Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Once---done,---she---extends---a---compartment---of---the---seat,---doubling---its---size,---and---allowing---her---to---get---in---next---to---Izabelle.---Her---arms---wrap---around---the---young---girl---as---she---takes---a---relaxed---whiff---of---Izabelle’s---hair,---enjoying---the---same---aroma---that---her---mother---has---had.

  _____

  Rathic---watches---as---Henrietta---carries---his---daughter---into---the---carriage,---happy---to---have---such---a---trustworthy---and---capable---servant---to---take---care---of---his---daughter.

  As---she---disappears---into---the---carriage,---Rathic---takes---a---long---deep---breath---and---stands---up,---quickly---eyeing---the---mercenaries---until---he---finds---Gen,---sitting---alone,---watching---his---men---get---drunk.

  Gen,---noticing---Rathic---approach,---smiles---sadly.

  “Yah---know,---you---were---right---Roth.---I---made---a---mistake---and---now---I---am---paying---for---it,”---Gen---says,---eyeing---the---barrel---of---alcohol---longingly.

  Rathic---mouth---twitches,---wanting---to---comfort---the---man…---but---there---are---better---ways.

  “Oh---really,---so---you---are---punishing---yourself---by---not---taking---a---drink?”---Rathic---asks,---getting---a---nervous---nod---from---Gen---who---immediately---notices---the---unhappy---tone---in---Rathic’s---voice.

  “Really---now,---and---I---was---almost---under---the---impression---you---just---wanted---to---have---a---clear---mind---for---the---training?”

  Gen,---confused,---finally---looks---at---his---former---mentor.

  “Training?”---Gen---asks---confused.

  Before---Gen---can---react,---a---massive---weight---slams---into---his---psyche,---forcing---his---breathing---quicken.---Realizing---what---the---training---is---all---about,---Gen---attempts---to---call---up---his---aura,---weakening---the---effect---Rathic---has---over---him.

  Gen---forces---a---smile,---impressed---that---even---though---he---called---up---his---aura---to---defend---himself,---he---can---still---feel---Rathic’s---aura---impeding---his---body.

  “Pathetic.”

  Gen---loses---control---of---his---body---as---he---falls---on---the---ground,---his---aura---utterly---shattered---as---he---starts---to---puke---excessively,---his---body---shaking---in---shock.

  “It---seems,---this---will---be---a---long---night,”---the---[General]---exclaims.

  Gen---shivers---in---fear---as---he---realizes---that---the---training---has---only---but---begun.

  *********************

  With---a---twist,---Franky---lifts---up---his---shield,---allowing---the---opposing---[soldiers]---sword---to---glide---down---its---length,---allowing---him---to---pivot---his---hips---and---strike---out---towards---[Soldiers]---exposed---side,---but---unfortunately,---the---[Soldier]---jumps---back,---avoiding---the---wooden---sword.

  But---Franky---was---waiting---for---that---as---he---jumps---forward,---placing---all---of---his---weight---into---his---right---arm---as---he---bashes---the---[Soldier],---forcing---the---man---on---the---ground.

  With---a---quick---movement,---Franky---places---his---sword---next---to---the---man's---neck.

  “I---yield,”---the---[Soldier]---yells.

  “Admirable---job---[Hero].---It---has---only---been---a---few---days---and---already---you---are---improving---exponentially.”

  Franky---ignored---the---voice---and---instead---drops---his---sword,---grabbing---the---downed---[Soldiers]---hand---and---lifting---the---man---to---his---feet.

  “That---was---a---truly---fantastic---fight.---You---almost---had---me---throughout---that---fight.”

  The---[Soldier],---just---one---of---the---men---who---protect---the---city---Aesir,---smiles---happily.”---Nonsense---lad,---you---defended---against---me---splendidly.---That---move---you---did---with---your---shield---was---exceptionally---timed.

  Franky---shakes---his---head,”---It---was---a---gamble.---If---you---had---dodged,---then---I---would---be---the---on---the---ground.”

  “Master---Franky,”---the---voice---calls---out---behind---him.

