“You better,” she warns, her eyes narrowed, though it’s all pretend.
“How does the heart of a Wilka sound?” I ask matter-of-factly.
Her mask drops. Her mouth is hanging wide open.
“T-the h-heart of a Wilka?” She repeats, dumbfounded.
I nod. “You read it yourself. It can increase a mortal’s lifespan and augment your strength and agility.”
“But it’s themostvaluable part of the Wilka.”
“So?”
“You could earn a fortune from it.”
“Rather than a fortune, I’d rather see you live longer.” This time I give her a genuine smile.
Her features are still frozen in place, full of disbelief.
“But—”
“No buts! You will get the heart. I think you should also use the hide, since it can protect you against physical attacks.”
“Nyk!” She suddenly shouts my name. “Didn’t you say it can help an immortal achieve a breakthrough? Why wouldn’t use it on yourself?”
“I haven’t worked so hard to be able to cultivate just to take the short road,” I reply in indignation. “I want to do it by myself, with my own sweat and tears.”
She blinks. “That’s…” She gulps down. “That’s admirable,” she says in a lower voice, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“I’m glad you think so.”
I look her in the eyes and hold her stare. Seconds pass. My skin becomes warmer. The beats of my heart accelerate.
She’s the first to break the contact, muttering something under her breath and redirecting her attention to the book.
Clearing her throat, she continues reading.
“The incubation period is unusually prolonged, often exceeding eighteen months. Eggs that have reached at least ten months of development are considered viable for harvesting, as only then do they contain sufficient quantities of the alchemically active substances sought by cultivators. They can be recognized by a slightly blueish tint.”
“At least we know how to recognize it,” I add pensively.
She glances at me briefly, her skin still red-hued, before she returns to the text.
“The Raffia egg contains three primary components of value. The blood, which accumulates within the developing embryo, is a potent reagent used in a wide range of potions, particularly those related to vitality, reinforcement, and energy augmentation. The shell, once ground into fine powder and ingested or applied, is known to generate a localized protective effect over a specific body region, functioning as a temporary, armor-like barrier. The embryo itself, though not yet fully formed, contains concentrated life energy. When properly processed, its tissues can be used to accelerate the cultivation rate of immortals, in some cases increasing efficiency by a factor of ten.”
I whistle aloud. “That is quite the powerful ingredient.”
“Yet another reason why there should be a line of hunters vying for these treasures. If these two mythical beasts are any indication, then all of them should be highly sought after.”
“You’re right. There has to be a catch. Something we either don’t know or haven’t figured out yet. Otherwise I can’t explainhow no one would attempt to hunt these beasts when they could yield so many benefits. And the money…”
“What is it with you and money? Did you grow up poor?” She asks directly.
I blink. I can’t very well tell her that for the first hundreds of years of my life I grew up in the epitome of luxury—though due to the prophecy of my birth I was not exactly given free reign over that wealth.
“Somewhat,” I mutter. And itissomewhat true. After I ran away from home I had to live extremely frugally. Just a few months ago I could barely afford a thick coat.
But there is another truth I cannot tell her. Not yet. How could I express to her that my obsession with money is mostly because I wantherto live comfortably? More so, even. I want her to have all the luxuries life can provide. If I were to say that, I’d probably scare her off. Then she’d call me not only irresponsible but also a pervert, and other names.
