Hero, they say great smugglers start small. Some steal a pie. Some — an artifact from a temple. And some — the head of a creature that never did anyone any harm. In Bobby’s case, it was as usual: a bit drunken, a bit foolish, but absolutely brazen.

 

Oh, hero, the tavern on the wasteland’s edge remembered that night — when Madame Mirika returned at last: old, mysterious, and oddly charming. They say she once sold her laughter for the perfect wine.

 

“Bobby, Bobby,” she said as if they were old acquaintances. “Want to become unbeatable?”

 

Bobby wasn’t the type to overthink things. He quickly agreed to a simple request: bring the head of a gorgon from the ruins of Eidos — and gain a power even the Emperor didn’t have. Sober, he might’ve hesitated. But at that moment, the only thing on his mind was ending the conversation and finding more rum.

 

The head was obtained. The price? One broken sword, two cracked ribs.. But he did it. Unfortunately for Bobby, he didn’t get killing power — he got… feelings.

 

At first, he thought it was a hangover effect. But on the next mission, everything became clear. He was crouched on a rooftop, as usual. The target — an imperial courier. Simple enough. But instead of attacking… he cried. The courier was in love. And Bobby felt it.

 

The next victim — a guard with terrible anxiety. And Bobby froze. Sweat, panic, shaking hands. It wasn’t fear. It was empathy.

 

The magical curse wrapped around him like a blanket made of needles. Now every stranger’s fear squeezed his throat. Every love made him weak. Every pain became his own pain.

 

“The Grave with the Sensitive Heart” — that’s what they called him now in the ports.

 

And only one person asked the right question:

 

“Is this some kind of joke?” — Sevilla “Fox” said when Bobby refused to kill someone for the second time because of their “too deep eyes.”

 

Hero, there’s more to come. And yes, try not to cry — Bobby’s already barely holding it together..