"

"Blight take him! He's even worse than the quest made him out to be. Just a few hours more, and Riona will start harrying the guards, giving me the chance to escape and bring Keir with me."

I told myself, huddled near Keir's throne, keeping up the act. Bandits came and went, each one throwing a leering glance my way. After a while, a frantic bandit burst in, his face flushed, spittle gleaming on his lips and chin.

"Boss! There's a crazy sword-wielding human trying to break in! She's already incapacitated a ton of us!"

I smirked inwardly. Looks like Riona is making good use of my weapon.

Keir’s eyes darkened, and the bandit cowered.

"GO TAKE CARE OF HER, YOU FOOL! ONE HUMAN WOMAN IS NOT ENOUGH TO BEST YOU ALL!" Keir roared.

The bandit scrambled away in a panic, and Keir turned to me.

"Get over here, pureblood," he spat.

I rose shakily and walked over, keeping my left hand hidden under my dress. As soon as I was close enough, I slapped a mana-locking device onto his wrist. High-end, keyed only to me—nearly impossible for him to remove. Keir’s eyes went wide as saucers, shock freezing him as I let my beaten, timid demeanor fade away like dewdrops in the sun. But he wasn’t going down without a fight. The moment he understood what I’d done, he lunged. I sidestepped, hissing as my bruised ribs protested, and ducked behind him, ramming an elbow into his left kidney. He grimaced, but my blow was dulled by his half-draconic constitution. I swore, leaping back just as he lashed out and raked his claws across my forearm. Growling, I eyed him warily.

"Come on, Riona, I could really use a hand or at least a weapon right abo-"

My wishful thinking was cut short as Keir suddenly blurred forward, far faster than he had any right to. I twisted just in time, his claws leaving deep red gashes along my stomach instead of spilling my guts all over the stone floor.

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"Shit!" I hissed, gritting my teeth.

What the hell was that!? Some kind of speed-burst artifact?

I staggered away, pain lancing through my stomach, just as Riona burst into the room, blood dripping from her thigh.

"Hey, elf!" she called. "Catch!"

Riona hurled my blade to me, hilt first. I caught it with my right hand, pressing my left against my stomach to stem the flow of blood trickling through my red-stained fingers. Keir snarled, lunging again. I raised my blade, only managing to slash the sleeve of his shirt, revealing a patch of blood-red scales beneath.

"Damn! With those claws, tough scales, and longer horns, he’s more like three-quarters dragon-kin," I muttered, stepping back as pain wracked my abdomen. Blood continued spilling from my stomach wounds, and a wave of wooziness hit me.

"Riona!" I called out.

She looked up from where she was trussing up the last bandit, then quickly jumped up and drew her sword from beneath her cloak. She engaged Keir, giving me a reprieve. With the bandit leader's attention fully on her, I gathered my remaining strength, darted forward, and hamstrung him. Keir collapsed to the floor with a howl, and Riona was quick to slap a pair of regular manacles onto the mana-locking device I’d clipped onto his left wrist. She glanced over at me with concern once Keir was restrained.

"Hot damn, elf! You look like shit."

I smirked weakly. "I’ve looked… worse."

Now that the fight was over, I closed my eyes, picturing the deep well of glowing purple mana within me. When I found it, I "pulled" bucketfuls up and directed it to start healing me, focusing on my stomach first. As the healing mana flowed through me, I sighed in relief, the burning sensation from my worst wounds gradually fading. I managed to close the wounds on my stomach and forearm, though I winced as I bent to pick up my sword. Ribs were always the last to heal. Turning to Riona, I noticed her staring at me in shock.

"You're a healer?"

I shrug. "I am. Now sit down. I’ve still got some mana left, so let me take care of that nasty gash on your leg."

Riona hesitated but then sat, and I guided my mana to the gash on her left leg. The wound writhed, new skin regrowing and knitting itself together. I fell back, panting, her wound reduced to a thin red line instead of the deep gash it had been.

"S-sorry," I panted. "Out... of... mana."

"Are you kidding me? That was incredible! With how hurt you were, I’m surprised you had anything left for me."

I stand back up, slowly sheathing my sword to my back.

"Let's get this scum back to the guild. You're more than welcome to half of the reward money."

Riona grinned.

"I won't pass up a paycheck!"

I nod and start tying the bandits together with lengths of rope.

"Let's go, you cowards." I growl.