Chapter 286: 283 An encounter with the inexplicable
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Chapter 286 283: An encounter with the inexplicable
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fireballs exploded once they went inside the craters, not only producing noises so loud that they echoed intensely through the forest but also creating powerful, deafening waves that spread from the center of the craters, causing the land to quake.
As for the devils thrown inside the crater by Val's Void Force, they were caught squarely in the center of the blast and quickly became prey to the ravenous hellish flames sparked by the explosion of the fireballs.
As told before, these weren't ordinary flames; they were insatiable and voracious, always consuming whatever they latched on to with a fervor that left no trace behind.
Not to mention, the devils were unable to mount any form of resistance against the hellish flames due to Val's Void Force Skill's overwhelming dominance.
Kuagh!
Their agonizing screams filled the air, reminiscent of the wails of banshees, as they felt the indescribable pain of being devoured by those unforgiving flames while fully conscious.
The horror of their situation was palpable, and their desperate cries resonated with the torment they endured.
But as moments passed, a silence began to envelop the scene.
The screams, once loud and heart-wrenching, gradually faded away, signaling the end of their existence.
[System Notification! You have eliminated 4× Equus. Total
[EXP gained: 4,000.]
[Additional rewards: Bone Stave of Black Curses acquired.]
[This stave has the ability to absorb the force of corruption and release it as explosive skills that detonate upon contact with a tangible entity. Any individual caught within the radius of the explosion will have their soul completely eradicated!]
'Not bad,' Val thought in his mind as it was surprisingly rewarding to kill the donkey-faced devils who were only at the peak of level 3.
Twisting around, Val's eyes settled on the figure standing just behind him.
The sight that met his eyes was both unexpected and comical.
Oliver, usually so composed, now stood with his lower jaw dropped to an almost comical extent. It seemed as though it was on the verge of detaching from its hinges, threatening to break free from the boundaries of its current dimension and venture into an entirely different realm.
Oliver couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
The devils that had previously overwhelmed him, reducing his morale to a point where he felt it futile even to lift a finger in resistance, had been taken down by Val as effortlessly as one might swat away pesky flies!
Only one question echoed in Oliver's stunned mind was: Just how formidable has he become to be able to do something like that?
"Buddy, you there?"
Suddenly, Val snapped his fingers in front of Oliver's eyes, and the latter seemed to snap out of his daze and return to reality.
Oliver gazed at Val, his eyes shimmering with clear idolization, and with a tone of genuine admiration, he uttered, "Man, that was so cool."
'His gaze is saying more than that. But, oh well, I will save him the embarrassment and not point it out.'
Val had always been exceptionally adept at deciphering the thoughts swirling in a person's mind, almost like a seasoned reader navigating the pages of a familiar book. Besides, Oliver wasn't adept at hiding his true feelings. What he actually felt was usually evident on his face or in his eyes.
Thus, just like Eliana, Oliver was also like an open book to Val, extremely easy to read.
Through Oliver's expressive eyes, Val could discern more than just the evident idolization. Lurking subtly was a hint of envy, an emotion Val hadn't expected to see. He pondered over it, reflecting on their shared past. Eventually, he deduced that this envy possibly stemmed from the growing chasm in their respective strengths.
When they first met, Oliver was close to his level, but now he had left him in his dust.
Thus, it was only natural for Oliver to harbor a hint of envy, seeing someone he considered a peer surge ahead.
Val had studied human emotions extensively back in the Ironspire stronghold when he was still young and weak and could only obey his ruthless and shameless father's order, and it allowed him to understand Oliver's feelings, and out of respect and friendship, he chose not to address it directly, avoiding any chance of causing embarrassment.
He just hoped that Oliver would not let this emotion escalate further. Such sentiments, if left unchecked, could sour even the strongest of bonds, after all.
But he also didn't think it was something he needed to worry about as Oliver had a sensible and grounded nature. He trusted that Oliver would not let a fleeting feeling like envy get in the way of their friendship.
"It's nothing impressive." Val waved off Oliver's praise.
"After witnessing you single-handedly dominate a group of devils, I can't help but wonder, just how formidable have you become? What's the extent of your strength now?" Oliver asked with curiosity evident in his voice.
"I can confidently say I am stronger than almost every mid-rank wizard," Val replied with a contemplative look. "However, compared to a high-rank wizard, I am still a little bit lacking."
