Dawn was still over an hour away when Fawkes woke up, her body snapping to attention as though some unseen hand had yanked her awake. Her eyes flew open, panicked. For a moment, she sat frozen, her shoulders taut and her breath shallow.

  Hunter paused mid-cycle, cracking one gunky eye open with concern.

  “Everything okay?”

  Fawkes blinked a few times, her frown deepening as she rubbed her temples.

  “I should be the one asking that,” she said, voice coarse. “Grimnir’s beard, I slept like the dead. Are you alright?”

  “I guess. You know, considering.” He waved at her with his now-fixed left hand, wiggled his fingers. “Hand’s good as new.”

  “Good.”

  Fawkes looked at the sand remaining in the hourglass, then turned her head toward the tent flap, to the predawn gloom outside.

  “Let me get you some more water,” Fawkes said, pushing herself to her feet, still groggy. “You, keep cycling.”

  Hunter gave a small, tired nod, already closing his eyes to focus again. She came back no more than five minutes later, handed him a waterskin bulging with fresh spring water. He took it eagerly, raised it to his lips, and started guzzling.

  “Don’t tarry too long,” she said, frowning with worry. “Drink your fill, then get back to cycling. Every moment’s precious.”

  “I think I’m done,” he said, pausing between gulps.

  “You have to keep going,” Fawkes insisted, voice sharp with impatience. “Doesn’t matter if your hand’s already healed – you need to keep absorbing the Bolus. If it’s not gotten small enough for you to vomit up before it turns poisonous…” She fixed him with a grim stare. “Well, I might have to cut it out of your belly myself.”

  “Good thing I already absorbed it all, then.”

  “Bollocks,” she said bluntly. “Let me check.”

  She stepped closer and leaned in, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. Hunter flinched at the sudden contact but didn’t pull away. Nobody had cared for him like that in a long time.

  “Fever’s gone,” she muttered, then grabbed his wrist. Her fingers pressed firmly against his pulse, holding it for a few moments as her frown deepened.

  “Heartbeat’s steady…”

  She crouched slightly to meet his gaze, grabbing his chin with surprising gentleness, peering into his eyes.

  “Hold still.”

  She tugged his lower eyelid with a fingertip, probably checking his irises for any unusual signs. After a tense pause, she finally stepped back, still frowning.

  “Looks like you’re right. Maybe the Bolus lost some of it potency through the years. Either that, or that old fool Ghorval greatly exaggerated the risks of using it in his notes.”

  “Or maybe I’ve gotten better at this cycling thing than you expected,” Hunter said with a tired smirk.

  “Maybe just so.”

  He leaned back slightly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of exhaustion. Still, he was filled with a sense of triumph he hadn’t felt in some time. It made all the pain and fatigue and excessive sweating worth it. He should have gotten a fair few Skill upgrades out of this ordeal, too. His notifications had been silenced while he meditated, but he was certain that absorbing the Bolus had earned him more than a couple of ranks in Cycle Essence. Curious, he pulled up his log, and lo and behold:

   Your Cycle Essence has increased to 25.

   Your Cycle Essence has reached the maximum threshold for your current Rung. Further progression will be significantly reduced until Rung advancement.

   Your Cycle Essence has reached the maximum threshold for your current Rung. As a result, you have gained Inspiration. Your Inspiration quality is now 6.

  Hunter couldn’t suppress a self-satisfied smile. Another Skill maxed out, another point of Inspiration. And that was far from it. Since Cycle Essence had hit 20, he also had three fresh Abilities he could spend that Inspiration on.

   Reinforced Channels fortify your Essence pathways, making them resistant to disruptions, damage, or overloads. This reduces the likelihood of Essence recoil, flow collapse, or blockages during high-stress situations such as combat or advanced weaves. It also improves your ability to recover from injuries or external tampering that would otherwise destabilize your flow. Over time, this creates a more resilient and efficient cycle, allowing you to push your limits with less risk.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

   Essence Purge allows you to flush harmful substances, curses, or disruptive energies from your system through a controlled cycling burst. By concentrating your Essence flow, you can isolate and expel poisons, debuffs, or lingering negative effects that would otherwise hinder you. The process is intense and requires precision, as forcing too much Essence too quickly risks destabilizing your flow or causing internal strain. However, when used effectively, it can turn debilitating situations into manageable ones in seconds.

