Takuma decided to take another hour to accumulate some mana. This came after Chloe asked to gather some materials needed to perform her most powerful healing abilities as a precaution. Dot also decided to take the time to prepare for what was to come. With this in mind, the three parted ways for a short time to tend to their own affairs.
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Chloe couldn't help but feel anxious. It was her duty as a healer class to keep the good health of those in her party.
*Heh, my party?* She thought to herself as she opened the door to her shop. She wondered when the thoughts of being close enough to anyone she could consider a "party" began to creep in. This was something she generally avoided thinking of, considering the outcome of her last group of party members. As usual, the scent of various floral oils and medicines filled the air.
She walked to the back of her shop, picking up items on display here and there as she proceeded.
*This will be good for poison relief. Nausea. I guess some regenerative potions would be good too.*
Chloe then opened her store room, a sixteen by six meter area of shelves filled with various ingredients of all types. Her class designation, Herbal Mage, relied on a very specific type of catalyst to use her skills. Due to this, the mana drain was low for the most part and materials were consumed to allow her skills to have extremely potent effects. She walked through the dimly lit store room in the same fashion as her shop, grabbing various raw materials from the shelves and placing them into each of her various waist satchels. Upon making her way to the back of the room, she found the item she'd come for, a beautiful glowing flower. Its white metals mingled with soft tones of fuschia and pink gave it an otherworldly appearance, almost like a ghost flower. Moon-Ghost Lily, it's official name, one of the most rare items uncovered through months of adventuring — only to never be used. The item itself gave off a soothing effect, which was pleasing to the eye and a gentle fragrance that functioned to calm the mind.
Chloe gazed down at this flower, hesitant to lift the small glass case which contained it. As thoughts of faces she had long since pushed away into the back of her mind began to surface, she hoped she wouldn't need to use an item so potent. She reached forth apprehensively before taking the flower from its place. She then held it up to her gaze for inspection, a nervous sigh issuing forth from her lips as she tucked it into a satchel space all unto itself.
*This time, it will be different.* She thought to herself as she focused her scattered thoughts and turned to leave, a new sense of determination swirling about her.
Meanwhile, Dot decided to take a bath. Although she wasn't in need of one, it was the most relaxing act she could think of on short notice. She sprinkled flower petals in with the water, their oil mingling with the bath water to provide a crisp, relaxing scent.
Dot's mind couldn't help but wander as she sank into the steaming tub of water. She wondered how her life would change after today, whether she'd even have a life. She tried not to think about that as she pulled water up across her shoulders and chest. She tried to savor the small sensations which accompanied the water dripping down onto her flesh — and a part of her wanted to take this simple pleasure in as if it might be the last.
"Mom.." Dot whispered as she sank down further into the water, relaxing even more. Ever since she'd heard that it would be possible to cure this hereditary curse, her mother came to mind more often than not. Dot couldn't help but wish that her mother could be present and could be cured as well.
She struggled with the thought even now as she soaked in the relaxing warmth of what could be her final bath.
*Is that a selfish thought? That I want more than what I'm being offered?* Selfish or not, she told herself, it was logical — or perhaps a very human thing to desire. It was what anyone would want, everything — even more than the scrap of hope that she'd been offered.
She couldn't deny that despite the brave face she woke up and put on every day, the feelings which came to mind with regard to her mother had always been intertwined at best. Resentment at having gone too soon, and the same for even stealing Dot's zest for life at exposing this horrid curse. For the same reason, she also felt endless sorrow for her mother, who did the best she could with such little time and a horribly dealt hand.
Dot would often think of all the time stolen from her family. All the memories and experiences they could have had together which they would never be able to get back. This feeling of sorrow and loss quickly turned into rage at the unfairness of it all. Now, a man she'd just met some days ago offered to fix such a momentous problem that had been present in her life for decades. Dot felt silly, childish and small at having leapt at the chance presented in front of her, but still she would claim it even if it cost her life..
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"It's time. Are you two ready?" Takuma said, having finally returned. The amount of mana he managed to acquire wasn't necessarily all that significant when compared to his current amount of just over 9,500. The truth was, in addition to acquiring extra mana, he also wanted to look for relics which might impart some lifeguarding effects. Unfortunately, there was no such luck. At best, he could only allow Dot to borrow an item that would regenerate vitality slowly over time. Such an item wouldn't help if the worst-case scenario came to pass.
Both women nodded, prompting Takuma to take off his Goddess Pendant and place it around Dot's neck.
"I'm not sure how much this will help, but it should provide some additional protection."
"Now…Let's get started." Takuma said as he directed Dot to get as comfortable as possible. Chloe took a seat next to her on the bed, as the process of dispelling the curse began.
"Drink this," Chloe said as she pulled a small vial from one of her many waist satchels.
"What is it?" Dot held the vial up to the light to take a glance at the fluorescent fluid within.
"It's a regenerative potion, one of the best. It will help you counter the effects of your curse should things get too strained." Chloe explained. She also pulled out two types of flower heads and placed them both in her palm, crushing them as she infused her mana into the technique. The blue and yellow flower petals turned into a mist like smoke which wafted around Dot's body before spiraling into her nostrils.
