Chapter 23: Sun (1/2)
Harthome and Ilea moved the two unconscious or sleeping people into the common room while Walter checked on the dead Demon with the later arrival Neeto. After entering the bar, they informed the waiting initiates about what happened and Ilea continued coursing her healing mana through the two injured people.
Lucia joined them later and had apparently slept through the whole ordeal. She wasn’t the least embarrassed and simply sat down next to Celene’s sleeping form to stroke her hair. “You poor idiotic lunatic…,” she said in a scolding voice. “...I told you Demons are bad news…,”
Soon after Walter joined them. Neeto and his skeletons were tasked to extract what they could from the dead Demon and guard its body. One apparently had to handle them very carefully, even after death.
He let the others in that Ilea saved them without going into specifics. Harthome had listened to their conversation before of course but he had not seen her fight the Demon, completely caught in its mental attack.
They all looked at Ilea with respect and thanked her. She just smiled back “It’s no matter, I got a bunch of levels out of it…,” Continuing to heal the two people, the others made note not to anger the healer in the future.
Even Walter was impressed with her power ‘She’s gonna be something when she continues like that… hopefully not an early grave… her corpse though… hmm…,’
“Don’t look at her like that.” Lucia bopped Walter on the head with a spoon “And get to the kitchen!” He turned to her with a perplexed look, some of the people in the room chuckling.
“Yes ma’am. Oh and by the way.” He leaned in and kissed her. Ilea gave a thumbs up while Ellie cheered. Lucia just stood there dumbfounded while Walter went to the kitchen to prepare food for everyone.
“...wha…,” She stammered as Ellie embraced her in a big hug.
A cosy fire burned in the hearth as everyone enjoyed the relaxing tune of Walter’s playing. The two injured were brought to their respective rooms to recover further as everyone ate their fill and enjoyed each other’s company.
Soon only Walter and Ilea remained. “I thank you again for your rescue.” he said as he started cleaning a mug.
“Did you really need it? With your level…,” he stopped her with a gesture
“Demons are a very peculiar species. Dangerous in their specializations. I could resist the being’s mind attack for a while and might’ve been able to retaliate in time… but I don’t know how many would’ve died until then. Neeto would’ve been a better opponent for the demon but he was late as well…,”
“And levels hardly matter… seeing what you did to him.” He paused and she took a contemplative sip of ale. “That name… Azarinth Healer. I did hear it before. In the Foundation of Glass.”
She stopped drinking at that “What do you know of it?”
“Very little sadly. I was seeking power at the time. And an old librarian had shown me the name. Fierce warriors with the ability to heal even the worst of wounds before their enemies eyes. Their fists would strike terror into all that attacked them.”
“The Class was apparently lost. Eradicated by who knows what. And now I’m standing across from one of them.”
She shook her head at his questioning look “I only stumbled across it in dumb luck I’m afraid. They were a healing order. The order of Azarinth.” Ilea chose not to mention the Bluemoon Grass or the book helping her gain the skills. “To be frank they seem like a bunch of pricks by their history accounts I found…,”
He chuckled “What powerful person or order isn’t.” he grinned at the two thumbs Ilea directed at herself at his rhetorical question. “You’re certainly something but don’t get cocky. If that Demon would’ve been a warrior type, you would’ve been obliterated.”
“That’s why you were there Mr. Skorn.” She said innocently. He looked down and shook his head while smiling “You know if it weren’t for Lucia…,”
“Oh I knoooow I knooow, the tragic binding of looove. Well Walter, I’ve honestly been in this cave system long enough by now. You’re a bunch of quirky fanatics but I like you lot. Although I do need my me time and you know… the sun?”
She got up and put more coppers on the counter “I’ll take my leave then. Considering what you said before I take it that that isn’t a problem? Even though you really want my corpse…,”
“It is not. I’ll have one of the guards guide you out. How do you come to the conclusion with the corpse? I’m not even a necromancer…,”
“Dark magic is dark magic Walter… but seriously, it’s your creepy as fuck eyes when you’re in magic mode.”
