[B1] Chapter 24: I won’t chain you to my fate
<<<<
[Ding!]
[You have increased your mastery with the Helltiller's Spade.]
[Your proficiency with the Helltiller's Spade has reached Level 2!]
[Your advanced skill now allows you to till a 5x5 area with the abyssal forces of the spade.]
>>>>
A soft smile spread across Theo's face as he read the messages. The advanced proficiency meant more land could be prepared at once.
Theo refused to let any distractions deter him from his tasks. As he mentally commanded the Sower's Abyssal Pouch, the demonic land soon saw a dance of potato seeds, each finding its destined spot.
With the seeds in place, he then directed the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can, which hovered in the air and rained down droplets of nourishing abyssal water, quenching the thirst of the freshly sown seeds. Both tools worked seamlessly, their usefulness on full display in the even spread of seeds and the wet soil.
Throughout this process, chimes of notifications tried to catch his attention, but the boy was busy looking at the beautiful performance by his farming tools.
Once satisfied with the job done, Theo finally allowed himself to glance at the notifications that had stacked up.
<<<<
[You have improved your mastery over the Sower's Abyssal Pouch.]
[Your proficiency with the Sower's Abyssal Pouch has reached Level 2!]
[With your heightened expertise, you can sow seeds with devilish precision across a 5x5 area.]
[You have honed your mastery with the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can.]
[Your proficiency with the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can has reached Level 2!]
[Your improved skill ensures that each drop of water from the Abyssal Well provides nourishment to crops over a 5x5 area.]
>>>>
His dedication was bearing fruit, and the advancements meant that he could cultivate more land with ease and efficiency. With the addition of the new seeds, he now had a total of twelve rows of potatoes.
With all the tasks completed, Theo stretched his arms, feeling the heavy toll of the day's choices more than the physical labor. "That should do it for now," he mumbled, eyes sweeping over the damp soil and newly watered crops. "Just a matter of waiting game now to see how these crops turn out."
He glanced over at Lilith and asked calmly, "So, Miss vampire, what's the plan now? Fancy a bit of fresh air outside, or do you prefer staying in this demonic farm?"
Lilith pouted slightly, shooting him an offended look. "I'm telling you, I'm not a vampire!!! But if you call me one, maybe I'll bite!” she warned. Then, moving closer to him, she added, "For now, I want to go outside."
Theo responded, "Outside it is then." With a swish of his hand, the [Portal] came to life , and they both stepped through, leaving the confines of the demonic farm behind.
Emerging from the portal, the burdens of the day started to weigh down on Theo. It wasn't the labor; his abyssal tools had managed the farm seamlessly. Instead, it was the exhaustion from his daily exercise quest.
"Feels like the day took more out of me than I expected," Theo commented, rubbing the back of his neck with a tired hand.
Stretching his hands, he added, "I need some rest," As he approached his bed, the temping comfort of the sheets beckoned, and he sank into them with a contented sigh.
On the other hand, Lilith positioned herself by the window. Her gaze fixated on the night creatures soaring in the sky and the fish darting in the waters below. A wistful expression crept onto her face; the freedom of those creatures showed her own yearning.
Even though she had escaped the confines of that basement and its chains, she was now bound to the boy through a new blood pact. The vastness of the world outside seemed so close, yet still slightly out of reach for her.
As she gazed longingly outside, a calm voice shattered the stillness, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the room. "Are you planning an escape? Don't worry, I'll take you out tomorrow. How far do you think you can get without me around?" The boy had propped himself up on his bed.
She turned her head, her eyes flashing with an intense gleam. "Actually I can wander wherever I please. But as your ever-devoted guardian, leaving you behind would be... tragic. It would tear me apart, thinking of all the dangers you'd face without me." Her voice held a protective fierceness and a touch of a madness.
Theo raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm, "Hmm, considering the strings attached in our blood pact, I'm starting to think I bagged a pretty sweet deal."
She huffed, her fangs peeking out as she spoke, "You know just how to push my buttons..."
In a more serious tone, Theo inquired, "So, how strong are you right now? I need to understand your strength."
Lilith twirled a strand of her hair, pondering for a moment. "Given our pact and my role as your guardian, my strength currently mirrors your rings and their level. That means... well, most of my powers are on the back burner. At the moment, I can only harness about thousandth of my full might. But, if you were to release me from this blood pact, maybe, just maybe, I could use it all?" The last part was almost a question, revealing her uncertainty.
"So, not quite the fearsome force of nature you once were, and uncertain if you can reclaim that title?" He raised an eyebrow, teasingly.
