I have to ask -> really none of you noticed that little secret I put in the [Lost scroll] chapter? I mean… this” secret” is but a minor detail with not impact on the story itself, but for more attentive reader (or those with better memory…) it could be quite a relish.
Ooookay, I will have exam in 5 days, so it s my usual time to run away from responsibilities – running by chappy releasing! Is there a sweeter form of running away?
Edited by: KenChi死
Pov of Marika
As soon as we dealt with the most serious of Zari’s injuries, we used the glyph of return on the 9th floor to teleport ourselves back on the surface, then we moved to the village, dropped a few coins to rent a rooms and food with medicines. As we told that we dealt with the main danger that was hidden up until now, the villagers gave us everything dirt-cheap.
Right now I was trying to reduce his fever and side effects of anemia. Tsh, Anemia and Mana fever at the same time, how unlucky could you get? As anemia is quite a common struggle among adventurers… you know wounds dealt by cursed items, blood sucking monsters and so on… the mana fever is a specific “disease”, a higher level in danger and rarity than normal mana exhaustion.
In mana exhaustion you would just faint, your body simply would force you to renew its mana resources. But in Mana fever for the duration of the illness your mana capability would be drastically reduced, your mana consumption would increase and you would even suck mana from the surroundings. It means that even healing spells would be less potent, as you would simply drain pure energy used while spell weaving.
So here you are, exhausted in both body and mind. But you saved us.
So many things have happened since you lost your consciousness. The dungeon pixie stopped us for a seconds or two. One: she was impressed by your performance, one day I will tell you how she praised you… two: Apparently the dungeon’s job was not over. It will keep neutralizing mana from the cave, and then maybe it will change its “profile”? Ha, I can already tell the kind of uproar that will happen in the guild as soon as we tell them that you, pretty much on your own, slaughtered that dragon.
The student of Dragon Slayer Jericho, after not even a month of training has also killed a dragon. Even if a weakened cursed zombie dragon… Well, part about him being weakened we can add after they pull all the hairs from their heads… I can’t stop smiling just from thinking about their faces… But first we have to put you back together!
Loki entered the room
* “How is he?”
His short question hung in the air. Even if he acts like an ass, he actually cares about his friends. He just tries to cover it under that mask of douche bagginess.
* “He’s clearly getting better, even if he is still sleeping. Thanks to his own forethought. He filled his bags with lots of supplies and raw herbs, he even has small traveling pots, probably to create potions… unfortunately, I can do nothing but basic infusions, maybe some medicine for a cold. Haha… he will take better care of himself as soon as he is back on his legs.”
* “I see… I see... that’s good… Are we going to talk about this?”
* “About what?”
* “Don’t play dumb. What the hell was that? That… thing. Not that I am complain, it saved us, but I would prefer to know if my teammate will turn mad in the middle of battle… in the end, you know, it killed a bloody dragon.”
* “…I am not sure myself. I think that I was a protective sprit. Of higher class. Naturally bounded.”
* “I think I get the part up until spirit. Mind elaborating? You said it in a tone that suggested it was important.”
* “The spirit is spirit. Everyone knows it. They simply exist between words bounded by…”
* “The part about higher and natural, pretty please.”
Aaand I wanted to be nice to him…
* “Lower rank spirits are everywhere, they bound with everyone that has tinniest shard of mana and they are not self-aware. A mid class sprits is something amazing. They are self aware, much more powerful and may… play… with those they found interesting. But higher spirits are like legends among legends. There are few of them in the whole world. And naturally bounded means that she was not forced via contract nor enslaved by magic… well, if she would do his bidding against her will, she would show her dissatisfaction of being involved every single seconds… and do you remember how she was speaking about Zari?”
* “…Hahaha… yeah, honey, was that? Should we worry?”
* “Spirits can’t possess their host just like that! Dozens of strict conditions needs to be met, and even then the spirits grow tired, most likely months needs to pass before we could witness this again.”
* “.. I won’t miss her… better tell me… will Zari be annoyed if I would start calling him “honey” and keep joking about his unstable sexuality?”
