20 CORE

A classic medieval kitchen is where Rustain is currently at and in front of him is a hot charcoal stove, the sound of a boiling pot and the strong fragrant of boar umami roamed the whole kitchen, standing beside the charcoal stove is Rustain in his sleeveless shirt, shorts, and an apron the kitchen was hot due to the charcoal also made Rustain sweat a lot but the satisfying smile in his face tells that it was worth it.

An abrupt sound startled Rustain.

(Clang!!! Tang!! Shing!!)

"Ah!! Tae!!" Rustain turned around and saw Sei gently picking up the metal pots and spatulas on the floor, Rustain noticed this and went to help her. "You're that hungry?? Pfff.."

(GROWWL~~)

"Hey, it isn't my fault you're cooking, it just smells so good. Where did you learn how to cook" Sei enthusiastically expressed her feelings as she drooled over the hot pot of stew.

"It's just a skill I picked up when my mom and I went camping," Rustain gazes into the stew that he is making and tries to reminisce about the memory of him and his mother. "Sigh. Fun times will eventually end" he murmured to himself.

"With your mom?? Well at least you get to see your parents, I grew up not knowing who my father is and I can't even recall the face of my mother only her name" Sei said in a sad tone.

Rustain patted her head as he tried to comfort her and gave Sei a warm smile.

"Looks like you having fun here" the grandfather suddenly entered the kitchen as he smelled the captivating smell of Rustain's cooking. "Hmmm... This smells good can't wait until I have my fill of this dish"

"Hahaha. Okay okay, it's almost done just a few seasonings, some stirrings, and voila, a dish is served" Rustain took a small plate and scooped a small serving of the food then gave it to the old man. "How about giving a taste test first"

"I'll pass for now but do mind giving it to Sei. She kept on glancing at the food," the old man suggested.

"Then it's mine then" Sei immediately grabs it and took a taste. Her face instantly brightens up. "So good"

"Well now I guess I'll set up the table outside," the old man said and left with haste.

The dinner went great for both the grandfather and Sei with every bite they have you can immediately know that it's good to every bite.

*What on earth have these two been eating?* Rustain circulates this in his mind as he watches them gobbling the food on the dinner table like there's no tomorrow.

••••••••••

After finishing dinner the satisfied look on The old man and Sei's face can't be hidden they both sigh with fulfillment after both of them burp out the good feeling after they devoured the food. Rustain started to tidy the table after he is sure that both of his new companions are done eating.

"You can leave the washing of the plate to Sei, but for now let's talk about the situation your body is in right now," the old man said in a relatively serious tone. "Don't worry it'll not be long now sit down and stretch your left arm toward me"

"But didn't you already give your diagnosis and already make a cure," Rustain said. "Is it that bad"

The old man sighs and looks at Rustain's face. The worried face the old man gave off made Rustain even more worried.

"Don't think too hard and do what I tell you," the old man suggested.

"Fine" Rustain agreed, he sat down and stretched his arm towards the old man following his instructions. "What will you do?"

The old man smiled at Rustain and showed him a comforting gaze measuring Rustain that it's safe.

"I'll be using my mana and channel it into your body this way I'll be able to check it fully," the old man said as he placed his fingers on Rustain's palm and started to channel his mana into Rustain.

A warm feeling suddenly entered Rustain easing his nervousness, but the old man only closed his eyes focusing on what he was doing.

As the old man channeled his mana he started to feel strange energy inside Rustain and Thai energy started to draw in the mana he is giving absorbing it,

*Huh? Didn't this old man say it won't take too long? It's been ten minutes and his completion is starting to become pale. Is he okay? I should ask* Rustain thought to himself as he became worried about the old man.

"Sir! Are you okay!!" Rustain tapped the shoulders of the old man and into his closer inspection, he saw how intensely the old man was sweating. "SIR!!"

"AH!?, " the old man snapped out from what he was doing.

*what was that, if it weren't for this kid I would have not woken up, or worse I could have died, the mysterious energy inside him was terrifyingly soothing and the moment I had contact with it, I immediately forgot my purpose like it's eating my very existence itself. But one thing is for sure it's also causing an imbalance in his body by eating up the mana inside him it's maintaining the body's normal function but also making him developed a mana deficiency* the old man brained and stormed to himself.

"Sir are you okay??" Rustain became even more concerned when the old man only looked at him blankly "is my situation that severe?"

"Call Sei to tell her to start packing we'll be moving out of the forest"

"What?" Rustain became even more confused.

•••••••••

A month after, Douge Village third realm.

"Hmmm" Rustain woke up groaning, tried to check around him, and saw no one but when he tried to get off the bed he felt a front force pinning him down and couldn't manage to get up. "Kuro, is this one of your pranks?" Rustain who is light-headed said.

"Kuro? Who's that?" A female voice spoke under the blanket "Big brother looks like your awake" Rustain lifted the blanket and saw Sei, hugging him tightly.

Sei slowly stood up and in the looks of it she had just woken up, her teary eye paired with continuously yawning and her brown hair and eyes greeted Rustain.

"W-what! Why are you here, ARGH!!" Sudden pain in the head hit Rustain this made Sei worried.

"Wait here I'll call Grandpa" Sei was about to open the door but a repeatedly loud banging suddenly greeted her.

(KNOCK!! KNOCK!!KNOCK!!KNOCK!!KNOCK!!)

Semi opened the door and on the other side it was the village chief that greeted her with fear.

"R-R-R-RUN!! A B-B-B-B-BEAST HORDE IS ABOUT TO HIT THE VILLAGE!!" The chief was stuttering as he said that.

"Oh a beast horde," Sei said calmly.

The reply Sei gave shocked me and the chief.

•••••••••