Luke braced his legs, trying to distribute the force to his lower body. He fell a few feet from the air and landed. The two ignited bodies held under his arms stayed intact.
Chander, the fire mage, was already on the ground; he laid Michael and Godrel on the floor as gently as possible. He began yelling, “A healer, my friends need a healer, now! Please…anyone?” The man wildly looked around, his body turning around rapidly to inspect every hunter in the waiting area. His eyes reddened, and hair wildly whipped about.
Observing the area, Luke walked close to the man, then let the two bodies under his arms drop lightly, his hands still under their backs. He shifted his hands from their back to their chests, keeping contact the entire time. A ring of frost spread from the two bodies.
A familiar woman with an exquisite bow, red hair, and brown eyes pushed her way out of the gathering crowd.
“Didn’t think you’d be back so soon. If only Melen here were as fast as you.” Veyri said, pointing to a monic man wearing black and red chain mail with a dagger in one hand and a tome in the other. The monic sighed and didn’t defend himself from the criticism.
Luke glanced up at her; he noticed her eyes traced the frost he radiated from his hands while inspecting the four bodies in the area.
She scrutinized Luke, “You don’t seem like an ascended. Who taught you elementalization so well? Even I only learned the basics a few months ago,” Veyri asked.
Luke looked at this woman like she was crazy. This is what you ask when four people are about to die in front of your face? And they could be possibly saved?
This world must grow an unhealthy population of power crazies.
“Worry about that later,” He nodded his head toward the bodies he tried to preserve, “if you’re not going to heal these people, step aside for someone who will.”
Veyri arched her eyebrow; she hunched her upper body forward, placing her arms over her hips. She nodded to herself, then slowly half-turned her face to Chander, “Say, Pyrite, I’ll try to save some of your followers.” She genuflected to the crowd that clustered around this spectacle. “Look around you. You know I’m the best option standing around here.”
Chander calmed his mad search once Veyri spoke to him. “Why would you help me? Last I heard, your opinion of the Pyrites isn’t so high.”
“Yes, or no, Chander. If I help you, will you pay the price?”
The mage thought momentarily, then his eyes landed on the two teammates next to him; he saw their chests rise less with each breath, “I’ll pay whatever you want, Pelward. Help them.” Chander visibly aged after he sighed.
Veyri laughed, took out her bow, and nocked an arrow from her quiver. “You know the Pelwards no longer exist. As for the price, I’m not your grandfather; I have my bottom line. It’ll be more than fair to you.”
Chander flinched but did not reply. His vision skittered between his four teammates, breathing their last breaths if nothing was done. His hands clenched.
The woman requisitioned another healer nearby, an elvish man. She instructed curtly, “After I use my two skills that are helpful here, you are to keep these four alive until the skills come off cool down. Any questions?”
Gulping when he met Veyri’s eyes, the elf said, “None, Lady Veyri.”
Veyri smiled, “Good, now, let’s get to work, bloodmancer.”
Her eyes didn’t leave the elf as she shot her first arrow; green life-giving energy pulsed from it. The arrow punched deep into the dirt, in the central position between the four immolated bodies. A circle of flowers bloomed, and a verdant circle stopped under each body. Faint green wind swirled, caressing their wounds.
Luke witnessed their gradual recovery, but the process had only begun.
Veyri planted one leg on each side of Kjal’s body, still encased in Luke’s frost. She bent back her bowstring, and an arrow of pure radiance appeared. She shot the arrow into Kjal. The arrow pierced through the body yet left no hole. A holy light curled then engraved itself all over his body.
To Luke’s astonishment, Kjal rapidly healed, Veyri’s light arrow forced back his frost, the shamanistic healer showed signs of regaining consciousness.
“That one’s fine, bloodmancer elf; focus your efforts on the two bodies near the Pyrite noble.”
Scampering over to the two bodies, the bloodmancer elf nearly knocked Chander over in his rush. Blood waves emanated from his hands. A blood barrier shimmered over both bodies. Unlike Veyri’s healing effects, the two bodies only steamed.
Who is this woman? Why does this elf seem so beside himself to listen to her? Luke wondered. He was curious but not enough to ask aloud.
Veyri left the other frost patient alone, stepping over to the two bodies encased in blood barriers. She inspected the bodies while waiting for her single target healing arrow to refresh in Cooldown. The rejuvenating effects from her green arrow inched the bodies away from death.
She tapped a finger on the elf’s shoulder, “Try harder; that one will die at this rate,” she pointed to Godrel, the axe wielder, “he stopped breathing for three seconds already.”
Chander shook at Veyri’s assessment. He scanned the area, “Any other healers? Anyone? I’ll pay you handsomely. I swear it on the Pyrite name.”
