With her last seconds of life bleeding away, Hattie cast the only spell she knew. Anything to buy her a little more time. Her heart beat again, and a fresh spurt of warmth passed through her fingers.
Heal!
-100 MP
Mana circulated through her, flowing from her heart and hands into her open neck. Magic knitted the flesh together, slowly sealing the wound. It wasn't enough.
Hattie's vision blurred, the world around her faded from sight. She tried to call out for Nestor, tried to beg her grandpa to save her. All she could manage was a half gurgle.
Anything to give her a little more time to live. For someone, anyone to heal her. Her consciousness faded as her body died. She knew it was hopeless.
Hattie was the healer. A novice, level 1 healer who could not heal herself. Her vision darkened as she felt her HP drop to zero, her heart stopping.
Killing blow detected, Third Chances automatic activation. Restoring bearer to 50% HP. Ruby discharged.
Life flowed through her, energy surging through her soul and restarting her heart.
Hattie spasmed to life, her fingers grasping at her neck wound. An echo of desperation from her previous life. Fingers found clear skin and intact arteries. She coughed once, spewing the residual blood from her esophagus onto her shirt.
Thinking that her hand must have slipped she adjusted, grasping at her throat once more. The wound was gone. She tried to breathe and coughed up blood once more, finally clearing her lungs.
Air, life itself, had never tasted so sweet.
She was alive. Dizzy from the lack of blood, but alive. Blinking rapidly she pushed herself up, only to slip on the blood slicked stones. A shadow crossed her face, large and unfocused in her blood starved brain. Looking forward she saw Eric rise from the burning tent. His status appeared unbidden, and Hattie could only focus on a single number.
HP -250/600
Dead man walking.
Axe in hand he took a step towards her. Hattie's oxygen deprived mind flared with portents or danger. Violence was walking her way, but she could not comprehend who it was.
She scrambled to escape. Fingers clawing at the stone as she sought slipped. Her legs kicked, driving her away from a swift death and into the arms of a freshly revived goblin.
By some strange twist of fate, her bleeding neck became her savior. As she collided with the goblin Hattie's hand slipped on the blood-lubricated-stone, sending her forehead into the goblin's most sensitive bits. She felt something give.
The green demon dry heaved and doubled over.
Hattie slumped onto the floor. She had to escape. Had to get away from Eric. Taking hold of the goblin's ankles she kicked off the floor. Slipping through his legs and into the tent that had spawned it.
shink - CHUNK
The sound of an axe cleaving flesh and sinking into wood reached her ears. Followed by a limp mass slopping onto her legs.
Eric's shadow darkened the threshold, levering the axe out of the tent pillar. Axe already in motion. Hattie was trapped. Locked in place by the tent and frozen with fear. Even if she could fight back, Eric was a dedicated warrior. She had no chance against him.
Her life flashed before her eyes. Happier days spent with her mother Diana practicing archery or baking scones. Cold winter evenings spent in her father's lap, listening to his tales of the dungeon. Only to be outdone by the Grandpa Nestor's tales of first explorations.
It was all too much for her. Diana and Henry were dead, devoured by a monster she could never hope to fight. What was the point of going on? There was nothing ahead of her except more pain and suffering. Nestor was already the oldest human in the kingdom, his time was fading as swiftly as her own.
Her one hope of a future had lay with Eric. The same man who was about to kill her. It was all too much for Hattie. She had no mana, no talents, and no weapons. She surrendered to her fate and stopped fighting. Turning back she met Eric's eyes for the last time.
He stood over her, axe raised above his head. Hattie watched as he reached full extension and began to bring his axe down on her. The magical axe would cleave through her skull, not the cleanest death, but not an overly painful end. She didn't blink, not flinching until blood splattered across her face.
This doesn't hurt... Why doesn't it hurt?
Raising a hand to her face she wiped away the blood. Finding her forehead unbroken and her skull still in one piece. Eric jerked in front of her, a black blade protruding through his breastplate. Her eyes told her it was a familiar weapon, but her mind could not place the dark sword.
The sword withdrew, screeching free of the breastplate. Reappearing a second later in a slash so swift that Hattie could not follow it despite the light of Eric's burning clothes. All she saw was Eric's head shift in an unnatural way.
She knew who the sword belonged to then. Grandpa had saved her. Protected her even though she had complained and disobeyed him this whole trip.
