CHAPTER 18 — Late Messages and Magic
ELION — POV
Rea's shower began to run—soft, steady, muffled behind the bathroom door. I could hear her crying, sobbing. I could only imagine what she went through for the past few days. I kept walking down the hall back to common room.
The apartment was warm, dimly lit, and buzzing with quiet life. Aaron and Alexiy were still chattering in the living room. Sarah was ladling sauce into a pot, Lily had stepped back into her room after getting a change of clothes for Rea.
I inhaled slowly.
The smell of real food. The warm air.
Voices that weren't panicked screams.
For the first time since waking up undead, I felt… livable.
Not safe, no. But alive... like actually living.
I turned away from the bathroom door and started toward the couch—but paused as I noticed something.
Lily's room door was half-open, light spilling over her pink bedsheets.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, sorting through colored pencils. She noticed me instantly.
"Um—Elion?" she blinked. "Do you need something?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Do you have a tablet? Or a laptop? Or a phone? Something with an internet connection that still works?"
She tilted her head like a confused cat.
"We have an old iPad. Kind of slow. It works on Wi-Fi—if the Wi-Fi works." She hopped off the bed. "Why? Do you wanna play games?"
"No," I said. "I need to contact someone."
Her eyebrows rose, curious."Are you worried about a friend or some family?"
My hand froze mid-air.
…am I worried about Meso?
I snorted.
"No," I said with a faint laugh. "My family is dead and If anything, I'm worried for the zombies near her... she can be... a lot sometimes."
Lily stared, then giggled nervously."Your friend sounds scary."
"You have no idea," I muttered. While inward thinking about how my friend is technically a sociopath. She's a sadistic one. I would bet my life that she's thriving and probably has a bunch of cool or strong skills.
Meso was my only friend tho we've only talked online, she said she's a female and I believe her... but the internet is weird. However I knew I would trust Meso if the world was ending and looking outside I knew the time has finally come to meet up in person.
Lily was rummaging in a drawer and pulled something out and handed me the iPad— it was a few years old, in a cracked case, with stickers of butterflies and dinosaurs peeling off.
"It's kind of old," she said apologetically. "We used it for school."
I opened it. Slow, but working. "It's perfect. Thanks."
The Wi-Fi surprisingly still ran.
I went to work immediately, downloading an encrypted messaging app Meso and I used for… well… everything. Coordinates. Venting. Planning. Threatening each other. The usual.
Lily sat beside me, eyes huge and obviously prying.
"So is your friend a girl? What are they like?"
"Yeah. She goes by 'Meso'," I muttered. "She's... different, but a good person. Like me... We're both broken in a way that makes sense with the world now braking around us...."
Lily didn't respond and I focused on the iPad.
The app was installed. So logged in to my account with my 36 character password.
I opened my private chat with Meso.
The unread messages counter said:
178
"Oh wow," Lily whispered. "You're… um… popular?"
"More like I'm in trouble," I sighed, tapping the chat. Fearing the worst, and what I read told me that Meso was worried.
The last message was pure Meso:
"Elfio so help me GOD if you're actually dead I will find a fucking skill to drag your soul back and resurrect you as a FUCKING GERBIL. Yes a GODDAMN GERBIL! Then I'll put you in Mr. Pop's cage and feed you pellets for the rest of eternity since I'll probably become immortal. Muwahaha! NOW! ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW! or I swear when I find your corpse—rotting, zombie-chewed, pathetic—I SWEAR I will beat your undead ass into paste. Answer. Me. Now."
Lily stared at the screen like she'd just witnessed a crime.
"…Is your friend sane?" she whispered.
Another sigh escaped me."No. But, sanity is overrated and she's loyal."
I thumbed a reply.
"Sorry for the delay. Don't know if you noticed but the world kinda went to shit. I'm still alive. I hit a grocery store, so I'm stocked—told you I'd do it bunch of supplies cuz I got an inventory skill. I'm the best I know. Listen. I'm not at the cabin. Not yet. I'm gathering people and supplies. Do NOT come looking for me. Seriously. Stay hidden. Every night I'll send a message. I'm going to take a group with me to your mountain cabin in a few days. Wait for me. Don't be reckless—I need you alive. The world finally changed! Freedom at last! Be safe.
-Elfio"
I stared at the message.
Clean. Firm. I was not giving away the apartment location. There was no reason to drag her here. I would just meet her at the cabin that she talked about when we first spoke about meeting up in person.
