《Killer Healing》


 Chapter 1

    It made no sense, why couldn''t I keep my eyes off the potion.


    It was still brewing. Tubes ran from the arms of two deceased teenagers, into a setup of beakers, bunsen burners and glass tubes, some straight, some spiraling. At the very end, a glass tube being cooled by a block of ice, from it the drips fell into a vial.


    The craziest thought occurred to me looking at that vial. I dismissed it, turning back to the body of the witch I''d just assassinated, to carry on cutting. The witches head was needed to get the reward, but as the witches identity wasn''t well clear, something proving it was the witch has been demanded too.


    The organisation would normally shield us from such odd demands, but two wealthy pissed off families meant the reward was large enough to indulge the request. It had been the reason I''d looked around and spotted the potion in the first place.


    The two poor bastards in her hut today were unknowns, I''d seen them alive while scouting the area, they weren''t my concern. It had been two years ago that the witch had made the fatal mistake of snatching a young couple travelling through her hunting ground. They''d made themselves look poor, no doubt she''d realized her mistake, but had to commit nonetheless having snatched them.


    The organisation had various experts on hand to advise for jobs. A pattern had been drawn up. Her deadly habit laid bare on parchment. They couldn''t have known exactly when she''d strike but roughly was good enough. Considering the reward, I''d been posted to this area for months.


    Hundreds of years of killing. The first potion, made from one person, would supposedly have been permanent; she would have been made younger and aged normally. The second, third and so on, less effective. Two people at a time now, just to avoid wrinkles.


    It was a crazy thought.


    I realised I wasn''t cutting anymore.


    I was looking at the potion.


    What youth had I known?


    While a pretty nun was being raped, a gang member explains resistance is futile. The prick does so while fondling the older nuns'' breasts. She doesn''t react. Her defiance was a memory forever etched in my mind.


    Of course the nuns couldn''t hide us all. Their best efforts had been made for the female orphans. The boys, understandably, had to fend for themselves.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    I broke some fingers, I remember hearing crunching as I kicked the door. I broke a nose with the hard side of a wooden brush. I kicked, I punched, and even bit.


    I was sold to the organisation as "feisty". Of the maybe three dozen recruits gathered in that dungeon, four of us survived to join the organisation.


    I walk over to a door that intrigued me. From the outside a solid lean-to extension. Opening it I was greeted with quite a sight.


    Shelves piled high with gear.


    So many stolen adventures, so many hopes and dreams dashed.


    I should be working. The thoughts are crazy. I walk into the witches'' loot stash. A few toys are assembled together on an eye level shelf.


    What toys can I remember?


    I had a wooden sword.


    I beat another child to death with it.


    A satchel marked with the caduceus, the healer''s mark. There''s everything not one person, not one party, but maybe two parties could use to start adventuring.


    It doesn''t take long to find a dagger marked with one of two wealthy families'' crests. Could be the demanded evidence too.


    While not at war, there had been tensions between the families. Both victims had been betrothed to others but had eloped together. The rage at their disappearance and wanting to keep the whole affair quiet. We assassins can on occasion deliver a form of justice.


    The witch had been known to the area. Sighting of the couple and a barmaid saying they were heading to town not far away. Them never arriving. It hadn''t taken the most elite of guards from either family to figure out what had happened.


    The mother of one of the victims had supposedly had a dream/vision too.


    A couple eloping, against all odds trying to make their romance work. I wondered how they''d have worked out were it not for the old hag killing them. Looking at their bodies, I felt a pang of emotions. They''d risked it all for love...


    I''d never known romance. It was against the organisation''s rules.


    Could I?


    Could I know romance?


    . . .


    I throw a fire punch. Enough skill points invested that it serves not only as close range, but as mid range too, throwing out a fist shaped fireball. As soon the fireball is airborne, I turn and with magically enhanced speed, sprint away.


    Boom!


    RapidDash was getting harder on my aging knees. The deceased pair being turned into potion were in one corner. I''d staged a struggle, spilled flammable liquids and had thrown an explosive potion into the opposite corner.


    An explosive potion set off right against me, would vapourize me. They''d find remains of my metal gear and some of my blood around. That kind of last ditch suicide attack was not uncommon among captured or injured assassins.


    I''d slung a rope over a roof beam, making the witch "stand" in front, with as lose a knot I dare make. The rope should come apart in the blast, burn away. Neck wound healed, so if the head did come off, no one would find signs of me cutting.


