Author: Sorry my immune failed you. Enjoy the chapter.

If you see a mistake point out where it is. I break my eyes trying to spot them after reading about them from you all.

Oh, and a friend of mine says he would draw up some of the characters when he has time, so that’s something to look forward to.

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Amare’s POV

*Sigh* oh Kuro, how little you truly know about your situation. You need to grow much stronger if you want to survive what's coming, but don't worry, I will help you. The others are a problem though, and I can't draw too much suspicion or they will find out about you.

Sister, if you were still here, what would you do?

*Chime*

Hmm, only one person still visits me appropriately at this time.

“Amare.” (Val)

“Ah, Val how have you been.” (Amare)

“Things are well on my end, the Elementals are stable, and my chosen has escaped from her current predicament.” (Val)

Val, you may be difficult to read for most, but not to me. You are not here to simply update me on your situation.

“I’m glad to hear it...but I’m guessing that isn’t the reason you have come to visit me.” (Amare)

“...yes, it’s about Kuro.” (Val)

“I figured as much.” (Amare)

The Anxiousness hidden in your eyes told me as much. If it wasn’t about Kuro, then it would have been about the Elementals or your chosen.

“The others may not know, but-” (Val)

“I know, and I have my reasons...please...just trust me.” (Amare)

“*Sigh* you can't tell me why?” (Val)

“You would be in danger if I did.” (Amare)

I’m sorry Val, but this is more dangerous than you realize. I don't want to lose someone else I’m close to. Knowing you, you'll head straight into the danger, if it means saving someone close to you. Just you asking me the situation is putting me on edge.

“Why? Don't think I’ll let you walk into something dangerous alone! Not after what happened to-” (Val)

“I get it!...just don't say anymore.” (Amare)

*Sigh* I know you would get angry after hearing those words. But you didn’t have to bring that up. Only Val can make me question my decisions so thoroughly. Even when we were sub-gods ourselves.

“...Amare.” (Val)

“*Sigh* there is a lot to talk about.” (Amare)

“Just tell me what all this is about and I will help you.” (Val)

“Do you really want to know?”

“I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t, and you’re gonna need help if it involves what I suspect. Or did you think I wouldn’t have done any different.” (Val)

Val, why do you have to be so stubborn with these sorts of things. I could keep trying to evade bringing her into this, but knowing her...yea better to just tell her. At the very least, this way I will be aware of her take on the situation. *Sigh* where to start.

…

“Amare...Do you realize how much danger you’re putting yourself in. Those new high-gods would betray you in a human heartbeat to avoid such trouble. If it wasn’t for the circumstances I would call you mad.” (Val)

“Would you have done any different?” (Amare)

“...no.” (Val)

Well...this conversation has gone better than expected. I wish the others were as trustworthy as Val. I'm still worried she will do something reckless though.

“*Sigh* well this explains why you saved his soul. But why all the pranks, and why didn’t you warn him about how high his vigor stat has gotten for his current strength.” (Val)

“Kuro is a bit...complicated in the romance department. He isn’t against it, but has some hesitation in regards to showing his emotions. I’m just making it so he will be a more experience and open in that area. Plus, it’s fun. Fufu, you didn’t seem so against my pranks when you met him though. *Grin* don't think I will let that pass at him slip by me.” (Amare)

“Ah, I uh...I got caught up in the moment an-Don't change the subject! You still didn’t tell me why you didn’t warn him about his vigor stat being so high, especially with his blood awakening coming up. It is most commonly the lowest stat for every race, some never go past 300 in their lifetime unless they break the normal limit for each race. That guide you gave him never mentioned it.” (Val)

I’m not surprised she knows about the guide since she had the opportunity to analyze his soul. However, fufu, Val is pretty worked up over me calling her out on her behavior before. Well, she normally never acts in any flirtatious manner. I’m still shocked that she did that, Kuro never stood a chance at keeping his composure that day.

“The vigor stat has a lot of regenerative properties, if he knew it’s hidden effects, he wouldn’t have invested so much of his points toward its growth.” (Amare)

“But a dreadlings blood awakening-” (Val)

“Don't worry, there are a few things that have naturally come into place to help him through it. Truthfully, Kuro is actually pretty lucky that his soul mutated.” (Amare)

“...What do you mean?” (Val)

“If you want, you can see for yourself. I don't mind you watching him.” (Amare)

“...” (Val)

Hmm, Val doesn't seem to believe that everything is under control. She will just have to see it for herself to understand what I mean.

