Jason stirred, his head resting on Maggy’s leg. The warmth of her fingers combing through his hair was soothing, threatening to lull him back to sleep.

  Before he could drift off, he heard her whisper.

  “You’ve always been weak... you always will be.”

  Jason’s breath caught. His eyes remained closed, but his body tensed ever so slightly.

  “Once he's recovered... I’ll leave him,” Maggy continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can't keep being a burden… I’m going to get him killed.”

  The words cut deeper than any blade. Jason had known that pain—the quiet agony of never feeling enough, of believing you were a burden. It had haunted him for years, its grip never fully loosening. And now, Maggy… she was drowning in the same doubt. He wanted to reach out, to tell her she was wrong. But exhaustion dragged him down, his thoughts slipping beneath its heavy tide before he could act.

  The morning air was crisp, carrying the lingering scent of smoldering embers from the dying fire. Jason stirred again, his senses slowly returning. One sense pushed to the forefront: hunger.

  A soft breath beside him caught his attention. Maggy was still asleep, curled up near the fire, her face relaxed in a rare moment of peace. Jason sat up slowly, careful not to disturb her, and stretched out the stiffness from the battle the night before.

  The embers still glowed faintly, their warmth barely cutting through the cold. Jason reached into the Pouch of Storage, pulling out some food for breakfast—eggs, bacon, and a small pan.

  He worked in silence, rekindling the fire before laying the pan over the heat. The first crack of an egg echoed through the quiet morning, followed by the rich sizzle of bacon. The scent of cooking food wafted through the air, stirring Maggy awake before Jason even had a chance to call her.

  She groaned softly, stretching her arms as she blinked away sleep. Then she inhaled deeply and sat up almost immediately, her eyes snapping to the fire. “Holy hell… is that bacon?”

  Jason smirked as he turned the strips over. “I figured we deserved something better than dried rations.”

  Maggy’s expression was one of pure delight, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as Jason handed her a plate. She took a bite, closing her eyes as she let out a quiet hum of satisfaction.

  “You might be my favorite person right now.”

  Jason smirked, shaking his head. “So, I’ve been fighting for my life, but it’s the bacon that wins you over?”

  Maggy pointed at him with her fork. “Correct.”

  He chuckled as he sat beside her next to the fire.

  They ate in comfortable silence, the fire crackling between them. But Jason’s mind wasn’t on the food. The words he had overheard last night still lingered, carving at the edges of his thoughts.

  He set his plate down. “Maggy…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “I overheard what you said last night.”

  Maggy froze, her fork hovering mid-air. Slowly, she lowered it, her fingers tightening around the plate. “What… what did you hear?” Her voice was quiet, hesitant.

  Jason exhaled. “You said you were weak… that when I recover, you’d leave because you didn’t want to be a burden to me. You worry that you’ll get me killed.”

  Maggy froze. A flicker of panic crossed her face before she quickly looked away. Her hands tightened around the plate, her knuckles turning white. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I… I didn’t think I said that out loud.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Jason reached over, his hand giving hers a tight squeeze. “I used to think the same thing. That I was a burden. That people were better off without me. It took me too long to realize how wrong I was. I still struggle with it. And I’m not letting you face this alone.”

  Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she looked like she wanted to deny it.

  “I don’t feel strong,” she admitted, voice quivering. “I just…” She shook her head, swallowing hard. “I feel useless. It was my own weakness—my fear—that made you relive that torture. You needed to give me the only protection you had.”

  Jason’s grip on her hand tightened. “You’ve kept me going more times than I can count. You saved me several times, not just from physical threats…” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “Maggy, you saw a complete stranger get flung by a monster that was obviously stronger than you, and what did you do? You dove into the fray regardless of the danger. Those are not the actions of a weak person. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  Maggy looked down, her fingers tightening around the edge of her plate. “I don’t want to be the reason you hesitate,” she murmured, barely above a whisper.

  Jason gave her a reassuring smile. “You’re not. If anything, you’re pushing me forward—giving me more of a reason to grow. We’re in this together. And I need you here.”

  Maggy studied his face for a long moment, then let out a shaky breath. A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “Alright. I’ll stay.”

  Jason grinned, nudging her shoulder lightly. “Good. I wasn’t planning on letting you go anyway.”

  The air between them shifted—lighter than before. They finished their breakfast, and the doubts and fears that had once weighed heavy began to lift.

  After the meal, Jason leaned back, stretching his arms over his head, his body still aching from the previous night’s battle. His mind wandered to the messages he received before passing out.

  He opened his stats menu.

  Looking over it, he stuck to his strategy. Until he had more use for spellcasting, he would focus on bolstering strength, constitution, and dexterity. He put five points into each.

  A slow warmth spread through Jason’s limbs. His muscles tensed, his heartbeat steadied, and when he clenched his fingers into a fist, power coiled beneath his skin, ready to surge at a moment’s notice. He exhaled sharply. This… this was addictive.

  He opened his new menu.

  Blessing of the Forgiven – Bestowed upon those who have confronted the ghosts of their past and emerged with newfound purpose, this blessing grants the ability to sever the chains of suffering. The bearer may bring solace to the lost, granting them release from torment. Only those who have endured the depths of sorrow may wield this power with true understanding. +5 to Wisdom, +5% to Wisdom.

  Jason’s breath hitched as tears welled up—not from exhaustion or pain, but from recognition. A truth he hadn’t been ready to face until now. He wasn't to blame for the decision of another person. It was not his fault that evil had found him and his sister that day. That was a burden that was not his to carry. And with this blessing, he knew that he had to help those who were trapped in the same lie. He could help them find release—the same release Sabrina had offered him.

  A smile crept onto his face. For the first time since his sister's passing, moving forward felt possible.

  Maggy noticed the shift in his expression. “What is it?”

  Jason turned to her, his voice soft but filled with awe. “I received a blessing… the Blessing of the Forgiven. It’s... it’s hard to explain, but I think it means I can help those who are stuck in their own darkness, who can’t find their way out—trapped as I was. I think that was the golden light that freed the tormented souls the Harbinger collected.”

  Maggy stared into the fire, her brows furrowed. “That's incredible.” She paused. “I'm glad you were able to help them. No one should be trapped like that.”

  Jason smiled, feeling the truth in her words. The burden of his past would always be with him, but now it felt lighter. He would always miss Sabrina. He finally accepted he was not responsible for the choice of that man.

  They made their way to where the Harbinger had fallen, its dark, twisted form still radiating a faint, malevolent energy.

  Kneeling on the broken cobblestone, Jason grimaced at the first item he found on the Harbinger.

  Chains of the Tortured (Rare) – Chain of the Harbinger. If the collar is wrapped around a target, they will be forced to endure mental torment until their soul breaks. These are the chains that bind the souls of the broken. The more the souls suffer, the more strength they offer. Direct damage received is transferred to the souls, enhancing your strength. If the damage exceeds the souls' limit, the chains will shatter, releasing the soul.

  The chain pulsed with a cold hunger, not unlike what he used to feel. He dropped it like it burned. “These are evil. I refuse to use something like this.”

  “Good. Only the demented would use something so awful,” Maggy said.

  Going through the robes of the Harbinger, the only other items of note were 100 Razian coins and the Key.

  Key of the Dread Spire Keep (Unique) – Allows entrance to the Keep.

  Jason tossed the key, flipping it in the air. “What do you say we get out of here?”

  “Could not imagine anything I’d like more.”

  Blessing of the Forgiven is more than a reward, it’s a promise of growth, not just for Jason, but for the souls he’s bound to help.