Meanwhile as the dust settles away from them all as they were knocked nearly to unconscious but Gale was quick to wake up as Gale was still wearing their armour protecting them from most of the impact. Gale looked over from the ground and used what limited visibility was needed as Gale saw the others Jin and Ralian were knocked out. Gale was still shocked of what they have just encountered still couldn't understand what they just witnessed. But before Gale could look over from the memory they have witness before, Gale then sees Ralian opening her eyes, breathing heavily trying to stay awake, giving a sigh of relief from Gale.
Gale and Ralian slowly get up though badly injured and brushed off the dust off their clothes "hey Ralian are you okay"
Ralian then wipes off the blood from her mouth "yeah I'm good. What about Jin" they then try to look for Jin until they stumble upon a small crater with Jin's unconscious body laying on the ground, the two quickly came towards Jin's aid "Ralian can you heal him"
Ralian quickly started to use her healing magic on Jin "I can heal his wounds yes, but a concussion is another thing"
"Wait you don't know how to heal someone from a concussion"
"Gale you remembered when that wretch Hazard got a concussion"
Gale trying to remember during a previous adventure back in the day, they were in a dungeon where they had to navigate and find treasure as it was protected by monsters. Adventuring further down the dungeon they have come across many average enemies, taking them down easily. But then one of the smaller monsters then loosen a brick from above and Hazard used one lightning strike at the enemies, but it did cause a rumble within and caused the one loose brick to fall directly onto Hazard's head knocking him down as they quickly took him back to a safe area.
"Yeah, Yamma, and I tried to ask you, but you were hesitant. What was it you didn't know how to heal ones from a concussion" Gale recalling.
"Did you really forget that conversation years ago"
"Probably" Gale nodded with a simple answer as Ralian face palms herself in disappointment.
"Gale just carry him, till we find a way of the forest and perhaps even find an inn somewhere"
Gale then picks up Jin surprised to notice that he a bit lighter to carry than Gale realized, they began to try to find a way out of the forest. Walking through the forest Ralian is using both her knowledge and her abilities as a Druid to navigate their way out of the forest.
"Ralian how far can your powers extend beyond this forest"
"It depends, why the thought?"
"Oh nothing but it seems we've been walking around in circles"
Then suddenly Ralian stopped in shock as she looks down and sees footprints that matches Gale's and her own towards another trail "how did you know we've been walking in circles?"
"To be honest I've always look at every rock and that rock with the moss that had red in it" Gale pointing towards the rock with the reddish moss.
"We've passed it three times"
Ralian was flabbergasted by her overwhelming mistake "you've have to be kidding me! Of all my times studying under my people I don't even know my own direction in this cursing, forsaken! Forest!" As Ralian is yelling at the top of her lungs able to let the birds to fly away and single lightning strike appears from her rage. It only took her a few seconds before she then calms herself down after her tantrum.
"Are you okay?" Gale now being nervous of Ralian's new found temper.
"For now... let's just find a way out now"
"You sure you still know the way?"
Ralian sighs a bit in disappointment "maybe but I guess treating Jin's wounds the best of my ability would be nice to learn" Ralian attempts to heal Jin with her magic but something doesn't feel right when she tries to place her hands on Jin.
"What's wrong Ralian"
"My magic isn't working"
"What, Druid's can have their magic disabled"
"No I must have over used my magic when fighting that thing from earlier... stupid limits... I guess we have no choice but to hold out for the night till Jin can recover".
Gale nods and scout around the area for any firewood, rocks, and any materials that can help with the fire as in their area, but Gale was stopped by Ralian.
"What are you doing?" Ralian asked
"I'm looking for firewood what else" Gale replied
"Gale we have pre-chopped fire wood in our bags remember"
Gale gets embarrassed immediately "darn"
"That's alright you can make the fire, I'll go find some herbs to help with head injuries"
As Ralian left to gather some herbs and medicine, while Gale now feeling enlightened as he begins making the camp fire. Starting off with the base of the fire with rocks and leaves on the bottom as Gale then carefully places the firewood against each other making sure that it doesn't tumble over.
Soon Ralian came back with the herbs along with searching from the satchels, bringing out a few of their rations and a few bandages as she begins tending to the unconscious Jin and his head injury.
"Hey Gale hows the fire going" she looks back at Gale almost finishing the campfire.
"You know me Ralian, we've been doing this a lot since we met"
Ralian giggled a bit, "we sure had, we did have reasons for adventuring out our normal life. I left my home-world. Yamma left her family, Hazard wanted knowledge, and you... I'm not sure which story is true"
"What do you mean Ralian?"
"Gale, I know this may have been a disturbance of your secrecy, but every time I ask you about your reason on going on adventure, it's always different."
Ralian then spoke of the many stories from Gale's stories. One was about Gale being born in a hometown and at a young age always immerse from the sight of adventurers who wear bright shiny armour as Gale would then be inspired to become one and adventure out to the wide wilderness. Another was having a different name than Gale's original, as Gale hated the original name and wanted to change it to something more familiar to Gale. Then another was having a best friend, but lost him and wanted to honour his wishes, but that was all that one part Ralian remembered a bit.
"I'm surprised you remembered that one"
"Gale I have an excellent memory like you, and I do consider you a great friend of mine. But can you at least be more specific, you are a great storyteller but they always have similar feelings to each story you tell."
Gale stayed silent for a moment but then thought more about Ralian's trust as Gale had never taken off the helmet. "You're right Ralian, I will be more careful and honest with you."
"That's alright Gale, but aren't doing the campfire?"
Gale suddenly realized that Gale almost forgot about the campfire. As Gale quickly finishes setting up the campfire and pulling out a piece of flint and their sword facing downwards towards the campfire and hitting the flint onto Gale's sword. Sparks appeared enough to light the campfire hitting the leaves from the bottom as an ember appears for fire to start blazing.
"Still got it" Gale chuckling to themselves.
"Gale here catch" Ralian pass Gale a skewer with a few of their rations, while making five more skewer. Gale feels a bit joyous now and they roast one of the skewers onto the campfire as Gale is now having a nice bonding moment with they're best friend as Ralian brings the rest of the skewers and roast the rest onto the campfire and the burning flames went higher and higher with beautiful sparks from the flames and the night fall upon them.
(End of chapter 23)