Dante and his party tread down the gently sloped hill side only turning back for a moment to gaze upon the large and imposing stone city walls. Upon the walls men stood watch, spaced ever 20 feet.
Dante wore his pieces of light armor he had purchased over his beautiful robes as to protect them and himself from possible attacks while still giving him a respectable range of motion. He had his gun placed in a holster on his hip. The holster he had purchased for 10 small gold after breakfast as he had needed to give it some time to charge off his mana regeneration. Thankfully it was full by now.
As he turned back he looked out upon the vast zone he had arrived in none too long ago. He looked towards the small lake surrounded by tree's that he remembered having seen. Turning on Eagle's Sight for a moment he saw people fishing and boating out on the lake. He watched as men and women raised up their hands only for colums of water to raise at their commands.
Dante smiled and wondered for a moment if that was where he would be doing the fishing tutorial later.
Before he could turn off the skill however, something caught his eye. He saw a group of several individuals running around screaming while looking at the ground. His expression becoming one of questioning, he wondered what the hell they were doing. Then he saw it.
For but a brief second he saw a streak of something gold racing along the ground.
Dante turned to his party for a moment before realizing he was staring at the pores in his mother's skin due to the razor like precision of his new sight. He quickly blinked a few times, deactivating his skill, Eagle's Sight.
After that distraction he looked at the group of them and asked, "Do you guys want to go help those guys catch a golden rabbit?" He asked whilst motioning towards the group of five about a hundred yards away down the hill and off to their left.
Frank was the first to respond, with a charismatic smile standing tall in his new set of gleaming silver, mithril armor, "Why not. What do you think Laura?" He asked as he turned to his wife standing beside him. She wore a set of blue jeans with simple tshirt. Above her clothes she was wearing a white leather armor she had purchased from a tailor she had found while Frank and him had been out on the town.
"I think we should help them. It probably won't hurt us to try and spread a little good will here and there. I say we go." Laura stated, her greying black hair swaying gently in the breeze as all eyes turned to Califa.
"What do you think Califa?" Dante asked with a small smile. After a moment Califa raised her hands in surrender and stated, "Sure why not?" She stated in a defeated tone. "They will never catch that rabbit so you guys know only people with high dexterity or wizards can catch those things. I chased one for nearly 3 hours once, and never caught it. Don't even think about trying to shoot it you'll miss." She stated as if the task were impossible.
Dante laughed for a moment, "Then it's decided. Let's go help them and earn a bit of experience in the process." He said as he turned and began leading the way towards the group of people struggling to catch their golden pay day.
When they arrived they found the group of six people breathing heavily clearly having been trying to catch the rabbit for some time. "Do you guys need some help?" Dante asked as they drew close to the group, causing them the all turn their heads at once.
A man about his age and height stepped forward carrying what appeared to be a tarnished bronze spear. His hair was salt and pepper and his eyes were blue as the sea. Wearing what appeared to be leather armor that had been dyed light blue. "Hey there. Im James Jones, but you can just call me James. You said you would be willing to help us? I would be really grateful for the help." He said as he stretched out his right hand for a handshake.
Dante reached out his own hand and shook the mans hand, squeezing lightly trying to gauge his strength. It was only when he had put in about a quarter of his full effort did the man's face change. Satisfied he released the man's hand before drawing his enchanted Desert Eagle. "Wow, wow, wow man. Don't just go pulling guns here. A man could get the wrong idea!" James stated as he took a step back from Dante somewhat weary of the pistol in his hands.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Before he could respond however another voice made itself known. "Don't worry James. I can feel the warmth of his heart, and I can see the light in their's. We have nothing to fear from them." Spoke a frail looking woman who was currently sitting upon the ground.
Dante turned to look at her. She wore simple pants and a large carhart jacket that someone had obviously lent her. It was only now that he was this close that he noticed somethings about her.
He felt as if she wore her soul upon her sleeve. He felt the light of her soul and it was comforting. He noticed there was something wrong with her hair however. "I'm sorry for your ailment miss...?" He asked his expression becoming one of concern.
