Combat Healer Ch. 09

December 11, 2021

NOTE: I uploaded (on Dec 11, 2021) a little over 65,000 words, which is roughly 150 hours spent writing and editing.

ALSO: There are now major SPOILERS in the comments (for the next Ch 10), so be wary if you read them.

<< Chapter 8 | Chapter 1

- CHAPTER 9: Emergency -

Present Day

An elf with chestnut hair and tan skin clung desperately to her dying younger sister as the bitter wind stung her pained blue eyes, her hair lashing against her face in the violent gusts, the beast beneath her flapping its wings as hard as it could, even as she urged it to go faster.

‘FASTER. PLEASE FASTER.’

But her mount was also injured.

And yet, her Gryphon fought against the agony eating away beneath its flesh, pressing onward despite the torment, doing everything in its power to obey its master and friend.

But it wasn’t enough.

So many of their furry companions had perished in an effort to help the elf save her sister, and yet it wasn’t enough.

She’d been too late.

The elf’s right hand was frozen stiff, clinging to a fistful of fur in an effort to keep both her and her sister from plummeting to their deaths far below. Her other arm was preoccupied with holding onto the cold unconscious form in her grasp, the body already beginning to feel both stiff and flaccid at the same time.

No.

Please don’t die.

Please don’t be dead.

‘FASTER. PLEASE FASTER!’

Her mount pressed onward as hard as it could, its beak parted now as it gasped for breath.

She was able to see the Queen’s castle in the distance, approaching it from the northeast, only visible due to their height. But as the frigid air wore on her body, so did the despair that was suffocating her heart. Because she knew what she did not want to admit.

The creature that attacked was one of the highest threats assigned to a Scourge Beast, having all the characteristics that made such a monster a true demon.

Capable of moving among the trees in absolute silence.

Known to strip its victim’s flesh and stretch it over its bulbous body.

Capable of reproducing at an overwhelming rate.

And…

And having fangs infused with a venom that was incurable…

No healer had ever been able to stop or reverse the process.

Her sister was liquifying inside, and there was nothing she could do to save her.

Yet, as her eyes stung in the harsh cold, her vision blurred, she pressed onward. Because she knew there was one healer who cured things others could not.

One healer who was known among the creatures in the city, as even being so kind as to grace his gentle touch on them.

No healer ever took the time to waste their spells on an animal.

But one did.

He was famous to her furry friends, to the point that injured creatures frequently sought him out.

But even still…she knew it was too late.

And she knew there were no spells to fix this.

Yet still, she pressed onward.

Clinging to her sister’s dying body, she pressed onward.

For…

For it was all she could do.

‘SOUND THE ALARM.’

* * *

I bolted out the front of the Guild Hall, looking to the sky in search of the Gryphon I knew should be visible, hoping to see where it was heading, since that on its own would tell me a lot. Of course, normally the Gryphon would go straight to the Queen’s castle, sounding the alarm only so that the Guilds and Guard would mobilize, knowing that the Queen would soon be issuing orders in response to the threat.

A threat so great, that it couldn’t wait.

This was different than the yearly Northern Invasion, which the Guilds had time to prepare for. From what I’d been told, the Gryphon had only reported a true emergency two times in the last twenty years. And they had all been catastrophic threats that had to be dealt with immediately, or else risk the entire continent being conquered.

It was that serious.

Either there was an enormous horde of monsters, a single powerful beast that was heading directly for the capital, or…

Or a horrifying demon capable of reproducing so quickly that it was a guarantee that all life would be lost, if it wasn’t slaughtered quickly.

Obviously, the last possibility was the most time-sensitive, and the worst.

I’d at least read about such close encounters in the past, where a rapidly reproducing monster almost overwhelmed the kingdom’s forces, but I didn’t know of any such events that had occurred in my lifetime. Hopefully, this wasn’t such a threat.

I didn’t even realize Mel, Val, and Eira were at my side, until Eira spoke up, her elven eyes being much sharper than mine.

“Oh God, I think Celestine is dead.”

“What?!” I said in alarm, looking at her and then focusing back up at the sky. Of course, I could barely make out that there appeared to be two people riding the Gryphon, but I never would have been able to determine if one of them wasn’t alive or not.