* “Don’t know, but I will tell you who will. ME! HE ALSMOT FUCKING DIED AND THE ONLY THING IN YOUR MIND IS BEING A JERK?!”
* “Whoa! Easy there! Calm your tits…” He looked at my chest with a critical gaze “… nah… nothing to calm. Forget about that…”
* “I AM STILL DEVELOPING YOU IDIOT!”
I prepared some magic in my hand to throw it the dork, and I surly would! If not for a weak chuckle that could be heard from my lap.
* “Zari! How long have you been awake?!”
Pov change [Zari]
* “Since a second or two…” My head! Gosh, it’s like bloody elephant would stomp on it! “… I still could hear… Loki mentioning something about your chest…” I smiled weakly
I lied. I have bin awake A bit longer. I could hear you talking about Sloth. You are right and wrong in same time. I always had the feeling of Sloth being there in me. I knew, that if I would “reach out” to her, I could almost touch her existence. But now she is weak. Even if I would battle again and repeat the process of almost dying, she couldn’t answer.
But she is not A spirit. Each time I sing a chant while casting a spell, I am calling for spirits. And Sloth is not the one. Now… the notifications, notifications…
[Lair of NightmareScale] Status:ClearedYour team was the first one to ever clear the dungeon [Lair of NightmareScale]Perks+2 Charisma
+ 500 exp
That’s it? It is surly nice, but where is my note about killing a dragon?
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
~Hm? Did you kill a dragon? Apparently it’s something I don’t know…
Everyone says I did it! So…
~You did not. Sloth did.
Using my body?
~And?
And?
~Look, point of experience, is exactly how the same suggest, points that measure experience, skill or knowledge you achieved during certain task. You were unconscious almost all this time so there is no knowledge nor experience. Skills? Sloth used combination of Arcane magic and Runic Powerwords. None of those are your skills. Muscle memory? Once again, she mostly used magic, even the stabbing she did was during [Body of thunder]… do you wish to know something more?
So… I lost it? No exp from dragon at all?
~Not even a single point!
… how much would I get?
~Hmm, the dragon is a dragon. It’s a creature of ranks of its own. So… 5000?
5 BLOODY THOUSANDS?
~Well, that a bottom line I think… so you could get up to 6 or 7….
5000 IS HALF OF MY LEVEL REQUIREMENT!
~Aha
AND ITS GONE!
~Right in the thin air!
Bu… but…
* “Zari. Everything all right? You look pale?”
Loki and his unusual perceptiveness…
* “HOW CAN HE NOT BE PALE! He has lost most of his blood!”
Thank you.
* “My head…” As if my very soul was dragged awry!
Someone knocked to the door.
* “Pardon me? Am I not bothering you?” A chubby woman in her middle 40-ties entered the room “I thought, that you might be hungry…” Bless that woman! “Oh, the hero is awake?”
Hero? Someone is here with us?
The woman moved quickly to my bed, curtsied with grace, and with still bowed head she said:
* “Let me, in the name of my husband – the village chief, say my words of gratitude. If not for your heroic deeds we could die in the maw of the dragon…”
… Me? A hero?
Bw…BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FOR GODS SAKE! IT’S HILARIOUS! And I was thinking that some actual hero came here for my head! HAHAHAHAHA, my belly hurts! Stop it, you silly woman! I am not in the right condition to listen to such a jokes!
No, no, no, no, no, no! The show must go on! It’s simply to beautiful to let such an opportunity go!
* “Please, say no more. I did what had to be done, anyone else would do the same…”
I said it all with as serious of a look on my face as was possible
Marika and Loki were now standing behind the woman. Mari-chan only rolled her eyes, but Loki needed to cover his mouth with his palm.
* “Most certainly not! The bravery of yours can never be left without payment suitable to your deeds! Say a word, even if we are poor we will try…”
* “Don’t mind it. If you really want to thank me, try to spread joy, love and happiness in my name. Take a good care of traveler, feed those who are hungry, offer bed those who are homeless…”
Marika hit her face with her palm. A loud “slap” could be heard. And Loki dropped on his knees holding his belly with both hands fighting for air, yet still trying to be as “soundless” as possible.
