Chapter 68

Healing. Going from injured to injured and spending my Mana to restore their body. I couldn’t simply keep healing without stopping. I had to take breaks, restore mana, drink water, and recover myself.

But where I only needed a short break to stop pushing my Evocation usage to the limit, other healers were forced to stop for far longer.

Grandma El’Tela’s training truly showed itself. As I healed, and healed and healed. The other healers watched on in shock at just how much I could handle. The sight of injured soldiers, of injured guards looking at me with hope as I healed them. As I didn’t stop.

I’d taken off the helmet at some point, just so I could breathe clearer, and as I worked, I considered what had happened.

More of it was coming back to me.

The times I was stuck in the press, Large Trolls pushing against me trying to end my life, and in many cases I ended theirs.

The Hawkstrider I had ridden had definitely saved my life. Giving me height and mass to push back against them.

And we’d won. As much as such a thing could be called a victory.

I don’t know how many elves we’d truly lost. But considering how many injuries I was healing, the number was probably more than I wanted to hear.

Grunkle was there at my side, watching over me, although he’d thankfully stopped trying to pull me away.

And then he wasn’t alone. Meniel was there, watching as well, although she didn’t try to stop me either.

Good. I’d be annoyed at having to drag the woman around as I kept healing.

The fact she was watching, and not healing was a bit weird though.

“Holy Light.” I spoke my voice tired, but only my voice. My insides were nothing but Light.

This disaster was… A disaster. I was so tired of Trolls. I was tired of my entire life shifting around them.

I’d wanted to explore this world, and instead I was stuck playing with Trolls in a war they were destined to lose.

Or if not destined inevitably. They couldn’t break the Ban’dinoriel, so they would eventually fail one way or another.

It just depended on how many years they’d trap us in here.

I stopped, out of mana, my hands flickering with light, as I angrily stopped and had to take a moment to breathe. Most of the major injuries were taken care of, the ones left were mostly cuts or broken bones.

But that was no excuse to stop!

I reached for my side and took some water I’d conjured and took a few sips. The sparkling water was far more effective at restoring Mana than my old dishwater, and yet… I felt frustration bubbling up over me, just as bubbly as the water.

“Well!?” I snapped turning to Meniel, as she was just standing there watching. “Are you going to help? Are you a healer or not!?”

“I am. Looking after my most important patient today.” She said simply staring at me.

I scoffed at her. “I’m fine. They aren’t.”

“Alah’Dorah. You’ve done enough.” She said then, stepping forward and putting a hand on my shoulder. I looked back at her feeling a surge of anger.

“Obviously not! Look around you!” I snapped, throwing my arm towards the people around us.

“Dorah… The only injuries left are minor. Look.” She whispered to me, and I looked, really looked…

Everyone… Everyone was okay. Most of the soldiers and guards were, if not calling out their victory, were at least eating, or drinking whatever was provided.

It wasn’t a party. That would be too positive, but everyone was at least celebrating their survival.

“You did enough. You can stop now.” Meniel whispered to me, as she tugged me along, and honestly, I felt tired. I didn’t resist as she dragged me over to the Inn that the healers had first set up inside.

The room was empty of patients, although I could still smell the blood from those brought inside.

Grunkle pushed me into a chair without a word and then slowly eased himself into another beside me.

“You should eat.” He ordered, and I just stared at him a bit before some food was placed in front of me.

Something from one of the cafes nearby from the looks of it. Conjured food, mixed with a few real things to make them a bit better.

It all tasted dull to me as I started eating.

I felt tired, and wired at the same time. Inner Fire, and the push to just keep going had left my body energized, and yet, I felt tired in ways I hadn’t experienced… Well since the Death March.

“That was amazing.” Meniel said after a while as I slowly stuffed the food into my mouth. “You really are unstoppable aren’t you?” She said sitting across from me. “You did well Dorah, you saved a lot of lives.”

I didn’t respond, it didn’t feel like I saved a lot of lives. It felt like…

“I wasn’t strong enough.” I said instead, which was a bitter thing to admit. Years of training, of grinding, of trying to get strong enough to do something.

I fought the Trolls, and sure I fought well, but… Many died while I was unable to do anything to save them.

“You’ll get stronger.”

“How many are going to die until then?” I responded quietly, looking at Grunkle, his words only more bitter on my tongue.

