The Healing Fruit.

" hey handsome, will you come with me?" A soft and delicate voice floated to Rune's ears. The voice was melodious, a contrast to the violence just exhibited.

The girl turned and walked in the direction she had appeared from.

....

Sigrid had wondered away from her group. She preferred being alone most of the time. Her being an elven halfblood didn't help either.

Elves were known as a solitary bunch in the human societies. They rarely interacted with the other races.

Her tranquility had been disturbed by a commotion not far away from the tree she was sitting on.

She frowned and carefully listened, a sharp keening sound of a sword being drawn got her on her feet.

She arrived at the place where three people; two against a pitiful handsome kid laying on the ground.

She was about to turn around when she head the bastards talking of cutting of the boy's tongue. Her hand flicked and one of the bullies signed a death contract.

One more flick and a twist of the wrist send the other sprawling on the ground. His legs completely severed on the knees. He screamed, fear twisting his confident demeanor.

She walked up to him and cut off his pitiful screams. His head rolled a few steps away before coming to a stop.

.....

Rune followed his young savior. They walked in silence until they came to a camp site.

There were four tents. One in the middle with three forming a triangle around it.

The middle tent was obviously for more wealthy youths, most probably the sons and daughters of those ministers and dukes.

Sigrid led him to the tent in the middle. The young men at the tent entrance visibly became alert when they saw her coming.

They saluted her as she entered. And they didn't even dare to stop the new face behind her.

In the tent. There was no one!

There were two bunk beds at the back, and before the beds, a big oval mahogany table with glasses of wine and some leftovers of fruits and unknown beast meat strewn all over it occupied almost all of the remaining space. Chairs embellished with beasts and flowers were scattered beside the table.

Sigrid walked to the bunk bed in the corner and took out a towel and a bar of soap. She gave Rune a signal and they went out, one in front of the other, in silence. One clearly wary and the other unperturbed.

After some time, when the sound of flowing water reached their ears, Sigrid turned to Rune.

" Here, take these. Take your time, I will be up here."

Rune took the soap and towel and headed for the river. After some time, he came back.

" You sure took your time, what were you still doing?"

Unfortunately I don't have male clothes with me. But those will have to do for now . Thought Sigrid.

" I was bathing"

Sigrid. Of course you bathed and your hair dried on your way here. How plausible. Unless he is a mage, but a mage wouldn't have been beaten black and blue by those good for nothing bullies.

" Care to introduce yourself now?"

" My name is Rune Sachem, what about you?"

Sigrid nearly burst out laughing. How brazzen of him to openly ask for her name. Even Dukes didn't dare say her name unnecessarily.

" You can call me Sigrid, all my friends do"

" Okay Sigrid, so where are you from? I have never seen such a..." He clamped his mouth and coughed, masking his running mouth

" Such a ?" Her lips curved into a smile.

Rune's heart nearly stopped beating. This Sigrid girl was very beautiful, beyond what he would have believed possible before seeing her. And here he was talking casually with her. Earlier, he had not really looked at her face fearing to provoke another noble brat.

His heart skipped and his mouth dried.

Cough cough! He coughed again to stead his emotions

"Uh I think I forgot what I wanted to say, will you let it go, please?"

She smiled! And she didn't hide it either!

It's been a long time since Sigrid had felt this way. The last time she smiled was before her father died. Ever since, she had never graced anyone with her smile. It was a treasure indeed.

And to think a peasant would make her smile and feel carefree! The heavens know how many young man had tried to no avail. Only in the presence of Princess Cassandra, her friend, had she ever felt this comfortable. There was just something about this Rune that attracted her.

"I hope you will one day remember and find the courage to tell me" she teased him.

Rune nearly choked on his saliva. He swallowed hard.

Sigrid laughed hard at him. The sound was a balm to his soul.

Rune: beautiful and too beautiful! A voice that is bewitching and laughter that was contagious.

He pinched himself. The pain was real. Meaning this is real.

" Now now, come closer so I can tend to your wounds. " Sigrid jumped from the tree she was sitting on, and lightly alighted on the ground.

Her hands described some complex gestures and Rune's clothes were as clean as new. No speck of dirt was left.

Then she took his hands into hers and chanted an incarnation.

A green light energy travelled from her hands into his. Rune felt the flow of this energy into his body. Wherever it passed, he felt better, less pain and discomfort.

Sigrid was astonished. How could he still be standing with such internal wounds. Some appeared to be years old and were festering from within. Her eyes stung. She couldn't bear to even think of what could have caused such damage to the body at such a young age.

She really looked at the young man before her with her soul power vision. She felt pity and pain. She wanted to help but knew she could only do so much.

The overall body damage was beyond her capabilities. She cut off the healing before she had even made a significant healing.

Rune was elated. A mage! A mage!

Rune: a mage , a noble, kind hearted, beautiful too, she even healed some of my wounds. Too bad I'm just a peasant. I can never get married to her , even in my wildest of dreams!

He stopped himself before his thoughts ran more wild.

"Thank you very much Sigrid, may the heavens look favourably upon your head" he sincerely thanked her.

" Stop being formal, here, eat this. Have it slowly. Its potency is for cultivators." She handed over a green fruit as large as half his head. Its peel had a capillary network of veins brimming with a golden juice. This fruit was known for its healing effect. A treasure a king would think twice before consuming, let alone giving it to someone else. A peasant at that!

Pop!

[ A healing fruit has been detected, would the host like to assimilate it? ]

Yes

[Assimilation in progress]

[ Assimilation complete]

[ The Primordial Rune Dragon is ready to manifest]

[ System Updation commenced]

[System Updation successful]

[System restarting]

Pop!

[ The system interface is now available for the host]

Open it

[Host → Rune Sachem ]

[ Race → human ]

[ Age → 12 ]

[Soul type → Silver ( upgradable)]

[ Soul strength → 27/100 ]

[Innate Attributes → Void Walker (passive), soul smithing (detecting, purifying, smithing), Runecraft ( Basic 0/100) ]

[System Manifestation Body → Primaeval Rune Dragon (dragonling) ]

[ Pet → Ridgeback Wolf (0/50 000 gold coins)]

Physical interface

[ strength → 25 /100]

[ speed → 14/100]

[ agility → 21/100]

[ resilience → 9/100 ]

Nothing has really changed except for an increase in strength from 12 to 24. My strength has doubled. Hmmm.

Skill interface

[artificing skill →0/100 ]

[sword skill →0/100 ]

[archery skill →0/100 ]

[ Healing skill → 14/100 ]

My refinement skill has been automatically replaced by Healing. System, why is it so?

[ The host has successfully activated his innate soul smithing attribute, which has three basic categories namely detecting, refining and smithing]

So refining is the same as purifying. I gained another skill, a healing skill. Not bad. This fruit must have been a treasure. I will repay this kindness and debt in the future.

System, there is another interface I never opened. Can you open it.

Pop!

[ System Store]

[Storage Space → 8m³ → half healing fruit]

[ Experience points →0]

[Wealth →0]

[Shop → closed]

[ NB, objects for sale will only be available after the host has reached the Soul Realm]