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Millie's back began to ache under Patty's weight. Her limp had gotten so bad that Millie was practically carrying her now. They had made it out of the Hexagon over an hour ago and were now just coming into sight of the Angel Falls gate. It had been slow progress finding the exit in the Hexagon, but they managed to get out before the monsters decided to attack them.

Once they were outside, it was a totally different story. There was a cruelcumber behind every tree and slimes came out of the tall grass in droves. Millie killed them all with her sword but sustained a few injuries from them, the worst being a shallow stab wound on her hip from an unnaturally fast cruelcumber.

But now the sky was lightening as dawn painted it pink. The monsters had lost all their confidence and none approached them.

"We're almost there," Millie said quietly as they walked along slowly.

"Thank the Almighty," Patty groaned. Millie looked up as she heard a shout. Hugo was waving frantically at her from the archway. Looking closer, she could see Ivor standing with him.

"Ivor! Hugo! I could use a little help!" Millie shouted as she waved back weakly. The boys came out from the gate quickly.

"Woah! What happened to you two?" Hugo asked as they reached them.

"I got trapped under some rocks by the Hexagoon," Patty said.

"And I saved her and killed the monster," Millie said. Ivor looked at her, impressed. "This is Patty. She hurt her leg and she needs help."

"You got hurt, too," Hugo said, noticing the blood on her clothing.

"I'm fine," Millie reassured him. "Exhausted, but fine. She's can barely walk. Can you help her get into the village?"

"Of course," Hugo said, taking Millie's place supporting Patty. "We'll take her to the priest. He can heal her leg."

"Thank you, sweety pie," Patty said as she leaned against him. Ivor and Millie walked behind them, keeping an eye out for monsters.

"My dad is going to want to talk to you," he said as they entered the town. The way he said "talk" didn't seem very positive to Millie.

"I hope he can wait," Millie said. "I'm exhausted."

"I'm sure he'll be fine waiting until the afternoon," Ivor said. Millie smiled and silently thanked the Almighty. "If not, I'll give you a heads up so you can pretend to be sleeping."

"Thanks, Ivor," Millie said with a smile. "I'd appreciate that." They continued behind Hugo and Patty, eventually reaching the church. Millie held the door open while Ivor hurried in to find the priest.

"Father Johnson? You in here?" he shouted. Millie could see Hugo wince as several people in pews turned to look at him with looks of annoyance. A small, thin man stood at the alter in purple robes that identified him as a priest. He didn't look annoyed at all. Instead, he smiled and raised his hands.

"Ah, Ivor! It is good to see you in my church," Father Johnson boomed in a voice much too loud for his small,thin body. The nun next to him looked a little irritated that the priest was shouting.

"Hey, Father. We need your help," Hugo said, coming in behind Ivor, still supporting Patty. "She's hurt her leg pretty bad."

"Is this the woman that was missing?" Father Johnson asked.

"Yeah, padre, that's me. Patty's the name," Patty said, blowing a few strands of hair out of her face. "Can you patch me up?"

"Of course," Father Johnson said. He nodded to the people in the pews. "I hope you all understand-."

"We do, Father," an elderly woman said, standing up. "We'll see you tomorrow, if you feel up to it." Father Johnson smiled at her as the people in the pews filed out.

"Please, follow me," he said, leading the way from the main part of the church to a small room, hidden by the stairs. He opened it wide and ushered them all in. The nun closed the door behind them, promising that they wouldn't be bothered. The room was stuffy, the walls covered with bookshelves filled with books and papers. There was a table in the middle of the room, which Father Johnson quickly cleared off so Patty could sit down with both legs stretched out.

"Her leg got trapped under rocks," Millie said. Patty pulled up her orange skirt just above her knee, showing the damage. There were some shallow cuts in it, as well as a massive bruise along her shin. Father Johnson carefully lifted her leg, moving it this way and that, asking what hurt and what didn't. After about a minute of evaluation, he carefully set her leg down.

"Well?" Patty asked. "What's the verdict? Do we need to bust out the saw?"

"No, nothing like that," Father Johnson said, smiling slightly at her joke. "It's broken, though. I'll need to heal it or you will need a saw."

"Alright then, padre. Heal me up then. I've got stuff to do," Patty said. The priest nodded and rolled up his sleeves. He placed his hands on Patty's leg and closed his eyes. Millie watched as a brilliant blue light enveloped her leg, vanishing after a second. He removed his hands and Millie's eyes widened. The bruise was completely gone, as were the gashes.

"You okay, Father?" Ivor asked as the priest sat down heavily in a chair.

"Yes. I'm just a bit drained," Father Johnson said, resting his head on the table. Millie could see sweat gathering on his forehead.

"Alright," Patty said. "I'm going to see-." She slid off the table and immediately stumbled, only to be caught again by Hugo.

"You aren't going to see anyone," Father Johnson said. "You need to rest and allow the magic to finish healing your leg."

"We'll take you to the inn," Hugo said, nodding to Ivor, who moved to support her. "Millie, keep and eye on Father Johnson, just until he's feeling better."