“Says the walking light show.” they both smiled.
“Hey, leave a girl her sparkles. I’ll leave now though, I really don’t feel like ruining this love story… give the others my regards. And Celene that maybe she should start with an Elf and go from there…,” She held out her hand to him which he shook.
“If only I were younger… I’ll tell them but don’t expect them to be happy you just left.”
“They’ll survive… and if not, Indra will resurrect them… or maybe Mr Bones…,”
“Any ideas where the winds might take you?” He said to her back as she started towards the door.
“Oh, visiting a dusty cellar, some old friends and maybe a castle in the sky?” She said, winking at him while looking back. ‘This is a very nice place… I think I’ll be back at some point… the beds suck though. And the window coverage leaves a lot to be desired.’ She thought as she looked at the fire in the hearth and a newly found friend in this strange world.
“Goodbye Ethinu.” She said and left.
_____________________________________
Walter kept cleaning his mug while smiling to himself. ‘What an interesting girl. I bet she’ll send some big waves through the world. Unpredictable and strange waves but waves nonetheless.’ putting the mug down he sighed ‘Time to take what I can get from what she left me…,’
“I know you’re there.” a chuckle could be heard from the kitchen. “She’s a nice lass isn’t she?” Lucia stepped out, a glint in her eyes and a black dress leaving little to the imagination.
“I’ll thank her later.” closing in on her, he put his arms on her waist “You think it’s ok to let her go? She does know a lot you know?” Lucia asked while staring into his eyes, a slight smile forming on her lips.
“You weren’t there Lucia. Trust me on this one.” She thoughtfully looked away but was brought back to him by the second kiss they shared. “My cave or yours?”
______________________________________
Ilea reached the top of the cave after half an hour of following the incredibly slow undead before her. ‘I fucking hate these guys’ The undead stopped and turned towards her “What the hell are you looking at?” she asked but the undead simply pointed towards a small opening on the wall.
“Aight, nice meeting you mr zombie.” She waved at the undead as she entered the hole in the wall. Exiting into a rather spacious cave, she felt a breeze on her skin as a smile spread on her face.
‘Is this??? Fresh air??’ running towards the source of the breeze, she squeezed through another two small openings in the cave wall.
The autumn forest greeted her with a spectacular display of golden leaves in the morning sun. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath of the cool air. “I hope Winter isn’t like four times longer than the other seasons… shoulda asked about that.” Shrugging and forgetting about it again immediately, she made her way towards Riverwatch.
Enjoying the view and nature, Ilea simply walked while looking over her stats. ‘Hmm 45 skill points remaining… I have already everything over 150 except Strength and Dexterity… so I guess there goes my choice…,’ Putting twenty points each into Strength and Dexterity, she put the remaining five into Vitality to top it off at a round 160.
Name: Ilea Spears
Unspent statpoints: 0
Class 1: Azarinth Healer – lvl 75
- Active: Destruction – 2nd lvl 20
- Active: Reconstruction – 2nd lvl 14
- Active: State of Azarinth – 2nd lvl 20
- Active: Blink – 2nd lvl 14
- Active: Azarinth Sphere – 2nd lvl 1
- Passive: Body of Azarinth – 2nd lvl 7
- Passive: Azarinth Fighting – 2nd lvl 20
- Passive: Magic Perception – lvl 11
- Passive: Azarinth Perception – lvl 18
- Passive: Free Slot
Class 2: Fire Enhancer – lvl 50
- Active: Flame – lvl 1
- Active: Body of Flame – lvl 10
- Active: Free Slot
- Active: Free Slot
- Active: Free Slot
- Passive: Fire Manipulation – lvl 12
- Passive: Heat Perception – lvl 1
- Passive: Free Slot
- Passive: Free Slot
- Passive: Free Slot
General Skills: