Meager Power

I'm not sure how long we sat there staring at the dome together, but we were shook from our reverie when Thenishale groaned. The thing seemed to capture one's attention, a hungry, angry spot in the world. It had been all-encompassing while next to it, but now at range, it was simply fascinating, in the literal sense of the word. Not enough that we'd overlook our elven friend's awakening, however.

Kelessta rushed over and placed her hands on his shoulders, keeping him from getting up. The contact made him switch from woozy to instead slightly panicked, his eyes shaking the sleep out of them rather quickly. "Kel?" He asked, confused. "What... oh, fuck, the fight," he said, his gaze flicking all around even as his companion stopped him from moving. He jerked slightly and winced, a gasp escaping him. "Ah, fuck, that hurt."

"Don't move, Then. You've probably got some damage in your midsection, at least bruised ribs." Kelessta kept her arms on him, making sure he acknowledged her words before she relinquished her grasp. "The fight's over. It... we..." She trailed off.

I butted in. "It's just the three of us here. That weird red shit went crazy, Basrith saved us with his barriers. We got flung pretty damn far, though. Goddess only knows where we are." I pointed out the dome to the west. "That's where we were. The marsh."

He shifted his head and stared for a moment. "Cetia's ass, what in creation is that?" He cursed, shaking his head and looking away to blink at the sky. "Where are we?"

"No idea, my guy, but we're definitely at best separated. I saw some other barriers get thrown up, so hopefully the others are okay, but we're a long way away. I think we went east?" I posited, looking toward the sun. Hah, Cetia's ass - The Day's Moon. "Based off the sun, that is. Not sure how far, but... far. We're pretty much adjacent to a big plain."

Thenishale managed to sit up, much to the chagrin of Kelessta, but he waved her back. "Just bruised, I think. Armor saved me from worse."

"Careful, we're already up shit creek, don't need a punctured lung," I warned. He grunted. "But honestly I'll take it. If you're mobile, that changes a lot. I think we should take stock and start moving. Either of you know this area?"

Both of them shook their heads, and Kelessta spoke up. "No, we weren't prepared to come through here. Just the marsh. Truth be told, I'm nervous about picking any direction. Part of me wants to head west again, find anyone else who made it, but..." she trailed off, looking off in that direction. "I'm not sure I want to be near whatever that thing is. Who knows if it's still growing, or if something's coming out of it."

"What about the river?" I asked, thinking about our options. "Surely it'll lead to something."

Thenishale snapped his fingers, his other hand holding his chest. "The Un-Akh-Bhor. We head southwest and follow that to get to Akh-Bhor, and hire a guide to get us to Vasano. That's what we should do. If we were split up like this, we usually try to get to our destination and meet up there."

"Good point," Kelessta agreed. "I like that idea. But let's check out what we have."

Indeed. We began to look through our things, and take stock of our bodies. Thankfully, Kelessta was uninjured and whole. Thenishale had his bruised ribs, but worst of all, my left hand was totally out of commission for the time being. I'd been cradling it against myself for most of the conversation, the dull ache keeping me present. It was bright red and raw, thankfully in an "injured or burned" way and not in a "covered in otherworldly ichor" way. No idea how long it would take to heal, but I was one-handed for the time being, which I could honestly deal with. My practice spear, the wooden stick, was probably lost in the water back in the marsh somewhere under the dome. Thenishale was unarmed as well, his sword having been left behind while we were flung this far. Kelessta was the only one of us properly equipped as well, as she'd had her staff in her grasp the whole time.

I didn't know how well Thenishale could do unarmed, but I still had my kicks and magic, so I'd be able to somewhat make do. It wasn't great, I was already missing the comforting weight of a spear in my hands, but at least I wasn't helpless. We had a bit of our traveling gear as well. None of us had had time to shed our packs in the fight, so we had a couple days of water and food among us, another reason to hightail it to the river. No bedding, no extra clothing, nothing really that great. I had my scrubstone, but without water, it was just a rock.

All in all, two-thirds unarmed, a few days' food, two-thirds injured, and rock-bottom morale. Could be better. We all hauled ourselves upright, and began to move southwest, making sure to skirt the edge of the marsh. None of us were too interested in heading back in there, especially given what we'd just encountered.

The rest of the day (was it the same day? How long had we been out?) passed largely without incident. We progressed deeper into the forest, leaving the plains behind. My hand never stop hurting, and Thenishale kept our progress relatively slow, but we made good time despite that. We only really slowed once the sun began to properly set, orange and red already regressing to allow the dark blue and purple to take over.

Stopping by a relatively large tree, we all kind of slumped to our knees, or the closest thing to it in Kelessta's sake.

"Ow," Thenishale grunted, allowing himself finally to relax. He put himself next to a tree, his graceful features knotted up in pain. His armor wasn't great either, but it was still better than not wearing anything. He'd kept up a strong face, but his eyes betrayed just how much the day's travel had irritated his wounds. I'd thought to suggest that Kelessta led him ride on her serpentine side, but apparently it's very uncomfortable if you're not able to move with her, meaning someone with bruised ribs was completely fucked if he'd tried.

