In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

"Pardon me, young lady, but how old are you?" Michael asked, his tone polite.

Anita chuckled softly, her voice brighter now. "I'm seventeen this year. Everyone said I wouldn't make it past sixteen, but thanks to my brother's care, I've survived."

Michael nodded, noting her small stature. The signs of her prolonged illness were undeniable. Calling Julian closer, Michael turned his attention back to Anita.

"Anita, don't worry. I believe I can heal you," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Anita glanced at Julian, her curiosity piqued. His gentle brown eyes and scholarly demeanor matched the ideal she had imagined for her savior. Though unmoved by Michael's celestial beauty, her cheeks flushed slightly as she studied Julian.

Noticing this, Michael subtly glanced at Julian and smiled. The budding affection between them had not escaped his notice. Perhaps an unexpected romance could blossom, he thought.

If Anita became tied to his household through marriage, it would strengthen the integration of the tribe into his territory and foster unity between the tribal newcomers and his original subjects.

Michael's smile deepened. This could work even better than I planned.

Anita repeatedly glanced at Julian but returned her gaze to Michael. To someone with prophetic abilities like hers, Michael felt different from others—he seemed to radiate an aura, almost like a divine glow.

She was certain Michael was the "sun" destined to change her tribe's fate. But could he truly cure her illness?

Despite possessing the power to heal severed limbs—a gift so extraordinary that even legendary healers of old would marvel—she couldn't escape her congenital affliction. She had tried using her powers on herself, and though her condition temporarily improved, the symptoms always returned.

Her powers left her weak and breathless, preventing frequent use, and every attempt ended in despair. It was a cruel irony. She could heal others but not herself.

Michael studied Anita intently, piecing together the details of her condition. In truth, the solution was straightforward. Had she not been born in the desert, the cause of her illness would have been obvious.

Anita's sickness stemmed from a combination of her albinism, lack of sunlight, and diet devoid of crucial nutrients. Living in the sun-scorched desert while avoiding sunlight and certain foods had set the stage for her condition.

Julian carefully unwrapped the silk bundle Michael had brought, revealing a faintly fishy smell. For the Desert Fox Tribe, accustomed to the arid sands, it was an unfamiliar scent. When Julian removed the straw covering the contents, fresh mackerel and neatly arranged eggs came into view.

Michael ignored the puzzled expressions of those around him and turned to Anita.

"You've likely had little to no exposure to sunlight, correct?"

Anita nodded hesitantly. It was true—direct sunlight caused her skin to swell and burn painfully.

"And I'm guessing you've never eaten fish before?"

Again, she nodded. She had only ever read or heard about fish; seeing one in person was a first.

"The staple foods of the Desert Fox Tribe are likely flatbreads made of flour, vegetables, and goat milk. You probably don't eat eggs often either. And I'd wager you don't like goat milk, do you?"

Anita nodded again, this time with a faint smile. She didn't dislike many foods, but goat milk had always repelled her, just as it had her grandmother and mother.

Michael smiled warmly. "That confirms it. Anita, your condition is caused by malnutrition. Without sunlight and without foods like fish or eggs, children are more vulnerable to this kind of illness."

Gently lifting her wrist, Michael continued, "You've spent your life avoiding the sun, and living in the desert meant you didn't have access to fish or eggs. That's why you developed this condition."

Though his explanation was incomplete, Michael withheld the full truth. He couldn't yet reveal that her illness had ties to an ancient curse.

Anita's transparent crimson eyes welled with tears. "So… just sunlight and fish will cure me?" she asked in a trembling voice.

Michael reached out to wipe her tears, his touch warm and reassuring. She began to cry harder, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions.

"Eat the fish and eggs I've brought, and continue using your healing powers. You'll see improvement," he said, his bright smile cutting through the gloom of the dim room.

Anita, captivated by Michael's light, nodded and returned his smile, her tear-streaked face glowing with hope.

Ismahal watched his sister's smile, feeling immense gratitude toward Michael. That smile, radiant enough to chase away the shadows of despair, was worth everything.

As Anita and Ismahal exchanged looks of relief and joy, Michael discreetly activated his unique abilities. He needed to confirm whether Anita's body truly harbored the curse of an ancient deity.

It's as I suspected, he thought grimly.

Anita wasn't only suffering from rickets due to vitamin D deficiency and her albinism—her condition was also tied to an ancient curse passed down through her tribe.

In a more advanced world, rickets could be easily prevented with proper sunlight and a balanced diet. But this land, lagging even behind medieval Earth in medical knowledge, had no such luxury. The reliance on healers had stunted medical progress.

Rickets caused bones to deform, leading to stunted growth and difficulty walking. In Anita's case, her albinism had forced her to avoid sunlight entirely, depriving her of vitamin D. She had also avoided goat milk, a potential source of the nutrient.

Still, a simple deficiency couldn't explain why successive generations of the tribe's gifted individuals had died so young. Michael's investigations had suggested something more sinister: the curse of an ancient deity.

If that were true, curing Anita required two steps—replenishing her vitamin D and removing the deity's curse. Fortunately, Michael had the means to do both.

He held Anita's wrist and spoke gently. "Anita, I need to speak with you alone for a moment. Would everyone please step outside?"

Ismahal hesitated but relented when Anita nodded her consent. Julian and the others followed him out, leaving Michael and Anita alone.