“You aren’t the King. The lives of every elf in Silvermoon isn’t on your shoulders. You aren’t that important.” He said, the last few words almost snappish, but trying to be gentle.

“I know.” I grumbled taking another bite of the pastry thing I was eating.

“As a Healer, I can say honestly, you did more than anyone could have hoped for. It's okay to just be proud of what you did today.” Meniel cut in, trying to pep me back up.

“Its not about what I did. It's what I could have done. I could have done more. Fought better, had better spells.”

“Considering you were the only one still casting spells at all towards the end of the battle, you shouldn’t let that bother you.” Grunkle said, then to my surprise he reached out and slammed a fist into the table, the sound of his gauntlet on the cafe table echoed out and jolted me almost right out of my seat. Everyone in the cafe turned to look. “This was a mess, but it was not your doing that caused it! It was not your failure today Alah’Dorah! You did more than what could be expected! You saved the entire damned thing!”

His voice had risen into a shout, and I stared a bit shocked.

“So do not disparage what you have done today. It was noticed. Your actions went beyond anything one could expect. I am… I am the one embarrassed about my actions today. Not you.” He slumped into his seat then, Meniel and I looked at him as he looked up at me. “I will have to train harder from now on. To run out of Mana in a battle, to find myself nearly helpless was an unacceptable outcome… I took Grandmother's words of her battles of the past as just that. The past.”

“It was frustrating huh? Running out mana, and still having injuries to heal? How frustrating.” Meniel added a moment later, even if she sounded more like she was trying to pep me up rather than really feeling it. “To see you just keep healing, after coming back from a battle? I’ll have to do better. Even with the Blessing of Wisdom, it wasn’t enough to keep up.”

I didn’t respond. I could see what they were doing, well, perhaps Grunkle was being more honest about his frustration, but it didn’t change anything.

I wasn’t there yet.

Wasn’t the sort of Paladin I wanted to be.

I rose up. My legs felt both perfectly fine, and wobbly at the same time. Inner Fire had helped, but I still felt off.

“I’m tired. I’m going home.” Grunkle nodded at my words and rose up too.

“Okay, try to sleep. Thank you Dorah, for helping so many today.” Meniel called out, but I was hardly listening.

Outside, the blood still coated the cobblestones of the main street. The bodies of the trolls that had made it through were still laying where they had been cut down. While the Elves in the streets either rested where they had fallen and been healed, or avoided the area.

For once there wasn’t a press of bodies on the streets, although that was only for this area.

Outside where all the soldiers rested, the civilians rubbernecked surrounding the entire area in a dense wall.

I wanted to groan, but I didn’t make it far before Grunkle reached out and caught my shoulder.

“Come on.” He ordered, and I was tugged along as we headed for his dragonhawk…

Yeah that sounded like a good idea.

—--

My eyes blinked open, and it took me a long while for anything to really come back to me.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to NovelPhoenix for the genuine story.

Then with a jolt I remembered. Yesterday, the battle, the healing, the desperation to heal everyone. Getting home and just moving past everyone to fall into my bed.

I’d fallen asleep without talking to anyone.

Ugh. Mama, and Papa were going to be furious, and Grandma was going to give me that look she always did. The one that told me she was furious I had risked myself over something stupid.

I got up, realizing with a bit of surprise I’d been cleaned up. I no longer had blood over most of me, and my clothes were changed.

Jeeze, how out of it was I?

It was quiet, which I was thankful for. I felt…

Better.

Jeeze I’d been pretty upset yesterday. Adrenaline crash? Or more probably just the feeling of powerlessness.

Didn’t like that much. So it was time to get back to work.

I slapped my cheeks, and when I opened my eyes, I was no longer anything but utterly full of conviction.

I’d failed to Protect.

My sword arm wasn’t strong enough, my magic not prolific enough, my armor nonexistent.

I took a breath, and let it out, letting out all that frustration and failure. I would get stronger. I wasn’t going to stop.

I pulled up my character sheet, already knowing it will have changed but not really knowing how much.

I whistled quietly as I took in the main change.

Alah’Dorah

High Elf

Level 15 [910/1500 XP]

Strength 40 +18

Agility 38+1

Stamina 42 +13

Intellect 36 +131

Spirit 37 +77

I’d gone from level 6, to level 15. +8 in every stat point. Five hundred XP per Troll, I realized quickly. I’d killed seventeen trolls?

When had that happened? I don’t even…

The battle was mostly blurry, especially once I got into the melee. The crush of constant swinging limbs and weapons. I just knew I’d stood my ground and fought back. I shook it off and instead just took it in. Did I feel different? No, not really, but I was. I probably missed whatever adjustment period I had during everything that happened.

My skills had gone up quite a bit too. I guess fighting had helped boost those numbers.

But I tore my eyes away from going over every change and instead focused on what was important.

Yesterday was a benchmark. I could fight Trolls, not perfectly, although armor besides Devotion Aura would certainly help. But I could do it. I might not be able to solo an army, I might not be able to turn the entire tide of battles, but I could help.

I could Protect.

But as I got up, first I needed a bath.

It took me a few minutes to fill up the tub and a little longer to heat it all, and then I relaxed for a little bit, watching as the water turned colors from all the gunk still on me. Cleaned, I got out and got dressed and then with a heavy sigh, cause I wasn’t looking forward to what was going to happen next, I headed out of my room.

The upper floors were fairly quiet, and the sun was setting. I must have slept for a few hours.

First thing first, I headed into the north wing of the house and there was everyone. Well other than Grunkle, he was missing.

When I walked in, I saw all the eyes on me, and straightened my back.

I walked over and I barely made it all the way before Mama was there. Thas left behind in a little baby stroller, but she grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug.

I relaxed a bit, her arms were shaking a bit with tension as she squeezed me as tightly as she could. “Anu belore dela’na. I was worried.” The sun guides us. Yeah a prayer sounded about right considering what happened.

“I’m okay. Wasn’t even that hurt, just a few scratches… Sorry.” I added, as she finally pulled away and looked at me. “I know you don’t want me doing something like that… But I had to.”

She looked like she wanted to say something, but instead just tugged me over.

I settled into the table and was surprised that Grandma placed a plate in front of me, some of her own conjuration.

“It is good you returned to us. How are you?” She asked simply, her voice carrying no reproach or anything.

“Fine? I was tired. Inner Fire helped a lot, but it… It took a lot out of me.”

“I see. I heard about what happened from the boy. I’d like the whole story from your own words, if you are up to giving it.”

Again that was unlike her. She was being… Gentle.

Not that she couldn’t be, she just usually didn’t choose to be.

“I’m fine. But okay so here is what happened.” I spoke slowly, my eyes glancing at Papa, and Mama’s faces as I spoke. I took breaks to eat at Grandma’s prodding, and slowly the whole story came out.

“So I started healing some more, until Grunkle pulled me away.” I finished off, and the room was quiet, so I grabbed the last bits of Grandma’s cinnamon roll that she conjured and devoured it. I was hungry.

Although I really wanted something that wasn’t sweet. I really want a burger and fries.

“You went out there.” Papa finally said and I winced as I looked at him.

“Yeah.”

“We just… We just talked about you not… About you being safe.”

“I know. I promised you I would… Sorry.”

He exhaled weakly, as if he just wasn’t sure what to say.

“Dorah. We aren’t mad. Worried of course, and shocked, but not angry. We just, want you to be safe.” Mama told me, and I nodded.

“I know. It wasn’t planned, but… I saw Grunkle out there, and had to help. I helped… A lot.”

“You cast nearly through the entire battle when not fighting with your sword.” El’Tela interrupted. Focused as always on her interests.

“Yeah. I, well I had to push evocation a few times, and I didn’t have enough Mana Gems. I’d left most of them with the healers, but otherwise? I kept the buffs up as much as I could through the battle, while healing everything I could.”

“Foolish to not have enough Mana Gems on you. I didn’t teach you that spell so you would not have them when needed.” She said, obviously displeased.

“Well I had a few in my pockets, but most of them were with the healers. I wasn’t exactly preparing for the battle.”

“Fool girl. You should know that you rarely get the chance to prepare for a battle. You should have a bag with you at all times full of them, just in case.”

“I’ll pick up a bag to do that grandmother.” I said, giving in to her demand instantly.

She tsked at me. “Go grab one of the Runecloth bags from the shop. Fill it with Mana gems, and anything you might need in case of a fight, and keep it on you.”

I blinked, cause those were fairly expensive, but I nodded in acceptance.

“Runecloth? She could just use a mageweave, or-” Mama tried to argue, but Grandma just waved her off.

“It’s fine. The girl has earned more for the shop than the cost of a bag, and she is my granddaughter. Perhaps if she has a proper bag she’ll save herself some trouble.”

“Thank you Grandma.” I said, while I wasn’t entirely sure of the exact cost of a Runcloth Bag, it wasn’t cheap. I guess I was finally going to get a bag that was bigger on the inside. That would help.

“Dorah.” I stiffened, as Papa spoke up, and I hesitated in looking at him.

“Yeah Papa?” I finally asked, as he went quiet, seemingly not sure what to say any more than I was.

“I’m, I, you, no. Dorah. Be more careful. No more, no more being unprepared.” He said halting and going over and over as he seemed to try and put his words together. “We’ll work on some enchantments that will protect you, no more… No more of this.” He said seemingly not any more sure of what he meant than I was.

“Okay.” I decided to agree instead.

He just nodded, seemingly satisfied, and I relaxed.

“Good. That’s settled. We’ll have to schedule you for a fitting soon.” El’Tela said, staring at me long and hard.

“Huh?”

“You think what you did wouldn’t be noticed girl? You think the King could get away with not rewarding the fools like yourself that took up arms at his call? Your last name alone would earn you an invitation, what you did? Pfeh. The boy would be a fool not to speak to you.” She said, arms crossing with a look of real pride across her face.

“What… Does that mean?”

“There will be a session of the Convocation. Many of the guards and soldiers will be rewarded by the body. We already get a letter inviting you.”

“Ah.”

“So tomorrow you’ll need to get a proper robe.” El’Tela demanded, and even Mama nodded seriously.

What was wrong with my current robes!?

Neither woman looked like they were going to answer, so I just sighed.

“Oh Dorah.” Papa said, surprising me as he rose up, obviously not interested in hearing the two talk about fancy robes, he leaned down towards me, and kissed me on my forehead. “Thank you for coming home safely. You’re grounded.” He said and I twitched a bit.

Aww.

—--

Things still felt a little weird. It was dark, the moon was up, and I wasn’t anywhere near tired.

The nap had seemed to restore my energy.

And yet…

I looked up from where I was laying on my back, Elune blurred from the Ban’dinoriel showered her light down on me.

I hadn’t had the heart to ask any more questions about the battle. How many had we lost? Had it been worth it? Did the plan that led to the battle work? Whatever purpose it had been for?

Closing my eyes didn’t help. Elunes light was so bright tonight.

And in my chest my heart beat right alongside the glow of the Light. It was more than I had ever gathered before. I felt almost full with the Light.

Do I try to train one of my Paladin abilities? Devotion Aura could use a boost, or I could make myself stronger through Divine Strength, or enhance my Seal.

Or should I make something new?

A new Seal? A different Aura? Try to enhance more of my body through the Light?

My eyes opened, and I just burned it all. Mana flowing through me in a surge, every spark of light inside me igniting into a wildfire. Every bit of Mana inside me pushed into the bonfire.

“Elune… Dela’na.” I spoke. A prayer slightly altered. Elune, guide me.

And I simply let the Light flow through me, I glowed brightly, first golden, and then slowly as the moonlight flowed over me, it shifted into the silver light of Elune.

And yet, there was no hand behind the wheel. It was like… A pat on the head. A push on the back towards the future.

“I’ll figure it out, huh?” I whispered, staring up at the moon.

Alright. I should stop being so skittish. I dumped the gathered Light, silver and warm into an already completed emblem.

Devotion Aura surged, a point, then two, then ten. A Paladin needed to step onto a battlefield and shift the very fate of combat, and no spell better exemplified that, then Devotion Aura.

I would reach the point I wouldn’t be hurt. I would reach the point, those around me wouldn’t be harmed.

I would Protect them all.

When the Light inside me was finally spent, I looked at my Emblem, the Half moon that I had used as the metaphysical representation of the skill.

It had grown. My character sheet already told me that, but I didn’t even need it to know.

I’d grown stronger.

[Devotion Aura Lv 5 37/50]

An entire level up from just the light gathered, that could be weeks of focused work, or months of training. All gained in a day.

I reached out my hand, fist upward at Elune. “Thanks.” I said, not sure what else to say, but I guess I needed the push tonight.

Either way I sat up. I’d be up all night, best to get back to training. That was the only way to gain strength.