    Her hut collapses. The fire where I "died", white hot. We assassins can stage a scene.


    . . .


    Not knowing what the exact effect of the potion would be, I camped not far from the orphanage. Rising up the ranks and gaining greater freedom from the organisation; I''d taken to anonymously donating, as well as slaughtering would be raiders.


    I didn''t care what the effects would be.

 Chapter 1.5

    A couple days later, now a younger man, I come across a bloody scene while walking to town. Two dead orcs. Three dead adventurers. Looked to be an orc slaver ambush gone wrong.


    A scream from within the trees nearby. I instinctively crouch and stealthily walk off the path.


    "Get away from me! You better run, I''m going to take you down with me!"


    A moderately armoured elf pulls herself backward with one arm, whilst keeping a very pretty rapier raised and pointed at the advancing orc.


    I unslung my travel pack and picked up her chopped off lower leg.


    Thinking quickly, I knew despite my hopes to avoid violence, there was no other choice but to fight. Time to test my acting skills.


    I put down her severed limb and drew my short sword. A good quality, unassuming piece I''d found in the witches hoard.


    "Hey! Ge-Ge-Get away from her!"


    Today the orc unknowingly received something extremely rare- forewarning from an assassin. He turns as I approach from his left, and I "fall" forward. My sword held two handed out in front of me, I close my eyes and yelp as though afraid, as it slips perfectly between his ribs into his heart.


    "Urgh"


    I allow the orc to back hand me. Stumbleing back, I duck just in time to avoid the big sharpened slab of metal he called a sword. I let out a frightened sound as I stabbed into his thigh, letting go of my sword. Tumbling, I roll forward, before running to beside the fallen elf.


    "Oh crap my sword!"


    Please think I''m so inept.


    "Your... not very... good..."


    She was passing out, but still conscious enough that she might remember, so nothing fancy... yet. I draw my utility knife and wave it meekly as I hook my free hand under the elf''s armpit and start dragging her back, away from the orc.


    The orc does exactly what I predicted he''d do. He pulls my sword out with a snort. Regarding it''s size with amusement, it was perhaps only a tenth the mass of his cleaver.


    Orcs have very similar physiology to humans, including femoral arteries. My sword was plugging the wound arsehole! Your damaged heart is now pumping blood out of your leg. Plus he''d already taken a couple nasty slashes and been stabbed through his arm by the elf.


    He lumbers forward, dropping my sword and trying to raise his brutal, chop-centric, blunt ended, giant cleaver, only for it to lower back down.


    "Urr?"


    You''re dying, that''s what''s happening. He manages one more step before falling forward. I tug the elf and fall backward. The orc faceplants just beside the elf''s unsevered leg.


    "He-he-heal... please."


    I scramble up and fetch the elf''s leg. Skidding down onto my knees I rummage around the healer satchel at my side. I smoothly take out and uncork a healing potion in one motion, with one hand while using the other to pair up limb to stump.


    I pour the potion on the end of the leg and push it against the stump, then gently pour the rest over the cut.


    Limb somewhat attached, I place my hand over the elf''s heart and cast heal. Among the basic skills anyone can learn and useful for everyone, even an assassin.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Her eyes flutter open.


    "My-My friends! Please, revive!"


    I didn''t have the revive skill. It was further along the healer skill tree but my satchel did contain a revive potion...


    "I''m coming back for you, stay here OK."


    I sprint toward the fallen adventurers. Far enough from the elf, I drop the frightened boy act and look over the scene with my usual stone face impassiveness.


    I have only one revive potion and there are three fallen adventurers. If I don''t act now they''ll go past the point any potion or spell would work to revive them.


    The only other elf in the party looked to be their healer. She''d taken a bad slash across the back. I use heal, my level and investing a few skill points meant one application did the job; unlike with the elf in the woods, I didn''t hold back any of my magic.


    Back healed, I flipped the elf over.


    She has a similar satchel, whilst lifting up her head, I undo the front buckle and throw open the flap. Might as well use her revive, unfortunately she has only one.


    I stop and think.


    Lowering the elf back down, I crawl over to a neko (humanoid cat) archer and mostly heal their wounds, leaving some surface wounds for show. I leave the human mage for the elf healer to deal with.


    How do I use a revive potion? As an assassin I used potions, poisons and cast magic to ensure if there was a risk of revival, it wouldn''t work. Assassins work alone and don''t want to be caught, so being revived is not really an option for us. It''s more about avoiding detection, avoiding getting struck, then escaping and evading to survive.


