As I swam swiftly away, I knew Kaylie couldn’t follow without extinguishing the light, which was her only way to see underwater. Guided by Rabbit’s outlines of our previous explorations, I pushed through, hoping to find a safe passage that would lead us both out of this tunnel.

  As I pushed forward to the section we had previously reached, my progress was noticeably quicker this time. No longer encumbered by swimming alongside Kaylie, who had been holding the light and restricted to using only one hand, I could swim with greater efficiency. My strokes were more streamlined, slicing through the water with ease. However, each movement was measured and cautious, as the memory of my recently injured fingers was still fresh, warning against any recklessness.

  Miraculously, my fingers remained unscathed despite my swift pace. Gradually, a soft glow pierced the darkness, guiding me forward like a beacon. I followed this luminescence, swimming toward what I hoped would be salvation. My efforts paid off when the narrow passage suddenly expanded into a larger cavern.

  Breaking the surface, I heaved a sigh of relief and drew a deep breath. I coughed once, startled by the incredible rush in my chest. Oxygen had never tasted so good.

  I paused to catch my breath and take in the cavern around me. It was like a natural cathedral. The ceiling stretched high above, lined with stalactites that dripped steadily into the still water below. The surface was glass-smooth, broken only by the ripples I made. Through a narrow crevice far overhead, moonlight poured in, painting the walls in pale silver and revealing a narrow path that twisted upward into shadow. None of the openings were big enough for a person, but just seeing the sky again made me feel like I had already escaped.

  As I sat there, I reflected on our predicament. I had an advantage navigating back because Rabbit could visualize and outline the path for me. However, Kaylie faced a more formidable challenge. The pitch-black conditions meant she could either use one hand to hold a light, which would only get her so far before running out of breath, or cling to me, significantly slowing her progress. Either way, she wouldn’t be able to complete the journey alive.

  After some deliberation with Rabbit, we devised a straightforward solution. I retrieved the rope we had used for detecting traps. Thankfully, it had survived my numerous brushes with danger. I found a sturdy stalagmite and tied the rope around it, making a mental note to improve my knot-tying skills.

  When I dove back into the cold water, I trailed the rope behind me. It wasn’t very long, but it was enough to simplify the final stretch of the journey. Unfortunately, dragging the rope made my return swim more strenuous, and I panicked as I neared the air pocket.

  After surfacing, I gasped for air as if it were my last breath. Kaylie sat there, her smile lit by the faint glow in her hand. “You left without discussing our options. I was upset, but right now, I’m just relieved you’re alive.”

  Breathing heavily, I responded, “I’m glad to be alive too, but I did it to give you a chance, even if I risked drowning.”

  “Oh, I know. But you’re also an idiot. If I couldn’t reach the new place you found, how could I have made it back to the spiders?” Her words left me speechless. I had tried to be the hero, taking on the danger myself, but in reality, I had risked abandoning her. Noticing my shock, she added, “It’s fine. What’s the plan?”

  I explained that she would hold on to me and kick as hard as she could while I swam with my upper body. Near the end of our path, she would feel a tug on her arm. That would be her cue to grab the rope, and we’d both pull ourselves along.

  I wish I could say the plan executed flawlessly and effortlessly, but that wasn’t the case. Clumsily bound together, we moved slowly, and the rope bobbing in the water only added to our struggles. It was a closer call than I’d have liked, but in the end, we both made it through alive.

  When we arrived at the cave with the large pool, we both waded into the shallow end of the water and crawled onto the edge of the cavern where it sloped upward. It was darker here, but I didn’t see any spiders, and I assumed that they’d be intimidated by the amount of water down here, but I didn’t know.

  Once again, Kaylie was impressed by my ability to memorize what I had seen. I felt a little embarrassed about taking the credit for it, given that Rabbit was doing all the work, but I didn't want to reveal his existence. I thought if there were one person who might understand, it would be Kaylie, but I didn’t know what would happen if she found out. For all I knew, a person having two souls in one body could be a thing people killed on sight for. It was better not to take the risk.

  I grabbed my bag, pulled out two light sticks, handed one to Kaylie, and activated mine. This time, the light burst forth brightly, its beam far surpassing the dim glow of Kaylie’s light, which was only the size of a fingernail. Puzzled, I asked, “Why is your light so small?”

  “You’re one to talk,” she replied with a wink, her tone playful.

  “It’s cold,” I said, a bit too loudly given that we hadn’t yet scouted the area.

  As she kicked off her boots and began emptying the water from them, she explained, “It’s because I’m only at level 2 with this skill.”

  “Did you max out?” I asked, mirroring her actions in an attempt to get a bit drier.

