Luck

When Ryan regained consciousness after a few hours, his body felt like a leaden anchor, every muscle aching and heavy. Yet, the discomfort was nothing compared to the relentless rumbling of his stomach, a stark reminder of days spent in the underground labyrinth with hardly a morsel to eat.

Survival and escape had been his primary concerns, and despite sustaining his body with mana, the discomfort and fatigue induced by hunger persisted. Right now, what Ryan desired more than anything was something to eat. Fortunately, Elora had anticipated his needs and foraged a bountiful assortment of berries and fruits, neatly arranged on a table within her cabin.

Ryan's eyes lit up as he spotted the feast before him and wasted no time in devouring the fruits. Fueled by the mana-infused fruits from Akegria Forest, he felt a revitalising energy coursing through him.

However, even his appetite had its limits.

Finally, leaning back in his chair, his stomach protruding comically from the gastronomic onslaught, Ryan gave Elora a sheepish smile.

"Now that you've finished eating, you should probably wash up and put on these clothes I've prepared for you," she suggested gently, though she held her nose in playful jest, teasing him about his far-from-appealing scent.

This humorous side of Elora surprised Ryan, but he quickly fired back a quip of his own.

"Well, this 'stinky mage' managed to outwit the mighty Elora in our battle."

Her eyes sparkled as she responded, "That's only because I was going easy on you and had no inkling you could wield Spatial Magic. If I had known, I would've been far more vigilant. And with your unusual constitution, I couldn't even sense your presence, your mana seamlessly blending with your surroundings. But that's because you probably weren't even able to channel any more mana and..." she admitted with a hint of exasperation, revealing a more mundane side of herself as her words trailed off.

Ryan laughed, knowing that at any given moment, similar to Wayde and the Warlock, Elora could have decisively bested him. His tenacity, calm under pressure, and unbelievable luck had served him well so far.

And, after all, luck itself is a skill, right?

As Elora teasingly suggested that Ryan's triumphs had more to do with luck than skill, their friendly banter continued. It had evolved into a kind of playful sibling rivalry, with Elora adopting some of Ryan's casual mannerisms and his mode of speech.

After their good-natured joshing had run its course, a serene moment of silence settled between them. Elora then took the lead, guiding him towards a small, picturesque lake. Lazily perched atop Fluffy, who had undergone remarkable changes since their last meeting, Ryan couldn't help but smile. The whirlwind of experiences in a short span of time had taken him from mere survival to remarkable growth, and he was basking in the happiness it brought.

However, beneath his cheerful facade simmered anticipation and anxiety about what lay ahead. He suppressed such emotions as much as he could, but he knew they would surface once he had some solitary moments.

'This darn invisible ring better be worth all of this,' Ryan thought to himself. Almost in response to his inner musings, the emerald ring materialised on his left hand. It had been present all along but remained dormant and invisible when not in use. He examined it pensively before snapping back to the present.

"Are you okay, Ryan?" she asked as they arrived at the lake.

Elora's warm and caring voice cut through his thoughts. She couldn't perceive the curse mark on his hand, but she understood the weight of bearing a mark that made you a target. Especially one obtained through a life-and-death battle in which he had taken Wayde's life.

Assuming that was weighing on him, she was unsure how to comfort him. Yet, to her surprise, Ryan appeared remarkably composed despite everything. He responded with a reassuring smile and a nod before spontaneously disrobing, his clothes torn, bloodied, and reeking from his ordeals.

With evident joy, he splashed into the lake, inviting Fluffy and Elora to join him. Elora, however, declined his offer, startled by how casually Ryan had stripped down in front of her.

'That isn't normal amongst humans, right?' she wondered internally.

Meanwhile, Fluffy required no second invitation. He leapt into the water alongside Ryan, creating giant waves as they indulged in aquatic frolics. During their playful tussle in the water, Ryan couldn't help but notice how much more powerful the creature had become.

Their encounter with the Warlock had triggered an evolution of Fluffy's mana core. However, despite the transformation altering the creature's appearance, making it slightly smaller, it gave off a much more fearsome presence.

It made Ryan curious as to just how much stronger Fluffy had become and whether he could hold his own against it.

But that was something he could test later, as he laughed and played in the cool waters.

Watching from the sideline, Elora had a contented smile, glad to see Ryan revelling in this moment of normalcy.