"I will begin now," Vigil announced, his voice steady as he approached Nox. Placing his hand gently on the shadow kobold's scarred visage, he murmured a solemn incantation. "Rae's last hope."
Upon the completion of his words, a golden magical circle materialized above Nox. It expanded swiftly, its circumference reaching for the ceiling. From the heart of the circle descended a pillar of light, broadening until it enveloped Nox's entire form.
For Thorian, the seconds stretched into an eternity. He stood transfixed, watching as Vigil's spell bathed his friend in a golden luminescence. Only when a faint moan echoed from within the pillar did the tightness in his heart begin to ease.
Gradually, the spell dissipated, revealing Nox's transformed body. The scars had vanished; the severed limbs and arteries were miraculously restored. He looked just as Thorian remembered him, whole and unmarred.
"Nox," Thorian murmured, stepping forward, only to be halted by Whisperwind's firm hand. Confusion flickered in Thorian's eyes as he turned back to Nox, now emanating an ominous shadowy aura. As the shadow kobold opened his eyes, they were stark white, devoid of pupils, the sclera eerily visible.
Then, with startling abruptness, Nox unleashed a bloodcurdling scream, primal and terrifying, as if a demon had been roused from slumber. The shadows around him flared with a menacing energy. But in that moment of chaos, Whisperwind was there, his hand resting reassuringly on Nox's shoulder.
"It's okay now, Nox," Whisperwind's voice was a balm, gentle and soothing, causing the menacing shadows to recede. "It's all over. You are free."
As the last of the shadows were absorbed into Nox's skin, his eyes returned to their normal state. He blinked, looking around in bewilderment. "What... happened?" His gaze settled on Whisperwind, recognition dawning. "Master?"
A light chuckle escaped Whisperwind's lips as he smiled, stepping aside to reveal Thorian.
Thorian, gazing upon his friend's restored form, exhaled a relieved sigh. "You're finally back, Nox. I feared we had lost you."
Confusion, not joy, clouded Nox's expression as he tilted his head quizzically. "I'm sorry... but you don't look familiar to me."
"I knew it!" Ventus burst into laughter, a mix of amusement and disbelief in his voice. "I knew he wouldn't recognize you, king. You've changed too much!"
"Ventus?" Nox's eyebrow arched in surprise as he turned towards the lightning kobold. "You seem different."
Then, his gaze circled back to Thorian, scrutinizing him more intently. A flicker of realization sparked in his eyes, and he stood abruptly, astonishment etched on his face. "Wait, is that really you, Thorian?"
Thorian, with a chuckle tinged with a hint of sadness, opened his arms wide. "I guess I've changed more than I realized," he said warmly. "Come here, Nox. You had me worried beyond words."
With a smile brightening his face, Nox embraced Thorian tightly, his voice filled with a blend of confusion and contentment. "I'm not sure what's going on, but I don’t hate this."
Thorian felt the warmth of Nox's body against his chest, a sensation that nearly brought tears to his eyes. He quickly masked his emotion with a hand to his face. His voice, slightly trembling, conveyed his heartfelt plea. "Please, don't ever do something so reckless again. Can you promise me that?"
Looking up, Nox's face was illuminated by his characteristic, innocent smile. "I can't quite remember what happened, but... I promise."
As they separated, Thorian simply smiled, affectionately ruffling Nox's hair while the latter laughed heartily.
The room's mood shifted subtly as Ifrit spoke up, her voice tinged with remorse. She was nervously biting her lower lip, her gaze averted, unable to meet Nox's eyes. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "That day... you shouldn't have been alone. I should've been there, fighting alongside you."
Nox approached Ifrit with an unwavering smile, his attitude forgiving and understanding. "The choice was mine, and so is the responsibility," he reassured her, gently patting her shoulder. “So don’t beat up yourself for that, it will make me sad.”
At his words, Ifrit's eyes brimmed with tears, and she embraced Nox, her sobs breaking the silence. "Why did it have to be you? You're too pure for this harsh world!"
As she wept on his shoulder, Nox chuckled lightly, a hint of affection in his laughter. “Come on now, Ifrit. You’re a big girl, you shouldn’t cry like this.”
“No! I will cry whenever I want. Stupid, stupid Nox!” Ifrit's playful punch landed on Nox's chest, a mix of frustration and relief in her gesture.
The moment was interrupted by Ventus, who strode in with a hint of humor in his voice. “Okay, okay, we get it,” he said as he playfully tugged Ifrit away from Nox by the nape of her neck. “We’re all happy Nox is back, especially me. It has been boring without my rival around!”
Observing the unfolding scene, Thorian found himself caught between emotions. Just moments ago, a heavy gloom had enveloped them all, a stark contrast to the lightened spirits that now filled the room. It was a testament to Nox's unique ability to shift the atmosphere effortlessly.
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You truly are one of a kind, Nox, Thorian mused silently, watching the shadow kobold with a mix of admiration and gratitude. I'm fortunate to have you as a friend.
While Nox engaged in conversation with Ventus, Aqua interjected, his tone laced with concern. "Nox, do you really not recall anything that happened?"
Nox paused, looking thoughtful. “So, I was fighting against all of those crazy humans. They were strong, but because they had terrible coordination, I was beating them easily.” His brow furrowed, a sign of his struggling memory. “My memories are a little fuzzy here, but I remember this green lady. She had these beautiful blue eyes that I couldn’t help but look into.”
At these words, a surge of anger clenched Thorian's fist tightly. He was about to speak when Forlune voiced the sentiment for him.
"That damned woman," Forlune growled, his voice deep and filled with venom. "If I ever lay my hands on her, I'll tear her apart, limb by limb."
