by Brent Tyman
I had completely forgotten about the cloaked woman. If I remembered correctly, she had taken the brunt of the monster’s assault, that first wall exploding right beside her.
“Strange how?” Juliana asked, and Clarissa let out a tired breath.
“I’ve tried to heal her multiple times while waiting for the men to bring me more patients, but my magic just doesn’t work well on her. Her physical injuries, which included some rather sharp and nasty rocks imbedded in her skin, are all nicely healed but…”
Clarissa seemed at a loss for words and eventually just stamped her foot in frustration.
“Ugh, I’m too tired for this! Wait till I get a hold of my father… Anyway, it’s like she had some preexisting condition that stops me healing her fully.”
“That sounds rough,” I said. “Will she get better on her own? Or even wake up?”
“No, she gets noticeably worse when I leave her be. I don’t think she will last much longer,” Clarissa said, sighing. “She’s so beautiful too, and around our age. I feel terrible that I can’t do more.”
I held Clarissa around her waist and leaned in for a kiss. She returned it immediately, but it was easy to tell she was lacking in energy and enthusiasm, compared to her usual self.
“Who is the woman?” I asked and both of them shrugged.
“I’m not sure,” Juliana said, pondering for a moment. “She is not from the three nations. I believe she might be from the south deserts, based on some of the markings on her arms.”
The desert, huh? I guessed there would be more places to see, beyond the three nations at least. I wondered what life might be like there.
“They aren’t even markings,” Clarissa mused. “More like magical runes. They fade when I stop healing her but come back when I pour my magic into her. Who knows what kind of spells the South’s natives practice?”
Julianna looked to me and tapped me on the shoulder.
“If there is one place you don’t want to go, Alex,” she said, “other than the Yunissan Republic, it’s the Pralisian Desert. Nothing but sand, sea and more sand.”
“I wouldn’t mind a change of scenery,” I retorted. “It can’t be any worse than here, right? I would love some sunshine right about now.”
“I believe I would rather freeze in Yunissa than burn up in the Pralisian heat,” Clarissa said, shaking her head. “At least the natives are friendly enough, although not many have come to Hoganna, of late.”
“Still though, there has to be a way we can help her,” I said.
Clarissa shook her head sadly. “Sorry, handsome. Unless you have some kind of rare healing skill…”
Clarissa’s eyes went wide as mine turned to Juliana, who immediately shut me down.
“No, Alex,” Juliana ordered.
“But…”
“No!” she insisted. “If you get knocked out a second time… I… I might not be able to save you.”
Juliana looked to be close to tears, just thinking about it, but Clarissa calmed her down.
“It will be fine,” Clarissa said. “I had heard about Alex’s heroics from others and from him during our late-night messages. I can heal Magic poisoning in my sleep.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Juliana said, still opposed. “His low Magic Capacity can sap his life away in moments. It was a miracle Vencia and I were able to save him the first time.”
“Wait, wait… just wait,” I said, before they started to argue in earnest. “If my Magic Capacity is the problem, can’t you feed me your magic while I cast the spell?”
The two thought on it for a moment.
“Hmm, maybe,” Clarissa mused. “Pouring magic into you should replenish your Magic Capacity before the spell can latch onto your life force.”
“It might not be enough,” Juliana warned.
“Says the woman renowned for having heaps of Magical Capacity in reserve. Alex could easily do it, if you keep him topped up.”
“I…” Juliana faltered, “I just don’t want to lose you, Alex.”
“I know,” I said, reaching for her. She cradled her head into my shoulder and let out a heavy sigh.
“But it wouldn’t sit right with me to just leave her to her fate. She tried to warn us about the Troglodread, even though she was too late,” I said.
“Fine,” she acquiesced. “But I’ll drag you off her if you even look like you’re about to faint, you mark my words Alex Augere.”
Juliana had never used my full name like that before, I guess she meant it for real.
