WARNING: THERE ARE A FEW SCENES IN THIS CHAPTER THAT MAY TRIGGER SOME EMOTIONS. I WILL TRY TO MARK THEM ALL AND PROVIDE A SUMMARY AT THE BOTTOM. SEND A MESSAGE IF YOU BELIEVE I MISSED ASPOT.
Whatever breath I had just recovered is immediately coughed out in surprise. WHAT?
"I'm *cough* sorry?" I gasp out.
"You're the girl that Sett's always talking about in the colosseum. He's always saying that once he's the boss of the place, you'll have to come see him. You're also the one that tried to save the dying man, right?" The constable rambles a little bit. I'm still trying to recover.
"For one… I'm not… Sett's girl… But I did… try to save that… man." I explain. Breathing is getting a little easier. "Wait, Sett's here?"
"Yeah. He's one of my favorite gladiators to watch. Who would have thought such a scrawny little pipsqueak like him would have amounted to anything." The constable smirks.
"I did." I snap at him with a glare. The man has the audacity to not care. I already don't like him all that much.
"Yeah, well, you ain't from around here. No one in their right minds would have ever thought that beast-boy bastard to be worth-"
"That's enough, sir. Really, that's enough." I repeat myself firmly. My breathing feels right now, so I get to my feet and start to run after the two men. The man grabs my wrist rather aggressively.
"You really shouldn't go. Sett's said that-"
"I don't give a damn what he said, where is that pack of Vulkodalks?" I demand.
"In the middle of a square near the colosseum-"
"How populated is that area?"
"It's one of the most populated- Hey, get back here!" The constable screams out. I ignore it in favor of going to help those people. There's no way the two swordsmen are going to be enough to fight them all off and protect the people there. I yelp when the man manages to snag my scarf.
"Let me go!"
"You have to stay safe!" The man protests. I glance over my shoulder to see him pulling on my scarf, pulling me closer to him. I wave a hand, forcing him to let me go for a moment. Even in that moment, a little bit of sweat appears on my forehead and my breath catches, but I'll take that over being forced to stay away… Though if that was just a little bit of magic, that's a lot from my core… I really hope I get the hang of control soon. "Leilah!"
"Don't try to stop me!" I bark. My breathing becomes slightly harder as I feel shadows tilt underneath my feet. Before I know it, I'm launching myself up into the sky, going over rooftops to the square. Everything hurts. Still, people need help. I can't just sit by and do nothing.
I don't need magic to guide me to it, not when I can hear screaming, as well a little gusts of wind appearing. I'm almost there when something launches itself at me. I barely manage to conjure a shield, blocking it from slamming into me. I can't breath for a moment from the use of magic, but I'm alive. It gives me enough time to look at it.
It's like the creature that attacked me before. The huge reptile snarls and snaps at my shield. All of its many eyes are focused directly on me. It's a little terrifying looking at this thing, especially when its teeth are so sharp. The talons on this thing try to score my protection, but thankfully magic doesn't scratch that easily. I can heal the shield at the same time it scratches it, though I'm not sure how long I can last while I feel like I can't breath. I'm taking tiny sips of air, desperate not to pass out.
Eventually, it stops attacking. It lets out this odd chirping sound, like a call, before pouncing on me again. This time, I don't bother blocking. I just dodge. It sails harmlessly by me, skidding across the roof and falling with a whiny howl. The howl is abruptly cut off. I can't stop moving, even if I just witnessed this thing die. There are people that need help.
I barely manage to stop myself from falling over the edge of the roof I'm on to stare at the pandemonium beneath. There are definitely way more than three. Try at least thirty of these things, of varying sizes, attacking several people everywhere. There's a few people that are not moving on the ground, vulkodalks tearing into them. Parents are screaming for their children. Kids are crying, unable to understand that all they are doing is attracting their attention. Men with weapons are attempting to keep the vulkodalks in one spot so they can be annihilated. A gust of wind to my right lets me know where Yasuo is. I'm about to run there when I spot a pair of siblings clutching each other tightly in a corner. A huge vulkodalk, larger than the one that caught me when I first arrived, charges directly at them. I don't have enough time to think, I just throw a shadow in front of them. The creature slams harshly into it, dazed. With that, I drop down in front of the two. The older of the siblings looks at me fearfully.
