Combat Healer Ch. 10

December 25, 2021

NOTE: You might consider re-reading the last chapter (or the end of it), just so that this chapter has the most impact. 

INSPIRATION: Sometimes an anime, show, or song will hit me hard, and prompt the inspiration for a story. In this case, I don’t remember exactly what ‘started’ this story about the Red Oni named Mel, but I do know what song caused me to start it up again.

And that song, is this one: Close Your Eyes – KSHMR & Tungevaag 

It is the theme of this first book, and ultimately it is the power behind this particular chapter (the motivations that inspired it). 

<< Chapter 9 | Chapter 1

- CHAPTER 10: Queen -

One Hour Ago

An elf scout with chestnut hair, blue eyes, and tan skin stood patiently before her Queen as she recounted the events that had transpired in the last few hours, including her fight with the Arakna’cabra, whom she barely escaped with her Gryphon, to rescue her younger sister.

While listening, the Queen sat on her silver throne, upholstered with vibrant purple fabric, adorned in a black silk dress with her legs crossed at the knee, her forearms resting calmly on the throne’s armrests. The attire felt overly decorative to the brunette elf, as if the Queen had made preparations to attend a royal ball, but she dare not comment on it.

Up until this point, the Queen had largely been silent as she listened.

But now she spoke, her tone even.

“You could have jeopardized the entire kingdom with your actions,” the Queen responded, her tone neither judgmental nor angry, but only a statement-of-fact. “Had both you and the Gryphon died, then this news may not have reached my ears,” she added, again a simple statement-of-fact, her tone even.

Still, the brunette elf immediately knelt on one knee and bowed her head, knowing she was deserving of punishment.

“Please forgive my actions, my Queen. I sent word in every direction to the other Beast Masters. I am sure several are already on their way to report to your highness.”

“Stand, and continue,” the woman said simply.

“As you command,” the brunette replied, rising to her feet and resuming from where she left off. However, she could not meet the Queen’s gaze now, keeping her blue eyes on the Queen’s black leather sandals, the straps of which crisscrossed up her leg underneath her black silk dress.

Continuing with her news, the brunette elf told of her return to the city and why she didn’t immediately come to the castle, sharing about the healer she’d heard about, who was known to be able to heal things others could not.

“He was my only hope,” the brunette elf said quietly. “And he succeeded. He healed my sister, as well as my mount, with a holy light.”

“Yes,” the Queen agreed. “I saw the pillar of light with my own eyes from the castle. However, I’ve found myself very curious about something.”

“What’s that, my Queen?” she asked seriously.

“This Healer. You suggested he was known to heal that which others cannot. Yet I’d never heard news of him before today. Perhaps you can enlighten me on how that’s possible?”

“Forgive me, your highness. When I said he was known, I was not speaking of people. While the people in the city may not speak of such things, my friends see and hear everything. They’ve seen when he’s healed the diseased, hidden away on an obscure farm, or the forsaken in a back alleyway. Rarely does this healer make a show of his deeds, and rarely does he accept payment for his services. He heals any who are in need, without consideration for who needs it. Including many of my friends, who now actively seek him out when they are injured.”

“The animals,” the Queen clarified.

“Yes, your highness.” She paused. “Oh, and I know his first name is Allister, but I’m afraid I don’t know his surname.”

“I’m already aware,” she said simply, taking a long deep breath.

It was then completely silent, the brunette elf patiently waiting for her Queen to either ask her a question, decide on a punishment, or give her some other instruction. She kept her eyes on the black leather straps of the Queen’s sandals.

“Astaer Rootkin,” the Queen finally said firmly.

She immediately knelt again, bowing her head. “Yes, my Queen.”

There was a long pause.

The Queen’s tone was gentle. “I’m glad both you and your sister are alive and well.”

The brunette swallowed audibly, her head still bowed. “T-Thank you, your highness.”

“Go attend to your sister, but be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. You’ll guide the assault team to the demon who threatens our people.”

“Yes, my Queen. Thank you so much.” She waited, remaining where she was, knowing there might be more.

“And send for Vildred as you leave.”

The brunette elf finally rose to her feet, only to bow, with her arm across her chest. “As you command, your highness.”

