DMS Chapter 178
DMS Chapter 178
Once the rain stopped, Flinx stepped outside his magical log cabin and looked around. He took a deep breath, savoring the refreshing scent of a freshly washed forest. The clean aroma of damp earth and rain-soaked plants filled the air.
He dispelled his Galder's Tower, which he had shaped into a log cabin, and continued his journey. He paid little attention to the mud clinging to his boots, pants, and the hem of his robes. Whenever it became thick and cumbersome, he simply cleaned himself with Prestidigitation.
He enjoyed taking in the scenery around him. Everything looked fresh and vibrant after the rain. The cool breeze carried the crisp autumn air he loved most. Water droplets still clung to the trees, sparkling in the sunlight. Since nearly all the leaves had turned shades of magenta and gold, the droplets only enhanced the beauty of the autumn foliage.
Flinx also appreciated that the forest was far from silent. The calls of creatures both great and small echoed through the woods, and in his cheerful mood, they sounded like music.
Pip, his owl familiar, continued circling overhead, keeping watch for any hostile creatures that might catch Flinx by surprise. His invisible wind elemental floated high above him as well, silently ensuring his safety.
Pip had informed him that there were more monsters in the area, including goblins, kobolds, and giant spiders. Since none of them ventured close to the road, Flinx instructed Pip to leave them alone. However, whenever a monster approached the road, Pip eliminated it with spells before collecting its mana stone and storing it inside the tiny Bag of Holding tied around its neck. Flinx found the habit rather amusing.
After several hours of walking, Pip informed him that there was a group of men gathered around a campfire deep within the forest. Curious, Flinx looked through his familiar's eyes to investigate.
The camp consisted of several crude, makeshift huts. Judging by the men's appearance and the fact that every occupant was male, Flinx concluded that they were most likely bandits.
He wondered whether he should do something about them.
As he observed them more carefully, however, he noticed that they all looked thin and miserable. Some even appeared seriously ill. He found himself wondering what circumstances had driven them to become bandits.
Since he had no pressing matters to attend to, Flinx decided to involve himself. He left the road and walked toward the camp.
Once he entered the forest, Pip informed him that there were twelve men altogether. Six of them were teenagers, and five of those youths appeared to be sick.
When Pip told him he was close enough for the guard at the entrance to hear him, Flinx deliberately began singing.
His hopelessly out-of-tune voice immediately caught the attention of the two bandits guarding the entrance, and they rushed to confront him.
The pair looked thin and pitiful as they brandished rusted knives.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded.
At the same time, the other shouted, "Hand over all your food!"
For a brief moment, Flinx pitied them. They wanted to rob him of food rather than money. That alone spoke volumes about how desperate their situation had become.
His curiosity deepened.
"Hello. My name is Flinx, and I'm a healer," he said loudly. "My task is to heal anyone who is sick, free of charge. I don't care who they are."
Although the two men remained wary, Flinx could see the hope in their eyes the moment they heard he was a healer willing to treat anyone.
In the end, suspicion prevailed.
One of the guards ordered the other to fetch their leader and ask how they should proceed.
The second man hurried into the camp while the remaining guard kept his rusted knife pointed at Flinx.
The blade looked less like a weapon and more like an old kitchen knife.
Even so, Flinx did not underestimate them. The forest was home to dangerous beasts and monsters. The fact that these men had survived here for so long meant they were capable fighters despite their ragged appearance.
A short while later, the guard returned with an older man.
"My men told me you're a healer who's willing to treat anyone for free. Is that true?" the older man asked.
"Yes. My teacher assigned me this task so I could master my healing abilities. He also wanted me to cultivate a kind heart, which means I must use my healing magic on anyone who needs it. My name is Flinx."
"My name is Hart, and this is my nephew, Kerry. The one beside you is Oden. If you're truly willing to heal even a group of bandits, then welcome to our camp."
Hart led Flinx inside while Kerry and Oden walked on either side of him. Oden never took his eyes off Flinx, and Flinx wondered what experiences had made the man so suspicious of a healer.
The camp was enclosed by a sturdy wooden palisade, just as Flinx had seen through Pip's eyes.
He understood why the fortifications were necessary. Although this part of the forest was still near the borders of Ilioven's territory, monsters occasionally wandered through the area.
One side of the camp rested against a steep rocky hillside, making it naturally defensible. They only needed to fortify and guard the remaining three sides.
Every man in the camp looked thin, exhausted, and wary. They stared suspiciously at Flinx until Hart assured them that he was a healer willing to help anyone.
Hart brought him to the largest makeshift hut in the camp.
Inside were five young men lying on crude beds. All of them were feverish and coughing violently. Judging by their symptoms, Flinx suspected they were suffering from pneumonia.
A fireplace burned in one corner of the hut, but the interior remained damp and chilly. Worse, it was filthy, and the overwhelming stench nearly made Flinx gag.
"What in the world? It stinks in here!" Flinx exclaimed. "Open all the windows!"
"But it'll get even colder!" Hart protested.
"I'm about to heal them, but I can't do that if I can't even breathe because of the smell."
Hart immediately ordered two of his men to open every window.
Once they had done so, Flinx asked everyone else to leave. Hart insisted on staying, and Flinx allowed it.
As soon as the others stepped outside, Flinx prepared Prestidigitation in nearly all of his available spell slots. He cast the spell repeatedly until the entire hut, the five sick youths, their clothing, bedding, and every possession inside were spotlessly clean.
He did not spare Hart either. Before the bandit leader realized what had happened, he had been cleaned from head to toe as well.
Flinx continued casting Prestidigitation until not even the faintest trace of foul odor remained.
Hart stared around the hut in stunned disbelief.
"Are you a wizard?!"
"I'm a healer," Flinx replied calmly. "I simply have to purify the surroundings before I begin treating my patients. As a side effect, everyone and everything inside is purified as well."
With the hut finally clean, Flinx began casting the sixth-level cleric spell, Heal, on each of the five sick young men until every one of them had fully recovered.