There was always a first for everything.
Like, say for example, losing feeling over your own body slowly, as your head disconnects from your body, or maybe feeling your shirt warmly bond to larger areas of your skin, as it graciously gets drenched in your own blood because someone really, really wants you... or... even better yet, that weird high feeling you know? when you're slowly drifting in and out of consciousness? now they may sound weird, but a first's a first you know?
And do you know the ultimate best part of it? You get to experience this "first" over and over again because you can't just give up, maybe that and a ridiculously powerful healing skill that just doesn't take no for an answer,
But...!
If you haven't yet? shame, someone's living your life, and more...!
[Multiple puncture wounds detected!]
[The First Puzzle Piece is drastically regaining its past memories!]
[Nature detected!]
... ?...
[Nature has triggered dormant energy!]
[Absorption of Nature will begin!]
"...!"
The beast's slits widened a bit mid-rendering its prey's flesh within, it had once tasted something similar before. A tiny ball with quite a nasty property. It briefly resumed cracking the tough nut knowing that even if its current prey had a troublesome quality like that leafy menace, it would not hold a candle to it and would instead in good time, provide its due nourishment to it like everything else scary that it ever came across.
After all, wasn't it the Resident of ??? ? an apex?
Meanwhile, as the abomination sought for a place to rest awaiting fulfillment, the provider of that same fulfillment within was undergoing a combo of a flood of messages, brief flashes of pain before the law took them away and a rush of urgently needed body upgrades. He was, sorry, they were both working overtime within the belly of the beast.
And as he lay in the diverse midst of scarlet gums, jagged teeth and green mucus, he could only wonder why the Giant's Path that he read whilst in the library was not recognized in the Pathway skill that he obtained,
[...]
He feared that all this "nature" that he was absorbing was going to be lost. Wasn't that the whole gist of it? Like that one time, he overheard someone say that his student had to release the extra energy because his bowl would crack...?
[...]
He would be reversing his progress by leaps and bounds! Finally, he was getting that mysterious energy that should have been his since time past and now he was going to give it up? impossible.
Wait what's the time right now, ouch...
"...,"
...
... over on the other side of the forest, far from the "stuffed" beast from nowhere, a group was hidden beneath the earth probably because a twig had snapped,
"You think I did it right?"
The three heaved a sigh of relief.
"Maybe you should put the whole bottle."
"NOOO!!"
-bang.
"..."
Smoke cleared from the room.
"Five."
Gerena coughed out black smoke.
The other two followed suit.
"I'll just have to file for repairs."
The librarian rumbled on not even noticing all the onlookers below.
"Ow."
He bumped into a chandelier.
"..."
"Why is it so quiet?"
"Park?"
"Sis?"
"..."
"Yes?"
"Why do you guys sound so far?"
"Coooollll..."
A head popped from the last room.
"See?"
"It worked wonders."
"I'm floating again."
"And why does my cheeks feel itchy?"
"Noo Stop...!"
Her brother reached for the itch...
"What's this?"
"..."
...but found something else instead.
"A... Are these feathers?"
Gerena was trying to float lower...
...when he heard a flap.
The books shook.
"What's going on?"
He mumbled to himself.
The librarian struggled but the flaps resisted his attempts fervently.
"Thats not something you usually see."
Madam Velena stood at the door.
"I almost thought I was still drunk."
"COOL WINGS!!"
"What's she talking about?"
"..."
"Guys?"
"..."
"Park?"
"..."
"Elena?"
"..."
"Elena?"
"..."
"Elenaaa!!"
Park hit her rib.
"Wings!"
"..."
"Really huge wings."
"Wings?"
Broad white plumage spread from both cheeks. They kept him afloat.
He just wanted to be done with them.
He was calm with it.
"Please get rid of them."
"Easy."
"Don't get all your feathers ruffled up."
She looked at the audience with a grin.
Someone coughed.
"Tough crowd."
She went back into her bag searching for something.
"Now where did I keep it?"
"Any moment now."
"Just a minute..."
"...found you."
Velena pulled out a red sparkling potion. Small shiny clumps of light smashed against the glassy wall.
"That's not good."
They rapidly increased in motion. Cracks began to show.
"Yelenith now."
The cracks glowed...
...then the glass shattered.
"NOW BEFORE THE POTION HITS THE FLOOR!!!"
Yelenith jumped into action.
She stretched her hand outwards.
A wave of water formed.
The potion fell into the water before it hit the floor.
"Now what?"
The red potion was beginning to spread.
"I DON'T KNOW SMACK IT INTO HIM BEFORE IT DISSOLVES!!"
"Sorry."
With a grunt she directed the wave towards her brother.
Her brother stood still as the waves crashed onto him.
Immediately the wave hit, the wings blew up into a cloud of feathers.
Gerena caught himself mid-fall, floated a few meters down then let go.
He struck the floor with a thud.
His clothes were dripping wet, his cheeks back to normal.
"A Pluma potion..."
Velena picked up a feather closely inspecting it.
"...and a very potent one at that."
The feather shone in the light.
"Who did this?"
All eyes fell on the last door.
Feathers burst forth.
"..."
"There's your answer."
Velena sighed.
"How many?"
Park spoke up.
"Two."
"Lucky bastards."
She pulled out two more sparking potions.
"Not these too..."
She innocently turned to Yelenith.
"A little help?"
The glass cracked.
"..."
"Hah..."
...
It was now in the evening.
The library was dry, and the feathers gone.
"This book is gold I tell you."
"Better than what those kids..."
Velena became aware.
"...Yeah, this is a real solid catch."
"So, it was actually written by kids."
"Just imagine how much this could sell for?"
She mumbled.
"This is..."
The librarian snatched the book from her grasp.
"...not for sale."
"Come on don't be like that..."
"...I saved youuu."
Gerena didn't give in.
"Do you know what could have happened if I didn't?"
"Thank you for saving me really."
"Well, you don't sound like it."
"But. No. Selling."
"See?"
"Sorry."
"You guys are no fun."
She pulled out a pink potion and popped the cork off.
"..."
"Losers."
She disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"She won't do anything funny, will she?"
"..."
"Probably not."
"But she's friends with that wacko..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I hope."