The next morning, Exill was applying the last burst of healing magic to Tsarra when he suddenly felt lighter, the impending migraine caused by mana fatigue abruptly washed away like a cleansing tide. He had often experienced a shortage of mana since he gave the Wizard’s Ring to his apprentice over a month ago.
The Ring had the dual enchantment of increasing the mana pool on top of doubling the EXP gain rate and the Dwarf would not have been able to activate [Heal] without it. Its loss would have been felt more sharply had his Wizard job’s level 11 [Mana Efficiency] not been in effect.
The scar bisecting Tsarra’s lips had been healed through the painstaking task of cutting away the scar tissue, followed by a prodigious amount of [Heal]. Right now, she was laying prone on the examination table with the lower half of her face paralyzed for another good fifteen minutes. Her eyes followed him as he swivelled away, summoning his Card.
Job Healer Level 20 Description Magic - Tier I Active Skill [Focal Area] concentrate healing energy over a localised area (control ability scales with level) Passive Buff [Lvl 20 Unlock] MAG bonus
Healer had reached level 20 and unlocked a new buff that increased his total mana reserves.
‘Yes, my mana bar has increased!’
He was celebrating the feat when a polite knock resounded on the front door. Exill brushed Tsarra’s hair then stood up, “You rest here, I’ll be right back.”
He opened the front door to find Perg the Healer, who looked incredibly pleased to see him.
“Master Exill! Has it been nearly two months since we last saw each other? That Guild business was truly unfortunate, You should have seen Healer Milo throw a fit when his motion for retrial was dismissed! Ah, but it all worked out in the end am I right?” The portly healer positively beamed while looking around the homely entrance of the Clinic.
“Could you perhaps treat this old gossip to a cup of tea? My throat is awfully parched nowadays, what, with all the talking I do! Speaking of which, I’m offended that you never come visit anymore! I thought we were good frie-” Perg nattered on as Exill led him upstairs to the living room and poured him a lukewarm cup of tea that had been made that morning.
“Perfect drinking temperature this, you know how to treat your guests right! Anyway, down to business… well strictly speaking it’s unofficial Guild business. Exill my man, the Guild is in a bit of a pickle lately, have you heard what’s been going on at Virigo?”
Exill shook his head while giving time for Perg to catch his breath, “I know it’s two days travel west of here, but that’s it.”
“Good, good. You are absolutely correct; it is mid-tier resort and trading town of 3000 residents about a day’s travel away by fast coach. I heard it has the most stunning views for miles around! Anyway, I digress. Their one and only healer, Spirit rest her soul, passed away a month ago and the situation is getting rather sticky for the Guild.”
“Did she not have an apprentice?” Exill asked as Perg took a long sip of tea.
“I wouldn’t be here if she still did, poor man was drafted in the war and perished along with his battalion is what I heard. Anyway, Virigo… it’s in a bit of a mess because no one in the Guild wants to relocate there, including me, guilty as charged!” Perg beamed while spreading his arms in surrender before continuing on, “These positions have a tendency to become permanent you see, so the members agreed yesterday, unofficially of course… that it would be awfully charitable if the Witchdoctor could fill our place. Only for a week, maybe two at most, while we drum up a suitable replacement!”
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“What would be in it for me? My clinic will stand empty.”
Perg held up a finger as if he had waited for this exact moment.
“That is exactly my point! You will be compensated 1500 D’s by the Guild for this assignment on top of any earnings you happen to make in Virigo, of course you must charge the standard Guild rates for your services. I heard you have a cute little apprentice and I’m sure she can hold the fort long enough until your return, am I right? Not to mention, you will be doing the Guild a huge favour, and we’re likely to reciprocate in the future.”
Perg took a deep breath while awaiting eagerly for the Witchdoctor’s response, his eyes twinkling with glee. Exill took a moment to think, trying not to be pressured by the eagerness of his guest.
‘Tsarra should be able to treat most injuries that come this way, now that both her hands are functional… and it sounds like I can briefly double my income, meaning I could settle my debts faster.’
