Chương 1: Start Reading

Cana ignored the glares she got as she barreled down the streets of Highsend. Her breaths were heavy, and sweat matted her black fur. The people of this city did not view her kind favorably. These days, very few places would, but she couldn't slow down for those who would shun her, anyway. Not until she reached the Sanctum. That was where they worked miracles. The Healers, a profession so rare that cities fought over their favor.

Anyone could swing a sword or cast a spell to take a life, but to cure sickness, close wounds, or even regrow limbs? Those were stupidly rare, a precious resource for any city that could entice even one to stay. Highsend had two of them. Their prices were high, and the waiting lists were long. Unless, of course, you had the extra coin for an express treatment, or the fame to be of public interest. Connections with the local guilds wouldn't hurt either.

Cana had neither money nor prestige, and guilds hadn't accepted beastkin for many years. Normally, they would not even allow her inside those gilded halls, but they were her only chance, so she did the only thing she could. In front of the Sanctum, right by the polished marble steps, she threw herself to the ground. The plaza had already started to clear out at this hour, the sun already more than halfway below the horizon. Still, her cry drew the attention of a small crowd.

"Please, save my daughter! I'll do anything if you help her. Please!" Cana was kneeling on the cobblestones, tears running freely. Clutched in her arms, wrapped in a blanket, was her daughter. Her little bundle of joy meant everything to her. She was all that remained of their little family. Ever since the passing of her husband, she had struggled on for their daughters' sake. She had done everything she could for her little Coco. It wasn't enough. Once the fever started, it all went downhill.

It was hard enough to earn the coins for medicine, and only thanks to her hard work and the help of her friends did she manage. Yet the tinctures didn't bring the relief they promised. The fever stayed, and Coco's condition got worse. Nothing they did improved her health. Only the magic of a healer could save her child, and she was willing to pay any price to make it happen.

"Get lost, bitch. No appointment, no healing. Can't be that hard to understand." A deep baritone voice cut into her conviction. She recognized that voice, as most inhabitants of Highsend would. It was that dragons-damned lizard. Why did he have to be on duty today? If only it were anyone else. Someone else might feel pity and have a change of heart.

"Are you deaf or just dumb? Fuck off. Now!" Not that bastard. He was as cold as the blood in his veins, always. If her situation weren't so dire, she would simply wait for the next guard shift, but she couldn't wait that long. Her voice needed to reach the healers inside. Cana stood up and slowly made her way up the marble steps. There were only a dozen of them, but every step seemed to stretch on forever. His slitted eyes were now boring down into hers, but she lifted her head to challenge his gaze.

She couldn't be stopped, not by him, not by anyone. Just as his mouth opened, ready to tell her off once again, she lunged. Jumping up the last steps all at once, she used the moment of surprise to make herself heard.

"I will do anything if you heal my daughter, please!" her voice echoed through the temple. That was all she got out before the brute grabbed her by the throat.

"You dumb bitch just can't get a hint, can you? This is your last chance. Get lost, now!" he snarled in her face. Would he throw her down the stairs? Or would he hurt her more than that? She could only hope he wouldn't hurt her daughter. Panic was gripping her heart as the air was choked out of her. Maybe she should-"Now, now, Onyx, no need to shout like that. You are scaring the poor thing." Both their heads turned as a new voice sounded out from within the Sanctum. That was Aquilo, one of the healers.

His voice sounded slow and slimy, like it crawled out from somewhere deep within his long, pointy nose. Cana dared to look past the big lizard, spotting the gangly elf with a semblance of hope in her heart. Was he going to help her? The healers rarely came out of the temple, having their every whim catered to within its gilded halls.

"Go on, put that dog down," he was cackling, as if his own words had just amused him.

"Good boy." Cana found herself unceremoniously dropped to the ground. Still, she never loosened her grip on the child in her arms. Catching her breath, she noted that he smelled of blood. Did he just treat someone?

"Please, Lord Healer, I beg of you, save my child!" With her ears drooped, she practically whined as she begged for his aid. She was already back down on her knees, making herself small and pitiable. What good was her pride if it couldn't save her daughter? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Look at that, it has manners. Knows its station. Maybe this one isn't as dumb as the rest," his tone was almost wistful. To her ears it sounded sickening, but she came prepared to give anything.

"I'll give whatever you ask of me, Lord Aquilo. Anything for the life of my daughter." Cana pressed her head to the ground. She had to get his pity if there was to be any hope for Coco.

"Anything, you say? Well, that could cover the bill, right?" Aquilo tapped his chin with a finger, as if he had to brood over it.

"Oh, I'm sure we can find a way to settle that debt of yours afterwards," he concluded with a sickly sweet tone, looking her up and down. Finally, he gestured to Onyx.

"Bring her in." The lizard grunted in confirmation. Cana scrambled to get up, her fur still bristled from the way he looked at her. Whatever it took, she would do it. Being practically dragged along by the black reptile, she couldn't help but look around in awe. This was her first time inside the Sanctum. She had no idea how they put those veins of gold into the marble. And were the planters made of genuine silver? One hallway alone contained more wealth than she ever held in her paws.

Finally, their path led into a room deeper within the Sanctum. There were no windows, and the only source of light was a glowing crystal embedded in the ceiling. It looked expensive, as did the chairs with embroidered cushions standing along one wall.

"Sit and stay until I return." Aquilo was curt as he deposited her, not sparing another glance as he left. Onyx, meanwhile, as if by an unspoken command, closed the door and took position in front of it, arms crossed.

"Not like you get a choice." Cana's ears swiveled as she picked up the words uttered by the healer outside. He definitely didn't intend for her to hear that, but few understood just how good the ears of a lycan were. The same was true for their sense of smell. That one picked up a lot more blood now that they were inside. Was the Sanctum supposed to smell worse than a butcher shop?

There must have been a lot of injured adventurers today, but she wasn't surprised about that, as the monster population always picked up around winter. More danger and more young blood looking to make it big, it was a bloody combination. A quiet whimper dragged her out of her thoughts.

"It's ok, Coco. You will be fine, mamma's here," she whispered to her girl.

"Got you a real healer. You'll be fine, I promise." Cana looked back to the door, where Onyx was still posted with his arms crossed in front of him. Who could have expected that she would manage to get inside with that cranky lizard on guard duty. It was almost funny how he wouldn't even meet her gaze anymore. The big guy must be fuming inside, she mused. Unfortunately, that meant she had no one to talk to while trying to pass the time. She really would have liked a distraction from the smell.

"Don't care… feel it." Her ears tried their best to pick up the words from outside. Was that Aquilo's voice? He must be coming back, but who was he talking to?

"It's not… about quality," an unknown voice answered him, sounding pedantic.

"You ruin her... have your hide instead!" Aquilo sounded agitated. Cana went completely still, the smell of blood suddenly suffocating.

"The kid's gonna sell for more than her pelt, anyway." The other voice hammered the final nail into her fear. She had to leave right now! If only it weren't for the half-ton reptile between her and the door. She charged right at him and almost gave him the slip before his eyes snapped back into focus. He stopped her with a single hand, grabbing her by the shoulder. Then, once again, he looked away, as if he wanted nothing to do with the situation. Cana never expected to just run past him in the first place, though.

She just needed to get close enough. She aimed a kick, not at the lizard, but at the door he guarded. It was flung open with a resounding crack as the hinges cracked from the force. That in turn startled her captor, even if only for a moment, as he turned to look at her once more.

"What-" he began, but as his snout came close to hers, she struck. One bite was all it took to rip open his nostrils. She was almost impressed how he didn't scream in pain, but he ended up shoving her back, letting go of her shoulder in the process. That was all she needed. Taking a deep breath, she charged once more. But this time things were different. As Onyx tried to grab her, his claws only found air. ☆☆ Quickstep (Exceptional) A quick burst of speed to aid with repositioning.

Can effectively position relative to a nearby target. It was Cana's best skill. Aside from her closest friends, no one even knew she had a class-stone. That secrecy was her lifeline, but now she had to give it up. Needing barely a moment to reorient herself after using her skill, she took a moment to choose her path. Quickstepping around a target was disorienting, but her coordination had greatly improved as its rank increased.

She wasn't alone in the hallway, as Aquilo and another hooded elf were only a couple of arm lengths away from her. Their eyes met hers in shock, not expecting the sudden tumult. Fortunately, those two arrived from a deeper part of the Sanctum, not from the path through which they had come before. Small blessings.

"It's a Classer!" Aquilo shouted.

"Kill it!" Cana didn't wait around for them as she ran like her life depended on it. It did. Another Quickstep saw her to safety after she suddenly felt a spike of heat in her back. Someone had used a fire spell, filling the area with a fiery burst of flames. Somehow, they had cut off their own path of pursuit. She would have laughed at such stupidity if the situation were different. Instead, she traced back the same route they had used when entering the temple.

There were a pawful of guards trying to block her escape, but none that could handle her skill. With a last burst of speed, Cana made it out of the temple's gate and jumped down the stairs in one enormous leap. She could still hear the shouts coming from the building behind her, but she sprinted away. Weaving through the crowd on the plaza outside, she quickly made her way into one of the countless dark alleys in Highsend.

Corner after corner she dashed deeper into the bowels of the city, and only after her legs refused to take another step did she finally stop. Cana had managed to escape that deathtrap, but the chill of what she discovered inside still held her heart in an icy grip. Would others even believe her if she tried to warn them? Finally, she sank down and rested with her back against the dank wall of an alley. What was she supposed to do now? She had revealed her class-stone. They would hunt her.

Her little Coco would-"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, but do you need help? I'm a healer." Her spiralling thoughts were abruptly stopped by an ugly, blond, flat-faced elf, dressed entirely in blue.