Rot Heart: A LitRPG of Rot Magic in an Ancient World (Book 1 completed)

In the dead forest surrounding Camboaci, Div watched as mana swirled around Gennorina. He could tell that the earth spirit had taken action from the earth-attuned mana permeating the air.

It was the first time he truly felt it. In the past, his friend might as well have been talking to a ghost. He had never sensed a trace of the spirit.

Now that he did, he couldn't help but feel that Gennorina had vastly underplayed the strength of the mystical being. She had made it sound like it was a child in need of nurturing, that it was weak and vulnerable.

It couldn't be further from the truth. The spirit was steady; its presence filled the earth all around them. It was its territory, and it was making that fact known to all.

Div stood ready to act — though he had no idea how he could help if the spirit turned hostile.

The spirit's mana intertwined with Gennorina's in a mix of earth and nature.

It was a weave so complex, so dense that Div couldn't even begin to understand what he was seeing.

A flash.

Then it stopped.

Calm returned around Gennorina as she opened her eyes.

"What happened?" Div asked, still on his guard. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Gennorina paused as if she didn't know what to say.

"The earth spirit…"

"What about it? I saw it move."

"It bonded with me," Gennorina said, confusion evident from her tone. "I knew this was possible, but…"

Div was puzzled. He asked, "Isn't that the same relationship Brigaseta has with the wall of trees?"

Gennorina shook her head, looking for a way to explain.

"Brigaseta and the wall of trees' spirit are close, but bonding with a spirit is on a whole other level. We have to talk to her. But the most immediate effect is that the earth spirit wants to seek shelter in Camboaci."

Div understood immediately. The earth spirit was affected by the drain and wanted to hide behind the older, more powerful spirit.

"I thought it couldn't move," he said.

"Our bond changed both of us," Gennorina said as she paused, pointing at a large concentration of earth-attuned mana hovering next to her. "Suce, this is Div. I'm sure you remember him from our previous conversations."

Div didn't hear it, but he felt the intent of the spirit being transmitted through mana.

A greeting, wary but cordial.

"Suce… So this is your name, earth spirit? Pleased to finally meet you."

Given the urgency, Gennorina had Suce and Div follow her and rushed back to Camboaci. She had to speak to her teacher immediately.

While her act of bonding with the spirit wasn't unprecedented, it was rare enough that she didn't know what to make of it. She was certain that no one in the village was bonded to a spirit.

As they neared the towering wall of trees encircling Camboaci, the air thickened with resistance.

The roots along the forest floor trembled, subtly at first, as if something vast and ancient had just stirred. The branches above creaked and shifted. The living barrier pulsed, its mana flaring in defensive waves.

Gennorina stopped cold. Suce's mana, calm until now, surged instinctively. Not aggressive, but firm, asserting its right to exist. Earth-attuned energy seeped into the soil around her feet, pushing back against the village guardian's will.

Div clutched the shaft of his spear without thinking. He couldn't hear the spirits, but the tension between them made it hard to breathe. It felt like the trees themselves were holding their breath, waiting to see who would flinch first.

Then, a tremor. Barely more than a twitch, but it ran through the soles of their feet like a heartbeat.

The wall refused to part.

Div exhaled slowly, his chest tight. "It's rejecting Suce," he muttered. "It feels threatened."

"I know," Gennorina whispered. "I'll try to speak with it."

She knelt, placing both hands on the ground to begin her spell.

"That won't be necessary," came Brigaseta's voice, calm but cutting, from beyond the wall.

The wall of trees opened, letting Brigaseta exit. Once she was through, the opening shut behind her.

"A spirit bond," Brigaseta stated, her brows furrowing. "Tell me what happened."

Gennorina was quick to explain her interaction with Suce, the spirit's desire for safety, and her decision to accept the bond. After years of caring for the earth spirit, she had grown attached. She couldn't stand by and watch Suce suffer from the drain.

"Genno," Brigaseta sighed. "You should know, I've told you many times, spirits do not like to coexist. Bringing the earth spirit into Camboaci is impossible and it was never the goal."

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Div felt a wave of resignation coming from Suce. It knew, yet still took the chance to bond with Gennorina. How desperate must it have been?

"But, we can't abandon Suce to the drain!" Genno protested. "It will die!"

"I don't wish for this to happen," Brigaseta said, scratching her forehead in frustration. "But, Suce isn't the only thing you should be worried about. You've gained a facetless skill, right?"

"Yes, Spirit Bond. Why?"

"You and Suce are tied together," Brigaseta explained. "You're stuck together, physically. You cannot enter the village either."

Div looked at Gennorina as the realization dawned on her face. Horror, fear, sadness all blended together.

Suce expressed regret, incomprehension. It didn't know. But the harm was done.

"Is there no way?" Gennorina said, trying to present a brave front. It was clear she wanted to sob, she was doing everything she could to hold it in. Still, her voice cracked, unable to completely hide the emotional turmoil she was going through.

"The distance you and Suce can stray from each other will increase as the skill levels," Brigaseta said, shaking her head. "But the limitation will always be there. Bonding with a spirit is not something to take lightly. Suce has been detached from the earth, and you will be influenced by your bond's immense power."

"What am I going to do?"