   Resonant Flow enables you to align your Essence with nearby allies, creating a subtle but powerful synergy. When active, your presence passively bolsters their abilities, improving their stamina, focus, or efficiency in Essence-based tasks. The effect is subtle but grows stronger the longer you remain in proximity, fostering a shared rhythm in battle or meditation. This ability can also help stabilize allies who are struggling with disrupted flows, offering a steadying influence in chaotic moments.

  Hunter skimmed the skill descriptions with growing interest. Reinforced Channels was a no-brainer; he could pick it right then and there and be done with it.

  Essence Purge was more situational, but it had solid potential as a reliable “Oh shit!” button in case he was ever caught without a stockpile of Corpse Hair Knot charms to stave off any magical effects and curses.

  And as for Resonant flow… It was a support-type Ability, which had never really been his style, though he couldn’t deny its usefulness. He’d have to think more about this one, examine his options. What really got him, though, was where it likely came from. He probably earned it while helping Yuma with the Cycling Globe. Funny how teaching the same pompous asshat that had ruined his hand had rewarded him with an Ability that was all about cooperation. Life had a weird sense of humor.

  Finally, Hunter also had a couple of Trait-related notifications. Those were rare, too, so they had him extra interesting:

   You are no longer affected by the effects of Crippled Grip.

  Finally, he thought, and good fucking riddance.

  And then there was another, equally satisfying, if far more surprising:

   Through the grueling process of absorbing an entire Linfred’s Bolus before it turns poisonous, your skeletal structure has been permanently enhanced. Your bones are now denser and far more resilient than those of an average human, making you significantly more resistant to fractures and impacts. This Trait also improves your natural recovery rate for skeletal injuries, allowing your body to mend bone damage faster than usual. Additionally, your increased bone strength provides a slight edge in physical combat, making strikes and blocks more effective.

  He couldn’t help but grin as he read the description of his new Trait. Stronger bones, faster recovery, and an edge in physical combat? It felt like all the pain and effort he'd gone through with the Bolus had been worth it.

  “Everything alright?” Fawkes asked, giving him a weird look. “Are you with us, lad?”

  Hunter blinked and glanced at her. He must have looked shellshocked, staring off into the middle distance, his eyes slightly crossed as he read through the glowing blocks of text only he could see. He quickly straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.

  “Uh, yeah. Just… reading.”

  Fawkes raised an eyebrow.

  “Reading?”

  “Uh… Transient stuff. Which reminds me. Remember that discussion we had about Paths and all that? I’d really appreciate it if you could sit down with me at some point and help me figure out what to train next.”

  “Of course, anything you need.” She tapped her chin with a finger, thinking. “If you’re serious about sticking with Wroth’s Path of the White Cloud, I’d say start by focusing on your glaivework. It’s the foundation for everything he teaches. No point moving forward if you can’t hold your own with the basics.”

  “Yes, I don’t plan to drop out before I get the chance to give Yuma a run for his money. I have a few new tricks up my sleeve I’ve been itching to try. What I actually wanted to discuss with you, though, is more of a… you know, Transient nature.”

  Fawkes frowned slightly, crossing her arms.

  “Not exactly my area of expertise, you know. I can’t promise I’ll have much to offer, but… Sure, I’ll hear you out.”

  “No worries, that’s all I ask for.”

  They sat in silence for a moment, the tension of the earlier hours giving way to a more companionable quiet.

  “Well,” Fawkes finally said, “off you go. You’ve got things to take care of on your side, and I’ve got mine. Wouldn’t want your bladder to burst. Make sure you eat something, and drink plenty of water, too. We’ll talk more about your Transient business when the time comes.”

  Hunter nodded, standing as well and rolling his shoulders to loosen the lingering stiffness. He flexed his newly-fixed hand again, thrilled to feel no sign of the persistent dull pain or stubborn numbness that had haunted him. He felt whole again – strong, responsive, and ready for whatever came next.

  “Thanks, Fawkes,” he said simply. He didn’t have to say more. She understood. She gave a curt nod in reply.

  “Anytime.”

  Ah, what the hell, he thought, and before he could second-guess himself, he pulled her into a tight hug.

  Fawkes stiffened at first, clearly not expecting it. But she didn’t pull away. After a moment, she gave a small sigh and gave him an awkward pat on the back, like she wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands.

  “Come on, don’t get sappy on me,” she said. “ Go. Rest. Eat. Do whatever you need to do. I’ll be here when you pop back in, alright?”

  Hunter stepped back and gave her one last, awkward half-smile. He wasn’t quite sure what to do himself.

  “Alright then,” he said. “Take care.”

  And with that, he logged out.

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