Eira continued. “If she’s not dead, she’s close to dying.” Her rich brown eyes focused on me. “Allister, I think they’re coming here.”

More people were beginning to gather in front of the Guild Hall, likewise looking to the northeastern sky, the area between the building and the front gates being plenty large enough to hold such a gathering, and then some.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one who was prepared to help.

A female healer, who I was very much not fond of, overheard Eira and spoke up loudly. “Well, she’s smart to come here then, since I’m here. If I can’t help, then no one can.”

Fucking Lyla.

I hated that bitch so much.

She was in the second strongest team in our guild, which meant she perceived herself as being the top healer in the entire kingdom, even though her team had another healer. And sure, she was fairly decent, having a pretty high Essence Regeneration Rate, but I’d met more adequate healers in the other guilds, and felt confident she was not my number two. She wasn’t even number ten in line for most competent healer.

But all the men in her team got to fuck her as much as they wanted, so she got by on her ‘just okay’ abilities. Honestly, it was even possible that the other healer in their team, a female Green Oni with the Shaman Focus, was more competent, but she was ironically a bit timid and let Lyla run all over her even though the green chick was a full head taller.

Either way, this bitch was not my favorite person.

She was my least favorite.

I ignored her as she began barking out orders like she owned the place, asking the crowd to begin making room for the Gryphon to land. However, it very quickly became clear that it wasn’t going to be a smooth landing.

Eira began yelling. “Everyone move to the eastern wall! The Gryphon is injured too! Prepare for impact!”

Sure enough, the Gryphon was half-gliding, half-falling now as it plummeted toward our front courtyard, screeching in agony as it barreled for the ground at almost full speed. Several people screamed as everyone began running out of the way, attempting to avoid being smashed by the massive beast, the conscious rider looking like she was about to pass out.

At the very last second, the Gryphon flashed its wings and tail out, and slowed down just before hitting the packed dirt, only for its left wing to give out and snap in two like it was suddenly made of slime.

It shrieked at the top of its lungs as it landed on broken legs, the limbs giving out so suddenly that it smashed into the ground, sending both of its passengers flying to the dirt.

I was already running, aiming for the younger sister, whose tan skin looked almost transparent, her body having rolled into a sickening position. Astaer was already getting to her hands and knees urgently looking around as she began screaming for help.

“Healer! I need the male Healer! Please help! Someone please help!”

I was surprised she was specifically asking for me, but quickly turned my attention to her sister, trying to use my Eye of the Goddess to understand what was wrong with her, even as I approached at full speed.

Astaer finally noticed me. “It’s you! Please save her! Please save my sister! I’ll do anything, please!”

Fuck, I was struggling to get any useful information from my skill.

I couldn’t focus.

“What did this to her?” I demanded, quickly kneeling down at Celestine’s side, and trying to move her body a little so she wasn’t twisted so sickeningly.

Astaer immediately crawled over, her arms trembling, the crowd having erupted into several dozen voices speaking all at once, but the two of us tuned them out as she answered my question.

“It was an Arakna’cohbra. A Flesh Collector.”

Fuck! FUCK!

I didn’t have a spell to heal this. Not even close.

As if in response to the information, my Eye of the Goddess skill finally worked.

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

Celestine Rootkin

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

STATUS

Race: Elf

Gender: Female

Class: Ranger

Focus: Beast Master

Ailments: Venom (severe), Liquify (severe)

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

Fuck!

I knew Cure Venom, but it only worked on minor or moderate severities. And similarly, Greater Healing could only handle moderate ailments, which was exactly why no one could heal Mel’s Fatigue caused by her spell Rising Phoenix, because it was severe Fatigue.

Unexpectedly, Lyla was right at my side, placing her hands on the body lying between us.

“Move the fuck out of the way!” she snapped. “Worthless loser, what are you even waiting for?! Greater Healing!”

However, when I didn’t respond, she answered her own question.

“Fuck, it’s too late.” She sighed heavily. “We can’t fix this.”

“No!” Astaer exclaimed, her expression tormented, her blue eyes beginning to fill with tears. “No, no, no!” she continued, abruptly leaning down to rest her face against her sister’s.

