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

Lug sat down and let his gaze rest on Div and Gennorina. He could feel their doubts about the journey ahead, their apprehension at what he was going to tell them. But more importantly, he could feel they trusted him, and that they were happy to see him.

This was enough to let him relax. He couldn't hide something that important from them.

"My Evolved Rank skill is called Empathic Resonance."

Slowly, Div and Gennorina nodded, letting the implications set in.

"It lets me influence other people's emotions," he continued.

"I see," Div said, calmly. "Is that all?"

"It's already a lot," Lugsellos said, letting out a deep breath.

"But it's not completely unexpected," Gennorina chimed in. "It sounds like a natural evolution of Sense Emotion."

Lug lowered his head, looking at the cracking fire.

"So… you don't mind?"

"Lug," Div said. "Your skill isn't more dangerous than Genno being attached to a literal earth spirit, or my rot magic. I mean, it is, because it's one rank higher. But as long as you don't use it on us without our consent, I don't see the problem."

"Yeah," Gennorina agreed. "We all have skills that would hurt if we used them against one another."

"Thank you," Lug said, raising his head again to stare right into their eyes. "I will not forget this."

Div went to sleep with his head filled with concerns. Lug's skill was getting dangerously close to mind manipulation. The very fear that had resulted in Cassandra's exile. While Lug and Genno hadn't exactly been exiled from Camboaci, and the situation varied for both of them, Div didn't like this recent development.

Too many things were outside of his control. He couldn't make everyone accept Lug's skill and determination. He couldn't force the wall of trees' spirit to allow Genno and Suce inside.

There was no way around it, he needed to get stronger.

Maybe after ascending, he could carve a place where he and his friends could live in peace.

Although, with the mountaineer lord's ambitions, it was evident things would never be this simple.

Perhaps their best bet was to leave the region. Far from the Lien River, far from Kheiron. They could cross the Great Sea and visit Carnet, Betina, or Hyepshut.

See what those cities had in store for them…

At least they had to stop by Bavacium. Div was looking forward to meeting Rigomaros again. He wondered if, despite the years, they would still get along.

The journey to Bavacium was quiet. No monster, no scouting party, no life.

They moved as fast as they could. With Lug and Div at the Evolved Rank and Gennorina not too far off when helped by Suce, it only took them a week to reach Bavacium.

As soon as they reached the fields that surrounded the village, they realized it wasn't going to be as simple as settling down in a new village.

"The crops are dead," Gennorina said. She was stating the obvious, but no one said anything.

They hadn't considered that without the wall of trees protecting them, every plant and small animal would be affected by the curse. Humans and larger beasts were able to resist it to varying extents. But did it matter if there was nothing left to eat?

A man's voice rose from behind them, "Who goes there?"

"I recognize them," a woman added. "Camboacians from a few years ago."

Div, Genno, and Lug turned to look at the newcomers.

"Adeurix? Nemacara?" Div blurted. He wasn't exactly surprised to see them here—it was their village—but he didn't expect them to sneak up behind them.

"I recognize you, Diven," Adeurix said, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "And you, young druid and archer, although I forgot your names."

"Lugsellos and Gennorina," Lug said.

"What are you doing here?" Nemacara asked.

"We seek refuge in Bavacium," Gennorina said. "I bonded with an earth spirit, making it impossible for me to stay home."

Adeurix and Nemacara shared a look.

"We need to talk with our elders," Adeurix said. "Would you come with us to meet Divilina?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Of course," Gennorina said.

Div and Lugsellos followed without protesting. It was natural that the leadership of the village would want to evaluate them before letting them settle here. In this time of turmoil, they could never be too prudent.

Furthermore, to Div, a bonded spirit seemed too important not to attract attention. Camboaci's safety was mostly due to Brigaseta and her connection to the wall of trees. If not for the wood spirit, they would be in the same situation as Bavacium, surviving on stored provisions.

Their southern neighbor—if it still made sense to call it that—hadn't changed much since they last came two years ago. The same narrow streets, the same tall buildings.

But the people were different.

The constant hubbub had been replaced by a quiet stillness that made Div and his friends uneasy.

They had gotten used to the forest being empty. But the village…

Divilina wasn't waiting for them. She was one of three Ascended Ranks of Bavacium, a busy person in regular time, almost unreachable nowadays.

Instead, Div, Lugsellos, and Gennorina were taken to her residence where they would wait for her. The elder lived in the village's center, in a nice multi-storied house towering over the nearby buildings.

Unlike most of the surroundings, it felt fresh and breathable.

Sitting alone with his friends in a sparsely decorated vestibule leading to Divilina's office, Div spoke up, "What do you think they'll want from us?"