  Rolling---his---eyes---in---view---of---the---Soldier,”---Franky---turns---around,---finding---a---lanky---man---in---a---robe---who---is---clearly---forcing---smile---on---his---face.

  The---older---[soldier]---taps---Frankie's---shoulder,”---I---will---put---the---weapons---away.---If---you---need---any---advice,---feel---free---to---ask---and---we---will---be---more---than---happy---to---assist---you.”---The---[soldier]---explains,---talking---about---himself---and---the---others---which---have---been---watching---the---fight.---All---of---which---have---found---Frankie's---rise---in---power---amazing,---but---even---more---so---at---how---respectful---the---man---has---been.

  Franky---turns---his---head---and---smiles---towards---the---soldier,---nodding---gratefully.

  And---then---a---frown---forms---on---his---face---as---he---looks---back---towards---the---lanky---man,---barely---holding---a---smile---on---his---face.

  “What---is---it---Bernard,”---Franky---exclaims,---removing---the---padding---from---his---body.

  Bernard,---a---[Archpriest]---of---Aesir,---continues---his---smile---even---though---his---eyes---exclaim---anything---but,”---You---really---should---get---tutoring---from---a---[general]---instead---of---these,---”Bernard---extends---his---hand,---pointing---at---the---older---experienced---[Soldiers]---Franky---had---asked---to---train---him,---”veterans.---They---clearly---can't---possibly---be---that---good---considering---that---they---are---only---[soldiers],---a---very---low-quality---common---class.”

  Franky---forces---down---the---anger---rising---in---him---as---he---remembers---the---words---of---his---friend---Thoric…---doing---his---best---to---remember---the---man's---advice---about---summonings.

  I---really---should---have---believed---him.---But---how---was---I---supposed---to---know---that---when---he---said---he---was---a---professional---summoned---hero,---that---he---wasn't---joking---with---me.---Damnit.---Regardless,---I---do---remember---him---telling---me---to---never---trust---those---who---summon---me,---that---they---will---always---attempt---to---control---me.---He---also---said---to---stay---respectful---and---milk---the---summoners---resources.

  “Skills,---I---have---gained---a---few,---but---they---are---still---no---excuse---for---proper---training.---The---soldiers---which---you---dislike---so---much---have---seen---battle,---have---fought---and---survived,---something---I---find---lacking---in---your---[General’s]---who---attempt---to---teach---me---battle---tactics---without---even---showing---me---the---basics.---They---clearly---only---have---the---class---and---not---the---levels.”---Franky---explains,---removing---the---last---of---his---padded---armor.

  Without---waiting---for---a---reply,---Franky---walks---towards---the---courtyards---exit.

  The---lanky---man---immediately---runs---next---to---him,---his---body---far---smaller---than---Frankies---who---is---sporting---six---and---a---half---feet---of---height,---blond---hair,---and---a---weight---of---two---hundred---fifty---pounds,---all---of---which---is---due---to---the---sheer---size---in---musculature.

  At---one---time---in---his---life,---Franky---used---to---be---a---typical---Jock,---respected,---loved,---and---the---star---of---the---football---team.---But---then---he---met---Thoric---and---found---his---life-changing---dramatically---to---the---better.---So---much---so---that---when---he---was---offered---to---play---professional---football,---Franky---had---declined,---preferring---to---get---a---job---less---likely---to---result---in---brain---injury.

  “May---I---ask---where---master---Franky---is---going---because---the---usual---sermons---will---begin---soon---and---your---acquaintances---are---there---too.”

  The---acquaintances---Bernard---is---talking---about---are---the---other---three---[Heroes],---all---of---which---seem---to---be---more---than---happy---to---do---whatever---is---told---to---them.

  And---that's---why---they---have---leveled---so---poorly.---Barely---getting---any---level---in---any---class.
<
br />   With---a---mental---command,---Frankie's---interface---appears---on---his---screen,---revealing---his---classes,---skills,---and---stats.

  Franky---Sasco

  Level---22---Warrior

  Level---09---Hero

  Level---17---Mage

  Minor---Mana---Sense

  Flickering---Strike

  Flash---Fire

  Defensive---Instincts.

