I looked around, making sure no one was watching. I was cautious, still on edge after what Aria had said - just as I tried to isolate myself and inspect the pouch, she approached and told me to find her later.
I didn't know how, but I wanted to avoid that private discussion.
There's not a single Velmoryn in this tribe I trust less than Aria,
The thought of an inevitable unpleasant conversation still lingered as I opened the pouch. The unease faded almost instantly, pushed aside by a wave of childlike excitement.
Inside were four items: a ring etched with silvery runes, two essences - one sky blue and one teal, and a cyan crystal.
The sky blue one swirled gently within its glassy shell like it were breathing. In contrast, the teal essence carried a thicker, steadier glow. Its color was also deeper, resembling the morning sea. I checked with Guidance - the first was mana, the second was magic control. Both were lesser essences, and it was clear they had been prepared by the goddess for her vessel.
Unfortunately, the vessel had already changed when it became mine. Its development leaned heavily toward the physical, and these essences wouldn't be much help now.
Next, I examined the crystal. It was bright cyan and had a circular shape. I tried tapping on it, rubbing it, and even looking into it… Guidance returned nothing, which only confirmed what I already suspected: it was too valuable for the system to casually explain.
Then I turned my attention to the ring.
[Small Veilspace Ring – Rare]
A storage ring bound by blood. It opens a small space in another dimension. Accessing its contents requires a drop of the original user's blood. If the blood does not match, all stored items are destroyed instantly, but the ring itself becomes a new user's property.
I looked at the ring again. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, just a simple obsidian band etched with faintly glowing silvery runes. It was too small for my index finger, but I tried anyway, hoping some gamelike magic would adjust the size.
It didn't.
Moments like this remind me that this isn't a game.
I chuckled and slipped it onto my pinkie instead. Even then, it was still a little tight.
Biting my left thumb, I smeared a bit of blood across the ring's surface, hoping it would match the goddess's and unlock whatever items were hidden inside.
The moment my blood touched it, the ring began to heat up. The runes glowed brighter, turning from silver to a deep crimson. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable enough to make me aware something was happening.
As the heat faded, I felt a faint connection. Subtle, but familiar. The kind of instinctive awareness you have of your own limbs, like knowing how to move your hand without thinking about each finger.
I focused on the sensation, and an image formed in my mind: a space, completely detached from the world. It was the Veilspace.
Unfortunately, it was empty, but it belonged to me now.
I wanted to test how it worked, so I glanced around, looking for something to experiment with. My eyes landed on a nearby rock, about the size of my fist. I picked it up and pressed it gently against the ring.
Nothing happened.
I tried recalling that same sensation, the one that had opened the Veilspace, and imagined placing the rock inside. This time, the ring responded. It pulled the stone from my hand, shrinking it rapidly until it disappeared upon touching the ring's surface.
I checked the Veilspace again.
Disappointment hit me almost immediately. That single tiny rock had taken up nearly a tenth of the entire space.
It's still better than nothing, I consoled myself, pushing the thought aside.
I didn't know how rare these rings were. Maybe even this limited space was something people would kill for. If that was the case, then it was a great find. And even if it wasn't, I could still store food, potions, clothes… anything small and practical. The ring was convenient, and most importantly, the rock I stored inside didn't weigh me down at all.
I opened the Veilspace again, this time to test retrieval. With a simple thought, the rock appeared in my hand.
Okay. I understand how this thing works.
Without wasting time, I moved the two essences and the crystal inside. Then I reached into my pocket and pulled out the essence I had collected from the spider mutant. I had considered throwing it away more than once. The stench alone made it unbearable, but I held onto it just long enough to check.
Now I wished I hadn't.
Guidance identified it as a corrupted essence. Using it would poison me.
Frustrated, I almost threw it right there… but stopped myself. There was no downside to keeping it. Once stored, the smell wouldn't reach me. And who knew? Maybe it would be useful later, for something.
I placed it inside the Veilspace and let it vanish out of sight and, most importantly, out of smell.
Now that I was done checking the pouch, there was one last thing I wanted to test - whether I could hold items created by divine power. The Hollow Core skill had placed a restriction, but its description was vague, and I still wasn't entirely sure where the limits began.
I was about to find a quiet place to experiment when I heard a soft, high-pitched voice behind me.
"Elar… I'm so sorry, Avenor."
It was the same little Velmoryn girl who had given me a fruit earlier. This time, she was holding a different kind of fruit, half-eaten, and her expression was flustered, probably because she'd called me 'Elar', the term Velmoryns used for outsiders.
They're strange. They have a word for outsiders but nothing to address people older than them. I didn't mind it. Even as a human, I'd always found those kinds of honorifics unnecessary. I never understood why people couldn't just call each other by name. If anything, I was glad the Velmoryns seemed to agree.
"Think nothing of it," I said, offering the warmest smile I could manage. "May I know your name?"
"I'm Cynthia," she said, grinning widely. Her teeth were stained blue from the fruit.
"Vivien told me to find you, we're all gathering near the bonfire," she added, pointing to the fire burning brightly in the distance.
