Chapter 9

I slam my sword down on the last slime, and a golden aura washed over me. Looking around, I see the entire clearing filled with slime puddles. At the edge of the clearing, Victoria reclined against a tree, her attention absorbed in a book while wisps of smoke curled up from her pipe.

Surveying my party, I noticed a collective sense of satisfaction as we completed our task.

“Everyone else hit level 5?” Hope queried, her fingers dancing over her crystal.

I tap mine to check all our stats as well.

Name: Zelik

Adventurer - level 5

HP: 365/365

Name: Leah

Adventurer – level 5

HP: 365/365

Name: Hope

Adventurer – level 6

HP: 455/455

Name: John

Adventurer – Level 5

HP: 550/550

“Yup, got it,” I say.

“Me too,” said Leah as John put a thumb up.

“Hey Victoria, we did it!” I called to her.

Lifting her gaze from the pages, she surveyed the battlefield before closing her book. “Good. Finish looting, then we'll grind some wolf dens before sundown.”

We dug through the remnants of the slime puddles for their seeds, then gathered around Victoria. We had not been able to afford a deep satchel quite yet, but luckily the seeds were small and fit easily in our pockets. We must have had at least a hundred by now, so hopefully, we could afford a few things. It felt like we were finally getting the hang of things and making some progress.

“So I was just wondering,” John said. “Since we're ready for our class now, why not head back to town? We're just going to get reset to level 1, aren't we?”

“Extra attribute points,” Victoria explained. “Plus, you retain your HP from old classes up until you surpass it with your new class. Honestly, sticking with adventurer up to level 10 or 15 would be advantageous, but it starts to get difficult to gain experience. Goblin camps should come after wolves, and they are dangerous without a properly built team. Now, do you all still have berries?”

“I’m out,” I said.

“Yeah, me too,” said John, and the girls confirmed they were out as well.

“If you see any growing, grab them on our way,” Victoria said. “I’ll toss you some of my own if it’s necessary.”

“We can pay you for them,” I offered.

Victoria dismissed the offer with a smile. “Do not worry about it. As a white mage, I have no use for them. They have been taking up room in my bag.”

Leah had a troubled frown pulling at her lips as she spoke up. “So, is there no way to level up without killing?”

Victoria cast a sideways glance at her. “No, there is not.”

“Why is it necessary to have to do this?” she asked.

“You don’t like killing monsters?”

Leah shook her head. “They don't want to die either. So, it just... feels wrong.”

“I see,” Victoria said, looking ahead. “They are not human, so why are you empathetic towards them? They would not feel bad about killing you.”

“We’re the ones starting it, though,” Leah persisted, her tone laced with quiet conviction. “Those slimes were just existing peacefully. They didn’t do anything to threaten us until we disturbed them.”

Victoria's reply came swift and sure. “Try traversing that clearing unarmed and see how peaceful they are. Not all monsters possess the strength or reasoning to stage attacks against humans, but many do. Goblins ambush unsuspecting travelers all the time. Ogres' attack villages, and demons wreak havoc when they raid our cities. Even the Leviathan and other great beasts pose threats, claiming the lives of numerous wielders during their sporadic rampages. If slimes had the capability to orchestrate such havoc, they would not hesitate.”

Leah’s voice dipped to a murmur. “Is that really how it is?”

“Nothing wants to die,” Hope agreed. “Even those Leviathan Spawn. The few I killed, I remember them flinching away from my blade at the last second before I got ‘em.”

“Yeah, I noticed that too,” I said. “I know what you mean, Leah. I felt kind of bad about killing the slimes at first, but, I guess when I realized they are not as defenseless as they look, I started to feel better about it.”

Victoria cleared her throat and spoke up. “It's said that those of us who become wielders are destined for this path, that it's a role we yearned for. From what I've witnessed, this rings true. Every holder of a phage crystal harbors a proclivity for battle. Unless, they lose that desire somewhere along the way.”

I watched Leah's eyes fall, her troubled demeanor impossible to miss. “Are you alright, Leah?” I asked.