  “Nope, you might not know this, but skill levels aren’t just about where you max out. It’s also about aptitude. Take drawing, for example. Some are born with a natural talent and improve with practice. Others may not have that natural skill, but they can still become proficient over time through dedication. Then there are those who will never progress beyond their initial ability, no matter how much they practice. That’s just how life is. It is a spectrum of capabilities. As for me, I was born with a remarkable aptitude for Fire Magic. I’ve never met another human who can match my progression in it. I use fire for illumination because it’s simply more effective than Light Magic, which I find doesn’t progress much for me. I could spend forever trying to improve it, but why bother?” Kaylie finished, standing up and wringing out her hair as best she could.

  “I see what you mean,” I replied, nodding thoughtfully.

  “I’m sorry you’re stuck with limited skills. That sounds tough, but your ability does seem amazing. I would love to be able to process information quickly,” she said, her gaze drifting into a daydream. “Imagine reading every book ever written! I adore reading. Sadly, I have only one ability, and it’s not useful anymore.”

  “What is it?” I coaxed, eager to learn more about her unique talent.

  She paused, giving me a thoughtful look as she considered the sensitive nature of my question. “You know, it’s usually considered taboo to inquire about someone’s abilities,” she continued, her voice soft yet cautionary. “Many people regard them as private or secret. Since I know yours and we’re friends, I don’t mind sharing. Just be careful about asking others in the future.”

  She then sighed softly, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. “My great-great-great-grandmother was suffering immensely toward the end of her life. The fire was consuming her slowly, making each moment unbearable. The heavens bestowed upon me the gift of Last Kiss. This ability allowed me to alleviate her pain for a full cycle of light and dark, a precious blessing that enabled her to spend her final years joyfully with her family. It only cost me my mana regeneration for that time. Since she passed, I haven’t found another use for it, but I wouldn’t trade what I was given for anything.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  That ability seemed uniquely suited to her circumstances, almost as if it were tailored specifically for her needs. I couldn’t help but wonder if all abilities were assigned based on necessity rather than distributed at random. Since such matters were often kept confidential, it was difficult to know for sure. In my own case, I had been granted the abilities of a first learner and Soul Absorption. Given the nature of the first learner’s ability, I understood that abilities could indeed vary based on specific circumstances. This made me ponder whether Kaylie’s ability had evolved to address her needs at the moment, rather than being something she was born with.

  I guessed it could always be a little of both. You might have been born with almost random abilities, while you could gain new ones later in life if there was a real need.

  Even after all that, there was one big question that had been nagging me. “How long do people live in this world? I thought only Elves had extended lifespans,” I asked, shocked by the realization that she had known her great-great-great-grandmother.

  Kaylie chuckled. “You’re funny. Typically, Humans live around seventy years if they make it to old age with just average stats. But those with powerful abilities can live much longer, and trust me, you wouldn’t want to mess with a Human over a hundred. They can be formidable opponents. Usually, they haven’t survived that long by being overly friendly.” She paused, a hint of mischief in her smile. “However, I’m not entirely Human,” she added.

  My jaw dropped in surprise. I peered at her more closely, searching for any typical Elven traits like pointed ears, but found none. As I scanned her body, I realized it might not have been the best moment for such a thorough examination. Kaylie had just finished removing her armor, minimal as it was, consisting only of leg and arm bracers along with her boots. She was now unbuckling her pants. Despite the timing, I watched intently, trying to spot anything unusual that might hint at her non-Human heritage.

  She continued, “Would you stop that? I am 100 percent Human in appearance, so please don’t look at me like I’m a freak. I am just part Ash Nymph.”

  My mind reeled at her revelation. “Did you say Nymph? You’re part Nymph…” My words faltered, trailing off incoherently. Trying to appear casual and mask my surprise, I mimicked her actions absentmindedly. Before I fully realized it, I was also taking off my pants. As I became aware of what I was doing, embarrassment washed over me, but there was no turning back now, especially since she had already removed hers.

  “Yes. Good, you know about Nymphs. There are many types. The Ash Nymphs, for instance, are born with fire deep within their souls. That’s why I have such a strong connection to Fire Magic.” To demonstrate, Kaylie whispered a word of power, and flames danced over her hand without burning her, as if she controlled them with mere thought.

  At this moment, all I noticed was Kaylie in a plain shirt. Though it was simple and unrevealing, the shirt hinted at her perky form, subdued only by the sturdy fabric. Clearly, it was designed for durability, rather than comfort or style.

  But something about this still didn’t add up. “Wouldn’t everyone have strong powers if different races could breed? I mean, why wouldn’t there be a ton of half-breeds out there with a combination of powers?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around it.

  Kaylie extinguished the fire in her hand. “There’s a complicated answer and a simple one. Let’s use my lineage as an example. If a Human and a Nymph fell in love and spent their lives together, they might, and I stress might, produce a baby within that Human’s lifetime. Meanwhile, a Human coupled with another Human could have a dozen babies in the same span. Offspring from two Humans would be entirely Human and capable of reproducing just as prolifically. However, the half-Nymph and Human most likely could produce two or more kids within a Human’s lifetime with either a Nymph or a Human, with the same results. As you mix with one race or another and purify the lineage, it becomes easier to produce offspring more typical of the other race.

