Chapter 199: The Multiple Abilities And The Discovery!
Neve still did not know what he wanted.
He wanted more than one ability since he did not know which single ability would be better for him. One ability felt limiting. One ability felt like it would not be enough.
"Maybe it would be better if I have everything," Neve said, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Call me greedy."
"Then have it," Cael said simply, like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Neve laughed at how easy Cael made it sound.
"I wish I had... everything?" he muttered quietly, testing the words out.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest.
Before he could collapse, Cael and Aldric held him up, their arms wrapping around him to support his weight.
The pain was sharp and intense and he felt it everywhere in his body. His entire being seemed to be burning from the inside out. He grunted, gnashing his teeth together as the pain slowly spread through him.
It hurt. It hurt so much more than the first time.
He had never believed it would hurt them this much. The pain was unbearable.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain slowly relieved itself.
He stood up properly, panting hard from the exertion.
"Are you alright?" Aldric asked, holding him even tighter than before. His bear strength made his grip feel safe and secure. "Would you like me to carry you to your bed? You should rest after all that."
"I am fine," Neve said, waving his hand dismissively even though his entire body was shaking. "I wonder what I have. I wonder what abilities I got."
"You can test it out later," Cael said, ever practical. He turned to Aldric. "Why do not you take the hot bath first? It will help relax your muscles after all that pain from the ability manifestation."
"Yes," Neve clasped his hands together eagerly. A hot bath sounded amazing right now. His body was sore and tired.
"Would you like me to fill it up with water and heat it up?" Ryker asked, his new fire and water abilities making him the perfect person for the job.
"Yes please!" Neve replied eagerly.
Popi suddenly walked over to them.
"Let us get in together, shall we?" Popi asked, tilting her head.
"Yes," Neve replied immediately, then his brain caught up with what she had said. "Wait... What?"
"Yay!" Popi lifted her hands in celebration, clearly excited about the idea.
"We are not getting in together," Neve said firmly, shaking his head. "You are a lady. It would not be appropriate."
"It does not matter," Popi said, waving off his concerns. "We are both getting dirty and need to wash. I will go get ready."
She left before Neve could say anything else or protest further.
Neve opened his mouth wide but no word could come out. He was shocked by her casualness about bathing together.
"Wh... Why do not you guys try to say something?" he asked, looking at the others. "Help me out here."
Cael shrugged.
"Do not worry. You will be fine, Neve. It is just Popi," he said.
Ryker finally finished heating the water.
"Is this hot enough?" he asked, checking the temperature.
"It is perfect," Neve muttered, feeling the heat radiating from the water. Ryker suddenly walked toward the entrance of the bathing room and gave him a thumbs up.
"Do not worry. I will try to keep Varek away from here so he does not accidentally come in while you two are bathing," Ryker said helpfully.
"That is not helping," Neve said but the others had already left, leaving him alone with the hot tub filled with steaming hot water.
He pulled his clothes off slowly and slipped into the water, using just a piece of cloth to wrap around his waist just in case Popi would come later. Even though he knew he would not feel anything seeing a lady’s body, since he was not attracted to women, he just could not be there completely naked with her.
The hot water felt amazing on his sore muscles.
"Ugh," he muttered, pulling out the system.
He went to the market and scrolled through the soap panel. He picked the cheapest one he could find. It was a bar of soap that cost 25 Bond Points. He could afford it now.
[System Purchase Confirmed]
[Total Bond Point: 75]
He unpacked it and washed the dirt from his body and hair. The smell of strawberry filled the entire bathing room. It smelled sweet and clean.
Popi suddenly entered the bathing area.
Neve’s eyes widened. He had thought she would come in naked, but she was not.
"Isn’t that...?" he started to say.
"I grabbed it from Kael’s things," Popi said. She had one of Kael’s clean fabric wrapped around her waist. It was long enough to cover her properly.
Neve smiled at her smartness. He had thought she would step in naked since nakedness did not mean anything here in the beast world. But Popi had grabbed something to wear.
At least Popi was wise about these things.
She stepped into the hot water carefully, getting used to the temperature.
"What is that sweet smelling stone? Can I eat it?" Popi asked, pointing at the bar soap in Neve’s hand.
Neve chuckled at her question.
"Use it to wash up and make sure it does not get into your eyes," he said, using the soap on his own body and hair.
"Oh," Popi said, taking the soap from him.
She started to use it on her arms, washing away the dirt and grime from the day.
But then she lost her grip on the slippery soap.
Before the soap entered the water and got lost, it floated in the air.
Just hovered there, suspended above the water like magic.
"Huh?" Popi’s eyes widened in shock. "I am not doing that. I am not using my telekinesis."
Neve stared at the floating soap, his hand still in the air from where he had instinctively reached out.
Realization crashed over him like a wave.
"I... I am," Neve said slowly, understanding dawning on him.
His hand was in the air and the soap was floating because he was using Popi’s ability. This was what happened when he said he wanted to have everything. This was what the talon powder gave him.
Multiple abilities.
He could use Popi’s telekinesis.
"Holy fuck," he mumbled under his breath.