In the kingdom, its official title is The Kingdom of the Great Tree, but to us it was just home, one was not considered an adult or a citizen until their system day. Before that day you were a child, your parents held responsible for you, after that day you held all the rights and responsibilities granted by the crown. The most dreaded responsibility was taxes, but one of the more pleasant ones was marriage and raising the next generation. It was a responsibility I had been eagerly looking forwards to, I had even made secrete arrangements to declare a betrothal as soon as I had my class. Instead, today had me absent minded, not that I had forgotten our plans, but there was so much else. Maybe it was a good thing Madeline was on her way here with the mayor, it would be one less time I had to explain something I didn’t understand.

“I am Matiaus, a Millerson, sir.”

His face stayed neutral at my response, but his body tensed for a moment, then seemed to relax, “Yes. While that very well may be the case, that’s not exactly the question I asked. Now, again, what sort of thing are you?” Just then the door burst open, a flushed looking blond healer burst in out of breath, followed by the mayor who immediately closed the door and threw the bolt across.

It seemed like Madeline was about to say something but the magistrate forestalled her holding up a hand. “Thank you for joining us Healer Madeline. I have a few questions for you, you are in no danger, no charges have been level against you. Everything you share will be held in strict confidence. However, your right to keep secrets as a healer is suspended for the purposes of this meeting, I do not do this lightly. I only ask this because we are unfamiliar, not as an insult, but do you understand the gravity of this?”

As far as I knew it wasn’t possible for the secrets of a healer to be forced out, one of the primary laws of the crown was that healers kept secrets. They kept their own knowledge and they kept the secrets of their patients.

“Yes magistrate, but what is this about?” She started out slowly and respectfully but built up momentum with each word till she was yelling. “Why is the door barred? Why do does my Mattie look ready to fight or run, what have you done to him?! You’ve sent the village into an uproar, WHY?”

That was classic Madeline, she was smart, beautiful, and extremely fierce, like a honey badger standing up to a lion. I expected the magistrate to cut her off, but he waited for her to run out of breath before he responded. I just watched, also wanting to know the answers to those questions, even if I was sure of them, I needed to know his reasoning before trying to explain anything to such a dangerous man.

“By all accounts you are a gifted healer, so you would learn what you are about to learn eventually. Examine the boy using your skills, tell me if there is anything out of place, and I will answer every question I am allowed.”

Madeline had come up to stand beside me facing the desk. We turned to look at each other. Conflict whirled inside me, my heart ached for my wife and daughter, but I had been in love with the woman in front of me since I was a boy. All the childhood adventures we shared, time spent exploring the pastures, orchards, and river lands around the village. We had been children when her mother sent her to study under the Duke’s healers, when she returned we were teenagers and our friendship had changed to something else. For the past year we stole every moment we could alone together, we had thought we hid our affection well, but my new memories informed me that we were as obvious as any two teenagers in love. She was half a year older than me and had received her class a year ago, but since then she had accomplished so much that her mother felt comfortable with her taking over their shop while she traveled to expand her skills.

She rested her hands on my face and I felt my chest tighten, would this woman find something wrong with me? I was in love with this woman and loved in return, would she still love me if she knew I now changed my mind was?

An almost blinding gold light erupted from her hands, I could feel energy pulse through my body like a shockwave. She held her hands on me as she sent pulse after pulse into my body. Surprise was painted on her face, but she held her gaze on me. She put her hands down and stepped back, still looking at me, but surprise was replaced by thoughtful contemplation.

“What did you find?” the mayor asked from next to the door. I noticed he held a winged mace ready in one hand.

“He is very healthy, more so than he should be after his injury yesterday. His organs and bones are much more dense, his tissues stronger, almost like the high level adventures or soldiers I have examined but perfect without the same scars and old injuries. The old injuries I know of are still there, but it’s like they are fading, his vitality must be past several thresholds.” She then looked at me slight hurt, “what class did you choose?” We had spent long hours talking about this day, I would choose miller, build a house for just us on the opposite side my family’s land and we could move in together.

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“Thank you, healer,” the magistrate said from his seated position behind the desk. “There are times,” he continued, “when people in remote villages change suddenly for no cause. It is a rare thing. Some are replaced by beasts who can take the form of men. Some are possessed by beings without a body, others are controlled by strange powers either by domination, pledge or pact. Others have changed on their own through evil acts, but most of those are weeded out long before class selection. Part of my duties, and the mayor’s, and any leveled healer, is to watch against this. Confusion at class selection and high energy draw are warning signs that either he is not Matiaus Millerson or that something inside him has changed.”

