Inside the Tree House, the oil lamp cast a meager light, throwing the figures of the two leaning against each other onto the rough wooden walls, flickering uncertainly.
A Mi carefully opened the medicine packet Lina had given him.
Inside were two pastes: one was pale green, emitting a cool, herbal Aura, used for dispelling bruises and reducing swelling;
the other was a milky-white, viscous ointment, carrying a faint scent of musk and medicinal herbs, clearly intended to promote healing and mend bones and sinews.
Following his fragmented first-life emergency knowledge and the simple instructions attached to the ointment, he mixed the two pastes slightly in his palm.
"Xiao Ye," A Mi's voice sounded exceptionally deep in the confined space, "I need to apply the medicine for you, especially on your back and Wings."
Xiao Ye's body visibly stiffened, and her pale cheeks instantly flushed a light red that spread all the way to her ears.
She lowered her head, nervously twisting the corner of her clothes, letting out a faint, almost inaudible whimper.
For a girl who had been ostracized since childhood and rarely approached by anyone, exposing her skin in front of an opposite sex, even for necessary treatment, was enough to cause her unbearable shyness.
"Do we really have to... Okay, alright then."
A Mi looked at her pitiful appearance, but felt no inappropriate thoughts.
In his eyes, Xiao Ye was just a pitiable little sister who needed care.
Her small frame, coupled with long-term malnutrition and rejection, made her look younger than her actual age, and her chest was severely "barren," a far cry from the mature and voluptuous female image he subconsciously preferred in his past life.
He considered himself a vulgar person with ordinary aesthetic tastes before, but at this moment, he only felt a sense of responsibility akin to an older brother and a faint pity.
"Don't be afraid, it's just applying medicine," he softened his voice, carrying an unquestionable steadiness. "If the wounds aren't treated, they will worsen."
Xiao Ye was silent for a moment, but ultimately, her trust in A Mi and worry over her injuries overcame her shyness.
She took a deep breath, turned her back, and used her trembling fingers to slowly untie the fastenings of her tattered upper garment.
Her slender back, covered in fresh and old scars, and her Black Wings, bent at an unnatural angle with messy, shed feathers, were exposed under the dim light.
Weird purplish-black patterns snaked between the swollen wounds, adding a touch of sorrowfulness.
Besides the Wings growing from her back, her neck, armpits, and the area around her elbows were covered in crow feathers, making her ultimately different from a normal person.
A Mi held his breath, his gaze focused.
He dipped his finger into the ointment and gently applied the slightly cool paste onto the shocking bruises and swelling with his fingertip, especially around the obvious fracture near the base of the Wings.
His movements were careful and steady, afraid of aggravating her pain.
The cool ointment brought a slight relief upon touching the burning wounds, but immediately afterward, the medicinal power began to penetrate, causing a sensation of itching and numbness in the wounds, like countless tiny ants crawling.
"It itches..." Xiao Ye couldn't help but shrink her shoulders, her voice laced with a sob.
"Itching is a good sign; it means the medicine is working and new flesh is growing."
A Mi continued his work while comforting her, ensuring every injured spot was covered with the ointment.
Xiao Ye's body remained tense, but at least A Mi wasn't mocking her for it.
After applying the medicine, Xiao Ye put her clothes back on. The blush on her face hadn't completely faded, but her spirits seemed somewhat relaxed.
The itching sensation from the ointment prevented her from sleeping immediately. She curled up on the straw bedding, staring at A Mi with her dark eyes open.
"Sleep," A Mi said, pulling the old cloth covering her closer. "Rest is the best recovery."
"Mr. A Mi... aren't you going to rest?"
"I don't think... I need to much."
A Mi assessed his own condition. After becoming a Contracted Spirit, the physical fatigue was very slight, but his mind remained clear, as if sleep had become an option rather than a necessity.
"I'll watch over you, and study some things in the meantime."
Only then did Xiao Ye peacefully close her eyes, trying hard to ignore the itching on her back and attempt to sleep.
A Mi leaned against the wall of the Tree House. After confirming Xiao Ye's breathing had become steady, he once again submerged his consciousness into his mind and brought up the detailed Panel.
His gaze skipped over the basic attributes he already knew, locking firmly onto the Skill section below.
He had only glanced at them before, but looking closely now, the descriptions of these three Skills gave him a strong sense of strangeness.
【Yellow Creation Artifact: Can transform surrounding matter into the shape of a Magic Tool that can be formed. The more precise the transformation, the longer the time consumed.
【Unyielding Blood (Passive): Triggers with a probability upon injury; the heavier the injury, the higher the trigger probability. Upon triggering, temporarily boosts all attributes to the next level, lasting until the end of combat or self-cancellation.
【Imitation Analysis: Can decipher the opponent's actions and Skills, but requires a certain amount of time for contact or observation.
These three Skills...
