Chapter 22 Moving Forward
The armory smelled sterile, the underlying stench of blood ever present. Kate dragged her hammer behind herself until she fell on an empty bedroll. She turned to the side and closed her eyes, sleeping in mere moments.
No dreams plagued her for the rest of the night, nor did anybody wake her up from her deserved rest.
She woke up when she heard the chirping of birds, a strong wind whistling through the cracks of the medieval structure. Blinking her eyes, she pulled the three blankets covering her closer. She didn’t remember how she got there. What she did remember was the fight. Gruesome bits and pieces of violence that still stuck to her mind. A long battle. Her teeth ground as she remembered the pain, the dull sounds of her strikes, the corpses strewn about.
What is this itching?
Get up. She didn’t want to think about any of it, instead eager to do what she could. The mess was surely still around. Her eyes blurred when she sat up, her body feeling like lead. Itching lead. She pushed harder but found her vision worsening, her heart beating faster, and her breathing picking up. Fucking. Shit.
Kate layed back down. I feel like a corpse. She turned to the side again and this time saw the young man sitting on the only actual bed in the room.
Ethan looked at her with two open eyes, arms hugging his knees as he pressed himself against the wall. Bits of blood clung to his hair, his hoodie clean however.
She blinked her eyes and closed them. What’s all this? She heard people shuffling around outside, heard the slight movements of Ethan. She could even make out the individual birds. Turn that off. The new skill was not something she wanted for a hangover. Deactivating the enhanced hearing just made her perception go back to normal. She sighed, warm and comfortable for a split second before the itching returned. She opened her eyes, once again seeing Ethan’s stare. “What?”
“Y… you… sorry,” he murmured, looking away.
“Is there something on my face?” she said and touched it, rubbing it before she looked at her hand. It was clean. “God, what the fuck is that itching?”
“It’s eh… the healing. The lady explained it earlier. I have it too, on my legs,” Ethan said.
“It’s infuriating,” Kate murmured, turning onto her back. She frowned. Still there. “How can anyone sleep like that?”
“I couldn’t,” Ethan said.
She looked at him.
He gestured to his face. “You were… messed up, ma’am.”
“Ma’am?” she asked, raising a brow. She glanced his way and saw him gulp, a smile coming to her face as she looked up at the stone ceiling. No respect whatsoever, but show a man how you smash in a monster’s skull with a steel hammer and suddenly you’re worthy.
“How the fuck are my bones itching?” she murmured, scratching herself now but it didn’t help. Not in the slightest.
“It gets better after a while,” Ethan supplied.
I would fucking hope so. She closed her eyes but that just made the sensation worse. I can’t. She tried sitting up, this time much slower than before, careful not to overexert herself. Blood loss, right. And whatever else this magical healing does. I did get hit quite a few times, and used my magic to heal. Without that, I would be out there with the others.
She activated her heightened hearing again, focusing on the different people. It was strange, almost like squinting an eye or taking in a deep breath. A muscle of sorts, something she could control, though not particularly well as of yet. At the very least she could filter out the wind and birds to an extent, the two hardly important to her. Looking down on herself, she found that someone had stripped her of the jacket, the shirt below only showing marginal damage. Her pants were pretty torn up but not to an unwearable degree.
Still have four stat points. Maybe they could help against the itching.
The fight had shown that she could survive. Not without her skills but she could survive. Strength and Endurance to fifteen, and one point for Vitality.
She confirmed the selection and grit her teeth as a strange hot feeling washed through her. She shivered and pulled the blankets closer. The muscles in her arms were tense. She felt both weak and strong at the same time. As if she could lift a truck but only for two seconds before blacking out. The itching remained. Kate looked around until she found the crutches, left in the room for those who would need them. Which, to her annoyance, was her.
Slowly standing up, she moved a hand to her head as it started to pound. Her vision darkened but she managed to step over and stabilize herself against one of the cabinets. The crutches were right next to her. Good. Well done.
