I sat in silence, taking in just how close I had been to dying, and just what that might have meant for so many people.
“I understand what motivated you to try, Dreya,” Tási offered. “I’m a healer too. I know how powerful the call to help can be. But to be a healer also comes with the responsibility to care for yourself as well. The dead cure no wounds.”
Her statement had a profound effect on me. Not just the words, but how she had said them; almost with a sense of reverence. I had done a great many things since coming to this world, helped and offered comfort to so many people. But if I had not survived my early days here, none of that may have been possible. How many other lives might have been lost if I had foolishly thrown away my own? I had been placed in a position of great responsibility. It may not have been by my own choosing, but I was here, nonetheless. I needed to consider the risks I took more carefully, to weigh not only the immediate benefits of my success, but also the potential long-term consequences should I fail as well.
“Thank you, Tási. I never considered it from that perspective.”
We held each other for a while as each of us recovered from the emotional toll of our heated conversation. During our embrace, I glanced over Tási’s shoulder at Bane who had remained silent the entire time.
‘Thanks for the support, Bane,’ I sent him laced with notes of my displeasure.
I’m on her side in this, Sintári. Even if I wasn’t, after what I just heard, I wouldn’t try and stop her. She’s scary when she’s angry.
‘You’re telling me?’
No. I suppose I don’t have to. Bane sent as he smiled back at me.
“Come,” Tási said as she let go of me. “If you’re well enough to argue with me, you’re certainly well enough to join the celebration.”
We left the tent, and I could see a pair of giant bonfires blazing on the ground near the fortifications. Music was being played and the sound of raucous laughter echoed through the ravine. As Tási led me closer, the figures of the dwarves dancing and rejoicing in celebration became clear. A few sentries stood atop the wall, keeping watch in case the orcs returned, but otherwise, it seemed that the entire population had joined in on the revelry.
“Before you get the wrong idea,” Tási explained as we drew closer. “Broda and I carried you off when you collapsed. Khorim told everyone you had just fainted from the effort. We did not want them to know just how serious your condition was. After all that has happened, they needed this celebration. Knowing that you were on death’s door would have ruined it for them.”
“I understand Tási, but we will have to tell them,” I answered her. “There will be other battles. More losses. They will need to know why I cannot do what I did today again—why I can only bring back one of them next time.”
“We will let them know,” Tási replied empathetically, sensing my regret at the limitation I had accepted. “Tomorrow. Broda, Khorim, and I will take care of it for you. We will make sure everyone understands. But for tonight, we’re going to banish all those unpleasant thoughts and celebrate the victory we won today.”
Tási and I joined the crowd and were greeted with a thunderous round of cheers. Mugs were thrust in our hands, and toasts were offered both in honor of our victory and in celebration of the orcs’ rout. The orcs were the long-standing enemies of the dwarven people, and their crushing defeat was viewed as cause for great celebration.
I joined in the festivities wholeheartedly, but tried to limit my consumption of the strong dwarven ale to a minimum. Not only had I just recovered from a very taxing ordeal, but even though I kept my darker thoughts at bay, I knew there would be a great deal of planning and work ahead of me in the morning.
The rest of the people did not share in my restraint—the ale flowed heavily, and the festivities went on through the night. It was late in evening when a pair of dwarves hesitantly approached me. I recognized the two of them instantly and greeted them warmly.
“Clorid! Madren! I’m so glad to see you. How are you feeling?”
“We are fine, Lady Dreya,” Clorid spoke hesitantly on their behalf. “Madren and I... well we just wanted to thank you for what you did for us.”
“You are both very welcome, but no thanks are necessary,” I smiled as I replied to them. “You have come here to help me build this place into something special. I consider it my duty to do whatever I can for you in return.”
“But we have no way to repay you, Lady Dreya,” Madren lamented. “The scroll you used is worth more coin than I may earn in many years.”
“I don’t expect you to pay for that, Madren,” I replied incredulously. “You gave your lives defending the rest of us. I consider the price of that scrap of paper a small matter in comparison to the sacrifice you made.”
The two of them stared open-mouthed at me for a long moment, obviously shocked by what I had said. I was a bit taken aback by their consternation until Tási leaned over to whisper in my ear.
“Resurrection scrolls are not inexpensive, as you already know,” she said softly. “Anyone who receives their benefit is expected to reimburse the cost or pledge their servitude for as long as it takes to work off the value. Your generosity is nearly unheard of.”
“Clorid, Madren,” I addressed them now that I understood their dilemma. “You came here because you were told this would be a new place, with different rules. This is one of them. The lives of the people here are not only valuable to me, they are irreplaceable. Each and every one of you is a priceless treasure. Lives will be lost here, and I will not be able to bring them all back. But I will restore as many as I can, and I will count those lives regained as a boon, not a debt to be collected. The coin I may spend on scrolls counts as nothing compared to the value of your lives to me.”