She offered a slight shake of her head. “I just don’t know if I can do this.”

Victoria halted in her tracks, pivoting to face Leah, who seemed to curl into herself. Victoria could be intimidating when she locked that stoic gaze, rhythmically puffing her pipe. It could feel as though she were probing you, taking a glimpse into the secrets of your soul.

“You need to get over it,” Victoria stated, her tone firm but not unkind. “Do you think a wolf will be appreciative if you spare it, and decide not to rip your throat out? If you hesitate, you and your party may get hurt.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but...”

Victoria cut her off. “If you can not reconcile with this by day's end, you may want to consider heading to the castle instead of the guild. And during the next raid… find a safe place to hide.” With those harsh words, she turned and resumed her lead.

Leah looked absolutely dejected. I wanted to say something to cheer her up, but I didn’t know what. Victoria’s harsh words struck a nerve with me, and I felt like less of a man for not standing up for Leah.

John patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Just think about what you want for your life. I’m sure there is a way without having to fight if you don’t feel like you can.”

“Thanks,” Leah said.

Hope gave her a reassuring nod. “And I’ll still consider you a friend, no matter how things turn out.”

“Yeah, me too,” I agreed.

Leah smiled. “It really does mean a lot to me, you guys.”

I noticed a hint of approval in Victoria’s expression. She led us past a bend in the woods, and we soon came upon a burrow.

Scattered bones littered the surroundings, some gnawed clean while others clung to remnants of their previous owners. Two wolves lazed outside, gnawing at their prizes. One wolf, its bone picked clean, eyed its packmate, perhaps contemplating a way to snatch a little extra for itself.

“Here you are, your first wolves’ den,” Victoria said, “There will be up to four more wolves inside the den who will come out once the battle begins. It is possible there are only two, which will be simple for you to deal with, but at your level, even fighting a full den is manageable. They will be able to do roughly 40 damage per bite. That means aside from John who has extra HP, I recommend if you’ve been hit 5 times you eat your berries to be safe.”

“You'll still be around to heal us if things get dicey, right?” Hope asked.

“Of course,” Victoria answered. “However, aim to win this without my assistance. If I intervene, you'll forfeit the experience points for the battle. Now, party leader, direct your team.”

The fact she did not take a seat or pull out her book gave me the idea this was more serious than fighting slimes. Grinding them had been extremely easy after our botched first attempt, but looking at how the two wolves chewed their bones, seeing those sharp thick fangs at the front of their snouts, I knew this was going to be much different.

Remembering the Leviathan Spawn's snapping jaws, I swallowed nervously.

I took a moment to think things over, observing the wolves before responding. “I don’t see a way we can engage them while completely avoiding damage, as was possible with the slimes.”

“That’s right,” Victoria answered. “Does that scare you?”

“It’s natural, isn’t it?” I answered. “Regardless of our healing capabilities, having your flesh torn is still painful.”

“That is a common fear for new wielders. Over time, you'll learn to view pain merely as an indicator. In a world where wounds can be instantly healed, fearing every scratch is unnecessary. Pain is merely a signal that you've been hit. You should not fear it.”

“Think of pain as an indicator, huh?” Hope mused, gripping her sword tighter.

I took a deep breath, and began to direct my party. “John, given your higher HP, you should lead the attack, and position yourself nearest the den… that is, if you are okay with that.”

John nodded. “It is fine. That’s the most logical thing to do.”

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“The wolves will likely move more sporadically than the slimes,” I continued. “Therefore, if three of us are attacking the same wolf, it could get pretty chaotic; we may even accidentally hit each other. Hopefully there are not more than four in total, in which case we should each try to make it one on one, and after you defeat yours, help your nearest ally. If there are five or six… it is best that John is the first to face two at once.

