Chương 16: Salvation

The notifications seemed endless: [You Have Killed Kraken (Juvenile): You Have Gained XP] [You Have Reached Level: 16] [Boon Points Gained: 3] [You Have Reached Level: 17] [Boon Points Gained: 4] [You Have Reached Level: 18] [Boon Points Gained: 2] LANCE skimmed a few notifications: [You Have Reached Level 30] and skipped the notifications which had to do with him gaining Boon Points.

[Unallocated Boon Points: 60] [Quest Complete: Kill Kraken: Reward: XP] [Accomplishment Unlocked: Kraken Slayer: You killed a Kraken. That's mighty impressive, kid. You might want to avoid water for a little while, though, because a kraken's blood attracts the wrong sort of attention... Reward: 1 Mana Grenade] [Quest Complete: Destroy Harbor: Reward: XP] [Accomplishment Unlocked: Bandit Harbor Destroyed: No more will these pilfers be able to spread their terror throughout the coast. And the people living there have you to thank! Had you not intervened, they would sow their evil oats from here until the Next End: Reward: 1 Stamina Potion] He couldn't help but whistle. Sixty points was an impressive sum. A stupidly high sum. During the fight with the kraken, he had hoped his dad might drop by and help him out, but they never did.

Now that he reveled in the delight of so many Boon Points, he was happy his father wasn't around; they probably would've just scoffed at their progress and said, 'We need to be doing more, son! The Horror is coming and you can barely change your own diaper! Ah, ah, look at me, the all-powerful Warhol! I am emotionally stunted and...' Lance stopped his mock impression of his dad before it crossed into rude territory.

"Love you, dad," he mouthed. Back on his feet after letting himself rest a spell, Lance considered what he was to do next. One, what was he to do with so many Boon Points? Obviously, one or two, or four Boons from the Holy Shope was in order. But two, before that, he had a final warehouse to search. Lance threw the warehouse doors open wide and called for survivors. Not that he had very far to look; the final warehouse was filled up to capacity with people, slaves likely abducted from the coastline communities.

The bandits had clearly moved most of their human loot into a centralized location. Good for them! It made his task in freeing them easier. First, judging by the two bandits who guarded the human slaves with shaking spears, he had a couple more souls to send to meet their maker. He drew his blade, normal sword, and moved in for the kill, barely muttering his typical calling to ask if they wanted to repent and find salvation.

He had abandoned his vow, temporarily, for the harbor altercation, but knew he could not indefinitely abandon his oath for fear of angering his patron God. He said so now fully expecting the bandits to behave as all the bandits before him had done, as without regard for their physical coils or immortal souls. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. To his surprise, the bandits dropped their spears and fell to their knees, sobbing, beginning for their lives.

"Please!" they both shrieked.

"Please spar us! We'll turn over a new leaf, we promise! We'll take vows, please, anything if you'll spare us!" Lance's blade stayed. He blinked. Bandits who actually wanted to change their ways? That was unheard of for Murder Island!

"Truly?" he asked.

"If that is the case, then strip yourselves of those lowly cutthroat garb. I will administer the Oath you must repeat after me. Say so with a heart full of Truth and you will be granted clemency, but only if the divine oath takes root in your spirit."

"Yes! Oh, yes, please!" the two bandits continued to sputter. A couple of the now former slaves spoke out against the bandits being allowed reprieve, but Lance shushed them. The Bandits actions were terrible, yes, but those who search for forgiveness should be allowed the opportunity to change. That was among the most important of his God's instructions and it override mortal misdeeds. Word-by-word, he spoke the oath for them to repeat.

To his surprise, word after word took hold on their bodies, and the holy energy of their covenant took shape in the form of glowing tattoos.

"There," he finished.

"You both are bound to the Celestial God Cannabus. From henceforth, your will and his will are one in the same. To make penance for your cruelties on this mortal plane, you are hereby sentenced to a life of goodness. You will obey my orders until such a time when you can report to a Cannabusian monastery. There, you will take orders from the abbot and begin your life anew." [Accomplishment Unlocked: Bandit Repented: You convinced a couple bandits to repent. Now bad, kid. Seriously. Most people are in their thirties before they get scumbags to acknowledge the error of their ways! Reward: Fairy Dust]"Yes, thank you, Paladin Master, thank you!" the bandits continued to proffer nice words.

"What are your orders, Master?" Orders... that was a subject he hadn't thought about. Lance hadn't thought any bandit on the island would take him up on salvation. Now that a couple had, what should he do with them? He went with the first thing that came to mind: "Tell me about the island. Who is your king, what is his defenses?" The two bandits knew nothing about their former king. Each were new to the banditry industry, agreeing only to become bandits to save their own skin when their village was raided.

A terrible fate, to be sure, though that did not excuse them from becoming monsters in turn. Regardless, they knew little. What they did know was that there was, cut into the ground, a series of underground tunnels which wormed throughout the whole island. One such tunnel was in the floor of the warehouse they were standing in; "Okay," he told the ex-bandits.

"Your advice has been useful. Take these people and lead them to the safest, lowest bandit populated area close to the shore. Protect them with your lives. When I am done with your leader, I will send aid for you from the mainland and boats will come to pick these people up. The soldiers will see your binding markings and allow you safe passage to the monastery. If you can survive your protection detail, that is."

The former bandits obeyed without hesitation and started directing people through the open doors, apologizing profusely for their actions. As people walked by him to leave the warehouse, many touched Lance as if he were a saint or a healer. It made them feel better, so he allowed it. He did save them from a horrible fate, after all. It didn't take him long to find the hatch which led to underground tunnels. These bandits had no need to hide anything they built.

It wasn't as if the local guard would come and sweep their harbor on an island the bandits controlled with absolute brutality. Lance flung the hatch open to see a ladder descending deep into the dark. Before he made his descent, he figured now was a good time to take a look at the Holy Shope. Heavens knew he had the points and he was ready to spend!