Bai Shi chose his words carefully. He couldn't just tell Melina it was Fengling Yueying.
Who in the Lands Between could possibly understand that?
"It's a very mysterious power that I brought from outside the Lands Between."
"But as for what the true nature of this power is, I don't know either."
Melina opened her eyes and looked at Bai Shi.
She had considered that possibility herself.
But Runes were the blessing of the Erdtree.
If it truly was a power from outside the Lands Between, how did it allow Bai Shi to obtain those extra Runes?
And yet, it seemed that was the only possibility.
For when Bai Shi used that power, Melina couldn't feel the power of the Erdtree at all.Still, Melina believed Bai Shi when he said that he didn't know the true nature of this power either.
It was like her own purpose. If Bai Shi were to ask her what it was, Melina wouldn't be able to answer, only that she knew it truly existed.
Seeing that Bai Shi didn't shy away from her questions at all, Melina's anxiety began to fade.
"Then... does using this power require a price?"
Melina asked.
"Of course. It's just that the price is rather special. It's not something I pay directly. Instead, I have to accomplish certain things."
"Once I do, I get a chance to use the power."
"But getting a chance is difficult, so I can only use this power in emergencies."
Bai Shi did his best to explain it in his own words.
But as he explained, Melina's brow slowly furrowed.
The more she listened, the stranger it sounded.
He didn't have to pay a price himself, but instead had to do certain things to earn the right to use the power.
The more she heard, the more it sounded like the power of an Outer God, using its gifts to tempt people into serving its purposes.
Melina knew very little about the Outer Gods.
She only knew that there were many traces of them in the Lands Between.
If it was the power of an Outer God, it might really be possible for them to obtain extra Runes somehow and then grant them to Bai Shi.
And that power to regenerate limbs in an instant—that seemed even more like the power of an Outer God.
There was no power in the Lands Between that could achieve such a feat.
Even the most powerful healing incantations didn't have that effect.
The Outer Gods each had their own agendas, and Melina didn't know if it was a good or bad thing for Bai Shi to be accepting their gifts.
But Melina felt she had to warn him.
At the very least, he shouldn't let himself be completely controlled by one.
"Bai Shi, that power... it might be from the Outer Gods."
"That would explain why it's so strange."
"You must be careful. Don't become a puppet in your pursuit of that power."
Hearing Melina's words of concern, Bai Shi was taken aback.
He hadn't expected her to make the connection to the Outer Gods.
But on second thought, it did sound a bit like it.
But Bai Shi knew that it definitely wasn't the power of an Outer God.
As if. The Outer Gods weren't worthy.
If he had the full version of Fengling Yueying, never mind demigods and Outer Gods, even the Greater Will would get a couple of slashes if it happened to pass by.
Bai Shi smiled.
"I've made you worry, but rest assured, it can't be the power of an Outer God."
"Because the Outer Gods aren't that powerful."
Melina blinked.
What was he saying? Those were Outer Gods. They were *gods*.
Although Bai Shi couldn't see Melina, he could guess her disbelief.
Bai Shi casually picked a few functions and described them to Melina:
"If anything, it would be the power of the Greater Will."
"Because that power has many uses. For example, the one I used today—for 300 seconds, I'll instantly recover from any attack. Or for another example, it can give me infinite mana for a certain period of time."
"Or I could receive five times the number of Runes for an hour."
As Bai Shi spoke, Melina's eyes grew wider and wider.
The powers of the Outer Gods, while formidable, were usually confined to a single domain.
If this power had as many uses as Bai Shi described, then perhaps only the Greater Will was capable of such feats.
Melina looked at Bai Shi, her expression complex.
She hadn't intended to press him for details. It would have been enough for Bai Shi to tell her what the power was and if it came with a price.
But who would have thought he would reveal everything on his own?
"I was the one who asked first..."
"But... is it really all right to tell me all of this?"
"The Lands Between is a place rife with lies and betrayal."
"If I were to betray you, this information could get you killed."
Bai Shi shook his head.
"Of course I know about the treachery of the Lands Between. I'm only like this with you."
"Someone who truly intended to betray you wouldn't talk about betrayal, would they?"
"Besides, I trust that you're not that kind of person."
Melina took a deep breath and lowered her head in shame.
It was always like this. Bai Shi always trusted her, yet she found herself doubting him again.
"I'm sorry. I suspected and distrusted you again."
"And right after I was thinking about how to repay your trust in me..."
Bai Shi cut her off.
"No. The fact that you came to ask me instead of just ignoring it makes me very happy."
"Coming to me shows that you trust me. You trust that I won't hide things from you, and you trust that we're true companions."
"So please, don't blame yourself."
Melina didn't know what to say. The trust Bai Shi showed was simply too brilliant.
Having been born in the Lands Between, Melina found it hard to understand how Bai Shi could trust someone so completely.
Bai Shi held out his hand to Melina.
"Don't overthink it. If you feel uneasy, you can hold my hand."
"I'll be by your side, always, until you reach the foot of the Erdtree."
Melina looked at Bai Shi's outstretched hand and slowly placed her own on top of it.
What Melina touched seemed to be Bai Shi's physical body, but it was actually his soul.
Feeling the fervent warmth of his soul, Melina felt an inexplicable sense of peace wash over her.
How lucky she was, to have found such a kind and powerful companion.
Feeling her hand rest upon his, Bai Shi began to tell her his story.
The long night had to be filled with something, didn't it? And besides, he was suddenly feeling a little homesick.
It was a story, but it was really about his past life, with the details changed to fit the context of this world.
Tonight, Bai Shi finally understood the sorrowful expression Hakan wore when he spoke of having no home.
Once the memories surfaced, the homesickness was like a curse.
For most of the night, Bai Shi spoke, with Melina occasionally asking curious questions about his homeland.
When the story was over, neither of them spoke. They simply sat in silence.
Bai Shi gazed in Melina's direction.
Though there was nothing but empty space, he knew Melina was there.
Melina, you always think these things are your fault.
But I don't care about any of that. As long as you're by my side, that's more than enough.
May all your worries be eased.