Walking through the door and into the hallway and with sweaty palms, Lee decides to think that he should act as if he was going to be in some sort of interview for a job.
Arriving at the door to meeting room two, unsure if he should just barge right in, he knocks. “Come in.” Says a masculine voice from the inside. Opening the door, Lee sees that the room is small and not like the meeting room he was imagining. It's more like a small office. There’s not much in this room, besides the three chairs around a triangular desk, there is only a small rolling stand with some glasses and a pitcher of water.
Sitting in one of the chairs is, who Lee assumes, Elder Sono. He is tall, reaching seven feet tall, with blue eyes and short wavy ash colored hair. He appears to be in his mid to late thirties or early forties by appearance, but Lee knows better than to believe that to be his real age. He wears a slim robe that is a dark purple. He was quickly reading from a few pages placed upon the desk right as Lee walked in.
Elder Sono awkwardly and hurriedly stands from his chair and says, in a different language than what Ruvan and Neia spoke. “Welcome, please come sit.” Motioning to one of the chairs at the table. Lee, taking a seat, replies in what Lee assumes is Elvish, the language he has been speaking since meeting his two elf companions. “I must be honest, I do not know much about why I am here.”
Sitting down, Elder Sono slightly chokes on his spit hearing his peoples language come from a Human. “Well, I must admit, that today I was not expecting anybody to request me, and about a Human no less,” Coughing slightly to clear his voice, Elder Sono looks through some of the papers on the table and then says. “Well, let's start with the basics, your name, reason for coming, and general basic information.”
Lee, pretending he is here for an interview still replies. “My name is Lee Barnes, I honestly have no clue why I am here, this is not my world. I appeared in the Shadowgrove forest a few days ago after dying in my own world and was found by two Elves, Neia Sindris and Ruven… I don't actually know his last name, they are monster hunters. They found me and decided I was to be brought to you.”
Elder Sono slowly looks from his paper into Lee’s eyes with a look of skepticism. “That is quite a tale. Do Neia and Ruven know of your origins?” Lee understands the completely reasonable skepticism and replies. “Yes and they are outside waiting in the main room.” Elder Sono stands and says, “I’m sorry, but wait right here for just one moment.” then leaves the room.
Sitting alone in the room with nothing really to look at, he grabs himself a glass of water. After waiting for a few minutes, the door opens and following Elder Sono is Neia and Ruven. The Elder now with a face of disbelief sits down in his chair and scoops up all the papers on the table. “Well then, after talking with Neia and Ruven it seems that you were telling the truth…” backtracking hurriedly. “Not that I thought you were lying of course!”
Lee slowly nods. “Yes, of course.” turning his head to look at the two stone faces of Neia and Ruven. Glancing back to Elder Sono, Lee asks. “So, what’s next?” Elder Sono, thinks for a moment and asks. “Well, it seems to me like you’re going to be staying with us for some time and you have nothing to support yourself. Do you have your class and profession yet? And if not, what sort of skills do you possess, maybe we can find you some work.”
Lee smiles and sees an opportunity. “No I have not yet reached level five, but I was mana infused by Dark Elf Neia Sindris of Neldam in Shadowgrove Forest.” Saying her full title was a tad weird when she was in the room, but he accepted the terms and that is what she had told him to say. Glancing over towards her, Lee sees her stone face crack with a tiny little smile. The Elder on the other hand looks at her flabbergasted. “Well then, magic is useful. What did you do in your own world?”
Lee looks thoughtful and says. “Well, in my world I was sick for the last few years and couldn’t really accomplish too much, and before I was sick I was studying in school and started college studying for a degree in business.” The Elder seems surprised, “You went to a higher learning facility? Impressive.” Lee notices at this time that the elder is writing onto the paper with the tip of his finger, the words appearing without any ink or anything of the like. Well, I guess there is magic for anything.
Lee decides to add in, “My goal is to become a healer and help those in need. If you have any place that requires help I would be glad to do so.” The Elder smiles wide “Ahh! A healer! Now that is something we can get you work with!” Writing down on the paper more animatedly. “We can easily find you a place to stay, it won't be large but it should do. We can talk more after you have settled in a bit, let us go find your accommodations and have you meet Anya down at the clinic.”
Leaving the building the four of them begin moving towards one of the offshoot cave tunnels leading away from the main part of the city. As Lee gets closer he notices that they are very well done, reminding him of the underground tunnels that cars drove through back on Earth. Instead of completely smooth like from earth, every few moments they would pass a cored out section with a door and windows. Peering inside Lee sees that these buildings are actually homes. Through the window he saw a female elf cooking in her kitchen.
After walking for around five minutes down the housing tunnel, they stop at a small home, the elder says, “This should do for your accommodations, it’s mostly bare, but it has a bed and necessities.” He then looks a tad uncomfortable, “There will be rent every month, twenty silvers.”
Lee doesn’t know about how much healing pays exactly, but he heard it was expensive to be healed. “That seems reasonable. I do not expect to be taken care of for free after all.” I need to start relying on myself, not the generosity of others. Turning to Neia and Ruven he says. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Truely. I would not be alive without you both and if you ever need healing or anybody you know needs healing, I will heal them free of charge for as long as I live.” Tearing up slightly, he walks up and awkwardly holds out a hand to shake. These people saved my life.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Neia ignores the hand and gives him a hug, “I hope you don’t regret those words. I have a lot of people I would like to stick and prod without any evidence being left over.” Narrowing her eyes looking towards Ruven.
