The Box: Fate
Chapter 20 — Hope and the Healing Light
The morning sun filtered through the cracks of the wooden inn casting long golden streaks across the floor The room was silent filled only with the heavy breathing of tired warriors and the faint smell of medicinal herbs Kataki remained unconscious his face pale but his breathing steady while the others sat in various states of exhaustion
Zanaki was the first to stand Despite the bruises on his face and his torn clothes he forced a bright confident smile onto his lips He looked around at the group—Akira staring at his broken blade Murasaki lost in thought and Axel Hatanaki clucking his tongue at his own wounds
Hey everyone! Look at those faces Zanaki voice rang out breaking the heavy silence We survived didn't we? We went toe-to-toe with a Master and we're still breathing That's a win in my book!
Akira looked up his eyes tired He was too strong Zanaki We only survived because of that Hunter girl
Maybe so Zanaki replied walking to the center of the room But we learned his face We felt his power Next time we won't be caught off guard Don't let this defeat pull you down This world wants to break us but we're the ones who opened the box We aren't just players we're the main characters of this story We have plenty of time to get even more powerful
He clapped his hands loudly startling a few of the resting players Now enough brooding! Everyone check your status screens We fought a Boss-level shadow and a Master The experience points from a fight like that must be insane
One by one the seventeen players summoned their blue status windows The room was suddenly filled with the soft hum of magical screens Gasps of surprise began to echo through the inn
My level... it jumped by five! Mikochi shouted his eyes wide
My strength stats have doubled Axel Hatanaki muttered a grin finally returning to his face
As they scrolled through their notifications a sudden brilliant glow erupted from the corner of the room Everyone turned to look at one of the quieter players a girl named *Hina who had been focused on her screen with a shocked expression
A notification appeared above her head visible to everyone
**[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: CELESTIAL HEALING]**
Hina looked at her hands which were now radiating a soft warm white light I... I think I unlocked a support skill she whispered
Is that... healing magic? Murasaki asked standing up and walking toward her.
Hina nodded slowly She walked over to the bed where Kataki lay and placed her glowing hands over his chest The white light flowed into his body like a gentle river Almost instantly the deep purple bruises on his skin began to fade and the pained expression on his face softened into a peaceful sleep
She then turned to Akira and Kuro waving her hands The light touched their wounds knitting the flesh back together and washing away the dark fatigue that had settled in their bones
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly In a world this dangerous where every scratch could mean death a healer was more than just a teammate—she was a miracle
A healer! Sharky Bee laughed throwing his hands up We actually have a healer now!
See? Zanaki grinned crossing his arms The world gives us a challenge but it also gives us a way to fight back With Hina's magic and our new levels the Architect isn't going to find us so easy to handle next time
For the first time since the battle on the hill the weight of despair lifted The players started talking their voices filled with a new kind of energy They weren't just a group of individuals anymore they were a team that had found its missing piece
Kataki fingers twitched and his eyes slowly began to open The first thing he saw was the warm white light of hope
The road ahead was still long and the other six bosses were still waiting in the shadows but as the seventeen players looked at each other they finally felt like they had a fighting chance