A Healer's Gift: Adventures of Brad: Book 1 (Adventures on Brad)
Page 15
It is only when the critical work of healing is done that Daniel is able to check the notifications that have been piling up, scanning through the various pieces of information he has received during the fight. It is only the last piece that is of particularly noteworthy.
Level Up!
Adventurer Level 5
You have gained 5 attribute points.
When the first army division returns and no other attacks come, the healers turn back to their patients, using their mana to speed up the healing process. All efforts are taken to conserve some mana for potential additional life-threatening injuries, but with the immediate danger over, the healers have wider leeway to use their spells.
Maximillian is among those critically injured but stable, ribs shattered but the internal bleeding halted by Daniel’s quick fix. Daniel himself works on his wounds, using his healing skills to patch the unconscious party leader together. Kilroy has been pulled away by now from Mia’s body and he sits next to Maximillian, clutching the departed Adventurers bow as he watches Daniel work.
Asin works with the quartermasters while Daniel heals, first stripping the Orcs of their valuables and then categorising it all. A part of the Catkin is disappointed that the Army will be taking it all, but accepts it without complaint. This is neither the time nor place to discuss the terms of their hiring after all. In either case, it is a better task than the distasteful one of burying the Orcs and her peers.
It is in the evening that the Champion finally reappears with the rest of the Army. Tents staked and perimeters secure, the party begins. Losses were more than acceptable, the Army once mobilised had managed to destroy the grunt Orcs with ease. Only once was there true danger when the Orc War Chief himself had joined battle, but the Champion had met him in combat himself. The tale of the Unbreakable defence of the Champion’s Gift and the ensuing fight travelled the tents with speed, growing with each telling.
Those guarding the supplies have their own tale to tell and while the celebration is at first muted, it soon picks up. The Adventurers understand loss, they understand death, and while this was not the way they expected their friends to go, it was still part of their job. Grieving could happen, would happen, later – for now, it was time to celebrate the fact that they were alive.
In their own camp, Daniel and Asin find themselves in a cook-off much to the delight of surrounding camps. The two cooks have beer pressed into their hands while they work to feed the hungry crowds, laughter and good natured ribbing passing between them. Or as much ribbing as Asin ever offers.
In the morning, the camp breaks up and the army begins its long journey home. A select few of the Adventurer parties do not go back, instead moving to the border to ensure that the Orcs are gone. Daniel and his group are not chosen, their group too few and new now to take part in such an endeavour. Daniel is relieved – as instructive as this quest has been, he is happy to return home.
The journey back to the city is quiet and relaxed, even the Army personnel seeming to loosen up after the battle. Daniel spends his time alternating between the healer wagons and walking alongside Asin to start learning Catkin.
At the city gates, Daniel never makes it all the way to the Adventurers Guild to file his completed Quest, instead being dragged away firmly by Khy’ra to celebrate his safe return. After the throes of passion, she expertly drags the tale out of him, letting him work through his emotions. Asin completes the Quest for both of them, giving Liev a quick hug before departing to see her family. In their own way, the Beastkin debrief her, making her tell the tale of the battle again and again to different groups. It is only the next morning that Daniel manages to make it to the Adventurers Guild, lighter of step with a portion of his grief eased.
“Daniel, good. I have something for you,” Liev smiles slightly, waving him over.
“Morning Liev. Asin let me know,” he nods to his friend, looking around the relatively quiet Adventuring Guild. It seems most of the others who went with the army are taking a day off.
“Come with me,” Liev beckons and brings Daniel to a private room. There, he pulls a small packet out of his jacket pocket, offering it to Daniel. When opened, it contains a simple iron ring with a cut blue-purplish stone. Yet, when Daniel picks it up, he gets a notification:
Moonstone Ring of Experience
On sleeping, wearer re-experiences events occurring within 24 hours, learning new lessons.
Effect: +2% experience and skill gain over previous 24 hours
“This…” Daniel’s jaw drops. He has heard of enchanted items like this before of course, stories told by Adventurer to Adventurer, their status raised to almost mythic proportions. Enchanted items like these were passed on as heirlooms in Adventuring families, guarded as some of the most precious items they could acquire. It was said the Crown itself was made of Moonstone, granting the wearer a 10% boost. To hold a ring like this in his hand exceeds his expectation.
“It’s yours. I would caution about speaking about it to anyone else. Khy’ra of course knows as she negotiated it as your payment for the healing of the Champion,” Liev says. He reaches out, closing Daniel’s hand over the ring.
Daniel fights his feelings, truly conflicted. His first, instinctive reaction is to refuse the gift. It is too much, way too much. Yet, a more honest part of him realises how powerful and appropriate a gift it is – letting him gain strength and experience even as he loses it while using his own Gift. It could never truly make up the ground loss or the memories forsaken, but it would help.
“Thank you,” head bowed, Daniel opens his hand and slides the ring on.
“No need. I’m just the messenger,” Liev smiles, patting the young adventurer on the shoulder and guiding him out.
Outside, Asin waits patiently with a slip in her hand. She glances at Daniel and Liev, sees the new ring but ignores its presence, instead proffering the quest slip to Daniel. Daniel smiles at his friend, taking the slip and reading it over before raising an eyebrow. “Shadow Cat again?”
Asin nods firmly, caressing her knives. Their one failed quest. For a moment, Daniel hesitates then he smiles, acceding to her request and walking to the counter. “Back to work it is then.”
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The End
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About the Author
Tao Wong is an avid fantasy and scifi reader who spends his time working and writing in the North of Canada. He’s spent way too many years doing martial arts of many forms and having broken himself too often, now spends his time writing about fantasy worlds.