* * *

I had a basic idea of what the Elf Queen looked like, just from having heard talk of her appearance from others. After all, out of all possible people to spread rumors about, those at the very top were always going to be prime targets. Though usually the rumors about the Queen were positive ones, such as her charming beauty, or her oddly short stature for an elf, or how she could be kind one moment and demanding the next, as the situation merited.

Most of all, people talked about her competence as a leader.

They spoke of their trust in her decisions and faith in her strength.

I’d also heard that she was on the bustier side for an elf, being both skinny and well-endowed, overall looking like she had the figure of a normal human woman. A very mature human woman, being youthful while having a maternal appearance.

Apparently, between her appearance and stature, there were some who claimed that one might not even realize she was an elf, were it not for her pointy ears -- often hidden by her straight black hair -- or her vibrant purple eyes, which was only seen rarely in elves and Minotaur.

But upon entering the Queen’s audience chamber, I definitely knew she was an elf, though I wasn’t sure exactly what trait made that fact stand out to me. Her hair was pitch-black, her skin as pale and smooth as marble, her bust definitely large for an elf and even a decent size for a human.

And, as the rumors went, she definitely looked like a grown woman, a sort of motherly aura about her.

The Queen was wearing an extremely fancy black silk dress with silver highlights, that had what appeared to be little black gemstones attached to tiny tassels along the edge of her milky cleavage, as well as the portion that covered her delicate shoulders. There was no dip to the fabric covering her chest, the silk going straight across, and as far as I could tell she wasn’t wearing a corset, but her breasts were full enough to fill the material and swell a little at the top.

Around her toned stomach, the material was tight as she sat in her throne with her legs crossed, the silk fabric draped low enough to hide all but her ankles.

And she was barefoot…

But otherwise dressed for a royal ball or dinner party.

A delicate silver tiara adorned her head, her beautiful face framed by glossy black strands, everything about her screaming of perfection. She could be a goddess, and I was sure no one could match her raw beauty.

General Vildred led me to stand before her, with a set of three steps between us, forcing me to look up just slightly at her, before he stepped to my right fairly far away and waited patiently.

In the meantime, the Queen had a very reserved expression, her perfect face showing no signs of what thoughts might be running through her head. I actually almost wondered if she was displeased that the best healer in her kingdom, one who had just created a new spell, was a human instead of an elf.

But it was really hard to tell.

She simply held my gaze, and I held hers, with me assuming it was inappropriate to speak when I had not yet been spoken to, feeling a little surprised to find a strange sense of calm in her presence.

It made me wonder if she had a skill associated with it, but I wasn’t about to check. I felt like one misstep with her would be big trouble…

But maybe if I did check.

Or not…

Maybe just a little peek at her overall total attributes and Rank.

Yeah, that should be fine.

Eye of the Goddess.

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Eliza Ashryn Nylanthria

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Total: 120

Rank: SSS Tier

Level: 55/55

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Oh shit.

SSS Tier?!

I tried not to react.

I didn’t even know it was possible to be above S Tier!

But I guess I’d also never seen anyone with a total over 107, which was Jackel’s total. There were others who were stronger than him, because of their skill levels, but he had the highest overall total I’d ever seen…

Or at least previously, before now.

Needless to say, this woman was not to be trifled with. She could crush me. No doubt she could crush me. And when I considered the trials she might have gone through, including a trial of pain and torment, in order to achieve her status as the ruler of the Delanor Kingdom, I realized that was even more so.

It wasn’t until the doors opened behind me again that I finally broke her gaze, glancing over my shoulder as quite a few people filed into the room. More specifically, as several Scourge Suppressors were escorted into the room by the Elf Guard, with the group being directed to stand toward my left.

Confused, I focused up at the Queen again, seeing that she was still focused on me.

Had she even looked away?

I focused on her bare feet when she suddenly uncrossed her legs and leaned forward more, her silk dress shimmering in the light of the Light Crystals illuminating the massive room, only to focus on her full pink lips when she parted them to speak.

“Allister Rosengard,” she said firmly. Simply.

Not continuing.

“Umm, yes?” I said in confusion, only to pause. “Your highness,” I quickly added.

She frowned at that.

Fuck, I was really messing this up! I had no idea how to interact with royalty!