With a cocky smile, Lilith replied, "Give me time and a few treasures that I lost, and I'll be back at the top. At full strength, no one would stand a chance against me. I could annihilate anyone with just a casual flick in your human realm. I was the best, you know."
With a calm tone, Theo gently reminded her, "That was in the past, remember?"
Her eyes twinkled mischievously, "Just you wait. One day, I'll regain my peak power. But for that, I need you to level up, my precious mountain man. You can do that, can't you?" Her gaze turned hopeful, but when Theo remained silent, her expression began to cloud over, hinting at the tempest beneath.
Lilith's dejected voice inquired again, "You won't remain a level one forever, will you?" Her tone was filled with hope and uncertainty.
Receiving no response, desperation began to seep into her actions. With fast, almost frantic movements, she closed the distance between them and fiercely gripped his collar. Her eyes, usually playful and cunning, now burned with intense urgency and anger. "Tell me! I won't be trapped in this pathetic state forever!" Her frantic gaze searched his for an answer.
The girl's sudden action could've made anyone tremble in terror but rather than showing fear, Theo's gaze met hers with an icy stillness, sending an unexpected chill down Lilith's spine.
Drawing a breath, his words dripped with chilling certainty. "I don't have all the answers," he admitted, his voice deep and filled with a sadness she hadn't noticed before. "This world, these powers, it's all new to me. But know this, even if I'm doomed to remain as I am, I won't chain you to my fate. You won't remain bound here, I will set you free." His words hinted at an unspoken truth, a cruel twist of fate that had bizarrely designated him a farmer.
For a while, there was just silence between them, like words had run out. The room felt heavy, both of them caught up in the depth of their earlier exchange.
Lilith's heart ached, not just for herself but for the deep sorrow she saw reflecting in Theo's eyes. Releasing her hold, the girl took a few steps back, her gaze wandering to the outside, where stars twinkled brightly, so different from the storm of emotions brewing within her.
Theo, feeling all the burden of their talk, just sat for a moment, the silence around them speaking louder than words. After a bit, with a deep sigh, he leaned back and closed his eyes, as he decided to give in to the lure of sleep and let it carry him away.
Lilith sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. She sat there, watching over him, her feelings a mix of confusion, guilt, and a growing fondness she didn't quite understand.
[B1] Chapter 24: I won’t chain you to my fate
<<<<
[Ding!]
[You have increased your mastery with the Helltiller's Spade.]
[Your proficiency with the Helltiller's Spade has reached Level 2!]
[Your advanced skill now allows you to till a 5x5 area with the abyssal forces of the spade.]
>>>>
A soft smile spread across Theo's face as he read the messages. The advanced proficiency meant more land could be prepared at once.
Theo refused to let any distractions deter him from his tasks. As he mentally commanded the Sower's Abyssal Pouch, the demonic land soon saw a dance of potato seeds, each finding its destined spot.
With the seeds in place, he then directed the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can, which hovered in the air and rained down droplets of nourishing abyssal water, quenching the thirst of the freshly sown seeds. Both tools worked seamlessly, their usefulness on full display in the even spread of seeds and the wet soil.
Throughout this process, chimes of notifications tried to catch his attention, but the boy was busy looking at the beautiful performance by his farming tools.
Once satisfied with the job done, Theo finally allowed himself to glance at the notifications that had stacked up.
<<<<
[You have improved your mastery over the Sower's Abyssal Pouch.]
[Your proficiency with the Sower's Abyssal Pouch has reached Level 2!]
[With your heightened expertise, you can sow seeds with devilish precision across a 5x5 area.]
[You have honed your mastery with the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can.]
[Your proficiency with the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can has reached Level 2!]
[Your improved skill ensures that each drop of water from the Abyssal Well provides nourishment to crops over a 5x5 area.]
>>>>
His dedication was bearing fruit, and the advancements meant that he could cultivate more land with ease and efficiency. With the addition of the new seeds, he now had a total of twelve rows of potatoes.
With all the tasks completed, Theo stretched his arms, feeling the heavy toll of the day's choices more than the physical labor. "That should do it for now," he mumbled, eyes sweeping over the damp soil and newly watered crops. "Just a matter of waiting game now to see how these crops turn out."
He glanced over at Lilith and asked calmly, "So, Miss vampire, what's the plan now? Fancy a bit of fresh air outside, or do you prefer staying in this demonic farm?"
Lilith pouted slightly, shooting him an offended look. "I'm telling you, I'm not a vampire!!! But if you call me one, maybe I'll bite!” she warned. Then, moving closer to him, she added, "For now, I want to go outside."
