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

Lepin's hands were covered in a thin layer of orange mold.

"Are you sure this is healthy?" Div asked, leaning forward to take a closer look.

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "My skill is telling me it's fine. In fact, this mold is edible. Very sweet. Want a taste?"

"I'll pass."

"Your loss," Lepin shrugged, licking the back of his left hand.

Div stared, unable to answer. As far as he could tell, the mold was indeed inoffensive, and Lepin didn't seem sick after eating it. But Div was no healer, and even if he knew a thing or two about rot, it didn't extend to which rotlife was edible or not.

"You probably should refrain from doing that."

Lepin sighed. "I can't, I'm accelerating the process to show you, but mold is always growing on my hands. I just managed to control it a little. At least, now it tastes good."

It sounded like a hassle, which made Div's guilt over Lepin's bloodline resurface. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes. Actually, I wanted to ask you to teach me about rot magic."

Div blinked. "Rot magic? But you don't have the right facet."

"I know. But if you teach me, there's always a chance I will unlock it."

Leaning back, Div stared at the ceiling. He really hadn't been expecting that. Learning a school of magic with an unattuned bloodline was difficult, but it wasn't impossible. After all, attuned mana was present naturally in the world, and one didn't need a mana generator like Rot Heart to shape it.

For rot magic, Div's own spells mostly relied on ambient rot-attuned mana instead of his own.

But did he really want to teach someone else his magic? While he had ended up embracing it, he couldn't gloss over the fact that rot was the source of most of his troubles.

"Please," Lepin added, putting his moldy hands right in front of Div's face. "Wouldn't this complement my bloodline perfectly?"

It would, there was no doubt about this. Mold was clearly a type of rotlife.

"Well, I guess I can tell you what I know," Div started. "To be honest, there isn't a whole lot, and I'm not sure I'd be a good teacher."

"It's not like there are other rot mages around here."

Div sighed. "True, but there are other mages who could teach you. I would actually recommend getting help from your actual teachers when it comes to mana manipulation."

"So you agree?" Lepin asked.

"Yes, but don't expect anything crazy. You should also get lunch before the afternoon class."

Lepin was disappointed not to start practicing right away, but his stomach let him know he should listen to Div. They agreed on a later time to meet, and Div left.

As he stepped out of the school, the scent of damp wood and chalk clung to his clothes. He hadn't expected Lepin's request, and it gnawed at him. Teaching rot magic… wasn't that the same as passing on a curse? Yet, the boy was determined, in a way that reminded him of himself, back when he was trying to convince En to give rot a chance.

He spent the afternoon in the cellar, dirtying his hands with fish paste. Then, mindful of his promise to Dana, he returned home before the sun set.

Dana wasn't there yet, which worried Div. Gennorina wouldn't return either, as she had told Dana previously. As for Lugsellos… he didn't know what to do about him. He felt his friend drifting away, and he wasn't sure how to catch him.

Div took the time to wash his clothes, but the fish paste clung stubbornly to his gloves, thick and cold, filling the room with a briny stench. Flies buzzed around him, drawn by the promise of rot.

As the sky turned pink and the sun slowly went down over the horizon, Dana finally arrived.

She walked through the door, her shoulder hunched, as if she were carrying the weight of the world. With a slick pull, she undid the straps of the outer layer of her leather coat, letting it fall to her feet.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

She took a few heavy steps and collapsed on the nearest chair.

"Are you okay?" Div asked, walking closer to her.

Dana avoided his gaze even as he was searching for hers.

"Dana?"

Div sat in front of her. She didn't answer, her slouched posture betraying intense strain.

He waited in silence. The sound of their breath and the creaking of the wood of the walls filled the room.

After minutes that felt like hours, she raised her head and caught Div's gaze.

"They wanted to know more about my changed bloodline."

His heart constricted, tight to the point it knocked the wind out of him.

Dana's voice didn't waver; it was monotone, factual, as if she were only stating something she read from a book. "Turns out, Trabine's library is sorely lacking on the subject. There are plenty of ways to test someone's bloodline, each more painful than the last."

Div clenched his fist. "What did they do to you?"

She snapped. "I don't know! I was barely conscious for most of it. Something to do with my soul, I would imagine."

He paused. This was unacceptable, but what could he do?

"We should ask Terebus to make it stop."

"Don't you dare!" Dana said, grinding her teeth. "This has nothing to do with them, I don't need more Ascended Ranks looking into my soul."

Div flinched. "I'm sorry. This is my fault."

"Yes," Dana said, her tone flat. "It is. You know the worst part about this? I didn't even learn anything about Soulguided Hands. I still don't know what you did to me."

"I'm sorry," Div repeated.

"Stop that. I've heard enough of your apologies."

Div paused. Was there really nothing he could do?

Dana exhaled. "Div, I don't actually blame you. Those probes into my bloodline are annoying. I didn't consent to them. But, if they can help me find out what it turned into, I want to continue."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "We can't go against Emerios. Not here. Not now. He's too powerful and too important for the war."

"Still, I don't like seeing you like this…"

Dana chuckled. "You can be really annoying, you know that? Did you think about how I would feel before locking yourself up in that cellar?"

Div's cheeks reddened, and he averted his gaze. "We already went over that. Am I not here now?"

"I'm glad you are. But, Div, I'm not made out of sugar. I'll survive this, and I'll be stronger for it."

Div's eyes locked back onto Dana. She wasn't slumping anymore. But sitting straight, the strength she had cultivated since awakening shining through her solid build.

"Furthermore," she continued. "You might also learn a thing or two about your skill."

"My skill?"

"Chorus… something? Isn't that the skill that modified my bloodline?" Dana asked.

Div pondered for a moment. Learning something from Dana's misfortune wasn't out of the realm of possibilities, but he didn't think it was worth it. He decided against saying it so as not to upset her.

Dana smiled. "What do you say? Wanna try it on me now?"

"And risk changing your bloodline again? We better not."

"Then control it," Dana scoffed. "It's your skill, isn't it? You should be the one calling the shots."

Div hesitated. The idea of using Chorus of Renewal again made his throat tighten, but Dana's unshakable gaze made him hesitate.

"You're not scared?" he asked.

"Of course I am," she said. "But I trust you. I'd rather face this with someone I know than wait for another to cut into my soul. I'm hoping you can check for damages, too."

She extended her hand across the table, presenting it to Div.

"Do it."

Div grasped it and closed his eyes, letting the hum of Chorus of Renewal take him.

The connection thrummed in silence. A song with no sound, a harmony that rang beneath their skin, where their souls brushed against one another in perfect rhythm. His mana shifted, meeting hers at the point where they converged.

Their thoughts didn't merge, but they resonated like two voices singing different verses.

Yet, nothing was said. Nothing was exchanged.

There was no meaning to their words and no words out of their mouth.

Just two souls humming.

Then, it faded.

Dana didn't move right away. She kept her hand on the table, fingers brushing the grain of the wood as if grounding herself. Div remained silent, watching her.

Dana leaned back. "That was… oddly nice."

Div rubbed his eyes. "I didn't notice anything amiss."

"And my bloodline didn't change," Dana smiled softly. "I guess we can call that a success."

Div let out a shaky breath, tension draining from his shoulders. "I'll keep trying to understand Chorus. I promise."

Dana stood up, strength returning to her voice. "Good. Because if I'm going to be your test subject, I expect results."

Div chuckled despite himself. "Noted."

She walked toward the other room. "Now go wash your hands. You still smell like fish paste."

"I already did! Several times!"

As she disappeared into the next room, Div looked at his palm, where their hands had met. For all the uncertainty that still lingered, one thing was clear.

They weren't alone.