Skin Hardening

  Alice’s eyes fluttered open. Leon was still asleep beside her.

  “Master, wake up,” she whispered gently.

  Out of habit, Leon rolled onto his side, but instead of nding on the bed, he tumbled onto the floor.

  “Master, are you alright?” Alice asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

  “I’m fine,” Leon grumbled, pushing himself up. “What time is it?”

  “I’m not sure,” Alice replied, “but I think it’s almost dawn. Master, it’s our skin hardening training today. How do you feel?”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. “I feel… apprehensive. Nervous. And strangely… excited.”

  “Me too, Master,” Alice admitted. “I’m amazed we’ve made it this far. These st few training sessions have been so dangerous. I’m really gd we’ve succeeded.”

  “Me too,” Leon echoed.

  “Master,” Alice began hesitantly, “why do you think we’ve been so successful? I mean, I don’t want to be negative, but I am curious.”

  “Well,” Leon said, “I think it’s because of our inherent skills. Remember? We’re not supposed to have multiple inherent skills. We’re… special cases.”

  “I suppose that’s true,” Alice agreed. “Especially you. You’re… different.” She paused. “Anyway,” she continued, “aren’t you worried about Alicia? She’ll be here too.”

  “To be honest,” Leon replied, “I don’t want her to go through the near-death experiences we’ve endured. But when I look into her eyes, I see the will of a warrior. I won’t stand in her way. All I can offer her is my support, for better or for worse.”

  “She’s lucky to have you, Master,” Alice said softly. “Is that… what they call love, Master?”

  “I don’t know,” Leon admitted. “But if it is, then… I love you too. Because I feel the same way about you.”

  “Me too,” Alice whispered. “I care for you, Master. I’d do anything for you.”

  “Well then,” Leon said, a pyful glint in his eyes, “how about one more round before training?” He reached for Alice.

  She giggled. “I love you, master.”

  Alice entered her designated chamber. The Doctor greeted her nervously.

  “Miss Alice, are you ready?” he asked.

  “I am,” she replied. She was about to step onto the elevated ptform when the Doctor stopped her.

  “P-please… remove your clothing,” he stammered, avoiding her gaze.

  “What? Are you serious, Doctor?” Alice asked, her tone incredulous.

  “I am,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “In fact, I’ve already been… reprimanded. Yes,” he added, a flicker of fear in his eyes. “I—I told her it was part of the procedure, but… she still wasn’t pleased.”

  “What are you talking about?” Alice asked, her confusion growing.

  At that moment, Albert and Monica entered the chamber, already aware of the situation.

  “It’s alright, Alice,” Albert said gently. “It’s a necessary requirement. The fluid can’t be contaminated by non-biological material, such as clothing or jewelry. If you’re wearing any accessories, please remove them as well, so we can begin.”

  Resigned, Alice removed her clothing and any jewelry she was wearing. She then squatted onto the elevated ptform, naked.

  “This is going to be… fascinating,” the Doctor muttered to himself, a nervous giggle escaping his lips. My love was pleased with my success. She has to be. Her anger… it should be subsiding. Yes, it should… at least a little, he thought.

  “Now that she’s ready,” he announced, trying to project an air of confidence, “I shall commence the training.” He pressed the remote control. A rge container descended from the ceiling, slowly tilting until a stream of viscous, bck fluid poured out.

  The moment the viscous bck fluid touched Alice’s head, it hissed ominously.

  “Ahhhh!” Alice screamed, her voice raw with pain.

  Monica, horrified by the sound, instinctively moved towards her. Albert gently but firmly restrained her, shaking his head with a look of grim understanding. Monica, her face pale, reluctantly yielded.

  The fluid continued to cascade over Alice’s body, from her head and shoulders down to her feet. Her skin sizzled and appeared to erode where the liquid touched. Her hair, drenched in the fluid, began to smoke and disintegrate. Alice’s screams echoed through the chamber; an agonizing process. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning flesh. Yet, despite the horrific transformation, she remained upright, squatting on the elevated ptform.

