Chapter 126: Recovery and infusion

I was bedridden for 3 days after what happened. If only healing potions restored blood. Alas, I had to regenerate my blood naturally. I drank a ton of water and practically lived off steak. Cassie running around, fussing over me; nearly sent me mad.

I had to resort to doping strength potions to get out of bed. When your limbs feel like lead, a 260% strength boost really makes a difference.

“You should stop drinking them; they are addictive,” Cassie tells me once again.

“I need them to actually do things, given you put me in this situation.” Gesturing towards the bed, having spent the last few days in.

“I said I was sorry.” She said dismissively.

Sighing, “I know. It is just frustrating.” Sinking back into my pillow.

Attempt to kill myself failed, I had hoped to move to a fresh clone. Apparently, my survival instincts are still a thing. Couldn’t bring myself to finish the job.

With a change of plans, I began aiming instead to get into the shell storage. Hoping to switch bodies, but given the weakness, I could not. By the time I could stand unassisted, my body was nearly healed.

Finally escaping my comfy prison, I stand unassisted by either Cassie or drugs for the first time. “Finally, I can walk.” Moving my arms slowly, stretching the stiff joints. “Feels like I've not moved in weeks.” Cracking my neck to the side. “You wouldn’t have had to baby me if you had just killed this body,” I say to Cassie.

“We spoke about this. I am not killing one of your clones. I nearly slapped you when you brought it up.”

“I have over 2 dozen clones; it would have been fine.”

“Let me repeat myself. I, am, under, no, circumstances, killing, you, or, your, clones!” Spelling it out for me once more.

“Fine,” I say in defeat.

“Good, now, I think I owe you a dinner.”

“Sounds good.” The idea of food bringing a smile to my face.

I quickly equipped my armor, having had it removed when I was unconscious.

We departed shortly after. Waiting solely on Cassie’s hair. Apparently, wet long hair takes hours to dry.

She guided me to a restaurant, one I remember seeing but not entering. It is apparently a seafood restaurant. Happy that the sea is a short journey from this town; means we get fresh fish here.

Walking into the restaurant, the salty smell assaults me. “Smells like the ocean.”

Cassie nods.

A waiter quickly approaches. Shooting me the quickest of glances. “A table?” The young man asks.

“Yes,” Cassie replies.

He quickly brings us to a small table in the corner. Looking around at the water-themed restaurant. Blue painted wood, decorative seashells, boat-like arches, and glass bottles hung from the ceiling. Even the windows are tinted blue, giving an eerie blue light to the building. The staff are dressed like sailors; a nice touch.

Approaching us, he gives us a wine menu. “Hello, I will be your sommelier this afternoon. May I interest you in any of the wines we have?”

I share a look with Cassie; she just shrugs. “Yes, give us a moment to choose.”

The waiter nods before leaving.

We look into the wine menu. We chose a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for our meal. Calling the waiter over, we tell him our choice.

He nods, writing in a notepad before collecting the wine lists. Handing us a menu for food this time before disappearing behind the bar.

He quickly returns with the bottle, carefully pouring us a glass each before leaving the bottle. “Thank you,” I say.

Slowly sipping on the wine while we pick our food. Choosing a herb and lemon salmon steak. Telling them our order, we hear the sizzling audibly increase. A waiter brought us our plates; steamed samphire with salmon and burnt lemon wedges.

Without delay, we dig in. The smell was intoxicating, even before biting into it. The item was a beautifully delicate dish with great flavors. “I haven't cooked fish in ages.” I muse mentally while eating the tasty meal.

The only problem? It was too small, gone in moments. The fish went well with the wine, a pairing made in heaven.

“Thanks, Cassie.”

“No problem, you deserved it.”

I lean in and give her a kiss.

After the accidental draining, she stored her vampiric form away. Hopefully, it hasn’t scared her out of using it. She will need to level it up until at least 5; otherwise, she risks sun death.

Leaving the restaurant, we walk home happily. Heading towards my home this time. With a skip and a hop, we are in the front door. Falling onto the sofa, indulging in passionate reading and gluttonous eating. She is far happier to let loose when eating, given she is in a clone body.

We quickly fell asleep, enjoying an afternoon snooze. Full bellies and a warm room likely caused this. I didn’t complain until I woke up. Head in a crushing hug, causing a splitting headache. Eventually escaping her grasp, I summon my pets.

Well, I actually summoned Chic, the only one I am bonded to. They just happen to be riding Sling like a horse at the time.

“Bullying your brother?” I say with a smile.

Chic jumps off with a bit of flare. Turning around to poke Sling. They don’t seem to notice, slowly hopping towards me.

Picking up the green hunk of jelly, I toss them up into the air. Sling vibrates in glee at the hangtime. It is surprising how many emotions a Slime can produce with only an amorphous torso.

Chic, having not gotten any attention, jumps onto my back in annoyance. “Calm down; I will play with you in a moment.”

