Tave moved with quiet intent, every sense honed and alert. His eyes scanned the ground, noting the subtle indentations, tracks left by passing monsters. The faint stench of their scent still lingered in the air. He listened closely, filtering through the rustling of scorched leaves, searching for even the softest echo of movement beyond the trees.
He did his best to sync his instincts with Fang's. The beast prowled quietly at their front, their awareness linked now as they swept through the shadowed remains of the forest. They were searching, not for a fight this time, but for a place to breathe.
They needed rest.
No one could keep pushing through a Rift like this indefinitely. Gaia Force didn't work that way.
The system ran on two essential pillars: Energy and Stamina.
Energy, in its simplest definition, was the raw force stored within the core of every Gaia Awakener. It replenished slowly over time and was consumed whenever abilities were cast. The more powerful or complex the ability, the more Energy it drained. Think of it as akin to Mana. Fluid, essential, but limited.
Run out, and you couldn't fight with any special techniques. Chain-casting abilities drained the core fast, leaving only the basic swings of a sword behind.
Though in truth, every Awakener could choose how to develop themselves. Either by strengthening their physical endurance or expanding their core capacity. Most magic casters leaned heavily into the latter, cultivating a larger force reserve within their Gaia Core. That way, they could cast spells more frequently and sustain longer engagements without running dry.
Then there was Stamina.
Stamina wasn't just physical exhaustion; it was mental, emotional, spiritual. It was the fatigue that came from pouring one's will into every Gaia-infused strike, every shield of force, every instinct-triggered surge of power. It wasn't something that could be recharged by standing still. Stamina didn't return with time.
It returned only with rest.
True rest.
The kind found only outside of battle mode, in a space where the body could relax, the mind could settle, and the soul could retreat from the edge.
A Gaia Awakener who couldn't balance both Energy and Stamina was one step away from collapse.
Eventually, Tave found it.
A small clearing tucked near a low ridge, half-hidden by tightly packed trees. The stone outcrop there was elevated just enough to provide a natural vantage point, but still shaded, still protected. The heat wasn't as oppressive here. The air, while warm, didn't burn against the skin like the other scorched zones of the Rift.
No signs of monsters. No movement. No sound, except the faint wind whispering through blackened leaves.
Tave exhaled softly and motioned to the others.
"This'll do," he said, sitting down on one of the sun-warmed stones. His body was aching, his core was drained, and for now, even just for a short while, it was enough to stop moving.
Everyone settled in, finding their own spot among the scattered stones in the clearing. After everything they had just endured, the silence was strangely thick, awkward, almost. The earlier shouting match between Orion and Oriana had burned itself out, and now the two sat apart, each seemingly out of venom, tension cooling into wordless distance.
After a few minutes, once her breathing had evened and her core had settled, Lily stood. She glanced toward Orion, her expression unreadable, though her intentions were clear. She was checking whether the young lord needed healing.
"Get your eyes off me," Orion snapped without even looking her way. "I don't need your healing."
Tave narrowed his eyes.
This bastard... talking to my sister like that?
Lily, composed as always, simply gave a small bow and turned toward Oriana instead.
"I'm fine too, Lily," Oriana said, managing a light smile. "Just a scratch. Save your strength. I just need to recover some Stamina."
But Lily didn't back off.
She stepped closer, slowly kneeling beside Oriana, her eyes fixed on the woman's left arm. A faint line of blood had begun to soak through the fabric at her sleeve.
"Lady Oriana," Lily said softly, "let me heal the burn on your arm."
"Sssh…" Oriana whispered back. "Remember, I have a Water affinity too. This is nothing I can't handle. Go take care of your brother instead."
Her tone wasn't cold. It was more like a gentle refusal, quiet pride layered over exhaustion.
Lily nodded, then rose and walked over to where Tave sat. Without a word, she sat beside him, took his arm, and began her work.
Tave closed his eyes the moment he felt it.
The rush of water-based healing magic spread through his body. Warm, steady, and unlike anything he'd felt before. The regeneration was subtle, gentle… and strangely comforting. Not like the jolt of a potion. No harsh sting or sharp burn. Just a soft tide washing through pain.
He'd used healing potions before, of course. But potions were best saved for emergencies. Not only were they expensive, but their effectiveness dulled with overuse. Abuse them too often, and their impact would gradually fade, leaving you more vulnerable than before.
That was why, no matter how rare or powerful a potion might be, it could never match the precision, care, and energy of a true support caster.
And right now, Tave could feel the difference in every pulse of light flowing through his wounds.
After finishing her healing spell, Lily sat down in the soft ash-covered ground, legs folded neatly beneath her in a W-position. She settled beside Fang, who had already laid his body down, clearly exhausted. Faint marks and scratches along his dark coat showed that the beast hadn't escaped the earlier battle unscathed.
Lily frowned, watching the steady rise and fall of his breath. Her fingers hovered slightly above one of the deeper gashes.
She was clearly considering healing Fang too.
"Let him heal on his own, Lily," Tave said gently.
"But… he's in pain," she replied softly, eyes not leaving Fang's side.
It was true, monsters could receive healing from humans. That wasn't the issue.
But there was something more subtle at play here. Something not always understood by less experienced healers.
Tave dropped into a squat beside her and laid a hand on Fang's thick shoulder. The beast let out a soft, almost rumbling woof, his tail thumping the ground slowly in approval. Clearly, he enjoyed the touch.
"Listen," Tave said calmly, "monsters, especially bonded ones like Fang, can regenerate faster than humans. Especially when they've absorbed a monster core. And Fang's affinity is Dark. Your Water element doesn't pair well with his. It won't help him much."
Lily turned to him, brows knit. She was clearly taking in what he'd said, trying to match it against what she knew. For a seasoned caster, it would've been common knowledge. But as a newer healer, maybe she hadn't explored that deeply yet.
After a few seconds, she sighed and relented with a small smile.
"Alright," she murmured.
Instead of casting a spell, she reached out and gently stroked Fang's side. The wolf lifted his head and turned to look at her, ears twitching, and gave a soft woof woof in reply.
"You did well, Fang," she whispered. "Thank you for getting us out of that mess."
Woof.
"Really. Thank you for protecting us."
Woof woof.
They looked like they were speaking in two different languages, yet somehow understanding each other perfectly.
Tave let out a quiet sigh and smiled faintly to himself.
And then, suddenly! Tave's instincts flared.
Every nerve in his body snapped alert, his senses screaming in silence.
Fang jolted upright beside him, ears rigid, eyes locked toward the treeline. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he stepped forward, tail raised like a banner of warning.
Both of them turned in perfect unison, gazes fixed in the same direction.
Something was wrong.
From between the darkened trees ahead, a strange fog began to seep forward. Thick, grey, and unnaturally cold. It didn't roll like ordinary mist. It crept, slow and deliberate, clinging to the forest floor as it spilled into the clearing.
Then, without warning, pssshhh!
The mist exploded outward in a burst, expanding like a wave, curling into the spaces between them with eerie silence. The forest darkened in an instant, visibility dropping as the chilling fog crawled into every shadow.
Orion was already on his feet, sword drawn and crackling with energy.
"What is that?!" Oriana called, her voice sharp as she stood.
"Tave!" she snapped, turning to him. "What's going on?!"