Neia and Lee found Nitis sitting on the steps that lead to the entrance of the cathedral—Lee, who was already extremely unhappy with Nitis, grew more frustrated at seeing whom he recognizes as the ‘leader’ of the Dark Elves simply sitting on the steps, arms folded and head down.
For all his levels and apparent status in the Dark Elven leadership, Lee was disappointed.
Looking around the area, Lee noticed that everybody was still in buildings, fearful of the ‘high-level monster’ roaming about. As Nitis was sitting on the steps, he assumed that the ‘high-level monster’ was either a false alarm or gone. This means that the people should be told that the situation is over and they’re free to go about their business.
So why wasn’t he making an announcement?
As a frown grew on Lee’s face, Neia walked up to Nitis. She stood in front of him, trying to grab his attention for a few seconds, before sitting down next to him. Lee followed and stood off to the side, listening but trying not to get in the way of their small reunion.
“Father, the higher-level monsters are dead. I killed them and the leading Troll. Those at the forefront are dealing with the few goblins that remain.”
Nitis jerked upon hearing the voice of Neia and raised his head wearyly. He stared blankly at Neia for a few seconds before speaking and lowering his head back down.
“I see. That’s good.”
Neia swung her braid forward and began tending to it while appearing nervous.
The silence was so awkward Lee couldn’t stand it any longer. He walked closer and knelt in front of the sitting Nitis.
“So Nitis, what are the plans? I think letting the people know that it’s free to continue their business is a good first step. They aren’t in danger anymore, are they? Did you deal with Jud?”
Nitis didn’t respond at all. Apparently, ignoring Lee was the route he decided on.
Lee was never a perfect person on Earth, far from it, but he knew when someone was not in the best of moods. For all that he wanted to explode at Nitis for his actions, decisions, and overall failed leadership, he let the Elf off easy.
He looked around, not seeing any indication that combat happened around the area, then looked to Neia.
He thought he knew Neia pretty well, not that they had known each other for long, but he had thought he had her measure. Apparently, he was wrong. Neia had tears falling from her cheeks while she unbraided and began to rebraid her hair. Her glowing eyes appeared dimmed as she wore a false smile.
He sighed, then spoke softly to Nitis while pointing to the doors of the cathedral.
“Nitis, let us have a private conversation really quick. Follow me.”
He didn’t see any indication of Nitis moving, so he did what he thought he had to do. He grabbed Nitis’ head and raised it to make Nitis look at him, then turned it to show Neia crying. That seemed to do the trick. Nitis moved his head back; he didn’t even have to try to overpower Lee’s head holding, and then he nodded and began to head up the stairs. Lee followed along.
At the top of the stairs, by the doorway, Lee spoke first.
“Okay, Nitis. You and I do not see eye to eye about some things. We will have that conversation later, but for now, you need to get your shit together. I don’t know what happened to you once you left to chase Jud, but I know what happened to Neia. She almost fucking died, Nitis. She had seven HP left when I used my skill to save her. She almost died and your response was ‘I see. That’s good.’ She cast a spell called Glacial Annihilation and I had to save her from splatting across the ground from falling from the sky after the blastback. Now go over there and talk to her, or so help me god, I will smack you across the face right now and accept the consequences.”
Nitis turned to look at Neia, who was still sitting on the steps down below and appeared to get his priorities straight. He glanced back at Lee and gave a slight bow.
“Perhaps I’m not suited to being a leader. I think the other Elders would do better than I. It might be time to resign. Jud went into the cathedral, and their presence vanished soon after. They’re gone.”
Nitis began walking down the steps as he cast a spell, sending another announcement through the city.
“Nitis Sindris city announcement. The threat is gone. You are free to continue about your day.”
Lee didn’t want to stick around and watch as a father comforted their daughter. It didn’t seem like it was any of his business. So instead, he decided to go back to the entrance of the city to help heal or, perhaps, figure out what they were going to do with all the bodies.
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While walking into the clearing, Lee finally saw some of the repercussions of his prior statement to Anya coming to fruition. He was stared at, and not in a friendly way. The Dark Elves must have had an extremely good gossiping group, as it seemed to Lee that almost every single Dark Elf was acting differently towards him. Some of them obviously just ignored him. Some just glanced his way, narrowed their eyes, and then went back to their task.
He knew he fucked up. The moment the words came out of his mouth, he knew he fucked up. He didn’t truly believe that the Dark Elves deserved to be locked away in the Shadowgrove for the rest of time, and it seemed to Lee that this was what was happening. No country on Earth would exile another people for a whole millennium. If it was even tried, there would be so much backlash that more wars would start. Then, there would be backlash to the backlash. It would be invalidating the whole purpose of punishing those who started a war, as it would just start another.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
He needed information about this world as a whole, and he needed to apologize.
