Lying on a pristine white bed in the Hospital Wing, Skofot was absentmindedly sorting through the gains and risks from last night when a cold message abruptly popped up on the system panel:
[An energy deduction error was detected during the previous purchase of "Strength Attribute Point," resulting in the failure to deduct the corresponding Emotion Points. Correction deduction now in progress.] [Energy -1390] [Energy: 1580/100]
Watching his Emotion Points balance shrink by a huge chunk in an instant, Skofot blinked, and a faint sense of loss did rise in his heart.
It was like secretly rejoicing after snagging a huge bargain, only to turn around and discover the shopkeeper had miscalculated and wanted the money back.
All that excitement for nothing.
But the disappointment quickly faded. After all, those 139 solid Strength Attributes were still safely on his body.
The cracks in the bedpost were no lie.
Thinking about it that way, he had basically gotten a body full of monstrous strength for free. He just had not gotten any extra Emotion Points out of it.
Not a loss.
He rolled over and let his gaze fall on Harry Potter, who was still unconscious in the neighboring bed.
Madam Pomfrey had said that he, Ron, and Hermione had merely exhausted their magic and suffered mental trauma. They needed quiet rest.
Boring.
Skofot threw back the blanket, stepped barefoot onto the cold floor, and silently slipped over to Harry's bedside.
He stared for a while at Harry's face, still faintly furrowed even in sleep. Then he stretched out his index finger and gently poked Harry's cheek.
It felt warm, with the unique softness and springiness of a teenager.
He poked once, paused, then poked again, as if studying some interesting toy.
Harry seemed to sense something even in