“John, since you have more health, heal if you’ve been bit 7 times. The rest of us will heal after 5. After running out of berries, yell out ‘YELLOW LINE’ if you are hit 3 more times, back away, think defensively, and we’ll prioritize our positions to prevent a second wolf from attacking you. If you take 6 hits after healing, shout ‘RED LINE.’” I took a deep breath. “Everyone, if one of us shouts RED LINE, forget what you are doing and help them. That becomes top priority.”

Finishing my briefing, I glanced at Victoria, gauging if she agreed with my plan. She nodded her approval but still added a few words.

“Keep your orders simple, party leader; you are far too long-winded. John is the tank. Everyone engage one-on-one if possible. When you can no longer heal, think defensive and say, ‘yellow line.’ If your situation becomes dire, say ‘redline.’”

“Yeah, that’s the gist of it,” I said.

Victoria nodded. “You have instincts for strategy. However, a good leader conveys orders in short words. That’s something you’ll need to work on.”

I took some pride in the compliment, and appreciated the pointer. “Alright John, lead the attack. Position near the den.”

He moved in with a swiftness that belied his size; sword steady in his hands as he made a bee-line for the wolf closest the den. Hope and I fell into step behind him, our eyes locked on the second wolf. Leah trailed tentatively in our wake.

The tranquility of the forest shattered as if it were a pane of fragile glass. The wolves, once idly gnawing on their bones, were instantly on their feet, snarling and lunging at us. A searing pain shot through my arm as teeth found flesh, but I forced the sensation to the back of my mind. Pain is just an indicator, I reminded myself.

Hope's blade whistled through the air, avenging my wound with a swift strike to the wolf. I followed her lead, my sword coming forward and plunging through the beast’s fur. It recoiled with a pained yelp, spun around, and settled into a battle-ready stance, blood staining its gray coat.

The eerie echoes of growls and barks erupted from within the den. Two more wolves emerged, their hackles raised and their teeth bared, charging straight at John. “Hope, finish this one off!” I ordered, diverting my attention to one of the newcomers. John was holding his own against a pair of wolves, but the bites were piling up. “Leah, assist John!” I yelled, having yet to see her join the assault.

I took a hit to my leg, and returned with another slash. It whimpered. Another round of barks echoed from the den, and two more wolves darted out, their eyes locked on us. A full den of six wolves!

“LEAH!” I yelled again, as I found myself flanked by two of them. John was now facing three. I got bit again, I swung my sword, and the other followed it’s pack-member’s attack before I could even finish swinging. I jumped backward and tried to think defensively. I had only a moment to spare a glance over my shoulder to see Leah frozen. Her eyes were wide with fear, sword trembling in her hands.

Come on! Not now Leah! I thought. I noticed John eat his first berries, and as my leg was bit again, I did the same. No choice but to forget about Leah for now and fight our hardest. I heard a particularly loud whimper as Hope’s wolf dropped, then she ran over to help John; three wolves were far too much for him handle alone!

“LEAH! WE NEED YOU!” I yelled, doing my best to fight off the two wolves attacking me. My sword struggled to find its mark, while their teeth ripped my flesh consistently. Fighting two wolves was not double the difficulty – it was multiplied many times! Their agile forms darted around me, their teeth sinking into my flesh, their movements a blur of fur and fangs. It was impossible to keep track of!

“LEAH!” I yelled again, my voice hoarse. My sword connected with one of the wolves, eliciting a pained whimper. But it was still on its feet, still a threat.

“I-I’m sorry!” I heard Leah yell back at us, her voice thick with guilt.

I devoured my last berry just as John's voice broke through the chaos. “Yellow!” he yelled, his tone strained.

Hope echoed him, breathlessly. “Y-YELLOW!”

Five wolves still circled us, their eyes gleaming with predatory havoc. I had two wolves to contend with myself. How could I possibly assist my allies!?

There was nothing I could do. We still had five wolves to kill, and I could do nothing to aid them while fighting off two of my own!

My heart pounded in my chest as my blade struck true once more, and a wolf crumpled to the ground with a pitiful whine. The number had finally decreased, but the battle was far from over.

