Chương 38: Orn the Healer

I stop and focus for a second, gathering energy in my foot. Then, with a Plane Step, I appear atop one of the few fully intact buildings. A large park spreads out before me, and within it lies horror. Hundreds of corpses, both human and monster. The worst part is that the fighting isn't even over. I watch as a wolf jumps over the corpse of its fallen brethren. Just to get at the neck of a mage, who seems to have lost their tank in the madness. I Plane Step to the ground and start running.

But Dovey beats me to the scene, crashing right into the side of the wolf with the full force that his tiny bird self can manage. Which is barely a bother to the wolf, but it does get thrown off balance, and disengages from the mage. Which gives me just enough time to insert myself into the fight. I jump in front of the wolf, startling it a bit. Not wasting time, I gather energy into my hammer and swing at it. The monster dodges to the side, and manages to nip at my side.

I jerk my elbow down, managing to catch the top of its head. Its skull is thick, and the impact probably does more damage to me than it. But Dovey has recovered from his heroic dive and is back. He gets right back to work and relieves the wolf of one of its legs with a blade of wind. A gust of wind surrounds me, and I seem to be a bit faster somehow, a buffing spell most likely. I make good use of it, and slam my hammer into the side of the wolf's leg as fast as I can.

The wolf yelps in pain, before growling and leaping for my chest. But silly wolf, as if I wouldn't know how to defend myself. Stepping back and to the side, I let the wolf's momentum carry it onwards. It quickly recovers and comes in for another attack, only to meet a fully powered Anvil Strike.

'Ding', You have slain [Lesser Wolf - Level 29]'Ding', Magic Smith has advanced to level 26. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Magic Smith has advanced to level 27. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Dovey has advanced to level 29. Stat point distributed.

'Ding', Spirit mage has advanced to level 23. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Spirit mage has advanced to level 24. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Quest Completed: Not Powerless Damn, all that for a single kill? Guess the experience was building up or something, and all the levels ticked over at once. I also hit the fifty level threshold for that quest, which I will check on in a moment. Turning towards the mage, I find them not where they should be. But it is pretty easy to follow the few meter trail of blood behind a fallen tree.

I check the area, and see that most of the fighting around has died down, and there aren't any monsters within a hundred meters or so. So, I waste no time and start incanting, "<Stabalization>." I gasp as three hundred mana–about half my reserves– leaves my body in an instant. It surges forth, and I can sense it flowing towards the mage. It wraps around their body, and starts to stabilize their wounds and such. Not a healing spell, technically, as it only stops further damage.

Though most people would typically associate it with healing. So this technically means I have cast my first healing spell! Which means I could call myself a healer, right? Orn the Healer has a nice ring to it.

'Ding', New spell learned, <Stabilization> The description is quite boring. Just going on about how the light wraps around the body and prevents vital energy from leaking out. Pretty simple, when one thinks about it. Which makes sense, as it is still an initiate tier spell. Checking on the mage, I can see that they are still not in the best condition. In fact, they are still bleeding in many spots. Though it has significantly slowed. Perhaps my spell isn't strong enough to fully stabilize the wounds.

Guess that just means I need to get stronger. Still, with the worst of it stopped, they manage to lift an arm. A healing potion appears in their hand, and before I can move to help, they are already drinking it. It is a bit odd watching the healing process from an outside perspective, but intriguing nonetheless. To help out, I bring out Luma and let her aura do what it does best. Though she vehemently refuses to nuzzle the mage. Her yip implies that I should be far more concerned about my own health.

She refuses to budge when I pull up my tunic, showing that the wolf's bite is almost completely closed up. Though Luma does have a fair point. I have been far too reckless. The system makes it quite easy to fall into that trap, I think. After all, with the knowledge that near any wound will heal given time, one can easily fall into the idea that they don't have to dodge and block as much. Of course, some damage is unavoidable. It is a battle after all. But I will have to be more careful going forwards.

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"Thank. You." The person says, I am no expert, but the fact that they can talk is a good sign I think. Even more so is the fact that they quickly sit up. I hand them a piece of bread.

"Do remember to stay safe." Without waiting for an answer back, I walk away. Can't let myself get dragged into sentimentality and such. There are monsters to slay and quest rewards to collect, after all. I Plane Step on top of a nearby building and sit on the edge. It is still a bit exhilarating even knowing that I would be mostly fine falling from such a height. My resources are low, which means it is a perfect time for a break. Sinking into meditation, I notice a few notifications.

