I have to apologize for this gallingly late update. Life hasn't been particularly unkind, just a bit hard. I started a new fiction, Mad Hatter. I am excited about the future for that one. Thanks for the support thus far. Again, sorry for the late update.

Abrum stared at the glowing blue sap that seeped through his fingers.

Mana SapType:IngredientDurability:5 / 5Quality:ExcellentThis sap is used in high grade mana potions. If used in a cooking recipe, the meal will have a mana effect depending upon the dish. (Not: Also a counter for any aphrodisiac).

Abrum looked very confused at the sap that was dripping through his fingers. The counter for the aphrodisiac seemed a bit odd. He looked at it fascinated. His attention was then drawn to the wood.

Mana Wood Type:BuildingDurability:500 / 500Quality:SuperiorA type of wood imbued with mana. This wood is a beautiful deep brown. If this wood is used to cook a meal, the mana smoke will permeate the meat and add a mana effect.|

Abrum looked to the sap and the wood and rubbed his hands excitedly. Lilith had come back with the meat. Abrum smiled and got to work.

Abrum did what he did last time. He started a fire and began to cook the meat over the fire. He cut up the herbs over the meat so that they would fall and begin to sizzle upon the meat. While he was cutting the herbs, he accidentally cut his hand open. Some of his blood dripped onto the meat and sizzled.

‘Crud… I hope it doesn’t ruin the taste…”

And he just continued on cooking with no idea of what he had truly done. Next, he started to pour the mana sap upon the meat. It sizzled and permeated the meat. It let out a delicious piquant aroma.

Orthir’s delicate nose started to twitch as she smelled something. It was… meat… but not like any meat she had smelled before… it was… different… Orthir opened her eyes. She sat up groggily.

“What the heck happened…”

The memories started to come back to her in flashes.

‘I ate some food. Abrum saved me. He is an Angaellis… WE MET THE WOLF LORD.’

At the last memory, Orthir sat up much straighter than before. Abrum saw the movement out of the corner of his eye.

“You’re finally up.”

Abrum said with a smile as he walked over to her. Orthir sat looked to him and then noticed something faaaar more important. He was holding meat. She could tell that scrumptious aroma was coming from the meat. She sat with her legs spread wide, drooling at the meat, looking surprisingly similar to a dog. Abrum noticed where her gaze was directed.

“You can stop drooling already. Here.”

Abrum handed her the meat with a good hearted chuckle. Orthir took it greedily and started to munch on it. Abrum saw Lilith pouting out of the corner of his eye.

“There’s some for you to.”

He handed some to Lilith. She took it with a pouting expression and started to munch on it. Abrum just smiled and started to munch on his meat and started to make plans. The next forest guardian’s base wasn’t far from their current location. If they traveled by foot for a few hours, they should get there without trouble. He wondered if his meat would work on the wolf like it had on Orthir. He contemplated the trouble situation of the forest situation, completely unaware of the troublesome situation that was developing around him.

Orthir’s cheek was blushing quite a deep red. She was fidgeting restlessly while casting furtive glances at Abrum. Her nervousness led to her eating more meat. This caused her fidgeting to increase and her furtive glances to occur more frequently. Such a vicious cycle. By the time she was done with her meat, she was panting, her cheeks dyed a deep red.

Lilith noticed the changed. As she ate, a burden seemed to be relieved from her shoulders. She touched her sides at times. Her eyes widened after she had finished half of her meat. She pulled her collar out and checked down her dress. Her eyes got even wider. She ran over to Abrum quickly.

“Abrum! LOOK!”

She said this as she pulled up her dress. She was wearing that provocative black lingerie she had on before. Her beautiful figure was completely exposed. Abrum averted his eyes quickly.

“W-what are you doing?!”

“The scars you gave me from the fight! They’re gone!”

Abrum wore a complicated expression. He turned around slowly, as if combating something and saw unblemished skin.

“….How…?”

“I-I don’t know! I was just eating your meat and the pain from my sides started to fade. I think there were some other effects as well.”

Abrum reached out his hand and stroked the smooth skin on her abdomen. He was amazed. He had cut so deep, yet there was not a single blemish on her perfectly smooth skin. Lilith let out a seductive moan as he stroked. Abrum’s hands made a hasty retreat. He was astonished. He looked up to Lilith and said.

