THE RESCUERS

  “Tanner how did you know about this?”

  “I’ll answer in a minute.” Tanner looks around the stone chamber, they appeared in. “Okay safety first. We do not attack anything, we can only defend. You must insure attacking creatures hit you first. Otherwise the dungeon enrages and kills us. We run to Janice. You see the arrow in front of us? That is the direction of her body notice the green color edging to red that means she is alive but dying. The pulsing red means wounded, the stronger the pulse the worse the wounds are, got it?”

  With a broad grin, Connie salutes and says, “Yes sir.”

  “We talk while we run. I read a phrase in our Darton contracts about Darton not holding any responsibilities if rescue is not available. So I looked it up. The academy dungeon’s all have a Umm, backdoor if you will. Volunteering for the rescue squad gets you points toward your Healers certification. The information is hard to find but not hidden, I imagine because people may try to rely on them instead of doing things right.”

  “I understand, that is useful information, why didn’t you tell us earlier?”

  “I was going to brief you all today. But things happened.”

  “The arrow is changing colors faster we need to speed up.”

  “I see her, up ahead on the ground. You examine I have over watch.” The pair run up to the naked Janice face down to the ground. As the two look her over, they see large stab wounds all over her back and ribs. Two vicious cuts across her thighs. Tanner spits in disgust, “Bastards hamstrung her then stabbed her in the back while she laid there. She never had a chance. Thieves took all her stuff, couldn’t leave her any dignity.”

  “She is alive Tanner that’s what counts, we got here in time.”

  Janice stirs, “Am I dreaming? Tanner how did you get here? I am naked maybe I get a pleasant dream before the end.”

  “Connie and I are both here Janice., we are going to help you out of here. Stay still while Connie heals you.”

  “No, don’t heal me or just heal me enough I don’t die. I want everybody to see what they did to me.”

  She turns her head and gives muffled sobs, tears running down her cheeks.

  Connie unshed tears in her eyes, explains to her. “First, I will numb the pain. Then I will heal you up to where we can get you out of here. We will have to carry you. You cannot walk with these wounds.” Connie heals the wounded girl just enough to keep her alive, per her wishes. “Tanner I need help wrapping her in a blanket.”

  Tanner helps Connie roll the partially healed woman. The couple tend the patient, rolling her over until they find another deep wound high on her chest. Connie hisses, “This is the wound that almost killed her. They missed her heart.”

  “Lucky for her. We should help her leave this place.”

  Connie turns to Tanner, eyes blazing with anger. “Tanner, are you able to carry her? I have over watch. I need to kill something.”

  “I’ll carry her, and I feel the same way.” Tanner lifts her into a princess carry as gently as he can.

  “You know Tanner your pretty handsome from this angle.” Janice flirts, she then sobs, more tears running down and off the side of her face.

  She turns her face to Tanner’s chest. “I thought he loved me. I’m an idiot, why can’t I just have an enjoyable life. I might as well be dead.”

  “Janice, don’t fret, I’m here for you. You have friends in Legacy, and we would miss you if you died.”

  “You mean that?” Janice asks between sniffles.

  Connie clears her throat. “You have friends Janice We have your back.”

  “Connie can you put her to sleep and give her pleasant dreams? She needs some pleasant dreams.”

  Connie gives him a tremulous smile. “I’ll do my best.”

  “There is the exit ahead be ready.” The angry couple charge their most powerful spells, Origin Affinities, on full display, and step through the exit.

  “They are back, holy crap.”

  “You must stand down, I repeat, stand down. It’s under control. Tanner, Connie, it’s under control.”

  The enraged couple assess their surroundings. As they let the power they are holding relax their shoulders and the tension they carry flows out.

  “Tanner is she alive, can you tell me if my baby is alive?”

  Connie ignoring Janice’s father for the moment. “Where is everyone we need to get her to show off her wounds so we can finish healing her.”

  Lane nods, “Look crispy people, emergency run to the main auditorium.”

  Tanner and Connie nod their heads as the group takes off running. Tanner addresses the delver's guild leader. “She wishes everyone to see what was done to her. That is why she insisted on a partial heal. Connie is doing everything she can to keep her stable. Now run, you can see what happened with everybody else.”