A few healers stepped up but stilled when Veyri said, “Those hunters are too novice, Pyrite. You know the limits of healing magic. If those step up, they’ll only hinder the bloodmancer’s work. I recruited him because he’s currently the most adept healer in the area.”
The fire mage bubbled with rage and breathed harshly; he said, “The best one among you, go heal my other party member, Radagast,” The healers who stepped up looked at each other dumbly, seeing their indecisiveness, Chander yelled, “Stop looking at each other and DO SOMETHING.”
Forgetting himself, he looked at Veyri, “And YOU. If Godrel is about to die, why didn’t you heal him first? I thought you were the Redemptive-“
“Listen, boy.” Veyri’s aura pressed around the area, and hunters gasped for air, “Even with your temporary flunkie helping you, that frosted one I healed was already about to die; it was him or your ‘Godrel.’ You certainly know how to direct your anger at the wrong person. What was it, I wonder, that burned your friends?” She paused, “I should say who was it.”
Chander lost more of his composure. He lashed out, this time at Luke, “In that case, why couldn’t you freeze over Godrel too? You incompetent spell sword. You killed him.” Scarlet mana began to pulse from the hothead, “I’ll make you regret meeting me.” Flame arose from Chander’s boots.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Already regret it,” Luke said, keeping one hand on Radagast while his other gathered regular essence, “Calm down before we both do something we regret. Lashing out here does nothing. I help you, and this is how you react?”
Flame blazed around Chander’s tome as its pages opened, only to be immediately extinguished. Veyri’s aura pressed down full force, and the mage face-planted against the dirt. “Ant. What is it with nobles acting this way at any setback? Would your dying friend want you to focus on others in his last moments?” Veyri looked disgusted.
Chander struggled to get up; Flame gushed but carefully avoided his teammates. A tear streaked down his face, and the blaze sucked back into his body. He crawled under the pressure to Godrel’s dead body and held his limp hand, “I let you down for the last time, Rel. Don’t worry; I’ll tell Lana and ensure she’s cared for. I swear it.” He muttered incomprehensibly after those words.
After a few minutes, the mage let go of the ice-cold hand. Chander brought his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around. He buried his head in his legs. A faint sob could be heard. He rocked back and forth.
Veyri mechanically drew another arrow of light and shot it into Michael’s body. Holy runes engraved themselves around his body, and he rapidly regained his health. Even his upper leg gradually returned to its full mobility. Burned skin shed, and his eyes fluttered open, “Man, thought I’d never enjoy Matilda’s sweet a-“ Michael saw Godrel’s body next to him. “G-Godrel, what the hell happened?”
The bloodmancer elf left Michael to his devices; he failed to save Godrel but walked over to Radagast and gave the cooked monk his full attention. He told Luke, “That’s enough, kind hunter, I can take over. Thank you for preserving him. It’s the only reason he’s alive right now.”
After Chander's command, a level fifteen druid had been healing Radagast; he stood up and let the bloodmancer lead. Blood-empowered healing spells rapidly cycled through the elf’s hands. His focus was intense, a healer at heart, and in class, the man viewed the monk as a patient, not a stranger.
Luke rose up and slowly backed away. He didn’t bother with Chander’s promise of pay and didn’t do all this for that in the first place. His purpose here was over. Based on Chander’s words, Luke’s good deed would not go unpunished.
He was used to it. Earth became that sort of place for three long years after all.
Before he left, Veyri called out to him, “Wait a moment, Luke, I have questions for you.”
Damn, thought I’d escape with no one the wiser. Should’ve known better. I’m surprised she remembered my name. I barely mentioned it to her.
Exhaling out, he found a comfortable spot to sit down. Luke could feel the power of that woman. She could keep him here forcibly if she wanted to. In light of that, he decided to stay cordial and wait here. In the meantime, he and Sooty enjoyed a lightly cooked meal. He paid a nearby group a few coppers for water, securing enough for the day.
He had grown spoiled by Sooty’s water supply; too bad he used it as an improvised flame extinguisher. Luke resolved to secure a sizable water reservoir again in the future.
Luke inspected the three items he picked up from the two snowsaber cats. Two were common quality pieces of gear, with only armor for stats. The last was two snowsaber cat pelts.
Once Veyri shot a third light arrow, this one for Radagast, her work was over. She poked Melen, her friend she came here to help, “Make sure the Pyrite brat doesn’t skimp out on paying me while I chat with our new friend.”
The elf shrugged, used to Veyri’s way of doing things. “Sure thing, not like I can clear either of these dungeons and come out alive by myself. Let me know when you’re done,” he said.
“It won’t be long, Melen; you sure you want me to grind you through here? You know it means the quest rewards at the end get reduced for you. And you’ll be unable to get the final quest in the chain.”
Melen slumped his shoulders, “I know, but I’ve about had it trying to find other competent people who have yet to clear the two quests; most don’t want to bother with the third floor on either side. Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on the firebrat; go on.”