A blur appeared beside us, and Anny was suddenly there. She looked the worse for wear, wearing her tattered, green dress. But she was alive, at least.
“Ahhh, Alex,” she said. “I’m happy you’re alive. I wasn’t sure what would happen if you’d perished. I can’t believe a Troglodread was so close to the surface. Clarissa never told me this journey would be so dangerous.”
With the amount of wiggling Anny was doing as she spoke rapidly, I half expected she would end up digging a hole as she all but vibrated where she stood.
“And I thought it would only be those Ogres or whatever my father said that we’d have to worry about,” Clarissa retorted. “Just wait till I get back, Father…”
“Glad to see you too, Anny,” I said, smiling.
“We have a problem,” Anny said immediately. “The woman that Clarissa was healing is… well… she’s… uhh… she’s not looking so good.”
We looked at each other and nodded.
“I guess that means its time,” I said. “Let’s go.”
We all headed back to the small medic station Clarissa had set up. In reality, it was the only flat space in the area big enough to accommodate everyone we had found thus far.
Here, everyone had congregated, with those who could still walk standing, while the others rested on the floor.
“Damn,” I heard one soldier mutter. “What a day, right?”
“My arm still feels like it’s been through a grindstone,” another complained.
At least the soldiers here were friendly, for the most part. The Tasberg and Hogannan soldiers seemed to be getting along fairly well. Most of the tension I had seen between them had disappeared. This disaster had made them work together it seemed.
It was easy to spot the woman we were looking for. She was lying a few feet beyond the others. Her tattered cloak did a poor job of covering up the rest of her body.
Her garments were peculiar, to say the least. I expected her to have simple clothes or even light armor, given she was from the desert. However, she instead wore some extravagant looking armor that reminded me of the more highly priced stuff I had seen in the armor smith’s shop.
Most of it was as tattered as her cloak, though. Clearly, she must've had some serious coin at one point, to afford anything like that. When I crouched down to have a closer look, I realized that Clarissa was right.
She was absolutely gorgeous.
Whatever was plaguing her had rendered her skin quite pale, but her skin was as clear and beautiful as marble. She looked like a statue, with her eyes close.
Her cheekbones were high on her face and her lips had a full and perhaps even pouty look to them. Her hair was a fiery red that flowed gently past her shoulders.
I knew I had to help.
“Alright,” I said. “Let’s see how this goes.”
Both Julianna and Clarissa stood behind me, each resting a hand on my shoulder while I squatted down next to the stranger.
“Just remember not to move too much, Alex,” Juliana said. “If I stop providing you my magic, for even a moment…”
“I understand, Juliana,” I said, smiling back at her. “We’ve got this.”
“I imagine this might also be quite… painful,” Clarissa noted. “But I’ll do my best to relieve the pain for you, handsome.”
Painful? If it was that pain I’d had when I healed Juliana… Oh jeez…
“Right,” I said, shuddering at the thought. “Any help on t
hat would be much appreciated.”
I looked down at the woman and grabbed onto her shoulders. It would probably give me the best grip.
I’ve got this, I told myself.
“Dynamic Healing,” I whispered under my breath, adding far more focus to the spell so I didn’t have to shout it out this time. That was the theory on it at least. Immediately, my hands tightened of their own accord. I felt the green glow from so long ago appear, all over again.
With it, came absolutely crushing pain. It shot up my arms and I grunted with the strain. I bore down, gritting my way through the agony.
“How can one spell cost so much magical energy?” Juliana hissed from behind me.
“Ugh,” Clarissa groaned, “I… I believe it depends on the ailment. Hers… must be very severe.”
Their magic poured into me. This was what it must feel like to be a living conduit. My entire body buzzed with energy, my hair standing up on end and my teeth clenched in my mouth.
But… I hadn’t passed out yet, which was the only plus.
“Jeeeezzzz….” I drawled. “How much longer?”
“Any moment now,” Juliana said. I thought I heard her dropping down to her knees, though her grip remained firm on my shoulder.