Eric's body spasmed, his berserker talent driving his limbs from beyond the grave. Seeking a recovery that was now impossible. Nestor's kicked the headless body out of his way, rushing to Hattie's side.
He fell to his knees in front of her. Wiping the blood away from her face as he examined her, fearing the worst had already come to pass. Blood covered her face, throat, and shirt.
“Are you alright?” He asked.
Hattie threw herself at him. Burying her face in his chest and clinging to him. She squished herself against him. Clutching him with all her soul.
“Grandpa!” She cried.
Tears appeared on her cheeks as she cried his name again and again. What was wrong with her? Why had she been so willing to die? This isn’t what her mother would have wanted.
“Nestor, we need to leave. Now!” Shouted Piper.
Cra-crunch
Hattie could hear the sound of bones breaking and caught a peek of Piper letting a goblin fall to the ground. It’s head hanging at an unnatural angle. Nestor nodded and coughed. Picking up Hattie he left the tent, following the glow stones they had left behind.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“What about his body?” Whispered Hattie.
“We are leaving, ack. Let me breathe.” Said Nestor, pushing her away from him.
Hattie released him, stepping away from her savior. A blue glint caught her eye, drawing her towards the necklace the dragon had dropped. She tucked it away and heard metal clatter against stone. Whirling around she found Nestor on his knees, holding his chest and panting.
“Grandpa! What’s wrong?” Yelled Hattie, rushing to his side.
Her divine sight saw his health drop, falling by hundreds each second she watched.
“Heal!” She shouted, casting the spell again and again until her mana ran dry.
Activating the sapphire in her necklace she continued to heal her grandfather. Expending her MP again.
“Stop, it’s no use child. Ah... My time has come.” Gasped Nestor, drooping onto the floor.
He struggled to sit, unable to get his back against a stalagmite until Hattie helped him.
“No! You have to have a potion or item. I can heal you with a mana pot-” cried Hattie.
“Hattie! Stop it. Healing cannot sustain life after death.” Counseled Nestor.
He reached up to her, taking her hand in his.
“Piper! You pass. I saw you head for Eric with one eye and a knife. Your heart shows through your deeds. Ah…” Groaned Nestor.
“I was wrong about you. Stop acting like a bitch Nara. Cast aside your hatred and follow Hattie. She will reach the pinnacle. Use your suffering, your experience, to prevent hers. Together, ack! Ah, Together you might evol- Ack!” Choked Nestor.
“No! Grandpa! Grandpa Quade! You can’t die! You are all I have left!” Wept Hattie.
She clung to Nestor’s shoulders, pressing him into the stone as if her hands could keep his soul from leaving. Nestor smiled. Wrapping one hand around her head, he pulled her close. Kissing her forehead.
“Death comes for us all. I knew my death would be in the dungeons. Thank you for keeping me company in my last moments.” He whispered.
His hand slipped to her neck. Catching on Third Chances.
“I love you Hattie. So does Diana. Find those who will love you just as much.” He whispered.
“I love you grandpa! Don’t go!-” Pleaded Hattie.
Her words were interrupted by the emerald’s activation. Green light enveloped her, teleporting her out of the dungeon.
“Abandoned again.” Growled Nara Piper.
Nestor shot her a tired look.
“Never thought I would need to teleport out of a dungeon again. Ha, I planned to be the one left behind. Sorry Nara.” Apologized Nestor.
Nara Piper activated her vanish talent. Fading from view as two goblins respawned.
Their beady eyes took in the scene, from Eric’s burning body to Nestor’s ragged breaths. Evil smiles crossed their faces. Teeth bared as they rushed for Nestor, hoping to tear him apart while he still lived. Whomever slew the divine swordsman was sure to level up dozens of times, instantly becoming a legend themselves.
Nestor’s health slipped below a quarter full, but his MP remained untouched. Raising one finger he activated his fire arrow spell. A flaming dart burst from his finger towards the nearest goblin. An unlucky wart who had enough time to understand he was going to die. His mouth hung slack in annoyance as the spell hit him in the chest. Blasting through his heart. The second goblin closed the distance, lunging for Nestor's throat before he could cast again.
A dagger intervened. Appearing out of the aether it slashed through the goblin's neck, using his own momentum to sever the spine. Its bald head sailed into a nearby tent.
