The next day, at the Adventurer’s Guild…

Here again! My turn to choose the job this time. Something simple, preferably. Anna needs an opportunity to cast Sanctuary in combat. Preferably against some Monster that isn’t too dangerous!

There are plenty of Guild Missions to choose from, plenty of the usual. I’m thinking of taking this one to clear out a Giant Spider nest in the nearby woods! Or how about…

“Oh no. Arisa!” Anna exclaims worriedly, tugging anxiously at my arm as she points towards the entrance of the guildhall. “Look over there!”

I turn around. There’s a Warrior limping into Guild premises, blood trailing in his wake with the ill scent of copper and what might very well be cold, frozen vapour. His armour is broken and bloody, his weapon nowhere to be seen… and as receptionists and adventurers alike rush over to help him, he collapses in a bloody heap on the floor.

“Help me! Please…”

Oh, shit! Anna and I quickly make our way through the crowd, towards the Warrior. Two of my fellow Healers and their Paladins from the Order of Selene are already attending to his bloody wounds, casting Heal after Heal to keep him breathing. We pitch in with our Mana, adding our Heal spells to the cause. But even with all six of us combined… it’s still not enough. He’s no longer bleeding to death… and yet, his wounds aren’t going away!

Huh. That’s odd. For most injuries, this would be more than enough! And it should be! It’s not like we’re slacking off either – my fellow Healers and their Paladins are already out of Mana. Anna looks like she’s struggling to keep up her casts... and it’s just me still keeping at it. If anything, it feels like our Mana’s going into a whole lot of nothing. Like we’re all just pouring Mana into an endless void. Almost like it’s all being… absorbed.

“Help me…”

Desperately, the Warrior reaches weakly for my wrist. His hands are bloody, and for a moment, I find myself shuddering at their icy coldness, like daggers stabbing deep into my skin, freezing my bones. I’ve seen blood in Nisha in the previous timeline and my world, but I’ve only felt this freezing sensation in Arcadia! In the presence of a Demon.

Oh no. Fuck me. Is this really happening? But that can’t be! We’re on the Isle of Spirits, far from the Land of Demons and the end of days. But then, seeing our healing magics get absorbed before our very eyes, and this unnatural, shadowy demonic chill, tells me what I don’t wanna know or hear, ever. Even if the answer’s right in my face, taunting me.

But that can’t be! Demons this early into the timeline? On the Isle of Spirits!? I want to say it ain’t so, that I’m just being ultra-paranoid, but I shouldn’t doubt my instincts… even if I really wanna do so. Better safe than sorry.

“You’ve done what you can. I’ll take it from here,” I tell my fellows from the Order, who nod wearily. “Inform Lady Iris what happened here. She’ll know what to do.”

I turn to Anna, looking her in the eye while our fellow members of the Order of Selene rush off to the Chantry to inform Lady Iris and get reinforcements. They may be my juniors, but I think they know what I mean even if I didn’t say it aloud – the Order of Selene specialises in slaying the undead and demons, after all. On top of having the finest Healers, of course! It’s our sacred duty to keep the land safe, and they know better than to scare the public. So, I’d say we’re in good hands.

“Arisa…”

Just like our fellows from the Order, Anna’s aware of the seriousness of this situation. Looking at the constantly opening wounds of the Warrior, his weird behaviour, and the scent of ice and darkness, putting two and two together… she too, knows not to say the quiet part out loud.

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“We can’t help him here. We gotta get him to a room,” I tell her. “Help me carry him.”

“Okay.”

Carefully, Anna helps the Warrior up. The act alone ruptures his wounds anew, but I cast another Heal on him to stop the bleeding. And then another, letting the void in him eat its fill… if only to let him live for a moment longer.

“I got this, Anna. Don’t worry,” I reassure her as I cast another Heal on the Warrior, before calling over a nearby receptionist. “We need a room for this guy, now!”

----------------------------------------

Later, in an inn room in the Adventurer’s Guild…

Silk curtains are drawn to keep out the midday sun. Bed is soft with the scent of fresh linen, warm and comfy, like a home away from home.

