous magic particles. That's how I cleaned the meat."
Solluha'r looked at him, her expression one of awe and understanding. She nodded, with her lips curving into a gentle smile. "For real?" With her eyes gleaming, "If that's the case, that's an incredible gift, Volk. And I'm glad you shared it with me. We'll figure out what it means together. But a pity, we don't have magic crystals…"
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Chương 24: Absorption Ability
Volk's heart thudded with excitement as he revealed the magic crystals clutched in his other hand. Solluha'r, who had been sitting quietly, her earlier look of helplessness fading, suddenly bolted upright. Her eyes widened to the size of full moons, and before she could stop herself, she let out an astonished cry, "Whaaaaaat!?"
The exclamation echoed through the room, bouncing off the stone walls like a ricocheting arrow.
Realizing how loud she had been, Solluha'r's face flushed a deep crimson. She slapped her hands over her mouth, eyes darting away in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout," she stammered, her voice now a shy murmur.
Volk couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction, a warm smile spreading across his face. Solluha'r, still blushing furiously, slowly lowered her hands from her mouth, her curiosity getting the better of her. "H-how… how did you get those?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It's way too early for you to have magic crystals. Usually, an orc can't get one until at least three months have passed… And you… you got them in just one day?" Her words came out in a rush, stumbling over themselves as her emotions tangled together in a mixture of embarrassment, pride, and awe.
Volk's smile widened as he leaned in closer, his voice teasing. "Guess how?"
Solluha'r's cheeks flamed even redder as she caught the playful glint in his eyes. He was enjoying this—enjoying her confusion, her flustered state. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Volk scooped her up in his arms, lifting her off the ground with ease.
"Ah!" she gasped, her body trembling with a mix of surprise and excitement. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to steady herself. But despite her shock, she managed to stammer out, "It… it was Grak'thor, wasn't it?"
Volk froze, his eyes widening in shock. "How did you know that?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine surprise.
Solluha'r, still nestled in his arms, took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "It's… it's because of your smell," she began hesitantly, her words spilling out in a rush. "And the meat… The herbivore meat you brought back was a special kind and only in the part of the market where they sell those kinds of meat and one of them was his shop. Plus, Grak'thor is the only butcher in the meat area who would have those kinds of crystals because he… he refused to have a partner. He's the only one who does that because he came from a hazardless tribe, one that was destroyed long ago. When you gave him that meat, it must have reminded him of his old tribe, of everything he lost. That's why he gave you the crystals—out of gratitude."
Solluha'r's voice trembled as she spoke, her emotions laid bare. Her face was a deep shade of red, her embarrassment evident as she revealed everything she had pieced together.
She had always been the informative one, the one who knew more than anyone else. But in the past, this knowledge had driven people away, made them wary of her. Her classmates had been intimidated by her, and even her former lover, Luk'Tar, had been scared off by how much she knew. She had seen that look of fear in their eyes, that sense of alienation.
As she finished explaining, Solluha'r hesitantly looked up at Volk, bracing herself for that same reaction, for that familiar look of fear or discomfort. But what she saw instead left her breathless.
Volk's face wasn't filled with fear or unease—it was filled with pride. His eyes gleamed with joy, a proud light shining within them. His expression was one of pure amazement and admiration, not a trace of the discomfort she had come to expect.
Solluha'r's heart swelled with emotion, a wave of warmth washing over her. For the first time, she felt truly understood, truly appreciated for who she was. She felt touched, she didn't even understand what was happening but she couldn't help but felt that her feelings for Volk deepened in a way she hadn't expected.
But amidst the rush of emotions, Solluha'r suddenly became aware of Volk's hands, which had slowly drifted down to her open stomach.
A jolt of sensation shot through her, a mix of heat and ticklishness that made her skin tingle, it also made her feel the familiar warm sticky web substance below her. As if her body reacted instinctively from his touch, making her breath quickens, with her pulse racing fast.
Unable to resist the sensations coursing through her, Solluha'r's body trembled with the intensity. But even as the familiar emotions swirled within her, she mustered the strength to whisper, "Wait… Please…"
Volk immediately stopped, with his expression shifting to one of concern. "What's wrong?"
Solluha'r's face burned with embarrassment, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to explain. "I… I need to absorb the crystal first… before we… do that." Her words came out in a shy, embarrassed rush, her eyes avoiding his gaze.
Volk's eyes widened in realization. "The crystal?" he echoed, understanding dawning on him.
Solluha'r nodded, her embarrassment still evident. "I heard the beam of sound earlier, and… and judging by how you came back in such a hurry, it means the tribe won't let you join the catacombs unless you reach the third stage of Mag'Durotan. And the catacombs probably require warriors at stages three to five…" Her voice trailed off, her gaze finally meeting his.
Volk couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her insight. She had pieced everything together with such precision, understanding the situation without even needing to be told. He slowly set her down, his movements gentle and careful, as if she were something precious.
Solluha'r reached out for the crystals with trembling hands, her expression a mix of determination and nervousness. Volk watched her, unsure of what to do next, but then Solluha'r's shy voice broke the silence. "You… you could try the meat on the first floor, if you don't know what to do for now," she suggested, with her voice laced with embarrassment. "It's your prize… for capturing the venomous earth mole yesterday."
Volk nodded, his mind still spinning from everything that had just happened. He left the room, making his way down the stairs to the first floor.
As he searched for the meat, his thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions and questions.
When he finally found it, he unwrapped the bundle carefully, revealing the meat inside.
As he looked at it, something familiar caught his eye.
The meat was different—there was a faint glow to it, something that hadn't been there before. He stared at it in confusion, his mind immediately tried to make sense of what he was seeing. But this time, he could see that it was not green anymore, but a brown one.
Then, it hit him. "Absorption?" he muttered to himself, the word escaping his lips as the realization dawned on him.
The meat had somehow absorbed the hazardous magic particles, just like he could.
The implications of this discovery left him stunned, his mind reeling with questions how?
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