"Should I come now?" I asked, hoping this meant food.
"Yes! Follow me!" she said firmly, grabbing my hand and tugging as hard as she could.
I smiled and followed.
Almost the entire tribe had gathered near the bonfire. The sun had already dipped past the treetops, and with twilight settling in, the fire's glow felt almost majestic. The scene had a strange beauty to it, Velmoryns sitting together, their gray skin and silver or crimson markings glowing in the light. It gave everything a mysterious, magical tone.
I glanced around for an empty spot, hoping to stay out of the spotlight, but the only one I saw was right next to Aria. I was about to look for another space when our eyes met. Turning away now might've offended her.
So I walked over, stepping carefully to avoid bumping into anyone seated on the ground. Aria smiled warmly as I sat down beside her, then turned her attention toward the fire, where a familiar figure was approaching.
It was Teryo, the same Velmoryn, who had slapped Roy and later named him Tribe Warrior. He wore the pelt of some predator I didn't recognize. Thick fur, huge fangs, rugged hide. Whatever it was, it wouldn't have gone down easily.
Teryo moved slowly, rhythmically striking the ground with the staff he carried.
This must be some kind of ritual.
I realized quickly, fixing my eyes on the unfolding scene, curious to see what came next.
I noticed Teryo grab a handful of powder from his pouch and, with a strong breath, scatter it toward the bonfire.
The flames roared in response, shifting to a bright cyan. Smoke began to drift outward, curling around us, but the scent was unexpectedly pleasant, and it didn't sting the eyes or throat.
My heart picked up, following the rhythm Teryo set.
No one spoke. The entire tribe was hypnotized by the scene.
Gradually, the roaring fire calmed, shrinking into something more restrained than before, still alive, but controlled. I watched as six Velmoryns stepped forward, each one marked with strange patterns across their skin - symbols that looked like wings, mouths, heads, and other abstract shapes. They carried skinned animals tied flat across wide wooden frames.
They placed the meat facing the fire, positioned carefully to slow cook. But it wasn't the food that caught my attention. It was how the frames were arranged, forming a narrow corridor leading directly through the center of the flames.
I didn't have to wonder why for long.
Roy suddenly bolted forward and leapt over the bonfire, screaming like a wild beast. The tribe erupted in cheers, though no one else moved. They yelled and clapped as others followed Roy's example, jumping the fire one by one.
I felt a breath brush near my ear and instinctively turned, startled.
Aria stood close, too close. Her lips were near mine, and I caught her scent, sweet and sharp like blossoming cherries. She took a step back, clearly uncomfortable. Maybe it was the closeness… or maybe the lingering spider stench on me didn't help.
"I apologize," she said softly. "You seemed unsure, so I came to speak of the ritual."
She glanced toward the fire, her voice low but reverent.
"Today marks the end of summer. We offer ourselves to the sun's final blaze, hoping its warmth will protect us against the chaos of the coming winter."
Her words carried more energy now, but were still gentle. She stepped forward, her slender form glowing faintly as the cyan fire reflected across her skin.
"You should take part as well," she said, smiling. There was something alive in her eyes, something burning that hadn't been there before.
Without another word, she turned and sprinted toward the flames. Her body blurred in the smoke until she soared through the fire, letting out a cry that was both powerful and strangely beautiful.
I felt my pulse quicken.
Something's affecting me, I realized.
But I didn't care.
I was enjoying it.
I took a step forward. Then charged, leaping over the cyan fire, screaming like the others.
When I landed, the tribe cheered, calling my name.
For a moment, I felt like I belonged, like I was truly one of them. A small part of me wondered what it would be like to stay. To actually become a Velmoryn.
I smiled, brushing the thought aside. The haze lifted from my mind, and the usual clarity returned to my vision.
I caught Aria watching me from the side, her smile warm and gentle. She looked like she wanted to say something, but Roy and Vivien reached me first.
Vivien stepped forward and smeared a crimson liquid across my forehead, drawing a sun, while Roy placed his fist against my chest.
"I regret having doubted you," he said, nodding once before turning and walking off with his wife.
I was left alone again.
I glanced back toward where Aria had been standing, but she was gone.
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Shit. No escaping now.
I turned and found her standing behind me. With the haze lifted from my head, I once again saw her as the biggest threat in the tribe. But also, potentially, the greatest ally.
"Walk with me," she said in a soft, gentle voice.
I followed.
We walked a short distance away from the bonfire, far enough that the shouting and laughter of the others faded into background noise.
She doesn't seem affected by the smoke, I noticed.
Her eyes were sharp. Focused. None of the fevered energy I had seen in the others.
She stopped walking and glanced around, making sure we were alone.
Then she stepped in closer, close enough that I could smell cherries. The moonlight framed her sharp but gentle face, and for a briefest moment, I saw traces of delight as her lip curled.
Her face came closer, looking into my eyes. Her nose twitched, her breath brushing my skin.
Then she paused, pulling back slightly.
Her smile deepened and her gaze sharpened as she said something I dreaded to hear.
"You are not Velmoryn."
**
A/N -
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