The woman’s face gradually returned to what I thought was its normal hue. Her breathing, which had been a deathly shallow rattle before, had quickened to a rapid rhythm.
Finally, mercifully, the green glow around my hands lessened. With it, so too did the pain, until eventually I was able to release the woman from a death grip. I had no energy left and collapsed backwards, right into Juliana's lap.
“Oh, jeez,” I muttered. “Is my arm even still there? Feels like it’s been torn off.”
Juliana laughed as she looked down into my eyes.
“I believe it is very much intact, Alex,” she said, puffing out a haggard breath. I watched as she gently stroked my hair, playing with it.
Clarissa’s beautiful face appeared in my vision, that smirk of hers proudly displayed.
“He’s quite cute when he’s all tuckered out,” she commented. “Reminds me of the time I wore him out in the Academy.”
“Yes,” Juliana strangely agreed. “He is quite cute… as you say.”
These two were agreeing about me? Cute? Which timeline had I been transported to, now?
“Uh, would you ladies mind helping me up? I want to see if that was a success or not.”
“Perhaps just a little longer like this, Alex,” Juliana said, still playing with my hair. “I, too, am quite tired from that ordeal.”
Of course she was…
“Let me have a look at our patient, while Juliana enjoys her moment,” Clarissa said, rolling her eyes.
I shifted my head a little to watch her examine the woman.
Clarissa gently placed her hand on the woman’s forehead and stared off into the distance.
“Hmm. I believe she is cured,” Clarissa declared, eventually. “Whatever ailed her is gone. She should wake up in a day or so. Nice work, handsome.”
I let out a tired breath. That was a relief.
“Does that mean everyone we have here is healed?” I asked.
Clarissa nodded. “Everyone we have found, anyway.”
I noticed a blur appear, followed by Anny’s form.
“Is it over?” she asked. “Sorry! I was watching but was so nervous everyone would collapse, I had to look away. Everyone is okay, right?”
Anny rubbed her hands together absently as she looked at each of us individually, relieved that we all seemed to be fine.
“Everyone is fully able, Anny,” Clarissa said. “But we have need of you now.”
“Oh? You do?” Anny asked, her eyes wide. “What for?”
“Weren’t you always telling me how unique and useful your Pathfinding skill is?” Clarissa said and Anny gulped, audibly.
“Uhh, yes but… but…”
“No buts,” Clarissa insisted. “Find us a nice, safe, and Troglodread free way out of here for me, my handsome Alex, and everyone else, if you would.”
“I’ve never used it in a collapsed cavern, though,” Anny protested.
“I would be impressed if you had been in a collapsed cavern before,” I commented. “But Clarissa, where would we go? I doubt going back the way we came is on the table.”
“Hmm… Good point,” Clarissa agreed. “Perhaps there’s another way to reach the surface? These caves must have multiple tunnels.”
“By the way,” I said, looking up at Juliana. “Any luck messaging the others?”
Juliana let out a sigh and shook her head. “All I got were questions from Father about how the mission was going. None of my retinue have made a peep.”
“Crap,” I said. “Wait, wouldn’t you be able to sense them, Anny?”
“Me?” Anny asked, seemingly shocked by the question. “Well… I suppose.”
“Do it, Anny,” Clarissa insisted. “I’m sure you have already catalogued everyone’s aura by now, yes?”
“Ahh… okay,” Anny said.
She closed her eyes, and I watched as a slightly white glow surrounded her body. It would probably be invisible in the daylight but stood out like a sore thumb with only Clarissa’s little magic sphere for light.
“I see… I think the purple one is Daiver, and I remember the slightly blue one was Karl. I hope I have these names right.”
“Yes, yes,” Juliana said, perking up. “Are they hurt? Does this mean they are alive?”
“I believe so. They are moving quite rapidly,” Anny said before freezing in place.
“What’s wrong?” I asked and Anny shivered.
