Abyssal Awakening

As for any candidates who can act as the healer, Alice had one in mind. A healer she met in the north that had a. . . unique personality.

Outside of the med bay, she was a timid rabbit. Yet the moment patients start rolling in, she became a warlord who sent fear down both Alice and Egil's spines.

Alfva, the best healer in the North.

Someone who could regrow limbs for you using her Crystal Flies and slap a regeneration mark on your face.

There was only one issue though.

She wasn't exactly suited for on field healing. Most of her 'healing' was done through surgery which is rather time consuming.

Especially if there's someone trying to kill them at the same time.

In this regard, Alice needed a healer who could do quick first aid on the field then surgery off field.

So while Alfva is good, she's unfortunately not possible.

Plus, Alice doubted she'll come along if she knew what kind of dangers they'll be fighting.

Although. . .

'Do you think I can use the power of Synchronisation to share my regeneration?'

If she could make this a reality, her party would effectively become immortal.

'Maybe. But it's not like our regeneration isn't without side effects. Since it's well. . . closely tied to our physique. And with our physique basically being the most potent Abyss Blood there is, I don't believe our friends would be excited by the prospect.' Alyss folded her arms.

It was a good idea but they know too little about Synchronisation and their own body to properly put it into practice. It's similar to the case where she tried to use the Mirror Jester Sigil on the tree only for it to corrode.

Arriving back at the tavern, they could see Isolde preparing something behind the counter as Rosalyn threw both Alice and Luke on a stool and sat down.

"A little rough don't you think? We're injured patients here." Alice pouted while Luke only let out a single groan.

"Don't complain. Your injuries are self inflicted in the first place. This stupid f*ck thought that a realm bisecting skill was exactly the thing his body can withstand and tried to fire it. Would you look at that? He f*cked up his arm." Rosalyn grumbled while rummaging through her stash of goods.

After a while, she pulled out an extractor and stabbed it into her own arm. Mixing it with another vial of blood, she injected the new mixture into Luke and his arm began to heal.

"Here's yours." Rosalyn tossed over a vial to Ria who caught it and stabbed it into her own arm.

With their injuries now healed, they let out a sigh and sat properly by the counter.

"If you keep sighing, your youth will disappear along with the sigh." Isolde chuckled, placing a cup in front of them.

Seeing this, Alice excitedly peeked over the edge expecting to see mead but groaned once she noticed it was juice.

"You're not drinking when it's still this early in the day." Isolde smiled.

She already knew what kind of danger Alice posed once she got drunk. It was relatively acceptable at night but during the day? Not on her watch.

"But-"

"Don't hate it till you try it." Isolde cut Alice off.

Furrowing her brows, Alice relented and nodded her head.

Bringing the cup to her lips, she took a sip.

"!!!"

"See? I made a note of what kind of mead you seemed to like during that night at the party and combined the needed flavours. It's nothing too special but it should be what you've been drinking minus the alcoholic taste." Isolde smiled, handing Alice another cup since she finished her's in one go.

"How did you even make this???" Alice blinked her eyes in disbelief.

"When I was running the orphanage, we didn't have much and knowing how to make full use of the fruits that we gather played a rather big part. The rations we got was enough to 'survive' but not enough to live."

Back then, Isolde had learned how to make candied fruits and drinks to keep the children happy. Seeing Alice's reaction towards the drink, she was glad she hadn't lost her touch after all these years.

Ria and Luke got the same while Rosalyn received a drink similar to that of blood by her own request. It wasn't exactly blood, merely juice that had the viscosity, colour and a similar taste albeit on the sweeter side.

"Honestly if you and Tristan worked together to make a ba-" Before Alice finished her own sentence, she paused and shook her head.

The favoured son of Lumiria working with Isolde who hates the Goddess' guts? Yeah that definitely won't turn into a ball of flames at all.

"Where's Jin? I figured he would be here?" Alice asked curiously, changing the subject.

"He's upstairs right now, stabilizing his mental state and getting used to Eldritch powers. Even though he's been modified into a vessel for this power, he is still ultimately human in the end. His mind can't handle the myriad of voices unless he takes a break every now and then." Isolde explained.

