Gorn is unwell

William awoke in Gorn's cabin, his eyes fluttering open. "Wh-what happened?" he mumbled, his voice raspy.

Memories flickered through his mind, hazy and fragmented. He couldn't quite piece together the events that had led him here.

A familiar face leaned over him, concern etched in her features. "I brought you and Gorn back," Aella explained softly. "He's resting as well. I was worried, but I'm so glad you woke up."

Initially, she and William had maintained a polite distance, their differences in age and experience creating a natural barrier. But Aella couldn't deny William's courage, his pivotal role in their survival.

"And the demon?" William asked, his brow furrowed. "Is he truly dead?"

"Yes," Aella assured him, "you can rest easy. I'll stay here with you both until you recover."

Her presence would be a welcome comfort to the villagers. Even with the corruption vanquished, the people of Willow Creek needed time to heal, to rebuild their lives after the harrowing ordeal.

William reached out and gently took Aella's hand, his gaze sincere. "Thank you for your help," he said softly, "and I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends."

Aella blinked back tears, the pain of losing her comrades still fresh. She nodded, appreciating his words. "Thank you, William... I made some soup. Would you like some?"

William's stomach rumbled in response. "Definitely," he said with a weak smile. "Bring it on. I'm starving."

Aella smiled and left the room, heading towards the kitchen. As he waited, William's memories of the battle sharpened, the details becoming clearer.

'What did that demon mean by 'killed by someone like you'...?' The words echoed in his mind, their meaning elusive. Perhaps they meant nothing at all. The demon had been delirious, grasping at straws.

Aella returned with a steaming bowl of rabbit stew. William ate slowly, savoring the flavors as he regained his strength.

"This is delicious," he complimented.

"I'm glad you like it," Aella replied. "But William, now that you're feeling better, there's something I need to tell you..." Her voice held a note of concern.

William paused, his spoon halfway to his mouth. He met her gaze, a sense of foreboding settling over him. "What is it?" he asked.

"The wound Gorn suffered from that obsidian sword," she explained, her voice heavy, "it seems to have poisoned him. He's recovering, but he won't be back to his full strength. We'll need to return to the city to seek a cure."

"Honestly, I thought it would be worse," William said, relieved. "I'm sure Gorn can survive this poisoning."

But his words didn't seem to reassure Aella. Her brow remained furrowed, her expression troubled.

"As you know, I'm a mage, and I also study alchemy," she explained, her voice laced with worry. "I've never encountered a poison like the one afflicting Gorn, and I've been studying for many years. This could be very serious..."

William's momentary relief evaporated. If Aella was this concerned, then the situation was indeed dire.

"I understand," he said, his voice grave. "Do you think he'll be able to make it to the city?"

"I believe so," Aella replied. "The toxin seems to be slow-acting, which gives us time. Focus on recovering as quickly as possible. I want to leave in two or three days, maximum."

William nodded, accepting her assessment. Rest was his only option for now.

After Aella left, Maya came to check on him, her face etched with worry for both him and her father.

"I'm so glad you woke up!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. "I knew you would. It must have been like last time!"

Maya wasn't wrong. The last time he'd collapsed, it was due to exhaustion from the battle and the strain of using Hero's Limit.

"Of course I'd wake up," William said, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Did you think I'd leave you alone?"

He cringed internally as soon as the words left his mouth. That sounded a bit too cheesy, even for him.

"I'm worried about my father..." Maya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

William's heart went out to her. "Aella said he'll be alright," he reassured her, "and we'll go to the city to find a cure. Everything will be fine."

"She said that?" Maya's expression brightened. "Oh, that eases my mind a bit. Well, I'll let you rest. I just wanted to see how you were doing." She rose from the bedside, turning to leave.

Before she could go, William called out, "Wait! Could you bring me a book to read?"

"Sure," Maya replied with a smile. "I'll be right back."

Two days passed in a blur of rest and recuperation. William devoured books and meals, his body healing rapidly.

The fatigue he felt stemmed primarily from using Hero's Limit, not from any significant physical injuries.

By the end of the second day, he was walking and even sparring lightly, his strength nearly at eighty percent.

Aella, eager to seek help for Gorn in the city, announced their departure. Gorn, though still weak, was able to walk with assistance.

"Elara, my love," Gorn said to his wife, his voice thick with emotion, "I'm so sorry to leave you like this, worried and alone. But don't fret. I'll be fine."

He shared a tender moment with Elara and Maya, exchanging heartfelt words and embraces before turning towards William and Aella. William offered a reassuring nod, and they mounted their horses, leaving Willow Creek behind.

Their destination was Alderanth – again. It was the closest city with the resources they needed.

As they rode, William noticed a long, cloth-wrapped bundle strapped to Aella's back. "What's that you're carrying, Aella?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

"Oh, this?" she replied casually. "It's the demon's sword."

William's blood ran cold. Aella, sensing his alarm, quickly added, "It's been depleted of demonic energy. In theory, it's just a broken artifact now. That's what my System indicates, anyway."

William glanced at Gorn, who confirmed Aella's statement with a nod.

"Wait, your System tells you that?" William asked, intrigued.

"Any weapon or armor you use has different properties that you can see through the System," Aella explained. "You've probably never noticed because you haven't focused on analyzing your weapons and items."

Intrigued, William concentrated on his sword, trying to discern its properties. After a few moments, a window appeared before his eyes.

[Steel Sword (Normal Quality)]

[Damage: 10-10]

[A steel sword crafted by a skilled blacksmith.]

[Condition: Durability is excellent, with some signs of use.]

William felt a pang of frustration. He could have been doing this all along?

"I see it!" he exclaimed. "This is incredibly useful! But I don't understand. Why is it so easy to see information about items, but more difficult with people?" He was referring to discerning levels, attributes, and other such details, both for other people and creatures.

Aella, ever the scholar, explained, "That's because living beings have a natural energy field that acts as a protective shield. Items, even magical ones, aren't alive and don't possess this field."

The workings of this world were starting to make more sense to William. Unlike the other heroes, he hadn't received a comprehensive introduction. Elric had practically kicked him out before he could even ask a proper question.

"I understand," William said, nodding slowly. "But what do you plan to do with that sword?" He eyed the bundle on Aella's back, a shiver running down his spine.

Aella shrugged. "Honestly, nothing for now. I know if I hand it over to the authorities, they'll simply lock it away and forget about it. No one seems interested in studying these things." She sighed. "And I don't have the time to research it myself."

She fell silent for a moment, then, to William's surprise, unstrapped the bundle and tossed it to him. "You can have it if you want," she said. "You decide what to do with it. After all, you were the one who delivered the final blow."

The sword remained tightly wrapped, concealing its obsidian darkness. William wasn't ready to look at it yet. The weapon was a stark reminder of the bloody battle, the deaths of Kael and Borin still fresh in his mind.

"I understand," William said, his voice somber. "I'll keep it wrapped for now."

The trio continued their journey towards Alderanth, their hopes pinned on finding a cure for Gorn's affliction. But a nagging doubt lingered in William's mind. Was this something that could truly be healed?