BANG! BANG! BANG!

When the heroes pounded on my door, I was ready.

I quickly opened the door and ushered them in, feigning a mix of urgency and friendly concern.

Paladin Zich carried in Fey, who was unconscious and bleeding heavily from what seemed like a head wound. Finn was between Jacob and Cole, whose right leg was half torn off and displayed clear signs of shock.

"It's bad," uttered Jacob, his eyes darting all over the place. Deep cuts were seen along with his armor and face, but other than that, he seemed fine. I clicked my tongue inwardly; how disappointing.

That didn't show on my face, though. Oh, heaven's dear, of course not. Instead, I led them into the back room, where I had my surgical equipment ready. I ordered Zich to lay Fey down on one of the tables present and Finn to be laid down on the other. Jacob leaned against the wall and slowly sat down. Cole stayed by Finn's side, gripping the young lad's hand.

"W-what happened?" I asked, feigning a stutter as I began to wash my hands in the basin. A bit slower than needed, given the situation. I struggled to hold back a smile.

"What do you think?!" snapped Zich as he paced back and forth in the small room. His armor was falling in places, and his hair was messy and dried with thickened blood. "It was the damned Hooded one and his immortal army. There were there were...they overran us...." Finally, he sat down, placing his hands on his head, seemingly haunted over the memory of what had occurred.

I tended to Finn first; with a wound like his, the heroes could clearly see he needed help first. I usually try to heal them in order from least threatening injuries to the worst, when I can get away with it.

"Aest," called Cole, his blue eyes about to spill tears. "Is Finn going to be alright?" I notice his hands tighten his grip on his brother's hand.

The two heroes were siblings. It was really difficult not to laugh at Cole's despair filled expression.

"I honestly do not know," I replied grimly, observing the wound. "He's lost a lot of blood, and it looks like whatever tore his leg apart was poisoned with something. Perhaps one of the 72 poisons named after the demon kings, judging by the discoloration. My guess is Barbatos or Dantalian. The leg needs to be amputated quickly."

Cole gritted his teeth. He needed to make a decision. Zich went to him and patted his shoulders. Cole looked at Jacob before speaking, "You decide."

Jacob nodded and looked towards me, "Do what you have to do. Save his life, no matter what."

I nodded, then turned my back towards them as I went towards the cabinets to gather some herbs. It gave me the privacy I needed to let loose the building grin inside me. I even laughed a little, though I covered it with a cough.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Yes, the wound was poisoned, but I lied about what kind of poison it was. With my magical prowess I could have curied it. Easily, with a snap of a finger.

I gathered various herbs, some bandages, and a mortar and pestle beside some bottles that was there for cosmetic purposes. Well, this wouldn't be a Medic's shack if there wasn't one, wasn't it? I was once part of the party of these heroes, but I retired early due to the death of my best friend. In truth, I was the one who killed him. The rest of the party felt sad for me and let me retire. Occasionally they would visit me on this shack I set up on top of a hill for healing.

Ah, I almost forgot as I was reminiscing. I also grabbed my saw. My hands trembled with excitement, but I steeled them. I was getting too carried away.

"Wait," Cole spoke. "Couldn't you heal him, like how you healed us before? With your magic? You can regrow lost limbs right?" His eyes showed a glimmer of hope.

"I'm sorry to tell you, but I lost the Goddess' blessing when I left the party, I'm not capable of doing that kind of feat anymore." I responded solemnly. The newly born hope blooming within him was utterly crushed by my words. Ahh, I always loved this part.

I carried all the materials back to where Finn lay. The young lad was staring at the ceiling, blankly. Blood was dripping everywhere.

"Cole, Jacob," I said, "I'm going to need both of you to hold down Finn. Zich, take these herbs and start grinding them up. Wrap the mixture in these bandages and set it against Fey's head." I finished with a bit of urgency.

I knew these heroes had no eyes for herbcraft. What I gave Zich were medicinal herbs, but they wouldn't help with the head trauma Fey had. Oh, dear, no, those herbs only helped with a stomach ache. I barely stopped myself from grinning.

Jacob and Cole stood on either side of the table, holding down Finn. I slowly raised the saw.

"Shouldn't you give him something for the pain?" asked Cole, his voice worried.

I clicked my tongue inwardly, "There's no time," I replied, feigning urgency, "There is no anesthetic that would activate fast enough." Lies, lies, lies.

"But—" uttered Cole, but I cut him off by slamming the table and speaking, "THE POISON, COLE. ARE YOU GOING TO LET YOUR BROTHER DIE LIKE THIS?" My talent in acting was superb. They rarely see me lose my cool, but they knew I was serious when I did.

." C-continue," Stammered Cole. I slowly placed the saw where the bone was protruding, a bit higher than where it should be so the pain would be maximized without it being obvious.

Blood sprayed everywhere. Finn jerked back and forth, screaming and crying as he begged for death. Cole couldn't look as he closed his eyes, and so was Jacob. Zich had a look of horror on his face.

Finn passed out. My shoulders shook with excitement, but I knew fully well the heroes interpreted it as grief and pity.

When the leg was more or less cut clean through, I hastily wrapped some bandages around the stump. Applying my would be 'limited' healing magic to the wound so it stops bleeding. I couldn't let the hero Finn bleed to death in front of me. It wasn't his time to die just yet, I had more plans for him.

His flesh began to knit under the bandages, though the heroes couldn't see it.

I stood up, my arms and body covered in the hero's blood. I wanted to shout with glee, throw my hands in the air like a child, and rejoice.

"Finn will live," I said, bowing my head. "I'm...I apologize. I wish I could have done more."

Jacob patted me on the shoulder, "You've done all you could." the hero said, "You're a good man, Aest."

I bowed my head further, under the pretense of accepting his praise. I couldn't help but let out a wide smile, as my face was hidden from the heroes.

I relaxed my face and returned back to my casual composure, and began working on the unconscious Fey.

Later that night, I had another guest. This one didn't knock.

I slowly walked outside to meet it. The heroes were asleep in my cabin. I had offered them to stay the night before they set out on another expedition. They were tired and weary after their fight with the Hooded One after all. I chuckled.

Guess who was standing right in front of me?

"Master," spoke the Hooded One, kneeling on one knee in front of me.

I gestured him to follow me as I walked further down the hill.

"Report," I snapped, not glancing over my shoulder to check if it was following.

"2738 of the lesser demons were killed," said the Hooded One, "352 higher demons killed. 2 of the Generals, dead."

I curled my hands into a fist and smacked the Hooded One. I cursed. These were heavy losses. But, looking at the state of the heroes, not bad. There were always plenty of corpses to heal back from death's door. They didn't call my army the 'Immortal Army' for no reason.

When the time comes, and all hope is lost. I will reveal myself to the heroes. Their treasured healer, their precious comrade, their worst enemy.

I looked up at the starlit sky, and smiled.