    What I was going to do in the first place seemed right, so I go with it. I pour the revive potion into the elf healer''s mouth.


    She glows briefly then coughs and sputters. I cast a restrained heal to her chest and give her a light slap.


    "Hey, open your eyes, I need you."


    "Urr, what''s going on?"


    "I just used your revive potion on you, I got one more- that''s it. I''m going to revive the archer, he don''t look too badly injured, can you revive the mage?"


    I pull her up and point at the mage, partially decapitated and opened stomach. I feel her find her footing and push me away.


    "I need to drink a mana potion but I can do it! Where''s Fayeth?"


    She looks about, searching for someone. I guess it''s the elf I left recovering nearby.


    "Sword woman? She''s OK, in among the trees over there." This relieves her and focuses on the mage.


    I make a show of using weak heal spells three times to seal up the neko''s back then roll them over.


    "I''m out of magic¡ª newbie healer¡ª sorry!"


    I say using deception, a dark magic skill shared by high level thief and assassin class adventurers. My words magically boosted to be believed.


    The neko briefly glows and sputters to life. I don''t know what the etiquette is, but I hope they give me something for using my only revive potion.


    A strange moment passes. I feel shame for thinking that way. I want to help, I want to be better, screw the value of a potion. I have to be a better person!


    "I''m going to exceed my mana and faint after reviving." Admits the elf healer.


    I lower the neko and jog over to her. Dropping to my knees beside her, I take a hold of her waist and arm.


    She looks surprised, but doesn''t say anything, turning her attention back to the mage. I could feel her shaking, an empty vial lay not far from us. Mana potions are like a magic kick. She''d quickly healed the mage''s wounds, now putting out her palms over him.


    He glows as he jerks to life, the elf goes limp.


    I put each of the four adventures onto their bedding beside the road.


    I then drag the orcs corpses to the other side and loot the bodies. Nothing great. A few coins in two pouches, three plain knives, a spiky club, a two handed axe and the cleaver sword. There was also mystery, wrapped up meat, and very dense orcish bread in two of their pockets. I left the "food". If they had more gear, it was stashed among the trees somewhere.


    "So... you guys Ok?" I ask.


    "Yes thank you for stepping in. Please, what is your name, adventurer?"


    Fayeth had most recovered and seemed in charge of the group. Unfortunately I didn''t have a name to give yet; I was on this road heading to where the forger I''ve often worked with lives.


    I pretend not to hear.


    "I have to go, I''m going to take the coins I found in the orcs pockets OK? Can I take the sword to sell please- just starting out, kinda cash strapped."


    "You may take all the loot from them, adventurer please¡ª" Fayeth tries to further inquire.


    "Sweet thank you! Hope you guys recover OK. Bye!"


    My pack already on, I scoop up the loot and walk briskly away leaving the group stunned.


    I really did need to think of money. The services of the grandmaster forger weren''t cheap and I didn''t have much left from what the organisation had given to cover the witch job''s costs. I picked up a few things to sell from the witches hut but couldn''t risk taking too much or anything that looked too recognizable/traceable. She didn''t have much money to start with and I had to leave some behind to be found in the remains.


    It was risky but I had a money stash from my old life, not far from the forger, however I was concerned it wouldn''t be enough. My request of him would be something very special, something I wasn''t sure was even possible.

 Chapter 2

    It had taken two months of work to get here. I fidget with my ring as I approach the notice board within the adventurers guild hall.


    Having decided I try to be healer, among my concerns was taking up one of my hands with staff or wand. Thankfully among the witches loot was a meteor steel ring, like a wearable wand! Unfortunately it had a bright pink gemstone but oh well.


    In my other hand, my heavily modified adventurers card. My forger had pulled off something spectacular! A fully functioning, deceptive overlay.


    I maxed out skill point potions and even sought out a couple folk that can reward skill points. They were super easy quests, even solo.


    Certain rare items or locations granted skill points, apart from a hard to reach fountain, I didn''t think it worthwhile seeking out others... yet.


    Months of grinding too. Something I''d have to repeat every so often to keep up the guise.


    At my true level, I gained more skill points, but leveled up less often due to higher experience points needed per level. I had some skill points left over, combined with the extra, I took the plunge and committed.


    Dual classing is not popular, most people end up mediocre at two things, master of neither. It''s strictly, max two classes.


