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

"Well done, Diven," Gennorina said, walking up to her new friend with a smile on her face. It was clear she was proud of how many wild aretras she had found.

"You did all the work," Div and En replied.

"Not at all, we were a team."

Segorix and the rest approached. Their only loot was a single flower found by Lugsellos; they didn't look too happy.

"Don't worry about it, Diven," Segorix said. "I didn't find anything either."

"Same," Ambisena said.

Lugsellos didn't add anything.

"Guys," Gennorina said. "We're all sharing anyway, it doesn't matter who found what."

Div, En, Segorix, and Ambisena shook their heads. They didn't want to turn this into a fight, so they quietly accepted the young druid's remark.

Vedovessa had packed lunch for the class so they didn't have to return to Camboaci.

Div and En watched with dread as the teacher distributed their food to everyone.

[No, not that!]

(What did we do to deserve this? I'm sure if we found a flower it would have been different.)

Dried fish.

The lunch menu was dried fish.

Despite their internal protests, there wasn't anything else to eat. So they resigned themselves and ate their portion.

Turns out, they weren't alone in their disgust for dried fish. All of the students were eating slowly, with an expression of disgust on their face.

(It's not that bad. No need to make a scene like that.)

[Yes, it barely tastes anything. It's only the texture that is unusual.]

Maybe it was because they had grown up near the sea, but Div and En didn't have the same aversion to fish as the others. Their reservations stemmed from it being their only food for months, not from the taste.

"Sorry about that, Diven," Ambisena said. "I know it's not the best food, but it's standard rations when we're outside the village."

"It's fine," Div and En said.

While they were eating, Vedovessa took the time to explain what they were going to do during the afternoon. Since they had already found enough wild aretra for everyone, there was no point in delaying. Their teacher had decided to move up the plans she had prepared for the next day.

It was simple. Since all the students had unlocked their Facet of the Veil, they were going to use the magical flowers to help them complete it faster.

Since Identify and Conceal were key to progressing the facet, it was a slog to work through. They wanted all the students to be done with it before the next dark day.

Considering the usual frequency at which the natural disaster occurred, they had about two weeks.

A challenging time frame to complete a facet, but with the help of the wild aretras, it should be possible.

So far, their training in Inspect and Conceal had been focused on their classmates. It worked to unlock the facet, but it was far removed from the actual use of those skills.

"In a real situation," Vedovessa said, "Your Inspect target will not be a beginner who has just learned how to conceal their status. They will not be your friends who wait patiently for you to break through their barriers.

"It's the same with Conceal, your enemies will not let you know when they start inspecting you. Instead, they will try to see through you when you least expect it. When your Conceal is at its weakest.

"We are going to take advantage of the relatively safe state of the forest. You're going to form groups of two and explore on your own. While you do this, make sure to keep your Conceal active and Inspect everything you see."

Everyone looked at each other. Trying to figure out who they would be paired with.

"Since there are twenty-three of you," Vedovessa added. "There will be one group of three."

All the students quickly Paired off with their usual partners. Div and En being new to the class, were ready to join the group of three.

After all, he had been in school back in Kheiron and knew how these things worked.

To their surprise, Gennorina looked straight into their eyes and said, "Diven, I'll go with you. We did well with the flowers."

Their heart skipped a beat.

"Then I'm going with the boys," Ambisena said. "Lug, Seg, we better win this time!"

"There's nothing to win, Ambi…" Lugsellos complained.

"Right—let's compete to see who can finish their facet the fastest!" Ambisena insisted.

As the others argued whether or not this was a good idea, Gennorina asked, "Diven?"

"Ah, sorry. Yes, let's work together."

"I'm sure one of us will win," she said. "With how many facets you have already completed, you have a good chance."

"But I started last with Facet of the Veil," Div and En said. "It's going to be hard to catch up."

Stolen story; please report.

"Don't play modesty, mister four facets," Segorix said. "I will still beat you though."

With all the groups formed, Vedovessa put an end to the ruckus, "I see you're all ready to start. Form a line in front of me."

The class lined up, and group by group, Vedovessa handed them their flower and sent them in a direction of her choosing.

Soon, it was Diven and Gennorina's turn.

"Gulp down the aretra directly. Do not chew—it must go straight into your stomach," she said, giving them a flower each.

Div and En put the aretra in their mouth and swallowed.

(Ugh.)

[It doesn't feel like something edible.]

As small as the flower was, it was extremely pungent. A piercing, permeating acid flavor filled their mouth. Though soft, the leaves were covered in minuscule hair-like strands that tickled the interior of their throat.

"Eww," Gennorina said. "This is gross. But… kind of intense."

"I'm not looking forward to eating more," Div and En said.

"You two go this way," their teacher said, pointing in a direction no group had been sent to.

They waved goodbye to their other friends and started walking.

As soon as they were out of the clearing, the sounds of the teacher and the students behind them faded. Div and En switched their minds to focus on any danger that would come.