"They seemed very confused at our presence here," Lugsellos said, wording his sentence in a way that wouldn't reveal his skill to potential eavesdroppers.

"Really?" Div asked. "I understand surprise. But confusion? Genno explained our reason."

"That's how it seemed," Lug shrugged. "I could be wrong."

But Div knew better. If Lugsellos said he sensed, then he did.

"Maybe they don't know that much about bonded spirits," Gennorina offered. "They don't have the same druidic tradition here. Furthermore, most people in Camboaci wouldn't understand what a bonded spirit was, or why it would prevent me from entering the village."

It was a good point. Even if Adeurix and Nemacara were experienced Evolved Ranks, they couldn't know everything. Especially obscure knowledge about a field of study far removed from them.

"Well," Div said. "We'll know soon enough."

He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back. His shoulders felt tight, his throat dry.

He was nervous. Leaving Camboaci had hit him harder than he imagined. Lug hadn't said anything to Genno, something Div was grateful about. He didn't need her to worry about him, it was already hard enough for her as things stood.

But being essentially exiled a second time made him anxious to find a new place to settle down. Bavacium was the obvious choice, he really hoped they would be allowed to stay.

With the two villages having long-standing ties, it shouldn't be an issue.

They didn't expect to wait for very long, and indeed, Divilina entered the vestibule from the same door they did, less than an hour after they arrived.

The three visitors from Camboaci stood up. A show of respect for the elder of another village.

Divilina's gaze landed on Div and lingered for a moment, before shifting to Gennorina. From the twitch of her eyebrow, it was clear she had noticed Suce clinging to the druid. Not that anyone expected her to miss it. Since bonding, the spirit had turned into a massive, unmistakable presence of earth-attuned mana.

Brigaseta had suggested finding a nice stone for it to hide in, but they had yet to find something suited to Suce's taste.

Finally, Divilina turned to Lugsellos.

"Three interesting visitors," she noted. "Let's talk in my office."

Leading the way, the leader crossed the room and pushed the door open. The Div and his friends followed, too intimidated to speak. Divilina was an impressive woman. Despite her centuries of life, she displayed lush, flowing, blond hair going down to her waist. With the sheer presence she radiated with every step, her rank was clear for all to see.

Her office was spacious: a beautiful ornate wooden desk, a large window letting in just enough light to be pleasant, yet not enough to be a nuisance.

She sat on one of the sofas arranged around the room and gestured for them to sit.

"I understand that you seek asylum in my Bavacium," she stated. "Let's get to that later. First, I have a few questions. One for each of you."

Div, Genno, and Lug nodded. They didn't mind, and they didn't have a choice.

If they said no, she would at best send them on their way. They were already running out of rations, so they couldn't reach the next village.

"First, Gennorina," Divilina started. "Explain your situation to me."

Gennorina did as asked. It was something she had practiced on the way, expecting the question to come. She didn't hide anything. From her meeting Suce on a field trip almost three years ago to their bonding over the spirit's fear of the lifeforce drain.

The conflict with the wall of trees, her decision to leave, her friend's to follow her.

"I see," Divilina said. "We're in no position to refuse the help of a spirit. I'm assuming bonding with you decreased the effect of the drain?"

Gennorina nodded. As soon as the wall of trees' spirit had refused them entry, the thought of Suce dying to the curse had surfaced in her mind. Thankfully, their bond was mitigating the effects, along with Suce being detached from the earth. It wasn't perfect, but it would ensure its survival.

"Then we should be fine taking you in," Divilina said.

She turned to Lugsellos.

"Empathic Resonance?" She asked.

Lugsellos froze, before quickly recovering his bearings. It had to be expected that an Ascended Rank could break through his Conceal.

"Are you asking me to describe my skill?"

"I am, and I think you already know that."

Lugsellos sighed. "I do."

Sensing the elder had already guessed a lot, he decided to be truthful and explained in detail all he knew about his Evolved Rank skill. It was new to him and he still had to experiment with it, but he was honest about that too.

"Alright," Divilina said.

This time, she said nothing about whether he could stay. She didn't need to say anything, Lugsellos could sense her decision.

"Now, Diven," Divilina said, turning toward Div. "My question to you is simple: where is my son?"

Div was ready for anything but that.

"Rigomaros?" He said, almost stumbling over his words.

"Who else? I don't think you are acquainted with my other sons. But you left with my youngest not that long ago. Imagine my surprise seeing you today without him."

Div opened his mouth, then closed it. Rigomaros? But… he hadn't seen him in years.

Could it be?

En?