Getting information on the world was a great idea. It was just unfortunate that the only people he had the knowledge he wanted were separated from all the others. Their information may be outdated or even just wrong. Wrong from having no other perspective.
The defenses presented in the monster siege proved that they were not perfect. Lee believed he could have coordinated the defenses better than what they had, and that’s saying a lot in and of itself.
It was time for him to leave. He had leveled from the conflict, which was a boon, but he couldn’t stay here forever, especially with how everything played out.
Lee continued walking amidst the stares and judgment that he partially deserved and found himself at the entrance to Anya’s healing tent. Walking inside, he scanned around and saw a few people lying about. He instantly turned on Healer’s Beacon, then wandered around the tent, healing those whom he walked by as he searched for Anya.
It didn’t take long for Lee to stumble into her path. She had just left the surgical-style room, where she had asked questions about his class and skills. She froze in her place when she saw him. She looked ready to turn back around and hide in the room she came out of, but Lee hurriedly spoke before she could leave.
“Anya, wait! I’m sorry.”
She paused halfway into the room with her shoulders tense, and Lee took that as a sign to continue.
“I just came to heal those here and apologize. I spoke out of anger and frustration, and while I still don’t agree with how the siege was handled, I shouldn’t have blown up on you and said what I did. You all deserve to be out of this forest, and I’ll do my best to make that happen. I just… didn’t want you to be upset with me while I’m gone.”
Her shoulders dropped, and she spun around to face him. She looked Lee up and down, trying to detect any falsehoods before she asked.
“While you’re gone?”
Lee gave a slight smile and nodded.
“I decided to leave sooner than I expected. I just wanted things between us to be okay before I left.”
She seemed taken aback by the information that he was leaving sooner. She wiped some sweat off her brow and smiled back.
“Lee, first off, your apology is accepted. Second, do you think it's wise to leave so soon? You haven’t even been with us for a month. What changed?”
Lee really didn’t want to get into another argument by saying, ‘I need to learn more about the world and that Dark Elves as a whole aren’t a part of it.’ So he gave a different reason instead.
“My overall goal has been to spread healing magic all over. Arcani even supports me with this goal, hence my glowing eyes. I taught you all, albeit in a rush, but you all have learned. I’ll probably leave here in a few days. As a finish to my apology, I will let anybody you want to learn from my spellbook until I leave… I can always come back and teach more, but I hope you can support yourselves from now on.”
Anya, still slightly shocked by the announcement of Lee’s departure, walked forward and embraced him in a hug.
“All is forgiven. Just remember to come back every once in a while. Even when you’re some old bag of bones, I’ll look the same. Live your short life to the fullest.”
Having not expected instant forgiveness, a heartfelt speech, or… the first hug he’d gotten since he died, Lee awkwardly hugged her back.
Weirdly, the only thought he had was this.
So this is what it’s like to hug someone taller than you?
—----------------------------------------
Leaving the tent after healing those inside and apologizing to Anya, Lee decided it was time to spend his stat points. First, he brought up his full status.
Name: Lee Barnes
HP: 165/165
MP 215/215
Level: 21
XP 2458/10000
Titles:
Genesis of Healing*
Miracle Worker*
Class: Miracle Worker.
Profession: Otherworldly Academic
In Magic's Favor.
STATS:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 13
Wisdom: 13
Intelligence: 17
Luck: 10
Unused Points: 45
Skills:
Spells:
Abilities:
Skills:
Identify, Mana Sense, Stealth, Mana Manipulation, Speed Reading, Mana Dispersion, Medical Attention, Miraculous Return, Healer’s Beacon, Hidden Miracle, Alter Status, Dauntless Will, Antithesis of Healing.
Spells:
Basic: Earthen Strike, Gale burst, Wall of Winds, Orb of Light, Darken, Conjure Water, Blind, Swiftness, Water Wave Wall, Wall of Earth*.
Advanced: Mend Wounds, Icicle Spear, Touch of Remission, Purifying Light, Void Sphere, Bulwark of Ice.
Expert: Glacial Cascade.
Master:
Synthesized:
Abilities:
Language Comprehension, Healer’s Touch, Hidden Cache, Arcane Synthesis.
Going along with Neia’s plan, one that aligned with his original, he spent all forty-five of his stat points. Putting eighteen into intelligence, seventeen into wisdom, seven into constitution, two into strength, and the last one into dexterity.
After spending all his points, he looked at his new stats.
HP: 250/250
MP: 475/475
STATS:
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 20
Wisdom: 30
Intelligence: 35
Luck: 10
Unused Points: 0
He was wondering if there would be some rush of power or some intense feeling of change, but it was like nothing happened.
Shrugging, Lee left to go find out what the plan was for all of the monster bodies. After all, looting thousands of corpses was going to be a task in and of itself.