"Stay close." Vincent holds his sword out this time. But not for battle. He swings at a collection of vines blocking the path he wants to go. "Better to stick to deer paths, but there's a creature too close that way."
"And we're going to just talk to draw its attention?"
"Talking can limit attention that sight wouldn't." Vincent explains. "Trust me. How much sign do you know?"
"Fluent." William says.
"Nothing." Ergra has no clue, which isn't shocking. Why would they learn sign?
I grunt. "Not zero?"
"Great." Vincent creates us a path to follow. "William, do you have a good sense of direction?"
"Teleportation level. I can get her back on my own if needed." William glances to Ergra. The goblin only smiles. "The walk would suit better. We should know if there's anything threatening."
"Yeah. Thanks for having my back. I'll protect His Highness if needed."
"Especially given his mother and mage trainer are watching."
"Especially knowing that. I have no fears going into battle. How long until they give him more room?"
"Probably never." William shrugs. "I am not the only one being paid to watch him either. I'm first tracer, but there are several would would get called in. I have the list if you want."
"No. That's alright." Vincent breaks us out of the foliage. The path here is more than a deer path. I look both ways. It's not enough of a path for a merchant. Vincent notices me. "Cleaver runs these trails."
"Is he still too injured to attack?"
"Us walking away was partially to see if he'll attack you or me. We were the biggest threats." Vincent glances both ways before taking one of the paths. "Yes, I did purposely set us up for this."
I shiver. "Should I...?" Cast the spell? Neither Ergra or William have the golden sheen. But I also wouldn't to purposefully draw out Cleaver.
"No. It's okay. We'll be in clearing soon."
"And that marks the edge of goblin lands." Ergra explains. "We farm sheep in this area." Far more human than most monsters would be seen. "You did realize we farmed sheep, right? We wear wool clothes." Ergra shows off her garment. I'd call it simple. "Next time I visit, Your Highness, I'll wear my formal clothes. They were afraid I was going to train an actual warhog. Prove ourselves."
"But we told Al..."
"I know, but we have to assume the worst." Ergra nods. "It's fine. I didn't mind. I would've managed if you needed proof. Not Cleaver though. Or an older male in general. Older male warhogs are too aggressive to work with. The only ones worse are mothers with young they're caring for. Best to wait out the three months for their freedoms. A fresh youth is perfect to handle. A few free meals and they'll be eating out of your hand." Ergra grins. "Literally. You should meet Allison."
"Who?"
"My warhog. I can ride her when visiting next. You'll enjoy seeing it in action, right?"
Vincent holds his fist up to us while watching one direction. We're just before clearing and he's staring into the woods to our left. William pulls us behind Vincent with some level of distance.
What's coming?
Vincent pulls out his bow and lobes an arrow in the right direction. I don't hear any animal sounds until a loud grunt. The arrow hit?! "Back off. William, keep them out of range."
"Aye, aye." William pulls us further back.
The creature with a touch of blood seeping out of his side rushes at Vincent. I'd call it a bear, but it's rather big compared to those I'm used to. And aggression like this? Maybe it's a deranged bear. Converted animal into monster some how.
What really is the difference between monster and animal? The ability to domesticate? I know bear trainers. But this creature before us is not in a state that anyone can train.
Vincent started with a mace, but ends up without weapons. Wrestling with a bear? This looks like some weird sort of joke. The only reason he's handling it is my protection magic. The slashes and bites the bear tries for do nothing.
"Does your mana take a hit from the attacks?" William whispers at me while watching the fight.
"No." Should it? Maybe it does, but at such a level I wouldn't know. William just takes the knowledge.
William looks at Ergra. "Hold still." He waves a hand and a ballistic weapon appears before us. William teleports a massive bolt into place. Not like we could load it. Everything would be in the castle. He sets the weapon into position.
"I can..." I do know how to shoot one.
William doesn't let me have the place, though. He pulls at the trigger sending the bolt at the pair. Just before it could slam into Vincent's back probably going through him to the bear beast, William teleports the knight next to us.
We watch as the bolt goes through the bear. The tip shows off the red color of its blood. The bolt has become the bear's newest ornament. It roars and takes a step toward us, but falls as blood seeps from the various injures it has sustained.
Vincent scans the area. "That was a set off. I can't get a read on who sent it to us."
William waves the weapon away. The bolt stays in the bear though. It's still breathing. Haggard struggling to live.
This was a bear induced to fight us. I don't want it to just die. Healing magic is in my allowances. Can I get the magic to do what I want it to? I grip my mirror compact in my pocket and internally call for my mom.
The queen appears ready to battle. She focuses on the same direction as Vincent. "We should go."
"No." I grab her hand. Mom releases her stance to look at me. "Heal the bear. Why should it die?"
Mom stares at me confusion present. "I was told you'd be the type to just murder for funsies by several who could see the future."
"I would never!"
"Clearly. Something more than what we're expecting is going to happen." Mom moves to the bear. She removes the bolt while letting her healing to work on the bear. The breathing stabilizes, although the bear is asleep. "Let me put him with the bear trainer. Be back shortly. Cover things for now, Vincent."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Vincent offers her a bow. He's back to watching the zone as the queen takes the bear away. "Let's keep going. We're not that far."
"You were amazing." Ergra bounces as we begin our walk again.
Vincent is really on guard. Something is watching us. "Thanks, but the only reason I managed was Thomas's spell before. My weapons weren't capable of doing anything. As if whoever placed the spell knew me."
That's terrifying. They wouldn't be expecting William's abilities. My abilities are completely up in the air yet too. Ergra should be known as a warhog trainer, but that's useless without a warhog. Mom's abilities are rather well known too. It's a massive dangerous list, but a list anyone can access. If William didn't already have allowance to bring around ballistics? What then?
"It's not easy being so great, huh? Everyone learns your weaknesses." Ergra pouts. "I would hate that."
"How would you feel if it was a warhog not a bear?" Vincent asks. "Only Thomas thought to save them."
"Focused on the enemy." William hisses. "Not like I can heal them anyway. All I could do was teleport them to someone who could."
"Thomas will be able to heal. He has the heart of a healer. But I know healers... They end up losing their mind in battles. How will he handle seeing his first death he should've been able to stop."
That sounds horrible. What type of future is that? And it is a guarantee. There will be someone I should be able to heal, but can't. The healers take the most damage in war. For every person they save, someone else is lost. Mom made it close to Father because of her abilities as a healer. Resurrection can only be cast within minutes of a death, though. If it is cast after that point... It's zombie resurrection. Having the body give details and information is a different spell too. A necromancer is a healer who waits too long.
"I... Wouldn't save a warhog. What use it saving a creature that will take even longer to handle?" Ergra looks to me. Grasping what they meant. I picked saving the bear even after it was so aggressive. It may not get anything besides death anyway, but it won't be a death before me. By me.
Yet, even if only William knew the truth, I murdered Lord Telligence in cold blood. I don't fear death. I'm a healer who won't care about a true enemy. My life matters more. But I also know the mental health of most healers.
Is this the path I want to take? Or do healers only gain the spell class if they have such a heart?