  Monica, unable to bear the sight, buried her face in Albert’s shoulder, sobbing quietly. Outside the chamber, the Doctor frantically scribbled his observations on a chaotic mess of papers covering his desk, his excitement overriding any sense of compassion.

  Once the container was empty, Alice began to radiate an intense energy. It pulsed outward, then contracted, forming a visible energy field close to her skin. Her body began to regenerate, the damaged tissue knitting itself back together, starting from her head and moving downwards. It took approximately thirty minutes for her to completely heal, leaving no trace of the horrific injuries. A minute ter, a thin yer of bck fluid oozed from her pores. Upon contact with the air, the fluid instantly evaporated in a puff of smoke, consumed by the intense heat radiating from her body.

  Thirty minutes ter, another torrent of the bck fluid poured down from above. This time, Alice’s reaction was less severe. Her scream was muted, a gasp rather than a shriek. The sizzling was less intense, and the burning smell was noticeably weaker. The healing process was also faster, taking only fifteen minutes to complete, again leaving her skin fwless

  Ten minutes ter, another container of the viscous bck fluid descended from above. It slowly tilted, enveloping Alice completely within a minute. This time, however, the fluid didn’t seem to harm her. Instead, her energy field appeared to draw the fluid in, absorbing it. The bck fluid, which itself radiated a faint energy, was then purified and integrated into her own. A minute ter, her body expelled the residual waste material from the fluid, which instantly disintegrated upon contact with the air.

  Her body was fully healed, without a single scar.

  The Doctor’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “Is this… real?” he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. He knew that other subjects had died instantly when exposed to the fluid. Some had developed aggressive cancers and vanished without a trace. “Is this real?” he muttered again, pacing back and forth, his hands csped tightly over his mouth. “My love… this is it! This is what I’ve been working towards—my success! No… our success. Yes, our success. Our… masterpiece!” He giggled, his voice trembling with excitement.

  “I’m nervous,” Monica said.

  “Don’t be,” Albert replied, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

  “Aren’t you afraid for your son?” Monica asked, her voice ced with concern. “What if he can’t handle the pain and gives up?”

  “My son has the heart of a warrior,” Albert said confidently. “I have no doubt in his abilities. He’s shown remarkable progress. I won’t interrupt him prematurely, and I certainly won’t show him any sign of doubt.”

  “I’ll pray for him,” Monica said.

  “Thank you,” Albert replied.

  Inside Leon’s chamber.

  The Doctor positioned himself behind a reinforced observation window. The container, which had become synonymous with terror, descended from above. It slowly tilted, pouring its contents onto Leon. The moment the viscous bck fluid touched his skin, his heart pounded in his chest, his mind raced, and every nerve ending screamed danger. Then came the searing heat, the agonizing sizzling as the fluid began to erode his skin. It burned his hair, his face, then spread to his shoulders and down his body. He was being thoroughly consumed by the corrosive liquid. His energy reserves were rapidly depleting. Without a sufficient energy supply, the burning would penetrate his muscles and bones. He was nearing a critical energy depletion level. As he was about to colpse from the elevated ptform, Albert reacted instinctively. He lunged forward to catch him, but Monica, using all her strength, pulled him back.

  Then, Leon’s final, agonizing scream, the stench of his burning flesh, and the sudden drop in his energy output triggered something within Albert—a cursed: The Scroll of Stolid.

  The moments before the scroll’s effect was unleashed.

  “Are you sure you want to watch?” Monica asked, worry etched deeply on her face.

  “Yes,” Albert replied, his voice firm. “I can handle it.”

  “But… did you see what happened to Alice?” Monica countered, her concern evident.

  “I said, I can handle it,” Albert repeated, a hint of steel in his voice.

  “But this is dangerous,” Monica persisted. “I’m worried about you. What if the scroll’s curse is reactivated?”

  Albert remained silent, his gaze fixed on the observation window.

  “If you’re testing your own limits,” Monica pleaded, “please, don’t. He’s your son. You can’t do this.”

  “I’m watching to witness my son’s triumph,” Albert said, his voice unwavering. “Not his defeat. I have absolute faith in him.”

  Monica sighed, her hand still csped tightly around Albert’s arm, her worry unabated.