Millie nodded and the Hugo opened the door, allowing Ivor through with Patty. The nun was no where to be seen. Millie closed the door and took a seat across from the priest, who was sitting in silence.

"What was that?" Millie asked. Father Johnson looked up at her, his eyes communicating his confusion.

"It was magic. A simple healing spell," he said. "Haven't you ever seen it before?"

"Well, yeah," Millie said, her mind flashing to the crabby old Celestrian who was in charge of healing. "I'm was never taught how, though. Only the Healer would teach it, and only to people that she considered worthy."

The priest raised an eyebrow. "That's terrible," he said bluntly.

"Not really. She just didn't choose me," Millie said.

"Child, magic is universal. Anyone can use it, even monsters. All people have the right to it, and no one can stop you. It's a rule recognized throughout the world," Father Johnson said. his grey eyes boring into hers. "Some people have more magic energy inside of them to use than others, but that shouldn't be what stops you." He stood up and Millie moved to stop him, but he held up his hand. He took uneasy steps to a book shelf and pulled out a tattered blue book and walked back over to her.

Millie looked at the cover and her eyebrows shot up. There was a beautifully illustrated swirl that looked like benevolessence.

"This is a book that teaches the basics of healing spells. Perfect for someone starting out," Father Johnson said, pushing it towards her. "You can have it."

"Really?" Millie asked, surprised. She ran her finger delicately over the cover.

"Yes, of course. I have two copies. I don't need a third," Father Johnson said. He stood up again, now looking much stronger. "Come now. You should be off to Erinn and I should be off to bed." Millie followed him out of the room, surprised to see that the nun was back. Father Johnson smiled. "Dinner time for me," he said as he guided Millie to the door, pulling it open for her. He glanced at her clothes, noticing the blood for the first time. "And you may want to pick up some medicinal herbs and wrappings on your way home."

Millie nodded and waved her good-bye before walking down the path towards the shop. She knocked cautiously on the wooden door, unsure if it was open this early in the morning.

"Come in!" a voice chimed. She pushed the light wooden door open, a bell tinkling overhead as she did so.

"Ah, hello dearie!" a woman said, standing next to the counter. She had a soft face and long honey colored hair that was tied under a blue bandana. She had a dark red dress on. "Oh! What happened to you?" she asked, looking at Millie's shirt.

"I ran into some monsters," she said, "when I went to find Patty."

"And did you?" the man behind the counter asked. He had a vest on that matched the woman's dress and baggy white pants. There was a turban wrapped around his head.

"Uh, yeah," Millie said. "It took all night. I was wondering if I could buy some medicinal herbs."

"Of course," the woman said. She turned to look at the man. "Don't just stand there, Ryman. Help your customer!"

"Well, I would Lucy, if you'd stop yapping," Ryman said, giving her a stern look. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"She's going to need at least a dozen," Lucy said before Ryman could speak. She started eyeing Millie again. "You might want to throw in an antidotal herb just in case."

"Uh, I have a quick question," Millie interrupted, pulling out the strange pelt of the Hexagoon. "What is this good for? Can I sell it, or what? I don't know what to do with it."

"Oooooh!" Lucy exclaimed, dashing over and picking up part of the huge beast hide. "I can do a lot with this," she said.

"Like what?" Millie asked as they moved over to the counter to lay the enormous thing down.

"I can make pants or rope or shirts..." she trailed off, running her hands over it. "I could make you a few magical bags."

"Really?" Millie asked. "What do they do?"

"They can do so much!" Lucy said excitably, Ryman rolling his eyes behind her. "I can enchant them to hold hundreds more items than usual, a you can get whatever item in the bag that you're looking for just by saying what and how much! As long as there is enough, of course! You could carry dozens of sets of armor! And it wouldn't weigh any more than usual! It's also really hard to break! Ooh, I also want to try something else with it! Something new!" Lucy was jumping up and down with excitement.

"How much would that cost?" Millie asked, felling a bit nervous.

"Well, I could make you five, plus my special little prototype, and then have a lot leftover..." Lucy trailed off. "How about this: I'll make all that for you if you let me keep whatever's left."

"Are you sure?" Millie asked. "I could pay-"

"It'll only take this much-" Lucy gestured to about a fifth of the hide, "-to make what I just proposed. We'll even give you the herbs with it." Ryman's jaw dropped at the suggestion.

"No, I'll pay for those," Millie said, pulling out the large gold pouch and giving them the money before Lucy could argue. This seemed to make Ryman much happier.

"There's a full moon tonight, so I won't have to wait," Lucy said, trailing her hands over the pelt dreamily. "They'll be done in a day or two. I'll come find you once it's done."

"Awesome," Millie said, gathering up the herbs in her arms, balancing them on top of her book. She paused realizing that she had no idea what to do with the many leaves.

"Erinn will know how to use them," Ryman said, seeing her face.

"Thanks," Millie said with a nod. Ryman hopped over the counter, opening the door for Millie. She smiled and nodded to them before turning and walking down the path towards Erinn's house.

She could see her purple haired friend standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.

Uh-oh, Millie thought as she approached the house. Erinn did not look happy.

New Chapter!

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