"I can suggest some ideas," the old druid said. "But this is something you must decide for yourself. Wait here, I'm going to fetch your parents. Your father just came back."

Brigaseta retreated behind the wall of trees, leaving Div and Gennorina outside.

"Genno…" Div started.

"Not now, Div."

Tears broke out from her eyes as she turned away from him. Div had been there before, he understood. It wasn't exactly the same, but the end result was that she would have to leave her home.

Just like he did.

Div thought back to his years in Camboaci. Having a place to call home where people accepted him had changed his life. If not for Gennorina and the others, he would still be roaming the forest, most likely meeting the same fate Cassandra did all those decades ago.

Instead, he grew, evolved, embraced his powers.

It wasn't fair.

"I'm not leaving you on your own," Div said. "If you leave, I'm coming with you."

"I don't want to leave, and I don't want to make you."

Div stood firm, his eyes meeting hers. His decision was made, he wouldn't flinch.

He couldn't do to her what had been done to him. He knew he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he did. So even though he would rather stay, he was going to follow Gennorina. Wherever she went. Until they found a new place to settle.

Their discussion was interrupted by Vercinetos bursting onto the scene, he carried Brimeta on his back.

"Is that true?" He asked, looking at his daughter.

She nodded and embraced her parents.

"We're coming with you," Vercinetos said.

"If you do," Brigaseta said, crossing the wall once again. "Camboaci might not fall, but we will struggle."

"You expect us to give up on our daughter?" Vercinetos shouted.

"No," Brigaseta said. "I'm asking you to protect our village. As I should as the elder druid. Don't think for a second that this isn't tearing me apart."

"Brigaseta," Brimeta said, calmly. "We respect your authority, but why would we stay if Genno has to leave?"

Silence settled over the conversation.

"Mom, Dad," Gennorina said. "I don't want to see Camboaci suffer because of me. I'll be fine. I can just travel to Bavacium. I won't be far, you can join me once the war is over."

"I'll go with her," Div added. Genno's parents leaving would be disastrous for the village. He had many people he cared about here. Maybe it was selfish, but he also wanted them to stay.

Nobody spoke for a moment, all considering one another's position.

Taking advantage of the lull in the conversation, Theaphilia flew over the wall and landed next to Brigaseta.

"Two of our best warriors leaving now would triple our casualties in the coming years. This is just an estimation, and we won't force you but please stay. You can trust that Div knows how to navigate the situation."

Vercinetos and Brimeta looked at each other, they needed but an instant to understand what the other was thinking.

"Fine," Vercinetos said. "But, Theaphilia, I want you to connect us to Genno once a week with your dream walking skill."

"Done," Theaphilia said. "As long as they stay in Bavacium, this won't be a problem."

With Gennorina completely barred from entering the village, they needed to leave as soon as possible. While the others helped gather supplies for their trip, Div went inside to say his goodbyes.

He knew it wasn't forever, but it would be a long time before he could return. He had to see everyone.

Belilamos, the man who had brought him here, saving him from the Wildlands and even housing him for all this time. Carmeta, Dubno, Medunir, Nantosia, even Vedovessa.

He visited them all.

Naturally, Segorix and Ambisena came out to see Gennorina. As sad as they were to see them go, they didn't offer to come along. Div understood. Their families were here, in Camboaci. Furthermore, he knew better than anyone else how hard it was to leave one's home behind.

It was already late in the day when they were ready to leave.

"Lug is still in seclusion," Div noted.

"I wish he would have come to say goodbye," Gennorina said.

"Me too. I'm sure he would have, if he knew."

"Yes, Lug is a good friend," Gennorina said, nodding.

They tied the bag to the boat that would take them down the river and boarded. Vercinetos helped them untie the rope that was holding them to the shore and pushed the boat away.

"Go, both of you," he said. "Be well. And if you can avoid this war to come, don't hesitate and run from it."

Neither Div nor Gennorina wanted to, but they understood her father's concerns.

A few hours later, the night had fallen. Div and Genno had stopped on a river beach and set up camp. Around their fire, they ate rations in silence.

The forest was just as dead as they expected. Even emptied of beasts, it didn't feel safer.

"I wonder if we'll see anything alive on the way to Bavacium," Gennorina said.

Before Div could answer, the woods behind them parted.

Footsteps — slow, deliberate.

Lug stepped into the firelight.

"I heard you were leaving without me?" He said. "You can't imagine how exhausting it was to catch up to you two."

"Lug?" Gennorina exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm coming with you, of course."

"Are you sure?" Div asked. "What about Camboaci?"

Lug shook his head, a faint smile hanging on his lips. "Since the incident, it hasn't been the same. I feel the gaze of everyone, I sense how they feel about me. You two are the only ones who haven't changed. And, I don't have family there anyway."

"But…" Div protested.

"Sense Emotion evolved," Lug said, cutting him off. "I know how they feel about me. Even Seg and Ambi. They might say otherwise, but I know the truth."

"Can you tell us what your skill evolved into?" Gennorina asked.

"Yes." Lugsellos nodded. "I need to tell you before you accept me into your group."

"You are our friend, Lug," Div said. "That will never change."

Lug sighed. "Just wait until you hear what my evolved skill does…"