Clorid’s eyes filled with tears and Madren sunk to his knees before me. I even saw Tási wipe at her face as I finished speaking.
“Lady Dreya,” Madren’s voice caught as he spoke to me. “Such benevolence is unknown in any Realm. I do not know what to say, how to respond to your kindness.”
“All I ask in return is that you do your part to help me shape this place into something special,” I replied to him. “I cannot fulfill all of the promises I’ve made alone. I need people like you to believe in something better. To strive for more and treat each other with dignity. To value each other more than a pile of coins.”
“I will do my best for you, Lady Dreya,” Madren swore solemnly as he rose from the ground. Then with a quick bow of his head, Madren strode off, obviously still shaken by what had transpired.
In contrast, Clorid still stood where she was. While her tears had stopped flowing, she seems unable to figure out how to respond.
“Are you alright, Clorid?” I finally asked when she remained unresponsive.
“Yes, Lady Dreya,” she said, emerging from her fog. “I guess I was just a bit overwhelmed. Forgive me for saying this, but you’re a human. A human who has placed more value on the lives of dwarves than even my own people would have. If that represents what you are trying to do here, then to say that you are trying to create something different is an incredible understatement.”
“I began my journey here in Lorida,” I recounted to her. “During my travels, I have met humans and elves, dwarves, halflings, and even half-orcs. And I value all of their lives equally, regardless of their heritage. They have their differences, but in every way that really matters, they are all the same. They are just people to me Clorid, and every one of their lives is precious.”
“There is much merit in your words, Lady Dreya,” Clorid replied thoughtfully. “But they also herald great change, and such a drastic revolution will not be easy for many—myself included. Our ways are ingrained in us, and it will not be a simple thing to discard our animosities. I will try my hardest to live up to your example, though I confess it will be difficult.”
“Thank you, Clorid,” I responded to her. “I can ask for nothing more than that.”
She walk
ed away slowly, clearly still pondering the heady conversation. As Clorid vanished into the crowd, Tási spoke to me again.
“Word of what you said just now will spread fast,” she said thoughtfully. “Your generosity will be well-received; however, I do not know how the rest of it will go over.”
“Better they know what I expect of them sooner rather than later,” I replied to her bluntly. “Any who don’t like it can leave for all I care.”
Instead of continuing the conversation, Tási simply took another sip from her mug and let the matter pass.
The celebration continued for hours, and the sentries rotated on and off the wall, allowing everyone the opportunity to join in the festivities. Eventually things began to wind down, and we took the opportunity to wander back to our tent. I stepped inside and got ready for bed quickly, looking forward to getting a decent night’s rest. As I began pulling together my blankets, I noticed that Bane had not come inside with us and that Tási and I were alone. Tási smiled at me mischievously as she stripped off her undergarments and slid under the covers beside me.
“You said we needed to hold off on anything like this until Venna got back!” I protested as she pulled me down beside her.
Tási’s hand slid across my thigh, hiking up the thin fabric of my night dress as her fingers slowly glided even further up my body.
“If I have to accept the fact that you can act rashly sometimes,” she said with a sly smile. “Then you’re going to have to expect the same from me in return.”
I closed my eyes and relinquished a portion of my control, allowing the pleasure of her touch radiate through me. It had been too long since we had enjoyed each other, and I yielded to the combination of her seductive touch and my own eager desires.
I woke the next morning with Tási’s head still resting on my chest. Her arm draped across my body and her bare flesh pressed against me, reminding me of the incredible passion we had shared the night before.
Tási’s affection had been an almost desperate thing—every kiss and caress was tinged with such intense desire that I was forced to fend off her emotions, wielding my control almost defensively. But her fierce hunger had not been the only issue.
Within her passion I felt the essence of the unknown force that still lay within her. I could sense it reaching out to me, and I knew that if I reached back in return, that it would have emerged amid our passion. Fortunately, I was able to resist the temptation to bring it forth. Once the hidden presence realized that I would not release it, the energy withdrew, seemingly biding its time. Tási had apparently been unaware of the brief struggle that had been waged within her, and once the presence pulled back, I flooded her with waves of gentle energy, bringing her quickly to release.
She had fallen asleep almost immediately after I brought her to climax, as I had intended. Whatever had happened, I didn’t want to risk the power within her emerging before we were as prepared as possible for its arrival. I had no idea what it might be, but whatever precautions we could take needed to be available before we ventured any further intense contact.
Tási stirred, and I felt her silky skin slide over me as she stretched languidly against me.
“Sorry I fell asleep on you,” she whispered as she gently kissed my neck. “I know it’s a bit overdue, but let me pay you back now.”
“No, Tási,” I said as I reluctantly pulled away from her. “That’s not a good idea. Something happened last night that you need to know about.”
I explained the strange presence that I had sensed within her, how it had beckoned to me, urging me to set it free. Tási was shocked by what I revealed to her and did not take the news very well. I tried my best to console her and redirect her frustrations.