Nox, puzzled, tilted his head. "What's going on? Do you all know her?"
Aqua responded, his voice tinged with bitterness. "She's the mastermind behind the recent attack. She's responsible for the deaths of many of our people and for leaving you incapacitated for a week." He clicked his tongue, unable to contain his anger.
Nox's eyes widened in disbelief at the revelation. "A week? I've been asleep for a whole week?"
"Yeah, you missed quite a bit," Ventus replied, his grin mischievous. "But now you're awake, and just in time to join us in giving that stupid woman what she deserves."
Nox's smile mirrored Ventus's enthusiasm as he cracked his knuckles. "Count me in, as I'm not about to sit this one out. I want a share of that glory."
Thorian chuckled, affectionately ruffling Nox's hair. "First, there's a lot you need to catch up on. After that, we can talk about glory, battles, and all that comes with it."
Turning to Whisperwind, Thorian bowed respectfully. "Guild Master, I can't express my gratitude enough for keeping Nox alive during this ordeal."
Observing Thorian's humility, Nox also bowed to Whisperwind. "Thank you, Master."
Whisperwind offered a gentle smile, shaking his head modestly. "There's no need for thanks. I couldn't let my first and favorite employee meet his end on my watch."
Thorian nodded appreciatively at the Guild Master, then addressed Forlune. "Tomorrow, I plan to claim the rewards for the Eärendil quest. This way, we won't miss out on any experience points. For now, I'll show Nox around the village."
Forlune chuckled warmly. "Take all the time you need, lord. You've been tirelessly at work; a bit of rest is well-deserved."
"Don't get too cheeky," Thorian retorted with a smile, shaking his head. "Just keep up with your duties and don't slack off on your training." He turned to address the others. "That goes for all of you. Keep honing your skills unless you want to fall behind your peers."
"Yes, yes, king," Ventus replied with a laugh, his tone teasing yet sincere. "Don't worry, we'll keep up with our training."
Shaking his head with a smile, Thorian turned his attention back to Nox. "Come on, let's go. There's a lot I need to show you."
Nodding eagerly, Nox followed Thorian out of Whisperwind's bedroom. When they emerged into the main area of the guild, Nox's eyes widened in astonishment. "Wow, the guild has really expanded!" He pointed excitedly at the bulletin board. "And what's that over there?"
"That's the guild's bulletin board for quests," Thorian explained. "The guild has undergone quite an upgrade. You should register for your daily quests later."
Nox nodded in understanding, his curiosity piqued. The pair then exited the guild building. Stepping outside, Nox halted, his gaze sweeping over the transformed village, his expression a mixture of awe and nostalgia. "I can't believe how much I've missed... The village has grown so much."
"It has," Thorian agreed, his voice laced with a hint of pride. "We even have goblins living among us now. Just a heads up to avoid any unnecessary scuffles."
Nox chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, I won't start any trouble. It's just... overwhelming, in a good way."
Observing Nox's genuine smile, Thorian felt a surge of happiness. After their conversation momentarily paused, Zogarth approached them.
"Nox, you're finally awake!" Zogarth laughed heartily.
Nox, taken aback by the Orc Commander's imposing stature, exclaimed, "Zogarth, is that you? How much did you eat this week to get so big?!"
Zogarth roared with laughter before gently patting the young kobold with his massive hand, "What are you talking about, you cheeky little thing? This is the result of my evolution. I've grown larger and stronger."
"I can see that," Nox chuckled. "If you keep evolving at this pace, you might end up bigger than a house!"
As the two bantered, Thorian shook his head, amused. After catching up briefly, Zogarth excused himself to attend to his duties.
With Zogarth's departure, Thorian was ready to begin their short tour. "The first place we'll visit is the Cultivation Hall."
Nox's interest was immediately piqued. "The Cultivation Hall? Is that a new building?"
"I suppose it's a familiar place that you've just never had the chance to explore," Thorian clarified. "The Cultivation Hall is essentially a space dedicated to practicing cultivation. There are two elders there who can guide you through the process."
"Cultivation?" Nox's eyebrow quirked in intrigue. "Sounds like I've missed out on a lot."
Realizing his oversight, Thorian chuckled apologetically. "Sorry, I should've explained it better. Cultivation involves harnessing a type of energy called Qi, which is somewhat akin to mana. However, Qi is gathered in your lower abdomen, unlike mana which is typically centered around the heart. Cultivation opens up the possibility of mastering new skills that utilize this Qi."
The last part sparked Nox's enthusiasm visibly. "Really? I can learn them too?"
"Absolutely," Thorian affirmed with a nod. "In fact, it'd be great if you could start learning the basics today."
Nox pumped his fist in excitement. "Awesome! I'm always up for learning new skills!"
Thorian, amused by Nox's exuberant attitude, led him towards the Cultivation Hall. Upon reaching it, Nox's eyes widened in recognition, tinged with surprise. "Ah, so this is the place? It's changed so much. It looks like two buildings merged into one now!"
"It's likely to expand even further," Thorian remarked, his gaze lingering on the hall with a sense of satisfaction.
However, Nox's expression shifted as he wrinkled his nose, sniffing the air. "What's that awful smell? It's making my head spin."
Thorian's eyebrows shot up in realization, and he scratched his head. “Ah, that would be the residue of cultivation. I think some people are meditating inside.”
“That smells really bad,” Nox replied, his voice nasal as he pinched his nose, his face scrunched up in distaste.
Thorian laughed softly, empathizing with Nox's reaction. "I can't argue with that," he agreed before gesturing for Nox to follow him. "Let's not linger here too long. I've got a few things I want to show you, and some gifts I think you'll appreciate."