* “H… How generous of you! I… I will serve you and your companions dinner soon, and I will also bring you a decoction that will help you to sleep, we can only hope that wounds you received defending the chastity of this village’s maidens would be gone…”
… Now I am a protector of chastity?
~….TAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA…. AHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHA… OH MY… AHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAA. BEST…. LINE….. EVER! It was worth to live those eons up until now to hear those words! HAHAHAHA
The woman left bowing all the way to the doors. I looked back at Loki and Marika. Fairy was only holding her face in both of her hands, shaking it slightly from left to right. Loki was suffocating.
* “So, what kind of adventurers awaits us now, my faithful companions? What kind of evils will we banish next? Loki, my dearest blade, you who protects me from the dangers of the nights, would you show me the way to the nearest damsel in distress?”
* “… No more… Stop it… I can’t… breath…”
* “It’s good to see that you are feeling better…”
* “The words of that fair lady that ensured me about my valor and right of our cause returned unto me my strength!”
* “Mercy!”
* “Zari, don’t make fun of them! Those are ordinary people! Living days and nights in both danger and monotony. They maybe have one fairy tale book in the whole village and about two or three people that can read it! Adventurers are their heroes! And now as you killed the dragon you gave them another, truly living story, that they will remember for generation… promise me that you will stop that behavior!”
* “Tsh… such a killjoy.”
The rest of the day passed peacefully. Mrogul helped with firewood, Loki annoyed everyone in his surroundings and Marika kept nursing me… And me? The herb liquor that the wife of the head chief brought me indeed forced me into slumber.
The very next day, even if still weakened, I could leave the village. I kept using healing magic on myself, but with dread I noticed how much weaker my spirit became.10 minutes of healing, hour of rest, again 10 minutes of healing, again hour of rest. I chew blades of river grass to deal with the small fever and reduce my mana instability.
Marika told me that I should be sick from anemia for four more days, and mana fever up to a week.
System told me that anemia should last for 22 hours and some and mana fever exactly 53.
Sorry Marika, I believe System-kun.
Our journey would take bit more than a day, thanks to one of us being sick. We needed to move slower because of that person and sleep one night in the forest.
Curse you! You bloody sick person!
…
Pov change
Not far from the village on a tall tree, a man clothed in dark robes was sitting enjoying company of… a human skull placed meter from him.
* “I liked that dragon, you know?” Daralon shrugged his arms with a sad face “It took some effort to place that curse on him! What a fierce opponent he was! I had plans of using him. But, if Zari killed it, it can’t be helped… can it… say what?”
The skull, of course, remained silent.
* “What ya mumbling under your nose?” Daralon picked the skull and brought in closer to his ear “Hmmm…. I see… I see… yes, you are certainly right… But he did not awaken! It’s frustraaaaaa-ting!”
By moving his hand he forced the skull to rattle its jaw
* “Stop laughing! You ain’t helping! Better tell me how to make him stronger quickly! I will have no use of him if he would stay like that… the possibilities he carries… He?”
No. The skull didn’t say a word
* “You made it sound as if I am a bad guy! Well… technically… but hey! It’s not like he would lose anything on that! He won’t be left without benefits… So what that it’s dangerous!? LIFE IS DANGEROUS! WE ARE ALL LIVING TO DIE! WE ALL ARE GUILTY! THE CERTIFICATE OF OUR BIRTH IS ALSO A DEATH SENTENCE! What you mumbling again!?”
The skull was as silent as death… oh, wait….
* “Of course I like him! Tha… NOT LIKE THAT YOU SICK PERVERTED FUCK! If you only saw how he treated those old farts in the council! He literally laughed right in their faces! Ahhh, he was so liberated! It was the greatest pleasure to aid him!... so would it really be that bad, to use him, just a little?... Of course I am curious!... in the end he is an artificial mage! Just like Darion! My old man!”
