Suna holds a torch, its flame a lonely speck of warmth against the oppressive cold as she walks toward the tent.Beside her, the grotesque abomination lurches forward, dragging a small mountain of crystal and the sleeping-bag-bound form of Yang Yi. He is too tall for it now, so the bag has been torn open and serves more as a crude sled…In her free hand, Suna holds the ice-egg Yang Yi gave her, testing its properties as she walks. The thing is miraculous; holding it makes the white fog completely vanish. But the moment she sets it down, the fog rolls back in. This further proves her theory that the fog isn't a natural phenomenon but the product of some wide-range spell. The white crystal inside the egg acts like a key, a pass that lets the holder ignore the fog. And it remains perpetually frigid… it /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ is simply unbelievable. Suna can't bring herself to put it down, already planning the experiments she will run on it back at the ship.Three hours later, they arrive back at their campsite. The tent is still standing, though a light dusting of snow now covers it. The snowfall adds another layer of chill to the air.Suna drags Yang Yi inside and immediately sets about building a fire. The field tent is designed to accommodate an internal stove, with a collapsible chimney pipe leading outside. They hadn't used it before, fearing the light would attract the worms, but that threat is gone now. She assembles the stove, throws in a few spare torches, and then breaks open a molotov, pouring the grease over the wood to ensure a longer burn. She tosses her nearly extinguished torch inside, and the flames roar to life. The tent quickly warms to a tolerable seven or eight degrees, the snow on the outside acting as insulation.Yang Yi lies on the sleeping bag, monitoring his stats. His health is recovering at a snail's pace, the severe burns hindering the process. Regeneration potions are practically useless against this kind of damage. He needs magic. He just has to wait for his mana to recover, then he'll use Fire's Healing. It's effective against both burns and frostbite, though it'll leave scars and cost him some health. But when his skin has been burned off, who gives a damn about scars? His only real hope is the werewolf's regenerative ability, that it might be enough to grow new skin.After an hour of fruitless experimentation with the ice-egg—it wouldn't even melt in the stove—Suna gives up and stores it away. She pulls her own sleeping bag from Yang Yi's now-roasted stomach-pouch and crawls inside to rest. The battle and subsequent cleanup have taken their toll. The abomination is ordered to patrol the perimeter.The tent falls silent, save for the crackling of the fire. Yang Yi waits, his health now beginning to tick down again. It seems the werewolf's healing has its limits. But it's slow, about one point every forty minutes. He should have enough time.A thought strikes him. If only he had a mana potion. He sends a message to Suna, hoping she could try to develop one. Surprisingly, she replies, not yet asleep."I've thought about it, but I have no leads. Mana is invisible and intangible. I have no idea where to start.""Right. Maybe we'll find a recipe for one later," he messages back."Your health is decreasing.""I know. I have a healing spell. I should have enough time."Three hours pass. His mana finally reaches 4 points, and his vision returns. The werewolf form not only enhances his healing but also shortens his recovery time from blindness. He struggles to his feet, the sleeping bag sticking to his charred flesh, tearing off bits of meat as he peels it away. It doesn't matter."Fire's Healing!" he shouts.Flames flicker across his body for a few seconds, cauterizing his wounds, and then die out. His health drops to 13, then stabilizes, and begins to climb to 14. He's alive. After using it a few times, he understands the spell better. It summons a special flame that only burns on wounds, creating a protective layer and destroying toxins. It won't ignite anything else, unless there's an accelerant like Scorched Wine involved.He inspects the damage. All his armor is gone, melted or turned to ash. His cold-weather gear is gone, too. "Time for another shopping spree," he mutters to himself. "Maybe for some fire-resistant gear this time…"With the immediate danger past, exhaustion washes over him. He pulls on a thick cotton coat and collapses back onto the sleeping bag.Four more hours pass. He sits up, his health now over 50. The charred layers on his body are beginning to flake off, revealing fresh pink skin and new gray fur beneath. The werewolf regeneration is working."Are you planning on staying a werewolf forever?" Suna asks from her spot by the fire."Oh, right," Yang Yi says, only now remembering he can change back. With a series of grating cracks, he shrinks, his lupine features receding. He's human again, mostly."You didn't retract your tail," Suna points out.He looks back and, sure enough, a burnt, hairless tail is still attached. After a moment of intense concentration, it slowly, miraculously, retracts into his body.

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