Chapter 288

Creepy Skills and Implied Wills

“What are you doing to my dog?” I demand as I see Penelope doing that one thing that all over exuberant pet owners end up doing, particularly those that like to craft clothing.

That’s right, she was currently clothes shaming poor Kujo. I don’t know if that is the exact term for the process, but definitely seems to be the case here, as Penelope has Kujo sitting back on his haunches, defeated look on his face, while Penelope takes measurements and begins cutting and wielding magical fabric right there on the spot.

Honestly, seeing her work, I’d swear she was doing more than the four or five light variations of Tailoring Telekinesis, one that is much more subtle than normal Telekinesis and therefore harder to pick up than regular Telekinesis.

Seeing her clearly humiliating poor Kujo, I can’t help but try to stick up for the lug.

“He is not your dog, because you specifically passed on the Mythical Beast Tamer class, as such, he is my puppy to dress up as I please,” Penelope corrected me, swaying her hips as if to provide extra emphasis to the validity of her statements.

Hearing her, I can only shake my head.

“Okay, what are you doing to the dog,” I correct myself.

Hearing that Penelope preened as whatever tailoring magic she was conducting seemed to finally manifest in the form of a sheer magical effect seemed to drape over the Dire Phase hound as if he was now forced to sport the tackiest light up sweater ever.

“Well, I am setting up my Alpha to be the head rescue dog for the Healer Brigade,” Penelope stated, her words far too excited at the fact that we were still in the middle of a war.

Even now, my Rune-Ulacrum and I took turns going out and getting more bodies to then be Mass Perfect Resurrected by me.

Yes, apparently that spell is a bit too much for my Rune-Ulacrum to copy. For a moment I wondered if it would be worth trading out Rune-Ulacrum for Heal-Ulacrum, but realized that I rather liked not getting shot at, and thus this arrangement suited me perfectly.

Even now, I could take my time between Resurrection waves and inquire about the team.

Gwen for her part kept busy, but seemed to be oddly avoiding me.

“Are we a Healer Brigade?” I asked, trying to remember our designation.

“Yes,” Jhonny cut in.

“The Twenty-First?” I asked, trying to keep all these strange military numbers correct.

“No, that is the number of our SVC detachment number, which is a part of the Healer Brigade.” Jhonny corrected.

Hearing that, I paused and realized that there was likely a lot of layers to this military thing that I was not aware of.

“Okay, so who is in charge of this Brigade?” I ask, wondering who to complain to about the odd structure, and lack of adequate working conditions, person-power, and lack of clear direction given.

“You are,” Penelope cut in.

“What?” I ask, thinking I missed something in this.

“You are the fearless leader of the 1st Healer Brigade, Doctor.” Jhonny stated, making sure to emphasize my Guild Title there at the end.

“Oh, that’s why they never took the time to introduce themselves to me,” I quip.

Everyone just nods in agreement at that comment, then I realize something important.

“Why wasn’t this ever brought up in a meeting or something? We are at war, wouldn’t it have been nice to be informed of these things?” I ask.

At that, Jhonny, Penelope, and even Gwen all stare at me and give me the are you serious, look.

“Were there meetings?” I ask.

“Yes, many of them.” They all reply, nearly in unison.

“When?”

“I believe one of them was when you, Jhonny, Penelope, and Maranda all went joyriding on your ship,” Gwen replies acidly.

I want to ask why she is suddenly so angry with me, but I figure it likely has something to with something I might have done. Still, the fact that she is talking to me is good, for we can overcome any adversity with that minor milestone.

“To your defense, I managed to get that time changed to a team building exercise,” Jhonny pointed out.

“Good job,” I state, my voice filled with pride at both the initiative and creativity for that response.

“Another was when you singlehandedly invaded Timult, before getting ‘lost’ on your way back,” Penelope responds.

“Oh, yeah that was right after the stupid bloodline awakening class I was forced to administer the final exam for,” I respond.

