Onre and I healed what little damage Arrjee, Kossa, and Sun had. HPR Boost helped me quickly restore my own health.
“Okay, I’d like to try out my new Share Health skill with Abbie’s assistance. The effects of minor starvation and dehydration keep my HP down by 11, but I’ve still got 436 beyond that. It will cost me 25 HP per minute, and Abbie will gain 10 HP per minute.”
Lenyet asked, “You don’t plan on bringing your health down really low, do you?”
“Low, sort of, but not really low. How does this sound? I’ll heal her in two stages. The first time for four minutes, costing me 100 HP. She should heal by 40 HP. I’ll check how that affected me, and decide if I want to go another round. If so, I am considering eight minutes the second time, for another 200 HP. Even without HPR, that would still leave me with well over 100 HP. For the first round I would also see if I could keep HPR Boost going for the four minutes. The 200 ki that would cost wouldn’t even be half my maximum ki. I would be losing 25 HP per minute, but gaining back almost 16 each minute as well.”
Arrjee laughed at me. “Your constant calculations were bad enough before your intelligence crossed its threshold. But now you are dangerously boring! I like your multi-stage plan, though, for testing a potentially hazardous skill you never used before.” Lenyet and Onre agreed that it would be a good approach. || good-natured admiration
“Great. I don’t have enough damage potential right now to bring Abbie’s health down noticeably. Her own HPR-Boost becomes active whenever her health is below 10%, which for her is about 900 HP. That is a lot more than I am able to heal; way more than Onre and I both. Lenyet, can you see the numbers for her stats?“
“Unfortunately, no. That requires Rank A Analyze, but I am still only at B. I suggest Onre and I lightly attack her for about 20 seconds. That should be at least 100 HP, enough for you to test your Share Health for four minutes, even accounting for her own regular HP Regen.”
I concurred. Onre pulled out his knife and attacked Abbie, and Lenyet joined him almost immediately with Ki Punches and Athletic Kicks. After the designated time, they backed away and I moved forward, placing both hands on Abbie. “Sorry, you won’t feel any extra ki from this. I’ll barely be using any ki at all. But what I don’t heal over the next four minutes, Onre will, and you’ll get lots of ki from him.”
This time I focused on not transferring ki to her, but imagining my own health flowing into her. It did not take long for me to notice my HP begin to decrease. After a few seconds of that, my skin started to itch, and soon I felt as if I had just woken from a bad sunburn.”
Kossa loudly warned, “Forrest, your skin is beginning to blister! Maybe you should stop.”
I had barely been sharing my health for 15 seconds. I looked down to see small blisters on the top of my hands – not large and bloody, but little sweat-filled dots. “Gross! It stings, too. But if that is how this skill works, so be it. I am activating my HPR Boost now.”
After three minutes I was feeling generally weak. “I think I should have done this sitting down. I feel weak and am getting a little dizzy. I’ll try to finish this round standing, though. I’m supporting my balance and a lot of my weight with my arms. Please catch me if I collapse.”
As planned, I stopped after four minutes. I could feel arms supporting me to a seated position, but with my dizzy mind I didn’t notice who. Once on my butt, I layed down. It felt like the cavern was rotating around me. After a moment, the dizziness began to pass. I continued using HPR Boost to restore me to a normal state. “Well, that is an experience! Onre, you have some fun times ahead of you!” Opening my eyes I could see he was using Heal Other on her.
Onre suggested, “Maybe you should not do the eight-minute round this evening.”
“No. I have to try it. I cannot be afraid to use this skill when someone needs it. But I do need to know what to expect. I will start this round with a lot more health than I had planned on, however. I’ll bring my health down to 100 on some other Tuesday.”
After about two minutes, I stood up, inhaling deeply. I was not looking forward to this, but it had to be done. I backed up to not interfere with Lenyet’s and Onre’s attacks. When they backed away, Sun surprised me by moving directly in front of Abbie and sitting, in their three-legged chair style. Two of their legs almost formed a triangle along with Abbie’s log.