Val wasn't bluffing.
On top of being a mid-rank wizard, he had two different types of level 3 bloodlines coursing through his veins, several cursed artifacts, and trump cards, so he could totally sweep the floor with a mid-rank wizard.
Only top-notch wizards with a Domain and advanced-level bloodline users were a threat to him.
As for the others, if they dared stand in his way, they would be in for a beating for a lifetime!n--O/)v(/e/.L.)b).I-)n
'He is already so strong? Amazing. I wonder how strong he would grow in the future.'
Hearing Val's words, Oliver felt a mixture of shock, excitement, and awe. It was truly astounding to realize how powerful his friend had become. The revelation left him both stunned and thrilled, eager to witness the heights Val would reach in the future.
And while Oliver did feel a small amount of envy towards Val, it was insignificant in comparison to the immense pride and happiness he felt for his friend's accomplishments. In simpler terms, any jealousy he felt was overshadowed by his positive feelings of admiration for Val.
"Let's get moving and find a cave to spend the night in," Val said, surveying the surroundings with a vigilant eye.
Oliver nodded, also not wanting to remain in their current location a moment longer. After all, the recent battle had not been precisely quiet, and he felt that lingering would invite unnecessary trouble.
"You're right," he voiced his agreement with Val's suggestion in a voice edged with caution, "We should start moving, lest we encounter unsavory creatures."
The duo immediately began to traverse the dense forest, passing through towering trees and moving through thick foliage. Suddenly, the voice in their surroundings started to die out as if being muffled by a dark and insidious force.
Oliver completely missed it, but Val felt the change and thought something was amiss. He was about to alert Oliver when an ethereal melody wafted through the forest, echoing in their ears and deafening all the that came out of Val's mouth, stopping them from reaching Oliver.
The haunting melody echoing in the forest seemed to weave a spell around Oliver. His eyes grew distant, and he started walking towards the sound as if in a trance, completely hypnotized.
Val felt the melody's pull as well.
However, his unique Emotional Impairment stat greatly diminished its hypnotic effects, granting him enough time to save his life.
He knew what had targeted them.
It was the "Melody of the Moonlight."
He had heard about it back in the Lower City.
According to rumor, it was an alluring melody that put wanderers in a trance and led them into treacherous traps or right into the lairs of predatory beasts so that they would die!
The only way to overcome it was to not hear it!
Acting quickly, Val drew upon his invisible soul power from inside his arcane heart, creating earplugs that he promptly inserted, blocking out the sound.
As he was unable to hear it, he was naturally not affected by it.
But Oliver was not as lucky.
His focus shifted to Oliver, who continued his entranced march towards the source of the melody. Val used his heavenly eye and realized it was pulling him towards a horde of level 50 beasts. If nothing was done to stop it, Oliver would lose his life for sure!
"Oliver!" Val shouted, hoping to break his friend's trance, but nothing changed.
When his calls went unanswered, Val acted decisively.
He lunged forward, trying to restrain Oliver, but the melody seemed to have enhanced Oliver's strength. Oliver, with a force Val hadn't anticipated, pushed him away and began sprinting towards the sound.
"You asked for this, don't blame me for being rude," Val gritted his teeth. He activated the Void Force skill, targeting Oliver.
In an instant, Oliver was rooted to the spot, immobilized. Val dashed to him, hoisting Oliver over his shoulder effortlessly, like one might carry a sack of potatoes, then he ran in the opposite direction of the melody.
He didn't know the exact nature of the "Melody of the Moonlight," but he was certain of one thing: it wanted to lead them into a death trap, and since it failed the first time but still didn't stop, it was bound to try another way, and it was going to be more aggressive than the last one. They had to get away from it before comes for them!
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the fainter the melody became, and Oliver's trance started to wane.
Soon, the haunting Melody of the Moonlight was but a distant echo, and Oliver began to stir, his eyes slowly regaining clarity.
"Wha- what happened?" Oliver asked groggily, clearly disoriented.
Val sat him down gently and answered,
"You were ensnared by the Melody of the Moonlight. It's a phenomenon known to entrance wanderers and lead them to certain death. I saved you from it. You owe me one."
Oliver shuddered, realizing how close he had come to an unknown fate.
He looked up at Val and whispered, "Once again, you have saved my life. Thanks."
