Heath presses his hands against the bloody mess of Jan’s shoulder, blood seeps between his fingers.

“HEALER!”, Heath desperately yells.

“Heath!”, Ingrid yells.

At the sound of his mother’s voice, Heath looks up to see her running toward him, her bag of herbs and potions in hand.

Heath jumps as the massive form of Mister Kopek drops next to Heath taking Jan’s head in his lap, gripping the mangled flesh of his right hand with his left.

“Jan.”, the man says, looking down at his son.

Heath’s father comes to stand next to his own son, placing a comforting hand on Heath’s shoulder.

Ingrid comes to a skidding stop next to the gathered group, whipping her bag down beside her.

Digging through the bag she speaks while accessing the injured Jan, “ What were you doing out here?”

“Ingrid. Not now.”, Karl says simply.

Ingrid shoots a dangerous glare at her husband, but relents, “ We will talk about it later.”

“Heath, I need you to remove your hand when I say so.”

Ingrid pulls a glass bottle from her bag, a thick brown liquid sloshing behind the glass.

“Jan I need you to drink this. It’s gonna taste like pig’s arse, but you have to keep it down.”

Ripping the cork out she holds the vessel to Jan’s pale lips. Brown clumps slip through Jan’s parted lips.

Jan chokes and begins to hack, but Ingrid’s hand covers his mouth before he can spit out the offending liquid.

“Swallow Jan.”

Jan gulps.

“Good.”

Placing her hands over Heath’s, Ingrid says without looking up, “Move your hands.”

Heath slips his bloodied hands from under his mothers.

“Clot!”

A blood red glow slips through between Ingrid’s fingers.

Ingrid pulls a waterskin out and pours it over the bloody shoulder.

As the water washes away the built up grime and blood, it relieves ripped flesh and exposed muscle.

Heath can feel himself growing green as his stomach churns.

“If you are going to throw up, move back.”

On hands and knees, he crawls away from Jan and heaves as his stomach empties onto the muddy ground.

After the last of the bile leaves his lips, Heath rocks backwards sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them.

Heath's thoughts flicker through scenes from the battle and to Jan’s attack.

“I wanna go home.”, Heath whispers just loud enough for himself to hear.

One other being hears his word as well.

Heath can feel Fi-ya’s presence from inside him.

His thoughts shift to home. Of safety. Of the hearth.

He feels Fi-ya urging him to continue.

Heath pictures his bed at home, the feeling of safety that it once held, sitting by the fire with his family. The comforts of home.

A warmth, different from the heat of fire, grows inside Heath, and words form on his lips,

“Hearth’s Aura.”

Gasps can be heard around Heath, a comforting pink light illuminates the area around him.

Those touched by the light can feel their wounds healing slightly faster, checking their status screens would show that their recovery stats had increased by 12%, but Heath was unaware as splitting headache overtook him.

Heath grabs his head, dull throbbing pain drowning out the world around him.

Heath falls backwards into the mud still gripping his head, oblivious to what was happening around him as the back of his eyes began to throb.

He lost track of time as the pain overwhelmed him.

The pain spikes when a voice speaks from beside him, “ That’s a mana drain headache kid. You used too much mana too fast. Take a sip of this.”

The cool glass rim of a bottle is head to his lips and Heath takes a sip of the liquid being held to his lips.

It tastes of mint and is far too sweet, to the point it makes his teeth hurt.

Heath blanches, but his headache is gone.

Opening his eyes he sees a man he had never seen before with short ginger locks kneeling next to him bathed in a pink light.

The man chuckles, “Ha! I know it tastes like pure sugar water, but that’s to cover up the taste.”

Heath blinks at the man and looks for the sources of the light.

Looking around he sees a small pink flame hovering over Jan.

“I think your friend is going to be fine. Between the potion she gave him and that light, she said he should be fine.”

Heath can see Jan breathing steadily, his head still in his father’s lap. His shoulder had been bandaged and a split had been placed on his arm.

But Heath’s mother and father were gone.

“Who made the flame?”

The man smirks at Heath, “ You don’t remember?”

Heath shakes his head, he remembers throwing up, wanting to go home, and thinking about…. about the comforts of home.

“I did that.”

“Yeah kid. You did. Good job. They’re bringing over some of the other injured now so the spell’s effects can speed up their healing.”

Heath looks to see people, including his mother and father, carrying the sick toward them on stretchers.

Seeing Heath was up, Ingrid and Karl quickly set down a patient they were carrying down next to Jan.

Hurrying over, his mother wraps Heath in a hug, “ Oh sweetie.”

“What were you doing out here?”, her voice becoming suddenly sharp.

Karl places a hand on his wife’s shoulder, Ingrid’s head darts to her husband, “ You said later, its later.”

Karl removes his, clearing his throat,” Of course dear.”.

Ingrid turns her attention back to her son, “Well? Out with it.”