She continued. “To your left, you’ll find your team. I want you to lead the attack against this demon that has appeared in the northeastern region of our lands. The Arakna’cabra, or Flesh Collector, who almost stole the life of one of my precious subjects. I request you take this time to assess them, and make any objections you may have now, in my presence. Otherwise, this group will be who you travel with to confront this monster.” She paused. “Astaer Rootkin will be your guide.”

I heard everything she said, but I got stuck right at the beginning.

I got stuck on her first three words.

To my left?

Why was she referencing things from my perspective?

While I didn’t know a ton about royal etiquette, I was always under the assumption references were made from the perspective of the person with higher status, which would mean she should have said, ‘To my right’ in relation to her own perspective.

Was I reading too much into that? Or was she giving me an indirect compliment?

And I knew it wasn’t just me.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

General Vildred shifted his weight slightly, seeming uncomfortable.

Like, I felt as if it was a huge deal that the Queen of the kingdom had just said, ‘To your left’ to someone else. But I felt certain I shouldn’t point it out, not wanting to make a fool of myself.

I cleared my throat after a lengthy pause, my gaze not having left hers, even when she gestured to the group to my left. “Okay, so you want me to assess their strengths?” I repeated. “And I should object on what basis?”

She inclined her delicate chin slightly. “If you find my selections to be inadequate for this task, then I want you to object.”

My eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “And will there be a consequence for objecting to a selection you’ve made?”

“Allister Rosengard,” she said firmly.

Shit. What did I say wrong?

She didn’t continue.

“Umm. Yes, your highness?”

Her expression was still firm. “We are facing a grave threat, and I have placed the responsibility of that threat in your capable hands. The Arakna’cabra is capable of reproducing at an alarming rate, and we have less than two weeks before the entire continent is overrun with Flesh Collectors. Assuming there isn’t already a small army of them. So, I will repeat myself once more. If you find my selections to be inadequate for this task, then I want you to object.”

Oh wow. She was putting a lot of faith in me.

Okay.

I nodded more confidently. “I understand.”

She sat back again and recrossed her legs, the black silk shimmering in the light, my attention again drawn to her bare feet.

Why were her feet bare?

“Then please proceed,” she said simply.

I focused on her purple gaze briefly, before shifting my attention to the group on my left. They actually looked pretty professional upon a first glance, with there being one large Red Oni guy, who looked a little on the younger side -- still very large, but like he was barely an adult -- as well as three elves and one human. All of them were male, except for one female elf, with the human guy appearing like he might be a Mage, given that he had a staff. Honestly, I was pretty sure at least three of these people were Mages.

Including myself, that would be six people, which would work just fine, so long as we could devise a good plan with our combined skills and abilities.

But first, I figured I’d go ahead and check all their Ranks, even though I was sure they were probably all top tier. All were probably A Tier or higher.

----------------------------------------

Total: 67

Rank: D Tier

----------------------------------------

Total: 62

Rank: D Tier

----------------------------------------

Total: 71

Rank: C Tier

----------------------------------------

Total: 64

Rank: D Tier

----------------------------------------

Total: 62

Rank: D Tier

----------------------------------------

What the fuck?!

They were almost all D Tier!

They were almost all about as strong as the average farmer!

Only one of them was C Tier! And it was the young-looking Red Oni guy!

What, the actual, fuck?!

“Is this a joke?” I said in disbelief, without thinking.

Unexpectedly, half the Elf Guard in the room immediately drew their swords, only for General Vildred to speak up in a loud booming voice.

“Stand down,” he ordered.

They slowly returned their weapons to their sheaths, with me looking at them in alarm, kind of surprised they reacted like that, but knowing I’d sort of stepped out of line. Still, what the actual fuck?

I looked up at the Queen to see that she hadn’t budged an inch, no expression on her face, her purple eyes impassive as she simply looked at me.

I cleared my throat, trying to think fast.

Trying to understand what was going on here.

My tone was cautious. “Forgive me, your highness. But did you say that this was a team you personally selected?” I asked carefully.

“It’s a team I had selected, based on specific qualifications, yes.”

I frowned at that, still holding her impassive gaze. “And may I ask what those qualifications were?” I wondered.

“You may not,” she said simply.

Shit, what in the hell was this?!

Okay, think.

What did I know about her?