“I think… you should rest,” Ethan said in a downright whisper.
“I don’t,” she answered, the man twitching slightly at the unexpected reply. I need food. And coffee. She looked down at her hammer. “Can you help me for a second?”
Ethan nodded quickly.
She glanced around the room. “The sling on that bag, can you take it off and tie it to my hammer?”
He got up and walked over, doing as she asked with slightly shaking movements.
Kate only now realized that the top bit of her weapon was near fully covered in half dried blood. “Sorry. I didn’t see it,” she said, receiving the thing whilst leaning against the cabinet. She slung it around her shoulder and moved it to her back.
“It’s… okay,” he said and nodded, stepping back until he sat down on the bed, his breathing ragged.
“You got fucked up too?” she asked.
He looked up, his mouth quivering slightly.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m not in a state for conversation. Get some rest,” she said, nearly stumbling on her first step. She managed to shrug it off and continue towards the closed door. I heard all that through a closed door? She tried to focus on it when something new lit up in the corner of her vision.
‘ding’ ‘Heightened Hearing reaches lvl 2’
Sure. Kate opened the door with slow movements. She assumed the exertion was only possible due to her high magical stats. Vitality, Perseverance, Strength, Endurance. What else could I want? She smiled to herself as she walked down the stairs with slow and steady movements.
Allison sat in a chair on the ground floor, legs crossed, with a book in her hand. She glanced up and frowned. “Your coming was foretold.”
Kate stopped. “What kind of greeting is that?” She looked outside, the truck standing in the yard with bodies piled onto the back. She could just glimpse Logan and Grey scratching their heads near the massive Ogre’s corpse. By now she could hear the rushing water of the Willow, and tuned it out.
“I’ve been reading, fair maiden,” Allison said and turned the book to show the cover. A large muscly man brandishing a glowing sword, two toned and skimpily clad women clasping at his legs.
“He won’t be fighting well with those women hindering his movements,” Kate observed.
Allison raised a brow. “Oh for you see, perceptive one, they are in cahoots with the dark wizard. Also you should rest. Melusine said you would try to get up.”
“It’s itchy,” Kate said.
“Then maybe touch yourself?” Allison suggested. “I won’t help. Maybe. If you ask very nicely.” Her tone was dry.
“Jesus fuck, Allison,” Kate said and touched her pounding head. “I need a coffee, and you won’t stand in my way.”
“True, I won’t. Not sure if even this guy could stand in your way,” she said and tapped the cover, her focus back on the pages.
Not without armor, Kate thought absentmindedly as she stepped out onto the yard. It was cool but the sunlight made the autumn air bearable. She stopped at the carnage, gagging once before she took in a deep breath. Most of the bodies had been cleaned up but there were still bits and pieces of flesh here and there. And the smell lingered. Burnt hair, burnt flesh, burnt clothing. She shook her head to get rid of the memories, both from the last few days and older. A part of the barracks lay collapsed, the roof broken into with debris collected near the ground.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
She looked at the two men, their faces covered in cloth masks. Yeah. Let’s not do that. Instead, she turned and slowly made her way to Bert’s home.
Her crutches krangled against the door before Celeste opened it from the other side and looked up at her with wide eyes.
Celeste squinted her eyes and pointed at her. “You have to rest!”
Kate stared back, Unrelenting Carnage helping her win the long battle when the young girl apparently lost interest in the fight.
“Good morning,” Jon said, looking up from his notes and books for a moment.
Eloise sat at the table as well, adjusting the flame of a small gas cooker.
“Who’s the old one now?” Bert asked from his armchair, cackling to himself before his laughter turned into coughing.
Kate just watched him before she went over to the kitchen.
“Power is gone,” Eloise said.
“Right,” Kate said, flicking the switches. “Did someone check the… wait no, I did that last night.”
“I can make you a coffee though,” Eloise said and stood up. “The water still works.”
“We need tanks, and gas,” Jon added. “You don’t look as bad as Mel said. But after last night, it’s a wonder you’re still alive at all.”
