Chapter 138: The Magic Power Awakening!
Neve was still panicking with Sable unconscious on the floor.
His chest and eyes stung so badly that he almost felt like crying. Hot tears were threatening to spill over as he stared at the motionless fox.
He had given the same powder to Cael before and Cael had not gotten affected like this. Cael had survived the poison with it. Cael had recovered completely. So why was Sable collapsing like this?
What was different?
"Neve?" Popi walked into the room suddenly, her eyes going wide in shock at what she saw.
Neve pulled his hand from his face and looked at Popi. Tears were streaming down his cheeks now. His entire body was shaking with fear and guilt.
"What happened?" Popi asked, stepping into the room quickly. Her eyes moved between Neve and the unconscious fox lying on the stone floor.
"I don’t know," Neve said, sniffing in and trying to compose himself. "He tasted the talon powder and is suddenly... became like this. He just collapsed."
Popi knelt down in front of Sable and checked if he was still breathing. She placed her hand in front of his nose and mouth, feeling for any air movement.
"He’s breathing," Popi said, giving Neve a reassuring nod. "That’s a good thing. Don’t worry, he’s not dead. If he had died, we’ll just bury his body or something."
"How mean!" a voice suddenly said.
Sable spoke and Neve gasped in absolute shock.
The fox’s eyes opened slowly. He sat up, touching his head like he was in pain or confused about what had just happened.
Neve was so excited that he wrapped his arms around Sable without thinking. The gesture was pure relief and joy that Sable was alive and awake.
Sable’s entire body tensed immediately. His face flushed bright red. He was clearly not used to physical affection like hugging. He cleared his throat awkwardly and Neve pulled back immediately, realizing he might have made Sable uncomfortable.
"Are you okay?" Neve asked urgently, scanning Sable’s face for any signs of injury or distress. "How do you feel? I thought the powder poisoned you. I thought you were dying."
Sable flexed his fingers, looking at his own hands with wonder.
"No, it didn’t poison me," Sable said slowly, staring at his palm like it belonged to someone else. "Surprisingly, I feel fine. More than fine actually. I feel..."
He trailed off, looking at the dragon talon that was still in Neve’s hand.
"I feel powerful," he said finally. "I feel like something changed inside me."
Popi folded her hands across her chest, clearly unimpressed.
"You’re already powerful enough," Popi said, her voice matter-of-fact. "You’re an assassin. You’re supposed to be powerful. It would probably be better if we just bury you and save ourselves the trouble."
"Do you want me dead or what?" Sable frowned at Popi, clearly offended by her casual suggestion about his death.
"Now, now, let’s calm down," Neve said, smiling as he waved a hand between them in a peaceful gesture. He was trying to prevent any conflict between Popi and Sable.
"Since Sable feels better and... powerful, I’ll just go back to making my medicine. I need to finish gathering the powder."
"Wait!" Sable said suddenly, holding Neve’s hand before he could move.
His grip was gentle but firm. His fox eyes were serious.
"I don’t think you should take it," Sable said, his voice carrying genuine concern. "Even though I felt powerful, it’s almost like something inside me unlocked. I don’t think it’s a good thing if you’re pregnant. I don’t know what would happen if a pregnant person took this powder."
Neve’s heart rate slowed as he considered Sable’s warning.
"Really?" he asked, looking at the talon powder in his hand.
Sable nodded firmly.
Neve frowned. He lowered his head, thinking hard about alternative solutions. He needed something that would help with his pain. He could not take normal herbs because they might affect the cubs. It was difficult to find anyone that could provide medicine that would not harm a pregnant man because of the snow and the cold.
He then lifted his head to the side, staring at the system notification that was hovering in his vision.
’Hey,’ he called to the system mentally. ’Do you believe what Sable just said? Is he right? Will the powder harm my pregnancy?’
The system responded.
[I’m unable to give clear answers due to low level, host!]
Neve frowned, rolling his eyes at the vague response.
’Wait,’ he thought back to the system. ’You said clear answers. Then, rate the fact in what Sable said. What’s the probability that the powder will harm my pregnancy?’
There was a long pause.
Then a notification appeared.
[...]
[30%]
30%. That meant there was only a 30% chance that the powder would actually affect his pregnancy negatively. That meant there was a 70% chance that it would be safe.
Neve smiled at the reassuring number.
He gently pulled his hand from Sable’s grip, but kept his fingers intertwined with the fox’s for a moment longer.
"Don’t worry, Sable," Neve said softly, and trailed his fingers delicately around Sable’s neck in a gentle caress. "Nothing is going to happen to me. After all, the talon is from my mate. Nothing about Vaelthorn or his gifts will ever harm me."
Sable saw Neve’s determination and confidence. He seemed to accept the reasoning.
"If you say so then," Sable smirked. "I won’t stop you."
.
.
Neve went back to scratching the dragon talon, continuing to gather the powder in his hand.
This time, Popi stepped closer and watched him work.
When he had gathered enough powder, Popi did something unexpected. She took a scoop with her own finger and tasted the powder before Neve could warn her.
"There’s nothing wrong with..." Popi started to say.
But then her body convulsed. She crashed to the floor the same way Sable had done. Her body went rigid. Her eyes rolled back.
Neve shook his head in resignation.
"What exactly is this talon doing to them?" he asked himself, wondering why everyone who tasted the powder was reacting so dramatically.
He waited, watching over Popi carefully to make sure she was still breathing.
When she finally came to, Popi stood up slowly, scanning her body with wonder and shock written all over her face.
"I felt it," Popi gasped, her confused expression still clear. "The power that jerk Sable was talking about."
"I’m still standing here you know," Sable frowned at being called a jerk.
Popi ignored him completely.
"It’s not strength, Neve," she said, her voice filled with amazement. "It’s not physical power or muscle strength like I was expecting. It’s something different."
"What do you mean?" Neve asked, his curiosity fully piqued.
"It’s magic power," Popi said, her shocked and confused expression never leaving her face. "The talon gave us magic power."
Neve’s breath caught in his throat.
"Huh? Magic... power?" Neve choked.