It was the same for her at the start. Even with Zal-Ka'Rith helping out, she still had to figure out her own way to cope with the whispers of the dark. The tendrils of corruption that drilled into one's mind the more they used this eldritch power.

"Actually that brings me to another question. Do you not hear any voices when you use Eldritch energy?" Isolde tilted her head in confusion.

"Aside from the voices I already have in my head? Nah not really."

Alyss and Cayla were kind of there since the beginning. Though Alyss was more of a 'hunger'? No that wasn't quite accurate.

Alyss was dormant, showing up every now and then. Alice has mistaken Alyss for the hunger that she felt thanks to Eldritch but she was fully awakened thanks to their journey to the Inverted World.

Therefore, in terms of hearing the voices of corruption, Alice can't say she's heard them on her own without outside influence.

But hunger? She's definitely felt it.

"Hmm. . . Then do you think that perhaps you are your own source of Eldritch energy? I've been thinking about this for a while now. You mentioned you have divinity in your body thanks to the Abyss but isn't there a chance that you can become an Outer God as well?" Isolde mentioned.

The group fell silent as they turned their gaze towards Alice.

Even Rosalyn was a little intrigued now that Isolde phrased it as such.

With everything she knew about Alice, there were several paths she can go down.

First, the path of Divinity. Velouria's path and one that leads her to the Will of the Abyss.

Second, the path of Eldritch. To become an Outer God foreign to their realm.

Third, the path of the Realm Ruler. With the main realm now missing a Realm Ruler, it wouldn't surprise Rosalyn if Alice was to take her place. Especially considering her control over all the sources of energy.

Though this path is very unlikely due to Alice wanting to help the Abyss instead of becoming a Realm Ruler.

And the last path, one that corresponds with the energy that she controls, would be taking over as the new Realm Ruler of the Void.

Alice's mastery of the Void has been far better than any that Rosalyn had seen in the past. Especially considering the fact that this power was rather rare. Outside of Feris, Rosalyn didn't know who else can manipulate the Void Space like Alice can.

"Well. . . I guess it's not impossible. But I don't really want to become an Outer God." She pulled a face of disgust.

"Is it because they look weird?" Ria chuckled.

"Well that's part of it." Alice nodded.

"Though the main reason is probably because becoming one means she's exiled from this realm. Which also means no mead for her." Luke grumbled, enjoying his drink.

At first Ria and Isolde thought it was a joke but seeing as how Alice wasn't saying anything, they became speechless.

No wonder the Will wanted to give her the title of Abyss Lord of Mead!

This girl's got nothing but mead in her mind!

"Setting aside what this alcoholic is thinking, I've contacted my brother and he should be sending someone to come pick us up. We'll be travelling rather quickly and inconspicuously okay? Remember that word. Inconspicuously." Rosalyn emphasized, tapping her finger against Alice's head.

"That means no spikes of energy, no drunken rages, no sudden tears in space no nothing. Act like a civilian while we make our way to my brother. Understood?"

Alice blinked innocently.

"It's not like I want to attract that much attention." She pouted, feeling wronged.

"Bull motherf*cking sh*t. If I so much as see a single speck of energy being released when it shouldn't be, I will personally empty more of your stash! Oh and don't think I don't know about your little agreement with the Queen of the North." Rosalyn held a single sheet of paper as Alice's eyes constricted. "My brother was kind enough to let me know what the North has been up to. I thought they would be preparing for battle or something along the lines. NAH! Instead, some split haired freak decided to cash in her favour with the Queen and use it to recreate forgotten mead!

"You have the whole f*cking nation trying to reverse engineer this sh*t!"

Hearing this, both Ria and Luke choked on their drink while Isolde almost fell over.

A favour from the Queen of an entire nation. . .

And she chose mead.

Feeling the eyes on her, Alice felt a little embarrassed and hide her face behind her mug.

"Fine. . . I'll behave. . ." She muttered meekly. If her efforts in trying to recreate Ayrian mead is ruined then she would truly cry.

After all, she was now running low on bottles. Once that reaches zero. . .

Alice shuddered imagining the possibility.