Chương 84: 084

Breaking through the bushes into camp felt… surreal. The world here was too normal. The fire still crackled. Henry was mid-sentence about something. Maya was stacking pebbles near a log. Meanwhile, my head still buzzed, the clearing clinging to me like cobwebs. The smell of blood hadn't fully faded. It felt like I'd dragged something dark back with me. Dura glanced up, a smile tugging her lips. Then she noticed the blood coating me, and the smile vanished.

"The fuck?!" She was moving before the words finished leaving her mouth. In seconds she'd crossed the distance, hands gripping my shoulders and gently but firmly pushing me back to get a better look. Maya let out a frightened whine somewhere to the side. Henry immediately scooped her up and turned her away, murmuring reassurances. I barely registered it. Dura's warmth cut through the haze, radiating off her in waves. Her hands were solid. Steady.

Careful as they searched for the injury beneath the blood and torn fabric. I leaned into it without thinking, focusing on the heat of her palms instead of the tacky feel of drying blood on my skin.

"Where the shit is batboy?" she seethed, eyes scanning my clothes.

"And if the answer is anything other than unconscious or dead, he will be once I'm done with him." Time raised a brow, clearly prepared to intervene if I asked, but he stayed silent. Dominicus would be back soon, his new attributes on full display. It was better I got the full story out now. Before he could twist it. I shot Time a tight smile and turned back to Dura.

"Short version? He used Thomas as monster bait to force me to react." The words tasted bitter.

"A wolf went for him. I intercepted, took the hit, and healed the worst of it." Her grip tightened.

"He then decided," I continued, "that since I survived, we should find more wolves to improve my 'recovery time.'" The air around her seemed to thicken, the beginnings of red mist starting. Before she could explode, I kept going.

"I was still a little out of it, so Thomas clocked him. Then Dominicus made the brilliant decision to insult Karma, so I tested my new spell." I exhaled slowly.

"He's part cockroach now. Should be joining us any minute." Henry stared.

"When you say part cockroach…" I met his gaze evenly.

"He's got antennae. That's it. The spell didn't go further." A faint, grim satisfaction flickered through me.

"Guess he's not the worst bastard out there. Still an ass though, and he'll be sporting those until he fixes it." Time stepped in, voice edged like cut glass.

"He should consider himself fortunate that Time did not escalate matters. A pair of antennae is mercy compared to being aged into infirmity within a blink." Dura gently peeled my shirt back just enough to expose the wound. She hissed.

"The worst of it's closed, but that's still ugly. Your mana's probably shot after using Karma's spell too." She looked up at me.

"Let me fix the rest." She was practically vibrating with restrained fury and protective instinct. I hesitated. The moss still clung to my shoulder, but beneath it, beneath everything, were the older scars. Ones I kept covered for a reason.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that," I admitted quietly.

"Not because of you. I just…" I dragged a hand through my hair, suddenly aware of how exposed I felt.

"I've got a lot of scars. And I don't want to explain them." Fire flared in her eyes–directed outward, not at me–but she swallowed it down.

"It's your call," she said, softer now.

"But I can handle what I see without asking questions. Especially if it means this gets treated properly." There was no pressure in it. Just earnest concern. I exhaled.

"…Okay. I'd appreciate the help." I glanced down at the torn fabric.

"I'll only uncover what you need for the wound." If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Relief washed across her face.

"Good. Because the alternative was hunting down batboy to make good on my promise." Her gaze snapped to Time.

"How many hit points was he missing before he healed?" Time's frown smoothed into something dangerously pleased.

"Fifteen," he replied.

"Do enjoy yourself." Then he turned to Henry, one brow arching.

"Will this present an issue?" It wasn't really a question. Henry grimaced.

"I had concerns about his methods before. This…" He shook his head.

"I will speak to him." His gaze flicked to me.

"I cannot fault your reaction. Clerics and paladins are typically devout. He should have known better than to insult Lady Karma in your presence." A pause.

"If you could refrain from granting him additional… features, however, I would be grateful."

"I don't think casting it again will do anything," I said dryly.

"And I can't control the outcome. It's up to him to be better. The antennas will leave then." Dura's hand hovered over my shoulder, waiting for permission before applying pressure.