“What other effects?”

“I…. started to….. g-get…. Hot?”

Abrum turned away at this and observed his meat. He checked the name.

Heavenly MeatType:ConsumableDurability:5 / 5Quality:???This meat, already made with care by the Angaellis Abrum has been coated in mana sap. Also: a bit of his blood dripped onto the meat, giving it some other effects.

300 Hp over the course of the meal

1000 Mana over the course of the meal

Weak Aphrodisiac. (Potent Aphrodisiac countered by Mana sap. Reduced to Weak Aphrodisiac.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Blood of the AngaellisBeginner10%As an Angaellis, a being of gentleness and love, your blood has special properties. It can act as a powerful healing agent as well as an aphrodisiac. Leveled up by providing healing through blood.

Abrum stared at the meat and couldn’t believe his eyes. The taste had been much better than before, but he had attributed that to the Mana sap, not his mess up with his blood.

Abum sighed and grabbed a flask of Mana sap and went to solve the problem with Orthir. As he walked closer, she seemed to fidget a lot more, her face turning a deeper shade of red.

“Umm… Orthir? Are you feeling alright? You look a bit flush.”

“I-I-I’m f-fine… J-just a li-little h-hot…” She stuttered out cutely.

“This might help. Here.” Abrum handed her the flask of Mana sap. She took it with a flush face and drank it quickly. Abrum had some misgivings about such a valuable material being used like this, but he dismissed them for three reasons. A) It could be easily obtained in the forest. B) It would be extremely troublesome if he didn’t resolve it. C) It was his fault in the first place.

Her face decreased in redness and she soon returned to normal.

“I feel better now… I’m fine… we can start going now!” Orthir said quickly in an attempt to divert his attention from the situation.

Abrum nodded, mercifully accepting the distraction and packed up, a bit troubled that his blood was an aphrodisiac. They packed up their supplies and went off in search of the guardians.

While they were walking, Abrum experimented with different light weapons. His difficulty in making the hatchet revealed to him how limited his repertoire was. He first experimented with knives. He created a basic dagger first. Then he started to mold it to make it longer and thinner like a throwing knife. He practiced making these types of daggers and throwing them. He also practiced making hatchets. He augmented the original hatchet to make it more aerodynamic. Thus he created a throwing hatchet. He found he was much better at throwing the hatchet than the knives. He happily was throwing his new weapons around. He stopped when Orthir scolded him for hitting a tree. He practiced making axes, war hammers, but the creation he was most fond of was a giant greatsword he created. It was as tall as he was, so it was pretty useless, but it still looked quite amazing. Golden hilt with gold patterns tracing up the long white blade. Lilith also took part in this practice to see if she had the capability.

In a short, she did not. Anytime she attempted it, light gathered into her hands and then promptly exploded. After this, she was always pouting while Orthir was laughing.

After a time, they arrived at the guardians den. Abrum prepared himself in silence, that is to say, he started to cook his glorious meat to draw out the beast. After it was finished, he picked it up and walked to the cave silently. He was hoping the meat would be enough to stun it like it had Orthir, but the paralysis was a chance thing. As he neared the cave, and overwhelming stench of death hit him right in the face. He dropped the meat surprise. He peered in sensing something was wrong.

Abrum furrowed his brow wondering what was wrong. Abrum, along with Lilith and Orthir went into the cave. When they arrived inside the cave, Lilith’s wings quivered signifying her disgust. Abrum put his hand over his mouth. Orthir stood silently. Before them was a gruesome scene. There were body parts everywhere. Bodies of hunters lay everywhere. Their weapons lay shattered around them. Crossbows lay in shattered disarray, bolts lay around the cave in numerous quantities. Blood painted the walls in messy splatters. In the center of all of these bodies was a large wolf bleeding heavily.

Abrum came up and checked the wolf. It wasn’t breathing anymore. Abrum stood and shook his head. Then, he heard something. Shallow breathing. It wasn’t coming from the wolf though, it was coming somewhere else.

He looked around, until he saw it… That…. It was in the corner, breathing shallowly.