Having given Sling some attention, I turn to the overactive spider. Having them eject some silk, I tie a ball onto one end. Playing chase the ball, I use the silk to throw it in random directions.

Moving it at random intervals while the spider jumps after it. Peering into the spider’s mind, I feel overwhelming excitement. “Easily pleased, hu?”

After this, we play fetch and then finish with some hide and seek. Chic won the last game, having found a way to stick to the shield. They hid inverted on the top of the shield. Ingenious, because I did look up, but not directly up. Having to send them a white flag after an hour of searching.

Chic was quite happy in having won. Sending me a random assortment of words saying they will find even better spots.

“Don’t get too good; it will be boring if I never find you. Maybe you should ask Cassie if she will play.”

Chic energetically nods towards me before rushing off. I suddenly hear a scream echo across the island, followed by “damn it, Chic, don’t scare me like that!” Which brought a smile to my face.

“Doesn’t Chic need me to translate?” Shrugging, I am sure she has a plan.

“I need something to do. What to do?”

I haven’t infused myself for a while: sounds like fun. To cast spells from witchery, you need to be infused.

Having already made excess Redstone soup and drops of luck, it won’t be too annoying. First, a death protection poppet. They are easy to make, excluding the drop of luck. Whipping one up, I bind it to myself.

Now, which infusion to choose? I could become a light or earth bender. Something I normally overlooked; in the game, they weren’t amazing. Next, the power of the Nether or End; my two normal choices.

The End is just advanced teleportation and the nether temporary buffs. Both of which I have covered; the first because of advanced genetics and the dislocator, the latter because of my armor. The only reason I lean on infernal is that it gives you access to a couple spells.

Since both are made redundant, how about one of the more neglected infusions. Earth or light, earth or light, choices. Screw it; light bending sounds awesome.

With my choice set, let’s make it.

Wincing in pain as I pour one of my limited Redstone soups into the kettle. The recipe is relatively tame, requiring 2 potions, a poppet, and some basic materials. Dipping my glass bottles into the bubbling kettle, removing 2 bottles worth of liquid.

I am left with a white tinted clear liquid. It sparkles as I swirl it around the glass. Putting the gorgeous liquid down, time to prepare everything else.

A small and medium runic circle of white chalk for the infusion. I already had the circles prepped in a golden talisman.

Placing the ghost of light infusion liquid next to the golden sigil, I sit in a lotus position. Placing my hand over the golden sigil, it lights up. Feeling the nature energy course through my body into the circle.

The energy begins to circle rapidly, turning from a feeling turn visible waves of green and white. They wrap around the liquid, turning it into a gas. The gas rises up and spins in a small tornado of white mist. It suddenly shoots towards me, causing me to recoil in shock. It strikes my chest, piercing through me like a spear. The pain is immense as I try and bare with it.

Squeezing my fists and biting down as a searing pain runs through my body. Like lava in my veins, I feel the power rushing through me. Eventually, the ritual ends. The energy slowly and painfully moves to the center of my chest. It crystallizes into a floating ball of energy in my chest.

Feeling the pain dissipate, I collapse. Panting in exhaustion at the intensive ritual.

Normally, you use this energy in two ways; a mystic branch and a witch's hand. The first takes that energy and forms it into runes, causing a select amount of phenomena. The latter would use the energy directly to create element-specific effects.

Now I am going to guess that you no longer need a witch's hand; It is my power after all. I am in fact a witch as well.

Getting up from the floor, putting my sweaty body out of my mind. I sit in a comfortable cross legged position. Focusing on that writhing ball of hot energy, I mentally prod it. I feel it jiggle and move as my mental hand manipulates it. Like a sticky gas, it clings and seeps through my hands.

Changing tactics, I imagine a glass. Picking up the energy and bringing it to my hand. Slowly a ball of energy appears in my hand. A bright light I am somehow able to see. I push it forward, throwing it mentally. It leaves my hand like a slow arrow; hitting a tree. The tree gets a searing hole in its trunk.

I return to the now smaller ball of energy. Pulling on it in different methods. Different shapes, hands and tools, different ways of manipulating it. Pulling it up to my hand once more, I attempt to create a wall. A flimsy sheet of light appears in front of my hand. Poking it with my other hand, it crumbles. “I will have to work on that.

Knowing I need a way to regenerate energy, I start working on a ritual of charging. Using one of my limited ghast tears to make a potion of regeneration. Creating a small circle separate from my witchery area, I start the ritual. The items disappear, creating a zone of clear energy. Like heat rising the energy rises from the circle. As long as I don’t turn the ritual off, it will recharge anyone who steps into it. It will take a small trickle of energy while it runs. Thankfully, I have enough regeneration to keep it running permanently.

I watch as my body naturally pulls the energy in. It flows through the energy veins recently seared into my body. When it reaches my core, it has a small standoff. The white ball of energy pulls it in bit by bit, changing the clear energy into white energy. “How interesting.”