    My true adventurer card would now say dark magic master assassin and novice healer. The only example of that dual class I''d ever heard of. Novice healer is all most people would see on my card.


    Coming home tired from grinding/solo questing. I''d flip an hourglass, eat and rest. When the final grain fell, time to study. I''d got through healing for beginners volumes one to three and volume one of healing for intermediaries.


    My healer skill tree was complete up to level 10, and that''s the level my card stated I was at. I''d just unlocked revive skill level one. I had enough skill points hidden to cover me for a few of the level ups that would be expected to occur were I actually lv10.


    My photo was also updated.


    A notice catches my eye. Fighter and Ranger seek other party members, especially magic users, level seven and up. I search the hall and find the faces matching the sketches on the post.


    A higher level healer, a novice or perhaps even full on cleric was already at the table, I could tell by her staff, special headpiece and overall demeanor. She spots me approaching.


    "I think he''d be more suitable, I''ll pass this time. See you guys."


    What a relief, I couldn''t compete with her if I had to!?


    "Pink. A bold choice. May I see it?" The cleric says, eyeing up my meteor ring.


    "It''s just the way I got it." I shrug.


    I lift my hand expecting her to lean in, just look at it. I had to fight the instinct to pull my hand back and slap her as she takes a gentle hold of my hand and thumbs the ring.


    "Hm?... You know you can change the color right?"


    Her hands are soft and warm though...


    "Err... I clearly didn''t know. If it''s not too much¡ª"


    "So formal! Just focus on the ring and tell it your it''s master! It should then change to suit you. Plus you''ve probably been using it very inefficiently. That little ritual binds it to you, not to mention makes it fit whatever finger you want, so you don''t have to have it on your pinky hahaha. Go on¡ª do it¡ª as long as you didn''t steal it?"


    She chuckles and pulls the ring off my little finger. She just about gets it on the tip of my index. I shot her smile before staring down at the ring.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I didn''t feel like I''d stolen it, the owner long dead and hard/impossible to find relatives. No, I was its rightful master, and I was going to put it to good use¡ª to do good! A moment later the magic kicks in. Whew! I don''t let my relief show externally.


    It slides down my finger as it changes. The gem darkens to near black blue and the lacy looking wiring either side changes to two small spikes/pyramids.


    "Wow gnarly for a healer... See you around."


    "Thank you. Very kind of you to share that knowledge."


    Damn, hope no one reads too much into my ring now.


    The fighter at the table to my left taps my arm. "Let me see... Yo nice, that''s like a wand right?"


    "Yep, keeps my hand free."


    "Let''s see your card my man. How old are you Harvey?" Asks the fighter.


    "Fifteen, going on sixteen."


    "Nice, great age to be starting out. I''m twenty, only starting now as I was actually alright just being a guard for a local lord. But he got mixed up in a scandal or two... So yeh, figured I''d give adventuring a try. Izzy is my sister. Introduce yourself."


    Audovald seemed nice. A level nine fighter who used a shield and one handed battle axe. A little taller than me but much broader. His sister''s eyes meet mine. She was a cold young woman with a resting bitch face.


    "Isabelle. I''ve been adventuring for a while now, longer than my brother. I''m a level eleven ranger, bow and dual short swords." States Isabelle.


    I would guess she was a couple years older than I looked, seventeen maybe. Audovald leans toward her apologetically waving both his palms.


    "She warms up when you get to know her, I promise! HaHa. She didn''t fall out with her previous party or anything, just wanted to help me. Plus differences over the types of quests they wanted to do."


    "All they cared about was money, it was boring. Why are you adventuring Harvey?" Says Isabelle.


    Her stare cuts through my light padded armour and straight to my soul. I keep my aloof poker face strong.


    "I want to help people. I''ve seen some bad things and want to heal this god forsaken world, make it a bit better. Kinda lame I know, but I mean it."


    Did I catch a hint of a blush?


    "I too want to make this world better, I particularly want to fight against slavery, trading of women especially." She proclaims.


    "Wow, that sounds great, well I hope I can be the one to heal any injuries and support you as you get that done. People should never be sold as objects."


    She stares into my eyes for a moment, I hadn''t used deception. Should I have? Her eyes fleet away.


    "Hey so you haven''t asked about the quest we''re planning on undertaking."


    Audovald leans in grinning. I didn''t care, I could tell this was a decent party.


    "Oh, I figured we were waiting on a spellcaster of some kind?"


    "Ah yeah, you''re right, I can save my breath till the parties complete."