Nara Piper appeared next to Nestor. Her right eye still oozing. Nestor reached for her, beckoning her closer.
“Take my experience.” He whispered.
Nara Piper frowned. Disgusted by what he was implying, and knowing she could not refuse.
“The entire kingdom would know what I did. No old- … No, sir Quade.” She snapped, correcting herself as she remembered his earlier words.
“Protect her with all your being and I will give you a token to- ack- prove your innocence.” Said Nestor.
“I don’t believe you. If you knew how to evolve you would have done so.”
Nestor smiled. His grin sending shivers down her spine. Using one finger he beckoned her forward. As with Hattie, he pulled her in close. Whispering the secret of evolution to her. Nara Piper pushed against his chest, thinking the secret was a foolish lie. Nestor's strength was far beyond hers.
He held her tight, and whispered the secret of her birth.
"You can't know that!" She screamed, punching him in the chest.
His arms did not slacken, he only whispered why he had failed. "A million MP."
“It can’t be that simple!”
Nestor reached into his shirt and withdrew a small stone amulet adorned with runes. Nara recognized the amulet as a luckstone, a common and incredibly weak talisman that improved the bearer’s luck by a single point. Nestor pressed it into her hand.
“Konrad will understand- ACK- show him. Keep it safe.” Choked out Nestor.
Gathering his strength he took in a single gasp of air.
“I have kept up my end of oath. Take my levels and swear your life to Hattie’s.” Demanded Nestor.
Nara wanted to trust him, wanted to accept his gift, but how could she trust him?
"Trust... requires... Trust." He gasped out between hacking coughs.
Nestor was rumored to be level ninety, slaying someone more than double your level applied a massive modifier to the amount of experience gained. Combined with her existing levels, the experience Nestor was offering her might take her to the pinnacle. A pinnacle that required his secrets.
Nestor's coughing subsided. “Forget your father. Join my family- ahck! Evolve!” Cried Nestor, collapsing into a fit of coughs.
Nara knew the next wave of goblins was incoming. She had seconds to decide.
“Never killed a human before…” Whispered Nara.
Laughter mingled with Nestor’s hacking coughs.
“COUGH
If you don’t
know how
to kill it
COUGH”
Began Nestor, his voice assuming a sing-song quality.
Nara winced at the adventurer's litany. She knew how to finish the sentence. ‘Cut off it’s head and destroy the heart.’ Words of wisdom that old adventurers often repeated to novices. Repeating the phrase until it was burned into their hearts and minds.
A goblin’s shriek made her glance back. One of the goblins sat atop Eric’s corpse, tearing into his burnt flesh as another goblin met Nara’s eyes.
Time was up.
She had waited too long and now her options were gone. Activating her quickshot talent she threw her dagger. The long blade flew true and pierced the goblin’s eye, burying itself to the hilt. Nara reached for Nestor’s holy sword only for him to knock her hand away.
“Don’t- tis Cursed.” He gasped.
Nara patted his chest and sides. Hoping that the goblin atop Eric was not clever enough to notice her lack of a weapon. Her stats were high enough she could beat it to death, but that would take time. Time that would allow other goblins to respawn. Against three or four goblins she would die.
Beaten to death one HP at a time.
Her fingers found what they were hunting for. The cold hard object within Nestor's coat. Taking it in both hands she drew the dagger.
“Protect- ack! Love her.” Whispered Nestor.
His beard was thick, and his neck weathered. Nara’s first slash severed his beard and opened his esophogus, her second cut opened his arteries. Blood pumped out of his neck, his smile did not waver. Nara's third cut brought her to the spine.
Throughout it all, Nestor smiled. His last thought was one of accomplishment. He had finally given his life to save another. One girl, and one woman would live because of his life.
It was enough.
Nara understood his smile. Though knowing why he smiled only made her sick. Why did he trust her? She would never have trusted him. Why was she murdering one of the few good humans. A man who would give his own life for hers.
Level up!
Dozens of alerts appeared in her mind. Nara didn't wait for them, couldn't wait. The instant the first notification had appeared she was on her feet running. Dismissing all other notifications as she sprinted for the exit. Without teleportation or guidance it could take her days to reach the entrance. That was assuming she could escape the dungeon without an eye.
After all, there was still a dragon lurking in the darkness.