I cast another Heal on the Warrior, keeping the bleeding at bay while Anna gently sets him on the bed. It’s been a bit taxing, casting so many spells in so short a time… but it’s what I do.

Good grief, though. I don’t like this one bit, not at all. This ain’t exactly what I had in mind for a nice, chill session for Anna to get good at casting Sanctuary in combat. Oh well. Then, again… emergencies like these are the best teachers. Sometimes!

“His wounds are still open even with you casting Heal on him constantly…” Anna says to me, frowning deeply. “Is he possessed by a Shadow Parasite?”

“Yup. You’re right,” I answer solemnly, my hands glowing white and blue as I ready up another Heal for the Warrior’s seemingly unending wounds. “It’s a Shadow Parasite. Y’know what they do, right?”

“I know what was taught in class. They’re spawned by a Shadow Fiend who uses them as Mana batteries to maintain their evil spells for long distances,” Anna adds worriedly, casting a Heal on the Warrior to help me. “Like Mind Control…”

“Looks like that’s what happened to him. He’s struggling against the little bastard, fighting against the spell’s influence. He’s been doing real good, resisting to this extent.”

“The Codex Rinnah says a Paladin can use Exorcism to kill and expel Shadow Parasites possessing Humans or Elves. But umm… I’ve yet to become a fully-fledged Paladin…”

“Yet. Yeah. That’s fine! I’m gonna try something else – I’m gonna draw out the little bastard with Dispel Magic,” I offer, my eyes fixated upon the Warrior. “Shadow Parasites are made of magic, so it’s gonna draw them out. They’re gonna be pissed, though. Y’know what to do?”

Grimly, Anna nods and unsheathes Ascalon, letting its massive blade rest on her shoulder as she assumes a battle stance. Together, we step back from the bed, taking up position by the other end of the room. Just enough space to swing a claymore.

“Righto. Time to get to work,” I say as I plant Elizabeth into the ground and charge up my Dispel Magic spell. “On guard.”

With an outstretched hand glowing white and blue, I cast Dispel Magic on the Warrior, drawing out the darkness infesting his flesh. Right on cue, a Shadow Parasite emerges from the Warrior’s body, black ichor spilling out onto the floor as a shadowy arachnid, dark mandibles hissing violently before the light.

“KYaAAAhhhHHhhh!”

“Rinnah…” Anna whispers grimly, her eyes focused on our target. “I trust in your blessing… to triumph over my enemies…”

The Shadow Parasite wastes no time going on the offensive, coming at me furiously with obsidian-edged fangs to tear a hole in my chest. But before the lesser Demon can get even a nibble of me, Anna slays the little bastard in a single guillotine stroke, obliterating its shadowy, ichor-like arachnid body. It spills onto the floor dead, burning away rapidly into nothingness.

“Arisa…” Anna utters breathlessly as she slowly lowers Ascalon. “Are you alright?”

“I’m good. Nicely done, by the way,” I tell her, firmly tapping her shoulder as I move towards the Warrior. “Okay. Let’s Heal him.”

Upon reaching the bed, I put away Elizabeth and kneel by the Warrior’s side, gently placing my hand upon him. Much to my relief, his chest is still heaving. Up and down. Just unconscious, is all. He’s bleeding again, but it’s nothing a Heal can’t fix. One from me, and another from Anna. This time, the bleeding stops for good. Gotta say, the sense of relief welling up in me feels like a drug.

“He’s good. Just needs a nap,” I tell Anna as I smile. “He'll be fine right after.”

“So, umm… what happens now? I believe Mom and our comrades in the Order will secure the town and evacuate people in the surrounding outskirts, but if the Shadow Fiend is still out there, somewhere on the Isle of Spirits…”

“Shit.”

“We must go on the offensive if there’s a Demon so close to home…”

Good grief. Anna’s right. This situation is pretty fucked up. But that’s fine, though! I’ll fuck demons up wherever they are. It’s their funeral, coming here. I’ve slain so many of them with Anna in Arcadia in the previous timeline, so this Shadow Fiend ain’t shit.

“Arisa?”

“That’s indeed the plan, Anna. But we gotta sit tight for now…” I answer quietly as I watch over the Warrior’s slumber. “We’ll get our answers when he wakes up.”