Genuine gratitude was evident in his voice, and a slight smile popped up on Val's face.
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Chapter 286 283: An encounter with the inexplicable
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fireballs exploded once they went inside the craters, not only producing noises so loud that they echoed intensely through the forest but also creating powerful, deafening waves that spread from the center of the craters, causing the land to quake.
As for the devils thrown inside the crater by Val's Void Force, they were caught squarely in the center of the blast and quickly became prey to the ravenous hellish flames sparked by the explosion of the fireballs.
As told before, these weren't ordinary flames; they were insatiable and voracious, always consuming whatever they latched on to with a fervor that left no trace behind.
Not to mention, the devils were unable to mount any form of resistance against the hellish flames due to Val's Void Force Skill's overwhelming dominance.
Kuagh!
Their agonizing screams filled the air, reminiscent of the wails of banshees, as they felt the indescribable pain of being devoured by those unforgiving flames while fully conscious.
The horror of their situation was palpable, and their desperate cries resonated with the torment they endured.
But as moments passed, a silence began to envelop the scene.
The screams, once loud and heart-wrenching, gradually faded away, signaling the end of their existence.
[System Notification! You have eliminated 4× Equus. Total
[EXP gained: 4,000.]
[Additional rewards: Bone Stave of Black Curses acquired.]
[This stave has the ability to absorb the force of corruption and release it as explosive skills that detonate upon contact with a tangible entity. Any individual caught within the radius of the explosion will have their soul completely eradicated!]
'Not bad,' Val thought in his mind as it was surprisingly rewarding to kill the donkey-faced devils who were only at the peak of level 3.
Twisting around, Val's eyes settled on the figure standing just behind him.
The sight that met his eyes was both unexpected and comical.
Oliver, usually so composed, now stood with his lower jaw dropped to an almost comical extent. It seemed as though it was on the verge of detaching from its hinges, threatening to break free from the boundaries of its current dimension and venture into an entirely different realm.
Oliver couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.
The devils that had previously overwhelmed him, reducing his morale to a point where he felt it futile even to lift a finger in resistance, had been taken down by Val as effortlessly as one might swat away pesky flies!
Only one question echoed in Oliver's stunned mind was: Just how formidable has he become to be able to do something like that?
"Buddy, you there?"
Suddenly, Val snapped his fingers in front of Oliver's eyes, and the latter seemed to snap out of his daze and return to reality.
Oliver gazed at Val, his eyes shimmering with clear idolization, and with a tone of genuine admiration, he uttered, "Man, that was so cool."
'His gaze is saying more than that. But, oh well, I will save him the embarrassment and not point it out.'
Val had always been exceptionally adept at deciphering the thoughts swirling in a person's mind, almost like a seasoned reader navigating the pages of a familiar book. Besides, Oliver wasn't adept at hiding his true feelings. What he actually felt was usually evident on his face or in his eyes.
Thus, just like Eliana, Oliver was also like an open book to Val, extremely easy to read.
Through Oliver's expressive eyes, Val could discern more than just the evident idolization. Lurking subtly was a hint of envy, an emotion Val hadn't expected to see. He pondered over it, reflecting on their shared past. Eventually, he deduced that this envy possibly stemmed from the growing chasm in their respective strengths.
When they first met, Oliver was close to his level, but now he had left him in his dust.
Thus, it was only natural for Oliver to harbor a hint of envy, seeing someone he considered a peer surge ahead.
Val had studied human emotions extensively back in the Ironspire stronghold when he was still young and weak and could only obey his ruthless and shameless father's order, and it allowed him to understand Oliver's feelings, and out of respect and friendship, he chose not to address it directly, avoiding any chance of causing embarrassment.
He just hoped that Oliver would not let this emotion escalate further. Such sentiments, if left unchecked, could sour even the strongest of bonds, after all.
But he also didn't think it was something he needed to worry about as Oliver had a sensible and grounded nature. He trusted that Oliver would not let a fleeting feeling like envy get in the way of their friendship.
"It's nothing impressive." Val waved off Oliver's praise.
"After witnessing you single-handedly dominate a group of devils, I can't help but wonder, just how formidable have you become? What's the extent of your strength now?" Oliver asked with curiosity evident in his voice.
"I can confidently say I am stronger than almost every mid-rank wizard," Val replied with a contemplative look. "However, compared to a high-rank wizard, I am still a little bit lacking."