-Mild warning-
"Help." She whispers. I gather the little boy into my arms and offer my hand to the girl. She takes it. The growl behind us reminds me that the vulkodalk still exists. I yank the girl behind me while tightly holding onto the child. Without warning, my magic floods the kids. I dare to take a quick look. The boy is missing his legs. Both of them show signs of them being bitten off. My heart breaks thinking that they suffered.
-This is one of several, so stay alert.-
"What happened to you?" I whisper. I can't speak clearly yet. I didn't notice before as the boy was blocking my sight, but the girl's body is covered in fresh tatters. Each spot that was ripped shows blood.
"They came out of the sewers. Lots of them. They bit my brother's legs off before Navori soldiers came in. My parents... " She looks to be on the verge of tears.
"Hey, we'll get out of this. I promise." I squeeze her hand tightly. She looks past me to see the giant creature.
"How?" She starts to cry now. I really want to comfort her, but I can't get distracted. Especially since this thing is staring at us like a free meal. I'm still a little weak from lack of food, but I'm not leaving them behind.
"Cover your eyes." I warn her. With one final effort, I force my almost completely gone magic to flash as brightly as I can. I don't bother trying to hold my breath, I just exhale with my magic tightening around my chest. The vulkodalk yelps and whines when the glow dies down. It's clawing at its eyes, momentarily blinded. With the distraction, I yank the girl with me to a more open place.
"Where are we going?" She yells. The giant continues to slam into different objects, roaring as loudly as it can.
"Away from here!" I answer her while still running. My legs are so tired. I feel like I'm struggling to even move now, but their safety means more to me. I knock on the first door I see. Thankfully, it opens to reveal a rather elderly gentleman. He can't even get a word out before I'm ushering the kids in. "Keep them safe until the issue at hand is taken care of."
"Leilah?" The man asks while taking the boy from my arms. I jolt a little bit. I don't think I've ever seen this man before.
"Do I know you?" I gently push the girl inside. Her eyes are wide and she doesn't let go.
"You're going to go back out there?" She pales considerably. I gently pry my hand out and pat her head.
"I'll be alright." I calm her slightly before looking at the man. "How do you know me?"
"I was one of the-" The man starts to explain when a desperate scream rings out. With that, I run off again. "Miss Leilah!"
"If you can, keep that door available!" I yell over my shoulder before turning the corner. I blanch and have to hide. I… just watch three of them feasting on a dead man. I see the man I couldn't save flash before my eyes. I can feel the man's blood in my fingers. Marcino's as well… No, I'm in Navori, there are people who need me. I can't flash back to the past. There might be more people who are alive.
-MAJOR WARNING. DING DING DING! This scene contains a lot of gore and injuries.-
With that thought, I force myself to keep going, past the alley with the feasting monsters into the square. Over and over again, I run into the square, finding an unfortunate person about to be attacked and rescuing them. Some of them lost limbs. Most lost family. I want to give them the comfort they deserve, but I can't. I don't stop bringing people to a shelter and going back out. It's almost a never ending battle. Sometimes, I get there too late. I watch as a person is eaten. All I can do is look around. Most of the time the eaten person is trying to save someone else. I've helped pregnant women hurry to shelter, crying over their lost husbands. Children wailing for their mothers and fathers. Grown men and women sobbing over losing their parents. It's heartbreaking to see them. I still can't comfort them, only offering a tight hug before I go out again. Every time, the victims beg me to stay. Every time, I decline.
I think the people still in the square noticed me. It's really hard not to, to be honest. I'm in bright blue with a very brown background. Either way, it makes my task easier. Instead of having to search for people, I hear them yell out for me. The vulkodalks have also taken notice. Every now and then, I get cornered by a vulkodalk trying to rescue someone. I can't keep using my magic, not when I have so little control over it, but I can't just not use it. They need help. I also can't help but heal someone when I touch them, so I'm losing even more magic. It's gotten to the point where I can't afford to touch the person I'm rescuing, otherwise I'll pass out. I don't get any more injuries, so I guess physically not touching someone is enough to not activate my curse… or I am too magically low to be able to activate it. Either way, I'm able to keep going. I'm surprised I even lasted as long as I did, though I'm not sure how long it's been. Everything just starts to blur.