Heath looks to his father for support, but the man wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Thanks for the help Pa, Heath thinks to himself, throw me to the wolves why don’tcha.

Looking back to his mother's face, he gulps and says softly, “Jan and I were out playing when the bell rang, and Garren said we were needed. When Pa tried to stop it, Garren said he couldn’t let me sit it out cause others would want to as well. I thought he and Pa were gonna fight, so I said I’d do it.”

“Is that true?”, Igrid asked, looking at her husband.

Karl nodded at his wife.

Taking in a sharp breath and letting out a sigh, Ingrid turns back to Heath, “I’ll have a talk with that Garren.”

The man in question looks around at his name, from his spot on the ground taking advantage of the healing boost of Heath’s spell.

“For now Heath, I need to know how much longer this spell of yours is going to last and if it can be moved.”

“Yes ma’am.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Name: Heath

Health:

75/100

H.Reg: 2(2.21)/ph

MP:

12/75

M.Reg: 1.5(1.71)/ph

Stamina:

20/90

S.Reg:

1.8(2.01)/ph

Stats

Base

Spirit Bonus

Str

18

Con

18(20)

+2

Dex

20

Agl

22

Will

28

Int

15

Wsd

15

Per

11

Cha

12

Lck

18

Spirits Contracted

Hearth Spirit (Fire): Name -Fi-ya

Rank: F Level:2

Spirit Abilities

Hearth Spirit: 21% increase resistance to fire and cold damage.

21% increase to recovery rate while resting.

Magics Available :

Hearth(Novice) - Take the comforts of home with you wherever you may go.

Fire(Novice) - Wield the primordial element of fire.

Spells:

* Fire Bolt (Fire) - Caster shoots a bolt of flames up to 10 yards. (1-6) Fire Damage.

Cost: 5 MP

* Hearth’s Aura (Hearth) - Caster creates a stationary pink flame that casts light in a 10ft radius. All those touched by the light gain the following effects:

* 12%(Cha) increase to recovery.

* 12%(Cha) Reduced damage from negative health effects.

Cost: 40 MP

Duration: Minutes Equal to Willpower of caster.(28 min.)

*Stackable

Heath pulls up his status screen, to see he had not only learned the new spell, but he had gained several stat points and Fi-ya had leveled.

“Mom, Fi-ya leveled and a lot of my stats went up.”

“I am sure they did, and we will have a long, long talk about it tonight, but focus, how long does it last?.”

Crap, that meant him and his father weren’t off the hook yet, Heath thought.

“Okay. It says it lasts twenty-eight minutes.”

Ingrid bites her lip and swears under her breath, “ Okay, not much time, but it’ll have to do.”

Getting to her feet, Ingrid calls out for everyone to hear, “ We got maybe another twenty minutes before the spell ends, we need to get as many people over here that we can.”

“Can’t the boy cast it again, we can give him mana potions need be.”, Garren calls out.

A fire burns in Ingrid’s eyes even as cold words leave her lips, “ No Garren, we will not be feeding my son mana potions, he’s just now learning how to use magic and I will not have him become addicted to them.”

Garren doesn’t reply, simply turning his head. It was only a complete fool that argued with the person that could just as easily give you poison when you asked for medicine, especially if that person was a proactive parent that already was upset because you sent their child to fight monsters.

Addressing everyone again Ingrid continued, “ If you can walk I want you to help bring more injured over.”

People began to slowly move, Ingrid clapped her hands loudly and yelled, “LET’S GO PEOPLE! WE HAVEN'T ALL DAY!”

At this people began to move fast, jogging to go help bring over others.

Turning back to Heath, Ingrid helped her son to his feet and said, “ Now I want you to go to the Trekker’s Guild and let them know the cost is clear. I am sure Nadia will be happy to see you. Are you okay to walk by yourself?”

Before Heath can say anything the man from earlier speaks up, “ I can go with him.”.

Jogging over Heath could now see the man was short, like really short, shorter than Heath even.

“My companions and I had just got into town when the bell rang. “ the short man said gesturing to the man in blue robes that had made it and a blonde haired woman helping a mountain of a man in armor move to sit in the light of Heath’s spell.

“ He can show me where it is, and I need to go retrieve our cart and mule. I’m sure the poor girl is frightened out of her wits.”

Ingrid regards the man for a moment and then nods, “ Yes, thank you.”

Turning to her son she continues, “ I want you to stay at the guild with Nadia till your father comes and gets you. I’ll most likely be helping with the injured until the morning, but we will talk later, now go.”

With a kiss on the forehead, Ingrid turns from her son and moves over to Jan and Mister Kopek taking the blacksmith’s mangled hand in hers.

“Alright, kid. Let's go grab my cart.”, the short man says, gesturing toward the town.

----------------------------------------

Heath stands in the darkening street as the setting last of the sun’s light dipped below the horizon. The lanterns had yet to be lit and the only light came from windows of homes where candles or fires had been left going.

