Chapter 9: Real Delving. Finally. Please?

Real Delving. Finally. Please?

As soon as it refreshed, Astrid activated Quick Recovery. The wound that continued to ooze blood down her leg and into her boot mostly scabbed over at that, though she could tell that the wound was far from healed. Even so, she didn’t make a sound or any indication that she’d gotten a little better. Grom kept an eye on her every step of the way, and Astrid could feel his eyes on her legs. Instead of leering, though, he obviously was watching the seeping blood coursing over her greaves.

For a while, Astrid considered taking her greaves off to let the wound recover, or at least be less irritated by every movement she made. Instead, she internally scolded herself.

Be more patient. You wouldn't be feeling this if you were just smarter. You were in a perfect position to let it tire itself out, and instead, you opened yourself up. No hammer or shield to protect you? You deserve this. Idiot.

Gritting her teeth, Astrid continued walking, though a bit bowlegged. They’d made it so far into the Dungeon that, combined with her reduced walking speed, Quick Recovery’s first use to heal her was from inside the Dungeon. Then, as they walked to the staircase that led out, Astrid put her hammer away and walked while gritting her teeth against the discomfort of her legs’ movement. At the top of the staircase, they walked out into the real forest, and Astrid felt herself relax as she saw actual green trees and growth all around her.

“You want my appraisal here, where you can take a little break and maybe evaluate that wound? It’ll need to be cleaned no matter what, ‘cause warg mouths are disgusting. Just in case, we’ll take you to one of the Healers we’ve got in town. Tobias should be in the inn, and if not him, Lariche will be around.”

Astrid gritted her teeth, but nodded as she stepped forward slightly behind a bush. She didn’t especially mind exposing her legs to someone, but she didn’t want to have to explain just how quickly she’d managed to recover in such a short time. As she stripped her greaves off her right leg, she hissed in pain as they disturbed the scabs. That that hurt her didn’t bode well for pulling down the pants, as they’d be a part of the scabs on the wound. With a bit of foresight, she pulled her canteen out of her pack and poured some water onto the pants as Grom began to speak.

“As a finisher and brute, you’re an interesting case. Both roles are typically filled by people who have a Skill that lets them deal a killing blow pretty reliably. I’m sure that one you were offered was Overhead Blow.”

Grom didn’t ask it as a question but a direct statement. Astrid nodded as she let the water soak and soften the scabs. As it soaked, she took a cloth out and cleaned the worst of the remains of battle from her hammer. Congealed blood and viscera coated the steel head, and it’d started to dry so it took extra scrubbing and attention to get it clean. While she scrubbed, Grom continued speaking.

“Because they use Skills, most finishers and brutes tend to be better than you are at killing stronger things. A Warrior with Overhand Blow would have been able to do some damage to that level 5 warg, for example. On the other hand, you can keep on going. A regular level 1 finisher could have killed maybe four wargs before they’re back to just regular attacks. Sure, that’s what you’re always doing, but you’ve got better fundamentals than any of them. You know what you’re doing, what to hit, and you do it consistently. You had one error today. Only one? As a level one in their first ever fight? That’s damn impressive.

“That said, I don’t know how… I don’t know what role you’re going to fill until you hit level 6. I’m sure whatever Skill you get at that point is going to make you truly dangerous, but since you don’t have any active Skills right now, you’re in an interesting spot. You’re a good frontliner. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You fight well, and you’re more than competent. Actually, I don’t think it’ll even take that long. With how much you’ll be getting every level, I’d bet you only need to hit level 3 to take on that level 5 warg. Frankly, you might be too good in both positions, because I feel like it’s impossible to say which of the two you should stick with.

“I think I’ll recommend you get in a party that has a frontliner, and you can serve as an additional protector if needed, but primarily to serve as a finisher and damaging support. It’s a strange role, but there’s a party that’s a mix of levels 2 and 3 that could use you.”

“Even though they’re higher level?” Astrid asked as she hissed and pulled the wet cotton pants away from her wound. It looked mostly fine, and she decided not to worry too much about it. An opportunity to get a Healer to cleanse the wounds, just in case, would be for the best.

“Yeah.” Grom nodded. “They’re a little lacking in finishing power, so you’ll fill that role. It might take you a level to get right up there with them, but that’ll only take two months or so, at your speed.”

“Ok.” Astrid nodded, feeling more excited. She’d have a party, people to work with, to trust, and to kept delving with! After her first experience, though, she couldn’t help but laugh at her previous thoughts. In her original plan, it would take two months for her whole party of level 1s to get to level 6 and get their fourth Skill.

“What’s so funny?” Grom asked. “I don’t think getting injured is funny, but if you do…” He trailed off, unsure of what to follow that up with.

“I had a whole plan.” Astrid supplied as she pulled her pants up, checked to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind, and put her greaves back on. “Four of my friends and I would get the Classes we wanted, then go ahead and become delvers. According to my plan, when we came here, we’d have beaten the boss by the end of our second month. I thought I wasn’t giving us enough credit.”

