28. The Conclusion of the Tale of the Black Forest
“Why… do you sound so surprised? I thought you had faith in .” Frost could hardly believe it herself as she reached a sudden catharsis. “… not that I can bla you. It’s… over, huh. Aha… I’m so tired…”
“… thank you, Frost. Thank you for your hard work.”
“The pleasure… was mine. And besides, don’t thank for trying to survive.” She deeply exhaled; her voice now more somber than ever.
The emotions that drove her forward faded away almost instantly now that the battle was over. What she was left with was the warmth of Jury’s hands as she watched the golden feathers sway in the air like leaves to…
To what? A wind? No. It was a breeze. A cool, winter air brushed by them from a world beyond this dark place. Frost couldn’t find exactly where it ca from. The world was still so dark.
Regardless, they slowly approached the body of the One Thousand Eyed Bird.
It was strange looking at it now without its eyes and… with her shouting at it. She still harbored hatred towards it. Even being within its proximity irritated her. But it was food. And it needed to be eaten. Though strangely enough –
< Unique Ability Gained >
< All Unique Abilities of the One Thousand Eyed Bird Condensed >
< ABILITY : The Eyes of Judgent >
< EFFECT : See what all cannot, and what judgent could never >
< One Thousand Good Deeds Yet They Cannot Be Seen >
– She did not need to directly consu it to gain its ability.
“System… what are you trying to tell ?” Frost was confused by the blurb at the end as she reached down and began stuffing her mouth with its body, all the while Jury childishly played with the floating feathers.
“It is what is written underneath the Eyes of Judgent. The one directly underneath the Effect is what you would call ‘flavor text’. There are many weapons that possess this...”
“But this is an ability, no?”
“Precisely. It is as you say. It should not have this blurb at all.”
“… one thousand good deeds that cannot be seen. It sounds like an unfair judgent. It’s related to this ordeal, no doubt.”
“Connected to this story in so way…”
“No. It’s not connected anymore. This… This is the conclusion of the tale of the Black Forest.” Frost corrected. “There is no Black Forest any longer.”
“A reference it shall be then. I’m thankful you’re alive.”
“Thankful!” Jury exclaid, gathering a bunch of the feathers.
She then scurried to Frost’s side and held it in front of her face like a bouquet.
“… and I’m glad I’m still alive to experience these new things. Call it a silver lining after all the crap we had to deal with.” Frost whispered and, after wiping her hands, took the feathers and warmly smiled at Jury. “It’s beautiful Jury… it really is beautiful. I’m glad you’re still… still by my side.”
“Frost! Jury! System!” She exclaid.
“Exactly. That’s the sort of energy I wish I had right now. I’m just… elated beyond words.” Frost nearly choked on her emotions.
She managed to fend off the tears as Jury joined in on the feast. It was not a ti to cry. It was a ti to celebrate their success. And what better way to do it than to eat…
Good food?
“Jury. This will be the last ti you ever eat anything like this. I’ll make sure of it” Frost said as she stuffed her mouth with more of the creature’s at.
“Eat skewers?”
“Yeah. I’ll make skewers for you. We’ll store so of its at. Or, actually, how about boar at? I’m sure you’ll love it.”
“Good?”
“Amazing. Just you wait.” Frost was swept away by the mont as the gentle breeze steadily began to seep into this lonely world.
The darkness that once prevented the light from entering the Black Forest dissipated like a fog as rays of orange light penetrated from above. And before long, the orange glow of the sunset blessed the lightless land for the first ti in years.
Jury looked down at herself as she felt its warmth for what Frost realized was the first ti in her life and smiled motherly, watching the woman’s curiosity in action.
“… Frost?”
“That’s… that’s the warmth from the sun. That giant orange ball in the sky.”
“Warm…?” Jury tilted her head slightly “Frost. Frost warm. W-Warr.” She humd, sounding almost afraid as she shuffled closer. “There’s… skewer?”
As she did, she brushed a hand against sothing in the pile of feathers underneath. Frost, wondering what it was, dragged it free and was rendered shocked by what she had found.
Coat of Prejudice
< Its feathers ruffle at the truth >
AFFINITY : Judgent
ORIGIN : Object
Type : Apparel
DEF : 350
MAG DEF : 250
RESIST : 100
EFFECT: Resistance to the Judgent Affinity. Immune to Scrutiny.
The coat was made of a glorious ld of black and gold feathers. They were irresistibly soft to the touch. The outer layer was made primarily of the black feathers, whilst towards the shoulders giant feathers protruded upwards, creating what appeared like the hem of a fur coat. The insides were lined with the sa golden feathers found within the One Thousand Eyed Bird.
It was no doubt a comfortable piece of article… and a much needed one considering she had none at all.