"Ow, indeed," I responded, taking a look at my hand. I thought it looked better? it was hard to tell with the failing light, and none of us were willing to set up a fire. Though it would be eminently helpful for our morale, it could draw in unwanted attention that we were simply not ready for. Even if our mage was uninjured, there was no chance that Kelessta was running at full steam. I recalled the shitty debuffs I'd get when I was super tired, and had no doubt they'd apply to her as well. "We should probably decide watches. It'll suck with the three of us."

"We do have an option, here," Kelessta said, with a pained look in her eyes.

Thenishale glanced at her. "I didn't realize you were still holding onto that thing. I thought you sold it some time ago?"

She shook her head. "No, something this good should be kept, and I'm feeling rather vindicated right now. "

"What are we talking about?" I asked.

Our sekiss companion pulled something out of her ragged pack, wrapped in some sort of cloth. She took it out of the bundle, eventually revealing a yellowish crystal that pulsed with extremely faint light. "This," she indicated. She slithered a little way forward before piercing the ground with it, holding a hand against it. I could feel her mana transfer to the device, which let off a safe feeling, almost like a blanket. Within a moment, a pastel yellow bubble of energy surrounded us. "We can use this for three nights before it burns out. I was saving it for an emergency, and," she paused, taking the opportunity to stare meaningfully at their wounds, "this seems like that emergency."

I had to admit, yeah, it was that. It'd be good for us to not have to wake up in the middle of the night to keep watch, and we really needed the rest. "I guess we just find spots, then?" I asked, looking around.

Kelessta scoffed. "With what bedding? Come on, you're both injured and I know for a fact I'm a great cuddle buddy. Both of you are sleeping on me." She moved over to a tree and leaned against it, slapping her scales. "No objections."

I looked over at Thenishale, who was already moving over to her, and raised an eyebrow. "Are you, ah, comfortable with that?" We'd already had our conversation. She knew I was interested in her, and she apparently at least didn't mind that interest. She just gave me a flat look for a few moments, dragging into awkward for a moment, before I got the message. 'Is this really the time?' "Sorry. Just." I sighed. "Ok." I stood and wandered over, before settling once again into her scales. Oh, but she was correct. Even just being on her like this was comfortable; warm and perfectly textured so that I wouldn't slide around on her. Fuck if that didn't make me feeling enamored with her worse. Despite the shitty situation, I could feel that the floodgate had been opened. My unconscious brain had taken our conversation as permission to let a crush start developing, and I'd have to keep a hold on that, big time.

We laid there a while, keeping looking out into the forest. With the time we'd had traveling, I was getting used to noticing how people breathed when they slept. I'm not sure I'd ever had such a great perception while on earth, but here, it was something that my mind quite specifically hitched on. Was I just feeling more perceptive about these things, or was it the consequence of one of my skills? Observant, or Situational Awareness? Regardless of the cause, I could tell that while we were all comfortable, but awake, and not near sleep. I cleared my throat. "So."

I waited, but neither of them bit. "How are we feeling?"

"Like shit," Thenishale answered. "Obviously."

"Exhausted and overwrought," Kelessta added.

"I, myself, am actually pretty calm. My hand's fucked but we're here and we've got a plan." I patted Kelessta's tail behind me. "We're safe, for now, and we're not getting worse."

Our elf companion snorted. "For now. But noted. At least you're keeping it together, which seems odd, as you're the least experienced of us."

"Apparently that was one of the things on my resume that got me picked. I suppose it was a good quality to seek. 'Sides, already fuckin' died once. Hard to get fucked up by failing to do it a second time, yeah?"

Kelessta shifted underneath us. "That's still hard to reconcile. You seem so... unused to the world, yet you've endured arguably something more traumatic than most in the world can claim."

"Most?" That was interesting. "Y'all got resurrection magic or something?"

"Extremely rarely," she answered. "It's extremely high level healing magic, and has both a high cost, and high cooldown. So much so that those capable of it keep the secret jealously guarded, and when it has been known to happen, it is treated as a miracle."

"Well, yeah," I said, "it's a miracle. I can't imagine how jealous some people must be over it."

"Remarkably little," Thenishale admitted. "It's interesting in the theoretical sense, and certainly something anyone would want around them, but even the most legendary of reviving spells are extremely limited in timing. Sure, I would love to see my loved ones again, but unless someone had been present at their deaths, it would have done nothing to mitigate it." Despite his calculating words, I could detect an undercurrent of frustration there. I noted to myself to find out more later, if we managed to get closer. I liked the guy, but he had always been slightly standoffish. Willing to talk and be friendly, but there was this unseen wall that filtered every interaction.