Well, for one, she was most well known for being the one to decide the difficulty level of quests, which meant she must have at least some idea of another’s strength.

Or did she?

Maybe she knew the threat level of a quest, based on monster characteristics, but she left the guilds to decide who could, or couldn’t, take on certain quests. Which actually made a lot of sense. But surely someone as strong as her would be able to tell that these people were weak?

I mean, superficially they did look strong, but if they were almost all D Tier, then that implied that they didn’t even have a Focus unlocked.

Surely she knew that, right?

And what if she did know that?

Was she actually trying to kill me off? Did she know that I was aware of the Scourge from the Atacama Valley after all? Did she want to silence me by sending me on a fool’s mission? Would I be blamed for the death of this team?

But then again, she never said I had to take these people with me.

She told me to object to her selections, if I found them unfit for the task.

So then, was this some kind of test?

Fuck.

I didn’t know, but her face wasn’t giving me anything at all.

Her purple eyes simply held my gaze, waiting for me to speak up.

I finally took a deep breath, and tried to get at the core of the issue.

“What do you want?” I asked seriously.

Her purple eyes immediately narrowed. “I’ve told you what I want.”

“But what do you really want?” I pressed.

I could feel the tension rising in the room. The Elf Guard did not like how I was speaking to her. Even these candidates seemed a little uncomfortable, like they were about to witness a beheading of the human who got too informal with the Queen.

But still, I knew this was something else.

After staring me down for a long few seconds, she finally responded.

“You test my patience.”

I sighed heavily, only to square my shoulders as I faced her fully.

“I object to them all,” I stated loudly.

Someone gasped.

And then it was completely silent.

“On what grounds?” the Queen demanded seriously, sitting up straighter in her throne a little, as if to match my own posture.

My tone was firm. “I’m a Healer, and yet I could defeat every single one of them in a one-on-one duel.”

“Puny human!” the Red Oni exclaimed.

I ignored him.

“You believe so?” the Queen wondered.

“I know so,” I retorted.

“Then prove it.” She immediately focused to my side, I assumed at the Red Oni who had just spoken. “I want you to attack this Healer and subdue him,” she said firmly.

“With pleasure, my Queen,” the big red guy retorted, immediately rushing toward me. He didn’t even waste a second, and yet there was enough distance between us that I didn’t even bother to look at him, instead holding the Queen’s purple gaze.

This had to be some kind of test.

At the last second, I activated my Stun ability, which I could use so long as the enemy was within a certain range -- or further if I had my slingshot -- and the guy abruptly froze solid, beginning to fall toward me.

Stepping back just in time, I finally focused on his stiff red body as he plummeted to the floor where I’d just been standing, only to notice the hilt of his sword. The sight triggered the reflexes I’d learned from training with Jackel, knowing what I had to do to win a fight, when the Stun ability was my only advantage.

In one swift motion I reached for it as he smashed into the stone floor, only to draw it in the blink of an eye, and -- with both hands -- slam the tip right into the guy’s muscled back.

It sank in like butter beneath my strength, right between his ribs.

The Red Oni screamed.

All the Guard immediately drew their weapons, even Vildred this time.

And I simply let go of the sword, took one step back, and then focused up at her again, even as the man choked and whimpered like a baby, trying to reach back to pull it out but being unable to, partially due to having so much tight muscle in his arms and shoulders.

But I had no sympathy for him.

The little bastard didn’t even know real pain.

He had no idea what it felt like to feel real torment.

But I bet the Queen knew, just as I did.

Aside from the noises my opponent was making, struggling to breathe with a sword impaling his chest, almost seeming afraid to speak up and have me end him…it was otherwise completely silent for a long few seconds…

Before Vildred spoke again, his voice quiet this time.

“Stand down.”

The Queen held my gaze, her tone almost haughty when she finally did speak.

“You dare draw blood in my presence?”

And that was the last straw.

This game was already pissing me off, her pretending that she was sincere in this ruse was pissing me off, and she’d just pushed me over the edge with her attitude.

“I know what you went through to become Queen!” I snapped.

Oh shit.

Everyone froze. Vildred stiffened in the corner of my eye.

I quickly continued, knowing it was too late to take that back.

“So yes, your highness. To prove that this team is inadequate, the Healer before you has drawn blood in your presence.”

