Book 6: Chapter 23
Scarlet
“Your very voice is now infused with your reality,” Tar says, explaining what’s going on. “But more importantly...”
I frown at him as I realize he’s staring directly at my eyes.
Is there something wrong with my eyes?
“Something wrong... no, but something strange, definitely,” he says, confusing me a bit. “Just take a look for yourself.”
Oookaaay...
I bring a mirror out of my Bloodwell Keep storage skill. And when I look in it, I find a rather surprising sight staring back at me.
Unlike the rest of my body that’s currently visible, like my arms, there are no glowing red veins on my face that practically illuminate my skin with a red glow. Instead, the red glow in my eyes have gotten far brighter.
But more importantly, now there are odd symbols in my eyes. Almost like a liquid fire in them.
And the symbols are glowing with a very pale red, bordering on white light.
That’s not all though. The symbols look alive.
They’re moving around like an actual liquid flame. And it’s kind of disturbing yet peaceful at the same time to watch.
Overall, a very disorienting experience.
I raise my hand towards my eyes, and when my hand gets close, the symbol starts moving slower. As if it’s aware and focusing on my hand near it. Then it starts moving faster again.
“I think... those symbols represent your status as the Red Plague,” Tar says, sounding like he’s only half away of what he’s saying. “Not sure why, but that’s just what comes to mind when I meet your eyes. That I’m looking at the Red Plague itself.”
That gives me pause as I stare at my reflection. Then I turn to look at him with a frown.
Doesn’t this mean I’ve been delegated down to nothing more than a plague?
“What is it?” Tar asks, sounding genuinely curious.
I raise my arm, showing off the glowing thing to him. Where my red veins stand out and quite literally illuminate the inside of my arm like a damned flashlight. As if I had one inside of my flesh.
Am I really going to be a glowing lightbulb for the rest of my life?
Tar doesn’t say anything for a second as he stares, only to burst out into laughter.
I’m being serious. I don’t want to be a glowing lightbulb.
“Try thinking... about your blood... no longer... glowing?” he tries to say in-between laughs.
I glare at the tanuki but do as he said anyways. And right when I do, my body stops glowing like a lightbulb.
Although there is still a very faint shimmer from my veins. Veins that are no longer the normal blueish purple color and are now a blood crimson.
But it’s still hard to tell if you don’t have your face right up to my skin. And people won’t be getting that close if I have any say about it regardless of my vein’s color. So it’s fine.
“Well, more importantly than your glowing skin,” Tar says, making me glare at him again. “Your new skill should make absorbing the Red Plague planet easy. So do you want to go give it a shot now?”
I continue glaring for a second before grinning.
“Let’s do it,” I state aloud while clenching my fists.
But my glowing skin is important.
“Sure it is,” he comments before teleporting me without another word.
And when we reappear, we do so right in front of a massive orb of Red Plague that I immediately feel calling out to me.
Time for a snack.