"Oh my appoligies! My name is Hannah Ashborne. You can just call me Hannah. Everyone does..." She said and then her expression became more shy and reserved, her voice trailing off.
Dante's mother slapped him stating, "That was rude of you to make a comment on! I'm sorry Hannah for my son." Laura said while pulling Dante by his ear.
"It's no trouble really. I have cancer most of my life and I'm just happy I get to do something like this before my time runs out." She said with a sad smile. The other's in her group said nothing, instead they simply cast their gazes downward saddened.
Dante grabbed the symbol of his lady and prayed for something to help her. To his surprise he heard his ladies voice grace his mind. "You already have the means to help her. Hold out your hands and let me show you." Rosana said. Without hesitation he put forth his cupped hands despite some mild embaresment.
Something within him moved and in the blink of his eyes a crimson bowl appeared in his hands surprising everyone. Within the bowl could be seen fluids of varying bright colors.
He realized it was his skill, pool of sacrifice had been manifested here in his hands. A blue box appeared causing him to laugh.
You have discovered a hidden property for your skill, Pool of Sacrifice! Hidden property- For a price paid not in gold but in blood, sweat, and tears. You recreate the effects of a spell, currently, of 2nd level or lower. 1000 Exp awarded!
Dante smiled as he walked forward. He was within a few feet of Hannah when another of her party stood between him and her. "What are you trying to do!?" He demanded as he crossed his arms blocking the way to Hannah. Before he could answer however, Hannah was standing beside him and weakly pushin him to the side.
"It's ok David. I believe he is who I was told would come." She said as David looked between her and Dante several times before stepping aside. However, he remained close at hand.
Hannah smiled and so did Dante, holding out the bowl she needed no prompting to reach out and touch the bowl with her hands. He spoke the words, with a voice filled with gratitude towards his lady. "Lesser Restoration." As he spoke those words the fluid seemed to move upon its own will.
It moved over and out of the bowl before touching and then racing up Hannah's arms. David moved in but was a moment too late as there was a brief flash of bright light that caused everyone except for Hannah and himself to shield their eyes.
No sooner than the light was gone, so too went the colorful fluid that had covered hannah's arms not a moment prior. The bowl was refilling itself seeming to have been depleted somewhat by the action.
Before their eyes they watched as Hannah began to grow for a moment. This once frail looking girl seemed to stand a bit taller now and her skin once so pale now appeared pink and new. Once she had been weak and thin but now she stood tall. Her arms and legs were now hail and hearty.
Hannah took off the wig she had been wearing to reveal her rapidly growing, redish brown hair.
Where a moment prior she had seemed to have accepted an inevitable end, now she radiated life.
"I see myself in her. I couldn't let her go when her time had been so short. Enjoy your life Hannah Ashborne." Rosana spoke briefly once more, this time in a voice that everyone present could hear, through Dante.
Dante blinked a few times as the glowing light faded from his eyes. "That was weird." He said as he willed the bowl away. Causing it to vanish with the blinking of his eyes. He was immediately embraced by Hannah who wept openly. "I heard a voice when the system came. They told me my life would be saved by a man who served a crimson queen. Thank you..." She said, her voice failing her towards the end of the statement.
Catching a blur of motion in the corner of his eye Dante said, "Pardon the sound Hannah." He said as he drew his pistol from his right hip and fired it behind his back off towards the left. To his surprise the gun only made a sound equivalent to a beebee gun when he fired it.
He focused of the blur for a moment before the bolts found their mark.
There was a rustling from nearby bushes as a golden rabbit dropped to the ground, trapped in a small cage of force energy. Everyone turned to look in awe at what he had just done. He simple holstered his pistol once more. "I am willing to bet they fetch a far higher price alive than dead." Dante said as he lifted the cage and brought it over to him with telekenisis.
Presenting it to Hannah he said, "I think you guys need this more than I do."