    I''d unintentionally made it awkward. I look around the hall and catch the eye of a petite young woman by the notice board. She glances down and starts fidgeting. Her cloak hood falling lower over her head, she seems to disappear.


    "Excuse me for a moment."


    I get up and walk around the hall. No need for any fancy assassin skills, it was moderately busy and there were pillars and other things to hide my approach.


    "Thinking of joining us?" I ask.


    "Wah!?"


    Up close her cloak had been made to resemble an animal''s fur, specifically I''d guess a black puma or jaguar? Her hood falls back as she whips round and looks up at me.


    "Um yes... but I''m only level six." Responds the girl.


    "What are you? Class I mean?"


    "I''m a summoner. I summon the spirits of big cats into myself or as ghosts that can fight¡ª But I also fight! I have claws see... I can summon other animals, but I like cats."


    She turns to me and opens one side of her cloak, she had flexible medium armour mostly beige (lion maybe) but with accents of leopard print. At her hip was a clawed gauntlet.


    "Hmm, level six... Can I see your card?"


    "Um... yes. Ok, Please consider my adventurer card, please."


    She thrusts it forward while bowing, holding out with two hands. I could now see the matching gauntlet on her other side. I accept her card with two hands and look it over. Not much XP off level seven, decent stats too for a petite girl the same age I am now. Summoner is an interesting, specialised class, much like assassin, it''s not a class available to just anyone.


    "Thank you very much Layla, my name''s Harvey by the way. May I show your card to the two that posted the notice?"


    "Yes please, I would appreciate their consideration, thank you Mr Harvey sir... thank you."


    "Relax. We''re all quite low level you know."


    Keen to get started, and there being enough of a journey that Layla could do some grinding, she was accepted and we set off.


    The quest didn''t have the highest reward but it was close the Issabelle''s heart. Increased numbers of orc slavers were pouring into the area. Some tremors had caused a new mountain path to form a few months back, this had been found to be the likely reason for the uptake. The quest came with explosive bundles, the objective was to blow up adjacent mountain sides, and block the new path.


    Audovald sheepishly apologizes and realises he needed to ask something important, something that should have been on the posting. Luckily both Layla and I are OK with climbing. Layla being able to take in the spirits of animals, gleefully exclaims she could borrow the skills of a mountain lion.

 chapter 2.33

    A few days later, we''re approaching an orc camp.


    It''s surprisingly difficult to sneak without using the many assassin skills that auto kick in. Isabelle looked as though she''d wanted to question why I offered to scout the orc camp beside her, luckily she didn''t. Layla offered, saying she could be quiet as a cat, so came too. Audovald looked disappointed at being left behind, he was large and self admittedly clumsy.


    This area was far from orc homelands, fortunately the new mountain pass was only used by lower level orcs who couldn''t compete with those that claimed the lands over the mountains as their hunting grounds.


    Four orcs total, the cage on their cart at present empty. Sat round a campfire, chowing down on... roasted geese? Some Kind of large birds.


    I belly crawl backward. Isabelle too has seen enough. I couldn''t even see Layla, a very impressive sneaking skill at just level eight! We''d found some low level critters for her en route.


    Isabelle does a bird call, apparently she''d lost sight of Layla too.


    I couldn''t let them know I had the mid-level skill of stat sight, it helped assess targets. However even without it I could tell the orcs were sub level 10, I did of course verify this with stat sight. Levels six, eight, eight and nine.


    Woah! I think I very briefly let slip, not fear but a trained steely look, at Layla who appeared beside me. Assassins should show neither fear nor surprise. Summoner being an advanced class, she was probably taught by a clan or something. I knew higher level assassins that were less sneaky than this girl using the spirit of cats!


    "There are four orcs, I make them out to all be under level 10. There''s a smaller one I think Layla could handle. It''s risky but I think we could attack head on."


    "Sorry Isabelle, may I propose something?"


    She stares blankly at me. If she was offended, I had no idea. I take her silence as permission to speak.


    "Layla, can your summoned animals move more than 7-8m from you?"


    "For sure, yes Mr Harvey, thank you. If one or two, that range is fine."


    "Perfect so what if..."


    Roar!


    The orcs jump up as the pair of glowing, translucent lions leap from the bushes.


    Fwip!


    The bigger orc takes an arrow to the back of the head and drops. Stealth attack bonus.


    Layla sans cloak, now with a cat eared half face helmet on, leaps onto the smaller orcs back and starts tearing at his face and throat. His arms lift to try and fight off Layla, but both get bitten and dragged down by the lion spirits.