Veyri sauntered over to Luke, swaying herself. She strapped her bow in the sling affixed to her back. Since Luke was seated, she squatted down and began to talk with him, “I like your bird,” she looked at Sooty, “is she what you Farworlders call a crow? There’s been talk about her.”
Luke blinked rapidly, “You know what a crow is? And yes, that’s what my companion is.”
Veyri nodded to herself and played with her hair with a free hand, “You a companion class?” Her voice lowered, and her Aura swirled around them both, “There, should be hard for the eavesdroppers to hear anything, nosy punks.”
While cracking his back, Luke handed the rest of his food over to Sooty to enjoy. Veyri made him lose his appetite. “Interesting, I had no idea Aura could do that. Is that a trick I can learn?” he said.
Making circles with one finger in the dirt, Veyri said, “You can, but it’s useless against people the same tier as you. Good luck having enough talent to do the technique before reaching the first tier. Who was your teacher for elementalization?”
“There’s a challenge to everything. Well, I’ll look forward to learning in the future. I had no teacher, learned this by myself.”
“I like the confidence. Are you aware most people never reach the first tier in their life?” Veyri said, her eyes studied Luke.
“They don’t overcome the feat requirement, I’m guessing. And I’m positive I’ve fulfilled that; I’ll gather the reagents after I reach level 25 for the ritual. I’m not too worried about it.”
Veyri’s body shifted, “Not level 25, but you know elementalization at an adept level. Most don’t learn the basics till the third tier. I wonder what you went through,” She tried to pat Sooty, who nipped at her, “Your cover story is terrible, by the way. Anyone who looks into you, like I did, knows you’re hiding something.”
Luke tensed, his hand laid on Xera’s hilt, “Why is it every time I meet someone lately, it leads to interrogation? Also, leave my crow alone. She’s shy. What do you want, Veyri?”
The woman smirked, and left Sooty alone, “A ferus that left the Night Moon forest for weeks, claims he’s been around for a year, yet no records or sightings exist of him any earlier.” The woman’s smirk turned into a smile when she captured Luke’s full attention, “Now he’s a ‘spell sword’ with a companion. Barely explainable that you lucked out and your pet adapted to you when you transferred. Except, Luke, here’s the problem.”
She paused and put one line in the dirt, “Even if some people believe that paper-thin excuse, I don’t. And most other powerful ascended won’t either. We recruited anyone with that level of luck within the first month of them coming here, ferus or not.” Luke opened his mouth, but Veyri held up a hand, “Before you say anything, they wouldn’t have a choice. You should know by now how much this Duchy desires powerful combat classes or those with the potential for it.”
The Reaver stilled his body and straightened his breathing. He stayed silent.
“No more answers for me? Fine, I’ve already pieced most of your puzzle. You’re an actual companion class, not a spell sword. On top of that, you must’ve done one of two things.” She held up two fingers, then slowly put one down, “One, you stumbled upon an epic-quality or higher technique book.” She took down her other remaining finger, “Two, as unlikely as it is, you found a trial entrance and faced its master difficulty. Against all odds, you survived.”
Luke tried to moderate his body language, but slight shock escaped when Veyri mentioned the second option. The unfortunate mistake didn’t escape Veyri’s senses.
“Should’ve chosen exile. This Duchy has been no good for me,” Luke said.
Veyri laughed, “You’ve no idea, do you? Staying here was your best choice. Don’t doubt yourself. No, I won’t tear down your last walls for now. I merely looked into you through some contacts in my sigil stone and found an unexpected gold mine.” She looked at Luke like he was a piece of meat, “I’ll spell it out for you: join my team for the silver-black tower.”
Luke had grown increasingly uncomfortable around this woman who read him like a book. He showed signs of beginning to refuse, “And why would I do that? I’m doing fine alone.”
Veyri grew more amused, “Aspirant, any Defier worth his salt will go to that tower one day. But if what I’ve learned about you so far is correct, you’ll care more about my assistance. You’ll need it after all.”
“Assistance for what?” Luke said, despite knowing the answer.
“To help you find Paul Wallace, or I should say, your dad.”
“I don’t need you for that, Veyri; I’ll be on my way,” Luke got up and prepared to leave for the Ice side of the Beast Divide.
“Soon enough, you’ll find out how wrong you are. Consider my offer. Link your sigil stone with mine. I’ll make it worth your while,” Veyri said, unfazed.
Tired of people trying to suck him into their agenda, Luke refused, “No, I don’t think I will.”
Veyri’s words chased Luke as he turned away, walking past the ice-cold wisps, “If you change your mind, Luke Wallace, ask for Horus at the Defier’s guild.”
Luke touched the ice-bound door, and blue-green arms wrapped around his ankles, dragging him beneath the snow path. A single thought permeated his mind.
You won’t control me.