“Excuse me. Be right back.” The doctor says to me. Getting up and leaving the tent, he beckons his father with a head node to follow him out.

The Paladin leaving his shield standing in the dirt, I’m pretty sure to have an excuse to return, follows his son out.

They are moving away, but I catch most of what is first said. It is a tent I’m sitting in. “This is why I have issues with your class. Always focused on the end result of whatever crusade you’ve got running around in your head…”

“You’d do well to focus like you were taught…”

Looking around, I decide to retrieve the Black Blade, working at the roots and vines that have it wrapped up to this chunk of wall. A few minutes of pulling and breaking them off one at a time has the blade free enough that it slides out.

Pulling back the tent flap, the guard standing watch turns towards me, hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Am I allowed to leave?” I ask, noting that it is the guard whose hand I healed.

“You are.” The guard states but doesn’t move or say anything more.

“I had some…” The guard already pointing to a small rolled-up tarp to the other side of the opening behind me before I could finish the question.

Kneeling to unroll the tarp, the thin sword, and everything else I had is there. I collect and equip the items. I can see the doctor and his father returning, so I step back into the tent to wait.

After waiting longer than it should have taken for him to arrive, the doctor steps back into the tent, alone.

“Thank you for waiting.” Dr. Lightbringer states. “My father thinks that you are holding. I don’t think that is necessarily true. But I still have to ask, are you?”

“I’m not sure what that means.”

The doctor looking at me with a perplexed look. “Are you actively resisting progressing?”

I guess I just have a blank look. “Are you purposely holding power or Are you… You don’t know what I’m asking, do you?”

“Let me ask you a question doctor. I’m not familiar with the customs and I just want to be sure. How confidential is the conversation between us?”

The doctor straightens and puts on a more professional demeanor. “Whatever conversations we have about your health and condition, are strictly between you and I. Unless you were a minor, or under the care of a guardian. Possibly if you were a danger to yourself or others. Is there something that I should know about?”

“I’m not sure if it matters, but I would like this kept between you and I. I’m a long way from home.”

The doctor puts the tablet back into his pocket. His hands free, and gives me his complete attention. “Okay. What would you like to tell me?”

“That was it,” I reply. “I think I’m a long way from home.”

Now it’s the doctor’s turn to look perplexed.

I continue. “You mentioned the Outer planes.” The doctor unconsciously takes a half step back while looking at me. “I don’t think anything like that, but maybe someplace, other.”

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The doctor, lost in thought, looking at me, half talking to himself. “…not familiar… Like a Familiar? A Summons?” Now focused on me. “You’re a Summons? You know this? How sure are you about this?”

We both look towards the tent entrance as boot steps moving away are loud enough to catch both of our attention.

Looking at the doctor, “I don’t know about a summons, or where home is, but I don’t think I’m anywhere even close to home. I’m serious when I tell you, there is no magic. There are no other races.”

The doctor pulls out the tablet again and puts it into my hand while turning it face up so he can see its face. While we’re watching the tablet, the tent flap gently opens and the Paladin moves to stand by his shield.

“It’s not like we didn’t know he was coming.” The doctor looking up at me. “I could use his consult if you don’t mind.”

Glancing over at the Paladin, “No, it’s fine.”

After a few minutes of the two of them discussing the issue. Theoretical concepts and points of view “…gaining the experience, not making use of it. Not able or doesn’t know how? Differing systems? Not mana-based. Faith-based? Not casting. Not leveling. Gretta knows about summoning. Not! Talking to the Witch! Holding or not, it needs a proper outlet or it might manifest, evolve. Abomination? Possibly?” I didn’t understand while listening to the two of them, they do seem to partially agree on something.

“Nothing definitive, just bouncing ideas off each other.” Dr. Lightbringer speaking and asking me. “We do agree that Holding can have adverse consequences if it is ignored or held too long. Holding is more of a slang term. Some will actively resist progression, then release what they have acquired all at once for the exhilaration and feel of it. It’s usually nothing to be concerned about unless it’s not released.”