"Miss! Help me!" A man yells as I run by. He's stuck, his right arm pinned under a fallen roof. I skid to a stop and do my best to help him, trying to lift it high enough to free an adult. I struggle with getting it high enough to let him wiggle it out. I feel like I'm actually making progress when a loud snarl is heard behind me. I look over my shoulder and I have to drop the wood. The giant vulkodalk from before, the one I blinded momentarily, is right behind me. It's eyes lock onto me. It's teeth are dripping red. I can't help but feel a pang of sadness for all those I could not save.
-Here's where we get back to the story and less gore.-
It howls a sharp cry. I cautiously move away from the man. The man is screaming in pain and fear, begging me to come back. The large creature lets two of its eyes look at him. It stalks forward, getting between me and the trapped one. I call forth a small ball of light into my palm. It immediately forgets about the trapped man, all its eyes on me. It remembers me. Good. That should help me save the man. It stalks me, weaving its body back and forth. I know it's backing me into a corner. I know it's making sure that I won't be able to escape, but I can't do anything. My lack of control is going to make me pay dearly.
"Leilah!" Yone yells out. A flash of steel and the vulkodalk is reeling once again. Yone almost seems to blink in front of me, holding his swords up. They're stained red. He's covered in small scratches and injuries. He's panting slightly. "What are you doing here?"
"I might not be able to harm, but I can get innocent people out of the way." I snap. He lets out a sigh before sinking into a ready stance.
"We're almost done. This is the last of them." Yone informs me. With that news, I let myself touch his shoulder. He straightens up as I fall onto my knees.
"Finish it. I'll… heal… Yasuo… after…" I gasp for air. My body is just starting to realize just how sore I am. My hands are trembling quite a bit. I close my eyes, trusting Yone will be able to handle the last of the creatures. I also don't want to see this thing die. It might have killed and eaten so many people, but it's still alive. I don't want to see more death.
The ground trembles with each swipe and attack on the ground. I hear each bite of it's jaws, each swipe, each frustrated hiss. It's breathing becomes labored, whining even. The ground shakes when it finally falls. Someone taps my shoulder. I jump a little bit and open my eyes. Yone is kneeling in front of me. He's not bearing any new injuries. I look over his shoulder and wince. The creature is whining, twitching in its death throes. I try to move, only I can't. My arms won't lift. My legs won't move. My head hurts. I can only look at Yone, silently pleading for help.
-minor scene-
He sees and understands. He scoops me up gently before bringing me to the creature. It's bloodied eyes notice me. It attempts to snarl, only for its open throat to bubble a little bit. It keens from the pain. I press a hand against its side. Once more, my magic escapes, but it won't heal it. For one, I don't have enough magic to heal it. For another, it's dying. I can't stop the process. It will die. All I can do is make it painless. Somehow, the creature understands. It stops snarling, just taking raspy breath after raspy breath. Each is slower than the next until it's completely gone. Once it is, my eyes blur considerably. I fall forward. If it wasn't for Yone, I would have face planted into a dead vulkodalk. As it is, Yone picks me up once again. My head lolls to the side as I find myself passing out.
-All done-
"The wonderful world of a war healer. You just made it through your first round of combat. I'm impressed." Daamien greets me. I groan awake. My magic river has returned to a thin line of magic. I sigh and lie down on my back. The stars twinkle above me. Pantheon's constellation, his shield and spear, glows a little brighter than the rest.
"I didn't do much. I couldn't keep healing."
Perhaps not, but you knew your limit. You knew what you were capable of. With that fact alone, you saved so many people. Aurora floats above me. She gently picks mine up and rests it on her lap. Somehow, it's much comfier than the starry land.
"I had to stop healing. I'm not sure some of them will survive. Besides, I couldn't save everyone. I had to watch some of them get eaten alive." I choke out. Tears spill out of my eyes again. I couldn't save everyone.
"You can't focus on the little things, Leilah. That's not what being a war healer is all about. A healer focuses on who we can save, not who we failed. And you did an amazing job, saving twenty nine lives. That's very impressive, especially for your first fight." Daamien takes a seat next to Aurora. He reaches the little distance over to my head and pats it.