“This thing even has an origin.” Frost comnted.
“A wear made from the remains of the Corrupted… an Object. There are a number of artefacts similar to this, so coming from the Corrupted themselves. It was thought they were rely unique weapons not… ‘entities’ if that makes sense.”
“This is a living coat?” Frost took a closer look and found nothing that pointed that it was… well, alive.
“Can you call the Corrupted living creatures?”
“… yes and no. Alright. You got there.” Frost had no real way of answering.
The System nailed down how much of an enigma the Corrupted were with those words alone. Jury looked up to Frost expectantly, as if waiting for her to put the coat on.
How could she say no to those eyes?
And so, she slipped it on. The coat was long. Extrely long. It reached as low as her calves, and the giant, feathered hem behind her neck acted as a pillow in a way.
It fit her nicely. Too nicely, actually. It felt like a second skin. She basked in the disappearing sunlight with Jury for a while after. The black world overhead beca a beautiful orange horizon dotted with countless whisks of clouds. Little by little, small shimrs of light appeared before the light surrounding her body disappeared.
And with it, so did the lights of all nine hundred and ninety-nine of her invisible eyes. But she could still feel their presence with her. All the eyes she had gathered were all just rebranded and combined as the Eyes of Judgent.
Frost noticed Jury curiously gaze off into the sky as she finished devouring the last of the One Thousand Eyed Bird.
< Stats from the One Thousand Eyed Bird Gained >
“Jury. Stand up. C’mon… let’s go see the stars.” Frost whispered as they both moved up to their feet and began to walk in the direction of the setting sun. “The food… music… adventurers – everything.”
They wondered for so ti before they reached the border of the Black Forest, which t with the main path and the woodlands across. Frost walked out, but she couldn’t hear Jury’s footsteps follow.
The woman had stopped at the edge, clutching onto a tree as if frightened by the outside world.
Frost turned around and walked up to her. She stopped at the very edge of the forest and wore a smile devoted only for this woman who offered her own hand in her darkest hour.
“Jury. Here. Take my hand. Let’s go see the world. Together.” She clasped onto Jury’s hand and dragged her free from the Black Forest.
Her dark work shattered as she was pulled into the light of Elysia. The world sohow turned slowly for the two as Frost watched tears form around Jury’s shimring, golden-opal eyes.
Jury, with tears suddenly tumbling down her cheeks, happily sobbed with a heartfelt voice:
“Together!”
* * *
< The First Milestone Level Has Been Reached >
< HP and MP have increased >
< A new Profession has been granted >
< Additional Active and Passive Skills have been granted >
< New title has been granted >
< Title has been revoked >
< The Amalgam >
< Of course no title would be able to override it >
< LEVEL : 66 >
< The Amalgam >
NA : Frost
HP : 30,000 ^5/Min
MP : 5,350 ^5/Min
AGI : 55
RESIST : 50 ( 100)
AGE : 0
ATT : 2,000
ATT DEF : 500 ( 350)
O :42
D : 0
ORIGIN : Archetype
MAG ATT : 350
MAG DEF : 450 ( 250)
S : 83
E : 35
< PROFESSIONS >
OFFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE
SUPPORT
EXPLORATION
BRAWLER : 42
COUNTER OFFENSIVE : 0
GREATER HEALER : 83
APPRAISER : 10
COOK : 25
< ACTIVE SKILLS >
OFFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE
SUPPORT
EXPLORATION
Punch III [0/10]
Double Punch O [2/10]
Solemn Counter [0/10]
Greater Healing III [8/10]
Cure Disease I [2/10]
Prolonged Stasis III [0/10]
Area Heal [0/10]
Cleanse [3/10]
Appraise Object I [0/10]
Ho Cook II [5/10]
< PASSIVE SKILLS >
OFFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE
SUPPORT
EXPLORATION
Tooth and Nail
Fine Line
Hyper Saturated Blood
dical Attention Please!
Coordinated
Mana Profusion
Dinsional Storage I (17kg/20kg)
< ABILITIES >
Archetype of Amalgamation
Blessing of the Amalgam
The Eyes of Judgent
< CORRUPTED COLLECTION >
JUDGENT
ETERNAL NIGHT | One Thousand Eyed Bird
< CORRUPTED SKILL COLLECTION >
JUDGENT
Second State
ACTIVE
Prejudice
Biased Verdict
PASSIVE
Rightful Ignorance
Fear of Retribution
UNIQUE
Hysteria
Judgent
< EQUIPS >
NEX : 0
Coat of Prejudice
Accuser Feathers
< LEVEL : 77 >
< Unhung Jury >
NA : Jury
HP : 8,000
AGI : 35
RESIST : 32
AGE : 26
ATT : 137
ORIGIN : Original
MAG ATT : 0
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