She didn’t respond, continuing to stare at me with those hard purple eyes.

I decided to continue. “And I’m also aware of your strength too,” I added. “You and I both know I am no threat to you. So unless you’re just displeased to have his blood spilled here, instead of in the wilderness against a monster that would slaughter him and wear his skin, then I see no reason why it should bother you.”

She still didn’t say anything.

I gritted my teeth. “Now, I humbly ask you again. What do you really want?’

Finally, she parted her pink lips, her tone emotionless. “You do not fear death.”

I frowned at that, only for a chill to run up my spine.

Oh fuck.

Was she referring to the attack just now…or was she implying that she was about to order me executed?

Shit.

I chose my words carefully, my tone more respectful. “No, your highness, I certainly do fear death, but I am also not a fool. This team is possibly the most inadequate group I have ever seen, and yet you seem set on proving that they are adequate. To the point that you commanded this guy…” I paused to gesture at the Red Oni still coughing at my feet. “To attack me, as if to prove that I am wrong. But I do not believe you to be a poor judge of strength. Which means you are well aware this team is inadequate. You are well aware this team isn’t even strong enough to be accepted into one of the top five Guilds…” My voice cut off.

Unexpectedly, I saw something in her purple gaze, a sort of weariness, almost as if she wanted this charade to be over too. Which confused me, but also caused my approach to change dramatically.

My tone shifted, becoming more pleading. “So please, I sincerely beg of you, my Queen. Tell me what you really want, so that I might adequately provide it.”

Her tone was quiet, almost somber, as she glanced at the Head of the Guard.

“Leave us.”

Completely shocked, I looked over at General Vildred, seeing that he was just as stunned as I was, only for him to straighten abruptly. “My Queen,” he said loudly, as if in opposition.

I focused on her again, seeing that she was staring him down.

Her tone was firm. “You heard me.”

“As you command,” he said loudly, abruptly turning around. “Everyone is to leave at once!” he added, when the group on my left didn’t budge.

Everyone quickly began filing out, guards included.

“Allister,” a somber voice unexpectedly said.

I focused up at the Queen in confusion, only for her to glance down toward my feet. “Would you please heal this man, so that he may leave as well?”

Please?

She said please? To me?

Confused as hell, I reached down and began activating my Greater Healing while pulling the sword out, causing him to wince even as the healing effect took hold. He then got one knee underneath him, continuing to cough, only to look up at me when I held out his weapon.

Needless to say, he looked more ashamed and humbled than I was expecting, tentatively reaching out for the hilt and then backing up before turning to hurry out of the room, his shoulders hunched.

Once he was gone, and Vildred pulled shut the massive doors, I looked up at the Queen again, surprised by just how somber she looked. Like, really somber, as if she’d just found out that she lost her whole family or something.

The look in her eyes actually made me choke up, feeling like I was on the verge of tears myself, though I couldn’t understand why.

It was completely silent for a long time.

Her full pink lips finally parted again, her tone soft. “Does it cause you discomfort to look upon me?” she wondered quietly.

I was so confused.

I didn’t know how to respond, but I knew I should.

I cleared my throat. “Knowing that you’re intelligent, powerful, shrewd, and very deserving of your status, along with the fact that I don’t know your intentions, is what makes me uncomfortable,” I admitted.

Her expression became even more somber, as if my response caused her great anguish. “Are you familiar with my good friend Sylvia Vanitas?”

What the…

“Umm, yeah…” I said uncertainly. “W-Why?”

“Earlier today, she came to me with a very unusual story. Would you perhaps allow me to recount it to you?”

I stared at her in shock and confusion.

None of this was making any sense.

Was this woman actually related to the elf girl I’d fallen in love with? Maybe she had a daughter that no one knew about?

Oh fuck, now that I was really thinking about it, they actually did look a lot alike. Same hair, same eyes, same complexion, and even the same overall shape of the face. Obviously this woman was a lot older, but still…

When I didn’t respond, the Queen continued anyway.