“RED!” John's voice cut through the melee as two wolves continued baring down on him. Hope was occupied by her own battle, her sword swinging in a frantic dance. John's panicked cry repeated. “RED! RED!” His shouts were desperate as he attempted to retreat.

I turned my back on my own battle, sprinting towards him, aiming to intervene. I was then blindsided by a jolt of pain as the wolf I'd been grappling with latched onto my side, ripping away a substantial chunk of my body. The damage was far more severe than a standard hit. I was now far past the yellow zone as well, out of healing, and running low on health. Four wolves still to kill, there was no doubt without Victoria standing as our safety net, we would fall.

The blur of a figure entered my peripheral vision, sparking a glimmer of hope. Leah must have finally mustered her courage! But, it wasn't a sword that came to John's rescue, it was a staff.

Victoria speared the bottom of her staff into the wolve’s side, her attack instantly disintegrated the wolf into ash which dissipated on the wind. The staff spun around, the grace of her movements belied her destructive power. She struck down on top of the wolf behind me, it dissolved with a flash of light. She continued her dance, spinning her staff with smooth strikes as she touched each of the remaining wolves, turning them each to ash in her wake.

The chaos of the battle dissipated as quickly as it had begun. Nothing left of the wolves but hints of smoke.

“I can't believe that girl!” Victoria growled as she scanned the area, adjusting the brim of her white witch hat. “Gather now. I'll heal you all. Then, we're going to find her.”

Find her?

I looked around for Leah but only saw her sword lying on the ground where she had been standing. She had run away. She dropped her sword and abandoned us. I couldn’t believe it! I could understand freezing in the heat of the moment, but to turn her back on us? She did know we had a safety net with Victoria here… but would she still have done that if this was not the case?

My heart shifted between feelings of betrayal. No, I did not want to believe it.

John had borne the brunt of the battle, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body painted in a grim tableau of blood and wounds. Victoria approached him, raising her staff. A gentle, warm light then enveloped him, restoring him and leaving him unscathed. She did the same to Hope, and then to me. The abrupt cessation of pain was disorienting, yet immensely soothing.

“We’re making it a short day and bringing her back,” Victoria declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. “She is not cut out for this at all. You’ll have to find a new party member to replace her.”

I resisted the urge to view Leah in such a harsh light. After all, we had shared so much together on the ship, and she was the closest friend I had in this world. The thought of expelling her from the party stabbed my heart. However, if she couldn’t fight and killing monsters was too painful for her, then maybe it would be best for her. Maybe she could find a happier life in the castle. Though, a sense of loneliness seeped into my heart just thinking about it.

“Follow me, I saw her run this way,” Victoria said, leading the way.

The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves beneath our boots and the occasional distant bird call. The sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

We trekked in silence, each absorbed in our thoughts. John's usually jovial expression was replaced with grave concern, while Hope's eyes remained determined. As for me, I was wrestling with a mix of anxiety and frustration.

Just how far did she run? It did not make sense that we hadn’t found her yet. Did something happen to her?

“Leah,” I murmured, more to myself than to anyone else. “Where are you?”

Our search came to a dramatic halt. As we crested a small hill, a chilling sight awaited us. Leah was there, but she was not alone.

Standing before her was a wolf of monumental size, easily ten times larger than the others we had fought. Its snarling snout was mere inches from Leah's face. Her head would be like a tennis ball between its jaws, which is a comparison I did not want to think about. Accompanying the beast were four small wolf pups, their presence emphasizing the enormity of the larger one.

The colossal wolf shifted its focus to us, its growl resonating through the forest as Victoria raised her staff.

“No, wait! It's okay!” Leah's voice cut through the tension. She stepped in front of the giant wolf, forcing its attention back onto her. “It's okay, it's okay! We mean you no harm!” Her voice was soothing, trying to pacify the monstrous creature. “I promise we will leave now!”

Victoria started to advance, but John caught her staff. “Wait,” he cautioned.

“It will end her!” Victoria argued, desperation lacing her words. “One snap of its jaws, and she's beyond saving!”