  Albert’s eyes widened. Leon had somehow recovered mid-fall, halting his descent.

  His inherent skill, Attribute Manipution, ignited.

  System!

  Attribute Manipution: Fire Manipution.

  Leon’s depleted energy reserves were instantly replenished by the surging fmes. His resistance to heat skyrocketed. The agonizing sizzling abruptly ceased. His energy emission shifted to a crimson hue. This distinctive aura now not only distorted the surrounding air with its intense heat but also radiated a burning sensation outwards.

  “I told you!” Monica excimed, her voice a mix of relief and lingering concern. “Now what?”

  “What about it?” Albert replied, his tone dismissive.

  “Oh, dear,” Monica murmured. “It’s really happening.” She paused, then added, “But the important thing is, your son is safe.”

  “I told you,” Albert repeated, his voice ft, “I was looking for his success, not his failure.”

  Monica, recognizing the shift in his demeanor, didn’t argue. She knew his emotional connection to his son had seemingly vanished. What am I going to tell Penelope? She thought, her brow furrowed with worry. I promised her I’d look after Albert.

  Fifteen minutes ter, Leon was fully healed, scar-free.

  Fifteen minutes more, and another batch of the viscous bck fluid was ready. It slowly poured its contents. Soon, Leon’s body was covered in the fluid, but it no longer inflicted significant damage—only a brief stinging sensation. His body absorbed the fluid and expelled the impurities. Almost instantly, he was fully healed again, without a single scar.

  Five minutes ter, the final batch was poured. It covered his entire body, only to be absorbed as before. His body readily accepted the fluid, casting out the remaining impurities. With that, the skin hardening process was complete.

  Tears welled in the Doctor’s eyes. Not from sorrow or sympathy for his subjects’ suffering, but from the fear that his experiment had almost failed. He worried that his partner, whom he often referred to as “my love,” would never forgive him. But now, that fear had transformed into pure etion. His muttering was almost constant, a stream of excited pronouncements.

  Thirteen hours ter, they were released from their chambers.

  Inside Leon's and Alice personal cell.

  “Stop pying with them,” Alice said as Leon kept fpping her ears.

  “But they’re fppier than before.”

  “Stop it.”

  “Okay, but I’ve missed your smooth, fppy ears,” Leon said.

  “The doctor said I shouldn’t force my hair regeneration. He wants me to test my natural regeneration and send him a report when my hair is fully grown back.”

  “Yeah, he told me that too.”

  “Haha, look at you! Your head looks like the end of your rod.”

  “Maybe so, but I know you love it.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” she said. “And your skin is so beautiful now. You’re even more handsome than before. I want to hug you.”

  “Come here,” he said, extending his arms. Their lips met passionately, tongues dancing around each other. The kiss sted several moments before they broke apart.

  “You’re prettier than before as well, darling.”

  “Thank you, master. But you know what? I thought I was going to die. In that moment, I thought of you, master, and all our memories together. I thought of Penelope too, and all we’ve shared. Grandpa and grandma as well. So I fought it. I forced every cell in my being to do my bidding. My body acted on its own, and I felt the pain lifting. I knew the regeneration was working, and I felt my energy growing stronger. But I never want to experience that horror again.”

  “Me neither. It was the most horrifying experience of my life. Like being fried alive, but ten times worse.”

  “Anyway,” he continued, “have you noticed something odd about my father?”

  “About your father? Hmm. Yeah, I think he has a thing for that pretty woman, and she seems to like him too.”

  “No, not that.”

  “What then?”

  Leon paused, putting his hand on his chin. “I’m not sure. But something’s amiss. The way he converses and reacts—something’s just not right. I need to talk to him.”

  Leon stood up and put his clothes on.

  “Where are you going? You’re leaving now?”

  “Yes,” Leon replied.

  “Wait for me. I’m coming too,” Alice said.

  Somewhere inside the secret bunker.

  “Are you sure this is the way?” Alice asked.

  “I think so,” Leon replied.

  “You think?” Alice pressed.

  “Well, I’ve seen my father go this way before.”

  After navigating the byrinthine corridors for several minutes, they encountered the Doctor.