With the Evolved Rank a few minutes away, monsters should be cautious. But since they had to train their skills, some would undoubtedly appear.

"Sorry," Div and En said. "I don't know much about the fauna around Camboaci."

"Don't worry about it. You're paired up with one of the foremost experts in the class. You know I'm a druid, right?"

"Right—I assume you need to know a lot about everything nature-related."

"Yes," she said. "But everything is nature-related one way or another. It's more about how I think about it and such. But I do know a lot about the things living around here!"

The forest was silent as they advanced. The only sounds were coming from their feet stepping in the mix of mud, moss, and leaves.

With the help of the aretra, Div, En, and Gennorina were trying to use Inspect on everything around them. The skill only worked on awakened creatures, so most plant life was excluded, but there was always a chance they stumbled upon a tree with a spirit. Or a Sylvan Maw, like in the clearing.

"So," Gennorina said, breaking the silence. "Have you… Acclimated well to the village?"

"Yes," Div and En said, "I did. Thank you."

(I'm sure we can't be stiffer than that.)

[I know. Can't believe we're like this.]

"What about you?" They added.

(Dumbass.)

[You're the one who said that!]

(You agreed!)

"Um, I mean…" They tried taking it back, with the only result being Gennorina laughing at them.

"Yes, I'm quite comfortable in Camboaci, after living in it my whole life."

"Sorry."

"You're not used to talking to people, are you?"

They were never the most talkative, even back in Kheiron. But the months spent alone in the wilds didn't help. The fact that they were two minds sharing one body neither.

"Too much time spent alone," they said, naturally hiding the second reason.

"It must have been hard. Theaphilia sometimes speaks about exiles from Kheiron, but you're the first that made it to Camboaci in my lifetime."

"It was hard. It still is, I guess."

[Is it?]

(What?)

[I mean, I'm fine now.]

Seeing conflict on the horizon, they decided to change the subject. They would have to reflect on what divided them later, with the hope of taking a step toward evolution. But now wasn't the time.

"I was wondering," they said. "What is Theaphilia doing here?"

"Didn't she tell you? You should ask her." Gennorina said.

"I didn't dare to ask the first time, and then I forgot."

"She's looking for someone. Another exile from your city. I think she's given up hope, she was already searching before my parents were born."

"Another exile?" Div and En asked.

"Her sister, I think?"

[Don't tell me…]

(Theaphilia Opheo… Cassandra? Her journal was dated 78 years ago. It would match.)

"Diven?" Gennorina asked. "Why did you stop?"

Div and En hadn't even noticed. They were standing behind their friend, looking into the void.

"Her sister?" They asked.

"Yes, that's what I said. Why?"

"By any chance, do you know her name?" Div and En asked

"Ceralna? Calanbra? Canssada? Something like that. I'm not used to Amiean names, sorry."

"Cassandra."

"Yes," Gennorina said. "I think that's it."

[En, what do we do?]

(We have to talk to Theaphilia. It wouldn't be right to hide it from her.)

[I'm not looking forward to it. How do we tell her her sister is dead?]

"Diveeen…" Gennorina called, waving her hand in front of their face. "Is there a problem?"

"She's… dead," Div and En blurted out.

"Who?"

"Cassandra. I found her remains and journals in the rift."

"Oh."

There was a pause. Gennorina didn't know what to say and neither did Div and En.

How did you tell someone their relative whom they'd been searching for for decades was long dead?

"I need to tell her," Div and En said. "Theaphilia deserves to know. I still have Cassandra's journals. They are in my room at Belilomos' place."

"I agree," Gennorina nodded. "This is the right thing to do. Do you want me to come with you?"

[I don't know, do we?]

(No. We can't take the risk of Theaphilia leaking our secret.)

[I don't think she would.]

(Who knows, we are bringing terrible news to her.)

[Still… But I'll follow your lead on that.]

"No, that's fine," they told Gennorina. "This is something very personal for her, I don't think having more people would be good."

It was the best excuse they could find to reject Gennorina's good intentions. They wouldn't mind spending more time with her, but…

"You're right," she said. "I just thought it would be an awkward conversation for you. You're more considerate than I am."

[If only…]

(I get what Theaphilia was saying the other night. The moment we reveal ourselves is going to hit hard.)

[And yet…]

(We will keep the secret until then.)

"Okay," Div and En sighed. "It's good that we know, but there's nothing we can do until we return to the village. Let's focus on the task at hand."

They were heavy-hearted, but they didn't want to waste the wild aretras.

Thankfully, or not, their conversation had been loud enough to attract some company.

Div noticed first and alerted En. Then, they signaled to Gennorina—they had a visitor.

Behind the leafless branches of a tree, one of the uncanny three-legged birds they had observed during the dark day was looking at them.

And it didn't look friendly.

"Gennorina, what is that?"

"Use Inspect, that's what we are here for. And don't forget to maintain your Conceal!"

Awkwardly, Div and En split their focus, Div on their defenses and En on their offense.