Val wasn't bluffing.
On top of being a mid-rank wizard, he had two different types of level 3 bloodlines coursing through his veins, several cursed artifacts, and trump cards, so he could totally sweep the floor with a mid-rank wizard.
Only top-notch wizards with a Domain and advanced-level bloodline users were a threat to him.
As for the others, if they dared stand in his way, they would be in for a beating for a lifetime!n--O/)v(/e/.L.)b).I-)n
'He is already so strong? Amazing. I wonder how strong he would grow in the future.'
Hearing Val's words, Oliver felt a mixture of shock, excitement, and awe. It was truly astounding to realize how powerful his friend had become. The revelation left him both stunned and thrilled, eager to witness the heights Val would reach in the future.
And while Oliver did feel a small amount of envy towards Val, it was insignificant in comparison to the immense pride and happiness he felt for his friend's accomplishments. In simpler terms, any jealousy he felt was overshadowed by his positive feelings of admiration for Val.
"Let's get moving and find a cave to spend the night in," Val said, surveying the surroundings with a vigilant eye.
Oliver nodded, also not wanting to remain in their current location a moment longer. After all, the recent battle had not been precisely quiet, and he felt that lingering would invite unnecessary trouble.
"You're right," he voiced his agreement with Val's suggestion in a voice edged with caution, "We should start moving, lest we encounter unsavory creatures."
The duo immediately began to traverse the dense forest, passing through towering trees and moving through thick foliage. Suddenly, the voice in their surroundings started to die out as if being muffled by a dark and insidious force.
Oliver completely missed it, but Val felt the change and thought something was amiss. He was about to alert Oliver when an ethereal melody wafted through the forest, echoing in their ears and deafening all the that came out of Val's mouth, stopping them from reaching Oliver.
The haunting melody echoing in the forest seemed to weave a spell around Oliver. His eyes grew distant, and he started walking towards the sound as if in a trance, completely hypnotized.
Val felt the melody's pull as well.
However, his unique Emotional Impairment stat greatly diminished its hypnotic effects, granting him enough time to save his life.
He knew what had targeted them.
It was the "Melody of the Moonlight."
He had heard about it back in the Lower City.
According to rumor, it was an alluring melody that put wanderers in a trance and led them into treacherous traps or right into the lairs of predatory beasts so that they would die!
The only way to overcome it was to not hear it!
Acting quickly, Val drew upon his invisible soul power from inside his arcane heart, creating earplugs that he promptly inserted, blocking out the sound.
As he was unable to hear it, he was naturally not affected by it.
But Oliver was not as lucky.
His focus shifted to Oliver, who continued his entranced march towards the source of the melody. Val used his heavenly eye and realized it was pulling him towards a horde of level 50 beasts. If nothing was done to stop it, Oliver would lose his life for sure!
"Oliver!" Val shouted, hoping to break his friend's trance, but nothing changed.
When his calls went unanswered, Val acted decisively.
He lunged forward, trying to restrain Oliver, but the melody seemed to have enhanced Oliver's strength. Oliver, with a force Val hadn't anticipated, pushed him away and began sprinting towards the sound.
"You asked for this, don't blame me for being rude," Val gritted his teeth. He activated the Void Force skill, targeting Oliver.
In an instant, Oliver was rooted to the spot, immobilized. Val dashed to him, hoisting Oliver over his shoulder effortlessly, like one might carry a sack of potatoes, then he ran in the opposite direction of the melody.
He didn't know the exact nature of the "Melody of the Moonlight," but he was certain of one thing: it wanted to lead them into a death trap, and since it failed the first time but still didn't stop, it was bound to try another way, and it was going to be more aggressive than the last one. They had to get away from it before comes for them!
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the fainter the melody became, and Oliver's trance started to wane.
Soon, the haunting Melody of the Moonlight was but a distant echo, and Oliver began to stir, his eyes slowly regaining clarity.
"Wha- what happened?" Oliver asked groggily, clearly disoriented.
Val sat him down gently and answered,
"You were ensnared by the Melody of the Moonlight. It's a phenomenon known to entrance wanderers and lead them to certain death. I saved you from it. You owe me one."
Oliver shuddered, realizing how close he had come to an unknown fate.