  “My precious subjects! What are you doing outside your chambers? Are you lost?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  “What? What subjects?” Alice retorted.

  “Well,” the Doctor chuckled, “you reside within my territory, benefit from my training, and we’re allies, aren’t we?”

  “Maybe. Whatever,” Alice said dismissively.

  “Doctor,” Leon interjected, “we’re looking for my father. We can’t seem to sense his presence. It’s strange.”

  “Follow me, then, my dear subjects,” the Doctor said, gesturing down a corridor.

  “Why can’t I sense my father’s presence?” Leon wondered aloud, his brow furrowing. “He would never hide from us.”

  “Yeah,” Alice muttered to herself, “Albert never hides his presence from us. I’m confused too.”

  “That’s because this pce is constructed using Sidham Stones,” the Doctor expined.

  “What are those?” Alice asked.

  “They’re commonly used by assassins,” the Doctor replied. “But when used in such rge quantities, they become powerful enough to render this entire facility undetectable to anyone outside, regardless of their rank. Meaning, outsiders can’t find us, and we can’t be found by them. However, the stones also make everyone within the facility untraceable, even to each other.”

  “You mean there are thousands of these stones here?” Alice asked, surprised.

  “Tens of thousands,” the Doctor corrected. “They’re essential to this beautiful abode’s… discretion.”

  “So how can my father and others locate this pce?” Leon asked.

  “Haha!” the Doctor ughed. “You know how to ask the right questions. But that’s information my subjects aren’t privy to,” he said, grinning.

  “Why not?” Alice asked.

  “Don’t ask,” the Doctor replied, his grin widening.

  Sidham Stone, also known as the Unseen Stone, is an enigmatic marvel of nature. It possesses an extraordinary power: to render its bearer invisible, not to the naked eye, but to any form of mana detection, regardless of the opponent’s rank. This effectively conceals their presence completely. However, the Sidham Stone is not without its limitations. Its invisibility effect has a finite duration, and its concealment can be disrupted by powerful external mana surges or by certain types of Scroll disturbances. Furthermore, the stone’s power is intrinsically linked to its bearer. Once bonded to an individual, it cannot be transferred or used by another.

  After riding three lifts, descending through the byrinthine levels of the facility, they finally reached ground level. The ground floor was also a maze of intricate passageways. After navigating further, the Doctor stopped and pointed towards a room in the corner.

  “That’s your father’s room,” he said.

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Leon replied.

  “You’re welcome,” the Doctor said, then turned to leave.

  “Leon,” Alice said, “have you noticed something about the Doctor?”

  “Yeah,” Leon replied. “He’s been acting… normal.”

  “Yes,” Alice agreed. “Unusually normal.”

  “Whatever it is,” Leon said, “it’s not our concern. Come on, let’s go.”

  Upon reaching Albert’s front door, Alice suddenly tensed. “Shhh!” she whispered, pressing her finger to her lips. “Quiet. I hear something.” She pressed her sensitive ear against the thin metal door. “Come here, quickly!” she urged in a hushed voice, beckoning Leon. “Listen.” Leon leaned in, and through the door came the unmistakable sounds of passionate moaning. “Should we knock?” Alice whispered.

  “No, let them finish first.”

  “Alright then, we’ll wait.”

  They leaned against the wall. After thirty minutes of silence, Alice spoke softly. “Master, the sounds have stopped.”

  “How can you tell?”

  “I can hear it, somehow. Should I knock now?” she asked.

  “Let them rest first.”

  “But master, we have things to do too.” She held onto his long and rge possession and touched it gently.

  “Patience,” Leon said firmly.

  “Fine,” she pouted, stomping her foot.

  Five minutes ter.

  “Father? Are you there?” Leon called, knocking on the door.

  “Yes, son,” Albert replied from within. “Just a moment. I’m busy. I’ll be right there.”

  “Dad, I know,” Leon said. “No need to hide it. I’m not going to be angry. I just want to talk to you.”

  A moment of silence followed.

  “Alright,” Albert said finally.

  Moments ter, the door opened. But it was Monica who emerged.

  “Where’s Father?” Leon asked.

  “He’s resting inside,” Monica replied. “Come, walk with me.”