Lyla stood up then, intentionally kicking me in the thigh in the process. “Leave her be. Let her mourn.”

Fucking bitch!

But I had to ignore her. There wasn’t time to waste.

I had to focus.

Okay, my Cure Venom was at level 2 and cost 8 Essence, and my Greater Healing was maxed out at level 5, and cost 14 essence. Neither one of them would fix a severe ailment. But that was 22 Essence total, if I tried to use them at the same time to attempt to learn a new spell. I had 230 total essence, since my previously used magic was already recovered, which meant that only gave me ten tries.

Only ten fucking tries!

I urgently looked up, surprised to find the elf receptionist was right there, towering over me.

“Eira, I need Essence Crystals. As many as you can bring. Just put them on my tab.”

Astaer abruptly sat up, her distraught and devastated expression suddenly having a hint of hope. “No, I’ll pay for them. Whatever it takes.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said to her. “Just go, and help her bring back as many as you can carry.”

Lyla was instantly outraged, speaking up from only a few feet away, even as Astaer ran after Eira.

“Fucking bastard!” she snapped. “Don’t give her hope! You can’t fix this! And you fucking know it!”

“Just shut the fuck up!” I snapped at her.

Mel abruptly chimed in, stepping in her direction. “Say one more thing, and I’ll smash your face in! Let him focus!”

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Lyla snapped right back.

“Little girl, you’re about to find out exactly who I am,” Mel yelled. “Now shut the fuck up!”

Surprisingly, Lyla didn’t respond.

I appreciated the help, but I had to stop listening to them, instead using my training in meditation to focus. Because I had to focus. I had to.

Learning a new spell wasn’t a stroll through the forest.

It was almost fucking impossible.

And it required focus and determination.

Fuck.

My hands were already on her cold body, already zoning out everything else around me as I desperately tried to learn a new spell.

One that could fix this.

‘Cure Venom of Arakna’cohbra. Greater Healing.’

‘Cure Venom. Greater Healing of Severe Ailments.’

‘Cure Venom of Arakna’cohbra. Greater Healing of severe Ailments.’

I continued to experiment with variations, using up 22 Essence each time, until I was depleted of all I had within me.

Fuck!

Someone asked me if I was going to do anything, while someone else commented that I was probably waiting for the other two to return with the Crystals, only for someone else to say, “Here they come.”

Astaer abruptly fell down in front of me, on the other side of her sister, an armful of Essence Crystals of various colors falling on the ground in front of us, only for Eira to set down another armful. All of the Crystals were the size of a fist or larger, all of them containing roughly 100 to 150 Essence, and yet I needed so much more.

The average healer only had a maximum of 120 Essence, with mages typically being upwards of 150 maximum storage capacity within their bodies. For them, a typical Essence Crystal would be enough if they needed to refill in a pinch.

But not for me.

And just like Essence Regeneration had a certain rate, so did the ability to absorb essence, something that was determined by their level of Essence Extraction skill.

Of course, most Scourge Suppressors had their Essence Extraction maxed out at Level 5…

Mine was maxed at Level 10.

And everyone was about to find out just what I was capable of.

I grabbed a Crystal and absorbed all of it in under a second, tossing it to the side and grabbing another to suck up nearly half of it.

The whole thing happened so fast that, for a second, it seemed that everyone thought I’d just grabbed one and tossed it for no reason, only for someone to notice that it was empty.

“Holy fuck!” someone exclaimed. “Did he just drain that with a touch?!”

“Oh my God, it’s really empty. What in the fuck?”

I ignored the rapidly escalating murmurs, and I again began rapidly casting my spells silently, until I was out again, absorbing what was left in the Crystal I held, and then grabbing another, rapidly depleting it in an instant and tossing it to the side.

“Holy shit! Is he Silent Casting?!” someone exclaimed.

“Oh God, how many spells has he gone through so far?”

“He’s using almost two Crystals each time! Just how much essence can he store?! Over two hundred?!”

I tried to ignore them, Astaer already having Crystals ready for me to grab, everything about her composure desperate, doing everything in her power to hold it together, her entire body trembling.

But as I tried and tried, and tried again…

I failed.

Over and over, until I’d run through so many of the Crystals that Eira went and got me more.

But people were starting to leave now.

