Shroud Arcanum

Baaam!

The door slammed open with a thunderous force. Zalya stormed in, her eyes aflame with anger, her chest heaving. Right behind her, Alric entered a weary look on his face, clearly trying to temper Zalya's fury.

"They cannot do this, Alric!" Zalya's voice was laced with anger, every word punctuated with the weight of her emotions. "Letting all of them die like this... It's unforgivable."

Alric met her gaze. "Calm down, Zalya," he responded in a more measured tone. "Considering the circumstances, it is what it is. We don't possess the power to alter this outcome."

As they look into the room, finding their friend, their discussion, heated and urgent as it was, halted abruptly. There, on the bed, lay Liam on top of Irys. Their faces were so close that the softness of their breaths might have mingled. Their eyes are wide and surprised.

The air was thick with tension. Anyone walking in could guess the intimacy of the moment they had interrupted.

A heavy silence blanketed the room, every pair of eyes darting around, leaving them all questioning what to say or do next.

The four individuals stared at each other, caught in surprise and embarrassment. Irys and Liam seemed the most affected; their cheeks painted a brilliant shade of red.

Alric struggled to suppress his laughter. Zalya, on the other hand, was quick to shatter the silence. She tilted her head slightly, her voice taking on a teasing, higher pitch as she remarked, "Well, well! It's good to see that both of you are healthy now, and the first thing you both do is fooling around…,. how long do you two want to stay like that?"

As Liam reluctantly stood up, he could almost hear the taunting voice of Trick in his ear, the mischievous chuckle making him wince internally. 'You just got cockblocked!'.

With a mental shove, Liam retorted, 'Shut up, Trick! 'Yet the only sound in his mind was the echoing laughter of his invisible tormentor.

Ignoring trick, Liam tried to redirect the conversation, "Uhm.., I couldn't help but overhear your earlier discussion. What's been happening?"

Zalya, her purple eyes gleaming with mischief and perhaps a touch of genuine concern, replied, "trying to change the topic, are we? Alright, let's play along. It appears that you and Irys have taken things to the next level, and it's only proper to congratulate the two of you. But you know, Liam, with the title of 'her man' comes responsibility."

With a gesture of her hand, a scroll-like contract appeared mid-air and slowly floated towards Liam. The ornate, gold-trimmed paper shimmered under the dim light. Liam, slightly taken aback, reached out to grasp the floating document.

Reading the content, "Medical Reimbursement?" his voice tinged with confusion and concern. As he continued reading

__________________________________________________________________________

CONTRACT OF MEDICINAL REIMBURSEMENT 𝙗𝒆𝙙𝒏𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙣𝙚𝒕

Party A

Name: Liam

Party B

Name: Zalya

WHEREAS, Party A acknowledges the receipt of medicinal items provided by Party B,

NOW, THEREFORE, this contract intends to affirm the obligations and rights of the respective parties.

Acknowledgment of Debt: Party A, Liam, hereby acknowledges that he owes Party B, Zalya, a total sum of 10,200,000 credits as a reimbursement for the following medicinal expenses:

Health Elixir (Quantity: 2)

Unit Price: 100,000 credits

Total: 200,000 credits

Arcanic Nano Growth Pill (Quantity: 1)

Unit Price: 10,000,000 credits

Total: 10,000,000 credits

Payment Terms: Party A agrees to reimburse Party B the total sum of 10,200,000 credits within 1 year from the date of this contract's execution.

Failure to Pay: If Party A fails to fulfill the payment within the stipulated time frame of 1 year, Party A commits to performing labor or services for Party B until the total debt is fully compensated.

Governing Law and Enforcement: This contract is governed by and construed under Universe Law, section 4, paragraph 18. In the event of non-compliance or dispute, the Shroud Special Agency shall intervene to ensure that the terms of this agreement are strictly enforced and adhered to.

By signing below, both parties confirm their acknowledgement, understanding, and acceptance of the aforementioned terms.

___________________________________________________________________________

Liam's fingers tightened around the ornate parchment. His gaze flitted between the crisp black script of the contract and Zalya's. "The Health Elixir, sure, I get that. But what is this Arcanic Nano Growth Pill? And how do the credits equate in my world's currency?"

Zalya responded. "Credit value varies, depending on which planet you're on. You should find out later when you get back home. As for the pill..." she trailed off, glancing at Irys, "didn't your new girlfriend tell you?"

Liam's gaze shifted to Irys. With a shrug, she replied, "It's for my arm," now settled intently on Irys's bandaged arm. Upon first seeing the bandages, he assumed it was a mere fracture or perhaps a flesh wound. However, the astronomical price of the pill, especially when compared to the healing elixir, made him think twice.

The elixir's healing abilities are very potent. If something necessitated a pill so much more expensive than the elixir, it couldn't be a simple injury.

Puzzled, he inquired, "What really happened after I blacked out?" He noticed Irys shifting her gaze momentarily, clearly uncomfortable.

Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she responded, "After your last shot took out the Titan's leg, I went into berserk mode, then I took down the Titan." Her tone was matter-of-fact, but Liam sensed there was more she wasn't saying.

Not willing to let it slide, Liam pressed, "And your arm? It wasn't like that when I last saw you."

Irys hesitated, her voice softer, "In the heat of the battle, as I tried to counter its attack, my arm... it took the brunt of the impact."

Zalya, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't hold back any longer. "Took the brunt? Irys, stop downplaying it. Your arm basically disintegrated into particles trying to deflect that final blast.i even worried that pill is not enough to restore it." Her voice conveyed a mix of frustration and concern.

As Zalya's words cut through the room, Liam felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if a serrated blade was tearing through his heart. Meeting Zalya's gaze, he demanded with an earnest intensity, "Elaborate."