The baby glared at him as Leon pulled himself together, hoping the strange lady called Macaw didn't hear him laugh.
"I saw you coming from miles away, kid," she repeated herself, the lamps by her table illuminating just enough of her veiled face as she had her eyes closed.
"Are you referring to me or?" Leon pointed at himself and then back at the baby.
The baby hit his leg, "Of course it's you, Leon," it hushed.
It was very ironic, a strange lady calling him a kid instead of the actual baby. Without wasting any time, Leon asked, "Welp, nice meeting you. Can you fix my neck?"
There was a long, tense pause, as if the room itself held its breath. Then, suddenly, the lady stood up, her lips moving in a low chant as she rummaged through the shelves on the side wall, tossing aside anything she deemed unnecessary at the moment. With an air of urgency, she finally returned to Leon, cradling a tiny bottle filled with a mesmerizing, glittery pink liquid.
With a nod, she extended it to Leon, her hands gesturing for him to drink it.
He hesitated for a moment, then gulped it down bravely – What worse could happen for he was already dead?. Immediately after the liquid touched his mouth, he felt a mild sweet taste, but it turned awfully bitter, nothing like it looked. His mouth dried up, and he struggled to breathe, collapsing to the ground. Every inch of his body ached with immense pain, and he felt like his skeleton was trying to escape his skin. Leon coughed violently, reminiscing about his illness.
But then, everything stopped abruptly. There was no pain, no bitterness lingering in his mouth. His head felt light, and he realized his neck was no longer drooping to one side.
He felt joyous as he felt his neck, then looked at his hands. In the dim light, they were no longer cobweb-like, and his muscles were back on. He couldn't remember the last time he looked this healthy. It felt like he was reborn.
*ding*
[You took the Body Ailment Cursed Potion]
[Congratulations, your body is now completely healed]
Leon stood up from the ground as the baby gasped at him. He looked towards Macaw, feeling immensely grateful. He nodded, "Thank you very much. Let me know if you need any help."
Although he felt odd saying the last words, he hoped the macaw wouldn't ask him for any dangerous favors. The macaw didn't reply to anything, but she stood there silently, looking at her shelves. The baby couldn't tear its eyes away from Leon as he smirked at it.
"Can you tell me about my psyche as well?" he asked again, curiosity and anxiety intertwining within him as he wondered about the extent of her abilities.
Macaw once again came closer to Leon, but this time she took off her veil. As she did, he noticed something – she was actually blind, without eyes. Her eye sockets were only hollow caves, and yet, there was an air of profound wisdom and power about her.
Leon's heart raced as she gazed directly into his eyes, and he felt an unsettling sensation that he couldn't look away, as if she had locked onto his very soul. Her pale face and eyeless sockets sent shivers down his spine, making her appearance truly terrifying. Leon quickly shook off his thoughts, his mind racing with questions. 'Can she read minds too?' 'What if she can? I should stop thinking.'
"Psyche is your afterlife subconscious; its ability is determined by the life you lived," she said in a calm, alluring voice as she tore away her gaze from Leon.
"The limit of your psyche is you," she said, slumping down in her chair.
"It's a channel across realms, gathering its knowledge from the whisperers and wandering souls. That's why it reveals things you might not have known before," she added, covering her face with the veils again.
Leon listened keenly, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to ask more questions, but he didn't want to interrupt her flow of information.
"It works as a vast expanse network across the universe. But you must beware, for if you become too dependent on it or slack in your own efforts, these souls can become your foes, taking control over your psyche and possessing you," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of warning.
Each word blew Leon away, and he fully byhearted everything she said.
Silence engulfed the room again as she didn't speak anything further. Taking it as a hint, the baby nudged Leon to walk outside, to which he obliged.
Just when they were about to head out, she spoke again, "Mirrors, kid. You'll find your weakness in the mirrors."
Saying this, she looked directly at Leon once again, as if she was sizing him up for what he is. Leon nodded curtly before turning back to leave, 'Avoid Mirrors, Okay.'
*ding*
[Unlocked the knowledge about your psyche]
[Quest completed successfully]
[Rewards: Qi resonance]
[ Internal wisdom]
Both of them emerged from the dark corridor and returned to the waiting room. The tall cloaked man came half running towards them, as if he had been waiting for their return instead of doing his own things.
"Seriously, Elias, who the hell is --" the man stopped in his tracks, looking at the healed Leon admiringly.
"Woah," he gasped, "you're an earthling, eh?" he questioned. Leon felt like he didn't need to answer him.
"Really, Elias, he's your slave?" the tall man directed the question towards the baby.
"I told you, he is," the baby replied, shrugging.
"A slave?" another woman popped from the crowd, and a few others whispered among themselves, looking at each other and then at Leon and the baby.
"Elias got a slave?" a man with bones for hands questioned.
"Impossible!" the woman argued.
"Elias finally got lucky, I say," the tall man added, looking mockingly at the baby.
'Yes, tell him like that. I ain't his slave; he tricked me,' Leon cheered internally, unable to express his true feelings about despising his 'Master' openly.
"Well, yes, why not? I found him at the entrance!" the baby countered.
"And he agreed? Just like that?" the woman squinted her eyebrows, looking at Leon.
'Ugh, What is happening?' Leon felt bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.