“You don’t seem particularly surprised,” Kate said as she prepared the french press. She watched the girl heat up water in a small pan, her blonde hair in a nicely done bun.
“Well, after what we saw last night, I don’t think your recovery is at the top of my list to process. Iodine… hmm… hardly makes a difference,” he murmured, scratching his head.
Kate nearly froze up. The light. She moved a hand into her hair. “Nuclear…” She looked at Celeste, the girl glancing up from her game boy.
“You should drink your coffee,” Jon said. “And the answer is, probably not. But we’re not sure.”
If any of that makes it over the mountains…
She didn’t want to think about it. Just the fact that someone had used nuclear weapons or anything close to it was concerning enough. More than that really but Jon was right, she needed her coffee.
Kate focused on the water pouring into the press. She made her coffee in an almost mechanical manner, finally smelling on the brew and sighing. The implications remained terrifying, but at least she could distract herself.
She sipped from the brew and closed her eyes. “What’s the next step?”
“Generators… and power cables… no matter what it was, an emp apparently didn’t reach our castle. Radios and phones still work, despite the power outage. Your next step is to rest up, Kate,” Jon said. “There’s little we can do right now. Once everyone is fit again, we can think about what to do next.”
“World is lost if they use weapons like that… man was not made to wield such destruction,” Bert murmured.
“Destruction!” Celeste exclaimed, pumping her fist into the air before she resumed her game.
Kate sipped from her coffee and moved to the couch. She finished the brew and lay down, quite tired after her adventure to the other house. Her stomach rumbled when Eloise brought her some crackers and cheese.
“The fridge isn’t working. Eat before it goes bad,” she said and handed her a few packets of cold cuts too.
Kate ate a bit before she fell asleep, the itching not quite as bothersome anymore.
She woke up in a warm cocoon of blankets, the food sadly gone. Kate pulled the blankets closer. It’s cold, she thought, hearing a set of voices talking behind her at the kitchen table. She moved up slightly, blinking as she took in the group of people. Everyone but Bert, Celeste still playing her game, the sound slightly audible.
“All I’m saying is they’ve consistently attacked… every night. It was close, Logan,” Jon said.
“We did… see them… bring away b… bodies,” Grey said, his voice quiet.
Logan wore a simple shirt now, his armor set aside for the time being, the hint of a beard on his face. He looked tense, lost in thought. “We don’t understand those creatures. What if it gets worse?”
“Worse than that?” Ethan exclaimed as he took his hands out of his pockets, settling against the wall a moment later.
“Kate saw the hordes. We attract some of them, yes, but if we become an aggressor, a larger group may focus on our presence here,” Logan said.
“It’s an assumption, yes. It’s also an assumption to think they will attack again tonight, but it’s clear they know where we are, and one group or the other has chosen us as a target,” Jon said.
“I’d like to know what they did to those bodies, and I don’t think they will stop coming. Not until we do something about it.” Kate said. The pounding was gone, her leg and arm still a little itchy. “It feels like they’re treating it like some sort of hunt, but I won’t sit here and take that.”
“Get up first,” Allison said.
“I am up,” Kate said, taking her hammer as she tried to sit. She still felt winded. Not as bad as earlier.
“Allison tracks the ones that came here, we go find out where they’re coming from, and if it’s close by or near Keilberg, we attack?” Logan asked.
“That’s the idea,” Jon said. “We need to find out what these creatures can do, why they’re coming here every night, and yes… we should find out what they’re doing with the people of Keilberg. Now that it’s still daytime.”
“But you read the list earlier. There are so many things we need. If we plan to become self-sufficient,” Logan said. “I don’t think you quite understand how dire the situation is if the military is forced to use this kind of weaponry.”
“It’s the reason I’m voting for Grey’s suggestion,” Jon said. “Otherwise I would suggest gathering supplies and hunkering down for as long as we can. Knowing how dire things are… or how dire the military thinks things are, I think we have to prepare. Not just for the next few weeks. Kate has shown us what is possible. You too, and Mel can heal… with magic,” Jon said.