From all that healing work, Luma gained a whole six levels! Which brings her to level twenty two. I also got three more in Spirit Mage, bringing me to level twenty seven. I also pull up that quest notification from earlier. The objective was to hit a total of fifty levels, which I just did. In return, I get a lesser boon as well as greater time-sensitive boon, whatever that means. Just like last time, it gives me the option to choose the lesser boon.

I am tempted to pick materials again, but I should at least see what sort of other stuff is available. So I choose enhancement.

'Ding', Lesser enhancement boon acquired: +25 unallocated stat points. Huh, to be honest, I expected it to be a bit fancier than that. Not that I am complaining, of course. Twenty five stat points is quite a few. Along with all the unallocated ones from earlier, I have thirty nine. Taking a quick glance, I quickly split them between endurance, agility and wisdom. Stats Vitality: 178 Endurance: 76 Strength: 65 Agility: 95 Intelligence: 79 Wisdom: 86 Spirit: 157 Unallocated Points: 0 Now, for the other boon.

It gives me the same options as before–enhancement, knowledge and material. Yet I can feel that far more weight rests within my choice. Logically, I puzzle it out. Any materials I get are likely ones that I lack both the knowledge and equipment to use at the moment. While at the same time, the enhancement one is enticing. More raw power is always nice. But I somehow get the sense that I am in a very good spot for my level. What with the spirits and all these quest rewards that I am getting.

As I learned from Carla, quests are quite rare for non-heroes. Not unheard of though, just really rare, like, once in a decade type things, or so Carla generalized. Yet, it would seem we get handed them like they grow on trees. So I must keep that difference in mind. So, I pick the one I haven't picked yet, knowledge. To my shock, there isn't a rush of knowledge or anything into my brain. Rather, nothing happens. It takes me a moment to realize that something has happened in the real world.

So I exit meditation, and of course, a box is sitting in my lap. I open it and out pops a small purple crystal as well as a scroll. I have heard of scrolls, Calder told me that they are the typical way that people learn spells and techniques. Especially when they do not have a direct teacher. Very simply, they are single use items that allow one to cast a spell or use a technique once. Presuming they meet the requirements, of course. Once someone has done it once, the system obviously kicks in and does its thing.

Hence how I instantly get a spell learned notification after using one for the first time. I read the scroll, and gasp. Spirit Link is the name of the spell. Naturally, it is spirit magic, you know, the stuff of legends, lost to the masses. Before I go cast it and likely end up causing a disaster, I read the whole description. <Spirit Link> An initiate tier spirit magic spell. While the tier may be low, the spell provides unprecedented usefulness.

By incanting the spell, the user may initiate a link with another being. In doing so, a channel of information will be created between the two spirits. This connection will work across any distance, and allow for instant communication. Do note that there is a small energy cost per message, depending on distance. The most common application of this spell is telepathy with a mage's bonded spirits. But it can also come in handy for contacting allies at a distance.

Do note that the link must first be established in close proximity–with consent. But after that, the network can be toggled on and off by casting the spell again. A small energy drain is applied for keeping it active. That sure is interesting. I don't think it is that useful at the current moment. But I get the sense that the time-sensitive boons are odd. They are meant to adapt to one's current broader situation, and provide something useful.

Perhaps the system figured that I was having trouble learning spirit magic, thus providing me with a starting point? I have no clue how intelligent the system actually is, but I do get the sense that it has some decision making process within it. I put the scroll away in my storage, deciding to test it later. Likely once all this incursion shit is overwith. Picking up the crystal, I inspect that as well.

Crystal of Spiritual Insight (Legendary) Contained within this crystal is an insight into the concept known as Spirit. Upon using this crystal, the user will gain the insight, and the crystal shall be destroyed. The effect is heavily dependent on the user. Some may gain a new skill, simply gain a breakthrough in a field of research, or even unlock a new path altogether. Yeah, it would seem my theory is correct. The system really wants me to figure out more spirit related things.

Problem is, I don't think this is the best situation for tinkering with such things. I put the crystal in my storage, and decide to focus on fighting for the moment. Further research and stuff can wait until I am not in the middle of an active battlefield. Standing up, I take a deep breath. It's time to slay some more monsters.