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

Div, En, and Theaphilia flew through the sky. They were searching for the three guardians.

Theaphilia's expression was grim, serious. Div and En had never seen her like this.

Naturally, they checked the stone near the entrance first—but it was deserted.

Following Div and En's instructions, Theaphilia flew toward the second stone. On the way there, she picked up the presence of faceless somewhere north of their position.

They pivoted and headed straight toward them.

From this point, Div and En didn't have anything to do—it was as if Theaphilia had already figured out where the guardians were. She carried Div and En as she flew at full speed.

Despite having two minds, they still shared a thirteen-year-old body, so they weren't too heavy.

They found Dog, Feline, and Bird near a third black stone.

Div and En didn't know about this one but it wasn't surprising more of them were scattered through the rift.

Bird was still missing the wing they had injured. Dog had bandages around the leg they had struck.

Hovering high in the sky, Theaphilia held Div and En aloft. "Now watch," she said.

The guardians were alone. They didn't have their army with them. They hadn't noticed them flying over their heads.

The sky mage started gathering her mana. Div and En watched attentively. They knew sky magic allowed its users to fly—it was hard to miss in Kheiron where an entire clan was dedicated to this pursuit. However, they had no idea how sky magic could be used offensively.

It only took Theaphilia moments to gather more mana than Div and En had in their Rot Heart. They couldn't help but wonder if this was normal for Evolved Rank mages to have this much or if Theaphilia had a bloodline that produced mana like their Rot Heart.

Nevertheless, they were flying in the sky, surrounded by sky-attuned mana. It was her territory.

Where she was at her strongest.

"Div, En," she said. "Any experienced flyer will tell you the same thing. Don't go too high."

She released her mana, sending it hurling toward the three faceless monsters.

As soon as they were hit, they started levitating, rising into the air.

They flailed, grasping for anything to hold onto.

They still hadn't noticed their attacker.

Slowly, their bodies were pulled higher and higher. Soon, they passed right next to Theaphilia, Div, and En.

"They can't see us," Div and En said.

"The best defense is when your opponent doesn't know you exist," Theaphilia said. She wasn't smiling, she wasn't angry, her face was as neutral as it could be.

Minutes flew by as the trio became smaller and smaller, disappearing in the distance.

"Are they going to fall?" Div and En asked, curious about what she was planning.

"No," she said. "They're going up—forever—until they suffocate."

They waited.

Then a portal suddenly opened in front of them.

"It's done," Theaphilia said, before flying forward to cross back to the main world. "They're dead."

[Terrifying. They didn't even realize what happened to them.]

(We need to be careful around Opheo clan members. I don't know how we would counter such an ability. Even if the caster was weaker.)

Theaphilia crossed the portal with Div and En. It closed behind them.

The rift was gone.

It was completely dark.

With the portal's glow gone, clouds hiding the moon, and no artificial light, the forest was pitch black.

Div and En landed on the shore and looked back at Theaphilia, who was still hovering over the Lien River.

She was shining.

"Theaphilia?" They called, wondering why she wasn't moving.

But she didn't answer, it was as if she didn't hear them. The light emanating from her gradually became stronger, illuminating the water then the shores, then the forest.

(She's gaining altitude.)

[What's going on?]

(Is she returning to Camboaci without us?)

[Don't be ridiculous, why would she do that? We're perfectly capable of finding our way there anyway. We might not find it at night, but by morning, we'll recognize the path we took with Belilamos.]

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Besides, aside from hovering progressively higher off the ground, Theaphilia wasn't going anywhere.

Div and En were starting to wonder if she was fine. Maybe the guardians had managed to cast a spell on her before dying. Dog was supposedly adept at ritual magic, it sounded like the kind of power that could create curses or similar distasteful afflictions.

Their worries were quickly appeased by the appearance of Brigaseta.

"Ahah, Theaphilia," the old druid shouted at the sky, laughing as she left the forest and stood beside Div and En. "My friend, you've finally undone your shackles!"

"Brigaseta?" Div and En asked. "What's happening to her? Is she alright?"

"There's no need to worry, Div, En," she said. "Nothing bad is happening to her. On the contrary, it's a joyous occasion."

"Why?"

"Ascension," Brigaseta said, her head tilted upward. "Theaphilia is ascending."

Div and En's eyes were fixated on Theaphilia's shining figure. She was far up in the sky now. If they didn't know it was her, they would have mistaken her for a star.

"Ascension…" They murmured. It was far removed from them. They were barely getting started on evolving their first skill.

Yet, there was a burning desire inside of them.

"This is partly thanks to you," Brigaseta said. "You've gained a powerful ally, and so did Camboaci."

Div and En kept staring at Theaphilia, unwilling to miss even an instant of this momentous event. They asked, "Thanks to us?"

"One of the conditions for ascension is to free oneself from their regrets. How can one soar to the sky while being held back by the past? You've helped her find her sister, now she can finally take her next steps."

