[Slinky] New Healing
To say it was a mistake to go too near the giant tear in the sea was an understatement. Even if they had been trying to help defeat ghastly boiling creatures. They had been trudging through the sword-scattered wasteland for what seemed an age, before they finally saw the strange portal they were now stumbling towards.
The corruption had only gotten worse since their arrival in the wasteland, and slowly they could feel it taking over their entire body. They could barely walk at this point. So when they spotted something that wasn’t dust, sky or rusting weapon, they could only barely manage to drag themselves to it.
As they drew closer, they noticed there was somelon in the portal. A vespire, perhaps, from the size and stance of them. “There’s hope for me, yet.” They prayed, ever the optimist. The vespire was very still as they drew closer and appeared to be watching them though the shifting window.
The vespire seemed alarmed as Slinky came crawling out of the rift, and onto the floor of the temple. The vespire’s voice shook a little, but still sounded calm. “When they said another dimension, I believed it but… this… is something else.”
Slinky was almost completely consumed and could only manage to croak out. “Help me…Corrupted.” They tried to inch closer the the vespire, but their limbs gave way underneath them as if they were a newbloom.
The vespire gained his composure. “Well, lie still then, I can’t cast a healing spell if you’re flopping about like a fish.” The dark vespire was cold and brusque, but Slinky could do little else but trust him. He was the first one Slinky had seen for so long.
Mist leaked from his pneumir and began to surround Slinky. The vespire closed his eyes and concentrated. A cooling sensation washed over Slinky, and the darkness that was gripping every muscle in their body, eased. They relaxed and lay there with their eyes closed.
“You’re fine now. You can get up.” The vespire spoke.
Slinky opened their eyes and rose wearily, testing out their legs as if unsure if they were really back to normal. “Thank you…” They murmured and met eyes with the vespire. They smiled as warmly as they could muster. “You saved me. I owe you my life!”
“Nothing like that.” Grumbled the vespire, looking away almost bashful. “I was only here to check out this place. I heard there’s a whole world beyond it. Quite the tourist attraction, or something.”
Slinky shook their head vigorously, eyes wide. “I found nothing like that…I was wandering for days. Maybe even weeks. Or months. I don’t know! It’s not worth it. Don’t go in there unless you want to end up like me!”
The vespire squinted. “I..see. It would be rather a shame for me to have come all the way here for nothing, though.”
“It wasn’t for nothing!” Slinky brightened. “You saved me!”
“Yes…I suppose I did.” The vespire was giving Slinky the most suspicious side-eye.
“I’m Slinky, by the way!” They were almost feeling normal now, although very hungry and thirsty. “What’s your name?”
The vespire bristled slightly before sighing, and relaxed a little. “It’s Kiros.” He said, shortly.
Slinky’s eyes widened. “No way, as in Kiros, royal Kiros?” They grinned. “That’s so cool!”
The vespire caught Slinky’s eyes directly. “How do you know…?” He looked somehow even more suspicious than before.
“Oh, I know plenty about vespires, my aunt lives in Banelaire! I get plenty of gossip!!! That explains why you’re so…well…cold.” Slinky smiled cheekily.
“The impudence… you shouldn’t speak so boldly of me when I could barely tell you were pink five minutes ago…!” Kiros’ snout was pulled up in contempt.
“Don’t be silly, I’m only joking, it’s because we’re friends now! Now let's get out of here before your desire to get corrupted gets any stronger.”
“Friends...? We are not friends!” Kiros objected, but Slinky was already on their way out of the temple towards the guards outside. Kiros could only follow.