“Leg you sit. You I support.” || Here, sit on my leg. I will support you.
Arrjee was a smartass. || Don’t rob him! humor. Good idea.
“Thank you, Sun. I am sure to need that support. It is possible I might faint. If I do, just lay me on the floor again.”
Lenyet suggested we get Harron to monitor this. “I am sure he will be interested in observing.” I briefly laughed. “ I cannot imagine what he will see with his Physician skills. But he is watching over Norrus this evening, so he can observe me or Onre later.”
Kossa added, “And/or Norrus. He will also have Share Health.”
Very seriously, “I am concerned for your well-being, apprentice. If I say ‘stop’, stop.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Should he be so concerned?”
About a self-damaging skill with which no one on the planet has any experience? Yes.
I: Your concern is well-appreciated, Lenyet. I will be monitoring Forrest and will shut it off at your command if his mind has become too foggy to comply. Or at eight minutes if he has become unaware. It will shut off automatically if he loses consciousness.
“Since you feel this might interfere with my thought processes, please keep me talking, everyone. Interface, if I become unresponsive or incoherent, shut it off. The first time, dizziness was as bad as it got, along with stinging, itching, and light, general aches. I am shutting off Boost Armor and Dark Sight, which should allow me to keep HPR Boost up for the full eight minutes.”
I did so, and stepped over one of Sun’s legs, then sat upon it, facing Abbie. “Here goes.”
I placed both arms on her as before, and started sharing my health. I probably don’t need both hands, but it just feels right for a full-body heal. “I have started. What else happened these past few days besides Tiyana Yon’s new position?”
Arrjee told me that Carrie had completed Grandma’s second glove. She had embroidered the alchemical glyph for ‘community’.
Integrity and now community. Nice.
“I cannot wait to see it.”
Kossa’s parents had both gained a level during the new community training program. Mista was now 31 while Kella achieved 32. The jeweler Werol Jordan had reached 35. She mentioned that because she thought building Rhonda’s hand might have had a lot to do with both Mista’s and Werol’s leveling.
I: Yes. That was a significant achievement.
The degree of itching I felt was increasing. I glanced at Kossa and saw a minor grimace, probably in response to my blistering skin. I smiled at her. “It will probably get a lot worse. I can’t wait for this thing to rank up to E. I expect then that half my health will be going to my patient. Wasting 60% of it now sucks.”
I: Almost. At E, Share Health improves to become 51% inefficient. You will also expend 20% more health per minute.
“Wonderful,” I commented sarcastically. 30 HP/minute lost. But at least my patient will be healing by almost 15 HP/minute instead of just 10. That is close to what my HPR Boost does for me right now.”
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
After about five minutes of random conversation and health transfer, I felt about how I did after four minutes the first time.
“Am I maybe adapting to this health loss?”
It appears to be so. Such is a requirement if this skill is to have general applicability.
“I’m just beginnun to feel as bad as I did at the end of last sessn. Dizzy, itchin, and hurtun. But I thinh this time it took longer for me to feel this bad.”
Arrjee said, “Your words are beginning to slur. It might be affecting how well your muscles function right now.”
I heard me slur as I kidded him with an attempted grin, “Than you for acknodging my musclar tonhnue.”
“You are welcome.” || I have acknowledged that before. very minor passion
Sun commented || Yes, I have heard you. humor
At seven minutes, my pain was becoming intense. I was extremely dizzy and would have fallen to the ground a minute ago without two of Sun’s arms supporting me.
“Sevn mints. Stl wan aaht.” || Yes/No questions, please.
Arrjee passed on, “He wants us to ask yes or no questions. You’re sweating a lot, brother.”
Lenyet asked, “Do you really think it wise to continue?”
“Ess. sempy poins.” || Yes. Only down seventy points with HPR Boost running. Broad stress, though. Extremely dizzy.
“He says ‘yes’, and that his actual health is only down seventy points with HPR Boost running. He thinks the broad stress of the skill is what makes it seem worse. He is extremely dizzy.”