“A fifteen-year-old human boy chased after a fourteen-year-old elf girl, in an attempt to save her life from a fruitless endeavor to save her father, and they were together swallowed up by a nearby Dungeon. For three months, they fought for their lives every waking hour of the day, and together survived hell by finding comfort in each other. The boy and girl became highly committed to each other, and soon exchanged vows, promising to always remain as one. And, as if in response to that commitment, the moment they first consummated their pledge, the boy gained a unique Skill. At first, the girl was thrilled. However, upon finding out what that skill might entail, the girl forbid him from using it, fearing for his life. But he disobeyed. They conquered the Dungeon, but upon doing so, they were both left dying. And so, the boy made a decision. He used the forbidden skill, and sacrificed his life, to save her life. That skill?” Unexpectedly, she choked up, losing her composure as her purple eyes began filling with tears, attempting to continue. “That skill…was called Soulmate.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

I…

I didn’t tell Mel those details…

Which meant I didn’t tell Sylvia those details.

And yet…

My eyes widened in alarm as her tears began brimming over.

Eye of the Goddess activated on its own.

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Eliza Ashryn Nylanthria

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STATUS

Race: Elf

Gender: Female

Age: 120

Class: Mage

Focus: Electric Specialist

State: Bound (Allister Rosengard)

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Bound…

Oh my God.

Instantly, my legs gave out and I fell to the floor, staring up at her as my chest began heaving, my heart racing, panic clawing at my lungs, suddenly feeling like I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Elizatay?” I gasped, about to pass out. “Elizatay Mariona?”

With tears streaming down her face, Eliza abruptly left her throne and flew down the steps, her bare foot stepping right in the blood in front of me, as if it were a mere puddle of water, only to throw herself into my arms, embracing me tightly as she began sobbing.

Panic was squeezing my chest, confusion strangling my mind, and I was about to pass out.

This couldn’t be happening.

This couldn’t be happening.

How was this possible?

I’d last seen her six years ago, and yet she was a full century older.

And then it really hit me.

My love was in my arms.

I abruptly hugged her tighter, burying my face against her bare shoulder. “Eliza!” I sobbed. “Oh my God, Eliza!”

“I’m so sorry,” she cried out, her body trembling. “I didn’t mean to leave you! I didn’t mean to leave you! Please forgive me. My love, please forgive me! I’m so sorry I left you. I…” Her voice choked as she sobbed again, holding me even tighter, her tone coming out as a whine. “I still remember the moment when the gate fell apart, and I realized you were still inside. Oh Allie, I died that day.” She sobbed again. “I died that day, a century ago, and have spent every day since then trying to find you. Everything I’ve done, up until this moment, was in hopes that I might find you!”

And that’s when it hit me.

The special instructions every time a special Quest was handed out to one of the top teams.

‘Save anyone found in the dungeon, at all costs.’

All this time.

All this time she’d been looking for me.

She became the Queen to look for me. She suffered greatly, even enduring trials of pain, all so that she might be placed in a position where she had endless resources to search for me.

All for me.

“Eliza,” I sobbed, hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that I didn’t try harder to find you. I’m so sorry for using that skill on you, and leaving you. I just couldn’t live with knowing you were dead. I’d rather die than see you dead!”

She cried harder. “And I couldn’t live with you dead!” she sobbed. “My only hope was that I was bound to you! My ‘Wisdom of the Goddess’ told me I was still bound to you.” She sobbed again, her voice a whine. “But it’s been a hundred and six years! I began to believe it wasn’t a sign that you were alive after all. I began to believe you were really d-d-de--”

Her voice broke and she began sobbing even harder.

Oh shit, this couldn’t be happening.

Why was this happening?

And yet all I could think about was that she was in my arms again.

The love of my life was in my arms again…

It took me way too long to recover from that fact.

It took me way too long to stop crying.

I was just in complete shock and overwhelmed with suffocating emotions, trying to comprehend the fact that I’d stepped out of the Dungeon basically a hundred years after she did. And trying to comprehend that I was even alive after sacrificing my life to save hers, wondering if I truly had died, considering that I’d been gone from the world for a century…

It took way too long to collect myself.

So long, that there was finally a knock on the massive doors leading to the audience chamber, prompting Eliza to pull away in grief.

Her amethyst eyes were somber but also relieved.

“Please forgive me, my love, but I must be the Queen right now. It’s the worst possible timing for something like this to happen, but this threat truly is apocalyptic if it’s not dealt with soon.”