  The main auditorium chamber doors slamming open silences the rumble of the crowd. The double squad of Imperial bodyguards march in formation, with Janice in Tanner’s arms, and Connie with her hand on the injured girl’s head. The three students placed in the protected center.

  Lane calls out, “Justices this needs handled quickly. Injured wittiness testament. She is still in awful shape but insisted on showing her wounds.”

  Tanner and Connie move on to the stage. “I would appreciate it if you could wake her up.”

  Janice wakes looking confused. “Janice you sure about showing everyone? The entire school is here, and you are center stage. We can just have the Justices look you over.”

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

  “Then entire school sees me. Please remove the blankets.

  The Justicars look over Janice’s wounds, cataloging them. Tanner and Connie hold the wounded woman up, facing the audience. One Justicar calls out. “Chest wound inflicted from the front, upper chest through the back, missed the heart nicked the lungs.”

  The pair hold her as gently as they can while turning her around, but she still cries out in pain. The same Justicar calls out two slices across the lower thighs. “Looks to be the same sword from the chest wound. She was hamstrung to prevent fleeing, most likely. Eight stab wounds to the back and ribs. Entering from the back. She was stabbed repeatedly from behind. None of these wounds were inflicted by trained weapons users. She was butchered. Now, for the love of the Goddess, allow yourself to be healed, young lady.”

  Janice takes a deep breath between sobs. “I wanted everyone to know.”

  Connie’s healing power envelopes Janice with a pure white light, restoring her torn flesh before the entire school. “I left no scars, you don’t need reminders of this awful day.”

  Tanner and Connie escort Janice off the stage to sit with the rest of Legacy, the three glaring at Janice’s party of murderers. As the three sit, Claire passes food to the hungry woman.

  Jax whispers, “Damn, Claire must be concerned. She’s sharing her meat skewers.” The rest snicker at her, while Janice looks confused but smiles anyway, surrounded by actual friends for the first time she can remember.

  Janice’s portion of the trial moves on. The entire school learns of the deceit, of not only her former party but of the upper management of the Delvers Guild’s children. Their parents' guilt also comes to light during the investigation/trial. The parents are all sentenced to death. The children all get 100 years in prison.

  As the students stand to file out of the building, the dean calls out, “Please sit back down. We are not done here. Unfortunately, we have more investigations in progress. The first is the Delvers Guild’s management of the academy dungeons, along with those complicit in swindling students, out of earned dungeon rewards. You will all be released after this. Those interested in staying may do so. Just know that much of the third part of this procedure will be sealed to the crown or the church.”

  Everyone’s attention is now directed back to the stage. All present are now entirely focused on something that has directly affected them. After finding out, the guild had no right to the charged ten percent members' fee of all rewards, as guild memberships and affiliations are forbidden on campus. Students become restless. When the involvement of the campus guards and imperial tax collectors and Justicars assigned to the campus comes to light. Outrage spreads.

  Chief Justicar Neubbie stands shouting. “You will all be silent, you are here to learn, and as a courtesy. Those of you harmed will be made as whole as can be. The Delvers Guild will be purged for good this time. Then restructured. Now settle down and let the proceedings continue.” The students, cowed and reassured, settle back down to listen.

  After the second session is complete, and a recess is called. Tanner walks up to Justicar Samuel Kettle, and lightly kicks the back of his knee, popping his leg. Samuel turns, grinning at Tanner. “As I recall I told you to stay out of trouble young man.”

  A Sheepish Tanner grins back, “Some things are harder to do than others.”

  The rest of the Justicars are taken aback by the causal display and look on in disapproving silence. Samuel turns to the rest and introduces Tanner as the lad from Volks Harbor four years ago. The chief justice smiles at Tanner, then turns to face him fully. “And you are responsible for this mess also?”

  “Responsible? No. Uncovered? My team and I, at the time we just thought Janice Gleeson was in trouble and were assigned training to help her out. I was hoping to maybe get some Delvers Guild members punished. Things got out of hand.”

  “You fractured the guild and exposed significant corruption.”

  “Yes sir, they were pretty stupid. I think the children were running a plan that their parents would not have approved of, and it left all of them hanging in the wind.”

