A splitting headache ripped through Derb’s head as he woke up, the air felt stale and his body was sticky with sweat. He opened his dried eyes to look at everything around him. It was still dark, it seemed he didn’t bother to light a lamp before he went to bed, speaking of which, what had happened last night? He summoned a blue flame to light the room, accidentally blinding himself in the process. “Ah, shit… what the hell… Connor?” He found his summon sleeping over him on the side of the bed. He looked exhausted, as if he just collapsed standing there. Derb shook him a bit but there was no response. Connor was out cold.

Derb rushed to stand but the action caused the blood to rush to his head all at once. He almost toppled over from sitting up alone. He sat there trying not to faint or throw up, the spinning room eventually slowing to a halt. He gripped his pained stomach, he felt hungry, extremely so. His throat was parched too, he could barely even manage to swallow. Everything was slow and awkward, he’d never felt this weak in his life.

He thought about waking up Connor for information but chose against it, the poor demon deserved rest. With a simple thought, he put Connor back into his soul to heal. He was surprised to see the damage done to him. Whatever he did to help him must have really taken it out of Connor. He tried standing up, his sword was leaning against the wall just out of reach. At least he didn’t lose it last night. He gripped his head pain piercing his skull once more. Why did he even decide to go drinking? All he remembered was himself fighting and then waking up here.

He slowly walked towards his sword and used it as a support, grabbing the pouch of coins on the dresser on the way. He held himself up while moving. His balance was still off so it took him a while to head out the door and into the main building. On his way to find some water, he found the kind inn owner’s wife in one of the tables, whittling something out of wood. How peculiar. “What are you doing? It looks nice.” He asked, the headache in his skull throbbing when he spoke. The inn owner’s wife jumped at the sound, turning back to see the man she’d just picked up a few hours ago. He looked terrible, eyes dark and looking so malnourished. “Oh, h-heavens… are you ok?” She asked, almost reaching out to grab him.

Derb looked at his shaking hands and shrugged, pulling out 10 silver from the coin pouch. “Give me as much food and water you can give me with this.” He put the coins on the table and sat down next to her, too disoriented to care for manners. The lady didn’t mind, too worried about his health. Whatever had happened to him had him on the brink of death, he wasn’t anything like last she saw him...

He’d looked so normal before this… what secrets was he hiding? She rushed to the back to get a small amount of meat and water, she didn’t have time to cook so she only took from the preserves. She rushed out with a jug of water and the food, putting it in front of him. She quickly ran back to prepare some more, hopefully it’d be enough to satisfy him currently.

Derb watched as the mountain of meat on the table, in all its glory. “Oh, thank god… I'm starving.” He reached for the jug of water first, scarfing down as much as his dry throat could handle. He overestimated himself and choked halfway through. “Urhk… *cough* *cough*” His stomach grew warm with magic, enveloping his body in the heat. He panicked for a second but it went as fast as it came. He felt his throat burning for water again, as if he’d never taken a drink, finishing the jug in the next go.

The warmth came again but he didn’t bother, tearing into the meat and cheese like it owed him money. The nice inn keeper's wife ran back to refill the water, desperate to keep this crazy person satisfied. She didn’t know if she saw his eyes glow white or if it was just her imagination, but she wouldn’t take that chance. She came back to a shocking scene, he’d already gone through half the platter! He showed no sign of stopping, though weirdly enough he spent a few seconds melting the cheese over some of the meat.

He saw her come over and gave her 5 more silver and 20 copper. After his mouth was empty he turned to her with bright, glowing white pupils. “Whatever this can give me, please. I’m starting to feel better already.” She didn’t speak, thinking he was purposely intimidating her. She just quickly nodded and meekly ran back, much to Derb’s ignorance. He felt his muscles burn with every bite, as if he was swinging his sword. He didn’t get bigger but he felt… denser, heavier.

The burning only got stronger and stronger until it physically hurt to stop eating. He shoveled food into his mouth, grabbing at everything with raw panic and hunger, He was too scared to dare stop. It wasn’t until he was two-thirds into his fourth plate that the feeling went away. He fell to the floor a gasping and sweating mess, hair matted to his forehead. The little lady was hiding behind a broom in the corner, ready to run if the moment called for it. He looked at the platter and groaned, he couldn’t eat another bite. He felt he’d eaten a fourth of his body weight, but he didn’t look any bigger.

“U-um, d-do you want a refill?”.She asked, looking at the plates and empty jugs with both fear and slight disgust. Derb covered his face in embarrassment, red from ear to ear. How terrible did he look right now? Taking advantage of this poor lady. “No, ma’am. That’ll be all. I’m sorry if I acted rudely. I wasn't at my most… presentable today.” The lady noticed his eyes were back to normal, full of guilt and shame too. She sighed in relief, she guessed he wasn’t purposefully doing it. “Please don’t do that again without proper warning, I almost had a heart attack. Heavens...” She fanned her face, the shock of the event making her sweat in panic. He smiled at the casual remark, he knew this was something worth kicking him out over.