I hit send.
A deep, unavoidable exhale left my chest.
Meso was going to break several laws when she responded. And probably threaten me more. But laws were overrated and she can threaten me as much as she wants as long s he stays safe and hidden for now.
I closed the iPad and handed it back to Lily.
"Thank you," I said. "I'll check it again tomorrow."
She hugged the tablet to her chest."You looked… worried."
"Just tired." I said as I stood and stretched. No rest for wicked.
I walked out to the living room. The smell of dinner hit me like wall. The table overflowed—more food than this family probably had in a month before today. There were Spaghetti with meatballs. Grilled chicken. Stir-fried veggies. A frozen reheated pizza. Drinks of soda and juice boxes.
Everybody gathered, plates clattering, voices rising. Rea had stepped out of the shower and sat at the table, quite.
I sat at the table between Aaron and Alexiy. Her thigh brushed mine once or twice—maybe accidental. Maybe not. But I smiled at her.
Aaron was complaining loudly about wanting "Just one gun, even a tiny one." Sarah told him no, while Lily teased him because Elion said he teacher her how to shoot a gun earlier. Rea sat at the end, quiet, but not hollow. Just watching.
And for a moment I let myself breathe in the entire scene.
The noise.
The warmth.
The way Lily scolded Aaron for slurping noodles too loud. Or the way Sarah sighed in the tired-mother way that said she was relieved her kids were still alive. The way Alexiy smiled into her plate every time her knee touched mine.
It wasn't peace. Not yet. There was still unknowns and danger out there.
But it felt good.
Sometimes the little things were enough to make surviving worth it. I smiled and joked as we ate and laughed.
*****************
After dinner was over, I stood. Everyone quieted little by little.
"I want to talk about tomorrow," I said.
Alexiy looked up with interest. Sarah straightened. Rea's fingers curled in her lap, listening. The kids were both exited about what the next steps were too.
"I'm not staying in the city," I continued. "Too many people. Too many risks. Too unpredictable."
Their expressions turned tense.
"I know an isolated place," I said. "A friend of mine has a mountain side cabin. Safe. Defensible. Off-grid. No crowds, no people, no—"I gestured at the window. "—zombies wandering around in the hundreds."
Sarah nodded slowly. "So… you want us to go there?"
"Yes," I said simply. "It's a long drive— about eight hours, maybe? But with the right car we can make it."
"When do we leave?" Lily asked immediately, she wa obviously excited about the idea of a trip.
"Not tomorrow," I said firmly. "We need one day. A day to rest. You guys need to pack, not a lot mostly clothes and daily essentials. I want to train a little, I got new skills and I want to master them. We also need to sort out all the supplies we took today, I only have so much room in the Inventory. We need to be mindful about what's needed. "
And—I wanted a day to test out and play with my new magic without fighting with my life on the line.
I looked at them each in turn.
"You're all invited. I'm not forcing anyone. Sarah—you and the kids can stay here if you prefer. Rea—you too. But when I go… I'm taking most of the supplies with me. I won't leave you stranded however."
Sarah stood from her chair and bowed her head slightly.
"We're coming," she said. "You've protected us. I trust your judgment."
Lily nodded vigorously."A new base sounds cool!"
Aaron raised both hands like he was celebrating."ROAD TRIP!"
Rea… didn't speak.
She stared at the table, then whispered:
"I need to think. Can I rest first?"
"Of course," I said. "No pressure."
Alexiy stood and gently took Rea's hand."Come on," she murmured. "You can rest in my room."
The two girls disappeared down the hall.
Lily and Aaron started cleaning up, talking about what to bring and pack, what the cabin might look like. Sarah moved to the sink to wash dishes, quietly thinking about what the future is in store for them.
And finally—
I had a moment alone.
Time to check my status!
I sat on the couch, leaned back, and finally opened the system.
It flickered alive:
[STATUS]
Name: Elion
[BLOODLINE]:Vrykolakas (Awakened)
A longer description unfolded beneath it:
Born from death to walk again, a Vrykolakas lives between hunger and will. A predator of life-force. A body that regenerates beyond reason. A price that must be paid — blood must be drunk once per day, or the body begins to die.
I pressed my fingers to my face.
"…Great," I muttered. "Fucking fantastic. Love that for me. I'm now a goddamn Vampire."
