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

Carmeta pushed the door open and froze as she noticed the two boys.

Div raised his hand and, with a wry smile, said, "Hi, Carmeta."

"What…" Carmeta said. She rubbed her eyes and pinched her arm before coming to the conclusion that what she was seeing was real.

"We've evolved," En said.

Carmeta took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Congratulations," she said. "Really. I have to admit, knowing you're two different people and actually seeing it in person are two very different things."

"I know," Div said. "I just had the same realization. Sorry for shouting."

"It's fine," Carmeta waved. "Understandable. So, who is who?"

Div and En introduced themselves. Luckily, despite stemming from the same soul, they looked different enough that no one would mistake one for the other. Div was pale, his skin covered with scars. But he was also fit and showed the beginning of a beard.

En had perfect skin, gently tanned and smooth. Though he was thin, his body was well-proportioned.

Once the introductions were done, Carmeta ushered them toward the living room. Belilamos and Dubno had to know. Div and En complied, they had never meant to keep their separation a secret. Not that keeping this sort of secret was possible.

They still moved in sync, unintentionally. Div scratched his head just as En cracked his knuckles. When they noticed, they both paused and laughed nervously.

"Guess we're not fully independent yet," En joked.

Div didn't answer. He was watching En walk as if trying to memorize how he moved. The same, but not. Familiar, but foreign.

It was unsettling, like looking at himself in the mirror, except his reflection wasn't exactly him.

They didn't have time to dwell on it. Carmeta ushered them forward, down the hall, and toward the living room. The sounds of Dubno playing with his father echoed faintly from within.

"Wow," Dubno was the first to notice them. The little boy had grown a lot, he was already reaching higher than their waist. "Dad! Look, there's a second Div and En!"

Belilamos turned his head toward the new duo and his eyes went wide before his mouth curved into a smile, then a full-on laugh.

"You really did it!" He said, walking up to them and pulling both brothers into a hug. "Your crazy plan worked. I can't believe it. I'm proud of you."

"Is everything alright?" Carmeta asked, fishing for more information. "Any downside to the transformation?"

"Everything is fine," En said.

"But there is a downside," Div continued. "We're weaker than a normal Evolved Rank should be."

"Hmm," Belilamos scratched his chin, pensive. "It shouldn't be an issue if you can evolve another skill. But we should ask Theaphilia, she's the expert."

"Now?" Div asked.

"I doubt you'll be able to sleep tonight," Belilamos laughed. "Might as well tell everyone now!"

It was faster than Div expected. But, Belilamos wasn't wrong, Div was too excited to sleep. No doubt, En felt the same way.

"Everyone, get dressed," Carmeta said, picking up Dubno's coat. "We're going out."

In the cold winter evening, Div, En, and their hosts made their way to Theaphilia's house. She was the one who had suggested this path of evolution, and so she should be the first to know.

As soon as she opened her door, she understood.

"So it worked," she muttered. "Come in."

Theaphilia was quick to assure them that there was no issue with their souls. Souls were not quantifiable. They were, or they weren't. In their case, Div and En had claimed a soul each, and with a little time, the strain would fade as their inner world stabilized. Div and En should quickly gain the strength associated with the average evolved rank. The weakness they felt was temporary.

They didn't even need to evolve another skill, their strength should be up to par in a few days.

"Furthermore," Theaphilia continued. "I bet your Evolved Rank skill has more use than you suspect. Bound Genesis, I never heard about it, but no Evolved Rank skill is simple."

Of course, Theaphilia had taken the time to send messages to everyone close to Div and En. One by one, their friends and mentors arrived at Theaphilia's place.

Surprisingly, despite his superior speed, Vercinetos wasn't the first to arrive. Instead, Lugsellos came first.

"I'm lucky to live nearby," he said, stepping inside. "It's so windy outside."

His gaze landed on Div and En who kept close to one another.

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"There you are," Lugsellos said. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Lug," Div said. En echoes him.

Before they could talk more, Segorix and Ambisenna arrived together.

"Oh!" Ambisena exclaimed when she saw them. "No freaking way!"

"I can't believe it's real," Segorix said, shaking his head. "But I'm happy for you."

As the door opened again, a gust of wind rushed in with the newcomer. Gennorina stepped inside, brushing snow from her coat. Her eyes scanned the room.

She saw them.

Two.

Div and En.

They were no longer a single soul fighting with itself, constantly shifting moods and expressions.

En waved at her awkwardly.

"Hi," he said. "I'm En."

"And I'm Div," Div added. "Nice to meet you again."

Gennorina opened her mouth and closed it again. Several times. Until she finally found it in her to speak.

"Hi," she said. "This… is great."

En smiled but it faltered before it reached his eyes. He didn't know what to say. He'd waited years for this day, but now the distance between them felt wider than ever.