“But right now, it's calm,” John countered, his voice steady as a rock. “Startle it, and that scenario will instantly become a reality.”

“It’s a monster! It-“ Victoria’s words trailed off as she watched. The wolve’s eyes came back down to Leah, a soft growl in the back of its throat, but it did not seem intent on attacking.

“I’m sorry we’ve disturbed you,” Leah said. “We will leave right away.”

Curious, I tapped my crystal to bring up its stats.

Yukari

Forest guardian - level 55

Hp: ?????/?????

Weakness: ??????

Victoria may have been a match for it, but if the level was anything to go by, it would make short work of the rest of us. However, it did not seem to want to attack, and somehow, Leah seemed to be comunicating with it.

“This is impossible...” Victoria muttered, her voice barely a whisper.

Leah looked over her shoulder. “Please lower your staff and swords, she does not want to fight. She only wants to protect the little ones.”

For once, Victoria seemed at a loss.

“Do as she says,” John urged, calmly. Victoria complied, letting her staff rest at her side.

The giant wolf, Yukari, turned its gaze upon us. Its eyes held no warmth, but after a deep exhalation through its snout, it turned away. The little pups followed below her as they retreated, melting into the forest.

Leah exhaled and put a hand over her heart. “That was scary...”

“HOLY CRAP!” Hope burst forth, enveloping Leah in a whirlwind of a hug, spinning her around. “YOU’VE GOT GUTS, SISTER!”

“How did you do that?” I asked, coming over as well. “That was incredible!”

Victoria was stunned. “Wait... I... how...?” she stuttered, her usual composure replaced with utter bewilderment.

“It seems your empathy goes deeper than we could have imagined,” John mused, joining us in our circle around Leah. Surrounded by all the attention, she chuckled nervously, evidently uncomfortable in the spotlight.

“A-all I did was talk to it,” Leah said. “I don’t think it was anything special.”

“That’s impossible!” Victoria shouted, finally snapping out of her stupor. “Monsters can not be reasoned with!”

“Apparently, this one can,” I retorted. It is not that I disliked Victoria, quite the opposite, actually. I respected her greatly. However, after the way she had berated Leah, seeing Leah catch a win like this was rather cathartic. Also, I was relieved because maybe she had a role in our party after all.

“Explain this to me!” Victoria demanded, eyes locked on Leah. “How did you approach it?”

The scene was an amusing reversal of roles: Leah, calm and collected, faced Victoria as though she were an unreasonable customer at a store. “Well, I crossed paths with Yukari after running away, and she first wanted to attack me. I heard her saying, ‘Invader! Invader! Leave our home!’“ She scratched her nose, looking extremely cute as a blush of pride broke through her nervousness. “It was the same with the den… I could hear how scared they were, how they wanted us to just leave… and… I’m sorry, I couldn’t fight. I just couldn’t do it.”

Victoria eyed her skeptically. “Are you implying you could hear their thoughts?”

“Kind of,” she said. “Well, I did not hear actual words, but I guess, somehow I knew that's what they would say.”

“Was it this way with the slimes as well?” Victoria asked.

“Kind of, but not quite the same. I feel like slimes do not have as deep of emotions as wolves do.” she cleared her throat. “Um… I’m sorry, that might be wrong. This is all strange to me as well.”

“So, that’s why you could not attack the wolves,” John deduced, stroking his goatee. “It would be difficult to attack something if you can sense its fear. I suppose we can not fault you for that.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Besides, you knew we had a safety net… but why did you run?”

Her gaze dropped. “Because it was too horrible to even watch. I couldn’t bear to see something like that.” Her words pained me. Something I had done, she considered horrible. To be fair, though, those wolves mauled us pretty badly. Hell, without Victoria stepping in we would have been a pile of bones by this time tomorrow.

“This must be your blessing...” Victoria said, looking at Leah as if she were a rare artifact. “If what I am thinking is true, then you have an extraordinarily rare blessing. Let us return to Goliath. I will request the scholars give their opinions.”