Human bodies laid like ghoulish mannequins, the esophagus and arteries sticking out, and blood had spread over their chest like a bib.Vincent moved further into the eminent slaughter house, breathing a greater amount of the decay and metal smell covering the air. He examined everything intently, from the propped, ungainly rag dolls against the far wall, and the human skin mat placed at the centre of the hall.
He pushed a cadaver dangling from the roof and spoke once he spotted the a.s.sa.s.sin he"d gathered information about.
The lizardman making a bone sculpture turned around "A royalty?" His eyes augmented in shock. "A Livingston to be exact."
"I have a job for you" Vincent went Straight to the Point and tossed a heavy satchel at his occupied table. "One thousand gold pieces for my brother"s head."
Vincent had spent days searching for someone who could do the job without fear. Those he"d run in to were cowards who couldn"t risk meddling with the Livingston family, especially when the DemiG.o.d still had the throne. Be that as it may, there was one contract killer that stuck out, and pa.s.sed by the name Alraka.
The lizard man would do anything for money no matter whose blood had to be spilled in exchange. Alraka switched his gaze from the bag that picked his interest to the face of the evil Wolfman. He licked his thin lips and a wide grin spread across his face "I gladly accept."
"Payment before service. That is your motto right?"
"Fear not Sir Vincent" The reptile guaranteed as he licked the blade he picked from his chiseling table "I will bring you the head of your brother."
***
"Greetings Artemis Rivera, I am the fountain"s pearl. The gem of healing. To reattach your hand, place your hand over my crystal, and I"ll approve of the late attachment."
Artemis nodded and did what was written. Darren watched in wonderment as Artemis" hand weny back to normal, and she could move it like nothing ever happened "Thank you so much!" Her smile radiated, and the gem wrote out "You"re welcome."
Zircon b.u.t.ted in and wrote a statement of its own "Just to remind you Artemis. Don"t think I"m done with you. You"ll have both our tasks to complete. You"ll achieve the healing skill once you learn how to cast the spells."
"I"m ready for the hardest challenge."
The pearl wrote "It"s ideal to let you know the importance of the healing skill. You can use it to restore health points, but your magic metre would reduce. Is that understood?"
"Yes!"
"You should also note that if you want to save your magic metre, you can purchase some potions from witches."
"Witches, huh?" She tried imagining how the witches in sol looked like, and she wondered how she"d ever find them.
"To start with the healing skill, say out the words "Hurse Nim pote"
"Hurse Nim pote!" She repeated and waited for something dazzling to happen as the sun continued to bite down on her face.
Zircon wrote "You"ve achieved the skill, and you have zero points on it. Once you become an expert, you won"t only be able to heal yourself. You can heal withered trees, plants, animals, and the people around you as well. Tell Darren to repeat the words and wait for something to happen. Remember, I can"t read his stats. So it"s left for him to test out any spells and see if it works."
She turned to look at Darren and screamed "Hey dimwit!"
"Oops" she mentally slapped herself for the mistake of calling him that after promising she"d try to be on suitable terms with Darren because he helped her get her hand back.
She chuckled as she ran her hand through her hair "Want to try out some spells?"
"Sure. Why not?" He was overlooking the fact she insulted him not too long ago, and it wouldn"t take long before he gets used to it.
"Try saying Hurse nim pote! That"s how to activate the healing skill."
"Hurse Nim pote"he said so pitifully and Artemis punched his arm "Hey why does your voice sound so dead? Have you lost hope already?"
It"s supposed to be the part where she motivates him and tries to cheer him up, but Artemis would never do that. She"d go as far as licking his tears.
"No. I"m just not in a good mood."
"Okay whatever." She said then turned her attention back to the book "You heard him right? He said the words."
"And I also heard when you called him a dimwit." Artemis clicked her tongue then murmured "It was a mistake."
"*sigh*"
"At least give me credit for trying to be a little nice" Artemis continued to drag the matter with the book, and Darren watched, wishing he could join in or see what the gems always wrote.
"What"s next?" Artemis asked. She was feeling energetic. She couldn"t wait to ace all the spells, and achieve an S grade in all her skills.
"I"ll list spells and the magic it requires."
Harlin Misni - Minor healing (30) x 1 use
Harlin Zuesis - Major healing (70) x 1 use
Harlin wirlyn - Inner healing (indefinite)
Harlin Ju - Healing foes (indefinite)
Harlin Yureen - Healing Nature (100) wide coverage
"Amazing! Is that all? and what"s an indefinite spell?"
The pearl wrote to clarify things "The primary Spells are Harlin Misni and Harlin Zeusis. Minor healing spells apply to your outside and also you"re inside. Imagine you have a cut, depending on how severe it is, you choose between the minor and major."
"That makes sense. Can i test it?"
"But you"re not wounded?" Artemis unsheathed her sword then cut her palm. It bled out, and she quickly said the magic words "Harlin Misni!"
She watched the open wound seal up, and she smiled before balling her fist and raising it to the sky. Tears formed in her eyes, and the corner of her lips rose upward. She was making progress, while Darren was not.
He didn"t bother to ask Artemis about the Pearl because he knew she wouldn"t reply. He murmured and continued to watch. He wanted to do amazing things, and cast spells, but he wasn"t good enough yet. He could only wish he could make progress along with Artemis at the same pace.
"Your next destination is the land of the Fays."
"I will permit you to use your horses this time around."
"How come?"
"It would take you four months if you tried walking the distance. But with your horse, you can reach there in five weeks."
"Endurance test again?" She dreaded not having to sleep properly because of night travel. She hoped Zircon would write a big "no"
"No!" Her face beamed, but it wrinkled in despair as Zircon set up a new policy.
"An immense body training starts tomorrow. You will be required to carry rocks, do a thousand sit-ups, and push ups, practice sword fighting and sleep less."
Artemis turned back to look at Darren "Body training starts soon. I hope you can handle it." She smirked, knowing he couldn"t.