“The icky ones,” she said. “Green clashing on yellow. Aura’s winking out. I think they are fighting and running from monsters.”
“Oh no!” Juliana exclaimed. “We have to help them!”
“If you have a way to break apart all that rubble, by all means,” Clarissa said. “But we have to be realistic. We have to find our own way out of this mess, first.”
“Of course, but we can’t just leave them,” Juliana said, her face settling into determination. “We must aid them, as fast as we can.”
I got up from Juliana’s lap, much to her dismay, and stood. She did the same, holding onto my arm.
“Everyone from Juliana’s retinue is together though, right Anny?” I asked, and she nodded.
“I believe so, I remember Kesara’s aura quite… vividly. The other one, Vencia I think, is also there. Yes, I think everyone is together.”
That was a major relief and good news all around. They would have a much better chance of survival together than if they were separated in this place. Juliana let out a relieved sigh.
“Alright, we should be pretty close to the Beastkin town, if I have that correct. Why don’t we head there and ask for their aid?” I explained.
“That is, if these Beastkin are even still alive,” Clarissa noted. “If that Troglodread got into their town, it could be nothing but rubble now.”
“While that is possible,” Juliana agreed, “the Beastkin town is said to have had many warriors and sturdy walls along the perimeter. A Troglodread would most likely be deterred by such defenses.”
“Why would they need defensive walls underground?” I asked curiously.
“To stop any hostile monsters from digging into the town, I believe,” Juliana explained. “It doesn’t encompass the entire town, if I recall what my tutors once told me long ago on the subject, but is far better than nothing.”
Huh, that made sense, I supposed.
Since we were near the front of the column when the Troglodread had attacked, and I had dragged Juliana and Clarissa with me, it should be possible to move forward to get to this town. Most of the bigger pieces of rubble, the stuff too big to move around, was situated between us and the mouth of the tunnel.
Anny, with her extremely high speed, was also on this side of the rubble.
“Well then, let’s head down to
the town and work out how to proceed from there,” I said.
“I suppose it’s a good a plan as any,” Clarissa admitted, crossing her arms. “I hope they will at least have a change of clothes for us. The back of my dress is torn from your heroics, handsome.”
“So is the backplate of my armor,” I replied, smiling.
“I’ll let the men know of our plans,” Juliana said. “Would you be willing to carry the woman, Alex?”
“Of course,” I said. “I carried you out of the Dungeon, so it should be second nature to me.”
Juliana blushed at that, and I crouched down to lift the woman up over my shoulder. She was as light as Juliana had been, but I suspected it was just my Strength stat doing all the work.
“Please lead the way, Anny,” I ordered, and she nodded.
“Okay, I think I see where the Beastkin auras are,” she said. “It’s a big, warm aura.”
Oh yeah, I’d forgotten all about their furnaces…
“That would be the one,” I agreed, “So Juliana’s theory must be right, and they are probably still around.”
“I would need to be closer to be sure, it only looks like a giant, orange blur at this range,” Anny said.
Even so, that sounded like better news than we’d had for a bit. The whole point of this venture was to save the Beastkin, and we could probably still do that—once we linked up with the others.
Juliana went off to let the men know of our intensions while Anny worked out a route for us to take. I also asked if she was able to sense any others trapped in the surrounding rubble, but apparently Clarissa had already asked her about that.
It seemed we had saved everyone we were able to get to. There were many others on the far side of the rockslide, however, whose auras were slowly winking out—either due to their injuries from the cave in, or from the monsters.
We had done all we could here and had to press on now, if we hoped to help the others. The faster we got to this Beastkin town, the better.
I only hoped they would be more helpful than that Beastkin bandit who’d attacked me on my first day on this world.
There was only one way to find out.
23
As it turned out, we were very close to the entrance of this Beastkin town. I half expected we would just walk down a tunnel and there would suddenly be a town underground, but it wasn’t so easy as that.