“Tási,” I tried to appeal to her. “I still think that whatever is within you is a good thing, and I promise that we will deal with it together when Venna gets back and its safe for us to try, but we just fended off a major assault and killed an orc prince. I’m absolutely positive we have not seen the last of the Black Hand tribe. They will be back. There’s going to be a lot of planning and work to do before they get here. Let’s focus on that for now.”
“Alright,” she conceded half-heartedly.
With the difficulty issue at least temporarily addressed, we got ready for what promised to be a very busy day. So much had to be done, but first I needed to take care of the many pending notifications that I knew were waiting for me. So, I asked Tási to find Bane for me while I tended to my messages.
Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.
You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 26.
You have gained three Attribute points. Two of your points have been automatically assigned to INT and CHA. You may assign the remaining point to any other Attribute as you see fit.
I was faced with a bit of a dilemma. I had intended to balance my stats a little better, but Strength served as the modifier for all three of my Advanced Abilities. Putting my remaining point there would boost my offense at the expense of balance, but at the risk of possibly limiting my capabilities in the future. I decided that my present needs overrode the possibilities of an unknown future, and put the point into Strength, hoping that my focus there would not come back to haunt me as the notifications resumed.
Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 110 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 110 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 1 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 1 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 880 XP.
You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 27.
You have gained three Attribute points. Two of your points have been automatically assigned to STR and CHA. You may assign the remaining point to any other Attribute as you see fit.
I had gotten full credit for a fairly large number of the orc casualties. Between the Shockwave arrows and the one trap that had been triggered during the orcs attempt to capture the gateway, I had managed to injure a lot of them, earning a great deal of XP in the process. My companions’ kills had given me partial credit as well, plus the single points of XP I had been granted for every other kill that occurred during the battle. It seemed the death of the sub-chieftain had been listed last and was the most valuable single kill I had made, putting me over the edge and granting me yet another level. I couldn’t help but smile at the irony of it as I put the stat point into Constitution.
Quest completed – You have completed the quest Defender of the Realm. An attack against your lands has been successfully repelled. You have been rewarded with 8800 XP. This Quest is repeatable.
Quest Assigned – Vengeance of the Black Hand. You have personally slain the sub-chieftain of the Black Hand tribe. This act will not go unpunished. You must survive their attempt at retribution.
The final two messages scrolled automatically once I made my selection. While the first was a pleasant surprise, the second one sent a shiver down my spine. I suspected that the orcs might not be done with us, but the stark words in front of my eyes made me realize just how severe the threat truly was.
I took a deep breath as I closed the window. I had known this was going to be a busy day—I had even understood that it involved planning for the possibility of another attack by the orcs, but having that possibility confirmed in such dire terms was profoundly unsettling. I needed to plan for this next assault better than I had prepared for the attack we had just repelled. Far better.
Just before I stepped out of the tent, I realized that I hadn’t looked over the changes to my personal sheet. The shock of the message about the orcs’ intended revenge had diverted my attention, so I paused at the exit and quickly looked over the information.
Dreya D
ae
Sintári Female
Title: Sintári
Level – 27
310569/321200
Health - 330/330 Aura - 770/770 Endurance - 330/330
Sintári – Sintári interact with their surroundings in unusual ways. The effects of these interactions can be unpredictable
Class – Warden – Wardens gain a 10% bonus to skills associated with nature or which have natural effects
Specialization – Protector
Mastery –
STR - 34 (+3)
CON - 28 (+2)
DEX - 24 (+2)
INT - 24 (+2)
WIS - 22 (+2)
CHA - 42 (+4)
Abilities
Ignore Armor – Your next arrow will ignore a portion of the target’s armor. Cost – 20 Aura. – 36%
Stun – Your next arrow has a chance to stun its target on hit. Cost – 20 Aura. – 35%
Block – You may attempt to use your bow to parry a single melee attack. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 20%
Swarm – Your next arrow duplicates itself in flight. Cost – 20 Endurance and 20 Aura. – 47%
Flurry – Perform three rapid strikes with a bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 25%
Parry – Chance for your blades to block next melee attack targeted at you. Cost – 20 Endurance. – 23%
Hamstring – The next arrow fired has a chance to cripple your opponent. Cost – 20 Aura. – 32%
Hilt Bash – Stun your opponent with a successful hilt strike from your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 23%
Blood Price – Your arrow inflicts a damage-over-time bleed effect. Cost – 30 Aura. – 37%
Blind – Your next arrow has a chance to inflict blindness on a successful hit. Cost – 30 Aura.– 35%
Achilles Strike – Cripple your target with a slash of your bladed weapon. Cost – 30 Endurance. – 25%
Penetrator – Advanced Ability – Your arrow pierces through armor easily. With increased proficiency it may penetrate through even greater barriers. Modifier – Strength. Cost – 60 Aura. – 17%
Second Skin: Unified: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 3) Page 13