God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The night wind was frigid.

The silk curtains billowed in the soft wind that did make it into the rather small room.

From the open window, faint streams of the minute, barely registerable moonlight that came from a sky with no moon, bled into the room, providing the faintest of illuminations.

However, as he sat there nearly motionless on the bed, Cain didn't notice any of that at all.

Neither the cold night wind, nor the soft radiance brushing the nooks and corners, casting long and murky shadows across the walls, floor, and ceiling.

He inhaled deeply once again, filling his lungs to the brim.

The breathing exercise did wonders in clearing his mind.

'Right now, making such a decision will be rather difficult...'

At the moment, he was at a crucial junction. One where every resource he had at hand could spell the difference between success and doom.

But at the same time, this issue of his was critical to his future.

'What to do...'

His eyes drifted over to the other system prompts;

***

{This Quest is mandatory and cannot be refused}.

***

Cain chuckled dryly,

'Of course it is...'

He sighed. The system wasn't even willing to give him a choice. At this point, it was forcing him to make a decision.

And that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, mostly because he was not known for being the most decisive.

If he was allowed to hold back on his choice for now, not even all the Celestials in all the heavens would be able to know when he'd eventually make up his mind.

He ran a hand through his hair.

'Even though it is temporary, going through with this means I'll have to give up one thing for the other. If that's the case, I think I should go with the safer choice first.'

And the safer choice was...

He glanced down at his hands.

Although magic was cool and immensely effective, on some occasions, especially when it came to safety, it wasn't always the best.

Sure, defensive and healing spells existed for a reason, but they simply couldn't compare to having a strong, impervious body.

Putting in mind the events that would unfold after today, he didn't need to think about it too long.

'Besides, this isn't the first time I've been unable to use Mana. Or spirit. I'll be fine. Probably...'

He hesitated for a moment, then made his choice;

***

{Acknowledged. Host has selected Stage 1: Endure thirty days without the use of Mana or Spirit}.

{Initiating restriction protocols...}

{All Mana- and Spirit-based skills, spells, and abilities are now sealed}.

{The Host's skills, Mana Heart and Mana Vault, have been temporarily deactivated}.

{The Host's skill, Spirit Weaver, has been temporarily deactivated}.

{Limiters have been placed on the attribute stats; Mana, Spirit, Control, and Perception}.

{Timer: 30 Days — Commencing immediately}.

***

For a moment, everything went dark.

Then they stayed that way.

Then he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

With a groan, he clenched at his heart tightly, eyes widened as the pain continued to increase.

Beads of sweat pouring down his face in the dark, he couldn't help but think to himself,

'W-what the hell is going on?!'

The pain didn't stop regardless. Instead, it began traveling to other parts of his body, forcing him to seize up and freeze in place.

In his panic, he tried to fight it, but was grossly unsuccessful.

Very quickly, the pain shot right into his brain.

For a split moment, he could see it.

The locks and seals finally coming into place, locking away an entire part of who he had become with shackles far greater than he was.

Then the pain receded. But with it, went the things he had come to be so familiar with, creating a feeling

Far more terrifying than anything he had ever felt before in his life.

A feeling of emptiness and desolation.

He stifled a groan as streams of tears fell from his eyes.

His breathing became labored and his thoughts jumbled.

'It's all gone...'

His eyes could no longer see what he wanted them to see. That panoramic vision he had become so used to was gone as well.

The truth of the world was once again hidden behind the endless veil of fog, leaving him feeling trapped and suffocated.

Feet jamming into the bed beneath him, he continued to struggle and fight against the feeling all to no avail, waving his hands desperately like a man drowning.

The presence of his spirit, something he had come to be intimate with over the past few months, was also hidden from him.

The beating of his second heart had also vanished as well.

He couldn't sense any of the elements, making the whole world feel stark and bleak.

The shadows lacked depth, and the little moonlight that crept in was just that for the first time in a long time.

As he gradually calmed down, he was able to zone from his perception. In doing so, he realized one thing;

'I'm exhausted.'

Eyes rolling to the back of his head,

Cain fainted.

***

A subtle gust of air passed over his face, arousing him from his slumber.

Cain unwittingly wrinkled his brows.

Then came a deluge of sensations that forced him to open his eyes wide and shoot into an upright position.

Almost immediately, he let out a groan and closed his eyes.

The sensations were simply too much for him!

He suddenly heard a deep sigh,

"Thank goodness. You're alright."

Mustering up the willpower, he fought to keep his eyes open and turned to the side.

There, seated right beside his bed, was Susan.

She wore her typical healer's garb with her staff resting on the desk beside the bed.

On her face was a look of concern, worry, apprehension, and a sprinkling of confusion.

Seeing such a familiar face instantly put him at ease.

He let out a soft sigh and collapsed back onto the bed.

Seeing him in such a state, Susan pursed her lips.

She was now more than a little bit curious.

She reached out a hand to touch him,

"Cain, what's wrong?"

Cain's hand shot to hers, grasping it swiftly,

"D-don't touch me right now," he said, his voice cracking a bit.

Susan's brows knitted together.

'I can't touch you even though you did all those... things to me the other day?!'

In her fury, however, Susan didn't notice the one part of Cain's body that seemed more active than the others this fateful morning...