  Analyze

  Strength

  18

  Dexterity

  14

  Stamina

  22

  Perception

  32

  Endurance

  13

  Vitality

  107

  Mana

  275

  M/regen

  1.1

  Affinity

  7

  Intelligence

  48

  Willpower

  450

  Soul

  320

  The---others---have---barely---one---class---over---level---ten---while---I---already---have---two,---one---of---which---has---exceeded---level---twenty.---Granted,---gaining---more---than---one---level---in---a---day---is---almost---unheard---of---by---the---residents---of---this---world---unless---it’s---a---huge---battle---or---gifted---by---the---gods.

  The---Gods.---The---words---put---a---bad---taste---in---my---mouth---when---I---remember---what---Thoric---warned---me---about.---‘Unless---you---make---the---Gods---sign---a---contract,---never---ever---fucking---trust---them.---They---will---rip---open---your---anus---the---first---chance---they---get’

  Franky---chuckles---softly,---breaking---the---silence.

  “Master---Franky?”

  “Bernard,---I---will---be---training---with---Matilda---tonight,---do---go---in---my---place,”

  A---dark---look---falls---upon---Bernard---as---he---remembers---Matilda,---an---old---retired---dungeon---diver.

  “I---find---it---very---wrong---for---a---[Hero]---to---be---learning---from---a---[Witch].---Would---it---not---be---better---to---learn---from---an---[Archmage]?”

  In---truth,---Franky---had---tried---to---learn---from---these---men---and---women---who---had---gained---over---a---hundred---levels---in---the---mage---class---but---was---unable---to---suffer---the---sheer---pompous---ignorance---of---such---men---and---women---who---think---themselves---so---superior.

  “Bernard,---when---one---of---the---other---three---[Heroes]---starts---gaining---more---levels---than---me---in---a---magic---class,---then---please---inform---me.---Otherwise,---Matilda---will---be---fine---for---my---purposes.”

  Bernard---stops---walking,---watching---as---the---[Hero]---strolls---through---the---halls,---heading---towards---the---bath---before---he---leaves---towards---the---Diver---guild.

  Chapter---Fourteen:---The---Powa!---of---Healing.

  “Janie,”---I---say,---looking---towards---the---blond---haired---girl,”---Just---heal---it.---I---already---severed---the---nerves---connecting---its---mind---to---the---body.---It---can’t---feel---anything,”---I---explain,---standing---over---a---damaged---Desbat---as---it---fruitless---attempts---to---open---its---mouth,---which---I---have---mule---keeping---firmly---shut---with---his---skeletal---hand.

  So---early---morning,---I---had---decided---to---level---a---bit---via---killing---things,---which---involved---taking---Janie---with---me.---Granted,---I---did---debate---about---loaning---the---ring---to---Anathema,---but---then---decided---against---it---considering---how---already---uncomfortable---Janie---is---around---her…---I---also---can't---trust---Anathema---to---be---civil.

  Thus,---that---early---morning,---we---left---the---home---and---I---took---all---of---my---undead---with---me---outside---the---city---where---we---went---far---away---and---I---started---screaming…---which---attracted---a---few---of---the---desbats---that,---like---the---the---day---before,---were---very---easily---taken---down.

  Which---is---when---I---had---another---idea.

  “Look,”---I---point---towards---the---Desbats---head,”---The---monster---is---not---at---all---in---pain.---Right---now---it’s---merely---panicking---because---it---doesn't---know---what---else---to---do.---It---can't---move---its---body---and---the---only---thing---it---can---do---is---move---its---head,---which---is---being---held---down.”

  Janie,---wide---eyed,---stares---down---at---the---monster,---its---inhuman---eyes---looking---everywhere---in---panic.---Then---her---eyes---move---down---the---body---towards---several---cuts,---gashes,---and---punctures.---She---take---a---deep---breath.

  “Fine,”---she---says,---giving---in,---unwilling---to---argue---with---a---[Hero].