A Mi frowned deeply.
"Yellow Creation Artifact," it sounded like an enhanced version of the talent humans possessed—the ability to skillfully utilize tools and transform the environment.
"Unyielding Blood," this was practically the embodiment of the adrenaline rush and willpower humans exhibited in desperate situations.
"Imitation Analysis," this was the core of human learning ability—observation, imitation, understanding, innovation. From an infant learning to speak to a scientist cracking the laws of nature, none of it could be separated from "imitation" and "analysis."
These three Skills clearly materialized and formalized the traits that the Human Race prided itself on most: creativity, tenacity, and learning ability!
Since they were listed as Skills, their effects should be more specialized, more powerful, and more controllable than the traits naturally possessed by ordinary people.
But... why?
A Mi's expression suddenly became solemn.
He noticed that the System stated the Race was Unknown.
Why would a Contracted Spirit identified as Unknown possess Skills so distinctly and perfectly corresponding to the characteristics of "Human"?
A Mi's heart skipped a beat. Combined with his experiences along the way, an absurd guess surfaced in his mind.
Could it be...
He was the current, and only,
Human in this World?
This thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap, leaving his consciousness momentarily dazed.
He instinctively clenched his fists, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.
If this was true, what did it mean? Why was he the only one? What exactly happened to this World?
"Hm? A Mi?" Xiao Ye's voice sounded softly, tinged with drowsiness and concern.
A Mi snapped back to reality, realizing his unconsciously emitted tension had disturbed the not-quite-asleep Xiao Ye.
She turned her body to face A Mi, her dark eyes reflecting a faint glimmer in the dimness.
"You look a bit tense. Did something happen?"
A Mi looked into her clear, concerned eyes and hesitated. This question might be abrupt, but he urgently needed verification.
"Xiao Ye," he asked in a low voice, his tone carrying a dryness he hadn't noticed himself, "Have you... ever heard of 'Humans'?"
"Humans?" Xiao Ye repeated the unfamiliar term, a look of pure bewilderment on her face.
She thought carefully for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "No. What is that? Is it a Magical Beast? Or some rare Demi-human Race?"
A Mi's heart sank.
Not giving up, he continued to describe: "They... look somewhat similar to us—no, similar to how I look now—but they have no feathers, no pointed ears, and no obvious distinguishing features... perhaps a neutral being somewhat resembling all three Sentient Beings.
They are skilled at creating and using various tools, and their learning ability is very strong..."
Xiao Ye continued to shake her head, only confusion in her eyes.
"Mr. A Mi, I have never heard of any Sentient Being like that existing. There are Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and many other Races, but... no 'Humans'."
A brief silence fell between them. An invisible chill crept up A Mi's spine.
"Let's check the System," A Mi suggested, unwilling to give up the last shred of hope.
Xiao Ye nodded and also concentrated, bringing up her own System Panel. Both of them simultaneously searched the System's encyclopedia index for "Human."
The result was suffocating.
【Search Term: "Human"... No relevant records found.】
【Please check if the input is correct, or try other keywords.】
No matter how they changed the keywords—"Human Race," "Sentient Being with no features," "Lost Race in History"...
The System's feedback was consistently the cold "No relevant records found" or vague entries pointing to other completely unrelated Races.
This was strange, extremely strange!
According to the Rules stated by the System itself, every Contracted Spirit must originate from a historical echo of some Race; the richer and grander the history of the Race, the higher the potential ceiling for their Contracted Spirit.
Yet, the concept of "Human" seemed to have been completely wiped from this World's memory and records by an invisible hand, cleanly without leaving a trace.
A Mi leaned against the wall, feeling a wave of powerlessness wash over him.
His guess seemed to be confirmed.
He was a Contracted Spirit from an extinct and completely forgotten Race. An echo that... should not exist.
Seeing A Mi's somewhat gloomy and depressed expression, Xiao Ye, though not understanding the reason, could sense his low spirits.
She said quietly, "I'm sorry, Mr. A Mi, I can't help..."
A Mi snapped back to attention. Seeing Xiao Ye's worried look, he forcibly suppressed the surging waves in his heart and forced out a comforting smile.
"No, I should be the one thanking you. You helped me confirm something very important." He paused, changing the subject, "How is your wound... still itchy? Can you sleep?"
Xiao Ye felt her back; the itching sensation was still there, but it seemed less unbearable than before.
"Mhm, it's better. I should be able to sleep now."
"That's good, go to sleep now," A Mi said gently. "You'll be better tomorrow."
Xiao Ye obediently lay back down and closed her eyes. This time, perhaps because the medicine had stabilized, or perhaps because her mind was calmer, she soon began to breathe evenly and lightly.
A Mi sat alone in the darkness, watching over the sleeping girl, and guarding the heavy, astonishing secret in his heart.
The night of this day finally passed slowly amidst silence and mystery.