  They walked a short distance from the room.

  “Don’t worry,” Leon said. “I won’t say a word.”

  “Me neither,” Alice chimed in.

  “Well, I’m not worried about that,” Monica said. “Your father and I have a… history. But that’s not why you’re here, is it?”

  “No,” Leon confirmed. “I came because something’s been bothering me.”

  “I know what it is,” Monica said.

  “Really?” Leon asked eagerly. “Please, tell me.”

  Monica expined everything to Leon.

  “So that’s why,” Leon said, absorbing the information.

  “Now that you know,” Monica said, “you shouldn’t be angry with your father if he seems… distant.”

  “I feel sorry for Tiffany,” Alice commented. “She seemed to genuinely care for Albert.”

  “We survived,” Monica said, a note of pain in her voice, “but at the cost of my… dear friend’s life and this cursed scroll.”

  “Don’t bme yourself, Monica,” Alice said gently.

  “I’m trying not to,” Monica replied. “We’ve all suffered enough, and we’re trying to move on. But this… this brings it all back. I shouldn’t have let him do it,” she said, sadness evident in her expression.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Monica,” Leon reassured her. “You did what you could.”

  “But what am I going to tell your mother?” Monica asked, her voice trembling slightly. “She was afraid of this very outcome. I promised her I’d… manage things.”

  “I’ll talk to her,” Leon offered. “You don’t need to worry about it, Monica.”

  “Thank you,” Monica said, a grateful look on her face. She pced her hands on Leon’s shoulders. “Thank you for understanding. You’re truly… wise beyond your years.”

  “Could I speak with you privately, Monica?” Alice asked.

  “Of course,” Monica replied.

  “Leon, if you’ll excuse us,” Monica said.

  “Certainly,” Leon said.

  Monica and Alice walked through the byrinthine corridors.

  “Monica,” Alice began, “after you told us about your past, I realized how important every member of the team is. Is that one of the reasons you… care for Albert?”

  “I… cared for him from the very beginning,” Monica admitted. “But I’m also a member of the Holy Church. And the Church forbids polygamy. So, I couldn’t be with him. I truly wanted to marry him, but I also couldn’t leave the Church.”

  “Why not?” Alice asked. “What would happen if you quit?”

  “It’s not that simple,” Monica expined. “You can resign anytime, without any real obstacles. You just submit a letter to the Holy Maiden, stating your intention to terminate your membership, and that’s it—you’re free to go. But then comes the difficult part. The System will remove your Light attribute. So, if you have, for example, Light, Fire, and Earth attributes, your Light attribute—which is essential for healers—will be taken away.”

  “Is ‘Holy’ the same thing as the ‘Light’ you mentioned?” Alice asked.

  “Holy is just a title,” Monica crified. “Light itself is the source of healing power, buffs, and curse nullification.”

  “So what’s the connection between Light and the Holy Church?”

  “The Holy Church is the only pce where you can properly train your healing powers, buffing abilities, and learn about curses and how to nullify them. Unlike others, who can train anywhere and anytime they want, healers are different. The System has designated the Holy Church as the sole training ground for healers. So, to train, you must be a member. But the Church has rules, in addition to training. One of them is monogamy.”

  “Oh, I understand now,” Alice said. “But… having affairs—is that allowed by the Holy Church?”

  “It’s tolerated, as long as you don’t marry the person,” Monica replied. “But the problem is, you can’t have a child with them.”

  “What if you do have a child, though?”

  “The System itself will intervene. It will remove your Light attribute, simultaneously stripping you of your status as a healer and expelling you from the Holy Church.”

  “What exactly is this System, anyway?” Alice asked.

  “The System is believed to be the ultimate creation of our god,” Monica expined. “But no one truly understands it. If anyone does, it would be the Krynn’s Tutege.”

  “The Krynn’s… what?” Alice asked, confused.

  “Don’t worry about it now,” Monica said. “You’ll learn about them eventually, as you travel the world.”

  “Anyway, I have something to tell you, but I need to ask you something first,” Alice said.

  “Ask anything,” Monica replied.

  “It’s a bit personal,” Alice warned.