  With---a---trembling---hand,---she---kneels---down---towards---the---monsters---leg---and---focuses---her---mana.

  “[Minor---Heal].”

  ______

  Thoric---watches---as---her---hands---starts---to---glow,---focusing---on---the---matrices---of---mana---as---they---meld---and---form---into---the---wounds.

  After---a---minute,---Thoric---speaks---up.

  “When---you---heal,---do---you---know---what---your---mana---is---doing?---What---is---going---through---your---thoughts?---What---are---you---imagining?”

  The---light---slightly---dims---before---returning---to---normal---as---Janie---attempts---to---split---her---concentration,---something---Thoric---does---all---the---time---since---his---[Bone---Levitation]---skill---is---actually---a---single---target,---albeit---modified---for---his---use.

  “I…---I---just---think---of---my---mana---flowing---into---the---body.”---she---says,---her---forehead---wrinkling---in---concentration.

  I---see,---so---that…---mark---on---her---neck---makes---it---so---that---her---healing---skill---becomes---more---effective,---efficient,---making---her---mana---move---towards---specific---areas---of---a---wound---instead---of---everywhere.---So---in---reality,---she---is---just---being---inefficient…---an---easy---fix.

  “I---see,---well,---I---want---you---to---try---something---different.---Since---you---have---the---[Anatomy]---skill,”---A---weirdass---name---for---a---skill,”---I---want---you---to---imagine---your---mana,---instead---of---dispersing,---but---to---focus---on---the---inner---parts---of---the---injury.---Try---to---make---it---ignore---the---outer---skin---and---only---the---inside---first.---Heal---from---the---inside---of---the---wound---to---the---outside.”

  She---complies.

  After---a---moment---pause,---I---notice---a---drastic---change---in---the---flow---of---mana---as---it---moves---differently.---Her---energy---flows---out---of---her---hands,---traveling---through---skin,---entering---deep---within---the---wound,---soliciting---the---cells---to---regenerate,---to---form---and---recreate.---And---then---the---mana---changes---again,---not---by---her,---but---by---the---mark---on---her---neck.---The---mana---turns---into---strands,---entering---damaged---areas,---picking---and---choosing,---similar---to---how---a---surgeon---might---use---his---utensils---to---lower---the---damage---he---does---to---a---body,---so---too---does---the---mana---pick---and---choose---the---worst---parts.

  The---damaged---wound---starts---to---heal---significantly---quickly,---allowing---the---wound---to---fully---heal---in---about---five---minutes.

  Janie---drops---down---on---the---floor,---breathing---heavily,---but---a---huge---smile---can---be---seen---on---her---face.

  “I---did---it,”---she---says---between---deep---breaths.

  Giving---her---a---minute,---I---look---towards---the---leg---which---looks---to---be---completely---healed.

  I---turn---to---her,---her---eyes---looking---into---my---own.---I---return---her---smile.

  And---then---I---slice---open---the---leg,---recreating---the---wound---once---more.

  Her---eyes---pop---out---in---horror,---unable---to---believe---that---I---would---destroy---all---her---hard---work.

  “It’s---early---morning---and---practice---makes---perfect.”---I---say,---a---smile---on---my---face---while---I---twirl---my---bloody---knife---in---the---air.


  She---lays---back---down,---her---gaze---looking---towards---the---ceiling,---not---that---she---can---even---see---that---far---due---to---the---lack---of---light,---which---is---only---a---few---glowing---fungi---in---the---surroundings.---She---slowly---closes---her---eyes,---resting---while---her---mana---regenerates.---She---has---healed---[soldiers],---many---of---which---would---return---with---fresh---wounds,---forcing---her---to---heal---them---again.---So---having---to---heal---a---wound---again---is---not---something---she---hasn't---done---before…---it’s---actually---watching---the---same---wound---be---made---herself.---Infuriating,---and---she---probably---would---have---been---extremely---upset…---but---that---is---rather---difficult---considering---that---she---just---healed---a---wound---which---would---take---her---several---hours...---in---mere---minutes.---A---clear---fraction---of---the---time.