Pov change [Zari]
I felt much better, if you would ask about my overall health. But sleeping by the road? 3/10 – do not recommend.
But since we got up before dawn, we reached the capital a few hours before noon.
* “I can’t wait to finally jump into a warm bath… not a lake, looking over your shoulder over and over again checking if you were about to get ambushed… How about ya, boys?”
Marika is a weird creature. Stays a few days in guild – misses the wild, stays a few days in wild – misses the guild. Either she is insane or she must be a woman… Oh… so that’s why… apparently… she is insane.
* “About returning to the guild… “ I started shyly.
Pov change [no one particular… just me]
Gisele was sitting in the corner of inn section of the guild, rumbling her fingers on the table. She was inpatient. There were rumors being told about new apprentice of Jericho. And as she was told, if everything went according to normal schedule, he and his party were supposed to be back two days ago, yesterday morning, in worst case. Were they making fun of her? A prank? She was not a greenhorn! Plus she was a dragon blood! One does not simply make light of half dragons! Half dragons are easily offended, hard to calm down, and… let’s say “exuberant” way of manifesting their “passion”.
* “WE ARE BAAAAACK!”
Oh, so that’s how joy sounds? She recognized that voice, it was Marika, her good friend! She really liked chating with her, but this time, this this this very time, she knew, that she was supposed to be in a team with that kid.
Her fingers were itching. She wanted to challenge the kid! NO! NO PERMANENTLY INJURING! Just to say hello! The very fact that he was picked by Jericho meant something! She could be an older student! To give advice! To be an example! It’s almost like having a younger brother! Such a wonderful new possibilities layed open before her!
And that Marika moved past doors, after her Loki, then Mrogul… After Mrogul…. As soon as Mrogul passed… almost here….
Why no one is walking after Mrogul?... Could it be… that it was a joke?... Ha…haha…hahahaha…. They are all dead… Her hand was already laid on the sword resting by the table, but then someone said
* “He, Marika? Where did you put the rookie? Hope you didn’t kill him on his first serious mission…”
* “Nay, he is also a healer. He said that he has a patient that he needs to check on…”
… ha….hahaha… that kid has guts… to make her wait… TO FORCE HER TO LOSE ALL OF HER NERVES, AND THEN MAKE HER WAIT EVEN MORE!
… of course Zari had no idea that she was waiting for her. Every reasonable person would know it too…
The problem is… Gisele is not a reasonable person.
* “But you have no idea, ya all know that rookie-lizard dungeon?”
* “The one with gates shaped into dragons on the 2nd floor? Sure we all have been there…”
* “How many floors it has, mind reminding me?” Marika had a smile on her face so wide, that one could tell that she may be relative to some hellmaw…
* “… you are surly enjoying it, so here you go… This dungeon has 9 floo…”
* “WRONG! It has 10! The last one is hidden! Zari found it!”
… That kind get more and more interesting…
* “And you won’t believe who was a boss…”
The audience was getting nervous. No one likes excessively long stories
* “Just spit it out!”
* “A dragon!”
* “And?”
* “An adult. High. Dragon.”
* “… Okay, and now, what was really guarding it…”
In that moment Mrogul from his bag picked a piece of skull. Surly dragon skull, and broken horn that was pointing out of its skull surly revealed it’s “high” origin…
* “You guys killed a damned dragon? Wait for Jericho to hear about it? You are going to rank up, right from the spot!”
* “I am afraid, we won’t… in the end it was Zari who killed it. We were barely any help.”
…
…
…
* “Nice one, huh? The apprentice of Dragon Slayer killed a Dragon by himself!”
… b…but she is also an apprentice of Jericho…
* “If you could see him moving! Like a mist! Like death! I am so grateful we were on the same side…”
b…but she was…. She was supposed to be the “elder sister” …a..a..an example! The one who would lead the lost child through the world!...
w…w…w…w…
* “where is he…” she whispered. Her voice was silent like a falling leaf.