    Rarrrr!


    It was Layla roaring, bloodied claws flicking blood as she raised them high into the air.


    The middle orc was also caught facing the lions and was dropped by an axe to the back. The last orc standing was cut down by Isabelle.


    No injuries to heal, I did however buff their attack stat from a distance, and so gain equal share of the XP.


    "Layla, if these two go another way, I''m following you, that was amazing!"


    I''m pretty sure I caught a dirty look from Isabelle.


    "You guys were great too!"


    While preparing for my new life, I''d also found and read a short book on making friends. Freely giving compliments was recommended. Layla grins, eyes glistening as she wipes down her gauntlets. A little unhinged perhaps, but this feral girl is on my side and I love that.


    "Yo, I felt that buff, I reckon it was only a one hit because of it man!"


    I get a fist bump from Audovald.


    "It was a good idea to create a distraction. One shotting the biggest orc was thanks to the attack being a surprise. Thank you healer."


    Isabelle''s compliment could''ve thawed a little, but even stated so flatly, it was nice to hear.


    The orcs had camped not far from the entrance, we could''ve waited for them to leave in the morning, but they were literally going to catch people to trade as slaves; violence was agreed by all to be the right call.


    . . .


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The wind whistled as we climbed. Isabelle with me on the right side of the newly formed valley/ mountain pass.


    Isabelle and I could both climb with our explosive bundles. Audovald was on the other side with Layla, whose lowest stat was carry weight. She could take on the spirit of a tiger, able to drag a cow up a tree, but setting the bundle up needed human intelligence and dexterity. So Audovald carried both bundles meant for that side.


    Whilst setting mine up, I can see Isabelle up ahead and the others not far over my shoulder.


    Tink tink tink!


    The stake is hammered in and checked, rope attached. Having secured herself, Layla accepts the bundle and starts setting it up as Audovald climbs further away to set his up.


    I use a magic skill useful for scouting, FarSight. Essentially built in, low magic cost, telescopes in each eye. I hadn''t spotted anything, it was out of habit. I trace the path from the valley.


    Not a party, but an entire caravan of orcs, some looking fairly high level were approaching. Dozens of the scumbags. Returning to normal vision I squint, hmm... there is a little something visible¡ª their dust cloud.


    Wheeee!


    My whistle causes Isabelle to look over, I''m sure I''d seen a telescope being put in the pouch she took with her. After some miming and pointing she understands.


    I see her take out the telescope and scan the distance. She looks back and raises a fist... we should have agreed on what hand signals mean, I have no idea what she wants. I see her finish up and start making her way to me.


    Across the way Layla had caught on something was going on, she was looking straight at the caravan. Hawk eyes?


    Layla finishes up and starts heading toward Audovald.


    "We have just enough time to get down and blow it before they get here." Isabelle states as soon as she''s near enough.


    "What if we let them enter this valley. Then bury them?"


    She stares at me blankly. Was my suggestion too monstrous?


    "I like you Harvey... lets wire them up."


    She hands me the coil from the first bundle. I connect my explosives as she climbs under and past me. I disconnect from my anchor and start slowly making my way down, made harder by having to stop and release slack for the wire. The coil of 100m was heavier than the explosives, I should''ve been the one further ahead. Guess Isabelle is proud, or just strong, and I''m an old fashioned fool.


    "How''d you spot them Harvey? I used the eyes of an eagle to see that caravan? They were closer when I saw them when you whistled and I saw Isabelle using a telescope." Asks Layla.


    "Uhh... there was a glint and I could just about make out a dust cloud."


    Audovald takes the remainder of the coil from me and looks for the end.


    "We''re going to wait for them to enter the valley and bury them. However I''d like them slowed down or stopped. Make sure we get all of them." Isabelle slams her fist into her palm.


    "Lets''s fashion a barricade just ahead of the second explosives, nothing complicated, just enough to make them pause."


    "Good idea Isabelle. Those slavers we got yesterday had that wagon with a cage." I suggest.


    Unfortunately Isabelle had felt sorry for the overworked looking horses and let them go. Her eyes widen and she looks down, blushing.


    "You and me man, we can be horses, ain''t that far." Thanks Audovald, I go say something¡ª


    "Sorry I can''t do bigger animals like elephants yet." Layla looks so sad.


    "Layla don''t worry we got this. Come on Harvey!"