"These two should lessen any pain you feel to a degree and give you some extra resistance against poison. I'll also be watching over you directly. You have nothing to fear," Chloe said with a smile that made even Takuma believe her confidence. He had to admit, after his experiences with curses in the past few days, he felt less than optimistic.
*But, if I can't even do this, there's no way I can save the Goddess.* He thought to himself as he rolled his sleeves up and stepped forth, placing his palm on Dot's forehead. He took a few deep breaths before finally uttering his first skill use, 'Partial Purification'.
Right away, an aura of white energy began to envelop Dot's body, from her head to her toes and finally rising upwards as the effect dissipated.
" How do you feel? "
Dot gazed up at him and then looked to Chloe for confirmation before responding.
"I…. I feel fine. I don't have any pain. And -"
"Urk!" This was the sound Dot made as she coughed. Her hand went up instinctively to cover her mouth, but it was pointless as a thick black spray of blood and black substance splashed on Takuma's shirt. He felt a tiny amount even spray him on the cheek as he watched Dot fiercely grab her chest amidst the fit of coughs she was now suffering.
This much was to be expected. Although Takuma found the amount of fluid coming from Dot's body to be alarming, he also thought back to their original treatment for her.
Chloe began to flow her green mana energy into Dot's body directly, an extension of her healing capabilities. After a few seconds, it seemed as if Dot's coughing began to calm down.
"Chloe, is it okay for me to proceed?" Takuma asked, deferring to the healer to access Dot's health.
"Yes, it's fine. Continue." Dot said through her coughs. Takuma couldn't help but shoot a glance over to Chloe, who also nodded as well.
"Partial Purification." Takuma said as he once more placed his hand on Dot's forehead and activated the skill. This time, the reaction was immediate and terrifying. Dot's body began to seize up as she lurched backwards, falling onto the bed.
Chloe struggled to keep Dot from hurting herself during what she perceived to be a seizure, but it soon turned out to be much worse. Fluid began to seep out of Dot's eye sockets like tears of pitch black ink. Within this liquid were red particles, which Takuma immediately identified as blood — Dot's blood.
What's more, this liquid didn't absorb into the fabric of the bed, it began to pool together like a puddle of goop. Dot's mouth opened as more of the fluid issued forth, forming a large puddle on her chest and abdomen. The liquid began to undulate and twitch, finally taking form as tentacles of black liquid began to lash out at anything nearby.
"Takuma! Is this supposed to happen?!" Chloe shouted as she struggled to restrain Dot's thrashing body.
"I- I have no idea. This is getting bad though!" Takuma shouted. Chloe was doing her best to help Dot in this instance but she couldn't help but be thrust into the deepest throes of concern. The fluid seemed to be coming from everywhere, nostrils, eye sockets, mouth — pain would be the least of Dot's worries. At this point, she would suffocate long before she had to worry about pain.
"Takuma, you need to finish it now. If you don't, she won't make it!" Chloe said, finally getting to her feet to take a spot next to Takuma. She reached into her bag and pulled out the Moon-Ghost Lily, holding it in her palms as the black tentacles lashed wildly at anything within reach. One of the whip-like cords caught Chloe on the cheek, drawing blood.
Takuma on the other hand leapt forth, seeking to touch any portion of Dot's body to begin the final attempt.
*I hope I have enough mana to cover this..* He thought to himself as he laid his hand on her abdomen and struggled against the black mass which quickly wrapped itself around his forearm.
"Instant Purification!" He grunted as several more of the tentacles wrapped around his other arm, neck and even his waist. Dot's body was pulled upwards from the bed, as if it was no longer her own. Her skin had now turned a pale white color, pasty and grey while her eye sockets looked hollow. Her eyes were pitch black, so glossy that the light streaming through the nearby window could reflect on them.
[-6]
[-8]
[-9]
The tentacles viciously began to tighten around Takuma's body, constricting his breathing as the effects of his skill began to take hold.
"C-Chloe, this is hurting me. It has to be worse for Dot--" Takuma could barely get these words out as the pure, white light began to radiate from his palm. He could practically feel a large mass of mana being drained from him as the skill's power ate away at the black tentacles. Within the next few seconds Dot's body slowed its convulsions until finally the black fluid turned into particles of white energy and slowly faded away.
Takuma could do little else but fall back on his hands as the tentacles grip finally slackened. Chloe on the other hand quickly took a spot next to Dot on the bed and turned her onto her side. The remains of black tar in her body slowly issued out of every orifice, her eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
"Her vitals are very weak. She's… she's on death's door." Chloe said as she placed the Moon-Ghost Lily on Dot's chest and activated her skill.
The beautiful flower turned into tiny particles of white and pink mist which covered Dot's entire body, even flowing inside of her mouth and nose. Chloe closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy on supplying the spell with mana. After what seemed like one too many tense moments, Takuma was relieved to see the color slowly return to Dot's face.
He was also greeted with two unexpected surprises. A loud cracking sound startled everyone in the room as a large wisp of grey smoke began to collapse on itself into a central point just above Dot's body. Takuma braced himself for the worst, but was surprised to find out that a new alert accompanied these phenomena.
[Quest Completed: A Living Curse]
[Obtained Item: Curse Root]