“Yes, the one where a final, last minute, mandatory class was going to be held at the school house, so there was no way you could avoid hearing about your commitments to the war,” Gwen stated coldly. Again, she was clearly angry with me about something, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what. I also didn’t want to fish for answers as to why she would be angry. Mainly because her likely response would be the standard, “I don’t know mom, is there any reason why I should be angry?”

Not that I couldn’t answer, but I likely still wouldn’t find the correct answer.

“That wasn’t my fault,” I respond, trying to remember what happened, then remembering having to take all the students to the faerie library. “I had to take everyone out immediately. Also, there was no way we could have had a meeting in that building, wasn’t it condemned immediately after that class?”

“Yeah, thanks for that by the way,” Penelope cut in, “after that, I made so much money selling off samples of whipped cream to your students…”

Hearing her, I pause waiting for her to continue, but Penelope just looks around as if suddenly realizing where she is, and more importantly who is around her. I can’t really blame her.

For we are still in the increasingly crowded Kujo Caverns, we are surrounded by dozens of people, Legrand and Midnight Hunter alike who are likely seeing me and losing a lot of respect. However, despite the relatively shrinking size, very few people seem keen on joining in on our conversation.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

This might be due to the fact that so far, two Legrand people annoyed me. The first was the mage whose shattered core is still here, helping to calm down other Lengrand soldiers, and particularly their mages. The reason for his help is relatively straightforward, as he likely wishes to curry favor with me, so I might heal his shattered core again.

Also, it likely helps that after the way the second warrior was mauled by Pomeranians, that he, like the others who were in attendance, were suddenly more than willing to assist and be on my good side.

Then finally, I ask the question that had to be asked.

“What did everyone want whipped cream for?” I ask.

“To bribe the harsh mid-term examiner for SVC,” Jhonny cut it in, his lips curling at his own comment.

“Oh, har-har,” I reply.

At this comment, one of the wallflowers cuts in.

“Will I be able to join SVC, or will I need to wait until the new semester starts?” Valeria Spray-Healer, my Apprentice asks.

I want to say no, but then realize I need her around so I can figure out how she is casting perfect versions of spells. Well, perfect versions that end up getting negated and coated by wasteful waves of mana that are also cast in her same streams of energy.

Poof, poof.

By now, in addition to Rune-Ulacrum going about retrieving corpses, Kujo has also left the area to retrieve corpses.

Though judging by the blood stains on Kujo’s new clothes it seems that Kujo might be the cause for some of the bodies that arrive. Particularly the ones that have the giant claw marks on the sides.

“No, well yes, but I will need you as my lab assistant,” I state, realizing that I will need her nearby to conduct a number of experiments. That is also the exact moment that I begin Resurrecting the next wave of bodies that have been dragged here.

Mass Perfect Resurrection.

At that point, Valeria just paused and took on a slightly panicked expression.

I don’t know if it is due to her seeing the larger-than-life battle hound that is covered in quickly dissolving blood, a feature of the Mythical Level Altar that this place is built upon. Again though, this is the perfect makeshift spot for a field hospital, hidden away, safe from leadership’s prying eyes, and self-cleaning. I fully recommend these places for any would be healer.

“Oh, don’t worry, you don’t have anything to worry about,” I respond to my new apprentice.

“I don’t?” Valeria, the still awkward healer asks.

“No, Kujo won’t dare hurt you, not so long as you are with me,” I respond, and make sure to give Kujo and the Pomeranians a quick stare.

Yes, the Pomeranians are still here, but they seem to be mainly acting as a calm police force.

“Right,” Valeria responds.

“You know that’s not why she was frightened, mother,” Gwen states with more of a derisive tone than I ever remember teaching her to wield.

Hearing her though, I do have to defer to her insight with people. I am more than a little distracted at the moment, and thus might not be the best judge of character right now.

“You’re not frightened of the giant acid dripping murder hound covered in the blood of its enemies after it just traveled through subspace in a direct path that went right through you, before dropping two bodies from its mouth into my Resurrection stack?” I ask.

Valeria’s eyes went wide as she heard my description, “no, well, I wasn’t afraid. Not until now.”

Hearing her, I had to nod my head.

“Good, as long as you are not stupid, we are fine.” I respond.