"It wasn't my first fight." I can't help but point out. The Shadow Isles being the most prevalent of examples.
"It was as a war healer."
You did very well. Aurora repeats. I sigh and turn my head to look at the thin stream. I try to call some of it over. To my surprise, a small amount, the size of my palm, floats over to my hand.
"It seems like you have to exhaust your magic enough to get the amount you want. We should have thought of that." Daamien groans a little bit.
Well, at least we know now. Aurora smiles.
"My magic was never this small before." I comment as I look back up to them.
True. At least we have a way for you to learn. It just involves wasting enough magic until it's very small, then slowly building up the size of your magic until you can use the exact amount you want. Aurora makes it sound so easy.
"How are we going to get my magic low enough to do so?"
"You were just in a hospital…" Daamien hints.
"Are you telling me I have to drain my magic on the people in the hospital enough to exhaust me, then try to use more magic?" I groan.
"Well, it was either that or you can keep trying to call your magic out while you are fully recovered." Daamien retorts.
Be nice, Daamien. Though, you will probably have to. I'm not sure how else you're going to learn how to control your magic. Aurora is sympathetic to my plight at least.
"What about the tightness in my chest when I use magic?" I ask. I don't want to keep wasting it. It just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
"That comes from Starshadow being torn away. We know that much for sure. You'll just have to make do. We're repairing the rip, so to say. Was it easier using magic?"
"I didn't feel a tightness when I was letting the creature pass." I recall.
Then whatever we're doing to the rip is working. So, you let your boyfriend and his brother know what you want to do for your break, and you practice. Make sure you take breaks when you feel too tired to do anymore, alright? Aurora mothers me. I crack a smile at her concern and nod.
"He's not my boyfriend."
Not yet.
"It died… and you didn't suffer any injuries?" Daamien speaks up, as if just realizing something. I give a soft nod. "Astounding."
It's like last time. She couldn't heal someone, but she tried. It's all about intent in magic, isn't it?
"Uh, yes, yes. Exactly. I guess I wasn't exactly sane the last time someone died in your hands, huh." Daamien stammers a little bit. I decide to close my eyes and just relax. Yone has my body. He won't let anything happen to me. I know it.
"Nope. So, can you tell me more about healing? Maybe about healing poison?" I prompt him. Daamien lets out a chortle.
"Are you certain you want to learn all the little bits? There's a reason why I never graduated a student."
"You mentioned that before. You also mentioned that you almost did." I retort. Daamien chuckles.
"Very well. You've perfected the art of healing injuries that result in a break, but the subtler ones need a little more precision. Venom will have a purpose. Some will go for your brain. Some will attempt to clot blood, preventing oxygen from getting to the rest of the body. Some will break down muscles. The biggest thing is that venom will close off receptors. Targeted cells will no longer have the oxygen they need, and since they are constantly needing oxygen, the muscle quickly dies." Daamien explains finite details. I have to say, my mental self never gets a headache unless my actual body is dying, but I'm getting a headache right now trying to understand.
Daamien, she doesn't have the know-how that you do. Aurora laughs softly. I think you might have given her more of a headache than actually explaining anything.
"Sorry, Leilah. I haven't discussed medical knowledge in a long time. Anyway, venom basically blocks things the body need. Our magic has to unblock them. Your magic would do well when you have no idea what you are dealing with. When you do know what each bit of venom does, that's where control comes in."
"What about poison?" I yawn a little bit. I have no doubt that Daamien will stuff knowledge into me at a faster rate than I can really handle, but I'd rather get a general idea and what I have to accomplish in time for him to call me a true healer.
"They are very similar to each other. The only difference in the titles is venom is bitten or stung in. The rest of the time, it's poison."
"Does that change anything?"
"Not really, it's part of the lecture though." Daamien shrugs. I roll my eyes in amusement. I want to ask more questions when I feel a little jostle.
Seems like someone is attempting to get your attention. Aurora speaks up.
"But there's so much more to learn!" I protest loudly. I already feel like I'm going to wake up.
"Don't worry, Leilah. You know I'm going to be here, no matter what." Daamien pats my head.
