It's honestly scary what [Charm!] magic can do. While seemingly average and boring, if used properly it can even cause the target to see things that are not present.
There is obviously a limit to what charm magic is capable of, given it is the least most used spell in the entirety of Zarraf. That is because it depends not only on the user's charm levels but also on the enemy's resistance and will power.
Even with the slightest bit of disturbance, the charm magic can wear off, making the caster vulnerable. Plus, investing in [Charm] isn't really that much of a plus point compared to other abilities.
Only psychopaths and manipulators do that. Or races who really excel in it. Or perhaps someone like me?
"Spirit of healing?" I asked as I looked at them. I made a confused face, while my eyes urged them to tell me more about it. And sitting there, I waited for them to speak more.
Do I know about it? Yes. Was I going to tell them about it? Nope. For now, I would stay silent about these things and see what I can get out of it.
Geralt pondered for a few seconds before speaking.
"It's apparently an elixir that heals all ailments. It can cure any and all diseases."
'It can do far more than that,' I thought as I nodded at him.
[Spirit of Healing] was an elixir that the players took to permanently increase their [Constitution!] and [Health Regeneration!]. It can remove all curses, all debuffs, and can give you a minor blessing in case you are lucky.
It's a shame though that [Spirit of Healing!] only works on certain races like elves and dryads. I wonder if these people know about that limitation of the elixir.
"So here is what happened. The Viscount's youngest child happened to be cursed recently at the hands of an old witch. The Viscount arranged for this elixir to cure the child. He even sold at least half the assets of this city just to get his hands on the elixir. But here is the thing…"
He looked at Aisha with a slight glare before continuing,
"As the delivery was being made, a certain sand witch jumped in and stole that elixir. And she sold it for a couple of gold coins to a scammer who is affiliated with the [Black Spider!]."
"Hey! I was told that the container had the [Mermaid Emeralds!]. Had I known about that elixir, and that it was connected to the Viscount, I would have never taken the job. You know I don't interfere with him and his deals, don't you?" Aisha joined in, while I gave it a bit of a thought.
"Doesn't change the fact that what you did was against the law," Geralt gave a narrowed look at Aisha, making her shut up, before he turned back to me.
"So. Do you think you can help us with this?"
I looked at these two arguing, trying to prove their own point. But that didn't decrease the amount of loopholes in this story. Where did they get the elixir from? Who was that scammer? And what is their proof that it was related to the [Black Spiders!]?
I honestly felt like they were entangled in some sort of web, half of their knowledge is based on a lie, and the fact they didn't even know about it… I wanted to call them idiots, but my senses were telling me that there was more to this than it seems.
If I were to be precise, then…
'It's as if I am playing a game with an invisible person behind the scenes,' I thought as I narrowed my eyes at Geralt and then at Aisha. Then, after giving it a bit of a thought, I decided it would be better to start everything one step at a time.
"Not really. There are too many loopholes in this." I shrugged my shoulders a little as they gave a saddened look. Though I hadn't finished yet,
"Firstly. We don't even know who that scammer was. Was he really affiliated with [Black Spiders!] or not? That organization doesn't really work in these parts, you know?"
While it was a bit boring, and a teeny bit exhausting, I still gave it a go for the strange feeling that I was getting.
Standing up, I walked towards one of the windows that was showing the beach. It was truly a pleasant sight to see. Relaxing, to be precise. Yup, this was the scene that I was longing for. Truly a great place for vacations.
"Then there is the fact that is the elixir, even with that scammer or somewhere in a different town or something? How bad is the condition of that kid? How long can he last?" I asked as I kept gazing outside.
While [Charm!] would have surely worked, letting me inside this place. It seriously wouldn't have been crazy like this. This could only mean two things. Either they were already charmed by someone beforehand with the same conditions… hard pass…
And the other was that they were already thinking about the same thing. Or something similar.
'A guess would be that they were lacking time and were desperately looking for any lead they could get,' I thought… no, I was pretty sure this was it.
"We… don't have much time. The healers said that he can live a few more days at best," Geralt spoke, making Aisha a bit more guilty than before.
Knew it.
"And the most important question. Do you have any leads?" I asked, while Geralt tightened his fist. He pursed his lips a little in frustration while I sighed.
I then wondered how I should make the best of this situation. Was there any way I can use this to connect with the players? Or should I just make the Viscount owe me?
'I already have the Goddesses on my side. Anyone else in this kingdom won't be as important to Adam,' I thought, as I didn't really have a reason to save this child.
Or perhaps I should just do it without any reason?
"Take me to that child," I spoke as I thought at the very least I should see him. Whatever decision I would make for whatever reason, I should do it after looking at that child.
"Huh?" Geralt then turned to me with a question filled gaze. Aisha too was the same, as she looked at me.
[Charm!]
"I can't save him. But at the very least, maybe I could prolong his life," I spoke as I observed him while looking at the endless sea in front of me.
Their eyes lit up as they looked at me. Geralt then asked again,
"Are you sure about that?!"
"Yeah. I am," I gave a reassuring smile, making him brighten up to the point where he looked 5 years younger.
"Then let's go. He is in the upper rooms here," Geralt said before he stood up and began moving, while I walked one step at a time. Aisha, who just stood there, looked at me and Geralt.
She seemed a little stupefied while looking at Geralt before she sighed, mumbling," if he messes up, then it's his problem."
I smiled on the inside as I understood what she meant before we all reached up to the place where the kid was. That room had a big doorway, from where an eerie energy was leaking.
My eyes narrowed as a small smile crept up the corner of my lips. This eerie feeling… This aura that was leaking out was something that I was familiar with. Something that was too personal to me in my previous life.
-Creak!
The door opened up, and inside lay a strange aroma covering the entire room. A dark charred aroma that seemed enchanting as well as deadly at the same time.
Both Geralt and Aisha covered their faces for a moment before they slowly went in, while I moved behind them into the room, towards the bed where that boy was lying. In fact, before they could tell me anything, I moved past them.
Reaching towards the bed, I saw the boy whose body was mostly blackened except for his face, that was slowly decaying as well. It was a miracle that this kid was even alive right now.
"Do you think you can do something?" Geralt asked, but I was a bit absorbed looking at that boy.
"Josh?" Geralt asked again, calling me out.
And moving towards that kid, I began speaking,
"You are mistaken about three things, Geralt."
Both Geralt and Aisha heard my voice with a bit of confusion. They wondered what I was talking about now.
"It's not a curse but an enchantment. Where the body will kill itself if it doesn't get the right drug to stop it. And it's not an old witch that did it to him… it was the Sin of Lust," I spoke as I saw that status of his, with my smile getting wider.
[Name: Rheiner Hamilton
Race: Half Human- Half Merman
Level: 62
Health Points: 14,000/123,000
Mana Points: 200/ 45,000
Status: Enchanted! (Sin of Lust)!
Description: The boy, once thought to be the future beacon of hope between the mermaids and humans, was caught in the crossfire. The Sin of Lust, the exiled Mermaid Queen, enchanted this boy to loath both the humans and the mermaids.
Skills*
Stats*]
"What?!" X2
Both Aisha and Geralt were shocked to hear that, while I smiled as I spoke.
"And the third thing. I lied about delaying his death."
And those two panicked as they observed me. But it was already too late…
"[Threads Magic: Greater Uncurse!]" I mumbled, as I couldn't help but be excited at the chaos I could possibly create with just this much information.