“What?” Valeria quipped back.

“I can’t cure stupid, everything else, I can deal with,” I respond.

WHOOSH!

Another batch of Legrand and Midnight Hunter warriors are suddenly Resurrected. One second nothing more than meat sacs with lightly tethered spirits. The next second, there are a dozen bodies all rising up, many confused.

“What is this? Why aren’t my hands wrinkled any more?” One man asks, his voice a lot higher than he is clearly used to, as he also puts his hand to his throat.

“Sarge, is that you?” One of the Legrand soldiers cries out.

“Yeah, though, I would have gone to war a long time ago if I knew I’d get a younger body in the process,” the Sarge quipped.

GRR!

At that comment Kujo just growled.

Snap.

A crisp ringing sound echoes in the caverns, causing everyone to be quiet. That is when everyone sees me with my hand right in front of Kujo’s face.

“You don’t threaten my patients. At least, not until they threaten the staff,” I respond to Kujo who clearly took offense to starting a battle just to look younger.

At that, I realize using the Mass Perfect Resurrection on Legrand soldiers might be akin to encouraging them to commit more wars.

Though I am pleased that Kujo is at least not growling and looks suitably cowed by the act.

Once again Valeria has her eyes go wide as she stares at me.

Seeing her odd look, I turn back to her, “what, never seen a pixy train a dog before?”

At that comment, it became clear who exactly was a Legrand soldier, and who was part of the Midnight Hunters. As apparently all the Midnight Hunters just blinked and then shrugged as if it was a typical Wedding Sunday.

The others, the Legrand soldiers that had been caught up in my Resurrection processes, they all stared at me like I was some sort of monster.

Poof, poof.

Once again, my Simulacrum appeared, though this time I maneuvered the body slightly to have it so it took up less space on the ground. Then going quickly, I once again strengthened the attachment of the almost completely free floating spirit with the corpse below. Which was perfect, as apparently that was all that was needed for me to start getting skill notifications, while my Simulacrum came back with yet another body to add to the next grouping to be Resurrected.

Poof, poof.

New Skill Gained: Spirit Binding has reached level 1. Spirit Binding is a Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Personality, Sociability, Perception X2, Intelligence X2, and Willpower X2 based skill.

New Skill Gained: Spirit Retrieval has reached level 1. Spirit Retrieval is a Strength, Dexterity X2, Endurance, Perception, Intelligence, and Willpower X2 based skill.

Seeing the notification for not one, but two new skills randomly appearing, I couldn’t help but smile brightly.

“YES!” I hiss, as I punch my fist into the air.

Silence.

Okay, now even the Midnight Hunters are staring at me like I’m crazy.

“What?” I ask, thinking I missed something.

“You are now happy about this corpse being here?” Penelope asked, her mannerisms denoting confusion.

“Oh, no. War sucks, but I just got two new skills,” I explain.

“Oh,” was all Penelope replied.

Finally after a moment of awkward silence, Valeria asked, “what skills did you get?”

“Oh, I got Spirit Binding, and Spirit Retrieval," I responded.

“Those are skills?” Jhonny asked.

“Apparently,” I reply.

At that, everyone just kind of nods.

After that, a tenuous silence fills the caverns as we all fall into a Rhythm.

Penelope begins crafting a glowing badge of some kind for all the Midnight Hunters who died, but then were Resurrected. Jhonny ran interference and protection details for me. Well, he and the Pomeranians. Kujo went out to help my Simulacrum get more bodies faster. Though I was pretty sure that Kujo was creating at least half of the bodies he returned with. Gwen continued to avoid me, while Healing a few of the people that were Resurrected, helping to orient them all in the correct direction.

Also, it became clear that there was now a clear divide as all the Legrand soldiers took up spots around my Apprentice, seemingly okay to use her as a buffer to protect them against the growing band of Midnight Hunters, or maybe me? Though I don’t exactly know why they would be frightened of me, as I was the one who was clearly Resurrecting everyone.