I closed the race description. I've read enough books to know a vamp when I see one. At first I wan't sure since everything was a rush, but I remember reading bouta. blood skill and I cam back from the dead. A blood sucking leech was the logical answer. Looks like I was right and now have to drink blood daily.
I sighed and closed my eyes, another issue for future Elion. I spend my eyes and focused on the next part of my status.
Name: Elion
Level: 3
Physique: 12
Mind: 13
Spirit: 13 —> 14
Will: 21
Perception: 10
(hidden) Charm: 15
Free Points Remaining: 29
[SKILLS]
Passive:Crimson Pulse, Danger Sense, Exsanguine Nature, Bloodline Authority – "Fledgling Mark"
Active:Shadow Veil, Telekinesis, Frostwill, Hemovore
Extra: Inventory
I had managed to level up once, either from Darius or the variant zombie. so I gained an extra +10 to my free points and the other points were bonus points from kills. I still was unclear how the bonus amount added up.
The rest of my stats were… well, good. I felt the change after my bloodline awakened. If before 1 stat point in Physique ment I could lift 20 lbs more, now it was like a single point was worth the strength of 100lbs.
I decided to spend some points, while I wanted to keep some free points for an emergency, I felt my weakness today strongly. I needed more strength.
Then there was also the new hidden stat 'Charm' I didn't know if was high or not for a beginner. My Charm stat glowed faint silver. Why wouldn't' I want to invest in the stat. it may not be super powerful, but it had to do something.
I looked at he new numbers.
Physique: 12 —> 20
Mind: 13 —> 15
Spirit: 14 —> 15
Will: 21 —> 25
Perception: 10 —> 15
(hidden) Charm: 16
Free Points Remaining: 29 —> 7
I felt power and mana surge within me as I jumped the stats. I could feel my Physique changing. My muscles tightening. my skill shifting. My Will also felt stronger, like I was now another step to becoming unshakeable.
After I let the stats adjust I closed my eyes and felt the flow of mana beneath my skin, I felt cold and powerful.
Then—skills. I smiled as I looked at my new skills.
First I looked at Frostwill. This wasn't a spell. It was different than the ridged system of skill activation. No this was a technique. A substance of will. The cold obeyed my intent, not my thoughts or patterns.
Before… when I used it instinctively, it responded like well... like instinct.
Now, awakened and alive again, I could feel it clearly—The cold coiling in my mana like a slow river of winter.
I exhaled, and closed my eyes.
"…Time to practice."
I sat, on the couch in the quiet corner of the living room, and let mana pool in my palm.
The temperature dropped instantly.
A soft mist formed around my hand.
I focused.
Nothing to too big or too flashy. I wanted to practice control. I didn't want to bother others with my practice, and I wanted to see just how much I could
I reread the decryption of the skill: 'You exert your will over the cold itself. Through imagination and pure force of will, you freely generate and shape ice without predefined forms.
Ice manifests according to intent—limited only by Will and Spirit.'
Something exactly what I wanted. the ball of frost seemed to solidly and slowly morphed into and a ice shard began to form—slowly, painfully slowly compared to my battle reflex.
A thin spike, crystalline, precise, but fragile. I focused and shaped it harder, sharper, colder.
It cracked.
I cursed under my breath.
Again.
This time I held the form longer. Made it denser. Imagined steel—but colder. Imagined glass—but harder. Imagined a weapon that didn't melt, didn't break—
A dagger of ice formed in my palm.
It was a bit small, and not perfectly sharp on the blade.
Not perfect.
But real.
I turned it in my fingers, examining the edges.
Then snapped it half and let the ice fade away and built another shape—A spear. A small shield. A spiral. A needle-thin icicle.
Each one got cleaner. Sharper.
The cold listened to me.
Not like before. This wasn't me playing it instinctively. But my will telling the ice how to behave and it listening obediently.
Hours passed without me noticing.
Until—
"Um… Elion?"
I blinked.
The ice dissolved from my hand.
Alexiy stood in the hallway, wearing clean clothes, hair damp from her own shower, pink eyes soft and warm. The moonlight gracing her features. I looked at the window and realized it was over 4 hours since I started testing magic.
I knew I would get carried away and spend to long one spell. After all I still had 3 new skills from my awakening my 'Vrykolakas' Bloodline.
Alexiy shuffled closer.
"We're, um…" she hesitated. "Everyone else is asleep."
I nodded.
She took a small breath.
"Can we talk?"