The blast and flying debris had shredded her skin and clothes alike. It looked like that one movie where a guy got hit by a shotgun blast, except some of the stones and dirt were still embedded in her skin and there was blood everywhere. Leaning over so his ear was above her mouth, he felt her neck with two fingers. No breath tickled his ear, and he thought for a moment that she was truly dead, but then he felt a pulse against his fingers. It was weak and fluttering, but it was there! She wasn’t dead yet! Xander was tempted to rejoice, but the fight was still going on and he really didn’t want to call attention to himself.
Then, the reality of what he needed to do struck him, and panic started to creep back in. He would have to perform mouth-to-mouth for this girl he didn’t really know if he wanted her to live long enough to be mad at him about it. He felt intensely uncomfortable about putting his hands on a girl without her consent, but it was the only way to save her life as a short-bus sized monster attempted to kill them all. Grinding his teeth and forcing down his emotions, he tilted her head back to open her airway, pinched her nose closed, took in a deep breath, and then remembered that there was a large hole in his own throat when he heard the slight whistling from it at his intake of air.
Xander’s eye twitched as he clamped a hand over the hole and put his mouth to hers.
After less than a minute of this, the fight took a turn, Ignaris getting taken out by something that the Den Mother kicked in his direction. The strange lava mage was sent flying, a small chunk of his torso shattering in the process. More importantly, this left Rheagan to face the boss alone. The mystic swordsman was no fool though, and even though the boss was heavily damaged, facing it alone one on one would be a shaky proposition at best, so he turned to flee with what little time he had. The guy froze with a look of confusion and horror on his face at seeing Xander hunched over Sibil, green hair hanging down messily and amber blood dripping on the unconscious priestess’s cheek. Naturally, that moment couldn’t have come at a worse time, and a massive paw slammed into his back, carving furrows through the armor and sending the swordsman tumbling.
The boss limped forward, two of its limbs heavily damaged along with a huge hole in its chest, and in no particular rush. The glowing green runes along its flanks were barely lit, and it was covered in singed slash marks and scorched holes, but there was still a hungry malice in its wooden face. Xander glared at the wolf, but there was nothing that he could do. Fortunately for everyone involved, it appeared that Ignaris was still alive as evidenced by a shouted hiss of defiance followed quickly by yet another orb of lava flying at the beast. The wolf was much more wary of the projectiles by this point though, and it dodged away.
Rheagan was getting back to his feet, which seemed miraculous to Xander until he noticed that the warrior's wounds were still closing as he chewed on whatever he had popped in his mouth earlier. They weren’t closing fast, but it was apparently enough to keep him alive at least. “What in the name of the Nine do you think you’re doing Xander?” he demanded even as he lifted his sword and lit the blade with flames once more. Xander had neither the ability nor the desire to respond. Hell, he couldn’t even flip the guy off at the moment since both hands were occupied by the process. He turned his glare on the swordsman instead, only to find that the man wasn’t even looking at him, but focusing on the boss anyway.
Xander checked for a pulse again, and this time found none.
To his absolute shock, he felt an immediate weight settle on his whole body, and watched in horror as his hands caught on fire where they were touching the medallion. Another incredibly helpful pair of windows popped up.
Warning: You are on fire. Put out the fire to prevent further damage. Your affinity for fire (-50) is causing you to take an additional 50% damage.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Warning: You have fallen below 25% HP
Xander willed the windows away along with several more that popped up after them, wholly focused on whatever new force was assaulting him, and on trying to keep Sibil alive. Screaming as he continued compressions, he figured that a little burned skin was preferable to not getting the blood to circulate. He also noted absently that the hole in his throat seemed to have closed up enough that he actually managed to make a little noise. However, when he pulled his flaming hands away, the girl’s skin didn’t seem to have suffered from the proximity to the fire at all. A pleasant campfire smell wafted up as he went to continue breathing for her, though there was still plenty of the coppery scent of blood in the air as well. Just before he could breathe for her again, a hand on his chest pushed him back.
Looking down in confusion, he saw that Sibil’s eyes were open, and it was she who had pushed him away. “Jhakor conveys his thanks for saving one of his clergy, but notes that if you ever call him ‘Jake’ or speak like that to him again, you and your woods will be set on fire… repeatedly…” she said, voice rough and eyes huge. Her medallion was glowing with divine light, and without even standing, she lifted a hand towards where her comrades were fighting. “By Jhakor’s wrath, I command you to burn, beast.” she rasped out, and a stream of fire erupted from her open palm. This time, the fire entirely resembled a flamethrower, and the Den Mother had no time to dodge. Thorns, brambles, and runes were all scorched away under the torrent of magical fire. Sibil couldn’t keep it up for long, her mana running out quickly, but with a roar, Rheagan dashed directly at the monster and stabbed his sword deep into its neck.
Your group has killed the boss of the Bramble Den Dungeon, Den Mother Asena (Level 25). For defeating an enemy 17 levels higher than yourself you receive an experience multiplier.
You have reached level 9. Two stat points awarded, one advancement awarded.
