Sam watched Jen as her frustration mounted. While they both "knew" the healing spell, they didn't activate it on the First Deck so neither would "know" the spell. They'd broken the spell scroll apart so Sam could turn it into an enchantment. Sam tried to ease the pressure Jen placed on herself, and reassured her, "Take a break for a little bit. As soon as Slim returns with the storage ring from our safe house, we can use the healing charms to fix one of my arms, then buy some supplies, and once I can put a rudimentary healing tattoo on you...We'll be all set!"

Jen continued to study the spell with her AI's assistance, and replied without looking his way, "Maybe, but that's no excuse for me not having spent the time to learn this spell earlier. We've been relying way too much on just your enchantments and our skills. The only spell we ever cast is that simple mana illusion spell."

Sam raised an eyebrow, and replied, "What we really need to do is quit fucking with things that have nothing to do with us, and that we haven't spent time gathering intel on!" Sam already knew that Jen felt guilty as hell, so he added, "I'm not completely against helping strangers out, but if we can't spend the time to properly gather intel on some weird shit we come across, we need to mind our own business. And I'm just as much at fault on this one as anyone. I saw what appeared to be a little girl being tortured, and I just ignored the question of why the hells she was wrapped up in some next-level enchanted chains and head bag. Just stupid!"

Jen replied, "There's nothing wrong or stupid about wanting to help someone that is being tortured, but I agree, we need to be more cautious. Now give me a few minutes of peace so I can focus on this spell."

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Sam looked over at Tamako, and his AI informed him that she was meditating and mentally going over her spear and sword techniques. With their arms, hands, and half of their right ass cheek and hamstring turned to solid concrete/rock, Sam groaned as he mentally said to his AI, "Bell, cycle me through all my racial senses, and help me start learning the new mana technique that Jen's been using."

******

Tamako sighed with relief, frustration, and anticipation, when Slim finally returned with the storage ring from their safe house, and she asked, "Any problems or gossip caused by the raid on the caravan?"

Slim replied with an eye roll, "There are several guilds trying to take credit for 'freeing' the slaves, but no one is even mentioning Hapshepsut. I did check the bounty ticket I received for killing her..."

Tamako knew that Slim wouldn't finish telling them about the bounty ticket. She met Jen and Sam's eyes for a second. They all exchanged a "knowing" look. Sam had referred to Slim as a "troll", explaining that Slim was the type to try and tease or annoy you for fun, so Tamako just continued on and said, "Well, glad you're back safe. Let's get Sam healed up!"

Slim sat down with a huff, and said, "You three are no fun!" Slim then dropped a healing charm into his paw, and flipped it towards Sam.

As the charm landed on Sam's right concrete arm, the healing charm immediately fractured with minoot lines of concrete running through it.

"Shit!" Sam fumed, then explained, "I hadn't even thought of looking at the concrete, but I just saw lines of enchantment within the concrete activate when the healing charm touched it. It's like a virus that will spread to any enchantment it touches! Motherfucker!"

"Damn the Decks!" Tamako hollered showing her anger and frustration.

Jen's face paled with worry, but she said, "I just need a little more time, and I'll get the hang of the healing spell."

Sam shook his head, as he said, "I'm not so sure that's going to work either."