“I…I understand,” I replied, so many questions beginning to fill my mind, but knowing now wasn’t the time to ask them.

Unexpectedly, she grabbed my face and pressed her soft lips against mine, the heat from her tears hot against my skin, the kiss full of desperation and affection. Before she pulled away, stood up, and turned to climb the stairs, to ascend the throne.

I spoke without thinking. “Can I just ask one thing? Please.”

She hesitated in her seat, before nodding.

“Why the test?” I asked seriously.

She grimaced. “I did it for you, my love. I elevated you in the eyes of my subjects. I was wrong and you proved me wrong in front of all of them.” She hesitated. “Even if they disapprove of the tone you used with me, or how you spoke to me, they will acknowledge that you accurately determined the strength of another person. And they will acknowledge that you defeated what looked like a strong man. As a healer, you defeated someone I’d chosen to defeat a vicious beast. Those rumors, of what happened moments ago, will spread among the people. And you will finally be known throughout my kingdom, just as I am known.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Again, she did it for me.

“Now,” she continued in a rushed tone. “Rise to your feet and wipe your face.”

I quickly did so, even as she wiped her face.

“You may enter!” she then yelled.

The massive door creaked open, only for Vildred to appear, his expression extremely concerned. “My Queen, one of our scouts just returned. He’s reported that he spotted a Flesh Collector in the area he was assigned to. A different one than Astaer Rootkin encountered.”

“My God,” Eliza exclaimed. “There’s already two of them. Which means, there may be even more.”

Focusing on her sincerely stunned expression, I unexpectedly made a decision.

This threat wasn’t just a threat to the world.

It was a threat to my beloved.

And I would die for my beloved.

Again even, if I had to.

I abruptly dropped to my knee, causing Eliza to look down at me in alarm, even as I spoke loudly.

“My Queen, I have learned a spell that will cure the incurable. A spell that will heal those afflicted by the curse of the Arakna’cabra. With your permission, I will assemble a team of my choosing, and rid your kingdom of these demons.” I focused up at her, seeing how distressed she was at my sudden proclamation, almost as if she didn’t truly want to send me on this mission. “For within your kingdom is a woman I love above all else, and I would die for her. Again, and again, I would die for her.”

I could see her holding back the tears.

But then her expression became determined, and she abruptly stood, staring down at me.

Her tone was firm. “Then, as your Queen, I will personally accompany you to ensure these demons are slain. For I too would soon sacrifice my own life, before seeing this kingdom, and all I love within it, see destruction and ruin.”

I was speechless.

I knew there were probably issues with her outright proclaiming to love me, but this just proved the truth behind everything she’d already said.

She’d die for me. Just as I’d died for her.

She’d spent all her life searching for me, and now that she’d found me, she would not let me go.

Directing her attention to the Head of the Guard, she gave a command.

“Go, and announce to the whole kingdom. I, Queen Eliza Ashryn Nylanthria, will leave my throne to personally join the fight against this demon, and defeat that which threatens our world. And the powerful Healer, Allister Rosengard, will lead the assault team into battle. Ensure that there is not a soul in the kingdom who is not aware of these actions.”

Holy shit, she was trying to make me a War Hero.

Not only would I lead the assault team, I would lead the Queen herself into battle.

Vildred’s response was immediate, a deep respect in his tone as he bowed.

“As you command, my Queen.”

FEEDBACK: I really hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know if this evoked any emotions for you (I'll be honest, I cried while writing this, 'feeling' what 'they felt' when everything came to light for Allister).

For those of you who 'figured it out' beforehand, (about the Queen) do you feel like this chapter would have been better if you didn't know? Or was it better knowing, and getting to see how the truth came to light?

I ask because I'm considering removing the comment about the Queen having purple eyes in the chapter when Sylvia hears the story. Because I DO want people to start suspecting (so maybe I should keep the info about the purples eyes?), but I don't want it to be obvious (or rather, I want there to still be doubt) until this chapter.

I will say that I went back and emphasized the Queens age (her ruling for almost a century) to try to put some doubt in there. So maybe keeping the comment about the purple eyes would be good.

Let me know!

ARTWORK: The first commission (Gabriella in a Bikini) was posted the end of December 2021, with another outfit posted in January. Serenity will be for February.

Here is a List of Artwork 

Chapter 11 >>