"As long as he keeps his mouth shut," I added, squeezing her hand soothingly "I won't send thorns or anything after him." Dura gave a low, approving hum.

"Good," she muttered.

"Because I've already got plans for those fifteen hit points." Yeah, and Time had plans to get Karma involved, so Dominicus's punishment was far from over. Leaning into Dura's warmth, I forced my voice steady.

"Thomas, Dura, and I will handle whatever 'freeze' response I have left. That's non-negotiable." Under her breath, Dura growled, low and dangerous.

"Should've never trusted that prick with it in the first place. My gut was screaming the entire time you were gone." Her fingers tightened slightly at my shoulder.

"I'm wrapping this up, then I'm kicking his ass at the earliest convenience." Henry winced.

"Please don't kill him." She rolled her eyes.

"Nik lost fifteen hit points. He's losing fifteen. That's nowhere near lethal. He'll survive." A beat.

"So long as he doesn't pull another stunt like that." The bushes rustled. Her head snapped toward the sound, hand dropping to the axe at her hip.

"Speak of the bastard." Dominicus stepped into the firelight. And I blinked. He was covered in bruises. Deep, blooming purples and blues marred his skin. His left side looked especially tender, his steps slightly uneven.

"I didn't do that," I said immediately. He rolled his eyes, though the motion seemed to cost him.

"No. You did not." He spoke through clenched teeth, posture rigid despite the damage.

"Fate was… displeased with my mention of certain private conversations." A faint grimace flickered across his face.

"This was her correction." He straightened as much as he could and turned toward Dura with a reluctant nod.

"I can feel your hostility from here. If you intend to act, do so. I would prefer to wrap all the wounds at once." Her grip on the axe eased, though her eyes remained sharp.

"I'll wait until you can take it," she said.

"No clue what your hit point total is, and I'm not signing up for accidental murder." Her gaze drifted upward.

"How're the antennae treating you?" They twitched as if on cue. Dominicus grimaced.

"They're unpleasant. They… alter sensory input." His jaw flexed and he turned to me.

"You have made your point. I apologize for insulting Karma-." Time's voice cut across him like a blade.

"Lady Karma." Dominicus shot him a glare but forced the words out.

"Lady Karma. It will not happen again. Now, remove them." For a flicker of a second, I almost felt bad. He looked tired. Bruised. Uncomfortable in ways he clearly didn't understand. But still… I shook my head.

"I can't. That spell doesn't work like that." I met his eyes evenly.

"It reacts to your karma. Fix what needs fixing, and they'll go away." He stared at me, irritation sharpening his features.

"I am far from the worst person we have encountered." I shrugged.

"Sure. But you're nowhere near the best either." My tone stayed level, even as frustration simmered underneath.

"Less than an hour ago, you nearly got Thomas killed, got me injured, and you were ready to double down without a second thought." The words hung between us.

"If you don't see what's wrong with that," I continued, "then you've got a longer road ahead than I thought." His mouth flattened.

"You needed to push through," he insisted.

"It could mean the difference between life and death."

"Yes." I exhaled slowly, digging for patience I wasn't sure I had left.

"And I agreed to try your way. Until you tried to escalate it beyond reason." I held his gaze.

"There has to be balance. Otherwise you're doing more harm than good." Silence stretched. Finally, he looked away.

"I will… consider that," he said stiffly.

"Though I maintain my method would yield efficient results." A pause.

"Regardless, I apologize for any extended trauma I may have caused." It wasn't graceful. It wasn't warm. But it was an olive branch. I nodded once.

"Apology accepted." My shoulder throbbed again, reminding me of more pressing concerns.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wound to finish dealing with. Dura?" She stepped in immediately, her arm sliding around my shoulders with careful pressure.

"Let's go. The sooner this is done, the sooner we all get sleep." She snorted softly.

"After today, I think we've earned it." Understatement of the century. As she guided me toward the trees, I glanced back. Time was watching Dominicus. The anger was still there, tight and controlled, but something else had joined it. Not fear. Not quite distrust. Wariness. Measured and calculating. The firelight flickered across his face, and then the trees swallowed him from view. I filed the look away for later. We had a long road ahead of us, plenty of time to figure out what it meant.