They knew her.

But she didn't know them.

"I wasn't sure if I'd ever really get to talk to you like this," he said, quietly.

Div took a few steps back, leaving space for them.

"I wasn't sure either," Gennorina said. "How do you feel?"

"Good."

"It has been a long time coming," Gennorina added. "Now what?"

"Now…" En opened his mouth to say something else, but her eyes flicked away, as if she didn't want to hear it. He swallowed the words, letting them rot in his throat.

Silence settled over the conversation.

"I'm glad you came, Genno," Div stepped back in. "I know this is a little awkward."

"I'm happy for you, Div, En," Gennorina forced a smile. "I'm happy to finally meet you two."

It was a little too much for them. They had barely split into two bodies, they were not fully ready to socialize. But, at least, the news was out.

Seeing that Div and En's minds were elsewhere, Theaphilia sent everyone home.

"Div and En are not going anywhere," she said. "You'll all get the chance to see them again when the time is right. I'm sure you can imagine how overwhelming the experience is for them."

Everyone left, even Belilamos, Carmeta, and Dubno, leaving Div and En alone with the Ascended Rank. The one who had pushed them onto this path.

"Do you regret it?" Theaphilia asked.

"I don't," En said immediately.

"Div?" Theaphilia pressed.

"I'm fine. But it feels strange. I will need time to get used to it."

The old woman nodded. After a short pause, she spoke again.

"What are your plans?"

Div and En looked at each other, seeing the hesitation in his brother's eyes, Div went first.

"I got the Rot Magic skill," he said.

"Good," Theaphilia said. "I can't teach you rot magic, but there are fundamentals shared between every branch of magic. Spells designed for other elements that would likely accept rot-attuned mana. Since you will graduate school in a few weeks, I'll teach you."

After awakening, the children of Camboaci went to school for three years. It was still winter, but they were getting close to spring when the next batch of students would awaken. At that time, their classes would end, and they would have to find something else to do.

They would have to contribute to Camboaci in a meaningful way.

"What about you, En?" Theaphilia asked. "You have time to think, there's no need to make a decision now."

"No," En shook his head. "My decision was made a long time ago. As soon as the river unfreezes, I'm leaving. Toward the south, toward Kheiron."

"En…" Div started. He had tried to change his brother's mind so many times, he didn't know what to say.

"No, Div," En said. "My decision is final."

Theaphilia sighed.

"You have reached the Evolved Rank," she said. "You should be strong enough to make the journey. But, don't forget you have been exiled. You are not allowed inside the city."

"I was not exiled," En said, a sly smile growing on his lips. "Diven was. Because of his rot-attuned bloodline. I'm neither Diven nor rot-attuned."

Div opened his mouth but closed it again. He decided not to say anything.

He didn't like how En was talking about their past self. He didn't like that he was abandoning Camboaci after all the village had done for them. He was concerned about the reception he would receive in Kheiron.

But he had already told that to En. Many, many times. Over and over.

"En," Theaphilia said. "You are Diven. Don't expect the Leios clan's elders to care for technicalities. If they see you, if they recognize you, they will imprison you. And that's the best outcome you can hope for."

"I'm not afraid," En said. "I will convince them. Uncle Basil has power in the clan now, the other elders will have to listen to him."

"I hope your trust in him isn't misplaced," Theaphilia said. "Regardless, I don't plan on locking you up in Camboaci. You're almost an adult now. You can make your own bad decisions."

Noticing the way Theaphilia and Div looked at him, En felt the need to reassure them.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not going there to die. I will take my time going there, stop by Bavacium, Trabine, and see the Lien River basin from another perspective. Then, when I reach the gates of Kheiron, I will turn back if it's too dangerous."

"You're a fool," Div said. "But you already know what I think about this."

"I know," En nodded. "You won't change my mind. I have to go back. For mom, for dad, and for Seb. Are you not worried about them?"

"I am," Div said, coldly. "But I'm powerless. If anything, staying away is the best thing I can do for them."

Div and En put an end to the conversation. They knew how the other felt and that they couldn't change their mind. There was no point in fighting over it.

Theaphilia coughed, "On another note, En, think carefully about your next facet. Safety first."

She turned to Div.

"As for you," she said. "I know you're going to choose Facet of the Rot Mage. I'm looking forward to the result."

"Me too," Div said. "I've been waiting for this for too long."

"Go ahead," Theaphilia said.

"Here?" Div asked, surprised.

"Yes," Theaphilia chuckled. "Can you really wait any longer?"

No, he couldn't. Div took a deep breath and opened his list of available facets.

Available Facets:

Facet of the Rot Mage

Facet of the Fisherman

Facet of the Explorer

Facet of the Runner

Facet of the Cheesemaker