Ch7. Haru! You’re on fire!

"Guh, my tummy…" Haru was rubbing his belly the next day after that dinner, the stew was great, he just ate too much.

Bell didn't help, seriously that guy needs to learn not to shake people with a full stomach.

Even so, Haru let out a chuckle at the memory of Bell acting so dramatic when he had to leave last night to go back to Hestia's home.

"Here, drink this." Miach appeared behind Haru and placed a small blue vial before him.

Without a second thought Haru grabbed the vial and downed its contents.

"Bleh." Haru stuck his tongue out as his eyes teared up. "Why is it spicy?"

"Hehehe, you'll be fine." Miach rubbed his hand through Haru's soft hair with a smile as the small boy kept trying to look at his tongue, making himself go cross eyed.

"I have to head out to get some more materials for potions, when I get back how about I show you how too brew a healing one for Bell?" Miach watched the boy quickly nod.

"All right then I'm off, Naazas in the back if you need her or if a customer shows up, good luck!" Miach waved as he left the shop.

Haru watched the Miach leave before he quickly grabbed a glass of water he had from earlier and chugged it.

'Too spicy.' Haru fanned his face as the tingle wore down and his belly began to feel much better.

Now if only the darn itch on his back would bigger off he'd be fine as rain.

The Falna felt like a perpetual itch that moved every time you tried to scratch it and it was bothersome, but not to the point it could ruin one's day.

All Haru's stats were I-0 and his skill was locked which made Miach confused, the man guessed it was because Haru wasn't strong enough to use it yet.

This left Haru confused as the status panel he could see was vastly different.

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(AN: See auxiliary chapter for stats and stuff.)

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Maybe there was a reason for it? Maybe it was completely random?

Either way Haru didn't know and wasn't confident in his ability to figure it out completely yet, maybe he needed more skills to figure out why the Falna never picked up on the system.

Ding

Hmm?

Haru looked up to the sound of a dog chime but never noticed anyone.

"Excuse me?"

"Ahhhhh!" Haru nearly fell off his chair as he heard a voice speak out.

The rushing of feet was heard as Naaza came out from the back area in a hurry too see why her new familia member suddenly shouted only to nearly burst out laughing.

"Hey Samantha, here for your pick up?" Naaza spoke out to nobody, greatly confusing Haru.

"Yeah, thanks…what's with the new kid? He's kinda jumpy."

'Oi, was I just insulted by a ghost?' Haru's face scrunched up as a small giggle was heard.

"He's good looking tho, care to introduce yourself?" Suddenly a small hand shot out over the counter where Haru couldn't see due to how short he was.

"Oh, uh yeah, I'm Haru." Haru hopped of his seat and went around the counter before coming face to face with a girl who was even smaller then that Finn guy.

Haru suddenly felt his face heat up in embarrassment as he heard Naaza chuckle behind him.

"Samantha here is a pallum, guesss you never met many of her kind either huh?" Naaza rubbed her hand on Haru's hair, she was amazed at just how soft it was.

Haru bowed to the small girl who only stood as tall as his chest, her long auburn hair in a large braid down her back. Her green eyes popped more due to dozens of small freckles that simply made it seem like they were glowing.

"Let me go get your order then!" Naaza took one more quick glance at the two as she tuned around to go retrieve the small pouch of potions for the pallum girl.

"So..personal question, how old are you?" Samantha asked as she inches closer to the handsome Haru.

"12.." Haru blushed as he could suddenly smell the woman's perfume.

"No way! You're the same age as my little sister? I thought you'd be younger then her at least!" Samantha puffed out her cheeks as she got danger close too Haru.

"Ehem.." saved by Naaza, Haru let out a sigh as the girl backed away.

"10 high quality stamina potions for Ishtar, here you are." Naaza handed the potions over to Samantha who gladly took the pouch.

"Thanks!" Taking one more glance at Haru the small girl turned and walked away, putting way more emphasis on her hip sway then usual which made Haru blush.

After the girl had left, Naaza let out a small sigh.

"Carful around girls like that Haru, they look innocent, but are far from it." Haru looked up at Naaza with a questioning look.

"You'll figure it out in a few years." Naaza again reached over but froze as she realized the 'hand' she had used before a sullen look made its way onto her face.

"Excuse me." Naaza left Haru dazed.

'I know what sex is?' Haru tilt his head as he thought about the encounter, she was cute but she gave off a weird vibe… he would be wary of that one in the future.

On to the next order of business for Haru as a status screen appeared before him.

'Hmmm, so as long as I understand the skill and touch something related to it I can get the option in the system?'

After Miach had given him his Falna, the man brought out an old dusty book that he called a spell book.

If used it would give the user said spell locked inside it before disintegrating forever.

It was a healing spell called phoenix's grace, a low level spell that could cure small cuts and bruises.

Touching the book however had no effect on Haru and instead the skill showed up in on skill list, leaving the book unharmed.

There was no points in the skill as of yet, but seeing the way Naaza had acted about her arm had made Haru think for a moment.

'If I pump up the skill, will it work?' Not one to dilly dally, Haru pressed the plus seven times before waiting, and waited, and waited…

After ten minutes nothing happened, until Haru stood up to go get a drink.

"Man did it get hot in here?" Haru was sweating buckets as he reached for a wooden cup only to stop and process what he was seeing..

"Eh?"

At this moment Naaza had come back around the corner to apologize for her behavior, even to this day she still had a problem with accepting everything..

"Haru….WHY ARE YOU ON FIRE!!!" Naaza began to panic as she saw her new youngest familia member ablaze.

"I feel warm…" Haru started to get dizzy and stumbled forwards.

Without thinking of her next actions, Naaza moved to intercept Haru and had grabbed him before realizing what she had done.

Before she could scream in pain as the fire spread to her rapidly, a warm sensation filled her body from head to toe…

Suddenly a blindingly bright flash disoriented her.

THUNK

When Naaza finally came back to her senses, Haru was no longer on fire. Not to say she wasn't shocked at what she was seeing.

Haru stood before her, his 6'4 muscular frame had ripped through his clothes leaving him completely naked.

His jet black hair shined as his green and blue eyes were replaced by deep glowing orange ones that pulsed with power.

The most shocking aside those was the massive pair of wings spreading from his back, beautiful feathers that shone in an array of deep oranges, vibrant reds and starlight whites. The edges of the feathers gave off subtle flames that seemed to have a calming effect.

'Damn it!' Naaza scratched at her arm that wouldn't stop itching since she had grabbed Haru as he stumbled.

"Huh?" Looking down Naaza saw the usual ugly prosthetic arm she came to hate, it was always a reminder… but why was it on the floor?

'Wait..what am I scra-' Naaza's brain stopped working as her eyes fell upon the twitching fleshy arm that hun limply by her side.

Slowly and with great effort she raised the arm up and looked at her curling fingers with blurry vision.

"Am I seeing things? Naaza asked out aloud as she ran her fingers across the new regrown limb.

A voice spoke out, with words so sweet she swore she heard the shuffling of angels feet.

"You're healed."

Looking up, Naaza's heart skipped a beat at the breathtaking man before her with a smile that could topple nations and cause gods to fight to the death for it to only belong to them.

"Haru?"