(I hate to say it, but it doesn't bode well for us.)

[We certainly have a few matters to take care of before we can ascend.]

Minutes turned into hours as the ascension was progressing. It was longer than Div and En would have expected. Brigaseta offered to take them back to the village, but they declined. They wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.

Eventually, long past midnight, Theaphilia started descending. As she approached the ground, the blinding light emanating from her was beginning to dim.

When she landed on the shore, Div and En could barely recognize her. Her features had turned younger. Like many ascended, it was hard to guess her age.

Her appearance had changed, but her presence in the world had completely transformed. She carried the weight of her newfound power, overwhelming Div and En's every sense.

"How do you feel, Thea?" Brigaseta asked.

"Better than ever, Briga," the new Ascended Rank said, her voice turning into a laugh as she approached her friend. "Better than ever."

"Congratulations on your ascension. It was long overdue."

"It came at the right time," Theaphilia said. "Not too early, not too late."

"Congratulations, Elder Theaphilia," Div and En said, falling back into the habits that had been ingrained into them in Kheiron.

"None of that 'elder', boy," she said. "I'm no elder of Kheiron. Briga, if you would have me, I'd like to stay in Camboaci."

"Of course," Brigaseta said, her voice betraying her relief. There was always a chance the woman would decide to leave now that she had accomplished what she had come for. With no Ascended Rank to take over after Brigaseta, she was anxious for the future of her people.

"Div, En, take this as a lesson," Theaphilia said. "The first skill to reach a new rank is always the most impactful on your being. I ascended with my evolved version of Sky Magic, as you can see, it made me soar into the sky, higher than I'd ever been before. Honestly, if it took longer, I might not have survived the lack of air at such altitudes."

"I understand," Div and En said. She had just demonstrated her words to the guardians, their fate was fresh in their minds.

"It won't be as drastic for evolution, of course. But with Sundered Mind, I would suggest you seclude yourself when the time comes."

Div and En could see where she was coming from. They didn't want to cause a scene. Especially since they couldn't predict what would happen. It was still a long time away, but they better be prepared.

Div, En," Brigaseta said. "I've spoken with Gennorina and Vedovessa about today—and I'm concerned by how you've been acting."

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you keep hiding yourselves?"

"Because if we tell the truth, everyone will reject us."

"Have we rejected you?" Brigaseta asked. "Has Thea, Vedavessa, Belilamos, and his family rejected you? Did I reject you? What makes you think your friends will reject you?"

Div and En paused. They were getting tired of this subject coming up over and over.

What did they know?

They were old, wise Ascended Rank elders. They had lost touch with the reality Basic Ranks like them lived in.

"Do you think Diven didn't have friends in Kheiron?" They asked, raising their voice. "Did you think everyone already hated Diven before his awakening?"

"Of course not," Brigaseta said.

""Then do you know how many people came to say goodbye when Diven was exiled?" They continued. "One. Just one. Sebastian—from Theaphilia's clan. All the others pretended nothing was happening. Even Basil was there only to enforce the exile—perhaps to clear his heart for his own ascension."

[Based on what we've learned today, it seems likely.]

(I want to hope for the best, but the elders mentioned it during our trial.)

"Circumstances are different, Div, En," Theaphilia said.

"Right, different," they spat. "You're not the one sharing a body with another mind. You don't get to lecture me on that. Not you Theaphilia, not you either Brigaseta and not Vedovessa whom I barely know."

Theaphilia and Brigaseta shared a look before the druid spoke, "Div, En, we understand. But you want to separate from each other, delaying the inevitable will not make your life easier."

(I'm done with this conversation, finish it yourself.)

[Wait. En! En?]

En had withdrawn himself, shutting off his senses. Div could still feel him brooding deep inside of them, but he wasn't responding.

"This is Div talking," he said. "En refuses to listen anymore. Honestly, if we didn't need a mind to stay conscious, I might've joined him.

"Can you stop asking us to share everything with everyone? You two already know everything about us, can't we have a bit of privacy?"

"It's for your own good," Theaphilia said.

"I know! I don't care!"

Div turned his back on the two Ascended Ranks and walked into the forest.

If it was going to be like this, he didn't want to stay.

Theaphilia sighed, "It didn't go well."

"Sorry to sour your big day, Thea," Brigaseta said. "I should have talked to them at another time."

What a day it was for Theaphilia.

"I have a lot to think about," she said. "I had given up hope. I didn't plan for what I would do if I ascended. Still, I promise I'll stay around until one of your people ascends."

"Thank you," Brigaseta said. "I mean it."

"I care about this place. No need to thank me. As for the boy… Boys? We can only give them time."

"I'll trust you on that. I've instructed the forest to guide them home safely."

"Thank you," Theaphilia said. "I know his family back in Kheiron. Rot Heart… It suits them. Still, it's a sad fate for Div and En.