After about a few minutes of letting the spell dissipate its energy supply-since spells are designed to require small amounts of energy through their focus and can be replenished if the caster has enough energy to do it-I dusted off my hands clean as if to say that I cleaned up the mess. Silence reigned in the streets for a few moments longer because those who still lived were trying to make heads or tails of what just happened, but in those few moments of silence, I made my way towards the dwarvish child whose cries sealed the orcs’ fate. Buildings were covered in soot from the fires-their fuel extinguished from energy dispersal-as I walked by them and noted how many corpses lay smoldering from this brazen attack. Once I neared the crying child, I saw one headless corpse-most likely male by their body structure-and a barely living dwarfess who seemed to suffer debilitating wounds.
Her armor looked to be heavily degraded from use and offered little protection since there were dents in the armor with a lot of cuts on the leather straps. The damage was too significant to warrant simple patchwork repair-meaning the armor is salvageable but the straps are not-but after glancing at the dwarfess’ health bar which loomed over her head with a glaring red number 1 out of 500 health, I knew she was dying. I also took note of the way her health stabilized at one health point though her energy looked to be depleting slowly despite passive regenerative effects applied which suggested an ability that prevents dying though expends energy at a slightly higher rate beyond regeneration. It is rather useful to stabilize health until a healer arrived in time to save you, but I didn’t want to focus on the potential costs of such an ability.
Turning my gaze over towards the crying child, I could tell they were no older than eleven or twelve-just barely a teenager in human years-and looked disheveled from shock. I crouched down to get a better look at the child and prompted a System examine which returned with basic examine text alongside medical information.
<~-(+)-~>
{Profile: Hendrik Helmsman}
Race: Dwarf
Age: 13
Level: 5
Tier: Bronze
Class: Apprentice
Titles: [Survivor], [Fireborne]
---
Health: 300/300
Energy: 0/0
Active Buffs: [Hopeful III]
Active Debuffs: [Hunger II], [Thirst II], [Shell Shocked], [Dreadful IV], [Petrified]
<~-(+)-~>
I looked over their examination and sighed in mild resignation that the child was fine aside from the mild debuffs. Most of those debuffs were because they were terrified of their orcish murderers, but the Hopeful buff will slowly mend those mental debuffs over time. The hunger and thirst debuffs are easily remedable by offering sustenance to them, but for now, I turned my attention back to the dwarfess who seemed to be running low on energy. She didn’t move her limbs though I knew she still lived by how her chest still moved.
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“I know you are still living and cannot move,” I started-alerting both her and the child to my presence. “You do not have long left to live even with the borrowed time given by your ability and healers won’t make it in time to save you. I can heal you if you so desire, but it will mean taking something from you in turn. You need not speak your response. Just think about it and I will know.”
It did not take long for her to think about her reply to me. Essentially, her response was initially confusion though after my short blunt summary of the situation, she practically begged me to spare her child and take her instead. I had no need to take her child even if the woman has no idea about my true identity as an Elder God, but I gave her that promise and she accepted my offer of healing. Aware that the child was spectating us-their eyes on me in wonder-I put on a little show to inspire wonder and hope to counter the bleak grim world around them by crafting a new spell on the fly.
Starting the crafting, I first drew up a perfect circle in the air about half a meter wide in diameter to serve as the outermost ring-glowing white as it draws in aspectless energy as a base. I then began slowly inscribing runes that signified death, rot, inversion, and amplification in respective order within the interior close to the ring. Slowly but surely, the structure started to change color based on the runic scripture I wove together until it formed a beautiful leafy green reminding me of spring colors where life renews itself. This formed the base structure of decay inversion and from this point in the process, only runes pertaining to life, regeneration, or nature were applicable.
After finishing the base structure, I then created another layer by enclosing the exterior ring with a smaller perfect circle a quarter meter wide in diameter. Within this new layer, I started inscribing another set of runes that described mending, restoration, change, and regeneration in order-keeping the same color as the base structure. This layer basically allows for complex racial revision after fully restoring health-keeping their health at max while undergoing the revision. Once it was completed, I sealed off the secondary layer and thus created the final layer for the structure.
For the final layer, I inscribed the symbol of the Crux Court which implied the proficiency level for this spell structure. Once I finished inscribing the Infinite Hourglass sigil into the final layer, the whole spell structure changed colors from a lovely spring green to a mild serene dark cyan color. I could sense the child looked on in wonder as I pondered the name of this spell along with its relevant incantation. After a few seconds, I cast the spell onto the dwarfess and watched as her health skyrocketed back to full.
Then I informed her of the cost of healing.
“Torn from the mortal coil and on the precipice of death, you chose the route of sacrifice for those who share your bloodline. Unwilling to go gently into the realm of the dead and enter the reincarnation cycle, a cost is paid through intervention beyond mortal ability. Forsaken and degraded by those who wish to end you, a child’s cry has been heard. Broken free of mortal constraints and a cost paid, absolute loyalty is given. No more shall you go to the realm of reincarnation or pass beyond the gates promised to dwarves by Moradin’s grace for this is your cost. Now and unto forever, your soul is bound to the Endless Abyss and the higher powers out of your gods’ reach.”
Neither of them understood completely of the ramifications coming from this deal and I did not expect them to right away. They weren’t making a deal with a demonic entity-which has all sorts of problems of its own-but these people should have understood what it means to make deals with deities and the consequences that will haunt them forever. Unless this woman and child make it through this unencumbered by potential enemies, I do not imagine they will last long in this world. With a small sigh of relief at knowing they have another shot at a peaceful life, I decided to make my departure from the scene.