Too much time had passed.

The excitement was over.

Celestine looked dead. She was still barely breathing, the sound only detectable because of the almost inaudible gurgling noise she was beginning to make, but they could all tell I was just wasting my energy over a dead body.

I hadn’t even realized it, but the Elf Guard had showed up…

One of them finally asked Astaer if she was ready for him to take her to the Queen.

She didn’t answer him, her hands trembling as she held more Essence Crystals at the ready.

Tears were streaming down her face again.

As she silently cried.

And I was frustrated.

Extremely frustrated. Because I didn’t want to fail, and not because I cared about winning or losing. It was because Celestine was a person, and I didn’t want her to die.

I wanted her to live!

I wanted her to live, dammit!

I knew I was attempting something nearly impossible, but this was life or death, and I was not about to lose to death. Finally, my rage boiled over, and I became both pissed and desperate.

I infused my thoughts with essence and silently cast a combination I’d never tried before.

‘Fucking Imbued Item, Fucking Heal, Fucking Cure Venom, Fucking Greater Healing, Fucking Dispel Curse Decay, Fucking Dispel Greater Curse Decay’

And then, my spell turned into a prayer, infused with essence.

‘Fucking Save Her, Please Fucking Save Her!’

Unexpectedly, my body flooded with warmth.

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

NEW SPELL: Divine Restoration

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

DESCRIPTION

Level: 1/5

Element: Light

Cost: 150 Essence

Effect: Call upon the powers of the Goddess to purify and restore. Heal severe injuries and cure severe ailments.

Cast Time: Instant

Use Time: 1 minute

Cooldown: None

Limitation: None (Intelligence: 24)

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

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck!

It worked! But that was so much essence!

A typical healer wouldn’t even be able to cast this spell!

But I could.

I was out of energy again, but I urgently grabbed the two Essence Crystals that Astaer was holding, sucking them both up with a touch and tossing them away, as I abruptly shoved both hands on the liquified body in front of me.

Whenever I used my healing magic, nothing ‘visible’ ever happened.

Nothing.

Ever.

‘Divine Restoration!’

Unexpectedly, my hands began to glow, the light rapidly increasing in intensity to the point that the world around us began to feel dark, even as the glow abruptly began flooding the elf’s limp body, causing her tan skin to turn stark white as she began to fill out…it made me realize just how much far the liquifying had progressed, watching her arms swell to a more normal size, watching her sunken chest begin to rise and return to its normal form.

It was a miracle she wasn’t already dead.

Though I suspected I’d cut it pretty close.

The blinding light continued to shine, as if there was a literal sun erupting from my hands, the brilliance continuing to glow at an impossible level for a full straight minute.

A full straight minute, of the world existing in darkness, in the middle of the daytime, while my new spell ‘Divine Restoration’ became the daylight. It was so bright that I felt like I was beginning to hallucinate, a warmth appearing on my jawline, as if a pair of hands had reached out to grab my face, filling me with warmth from my head, down my entire body.

Yet I saw nothing, except the light.

But then the pressure holding my face dissipated.

The warmth began to diminish.

And the light dimmed.

Shockingly, I could still see, as if I hadn’t just been staring into the sun. And before me was a tan elf with chestnut hair, lying on her back with a neutral expression as if she were only sleeping, her chest beginning to rise and fall normally.

She was breathing normally.

“Oh my God!” Astaer sobbed, abruptly throwing herself on her sister and kissing her on the forehead as she cried out. “Oh God, you saved her! You really saved her! Oh God!”

Feeling a little dizzy, I almost fell over to my side, barely catching myself with my left hand, as an intense wave of Fatigue washed over me, though I knew it wasn’t from the spell. It was a type of severe Fatigue experienced from rapid essence absorption and depletion, something very few people had ever experienced, since rarely did someone need to use hundreds upon hundreds of essence in such a short amount of time.

“Allister!” Mel abruptly exclaimed, practically dropping to the ground to try to catch me.

But I would be okay.

After all, among the many skills I’d learned in the dungeon when I was fifteen, there was one that had been particularly useful, allowing me to not even have to cast a spell for my own injuries or ailments. Because, as long as I had enough essence to cover it, my skill would do it for me -- so long as I was fine with prioritizing myself.

