Your Shadow Is My Light

Chapter 13 - I like you very much.

Normal text
Thinking
Onomatopoeia

Rayne's POV
Once the promise had been reeled in, I reluctantly loosened my hold, giving the poor Gatekeeper some breathing space.

Paws patted my bruised arms, "Potions, Rae."

Now that she mentioned it... A sharp tingle drew down my spine. That's when it hit me. Agony ballooned. I hunched over, blinking back tears while heaving. My entire back must have been grated clean to the flesh.

"Urgh..."

Burns streaked through my dwindling consciousness. Every little stretch and pull set fire to my taut nerves. Especially when the creases of my shirt grazed the raw tender wounds. The tattered fabric stuck painfully to my skin, or the lack thereof. I've eaten too much damage, even for the system. Level ups couldn't fully replenish the amount of HP I've lost.

I pursed my bleeding lips, swallowing the incoming scream. My lungs were about to burst into flames after all that madness. I lowered my head, both from pain and embarrassment. I must have looked like an unsightly wreck. Marred with blemishes.

Ragged puffs escaped as my upper torso spasmed. More tears welled up.

"Focus on my voice. Deep breaths."

As soon as the enchanting voice came, a sweet peachy scent wafted to my nose. It sort of dulled my deteriorating brain. Pupils dilated. A murky glaze passed over them. Even tensed muscles relaxed.

In a daze, I subconsciously followed the melody, taking in a deep breath.

"Potions," Ahri repeated.

I reached into my inventory, pulling out a bunch of glass bottles. Clammy fingers fumbled the caps open before dumping Kool-Aid down my throat. Cold liquid gushed out, moisturising the parched walls. It temporarily quenched my thirst (for blood), masking the metallic taste coating my tongue. Intense itches flared up everywhere. My skin prickled in the after-effects. They began regenerating, patching up exposed flesh. I stared incredulously as the char on my hands scabbed over and peeled off, replaced by pink skin. Even the stabbing pain in my right eye lessened to a manageable throb.

"Does it still hurt?"

The strangely familiar phrase made my heart skip a beat. The back of my head buzzed.

Where... have I heard this before...

After the miraculous recovery through brute-forcing HP pots, then came the sore fatigue. Everywhere ached. Even if I could survive from this disaster, it doesn't mean my body's fucking superman. It's practically falling apart after the impossible regeneration. Through droopy eyelids, I looked up at the bleary figure of Ahri. The snowy furball was drenched in dark red. Truly the Crimson Princess.

I reached out to touch her vulpine ears.

Noticing my drowsy look, Ahri nudged my wrist, "Don't sleep, baby. We have to snag our prize first. Then get out of here."

Right... Those knives... How could I forget them? I nearly choked in this damn marsh for those. I can't leave without my hard-earned cash. Even if it's a pile of stinky dung, it's still shit I shedded blood, sweat, and tears for!

I yawned and crawled up, surveying the aftermath.

Now where is Kamish's Wrath?

Meanwhile, Ahri went to defang the fallen Kasaka. As well as pull its skin off. Both for revenge and for the profit it yielded. A sense of glee bloomed in my corrupted black heart. Teach that bastard to use me as a rag! I like to see how it feels after being skinned alive!