    I look at his grin, return a forced smile and nod. We start jogging to the wagon, maybe 200m away.


    "I''ll get the trigger ready." Calls out Isabelle.


    Just getting the wagon to start rolling was a pain. We rocked it, then I pushed hard from the back as Audovald pulled. On his own he managed to keep it moving long enough for me to run around front and assist.


    Progress was too slow! Layla comes bounding on all fours, stopping and getting up just ahead of us.


    "I remembered I can do chimps and they''re a bit stronger."


    She goes between us and takes the empty horse reins, wrapping bundling them in each first before.


    "O O O Oh AH AH Ah O!"


    We definitely picked up some speed.


    Isabelle sees us approaching and starts climbing up one of the sides. She lifts the wire from the opposite side aloft so we can pass underneath. The valley was narrow, made sense why there were tool marks at certain points. They''d had to chip at the side to make it wide enough.


    I look up.


    "Slow... slow... and... shove it right!"


    I pull my hand free from the valley wall side and push with the other as Audovald jerks his body toward me, knocking me.


    Crack!


    The wagon becomes well wedged. I pushed off the right yolk I''d caught myself against just in time to spot Layla.


    She collapses, unconscious from the magic drain, I catch her. All magic users have what is known as the over exert zone. A fraction of their mana available past normal usage, however it comes at the cost of consciousness.


    "Audovald get under the wagon, I''ll pass you Layla, slide her to the otherside, go!"


    Wheeee!


    "They''re coming!" Isabelle''s distant shout echos.


    Audovald does us instructed. I slide Layla to Audovald, he crawls out the otherside, pulls her to him as I crawl under the wagon. Audovald with Layla in his arms is running just ahead. We get to the entrance of the valley and Isabelle hops down off the wall. She looks at me holding out the telescope, I grab it and clamber up the wall.


    The ends of the wires were forked and placed by Isabelle into the wide opening of the lightening potion we''d been given. Clothes pegs hold the wires in place to the edge of the jar.


    I watch the caravan spot the wagon and start to slow. They''re going right up to it. I clamber lower to where I can get away with jumping, roll on landing.


    "Now!"


    Isabelle, who''d been holding the paper envelope above the jar in anticipation, pours in the activating powder half of the potion, turns and we both SPRINT!


    FZZzzzzz


    CRACK!


    A flash of light. I glance over my shoulder and can see the lightning going along the wires.


    B-BOO-BOOM!


    After the bombs went off, the sounds were indescribable. A mix of deafening rumbling, crackling of cliff faces detaching, and screaming of orcs below.


    The dust settles, we cough, we look about. Everyone is there...


    "Ha... HaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!" Isabelles holds her sides and looks out her mind as she laughs. Dropping on her knees before collapsing and rolling about.


    "WOOOOOO! YEAH!" Audovald punches the air after putting down Layla.


    I walk over to Layla, smiling like I''ve never smiled before. I know she''s OK but I still need to check.


    "I feel sorry for their horses." Says Isabelle, still lying on her back, wiping away tears and smiling.


    "Orcs treat their beasts like shit, we put them out of their misery."


    I don''t know if she even heard my attempt at comforting her.


    I hear stones moving, rumbling.


    RARRR!


    Something is coming from the valley...

 Chapter 2.66

    I hear stones moving, rumbling.


    RARRR!


    Something is coming from the valley, more chattering of pebbles shifting.


    The first something starts to come into view, followed by others.


    A handful of high level orcs survived.


    Statvision. 24, 18,19,21,18 and leading them, a fucking giant boss orc at level 32.


    "Audovald take Layla and run, don''t look back, Go¡ªNow!"


    Audovald goes to protest my words¡ª


    "Audovald, do it!" screams Isabelle.


    She believes only he can run with her in his arms far enough, I could too but using skills I shouldn''t have. She also doesn''t know, only I can kill all these motherfuckers.


    "GO!! SAVE HER! HARVEY you too RUN!"


    "I''ll get help!" Audovald shouts as gets Layla in a fireman''s lift and starts running.


    Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!


    Arrow after pointless arrow, even with me buffing her attack stat, is fired at the oncoming behemoth of an orc. He closes his eyes, raises his arm to protect them, and carries on forward.


    "Harvey go!"


    She must''ve sensed me approaching, there''s no way she saw. She goes to fire another arrow, I squeeze the side of her neck with a little added magic. She goes unconscious.