Skill, Regeneration.

“I’m okay,” I managed, the severe Fatigue already dissipating due to my Heal Ailment, Fatigue spell auto-casting. “That was just exhausting.”

An Elf Guard spoke up then. “Astaer,” he said firmly. “We must go.”

Astaer abruptly kissed her sister on the forehead again. “I love you so much,” she whispered, only to focus on me. “I am forever in your debt. Please keep her safe until she wakes up.”

Another Elf Guard spoke up, this one having a much deeper voice. “We’ll have a soldier watch over your sister. We need to bring the Healer with us.”

I focused up at the man in question, feeling like I recognized his voice, only to be surprised by who it was. A very muscular elf with graying hair, towered high on a large muscular horse, with an entire cavalry behind him. I’d only ever seen and heard him from a distance before now.

General Vildred.

The literal Head of the Guard.

Old as hell, strong as hell, and strict as hell.

He was practically the Queen’s right-hand man, and the only other person he took orders from was his young wife, who was rumored to have him wrapped around her finger. Apparently, the beautiful young blonde elf was also the only reason people knew he had a soft side.

But there wasn’t a man in the world who told him what to do, and he certainly acted like it.

Astaer’s tone was abruptly pleading. “Please let him heal my mount!” She then urgently looked at me. “Can you save him too? Please tell me you can use that spell again.”

I smiled, grabbing the Essence Crystal she didn’t seem to realize she was grasping, only to stand up and reach out my other hand to help her up. “Yes. I can save him too.”

Oh man, the look of adoration in her gorgeous blue eyes…

And then she stood up.

Fuck, why did elves have to be so tall?!

I mean, she was only a couple of inches taller, but that ‘moment’ we had going on felt lost the instant she had to incline her head slightly to continue holding my gaze.

Letting go of my hand after a brief squeeze, she turned away and spoke to the nearest Guard riding a horse. “Okay, take me to the Queen immediately,” she demanded, marching over and grabbing the guy’s offered hand, gracefully mounting the muscular horse behind him.

“Yah!” the man exclaimed, both slapping the reigns and kicking the sides with his heels.

Immediately, they were off, the steed bolting at full speed through the Guild gate and rapidly disappearing from sight. Of course, the streets would be clear by now, the sound of the Gryphon signaling everyone to cease travel so that the Guard and Guilds could move freely through the city to assemble wherever they needed to be.

Knowing I was about to deplete almost all my essence again, I went ahead and bent down to grab a couple more Crystals, before heading over to the Gryphon, which was now unconscious as it also slowly died from liquifying.

Fucking Arakna’cohbra.

There were other Scourge Beasts that looked similar to mutated insects and such, but this demon was far worse than a normal monster. And by the time all was said and done, I was sure a number of people were going to end up dying gruesome deaths before this emergency was over. Which was probably why General Vildred planned to have me go with him.

Because I’d just done what was previously impossible.

No doubt this would be far from the last time I cast this new spell.

Far from it.

Mel and Val both stayed right at my side as I began using Divine Restoration on the Gryphon, with there being another blinding light for a solid minute, only for Mel to immediately question the General, still on his horse, when he again indicated it was time for me to come with them.

“Can we come too?” Mel asked seriously.

“No,” he said decisively, his deep voice having an air of authority.

He certainly ended that conversation.

I fished in my pocket for my room key, as well as some silver coins, handing them off to her.

“I’ll be fine. Feel free to explore the Guild while I’m gone, or relax in my room if you want. Maybe get Val something to eat, since I doubt she’s had lunch.”

Mel’s gold eyes were somber. “Okay,” she said quietly, accepting the key and coins.

“Love you,” I replied warmly.

Her gold eyes lit up, only for her to abruptly throw her arms around me tightly. “Love you too, Allie,” she whispered. “See you when you get back.”

Pulling away, I turned to General Vildred who held out his hand to help me get on his horse. However, when I accepted it, he immediately pulled me up in front of him like a fucking child! No way in hell was I riding through the city like this! No fucking w--

“Yah!” he commanded, his muscular steed immediately bursting into a gallop, like its tail was suddenly in flames.