"Indeed," Kelessta added. "Basrith might be able to learn it one day, but even then, that is a long time hence. Being primarily a barrier mage might preclude him from learning it at all, even if he gets to that level of ability."

I chewed on the words a little bit. No get-out-of-death-free cards for me, though that concerned me less than I thought it would. I had been a little facetious about it, but now really thinking about it, it really didn't bother me. It bothered me how little it bothered me. I hadn't expected to become so cavalier about death. Why? I opened my eyes and peered above me, at the gently breathing form of Kelessta. If I died, I wouldn't have a chance to get to know her. Hm.

The bit of conversation had helped, I think. Everyone was breathing a bit more evenly, properly heading to sleep. I shrugged and adjusted myself against my living pillow. "Fair enough," I said in a low voice, trying to make it obvious that I was letting the conversation end. "If nothing else, I'm happy to keep learning and look for silver linings."

"Silver linings?" Came the sleepy response from Kelessta, who had started to drift while I'd been in my head.

"Something about thunder clouds having pretty silver edges. Never seen it myself. But, means looking for little good things despite the bad." She hmm-ed noncommittally at that, and I let out a little huff. "Like getting to know a cute ice mage," I muttered, growing closer to sleep myself.

Surprisingly, though, Thenishale let out a specifically audible sigh. "I do have exceptional hearing as a skill, and it's on while we're traveling." He cleared his throat. "If you two start flirting with me right next to you I absolutely will make my displeasure known."

I let out a little laugh. "Yessir. Sorry for being weird."

He harrumphed and adjusted himself. "It's not weird. Just annoying if I can't ignore it. Goodnight," he said, pre-emptively ending the discussion.

Before long, sleep overtook the three of us, resting properly after a particularly traumatic experience. It was a surprisingly good rest.

---

The next morning, we didn't continue any of our conversations, but I couldn't help but notice Kelessta's eyes wandering in my direction more often. I silently preened under her attention, happy to have it despite the increased danger and separation from our allies. Perhaps there was something a little broken inside, with how little I was bothered by the hardship. I could still feel the worry in the back of my head, but now that I'd been here for many weeks, it was easier to ignore, especially in favor of basking in the attention of a beautiful woman.

My hand was better, the pain now dulling to a low throb, but it was still there. It looked off, as well. I had originally been worried about some disease or something spreading, but it never seemed to move beyond my hand, and even that was healing. The skin was flaking off here and there as new growth replaced it, though worryingly, the back of the hand was feeling tough and leathery. Touching it even barely translated to my nerves, and I was concerned that there might be some permanent damage there. I didn't regret it, though. I was pretty sure I'd saved Thenishale's life and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. That's what friends were for.

Friends. Did I consider the adventurers my friends at this point? Rachel? Acquaintances, nice ones at bare minimum, but fully going that extra step? Looking at it internally, I did think so. Sure, Kelessta had drawn my affection, but even without it, the others were placed in an elevated position of 'care' in my personal social hierarchy. Though I didn't know him well, I cared what Thenishale thought about me, listened to his words, and valued his well-being. An errant hypothetical thought made the same true for the rest of the people I'd been friendly with here, save maybe the countess and her husband. They seemed too... aloof.

We continued to skirt the marsh, and by extension, the forest, straddling the boundary between the two biomes. In a way, it made travel much easier. Fewer trees made for fewer obstacles, but we were able to take advantage of the solid ground. All the while, though, that damned red dome sat in the distance, taunting us. Every time my eyes roved toward it, I got the impression that it was angry, violent, and above all, smug. What a strange magical thing had to feel smug about, I hoped to never learn. I wasn't going to hold my breath, though. The mysteries were stacking up. There was that thing that hadn't happened when I looked inward - still extremely weird that I couldn't acknowledge what didn't occur, even mentally - the tainted, this new, red menace, and of course, the godsgame as a whole. I was bound, simply by being a champion, to come into contact with something here. Weird to think that I was suddenly one of twenty among millions, in terms of importance.

The second day passed again without issue, and the three of us gathered together once more to rest. It was a little more comfortable this time, and we didn't share words again. We honestly talked very little during our travel, anxiety and worry over our companions growing over time. I hadn't been bothered for myself, but considering my friends filled me with unease. I hoped they were okay.

The third day, thankfully, as our water supply dwindled, we heard the rushing of water. The marsh had long since pulled away that morning, and we were firmly in the forest, and the terrain was dropping at a very slow but appreciable amount. That meant rushing water, which meant, soon, drinking water. I was really thankful we hadn't had to try the horrible marsh water. It took us another half hour to make it to the wide-mouthed river, but all three of us sighed in relief once it was in view. Of course, once we approached it, our good mood had to end. Far enough downriver that no sound carried to us, we spotted the telltale signs of a fight in progress. Two humanoid figures were in pitched battle with what looked like a couple of muckstriders, moving faster than I would have given the beasts credit for. We glanced at each other, then shoved off in that direction, hoping to make a difference.