He paused for effect, I could see Madeline processing this news. It was also news to me, but not the mayor who still held his weapon, I had never heard of a villager being replaced but terms from my last life came to mind. Skin walker, shape shifter, doppelganger, body snatcher, and a few more. If they thought I was one of those it would explain their behavior.

“Whatever has happened to the boy, the door is barred in case the mayor and myself are unable to overpower him or he attempts to flee before this is resolved.”

“Have we concluded that this is still Mattie?” the mayor asked.

The magistrate nodded backing off and reaching into his cloak, “I believe we have, he knew his way to your office, but the high energy cost to integrate and abnormally high physique means this may be another type of problem. We should use the tab-“

Madeline bristled at these revelations and cut off that he had been going to say with a roar, “He is no monster! And you,” she rounded on the mayor, “you’re ready to strike him down! One of our own! All his confusion and hesitation is due to a head injury! Perhaps he earned a feat for surviving and that’s why he is stronger! You two are here ready to kill this sweet man over a misunderstanding. I preformed a miracle yesterday, I hoped none would know because it would change our lives for the worse. NOW GIVE ME THAT TABLET SO I CAN SHOW YOU!”

Madeline glowed with golden light, her voice booming in the last sentence, I realized my jaw was slack. While this was in line with how she faced life, berating a public official was new, she was typically more outwardly respectful…. The glowing was also new. I was even more shocked when the magistrate handed her a system interface tablet, a rare and expensive device that was one of the few ways for others to see your system interface.

She pressed her hand to it and after a few moments turned it around for us to see, it was an achievement.

Epic grade healing preformed, achievement granted

Golden Moment Life slips away from one moment to the next, you have stepped between those moments and healed. You have healed a traumatic wound that should have been fatal virtually at the same instant that your patient should have died. (Repeatable) Effects

Increased effectiveness of any healing activity

Class upgrade granted, available at next threshold

“A metal bar swung out of the wagon and caved his skull in. The driver was using a speed skill and didn’t secure his cargo. I was already charging a healing spell to wash away any aches or pains he had from a day’s work and the walk into town.” She said, still angry, “I watched and felt as half his brain was crushed, I forced my manna into what should have been a minor spell. All of my manna. I tried to force my life and soul into it to hold it together, I was willing to let it consume me, but it didn’t. It burned me, but it was just barely enough. Before even he fell from the impact, I had healed him. The injury everyone saw was from his face hitting the road.” That seemed considerably worse than what a lot of people seemed to believe happened.

“There is more.” She slammed her hand into the tablet again, as she was speaking then showed us again.

Legendary grade healing preformed, achievement granted

Willing Sacrifice

You willingly tried to sacrifice your life, soul, and mind to heal another, and it worked. Not only did it work, but you survived this legendary feat Effects

Manna and soul have been purified

Purified man: Manna grade changed from basic to epic, your mana is now twice as effective

Purified soul: Your soul is more pure than most and will increase your attributes. All stats increased by 10% before any other modifier

Skill lost!

The ability used [Basic Healing] has been destroyed by your effort

Skill granted

A masterful level of healing has been demonstrated, skill available [Master Healing]

“It is a miracle this man I love is alive, and you want to kill him!” Madeline shouted, the golden light that was around her before grew in intensity, it started coming from inside her, light beaming from her mouth and eyes, her voice took on a sound of authority as she began to float off the floor. “Shame on yo-”

“[SLEEP]!” The magistrate boomed, his skill was like a thunderclap. Madeline dropped like a puppet with her strings cut and I lunged to catch her before she hit the floor. I just managed to catch her and cradled her in my arms. I looked up and the mayor was leaning against the wall holding his head. The room was suddenly bathed in a crimson light, it looked to the source and had to squint my eyes, the magistrate was on his feet, his right hand was covered in a grainy red light so bright it washed out all the other colors in the room. It looked almost like he was holding a laser made solid and it gave off a droning sound.

“Wait! I’ll tell you everything, I don’t know it all myself but!...” a deafening screech tore the air and I curdled my body around Madeline.