Lee laughs, and Ruven comes over smiling and firmly shakes his hand. “Healing is expensive and can save lives, you may one day return the favor of us saving yours.” He winks at Lee and then Neia and Ruven both look at each other for a moment and they turn around and begin to go back towards the main part of the city. Neia yells out a little ways away “We will come visit you sometime!”
Elder Sono gives him a moment then says, “Come inside, and see the place, afterwards I will take you to Anya and she can help you get to work.”
The inside of the building was small, but Lee didn't have much to begin with, there was a small bedroom, restroom, living room, and kitchen. Good enough for me. There wasn’t much inside other than the necessities of a kitchen, the bed, and some basic chairs with a small table. Elder Sono hands him a small iron key and says. “This is your key. You can lock up and we can be on our way.” Before leaving, Lee goes into the bedroom and empties his Hidden Cache onto his bed. All of his coins, furs, and a small clay pot. He forgot about the jar of Squaller fat. Putting that into his kitchen, he leaves his new home with Elder Sono and locks up. While locking the door he notices the small number “183” on the key, looking up he sees the same number above the doorway. Now satisfied that he knows exactly where he lives he follows the elder back into the city.
The clinic was closer than he expected, only fifteen minutes away, glad he didn’t have to trek the massive amounts of stairs upwards, he examined the building. Large and made of stone, appearing to have two separate wings separated by a long tunnel with glass windows, the entrance to the building had a small courtyard between the wings, filled with potted plants and benches as well as a small pool of water where some fish swam. The doors of the clinic connected to the long hallway separating the two buildings.
Entering the hallway was much wider than he thought even having a reception desk right in front of the doors. Going up to the receptionist, Elder Sono says. “Is Anya available? I have a healer looking for work.” The receptionist looks surprised and looks at Lee, mouth dropping open and looks back at Elder Sono and seems to declare that this is well above her pay grade. “Go ahead and go to her office, go left and you can find it directly to the right, her name will be on the door.”
Following the directions the building was clean and people seemed to come and go quickly, not even stopping to gawk at Lee. The elder knocked on the door and said “Anya, it is Sono. May I come in?” Hearing a faint “Go ahead” they enter.
“Well, I don’t have any appointments with you and I would know if I did Sono, what is your business with me today?” Anya says while reading some papers in front of her very nicely carved desk, she has bookshelves full of books around her office and her chair is tall and wrapped with leather. Anya looks to be around the same age as Sono and has white hair and silver eyes. She is taller than Neia, standing at 6 '4 and wears a white silk robe embroidered with silver, and has childish designs of elves dancing going up and down the sleeves. The first thing Lee notices about Anya isn’t any of that though, it’s the instinctual knowledge that she is a Healer of Many.
The elder smirking a bit he takes a haughty tone and says “Is that a way to speak to someone who brings you a healer?” Looking up from her papers she looks interested, “A healer you say? Well, well, well, it seems you have your uses after all.” She looks to Lee and now realizes she is looking at a Human and not an Elf. She looks back at Sono with bafflement. “And how, pray tell, did you just so happen to come across a healer, a Human one in Neldam at that?” The Elder smirks “Well, my position may not be used often but when it does come up, I am the best, what can I say.”
Lee, catching on that these two must be friends, smiles and introduces himself. “Hello, my name is Lee. I would like to offer my help.” Anya slowly drops her confusion and comes to the conclusion that this isn't some elaborate joke and takes on a very serious face. Speaking towards Lee she says. “I see, I'm afraid I will have to ask some questions and test your skills before I allow you to work in this clinic. Sono, leave us.” Her air of authority is palpable.
Elder Sono, seemingly unfazed by her, walks up to her and whispers something in her ear. She goes from deathly serious to confused after a few moments of listening, when the elder finally stops she looks at him sharply. “Truly?” The elder nods seriously. “I see, leave us.” She waves the elder outside her door.
Lee, now very nervous, waits to be asked anything. After a few seconds she begins to speak. “My name is Anya, I run the clinic here and I will not allow any harm done to anybody within these walls. Do I make myself clear?” Lee is unsure why that was suddenly a topic. “Yes, as I said my name is Lee, Lee Barnes, I want to help heal people here.”
Anya stares at him. “Well, what are you looking to heal? What capabilities do you have? What knowledge?” Lee now seemingly unsure of himself says. “I can heal injuries and illnesses very quickly. I’m not sure if the little knowledge I have is applicable here. I am from another world.”
Anya just nods, not surprised. Sono must have told her. “Time for the personal questions. Is this healing a spell or is it an ability? What are the effects and costs and how is it used?” Lee, deciding that this is the real interview of the day, responds. “It’s an ability, I do not currently have a healing spell but I am capable of learning magic, I have been mana infused by Dark Elf Neia Sindris of Neldam in Shadowgrove Forest and have five of the six basic elements. My ability heals two and half HP per second and I must be touching them. It has no cost.”
Anya, mask of stone, asks. “Anything else about it relevant?” Lee unsure brings up Healer’s Touch.
Ability Name: Healer's Touch
Ability Description: The Healer's Touch ability allows the user to heal injuries and illnesses of themselves and others through physical contact. Must remain in contact to heal.
+2.5 HP a second. Scales with Level.
“I have to be in contact for the healing to continue. As long as I am touching someone they will heal. It’s passive not active.” Lee says after reading his ability.
Looking up in thought, Anya begins to smile, then asks her final question. “When can you start?”