Finally, after some time passed, I saw a few of the freshly Resurrected Legrand soldiers first converse amongst themselves. Then like ants who searched for a queen, they all spoke to each other and eventually went to talk to Valeria.

Oddly enough, it was always the ones that were here longer that seemed to be quiet and less aggressive with their body language.

It seemed that even after death and Resurrection many of the Legrand soldiers thought highly of themselves.

“Um, Master?” Valeria finally managed to ask; her voice unassured as she seemed to look for the correct word to call me.

“Just Cass,” I reply. Then wanting to set her at ease, I continue, “as much as we are going to do in the future, it’s best to be on a first name basis.”

“Oh,” was all Valeria could state in reply. It was clear that she looked like she wanted to end her interaction with me there, but then before she could fully retreat, more of the soldiers came forward and seemed to speak into her ear. At their conversation, I began getting annoyed. Both at the fact that this was taking time, and the fact that these people were apparently using Valeria as a spokesman, when they were apparently too timid to ask for themselves.

“Can you all please get to the area at the end of the line segment?” I ask, letting a bit of my exhaustion of this whole day seep into my words. Pausing for a moment, I wonder why I am feeling so tired, only to realize that part of my stress relief, my Zero, the familiar who also sleeps for me, so I can get more activities accomplished, is still missing.

“The what now?” Valeria asked, clearly confused by my outburst.

Shaking my head, I almost forget my own comment, only to remember, “the point. I want you to get to the point.”

“Oh,” was all Valeria muttered, before taking a half step back.

Still, the newly Resurrected sarge strode forward, clearly reading something in the way I was now glowering at everyone that was hiding behind Valeria.

“Sorry for the interruption, Doctor,” Sarge exclaimed, while giving a bow. His deep regal mannerisms seeming incongruous, with the baby faced soldier that is standing before me.

Still, it is clear that this soldier is taking this moment to take charge of an otherwise awkward situation. Seeing his response, I just stare at the man, and cross my arms.

“Right, as much as we love your hospitality here,” the man, this Sarge, states while gesturing to the Kujo Caverns around us before continuing, “some of us are aware that you might have been able to offer transportation away from this war zone?”

Sarge clasped his hands together in front of himself. I could almost imagine him wearing one of those large wide brimmed hats that he would use as a prop convey this message. Though it is clear that his hat is missing, a wardrobe casualty of war.

That brings up a good point, while clothes are bound to you and will regenerate. Will they regenerate after death? I think so, but I will have to track down some of these people to check. There might be a point where if the bound items are destroyed after death, they might not be connected anymore.

“You all wish to go to Timult?” I ask, trying to make sure I understand the ask.

“Aye, ma’am. We have all experienced our fill of war today,” the defacto leader of this latest batch of soldiers responded respectfully.

Hearing him, I look at the rest of them, and realize that I already have golden bands of karma stretching out from me and embracing these people.

“You all wish to go home, and end your hostilities with us?” I ask.

“Aye, that we do,” Sarge responded.

As he spoke, everyone else bearing a Legrand insignia nodded their heads. While they all seemed to nod their heads at different levels of intensity, their intent was there. Which was all I needed for my end.

“Very well, in that case, go. Leave these lands and may you never raise a weapon or spell in anger at myself, members of the Midnight Hunters, citizens of the world’s End, or any of our allies,” I reply as I open a Portal directly to Timult.

At first everyone just stared at the portal, as if it was too good to be true.

Only after Valeria and the shattered core mage both nod in agreement that it is safe do others begin to flow through.

Each unaware that only after they pass through is the binding oath of their actions upheld.

For there, on the other end of the portal, I can feel dozens of karmic bonds binding me to Legrand Soldiers.

Oath of Passivity applied.

Oath of Passivity applied.

Oath of Passivity applied.

….

On the messages went, each denoting a new person that would forever be unable to enact war against us. I didn’t really know what the oaths did, other than they did provide a detriment to anyone willing to break their word to me.

This was minor, for there were hundreds of thousands of people that made up the Legrand Empire’s military might, but this was still a step in the right direction.

“Baby steps,” I say to myself, before continuing. “Or maybe just regular sized pixy steps…”