“As an example,” The doctor continues. “Some adventurers will purposely hold and build untapped potential or power, to attract the attention of higher-level monsters that are looking to feed. Basically, using themselves as bait. Usually within a large raiding group.”

“Our concern is more along the lines of Abominations. Not true Abominations mind you. More the overreaction of potential being held too long. For example, in an extreme case, the holder might sustain an injury or cut. The overreaction could be a cancerous regeneration, a carapace shell, or some other unknown evolution. Again, cases like these are extreme and decades in the making if at all. Better to be aware and follow proven paths. Although a Summons does fit the circumstances and would explain some of the inconsistencies.”

My mouth is kinda open a bit as I listen, my mind racing into dead-end what-if scenarios.

“What about a manual interface, like Jaxx has.” We all turn to look at Jack, standing in the adjacent corner to the Paladin.

“It’s fine. I knew he was here, I just thought that he was gone.” I tell the doctor as he turned to look at me.

“It’s possible if the interface connects.” The doctor comments. “This modified tablet did get some readings. Maybe there’s a path forward connecting through this tablet.”

A growing distant roar of a crowd catches our attention and we start to head out of the tent to see what is going on.

My hand on the doctor's shoulder as he turns to leave. “What your father did with his hands, I saw Jenn do that…”

The Paladin exits the tent first.

“Yes, it’s part of her class and bloodline. Her mother has taught her many things about her heritage.”

“No, not what her mother taught her.” I hold my hands in the way I saw Jenn hold hers, a slightly different placement and position than the Paladin. “Like this. White, like what your father did.”

Dr. Lightbringer is focused and staring at me. Grandpa has stepped back into the tent. The roar of a crowd is getting louder. “When I saw your father heal, it reminded me of your daughter. I saw her heal in two different ways. The other,” I change up the placement of my hands and move them down the length of his arm. “was green, like this.” I hear Shadow Jack snicker.

“Thank you for letting me know.” The doctor answers professionally but grits his teeth a bit. Parting the tent flap, he heads out past his father, who I note has the biggest self-righteous grin.

“You’re welcome. You and “Lilly” have done so much for me.”

The three of us grin and stare at each other, the doctor having left.

Shadow Jack breaks the silence first with a few more stickers. The Paladin then stepping forward, hand on my shoulder leading me out of the tent. “You’re going to need some better chest protection. Tell me about Jenn…”

He leads me over to a makeshift storage rack just a short distance from the tent. Looks to be what was collected off the battlefield and what’s not being used by the injured. “There’s not much to tell. Jenn has always been so zealous and adamant about doing what’s right.” The Paladin is browsing and picking through the armor as he’s listening. “Always doing the honorable thing. Teaching the children.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” Putting a piece of armor back and selecting something else of better quality.

With resolve, I look him square in the eye. “There were some wolves and she stood at my side and never wavered. When it was over, she made sure I was uninjured. That’s when I saw her heal, white, same as you.”

Shoving a chest piece into my arms, one-handed and almost knocking me over. “The Church won’t use this. Put it on and if you see any matching pieces, take them too.” He pauses for a moment to make sure that I don't drop the armor, then turns and walks off towards the front line. The direction the roar of the crowd is coming from.

Shadow Jack looks back over at me shaking his head with a smile, also heading towards the front line, but not following the Paladin.

Putting the chest piece on, it’s like a chain shirt that is solid front and back. I notice that it matches the black blade or at least close enough. A soldier steps up to help. “Mobile or defensive?” he asks.

“Mobile,” I answer and he picks out pieces that cover my privates and thighs.

“Are you using both of those, or do you want a shield?” he asks.

“Both, no shield.” He finds some scabbards, then brings some bracers.

“Sorry, there’s no helms. Mismatched greaves or gauntlets, if you want.” Looking towards the front line, he continues. “The Paladin will purge the town if he is able. Must be greater than what we can see from here or they are still strategizing.”

Handing me gauntlets to test, he fits grieves and secures them for me. “Thank you for the healing. If you need anything, let us know.”

I look up and around to see a few soldiers standing spaced about. “There are others if you could help?” He asks.

I nod and follow him as he leads me to others that are injured.