“I can summon fire,” Ethan said with a smile.
“Yes, that too,” Jon said. “We have to adapt, Logan. I don’t like it one bit but I think it’s necessary. We can’t sit here and wait until they overrun us.”
The large man tapped his pants, a frown on his face. “If the tracks lead towards Keilberg. And if we don’t find anything, we look for more supplies.”
“Of course,” Jon said.
“Who’s going?” Logan asked.
“The kids and Bert stay here. The radios don’t have enough range but so far there were no attacks during the day, and they will wait inside the armory,” Jon said.
“Dad, I’m as old as Grey,” Eloise said.
“Yes, but you’re not fighting with a sword. Mel is there for her healing and Allison is only coming because of her tracking skills,” Jon retorted.
“Tracking skills? Did I miss something?” Kate asked.
“It’s a hobby,” the woman said with a shrug.
“You have strange hobbies,” Kate said.
“Useful now. Isn’t it?” she said. “It’s great when you’re looking for animals. So judgy.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Kate said.
“Do you feel up for it at all, Kate? There might be another fight, but I’d like to have your new hearing there,” Logan said, looking at her.
“You don’t look perfectly ready either,” Kate retorted.
“That doesn’t change the question,” he said.
“Fair enough. Yeah, I can walk. I can lift my hammer. I don’t think it will matter much, once my magic is active,” she said. “What about everyone else?”
“I’m good,” Grey said.
“Not like there’s much of a choice,” Ethan said.
Melusine nodded.
Jon moved a hand through his hair and sighed. “Everyone in favor then?”
Kate stood with her hammer in hand, nodding lightly. The others gave their assent too, none of them particularly enthused. Tired and battered. She grinned. “Into the flames,” she murmured, getting a look from Eloise.
Logan moved away from the wall. “It’s three in the afternoon. You better get your packs ready. We leave in ten.” He looked at Kate. “Fifteen.”
“Thanks,” Kate said, raising her hammer. She would need a few minutes to get a fresh set of clothes and gear ready.
Eating a little more food, Kate soon returned to the armory, grabbing pants, new thermal underwear, a shirt, and a jacket. Everything fit rather well, their stock of supplies still quite extensive. How long will it last, if I have to get a new set after every night?
She didn’t think too much on it, taking one of the prepared packs and moving the flashlights, knives, and radio from her damaged clothes to her new ones. Kate took a deep breath when she stood up, some of the others checking their equipment as well.
Logan gave her a look but then nodded.
She was glad he didn’t ask if she was fine for a second time. They both knew she wasn’t. But that didn’t change anything. Trusting some strange magic I got less than a week ago. She looked at her hammer, dried blood still sticking to the top bit. She didn’t much care, nor it seemed, did anybody else. She checked her knives again, tested her lights, and secured her belt.
Their group slowly gathered outside, all of them dressed in the same grayish colors now, faces serious, and weapons ready.
Our turn.
Kate Lindgren
Unspent stat points: 0
Class: Berserker – lvl 10
- Active: Mindless Ferocity – lvl 13
- Active: Furious Dance – lvl 13
- Active: Reckless Charge – lvl 10
- Active: Hunting Leap – lvl 3
- Active:
- Passive: Toll for the Living – lvl 11
- Passive: Courage of the Unarmored – lvl 10
- Passive: Two Handed Weapon Fighting – lvl 9
- Passive: Unrelenting Carnage – lvl 3
- Passive: Intimidating Presence – lvl 1
Support class: Silent Striker – lvl 1
- Active: Frightening Growl – lvl 1
- Active:
- Active:
- Passive: Heightened Hearing – lvl 2
- Passive:
- Passive:
Status:
Vitality: 21
Endurance: 15
Perseverance: 10
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 8
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 10
Serenity: 1
Equipment:
Torso: -
Legs: -
Trinket: -
Food: -