He looked up at Val and whispered, "Once again, you have saved my life. Thanks."
Genuine gratitude was evident in his voice, and a slight smile popped up on Val's face.
Chapter 286 283: An encounter with the inexplicableBoom! Boom! Boom!The fireballs exploded once they went inside the craters, not only producing noises so loud that they echoed intensely through the forest but also creating powerful, deafening waves that spread from the center of the craters, causing the land to quake.As for the devils thrown inside the crater by Val's Void Force, they were caught squarely in the center of the blast and quickly became prey to the ravenous hellish flames sparked by the explosion of the fireballs. As told before, these weren't ordinary flames; they were insatiable and voracious, always consuming whatever they latched on to with a fervor that left no trace behind.Not to mention, the devils were unable to mount any form of resistance against the hellish flames due to Val's Void Force Skill's overwhelming dominance. Kuagh!Their agonizing screams filled the air, reminiscent of the wails of banshees, as they felt the indescribable pain of being devoured by those unforgiving flames while fully conscious. The horror of their situation was palpable, and their desperate cries resonated with the torment they endured.But as moments passed, a silence began to envelop the scene. The screams, once loud and heart-wrenching, gradually faded away, signaling the end of their existence.System Notification! You have eliminated 4 Equus. Total EXP gained: 4,000.Additional rewards: Bone Stave of Black Curses acquired.This stave has the ability to absorb the force of corruption and release it as explosive skills that detonate upon contact with a tangible entity. Any individual caught within the radius of the explosion will have their soul completely eradicated!'Not bad,' Val thought in his mind as it was surprisingly rewarding to kill the donkey-faced devils who were only at the peak of level 3. Twisting around, Val's eyes settled on the figure standing just behind him.The sight that met his eyes was both unexpected and comical.Oliver, usually so composed, now stood with his lower jaw dropped to an almost comical extent. It seemed as though it was on the verge of detaching from its hinges, threatening to break free from the boundaries of its current dimension and venture into an entirely different realm.Oliver couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. The devils that had previously overwhelmed him, reducing his morale to a point where he felt it futile even to lift a finger in resistance, had been taken down by Val as effortlessly as one might swat away pesky flies! Only one question echoed in Oliver's stunned mind was: Just how formidable has he become to be able to do something like that?"Buddy, you there?"Suddenly, Val snapped his fingers in front of Oliver's eyes, and the latter seemed to snap out of his daze and return to reality.Oliver gazed at Val, his eyes shimmering with clear idolization, and with a tone of genuine admiration, he uttered, "Man, that was so cool."'His gaze is saying more than that. But, oh well, I will save him the embarrassment and not point it out.'Val had always been exceptionally adept at deciphering the thoughts swirling in a person's mind, almost like a seasoned reader navigating the pages of a familiar book. Besides, Oliver wasn't adept at hiding his true feelings. What he actually felt was usually evident on his face or in his eyes.Thus, just like Eliana, Oliver was also like an open book to Val, extremely easy to read.Through Oliver's expressive eyes, Val could discern more than just the evident idolization. Lurking subtly was a hint of envy, an emotion Val hadn't expected to see. He pondered over it, reflecting on their shared past. Eventually, he deduced that this envy possibly stemmed from the growing chasm in their respective strengths.When they first met, Oliver was close to his level, but now he had left him in his dust.Thus, it was only natural for Oliver to harbor a hint of envy, seeing someone he considered a peer surge ahead.Val had studied human emotions extensively back in the Ironspire stronghold when he was still young and weak and could only obey his ruthless and shameless father's order, and it allowed him to understand Oliver's feelings, and out of respect and friendship, he chose not to address it directly, avoiding any chance of causing embarrassment. He just hoped that Oliver would not let this emotion escalate further. Such sentiments, if left unchecked, could sour even the strongest of bonds, after all.But he also didn't think it was something he needed to worry about as Oliver had a sensible and grounded nature. He trusted that Oliver would not let a fleeting feeling like envy get in the way of their friendship. "It's nothing impressive." Val waved off Oliver's praise."After witnessing you single-handedly dominate a group of devils, I can't help but wonder, just how formidable have you become? What's the extent of your strength now?" Oliver asked with curiosity evident in his voice."I can confidently say I am stronger