“Support he collapse.” || He would have collapsed over a minute ago without my support.
“Ankh oo Su.” || Thank you, Sun.
With a few more questions, I managed to wait out the clock. I shut off Share Health.
“Grou. Sp. Ab.” || Please lay me on the ground. Let me know when the cavern stops spinning. Onre, please finish healing Abbie.
While Sun was laying me flat, Arrjee clarified what I had said for those who don’t have Group Mind.
A new voice volunteered, “I’ll help you, Onre. Lay your hand on her, and I will allow your Heal Other to be a full body heal.”
“Yes, goddess.”
“Is Einvigi here?”
Yes.
“Dammit, I’d open my eyes, but I think I would fall off the floor.”
I heard Einvigi laugh. A few minutes later I learned she had her left hand atop of Onre’s right hand, which was on Abbie. She allowed him to use his skill, simply modifying its breadth of effect. Abbie was using a pseudopod to rub against both their hands. By the time I felt comfortable opening my eyes, they were done.
As Sun was assisting me get up and stand, Einvigi asked, “Would you like me to completely heal you, Forrest? I cannot do anything about the HP currently lost to starvation, but I could heal the rest.”
“No thank you, goddess. I haven’t had much opportunity to actually put HP Regen to work, so I would like to complete it myself.”
“I understand. I have been watching you all since just before Onre and Forrest began sparring. Your mutual support has been outstanding. Lenyet, the guidance you provided your apprentice and his team was a joy to observe. Even before my academy opens, the group of you demonstrate its value.”
He replied, “Thank you, Einvigi, on behalf of all of us.”
“You are very welcome. Forrest, I have been very curious about how the Share Health skill would function. I didn’t expect you to have it until your next Tuesday. You didn’t have enough XP to level.” With an appreciative smile,. “You found a way around that.”
“I wouldn’t have minded waiting a few days. Norrus will be in pain and have limited mobility, probably for weeks.”
“Your grandmother or Mowd, or even Corval, will help him manage the pain. He should become ambulatory in a week and able to begin running and playing within three. He has already set his mind to train as much as he can in the meantime. He has an outstanding attitude, and I look forward to seeing him fully grow into his maturity.”
Kossa said that was good news, and we all agreed.
Einvigi told us, “Share Health more than meets my expectations. It will become less stressful as you use it more. I suggest establishing a lower limit, though. Perhaps you always want to maintain at least 100 HP for yourself.”
“Right now, I am quite sure I would faint before I got anywhere near 100. But I accept your advice for when my stress allows it.”
“Tell Harron he is going to be amazed observing you use it. Other well-wishers are approaching, so I’ll say goodbye.” With a wink, “And Forrest, remember to reactivate Boost Armor. You’ll never rank it to A if you don’t use it.” At that, she vanished. I turned both it and Dark Sight back on.
Rint wants me to tell you she liked your ‘fall off the floor’ thought. She said it was really funny. I concur, which is why I told her.
“Heh. Thank you both. I was extremely dizzy.”
It is after 19. Who would be coming here this late?
----------------------------------------
Dumb question.
I turned to the voices I heard from the admin cave. Dad, Mom, Grandma, Mowd, and Corval had all come. A huge, unbidden smile found its way to my face.
“Do I smell cookies?!”
I do not know. We have never smelled cookies before.
“Jacques did. Whenever his Mom or sister made them, the house smelled marvelous. I can picture it like I was there.”
Unfortunately that predates my existence. The clarity of these memories is likely the result of your intelligence thresholding. Avoid thinking -
“Oh, fuck. Dammit! ‘Avoid thinking about the fire.’ Check.”
Dad asked me, “Are you alright, son?”
“Yes. I was simultaneously recalling very good and very bad memories from Jacques’ life. The good is the smell of fresh-baked cookies. Wonderful! As Interface was telling me that my thresholded intelligence would enhance my memory, a stray thought hit me about the way Jacques died, and I focused on it. That was a mistake.”