"She's alright, she just overused her magic." Yone sounds exasperated as I come back to reality. My face is pressed against his chest rather tightly. I let out a cross between a moan and a squeak. That seems to get everyone's attention.
"Miss Leilah? Are you certain you are alright?" The man who opened his door for me the first time approaches us. Yone lets me down, but keeps me by his side. His arm remains wrapped around my shoulders, giving me much needed support.
"Just tired. Is everyone alright? The children?" I ask, tmy voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Everyone you have managed to save is safe." The man answers.
"That's good. Can you take the ones I couldn't heal to a nearby hospital?"
"We've already done that. Children that are missing parents were instructed to go to orphanages nearby. They will be kept together to the best of their ability. Those missing legs are given wheelchairs." The man reports.
"That's good." I mutter as my head drops. Yone's grip tightens on me.
"If you'll excuse us, we all need rest." Yone pushes through the crowd. I do my best to keep walking. Yasuo immediately comes to our side. I have no idea where he was, but he walks in front of us. It makes walking a little bit easier, but not by much. My foot gets caught somehow, and I can't catch my balance in time. Yone catches me before I hit the ground, but it alarms everyone around us into backing away. Much needed space is finally given.
"Hospital?" Yasuo asks.
"We'll take her back to our room." Yone comments.
"Is there anything we can do to assist you, any of you? You saved us." The man asks in the distance.
"Just keep trying to help other people and let the constables do their job. After that, keep a few vulkodalks from being fed to animals or burned alive. We are going to need them." Yone instructs as he hands me off to Yasuo.
"I can walk." I mumble quietly.
"You're exhausted. Besides, this is supposed to be your break. Let us give you that break." Yasuo rubs my shoulder gently.
"What do you mean?" Another man asks.
"You asked for help with a single vulkodalk in the beginning. When we arrived, you asked that we take care of ten reported vulkodalks. That was a little over a week ago. Today, we just witnessed a swarm. Your city, even all of Ionia, could be in trouble." Yone reasons.
"What are you saying?" Another person, a woman asks.
"Someone is bringing vulkodalks into your city."
"What are you saying we do then? This is our home. We can't leave." The people start to talk amongst themselves. Worry and fear is all I can hear.
"We will find who is responsible for the vulkodalks." Yone states loudly.
"We don't have that kind of money to pay you." One of them cries out.
"This isn't about money, sir. This is about making sure all of Ionia is safe. If whoever is bringing the vulkodalks into Navori can conquer this place, they could possibly take over Ionia. That can not happen." Yasuo speaks up. That seems to have made the people settle a little bit.
"Thank you." They all bow their heads. Yone takes that moment to lead us away from the crowd. Yasuo and I follow, though my vision is blurring again. I'm burnt out from my magic. I'm getting really sick of being tired right now. I yelp when Yone scoops me up again.
"You really don't need to do that." I snap sluggishly.
"Are you feeling up to walking then?" Yone retorts. I don't have anything to say, since he's not wrong. I did fall asleep after being picked up for a moment.
"So, you remember how you want me out of your mission?" I yawn casually. Yasuo raises an eyebrow.
"I'm having a difficult time believing that you would actually stay out of our business, especially since you came after us even when we told you to stay away?" Yone remarks. I wince a little bit at that.
"Well, I wanted to help. At least this way I'll keep myself busy." I mumble a little bit.
"How are you going to do that?" Yasuo pipes up.
"I'm going to help in the hospitals. Someone needs to help the people that got hurt. Besides, if what you're saying is true, then we're going to be here for a while. I'd like to help out where I can while I'm here." I answer him.
"I'm guessing that there's no chance you're going to rest then." Yone asks, though it doesn't sound like a question.
"This is me resting. Starshadow isn't here afterall."
"He's not that much of a handful." Yasuo protests. Yone and I both raise our eyebrows at him. "...I said much, didn't I?"
"He's a handful." I state blandly.
"You miss him." Yasuo points at me.
"That doesn't mean he's not a handful! Do you remember how he would boss me around back in training? Constantly telling me to stand up for myself?"
"You really should have. Your teacher was not good for you, forcing you to lash out. That's probably where your lack of control started." Yone joins in.
"You aren't supposed to agree with him. That'll make Starshadow insufferable when he comes back." I pout a little bit.