  The Chief Justice nods in agreement. “That is our thinking also. You and your party did well. Your part in the investigation was very complete. Thanks for that, those dossiers you provided on Gleason’s attackers was very complete. If any of you want a job after graduation let me know. We need talented people.”

  “I will let the others know. I came over to says hi to Samuel, and find out if we can leave?”

  “Your documents are all here, so you can proceed. If we need clarification, we can send someone for you. Thanks again.”

  The decuplet and Janice relax on the campus lawn, soaking up the last few rays of the late fall sun. Jax asks, “So why are we calling her J.J. now?”

  Tanner shakes his head in mock disappointment. “Jester you better be on mission, do you do read? Janice Jennifer Gleason, J.J. she gets a new name for her new beginning.”

  “Thanks guys I will bear the name with pride.”

  “I’ve found one guys, the girl with the pink hair. J.J., have you figured out how many you want in your party?”

  “Five no more than six.”

  “I understand.” Jax says walking away to talk to the pink haired girl.

  “He’s such a goof how is he so good at this?” J.J. asks.

  Milly smiles after him and gives a deep sigh. “No clue but he got us all together. Now we are legacies in the making.”

  Jax gains J.J. five new friends all of which consider her deed to be a brave. The six gather off to the side and talk about forming a party. Tanner and the others decide on Quincy’s for dinner and an early night.

  Another chill morning dawns, and Legacy stands once more assembled at the campus dungeon complex. This time, all arrived together, along with Leaf Hunter. The decuplet walk to the first dungeon's entrance, while the warg puppy leaps and runs around his friends. A familiar fourth year’s face smiles at the decuplet.

  “Hey Katie, you got dungeon duty now?”

  Katie’s face lights up with recognition, “Tanner, you remember me? I have your tokens here in this bag still sealed and ready for Legacy. Cool name by the way. Now the fees are two percent of the total reward before taxes. The remaining is taxed at the normal ten percent. I have the Examine Skill.” she points to the table where a document rests. “That is my certification. You are all welcome to look it over. My accounting ledgers are here in front of me and you are all welcome to look those over as well. Receipts will be given for all transactions. All parties will have true and accurate copies signed by all parties. Questions?”

  “Are the dungeons being monitored by the academy now?”

  “Yes, Claire. This will be the standard fees going forward. Those of us on the administrative path get to gain experience with this aspect of our world now. We are all thrilled and want to thank you guys. The first dungeon you all have to complete is called the leveling dungeon. All creatures are Level zero to Level nine. The boss is level ten. It is an underground complex, carved stone tunnels and chambers. Goblins I’m afraid, but hey we all start somewhere right?”

  “Ugh, I really hate goblins.” Milly says, shaking her head as the others all voice or nod in agreement.

  Katie looks surprised. “You have fought goblins before?”

  “Yeah one week of pure hell.” Jax claims.

  “You all have to go in one at a time have fun guys.”

  “Bets anyone? Fastest time, best loot?” Mick grins.

  Karnna narrows her eyes at her boyfriend. “Minimum one gold each for the best time and the best loot. Winner takes the pot for each.”

  The others nod and say, “Done”

  Tanner tells his party he will go last. Claire glances from Tanner to Katie and runs for the entrance.

  “Wow the aura went purple. She is going to get some top quality stuff.” After the others have had their run, Tanner takes his time rushing, but not in a hurry. To everyone’s surprise, Connie got both the best time and the best loot. When Lilli laughs at them all and points out Connie entered the dungeon the day before. Mick and Karnna accuse Connie of cheating. The others point out the bets were their idea. Connie and Tanner laugh at them.

  “Why were you so slow getting here, Tanner?”

  Tanner hugs Connie and Claire, laughing, “I let her win.” The rest groan. “Focus guys the next one is a little more challenging.”

  Katie stands before the last first year challenge. “This dungeon, Legacy, has caused trouble for some first-year students. It is classified as a Level 10 Tier 0. The Boss is a Tier one, Level 11 to 14. There is only one boss, no sub-bosses. However, the dungeon’s challenge changes at random. From underground to open world. Swamps, grassland, or forests. The creatures change from one scenario to the next. Has everyone prepared for the final practical exam? A verbal response is needed now.” The decuplet all voice in the affirmative. “You may begin in order of your class standings lowest to high. When ever you are ready.”