CHAPTER 367: LUMIN AND THE LOTUS

Two weeks flew by, and honestly, the difference in Oakhaven was like night and day. The place actually felt alive now. You could hear the sound of hammers and saws all day, and people were talking and even laughing instead of just huddling inside their homes.

The townsfolk, especially the women, had really warmed up to our little group. Since everyone thinks we’re just helpers sent by the baron, Aurelia and Cassandra fit right in. You’d see them helping hand out food rations, taking a turn stirring the big stew pots, or sitting with the local craftswomen, learning all about how to weave that special Ghost-Moss and the glowing Glimmer-Rush.

Meanwhile, Vance became a total hero with the men. He wasn’t just standing around giving orders after all; he was right there in the thick of it, hauling timber and driving nails. The guy was a beast. He even started joining the hunting parties, and let’s just say nobody’s worried about going hungry when he’s around.

Vice Captain Elria? She commanded respect in a whole different way. Funny thing is, a couple of the local hunters tried to flirt with her at first. However, that stopped real quick after they saw her take down a Greater Frost-Tusk Boar with one clean strike. Now they just watched her from a safe distance with a sort of terrified admiration.

As for me, I’ve been pretty much living in the infirmary. While everyone else is out being social and heroic, I’m here changing bandages and brewing potions. I do slip out for occasional trips into the Hollowlands to gather herbs or scout, but this infirmary is my main stage.

The good news is, the end was in sight. They’re saying the main repairs will be done in two days, and then it’s just three more days to button up all the smaller stuff around town.

Cassandra’s business move was way ahead of schedule too. She had already got the first batch of Ghost-Moss nets and Glimmer-Rush lanterns ready to ship out by week’s end. It was easier to get this first small batch going, and she’s already set up the Eclipse Keep as a middleman to handle future trade between the town and her merchant network. It was a smart move — it means this whole operation can keep running smoothly even after she’s gone.

Come to think of it, she also suggested I manage the trading post at the Keep. Just like I had at the Knowledge Emporium.

But yeah, I politely refused that one. Told her I’d probably be moving on from the Keep soon. Figured my part here was just about done once the town could stand on its own.

And turns out, she’s planning to leave as well. She mentioned there were matters to attend to back in the empire, especially with spring approaching.

It honestly took me a second to remember that spring was a thing. We were still surrounded by all this snow, so it was easy to forget the seasons were actually changing. Though I doubted whether the warmer weather would reach these plains at all.

Hearing she was leaving gave me a weird, mixed feeling. A big part of me was relieved. Good thing she was the one bringing it up first — saved me from an awkward conversation later. And let’s be real, her presence always comes with a certain amount of... pressure. Though not the negative kind.

But, I won’t lie, I also felt a pang of reluctance. She had become something like a partner in all this chaos. Having someone who gets it, who can handle themselves and has a brain for strategy... that’s not easy to find.

The road was going to feel a bit lonelier without her around to scheme with.

Anyway, back to the topic, I also researched the mysterious presence I saw the other day.

Strangely enough, I’m pretty sure it’s still around, but there’s no pressure anymore. Probably because I was already inside the town, so I wasn’t seen as an outside threat. But on that first day back, I definitely felt it — that same gaze, scrutinizing me even as I was taking care of patients at night. It was seriously uncomfortable, like being mentally undressed by a predator.

It wasn’t unbearable, though. I guess I was just used to being around monsters. My master Virion, Lady Nisha, even that Architect guy... after you’ve felt auras like theirs, everything else just feels like a mild draft. This presence is powerful, no doubt, but it doesn’t have that world-ending weight behind it. It felt more like a very, very watchful guardian.

And if I had to guess their strength, they were probably a Tier 7 individual. So yeah, it wasn’t old man Heron, given his sealed strength was Tier 6.

Speaking of the old man, I’ve learned a ton from him over the past couple of weeks. My understanding of the Mender’s Paradox has deepened, and I’ve actually made some real progress on the Healer path. My "Lumin" persona is feeling a lot more solid and believable now, with actual skill to back it up.

Meanwhile, my other persona has started to get some traction. The barony’s forces had already reached that bandit hideout. They rescued the refugees and took the captured bandits into custody. I even got a look at the official report — and right there, buried in the details, was a warning about a "strange individual known as Black Lotus" who was reportedly involved.

Reading my own alias in an official document was... an experience. I cringed a little, I won’t lie. Maybe I should have spent more time coming up with another name. But then again, this was a fantasy world. Names like "Bloody Axe" or "Shadow Viper" are probably a dime a dozen. I guess "Black Lotus" wasn’t so bad in comparison. It could’ve been worse.

’...Yeah...’

Anyway, one more week, and this trial comes to its end. However, I have to check if that mysterious presence will appear again after we leave. If it does, then there’s something wrong with the town itself; if it doesn’t, then my guess that it’s the protector of one of the main characters around me will be correct.

But then again, it’s weird that they only appeared when we came to this town...

Could it be... connected to the Hollowlands?

’...Hmm, things are getting more tricky...’