“I know exactly what you mean, grandson. I have done that, too. My first life has its share of painful memories. The good part of this is that with your enhanced memory, your mental discipline grew. You can avoid remembering what you don’t want to.”
Another stray thought hit me, and I briefly laughed. Arrjee asked me what was funny. “I can not think of a pachyderm.” || It is a brilliant capability!
Onre asked me what I meant. I explained the saying from Earth that if someone asks you not to think of a pachyderm, you will think of a pachyderm. Humans there found it generally true. With my greater mental discipline now, I don’t have to think about pachyderms!”
“Minor gods,” he declared, “now all I can think about is pachyderms.”
I assured him, “I don’t know what your intelligence is, but you’ll enjoy getting it to 26.” He said it would be a while.
Mom asked me what kind of cookies there were on Earth. I mentioned a couple pre-packaged ones, but named about eight home-made types I loved as a child.
Jacques should have learned to bake.
Forrest still can.
“I’m glad you like oatmeal cookies, son. That is what I baked. Your body is likely craving some healthy calories. Carrie and I baked several batches, and she will be bringing some to Norrus tomorrow.” She held up a cloth pouch that contained about twenty cookies; everyone had one, but the remainder would be mine.
Mmm. I can tell these are fresh – they’re still soft. And she added some sort of dried fruit. Raisins? Currants? Cranberries? I don’t remember anything exactly like them from Earth, but whatever they were, they add a lot to the oatmeal. They are noticeably less sweet than the cookies I grew up on. I like that. All the flavors stand out, and ‘sweet’ isn’t dominant.
“Thanks, Mom! These are just as good as the best ones Jacques ever had.” Everyone agreed.
Dad handed me a flask of water. “Rhetta told me you had been starved and dehydrated. I don’t know how much food or water you have had this evening, but I doubt it has been enough.”
I eagerly swallowed a few gulps. “I hadn’t felt hungry or thirsty. I have had a lot to think about and do this evening. But getting the cookies and water now, I agree that I needed more.”
“Dumbass,” Kossa told me. “You have been sparring and then depleting yourself with Share Health. No wonder you need to eat and drink.”
With my mouth half full of cookie, I managed to say, “I can’t hear you. The cookie is drowning out everything else.” As I ate and drank my treasure, they discussed what had been going on in the past hour. Mowd and Corval expressed disappointment that they had not had a chance to meet Einvigi. I don’t think Mom, Dad, or Grandma have met her either, but they had felt her presence on the day Master Sendrin came to discuss the academy.
Grandma had me describe everything I remembered about the events concerning Norrus. I’m sure Mom had told her a lot, but since I didn’t know who knew what, I retold the events as well as I could.
Grandma asked her cottage-mate, “Have you ever heard of burgundy vortices or perhaps some other similar phenomenon?”
Mowd replied, “I have witnessed small, stationary tornadoes and a couple of waterspouts. What Forrest is describing is completely different, not weather related. So no, I have never seen nor heard of this sort of thing.”
As Mowd was finishing her statement, I released a huge unexpected yawn. “I’m sorry! All of a sudden I am feeling very tired.”
Dad speculated, “Well, your body has been through two months of time. It is surprising you have remained active this long. You should head to bed.”
Barrie speaks wisely. You have been consciously driving yourself all evening. If you want to continue using your pouch, I suggest emptying it and reattaching it to your belt. It will be cleaned and deodorized during your sixdays, but I doubt the fruit stains will come out.
“That’s what you are worried about?
“Interface agrees with you, Dad. Thanks again, Mom, for the cookies. You-all can split the four that are left.” My tiredness was getting worse, but I managed to mechanically follow Interface’ suggestion to empty my pouch.
Corval asked what I was doing. “Interface told me to empty my pouch and reattach it to my belt. The void somehow will clean it along with whatever I am wearing. Smell that?” Another big yawn. “It’s fruit that rotted over the two months it spent in the vortex.”
“Gross!” he accurately responded.
I felt arms supporting me. Someone said they would pick up my stuff.