Fuck, my shoulders slammed into General Vildred so violently, that I realized that this was much less embarrassing than falling off the moment he started going.

Oh well, things could be worse.

Racing through the city, I discovered that it was actually more empty than I was expecting, with almost no one in plain sight. But then again, it was early afternoon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if all the taverns were stuffed right now, since the average folk couldn’t really do anything about the situation, except take the day off.

The Queen’s castle was on the northwestern side of the city, overlooking the western side of the northern lake, and it was almost like its own little town that was sectioned off from the rest of the capital. Similar to the massive stone walls that encompassed the main part of the city, there was a massive wall leading to the castle, with a heavily guarded gate that was now lined with something like fifty Elf Guards.

The castle itself was built on a hill, but almost all the paths running through the place were completely flat, with massive stones steps allowing one to go from one level to the next. Of course, I was sure they had normal areas where carts could easily pass, but the horses climbed the steps to the main massive courtyard area so quickly that I was sure they’d done it a thousand times.

We then bolted past some stone buildings and a gurgling fountain, only to arrive at the main entrance, massive steps leading up to enormous pillars that created a large open chamber that would shield one from the rain much like a typical house porch might do.

Really, that’s exactly what it was, except just on a much larger scale.

The ceiling was so high that ten people could stand on each other’s shoulders and still not reach it.

Helping me dismount just after the fountain, General Vildred proceeded to get down too, along with six other Elf Guard, only to escort me up the stone steps to wait on whatever was next. The moment we got to the top, the General snapped his fingers and one of the men took off in a hurried walk into the massive interior, aiming for the enormous wooden doors where even more guards were stationed.

I focused up on the huge man. “So now what?” I wondered.

“Now, we wait,” he said simply, not amused.

I sighed. Of course we’d be waiting, since it wasn’t like the Queen had called me here. Rather, upon me healing Celestine, he made the executive decision to bring me along, assuming that the Queen might want to speak to me, or at least use me to help in this emergency.

And it made sense that he’d anticipate her requests anyway, considering that the Queen had been in power for nearly a hundred years, and I was pretty sure that General Vildred had been the head of the Guard for almost as long as she’d ruled.

Nearly a hundred years that he’d served underneath her.

But having to wait was fine.

This was the kind of thing I lived for. To help others.

And maybe, in the event my earlier conversation with Sylvia did result in me ending up with a target on my head, then I felt confident this would allow me to escape a potential problem. Essentially, I was too valuable at this point to be silenced…or so I hoped.

It was kind of rough having a Ruler I didn’t really know, because a part of me was sincerely devoted to the Queen, knowing how her policies had shaped the kingdom for the better over the last century, while another part of me understood the hard decision such a person had to make.

Which meant that I was someone who would obey her every order, but also was well aware she might get rid of me if I was too much of a liability.

Harsh reality, but that’s just how it was.

Especially since I didn’t know what kind of a person she really was.

I decided to speak up again, since it was pretty quiet outside, aside from the fountain gurgling.

“I’m really surprised you let me try to heal Celestine for so long. But I thank you.”

He scoffed. “Queen’s orders.”

I looked up at him in shock. “Wait, what? How in the world did she know?”

He scoffed again. “She doesn’t know. Not yet.”

“But then…”

“Enough talk,” he snapped.

I focused on one of the stone pillars, just trying to understand what that could possibly imply. He let me try to help Celestine because of the Queen’s orders? And yet the Elf Queen didn’t even know about the situation yet. Or at least, she was only now learning of the specific details.

But what could that possibly mean?

What orders?

Shit, none of this made any sense.

Unless…the Queen’s orders had to do with Celestine…

Or the Gryphon!

Of course!

The Gryphon was one-of-a-kind, and undoubtedly a valuable asset to the Queen and her kingdom. So of course, the General would know that the Queen would prioritize saving the two of them, especially the Gryphon. Because if we lost him, then the next time there was a serious emergency like this, it might be too late to do anything to stop the worst from happening by the time it was known.

After all, the few hours it likely took that Gryphon to travel through the air would have taken at least a day on horseback, if not two days. And a day or two could make a huge difference, depending on the threat.