    I walk up the lead orc who stops, whilst extracting the strongest scalpel I could get. Dark steel, min. Lv45, grandmaster forged, I got one hell of a funny look placing the custom order.


    "Puny human, what you do wit tiny knife?"


    Our eyes meet as I raise my head. He sees my annoyed expression and hesitates.


    "I just wanted to heal."


    My afterimage fades as the sides of his minions'' necks explode, one by one erupting into fountains of blood.


    I shimmer back in the same position except now my scalpel and hand are bloody.


    Yahhh... URGhhhhh


    His minions drop crying out in their death throes.


    "What did puny human do?"


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He raises the tree trunk wrapped in chains he calls a weapon and lurches forward. I run and knee slide between his legs. I turn and with a slash one way and a slash the other I sever both his achilles tendons. I dash away as he roars in pain. He tries to step, it''s agony. He collapses.


    I slice the artery on the underside of his upper arm on one side, then jump over his back. Midair, I pirouette and slice one side of his neck. Landing gracefully on the other side, I place the scalpel under his arm and slice open the brachial artery on that side too. I walk a short distance and start walking around the struggling orc.


    I arrive in front of him as one of his arms slips on the puddle of blood and he bonks his head.


    "Rarrrr! RAHHH!"


    I return the high level scalpel back to concealment. Scoop up Isabelle and walk away as the orc tries to crawl forward and reach out to me.


    His arm drops... his fingers stop twitching.


    "BloodBurn."


    The dark magic skill with plenty of invested skill points to make it more powerful, ignites spilled blood as though it was lamp oil.


    I walk away from the small mushroom cloud formed from the sudden ignition of so much blood.


    . . .


    Fortunately Isabelle''s arrows had caused zero damage, she needed a new bow, hers was still one for beginners. If they had caused even one hp damage to the orc, I''d have to explain the XP she would gain.


    "Hey, you feeling ok? Don''t move your head... keep your head still."


    I put on a little show of rushing to gently hold her bandaged head and plump the pillow either side.


    "Wha... what happened?"


    "One your arrows critical hit his eye. But thrashing about he hit you on the head so hard it killed you. He fell backward onto his minions, think he killed one thrashing about on the ground. I carried you away in the carnage."


    You died, we fled the fight, no XP.


    "Some high level adventurer, who heard the explosives, ran past throwing fireballs. I healed and revived you, used two potions. Worried your head might not be healed enough, but I''m out of magic."


    To sell it, I''d emptied out two healing potions before catching up to Audovald who was semi conscious having carried Layla several kilometres.


    "Uhhh, I feel like shit, everything is spinning."


    My knowledge of poisons had come in useful. I hate it, but I need her dizzy and queasy for a while. I can''t have her thinking she''s fully healed from a devastating death blow by such a lowly healer.


    I tell her to drink and try to sleep, which should be easy considering what was in her water, before retiring to my own bedroll. I take a gulp of the same water before dashing the rest into some nearby bushes.


    The organisation had steadily drugged and poisoned me throughout my training to build up tolerance, the sleep concoction in the water barely helped.


    My first quest with a party and I fucked up. I had to use assassin skills to get everyone out of there. Fuck, why did I suggest burying the orcs?


    . . .


    Having doled out the reward money, Isabelle places her hands on her hips and clears her throat. Audovald and Layla who''d been comparing adventurer cards, admiring the completed quests XP boost, stop and look at her. I''d stepped back and was just standing, silently pondering.


    "It didn''t go quite right at the end, but we all made it out OK."


    A short pause, she gives the group a defiant nod and continues. Not the greatest speech giver but not doing too bad...


    "We did good for this area, and worked well together. Layla, Harvey, I''d like you both to stick with us. Let''s do another quest."


    "Ohhh Miss Isabelle, I had so much fun, for sure I want to stay with this party!"


    "Glad to hear it. Harvey?"


    All three are looking at me. While Isabelle is the hardest to read... I sense something from her, does she actually like me being around? But...


    I should go... This was a bad idea... I might endanger them more... Aaaaaaa...


    "Sure, let''s do another quest."


    "Alllright, my man."


    Audovald jovially bumps my shoulder. Isabelle briefly smiles before pacing straight over to the notice board, Layla follows saying she might already have spotted something.


    Audovald starts chatting to me about how lucky we were. I''d used deception so he genuinely believed he''d spotted some high level adventurers in the distance as he ran away. Under deception, a victim''s imagination can fill certain things in. I feel lousy for the manipulation but smile and nod along.