“When do you need your answer by?”
“Today, right now my dear chap. We need a replacement out by tomorrow morning! If I can’t get an answer out of you, we all agreed a random apprentice would be selected as a stopgap. This matter has really dragged on too long!”
Exill winced as the pressure ramped up. He flipped his divination coin out of habit, and just as expected, it had landed on its edge. Sighing loudly, he made his decision. “Alright, I’ll go, but only for ten days. I expect the Guild to cover the transport fees on top of my 1500 D’s.”
“Ah… that shouldn’t be a problem, no it shouldn’t… I’ll inform the others straight away. Well, I must be leaving now. You have done me, and the Guild a great favour by accepting this, I’m proud to call you a close friend!” With that, the portly healer stood up and went to the front door, he turned around at the last moment for he had forgotten a crucial detail.
“May the Spirit strike my confounded brain! I nearly forgot to tell you the most important part! We’ll have a carriage waiting for you at the western perimeter gate, be there before nine!”
Exill closed the front door and went to the treatment room to check on Tsarra, only to find her sitting up and alert.
“Did you hear all that?”
The Dwarf nodded, suddenly nervous of the responsibility that had befallen her. Exill noticed the stiffness in her shoulder and laid a reassuring hand. “Just do your best, I believe in you. If you find you cannot handle something, refer the patients to Milo’s clinic. I’ll send a message to Bola that you cannot manage her stall for a week or two until I return.”
“What about Envy… will you take her too?” Tsarra didn’t know how she felt about the Vampire. The woman was scary, but it would be equally scary to be left behind in this large clinic, all alone.
“Thank you for reminding me, I need to make two weeks’ worth of blood potions. She’ll stay here and keep you and the clinic safe in my absence.” With that established, Exill hurriedly made the necessary arrangements.
‘Fourteen doses of blood potions…’ He quietly struggled over the projected requirements on his clay tablet. It was well above the one pint (470ml) recommendation for a full blood donation. Even though he regularly drank recovery tonics fortified with iron, it felt unwise to draw so much blood in one go.
‘I’m sure she can ration it somehow if I make a few less.’ He thought glumly, knowing how much she disliked its bitter aftertaste. Talking of which, the mechanics around blood potion didn’t quite add up. Each dose required 50ml of his blood, but it drained far less than 10% of vitality when fed normally.
Later that evening, Envy returned home to find all the preparations had been made for Exill’s departure. She frowned, unhappy about being excluded from the decision-making process. She dragged him to her room, still covered in grime from the Labyrinth.
“I have a bad feeling about this. If you must go, take me with you.” Her amber eyes turned crimson with urgency.
Exill was taken aback by her strange insistence. He looked at her quizzically, “I know you don’t like blood potions but-”
Envy cut him off with a swift motion of her hand, “Remember Diallo turned down the mystery buyer of our contract? It has been bothering me ever since. People have been tailing me these last few days.”
Exill felt a shiver run down his spine while absorbing this newest revelation. He had thought long and hard on why someone would pay twice the residual value of their contract for ownership of the Vampire, when it would be worthless once he paid back the loan. Exill had come to the chilling conclusion that the mystery buyer didn’t want the loan to be paid back at all. He was sure Envy had come to a similar inference.
‘And the easiest way to trigger a default would be to cripple… or kill me.’
“You are probably overthinking this, but there is an easy way to find out. I checked earlier this morning after Perg left and there wasn’t a hint of danger when I took the readings.”
Exill left the room and returned with the pouch of runic throwing bones. He channelled mana into them, questioning the safety of this trip to Virigo. He concentrated as the shards of glowing ivory slipped through his fingers, before flashing in sequence, dissipating their mana.
He glared at the bones then tried again, this time questioning his safety were he to remain in Ark. The bones fizzled in sequence as their answers evaporated into the aether.
“What did it say?” A note of concern entered her voice while examining his grim expression. Exill merely shook his head and replied, a hint of defeat in his voice.
“The answers have changed…”