“Thank you for letting me stay… I don't know what I'd have done if you wanted me gone...” The lady blushed, although the gesture was nice he didn't have to word it like that… “Just don’t make trouble anymore!” She shouted, rushing to her room in a huff. He laid on the floor for a bit, still absolutely exhausted after everything that happened. He could barely peel himself off the floor, the sweat weighing him down. He felt way heavier than he did before, even during the brief moment at the village when he gained muscle. He saw his arms and chest, they felt like stone. It was a bit jarring, actually.

He slowly meandered to the showers, peeling off his clothes and remaining armor. He ran his fingers through his hair, the warm water trickling down and relaxing his whole body. Now that he had a moment of peace he could think. He knew he’d gone for a drink yesterday but he had no idea why, or why he felt so terrible afterward. He knew days after were a bitch but he didn’t usually eat 20 pounds of food after a hangover like that. What was that about? Why did it feel like he was on fire? He washed his body until he went to the tattoo on his chest, the one Connor had put in his sleep so long ago.

There were raw scars on his stomach, marks that connected to the tattoo in a way that implied something was there before. Did Connor do something to him while he slept? At this point he knew the demon only had goodwill for him, everything Connor had ever done was for him. He assumed it was to help, then. He dried himself up and put the armor back on, not worrying about the discarded and sweaty clothes. He went to his room and checked to see if Connor was awake. He needed answers and the incubus seemed to be a good source.

___

Connor awoke in the void. He screamed in vain agony, the guilt of not being able to save his master deep in his heart. He remembered the last thing he did before passing out. The spell he put on him would have increased his metabolism a hundredfold, it would have cured the poison fast enough but he passed out before he could stop it. He knew his master was too ruined to find food himself so he had no choice but to accept it. He wouldn’t have been in the void otherwi-

In a split second the void shone brightly, illuminating his soul hidden in his master’s vessel. He realized his grief had blinded him. He wasn’t in the void, his master had survived! The bright light passed and he found himself sprawled out on the floor, his master sitting on the bed. Connor jumped, he had to act fast. “Connor, can you tell me what- WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Connor tore a hole in the pack, ignoring his master’s obvious opposition to his actions. He took out some of the travel rations, “Eat! Quickly! You’ll die!”

Derb tried to order Connor to stop but his mouth was shoved full of jerky before he could. He chewed and swallowed, his stomach groaning in protest. “Wait, Connor I already-” Another piece of meat was shoved in, he forced Connor to stop through his soul link, spitting out the tough meat. “Damn it, Connor! I already ate! Get off of me.” A swift kick to the stomach sent Connor flying, though he just floated in the air. “You ate? Already?” The demon floated closer, twiddling his thumbs while inspecting his master.

“Ah! Spell no longer there!” Connor cried, jumping in joy. Derb almost smacked him before he remembered there were more important things to do. “Connor, what happened last night?” The demon floated around the room, still happy to have saved his master. “Poison! You were poisoned! Saved! With spell! I saved you! I… didn’t kill you!” His speed got faster and faster as he got more excited. Derb sighed and grabbed his foot, slamming him to the ground. “Gah! No! Please… Save?”

“What I'm hearing is you put a spell on me that almost killed me… and I’m going to say this last part carefully. How was I poisoned?” Connor shrugged. “The girl and warriors carried you here, told me to take care of you.” Derb groaned, it was probably just him being too drunk. His demon had mistaken that with something deadly and almost offed him because of it. He sighed, looking at the beaming demon with pitying eyes. He went and rubbed Connor’s hair, “Good job, Connor. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

The demon grinned from ear to ear, floating through the air and doing somersaults. Derb just watched with a tired smile. He knew Connor was just trying to help, no need in making him feel bad. Besides, he felt like he got a pretty sweet deal out of this. His muscles were stronger and faster, he could feel the tension in his grip every time he squeezed. Something else happened during that spell, he knew it. By the tone of Connor’s voice, it wasn’t his fault either.

He looked out the window, the sun had started coming up and he could almost see the horizon. He looked at the armor Connor had spent yesterday fixing, new as the day it was made. He stripped and put on everything one by one, making sure everything was in top shape. The cloak was next, he tightened it fast, hiding a knife between it and his armor. He couldn’t afford to be complacent, the tournament was soon to happen, after all.

“Connor, prepare for the morning, we’ll be heading out soon.” Connor nodded and fixed his clothes, changing into newer and freer ones. He checked his soul for Jack and Mist, scared that he might have set them free while drunk. He sighed in relief that they were still there, though Jack seemed to be a bit more excited than usual. He ignored it, ordering jack to not try anything. Mist seemed repaired from before, she even seemed a bit stronger. Not a small rank yet but reaching the limits of Lesser rank. He really hoped she'd be useful in the tournament, he needed all the help he could get right now.