“It’s alright girl, come on.”, the man’s voice, who’s name was Sebastian, Heath had learned and was in fact a halfling.

Heath turns to see, in the dim light, the halfling guiding a gray mule pulling a cart out from between the alley, Sebastian had stashed them in.

“Stella this is Heath, Heath this is Stella.”, Sebastian said with a grin.

“Nice to meet you Stella.”, Heath says.

The mule snorts in replay.

“She says it nice to meet you too.”, Sebastian informs Heath.

“Is that so?”, Heath asks unconvinced.

“It is, she said so herself.”, the halfling states matter of factly.

“Now give me a moment. It’s far too dark for a man to be walking around with a young boy.”

Sebastian moves to the back of the cart, pulling out a lantern and pole.

“What do you mean?”, Heath asks confused.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Placing the pole into a notch at the front of the cart, the halfling places the lantern on the pole and lights it with a spark lighter.

The street is washed in the glow from the lantern.

“Not much, but better than nothing.”.

Sitting on the front bench, Sebastian takes the reins and tells Heath to sit in the back.

Heath jumps onto the cart and moves bags and sacks around so he can sit facing forward, as to give direction.

“Where to?”

“Take a left at the end of the street, cross town square and take the street at the bottom right. Past the houses, is the Trekker’s Guild, can’t miss it.”

“Yet we did.”, Sebastian mumbles to himself.

“What was that?”

“Oh nothing.”

The click of hooves on stone and rattling of wheels echoes through the street.

“So kid, that spell you cast seemed like it had a high mana cost. How long have you had your bond for?”

Heath scratches his head, thinking, “ A little over a week, I think.”

Sebastian whirls around and stares at Heath, flabbergasted, “ A week!? You learned to cast a spell like that in a week?”

“Actually that was the first time I used it, and I only learned how to cast Fire Bolt a few hours ago.”

“That was the first time? Well smack me silly and call me filly! That's a mighty impressive kid. You’re a natural, I’d say.”

Heath beams with pride, an honest to gods, real life trekker thought he was a natural. Heath couldn’t wait to tell Mila and Jan….. oh yeah Jan.

The smile slips from Heath’s face, “ I still let Jan get hurt.”

“Jan? Oh your friend back there. Kid, that was not your fault. Neither of you should have been out there. Besides, people get hurt in battle, it happens, you can’t blame yourself when they do.”

The two ride in silence for a moment before Sebastain speaks again, “ It’ll eat you up inside if you let it. The best you can do is train, get stronger and be better prepared the next time. It’s all any of us can do.”

Heath absorbs the trekker’s words, and nods to himself. He’d be stronger the next time, he wouldn’t let the people he cared about get hurt again.

“Thank you, Sebastian.”

“No problem, ki-..Heath.”

They ride in silence the rest of the ride, Heath contemplating how he would get stronger, Sebastian doing his best to follow his own advice, and failing as ghosts of the past haught his thoughts.

The two are brought out of their own musings as someone calls out to them, “ Who goes there?”

Looking up to a looming building before them, three stories of brick, with a large walled courtyard with a large metal gate blocking the cart's path. The Trekker’s Guild of Scozeg, small by guild standards, but the largest buildings in town.

“I’m Sebastain of the Wild Jacks. This is Heath, we just came from the battle, it's over.”

“Thank the goddess.”, A thin bald man in brown robes, stepping out from the shadows.

Unlocking the gate, the man motions for Sebastain to pull the cart in.

As the man comes into the light of the lantern, Heath can see that man was Oswald, the head cleric to the goddess of luck, Scęściar.

“Heath my boy, I am glad you are safe. When you didn’t show up, I feared the worst. Poor Nadia has been worried sick.”

“Sorry, Father Oswald. Jan and I were pressed into service with the militia.”

The bald cleric balches, his Adam's apple bobbing, “ Militia? You and Jan? That’s preposterous.”

Father Oswald rubs his smooth scalp in thought, before shaking his head coming back to the situation at hand, “Anyway, Heath why don’t you come with me and we can find Nadia. Mister Sebastion, was it? I am sure you need to make a report. Thank you for escorting young Heath safely here.”

“ Of course, Father. Heath’s a good lad.”

Heath jumps down from the cart, and walks over to the cleric.

“I’ll pull the cart and Stella into the stables and I’ll be off. Good meeting you, Heath. I hope our talk helped.”

“Nice meeting you, and thank you. It did.”

WIth a nod, the halfling clicked his tongue, causing Stella, the mule, to pull forward guided toward the side of the courtyard that housed the guild's stable.

“Come Heath.”

Oswald tells Heath as the boy watches the trekker’s cart disappear into the stable.

Heath lets the cleric guide him toward the big double doors of the guild.

Oswald is saying something to Heath, but the boy isn’t listening. His focus is on the future.