  “It’s fine,” Monica assured her. “As long as I can answer.”

  “When you have intimate moments with your husband or Albert, what do you feel after they released their fluid?” Alice asked.

  “Hmm,” Monica thought for a moment. “Honestly, not much.”

  “Really? You don’t feel anything unusual?” Alice pressed.

  “No, just the usual feeling, like something’s filling your stomach,” Monica replied.

  “That confirms my suspicion,” Alice murmured to herself.

  “What suspicion? Can you tell me?” Monica asked, curious.

  “It’s nothing,” Alice hesitated.

  “Come on, tell me,” Monica urged.

  “Alright, but promise me you’ll keep it to yourself,” Alice said.

  Monica csped her hands dramatically. “As a member of the Holy Church, I, Monica Helshire Armatuv, vow never to disclose the information you are about to share.”

  “Okay, no need for theatrics,” Alice said with a pause. “Leon’s fluid has different properties.”

  “Can you eborate?” Monica asked, intrigued.

  “After it’s released inside me, I feel invigorated, as if his energy is flowing through me. It’s like he’s sharing his mana. It even works orally, though it’s less effective that way,” Alice expined.

  “Impossible! Are you serious?” Monica excimed.

  “I am,” Alice affirmed. “I believe this mana-sharing during intimacy has helped me endure those grueling, death-defying trainings.”

  “Really?” Monica asked, still skeptical.

  “Yes, madame. Another proof is Miss Alicia. She never trained in any form of mana training, yet after being with Leon, she suddenly grew stronger. She’s now training with Penelope and will soon train here too,” Alice continued confidently.

  “I’ve seen that girl. She is so vigorous,” Monica acknowledged. “I don’t want to disappoint you, but I still find it hard to believe,” she admitted.

  After a pause, Alice had an idea. “Come with us.”

  “Don’t tell me you want me to be with him?” Monica asked, surprised.

  “Of course not. Just come with me, alright?” Alice reassured her.

  “Alright, let me inform Albert I’ll be out for a while first,” Monica agreed.

  Later, Monica found herself waiting few steps away outside Leon and Alice’s cell. What is she doing in there? she wondered.

  Alice vigorously sucked Leon’s possession. When it about to finished, she quickly transferred everything into medium sized container where all of Leon’s fluid ends up.

  “What are you doing?” Leon asked, baffled.

  “Just wait here master, whatever you do, don’t go out okay?”

  Alice emerged from the room, a medium-sized container in her hands. She closed the door behind her and strode toward Monica.

  “Here!” She excitedly presented it to Monica, her eyes bright with anticipation.

  “What am I supposed to do with this?” Monica asked, staring at the unexpected offering.

  “Hurry, before master realizes what’s happening.” Urged on by Alice’s insistence, Monica hesitantly examined the container. To her surprise, she detected a sweet aroma. Is this really…? she thought.

  “Quickly!” Alice whispered, gncing nervously over her shoulder. Making her decision, Monica consumed the contents in three swift gulps. Immediately, she felt an unfamiliar energy coursing through her body. It reminded her of her first mana training, when her instructor had channeled energy into her. The sensation was warm and peculiar, and in her core, it felt like a powerful storm of energy.

  “How do you feel, Madame Monica?”

  “You were right. Leon is indeed different. Now I understand why you and Alicia are so devoted. This energy is incredibly potent.”

  “What you experienced, Madame, is nothing compared to receiving it directly inside your nether.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes,” Alice said firmly. “But don’t get any ideas. That privilege is reserved.”

  “Of course,” Monica replied, lost in thought.

  “What are you thinking about, Madame?”

  “Nothing. I should go now. Albert is waiting for me.”

  “Right. Goodbye,” Alice said.

  “Goodbye,” Monica replied.

  Inside the cell.

  “What took you so long?” Leon asked, furrowing his brow. “And why did you put my fluid in a container?”

  “Don’t ask too many questions, master,” she replied, her voice smooth as silk as she caressed his cheek. “I’m here now.”

  With that, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. In that moment, Leon’s worries melted away, repced by a flood of warmth and desire.

  The next day: Brain Awakening.