"I'm not going to tell if you won't." Yone jokes a bit.
"I am." Yasuo speaks up. When he raises a hand, I finally see that he has a still bleeding wound at his side.
"Why did you say you were injured?" I wiggle a hand out of Yone's grasp and press a hand against the younger brother. Yasuo sighs in relief, but I'm healing slower than I usually am. At least I can heal someone slowly if I need to... though only when I'm beyond exhausted.
"You were passed out. Then everyone wanted to talk to you, and you are still a little pale, so I thought I would wait." Yasuo answers.
"We can not continue our investigation if you are hurt, brother." Yone gently scolds my patient.
"We aren't going to continue our investigation if you are too busy making goo goo eyes at Leilah anyway." Yasuo grumbles under his breath. Because I'm right next to him, I hear him. I restrain the urge to smack him.
"I heard that." Yone doesn't sound amused. Not one bit.
"That should do it." I slur as I pull away. Sure enough, there's no more injury.
"Oh, come on! This is one of my favorites." Yasuo looks at his tunic and sighs.
"You shouldn't be so flashy with your movement, Yasuo. Otherwise the best thing for you to wear is tatters." Yone lectures his brother. They start to get into an argument over what he needs for his techniques to work. Still, I just stay there and smile. This… This is a life I could get used to. I feel like I blink for a only a moment, but the sun has traversed across the sky. I'm resting on a bit of comfortable rubble. I start to push myself into a sitting position when Yone and Yasuo return.
"So, since that emergency is over, would you like to get something to eat?" Yone asks. My stomach growls furiously at the thought of eating and I feel hunger pains. I'll be honest, I completely forgot the necessity of food until now. Yasuo chuckles a little bit at that. Yone just stares at me. He's been doing that a lot lately. "...I forgot that all you've basically had to eat is just some jerky."
"I'll… go back and grab… something-" Yasuo starts to back off. I'm a little confused as to why he's leaving. Wouldn't it be a good idea for us all to eat? However, Yasuo is interrupted by someone else.
"Huh. Who woulda thought. The rumors about ya being here were true." A rough male enters the scene. Yone and Yasuo tense up at the intrusion. I peer around Yasuo to try to find the source.
A tall man, wearing white pants, a purple vest, and a pair of brown boots marches up to us. With the setting sun in my eyes, I can't make out who it is, but something about him is familiar. He crosses his well developed arms in front as he takes a strong stance. Even if his clothes look clean, his hair is messy. Two tufts of it point tall and proud. Wait a minute…
"Settrigh?" I guess.
"Got it in one. How are ya, Sparkles?"
Well... That was eventful. Basic summary, Leilah went into her first act as a battle healer, getting the injured out of the way and back in. Vulkodalks... they are mean little suckers. And there are many. Classic last moment save, though Leilah's compassionate nature gives the creature that attacked her a peaceful death. Daamien and Aurora have a solution for how Leilah can control her magic, but it is a strain on her. She has to constantly exhaust herself, then keep using little bits of magic to get used to the feeling. That's not saying she's going to use it. it's what the beings above think she should do. Yone and Yasuo believe they have a case on their hands, Yone frets over Leilah, and we finally have a glimpse of everyone's favorite brawler.
Ok. That's one hell of a summary. Now, for the nickname... Sett needed a pet name for the only girl his mother ever approved of. Why not Sparkles? Besides, I thought it fit with his personality, that punk style thing, where he gives a name and it's going to stay, no matter what anyone else thought.
Still love me some reviews! I doubt my grammar and spelling is going to be perfect, but I'm definitely going to try to make it better. Another thing to mention. Ordinary is going to be updated for a little bit of time. I'm still a little burnt out from finishing this arc, so expect quite a few One shots and Ordinary's to be flying out of the wood work. Extraordinary will still keep to it's normal timeline.
As Always, be extraordinary. May you crush your (insert time of day here) as easily as Galio does his opponents (The real, large scale one. not league game one.) To all those who feel like they don't make a difference, if every day is the same, I want you guys to know that you make my day extraordinary. You guys motivate me to write better, to have the best stories available. I hope that you have others to motivate you and make you smile like you do for me. Till Sunday!