than almost every mid-rank wizard," Val replied with a contemplative look. "However, compared to a high-rank wizard, I am still a little bit lacking."Val wasn't bluffing.On top of being a mid-rank wizard, he had two different types of level 3 bloodlines coursing through his veins, several cursed artifacts, and trump cards, so he could totally sweep the floor with a mid-rank wizard. Only top-notch wizards with a Domain and advanced-level bloodline users were a threat to him.As for the others, if they dared stand in his way, they would be in for a beating for a lifetime!n--O/v/e/.L.b.I-n'He is already so strong? Amazing. I wonder how strong he would grow in the future.'Hearing Val's words, Oliver felt a mixture of shock, excitement, and awe. It was truly astounding to realize how powerful his friend had become. The revelation left him both stunned and thrilled, eager to witness the heights Val would reach in the future. And while Oliver did feel a small amount of envy towards Val, it was insignificant in comparison to the immense pride and happiness he felt for his friend's accomplishments. In simpler terms, any jealousy he felt was overshadowed by his positive feelings of admiration for Val."Let's get moving and find a cave to spend the night in," Val said, surveying the surroundings with a vigilant eye.Oliver nodded, also not wanting to remain in their current location a moment longer. After all, the recent battle had not been precisely quiet, and he felt that lingering would invite unnecessary trouble. "You're right," he voiced his agreement with Val's suggestion in a voice edged with caution, "We should start moving, lest we encounter unsavory creatures."The duo immediately began to traverse the dense forest, passing through towering trees and moving through thick foliage. Suddenly, the voice in their surroundings started to die out as if being muffled by a dark and insidious force. Oliver completely missed it, but Val felt the change and thought something was amiss. He was about to alert Oliver when an ethereal melody wafted through the forest, echoing in their ears and deafening all the that came out of Val's mouth, stopping them from reaching Oliver.The haunting melody echoing in the forest seemed to weave a spell around Oliver. His eyes grew distant, and he started walking towards the sound as if in a trance, completely hypnotized.Val felt the melody's pull as well.However, his unique Emotional Impairment stat greatly diminished its hypnotic effects, granting him enough time to save his life.He knew what had targeted them.It was the "Melody of the Moonlight."He had heard about it back in the Lower City.According to rumor, it was an alluring melody that put wanderers in a trance and led them into treacherous traps or right into the lairs of predatory beasts so that they would die!The only way to overcome it was to not hear it!Acting quickly, Val drew upon his invisible soul power from inside his arcane heart, creating earplugs that he promptly inserted, blocking out the sound.As he was unable to hear it, he was naturally not affected by it.But Oliver was not as lucky.His focus shifted to Oliver, who continued his entranced march towards the source of the melody. Val used his heavenly eye and realized it was pulling him towards a horde of level 50 beasts. If nothing was done to stop it, Oliver would lose his life for sure!"Oliver!" Val shouted, hoping to break his friend's trance, but nothing changed.When his calls went unanswered, Val acted decisively. He lunged forward, trying to restrain Oliver, but the melody seemed to have enhanced Oliver's strength. Oliver, with a force Val hadn't anticipated, pushed him away and began sprinting towards the sound."You asked for this, don't blame me for being rude," Val gritted his teeth. He activated the Void Force skill, targeting Oliver.In an instant, Oliver was rooted to the spot, immobilized. Val dashed to him, hoisting Oliver over his shoulder effortlessly, like one might carry a sack of potatoes, then he ran in the opposite direction of the melody.He didn't know the exact nature of the "Melody of the Moonlight," but he was certain of one thing: it wanted to lead them into a death trap, and since it failed the first time but still didn't stop, it was bound to try another way, and it was going to be more aggressive than the last one. They had to get away from it before comes for them!The deeper they ventured into the forest, the fainter the melody became, and Oliver's trance started to wane. Soon, the haunting Melody of the Moonlight was but a distant echo, and Oliver began to stir, his eyes slowly regaining clarity."Wha- what happened?" Oliver asked groggily, clearly disoriented.Val sat him down gently and answered,"You were ensnared by the Melody of the Moonlight. It's a phenomenon known to entrance wanderers and lead them to certain death. I saved you from it. You owe me one."Oliver shuddered, realizing how close he had come to an unknown fate. He looked up at Val and whispered, "Once again, you have saved my life. Thanks."Genuine gratitude was evident in his voice, and a slight smile popped up on Val's face.