Fuu, it feels good to have someone else helping me instead of doing all this alone.

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Kuro’s POV After 3 months have passed.

A lot has changed for the village since my group pretty much took over. The villagers numbered 57 people, 10 of them being kids, 1 infant, and only 3 being elders. No doubt that this place would have met the same fate as the other villages if nothing was done given how the population from past records made a sharp decline in the recent years. The children would often die of either the cold or sickness. Even the infant was on the brink of death, though I healed it in time.

When the villagers saw me heal the infant, much to the parents relief that I didn’t kill her, they started asking for treatment. I gave them a single ultimatum in exchange. Either work properly or leave. I will not tolerate slackers.

None rejected the offer and has visibly shown some effort to stay in my good graces. I mainly had them gather wood from the nearby woods while Hank and Lock guarded them.

Roone and Saima said they wanted to head back to their home village, they lost contact a short while back and wanted to make sure their families were okay. I gave them supplies for their voyage and they said they will send a message back here when they arrive. Though, that was three months ago.

When the three sub-chosen finally arrived, I had them train under Hank and Lock to whip them into shape while they also helped out around the village. Thankfully they at least showed some determination to prove themselves. But I'll get more into detail about them later.

Using the wood that was gathered I started reconstructing the village. Everyone was given a job, half the kids would collect the trash littered around the village and place them in one area, while the other half would plant seeds in it's place after tilling the soil a bit. The male adults were helping me fix the walls and houses unless some females were willing, none stepped up for such labor. They instead helped gather herbs and fixed the villagers clothing.

Food was hunted by Shiro, Puerial, and Beth. Which was later cooked by Shirley who is already used to large orders of food. Everyone became a lot more lively as the weeks passed and the kids started to act like kids. Before they seemed like adults worrying about their next meals.

At this point the walls are no longer a disappointment to behold, and the interior of everyone's houses are no longer exposed to the elements.

The main difference is what I did to the former chief's home. I turned it into an inn and bathhouse.

I made a few expansions to the building since the land around it was empty. The buildings were most likely torn down via the previous heads orders.

Since the economy of the village is nonexistent and the only city nearby closed it's gates, we adopted the barter system for the villagers for now. Later on, since this place is close to the highway, we plan to lore in passing merchants to exchange goods and fix that issue. So far we have had a few visitors seeing as this place doesn’t look run down like before.

The bathhouse was also well received and is free for the villagers as long as they don't spend too much time in them when we have paying guests.

I was growing excited for my class being unlocked tomorrow, but lately I’ve been feeling...odd. My body has been feeling itchy all over lately, and I’ve become easily irritated. Amare told me it is natural due to my blood awakening, but I have an even stranger sense of foreboding.

Shiro and Puerial have been acting strangely as well. There are moments I catch them just...staring. It’s, to be honest, very creepy.

Even my fairy has been looking at me oddly, but more in a worried sense. When I finished healing her wings she started doing a strange dance as she flew around me throwing some kind of mana dust at me. She still lays claim to my pocket, but always flies around when I’m in my private workshop, she even brings me my handmade tools when I can't reach them.

Though after that oddly rhythmic dance she popped up in my [Connected] trait. Since I often used magic hands on her, I thought she didn’t have a soul to connect to, but it seems I was happily wrong on my assumption. Her name is very fitting for her in my opinion. It is, simply put, Cyanin. But she seems more responsive to Cycy (see-see).

I don't know what happens during a blood awakening but to be safe I warned the others about me feeling odd. Most didn’t understand till I said it felt like it came from my blood, I can't say it’s a blood awakening since I shouldn't know what it is since I’m an orphan, which had mixed results. Most were worried about me while others made an ‘aha’ type of gesture. When I tried to get some info from them they just shrugged off my question as if it was the plague.

I’m becoming more and more worried about what's coming.

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A/N: A little shorter than normal but it's necessary for what I have to write next.

More on the changes in the village later too.

I also need some sleep.

I wont talk about the first half with Amare and Val.

Also thanks for the vote of confidence in my ability to write during work *sarcastic tone*