Taking a deep breath, I glanced around, seeing all the guards standing at attention in their dark blue uniforms with silver highlights, including the metal shoulder armor. Of course, I wasn’t exactly tired and had spent a ton of time on my feet, but I’d also learned the value of conserving one’s strength, so that it didn’t give out in the middle of a fight.

Which meant, I didn’t see the point in standing around for however long I had to wait, especially when I knew for a fact the Queen would not be coming out to see me. Which meant she’d never know I wasn’t standing at attention while I waited for her. Not unless the topic came up for some reason, but I strongly doubted it would.

Thus, I stepped back and leaned against a stone pillar, only to slide right down on my ass and pull my knees up so I could rest my arms on them.

I almost half expected for the General to say something, but he didn’t, just remaining there silently as he waited.

However, no sooner had I sat down than the wooden doors creaked open, and Astaer came rushing out, her chestnut hair looking wild, tearstains still visible on her tan face, her bright blue eyes seeming hopeful.

Of course, I stood right back up.

She glanced at me, but was focused on Vildred as she approached.

“The Queen requests to see you. She’s given me permission to attend to my sister.”

“Very well,” Vildred said in his deep voice. “She should still be at Remnant. You may borrow one of the Guard’s steeds.” He then turned and immediately began walking at a steady gait, his upper body always looking tense.

His arms certainly didn’t move when he walked.

I focused on Astaer again when I realized she was looking at me now.

Before I could even say anything, she abruptly threw herself at me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, my eyes at her nose level as she hugged me tightly. Honestly, I had never really noticed how lanky she was until now, her wiry body being so thin that I was easily able to wrap my arms fully around her tiny waist to the point that my hands were touching my own upper arms on each side as if I was engulfing her in my embrace. Like dang, she was super skinny.

Yet she was also warm and soft, smelling strongly of the forest in a really amazing way.

“Thank you so much, Allister. I can never fully repay you, but I promise to do everything in my power to try. Call on me for anything, and so long as it does not interfere with my duties to the kingdom, then I will attend to your needs.”

I gulped, knowing she probably meant that literally as an open-ended ‘I’ll do anything you want.’ Which was amazing, but also quite the statement to make in front of eavesdropping Guards. Thus, I cleared my throat as we separated, pretending like she only meant that in a professional sense.

“Please give my regards to Celestine. I’m really glad I was able to help her. And your Gryphon. I know he means a lot to you.”

She reached up and caressed my cheek briefly, causing my face to flush. “I will, Allister. Thank you,” she said warmly, only to turn away and head for the steps.

I tried to control my breathing as I sat back down, though this time for a very different reason.

Fuck, she really just turned me on, and I was starting to show.

No way in hell was she lacking in experience, because a person doesn’t get that good at being seductive without a ton of practice. And she really knew how to turn on the charm. And shit, just imagining her long thin body wrapped around mine was almost too much. Suddenly I found both her skinniness and height really arousing.

But I knew I couldn’t think too heavily about it right now.

After all, it was possible that the Queen might want to see me at any moment.

However, as I waited and waited, feeling like almost an hour had passed at this point, I started to wonder if maybe the General was premature in having me come along. Maybe the Queen didn’t want to speak to me after all? Which honestly was perfectly fine with me, since I was a little worried about stumbling with my words in front of her.

After all, she was the Queen.

She was at least five times my age, and she literally held my future in her hands.

At the very least, I suspected there was a good chance she’d assign me to this upcoming assault team, which I was perfectly fine with, but she could just as easily throw me in prison for spreading rumors about the Scourge I’d survived when I was fifteen, depending on whether or not that had anything to do with Sylvia’s urgent errand.

Deciding to stand up again to stretch my legs, having long since calmed down from my interaction with Astaer, I glanced toward the wooden doors when General Vildred stepped out, focused immediately on me.

I turned to face him.

He spoke up once he was closer.

“Queen Eliza Ashryn Nylanthria is ready to see you.”

I simply nodded, immediately stepping forward to follow him into the castle, knowing this was it.

It was time to see the Queen.

And find out where I stood in her perception.

FEEDBACK: Well, that 65,000 words took a long time to write, but I bet it was a fast read.

What do you think so far?

NOTE: There are now major SPOILERS in the comments (for the next Ch 10), so be wary if you read them.

Chapter 10 >>