Theo responded, "Outside it is then." With a swish of his hand, the [Portal] came to life , and they both stepped through, leaving the confines of the demonic farm behind.
Emerging from the portal, the burdens of the day started to weigh down on Theo. It wasn't the labor; his abyssal tools had managed the farm seamlessly. Instead, it was the exhaustion from his daily exercise quest.
"Feels like the day took more out of me than I expected," Theo commented, rubbing the back of his neck with a tired hand.
Stretching his hands, he added, "I need some rest," As he approached his bed, the temping comfort of the sheets beckoned, and he sank into them with a contented sigh.
On the other hand, Lilith positioned herself by the window. Her gaze fixated on the night creatures soaring in the sky and the fish darting in the waters below. A wistful expression crept onto her face; the freedom of those creatures showed her own yearning.
Even though she had escaped the confines of that basement and its chains, she was now bound to the boy through a new blood pact. The vastness of the world outside seemed so close, yet still slightly out of reach for her.
As she gazed longingly outside, a calm voice shattered the stillness, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the room. "Are you planning an escape? Don't worry, I'll take you out tomorrow. How far do you think you can get without me around?" The boy had propped himself up on his bed.
She turned her head, her eyes flashing with an intense gleam. "Actually I can wander wherever I please. But as your ever-devoted guardian, leaving you behind would be... tragic. It would tear me apart, thinking of all the dangers you'd face without me." Her voice held a protective fierceness and a touch of a madness.
Theo raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm, "Hmm, considering the strings attached in our blood pact, I'm starting to think I bagged a pretty sweet deal."
She huffed, her fangs peeking out as she spoke, "You know just how to push my buttons..."
In a more serious tone, Theo inquired, "So, how strong are you right now? I need to understand your strength."
Lilith twirled a strand of her hair, pondering for a moment. "Given our pact and my role as your guardian, my strength currently mirrors your rings and their level. That means... well, most of my powers are on the back burner. At the moment, I can only harness about thousandth of my full might. But, if you were to release me from this blood pact, maybe, just maybe, I could use it all?" The last part was almost a question, revealing her uncertainty.
"So, not quite the fearsome force of nature you once were, and uncertain if you can reclaim that title?" He raised an eyebrow, teasingly.
With a cocky smile, Lilith replied, "Give me time and a few treasures that I lost, and I'll be back at the top. At full strength, no one would stand a chance against me. I could annihilate anyone with just a casual flick in your human realm. I was the best, you know."
With a calm tone, Theo gently reminded her, "That was in the past, remember?"
Her eyes twinkled mischievously, "Just you wait. One day, I'll regain my peak power. But for that, I need you to level up, my precious mountain man. You can do that, can't you?" Her gaze turned hopeful, but when Theo remained silent, her expression began to cloud over, hinting at the tempest beneath.
Lilith's dejected voice inquired again, "You won't remain a level one forever, will you?" Her tone was filled with hope and uncertainty.
Receiving no response, desperation began to seep into her actions. With fast, almost frantic movements, she closed the distance between them and fiercely gripped his collar. Her eyes, usually playful and cunning, now burned with intense urgency and anger. "Tell me! I won't be trapped in this pathetic state forever!" Her frantic gaze searched his for an answer.
The girl's sudden action could've made anyone tremble in terror but rather than showing fear, Theo's gaze met hers with an icy stillness, sending an unexpected chill down Lilith's spine.
Drawing a breath, his words dripped with chilling certainty. "I don't have all the answers," he admitted, his voice deep and filled with a sadness she hadn't noticed before. "This world, these powers, it's all new to me. But know this, even if I'm doomed to remain as I am, I won't chain you to my fate. You won't remain bound here, I will set you free." His words hinted at an unspoken truth, a cruel twist of fate that had bizarrely designated him a farmer.
For a while, there was just silence between them, like words had run out. The room felt heavy, both of them caught up in the depth of their earlier exchange.
Lilith's heart ached, not just for herself but for the deep sorrow she saw reflecting in Theo's eyes. Releasing her hold, the girl took a few steps back, her gaze wandering to the outside, where stars twinkled brightly, so different from the storm of emotions brewing within her.
Theo, feeling all the burden of their talk, just sat for a moment, the silence around them speaking louder than words. After a bit, with a deep sigh, he leaned back and closed his eyes, as he decided to give in to the lure of sleep and let it carry him away.
Lilith sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. She sat there, watching over him, her feelings a mix of confusion, guilt, and a growing fondness she didn't quite understand.