  “As you can see, being a hybrid significantly reduces your chances of reproduction. If you’re fortunate enough to find another hybrid, those are your best odds, but such matches are rare. And as for magical powers, they’re not guaranteed. My brother, for instance, has no affinity for Fire Magic but has a strong connection to Earth Magic, which is a latent ability in all Nymphs. My children might not inherit my powers, but marrying a Human wouldn’t pose much of a problem in having kids since I’m far removed from my Nymph heritage,” Kaylie concluded.

  After contemplating her explanation, it started to make sense. I had initially imagined that all the races might eventually merge into one super race through interbreeding, but it appeared that fertility rates declined when races mixed. I was curious about the outcomes if a hybrid were to cross with another race. It would be fascinating to observe, yet according to her breakdown, a considerable amount of luck was required to make such pairings happen.

  “So, your Nymph ancestor only had one child?” I asked, thinking that was a little sad.

  “Nymphs don’t breed as you might assume, so it’s not the best example. I was merely trying to illustrate the complexities of different races mating,” Kaylie said without elaborating. If she didn’t want to tell me about their mating habits, then I wasn’t going to press the subject, especially not when we were half-naked.

  I had followed Kaylie’s lead and only had my shirt on as well. As it was still night, it was cold. I don’t think it would have been fun staying in those wet clothes for too long. Seeing that my questioning was done, she started to take off her shirt. To avoid an awkward situation, I invested my interest in piling up my clothes and taking off my shirt as well, looking anywhere but in the direction she was.

  “You want to lay them flat on that rock,” Kaylie suggested, and I had to look in her direction to find where she was pointing.

  It was a flat, smooth rock jutting out of the ground, large enough to lay our clothes flat on comfortably. I gathered the clothes and turned my back to her, intently laying our clothes out flat with so much focus that it didn't deserve. My cheeks warmed with a tinge of embarrassment, though Kaylie seemed unfazed by the situation.

  I wondered if she saw me as just a naive child. It felt that way, especially today, as I bombarded her with questions that might seem foolish or obvious to anyone familiar with this world. Today, I asked her how babies were made, and although it was embarrassing, I still needed the information to adapt to living here.

  “Stand back,” Kaylie suddenly said, pulling me from my thoughts as I stood there lost in reflection.

  “Sorry.” The second I got out of the way, a massive amount of fire started burning up the air above the clothes. I could feel the heat from the flames on my face. The intensity of it could dry the clothes in this cool and damp environment.

  After a minute, the flames stopped burning. Kaylie must have had a massive mana pool to burn that long. She had more powerful spells, and I wondered what they could do. Of course, she wasn’t trying to use her full strength, but she cooked the clothes enough to prevent them from burning or charring.

  I approached the clothes and tried to grab one, but burned my knuckle on the rock. Whoops. Yeah, I guess fire makes things hot. Gosh, I need to focus.

  The clothes were still damp, so I flipped them over and shifted them to a different spot on the rock. Kaylie formed another burst of fire, this time lasting just 40 seconds before she stopped.

  “I’m out,” Kaylie said, sighing. “That’s the best we are going to get unless we find Sana.”

  “Sana? She has better fire abilities than you?” I asked, mildly surprised.

  “No,” Kaylie replied with a hint of disdain. “She has Air Magic, if you don’t remember.” I did recall her using Air Magic against that Water Hippo.

  “Good point,” I acknowledged. We then swapped our birthday suits for clothing that was warm yet oddly damp in places.

  “You look like you’re poison-free. Ready to move?” Kaylie asked.

  I did a quick assessment of myself and then consulted Rabbit to verify.

  “You are clear. Additionally, it seems you’ve developed some resistance to the poison,” Rabbit informed me.

  I willed up my resistances on my character screen and saw it.

  Resistances: Mental 20%

  Cytotoxic Venom 16%

  Carbinium Cytotoxic Spider Venom 22%

  “What the heck does that mean?”

  “There isn’t just one type of spider venom. There are four main variations. Cytotoxic venom is a type that localizes at the site of the bite. In my opinion, it is the weakest type. From the prompt, you have a 16 percent resistance to any type of localized venom, but with this particular spider, you would have a 22 percent resistance. That is most likely due to the variations in the type of venom, even though it may also be a Cytotoxic venom,” Rabbit explained, and it made me wonder.

  Firstly, I pondered if I could find other types of venoms and inject myself with them to try to increase my resistance. Then I remembered that some of them attacked the brain, and I immediately realized how stupid that idea was. I had a remarkable ability to heal, but there are some things the body couldn’t recover from, even with enough time. I shouldn’t take the risk of assuming that my healing ability would be able to survive anything.

  I spoke out loud to Kaylie, “Yes, I am clear. I also got a slight resistance from the spider’s venom. I think they are called Carbinium Spiders.”

  “Never heard of them,” Kaylie replied. “We should ask Sana if she knows anything. She knows a lot about little things.”