You have reached level 10. Two stat points awarded, one new class ability awarded, one racial advancement awarded.
You have reached level 11. Two stat points awarded
Xander groaned in relief as the flames on his hands went out, seemingly of their own volition. He couldn’t do much except fall backwards on his ass. Ignaris likewise seemed to sink down to the ground now that the fighting was over, but Rheagan was heading towards Sibil and Xander. Confusion, anger, and concern all fought for equal time on the mystic swordsman’s face. “Xander… what in the name of the Nine did you think you were doing to Sibil?” he asked, clearly trying to sound calm and authoritative, but Xander could hear the anger in his tone.
He held up his hands in a silent plea, and was horrified to see that they were little more than charred lumps, his fingers almost entirely consumed. Contrary to what he might have expected, the swordsman didn’t recoil at the sight. If anything, his frown deepened, and his grip on his sword became tighter. “If she burned your hands off, then you were definitely doing something she didn’t approve of” he said coldly, and began to walk forwards again. The priestess in question though called out weakly from the ground “No, Rheagan, stop. It’s not what it looks like. She saved my life.”
That brought the man up short, and he looked back at her “What do you mean? He doesn’t have any healing magic that he told us of, and even if he did he would be using it on himself. No, he was forcing himself on you… I saw it with my own eyes. And why else would you burn his hands off then?” Xander was conflicted. Rheagan was clearly pissed and wanted to kill him, but on the other hand he was actually insisting on using the right pronouns at the least, unlike the priestess. He couldn’t help but be a little grateful, and all he needed was another minute or two for his wound to close so he could explain everything.
“I didn’t, Jhakor did,” Sibil chuckled raspily, “And before you get all pissed off it was apparently because of her disrespectful tone, not her actions. He told me that she saved my life with whatever she did. Nnngggg owwwww… I hurt… all over.” she ended with a whine.
“I think we all do,” Rheagan admitted, “But are you sure about Xander?”
“Ummm, yes?” the girl responded, not terribly convincing but Rheagan sighed and seemed to accept her statement at face value anyway, sheathing his sword. “Good,” Sibil groaned, “Now umm, can you get me my taffy please? I don’t think I can move to get it. Oh, and give half to the dryad too, okay?” Rheagan just nodded, and pulled a small wrapped package out of what looked a bit like a fanny pack on her hip. Withdrawing a piece of pink candy, he pulled it in half, and put one half in Sibil’s mouth. Xander watched as the warrior then came over and offered him the other half. He just looked down at his clearly nonfunctional appendages and then shrugged and opened his mouth. With a roll of his eyes, the warrior obliged.
Xander chewed hesitantly at first, not sure what to expect. The taffy had a fruityness to it, but also tasted medicinal at the same time. It sort of reminded him of cough syrup, though it tasted a bit better and the fruit wasn’t one that he could readily identify. The pain began to lessen, and in a minute or so the wound in his throat finished closing. Coupled with his natural regeneration, he regained HP very quickly, and his hands started reforming as well.
“Ready to talk now?” asked Rheagan, glancing over at him. Xander shrugged in a noncommittal fashion. “I’ll take that as a yes. So, first of all, thank you for saving Sibil’s life.” the red headed swordsman said, and even bowed to Xander moderately. “But hiding a healing ability from people you are working with is… frowned upon. It can cost lives if withheld, and knowing about it can change tactics.” he stated with disapproval. Xander shook his head “No, really, I’m not a healer, at least not as far as magic goes. Actually, scratch that, I’m not a healer, period. The only reason I know anything about human anatomy is because I looked up a bunch of references for some of my art pieces.”
“You needed to study human bodies for your… art?” Rheagan said slowly, “So then, you really are a necromancer?”
“NO!” Xander just about shouted, though it came out raspy since apparently the internal damage to his throat wasn’t completely healed. “I’m not a necromancer or a healer! Jesus, we went over this already! I’m a dryad, and my class is basically a druid and an osteomancer smushed together with a unique feature as far as I can tell.” he glared angrily at the noble idiot.
Rheagan just watched him for a few moments, then shrugged, “Yeah, okay okay. I don’t think you’re a good enough actor to lie that convincingly, so I’ll take you at your word.” Xander remained glaring at the guy, still kind of pissed about being questioned yet again. As if reading his thoughts, Rheagan added quietly, “You’re going to have to get used to people being suspicious you know. You’re not human, you use bones, and are generally odd. What do you expect people to think?”
In a moment of clarity, Xander realized that not only was Rheagan likely correct, but that this was also nothing new for him. The vast majority of people had never truly understood him, not even his family for the most part. He had always been an outlier, even if being a goth was more accepted now than it had been in the past. He calmed down slightly and smirked, “Well fuck ‘em then, I’m not actually doing anything illegal.”
Rheagan looked like he wanted to say something, disapproval and maybe a hint of concern in the way he crossed his arms and looked conflicted. After another moment he shook his head and turned away. “I think you are being an idiot, but on your head be it. Come then, let's collect what we’re owed.”