The streets of the upper district were clean and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just fled. The sharp tension in the air had faded into a distant memory, replaced by the crisp evening breeze of the noble quarter.
"M-my name is Lyra" said the white haired girl.
"Nice name ." Damian complimented.
'Lyra... I recognize her now' he thought. 'I remember her from my past life... She's really been through a lot huh...'
In his past, he met her when she was in slavery. She helped him when his siblings were out for him but sadly it cost her her life. The thought of her still weighed heavily on Damian till this moment, but one thing she made clear back then was that she didn't regret helping him.
'I'm glad I came on this stroll today.' he thought.
Damian stood in silence with Lyra's small hand trembling in his grip. Her white hair was disheveled and her pale skin dirtied with soot and fear. But she was safe.
'Its my turn to protect you now.'
"Let's go" Said Damian softly.
"O-ok" she sniffed.
They reached a quiet bend in the road, far from the crowds. Lyra slowed, panting lightly.
Damian stopped too.
'I have to go back there...' he clenched his fist.
"You okay?" he asked, glancing down at her.
She nodded slowly, carrying a rather calm expression, though the fear in her ruby red irises said otherwise.
He exhaled. "Good."
Then his gaze shifted toward the slum's direction.
"I need to go back," he said suddenly.
Lyra blinked. "B-back there?" she shivered
"There's something I have to do," he repeated, softer this time. And placing a hand on her head. "I'll be quick."
Her grip tightened on his sleeve. "But… what if they come back?" She asked in a weak soft whisper.
"They won't," he said, crouching slightly so they were eye-level. "I promise ."
She hesitated, then nodded in approval.
"…Okay." Damian replied.
He straightened, narrowing his eyes toward the way they came
"Alright..."
• • •
"...Just around this corner..." Damian whispered before flinching a bit after realizing something. "U-um... Lyra, I need you to stay here for a bit."
"Why?" She asked.
'I didn't consider this earlier, but Lyra's just a kid... I don't think she'll feel too good about seeing dead bodies.'
"I don't want you seeing what's behund this cornered." He replied. "It's quite the nasty site you know."
She whimpered on realizing what he was implying.
'Good thing she's smart.'
"I-i'm coming" She retorted softly, shifting he gaze to the side. "I'm already used to seeing things like that... Besides..." She trailed off at the end getting flustered a little.
Staring at her, 'I guess she's already seen a few slaves die already.' he thought with a sigh. "Ok, but stay close to me, and tell me if you feel uncomfortable."
Lyra nodded in response. Once he mentioned she could tag along. She probably just didn't want to be left alone.
"Okay..."
The alley was quiet once again.
The bear and the cage were nowhere in sight. The trails left on the ground proved that both the beast and it's owner were long gone.
In the vicinity, only the two thugs remained—at least what remained of them.
Damian glanced at Lyra. She was clutching his coat tightly with her trembling body. Her eyes were downcast, but she was taking the scene better the he expected.
'Thank goodness.' he thought and turned to face his goal this time.
'Earlier, one of these guys used fire magic. If this Gluttony skill works the way I think it does then...'
Without another word, Damian turned, slipping into the shadows of the alley once more—toward the place where it all began.
[Gluttony can be used on the target.]
The notification blinked into existence as Damian approached the thinner of the two corpses and crouched.
"This guy looks weaker physically, should be the mage... Let's see what you've got," he muttered. Then exhaled as his golden irises radiated softly
"Gluttony."
Then another screen appeared.
[The following skills can be assimilated...]
• Fire Magic
Damian's eyes gleamed with excitement as he tapped the skill with little hesitation. "I guess it's no suprise he only has one skill. Learning skills are really hard..."
Then the system's voice rang out.
<[Do you wish to assimilate the skill: Fire Magic? -[Y/N]-]>
"Yeah." he replied.
[Assimilating…]
Then a loading bar representing the assimilation process appeared on the screen. The process took well over a minute before another screen popped
[Notice!!!]
<[Due to the host's class: Prince of Light, a restriction has been placed on the skill: Gluttony.]>
[After the second assimilation, Gluttony will be placed on a cool down fur 48 hours.]
"...Huh?" Damian blinked. 'It's nerfing me? Geez... Why can't light and darkness just be happy with each other for once.' he shrugged
Then the next moment, the last screen popped up. As the system read:
[Congratulations! You have acquired the skill: Fire Magic Lv.1]
An unexplainable feeling washed over him as he felt the knowledge of the skill flow into him. It felt like he was just remembering a distant memory.
He instinctively knew how to conjure a small flame now, shape it and ignite it.
"It's Level 1 huh... So… any skill I assimilate always starts from scratch?"
"Makes sense. I Can't just leap to mastery afterall" he chuckled.
His curiosity flared.
He knelt and reached for the same corpse again.
[Gluttony cannot be used on the same target twice.]
"Figured. It really a one-time thing."
He turned to the bulkier corpse leaning on the wall and crouched next to it
[Gluttony can be used on the target.]
"Nice. Now... Gluttony" he grinned.
<[The following skills can be assimilated.]>
• Swordsmanship Proficiency
He tapped on it.
<[Do you wish to assimilate the skill: Swordsmanship Proficiency? -[Y/N]-]>
"Yeah." he replied as the same process repeated itself, but this time, it didn't take up to 30 seconds before concluding.
[Assimilating…]
-------
[Congratulations! You have acquired the skill: Swordsmanship Proficiency Lv.1]
Damian rolled his wrist. His balance subtly shifted, his awareness sharper. Even without a sword, he could feel it, there was something different. Almost like instinct.
But then another screen popped up.
[Gluttony is on cooldown: 47:59:59]
"I guess it's kinda a fair trade." He whispered while standing up.
"O-oh" he stuttered.
He turned back to look at his companion.
'I completely forgot about her' he thought.
"U-um... Damian?" She spoke up first. "I don't understand what just happened but... Your skill probably works on only the dead right?" She asked while clutching her clothes tightly.
'Crap, I didn't think this through.' Damian cursed.
"I... uh-"
"Even still!..." She blurted out without letting him answer. "Even though that's true,... I know you're a good person... "
"Lyra..."
"I... Don't know why, but I trust you and I promise to keep your secret between us." She smiled. "Just don't leave... me..." She added as her voice trailed off.
She tried taking a step forward but her injuries and exhaustion finally got to as her body gave in and began falling down.
"H-hey!"
But Damian rushed forward and caught her just in time.
"Easy," he said.
"I'm fine…" she murmured, smiling weakly.
"No, you're not." He helped her stand and crouched in front of her, gesturing to his back. "Get on. I'll carry you."
She hesitated. "I can walk."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't even make it past me" he teased.
She was quiet for a second. Then, finally, she climbed onto his back.
"Oh and Lyra… I promise I'm never gonna leave you behind. Okay?"
"Okay" she replied, a little relieved. "But... Where are we going?" She asked.
"Were going home." He smiled.