Grom chuckled. “What did you know about this entrance to the Dungeon?”

“Wargs, levels 1-5, level 6 Boss warg. Boss has two minions.”

“For someone who’d never come here, that’s pretty good.” Grom nodded. “All that was true.”

“I just didn’t understand how important levels are.” Astrid sighed. “I was the best fighter without a Class in the town. I could trounce everyone who hadn’t gotten one yet, and I thought that all five of us would be just… I don’t know, we’d take to delving without any problems. You know?”

“I do.” Grom nodded as Astrid finished getting her armor all back on and stood up.

“So, I was just laughing at how my plan was to be done here, having beaten the Boss and gotten my fourth Skill by the time that you’re now saying I’ll be just barely hitting level 2.”

“Nobody truly understands how hard it is until they actually do it.” Grom agreed. “And I just want to say that, honestly, you’re probably the most promising rookie I’ve seen in a couple years. You’ve got Bronze Skills, so you’ll be able to upgrade and be picky with your fourth Skill. You’ll have four Bronze at 16 at the latest. That’s big. The Great One gives blessings to people who can’t get a new Skill or upgrade one, and that’s only ever possible at Bronze and Arcanite, so you’ll be one of the lucky few. Not sure what boons there are, but I bet it’ll be great.”

Grom and Astrid continued talking as they walked back towards the inn. It was a journey that, after using Quick Recovery before, took another hour. Astrid thought of using the Skill again, but instead decided to hold off. It would be better if she hadn't basically fully healed when the Healer cleansed any disease that she’d caught from the warg.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Once they approached the inn, Grom held up a hand to Astrid to get her to stop. As she looked at him, he sighed.

“Look. I’m gonna ask Tobias to take a look at you. He’s the leader of the party I’m gonna ask you to join with. He’s a good Healer, and I haven’t heard of him making any real mistakes or anything while serving as the leader of his party. However, he can annoy some people. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to work with him, and I’ll see what other options are available to you, but I don’t think it’ll be any time soon that I’ll be able to get you into a full-time party.”

“Ok.” Astrid nodded. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“That’s a good delver.” Grom nodded. “And, between you and me, thank you. They need someone like you on their side.”

Astrid wasn’t sure what to feel about that, but she’d decided on being proud up until the moment they walked into the inn and Grom said, “Ah, Tobias! Just the man I was looking for!”

Grom walked towards a table that Astrid had sat at just a few hours before. There sat three people, a nondescript man with a scar along his jaw, an attractive woman with her hair pulled back in a lazy braid, and a piggy-faced man, his eyes beady and unwelcoming.

Duchess give me strength. Great One bless me with patience.

“What can I do for you, sir Grom?” Tobias’ voice was grating and he deliberately looked at Astrid and sneered. “I must say that my prices are doubled for… Barbarians.”

“If you still want a finisher in your party, you’re gonna have to close that mouth long enough to stop eating and start doing, Tobias. Also, Healers don’t charge their party members.” Grom answered.

“You can’t be serious.” Tobias looked between Grom and Astrid. “She’s a level 1, and brand new, at that.”

“Well, she’s what you’ve got, and nobody else is coming.” Grom looked over at Astrid, who was fighting to keep her face from screwing up in disgust. “Astrid, I didn’t quite realize the kind of ass we’re dealing with, so if you’d like I can see if I just go out with one once a day instead. It’ll give you more experience and be less painful. Which do you prefer?”

“Wait, Grom, you can’t be serious, truly!” Tobias spoke. “We need a finisher, it takes too long for a Scout and a Shieldsman to kill the monsters. It’s your job to find us a party that’s complete!”

“And I did that. This is the third time. If you turn her away at the gate, then I’m officially done. Three red marks on all three of your records, and I can bet you’ll never get your fourth Skill.”

“Wait, Grom.” The scar-faced man interrupted Tobias before he resumed his screeching. Then, he reached out and put a firm but gentle hand on Tobias’s shoulder. “If you ruin this for me, I’ll leave the party before you can damage my future further. Understand?”

“But Petr!”

“I’m not your damn dad. Duchess knows if I was I’d have my foot up your rear. I’m willing to work with you, but you’re poisoning the well at this point, and I’m done drinking from it.”

“Ok, I’m sorry!” Tobias said as Petr pulled his hand away. “I’ll… fix things with the Bar—”

Petr’s fist nearly made contact with Tobias’s face as he brandished a finger there. “Learn the lass’s name. There’s your first step.”

“That’s the most I’ve ever heard from Petr.” Grom whispered in Astrid’s ear.

“Hello.” Tobias’s voice grated on Astrid’s ears as he extended a limp hand towards her. “My name is Tobias Healer. I’m level 3, and the leader of this delver party. You are…?”

“Astrid Warrior. Level 1.” Astrid tried to shake the hand, but Tobias’s grip was such a limp fish that she didn’t try beyond the first second.

“Hello, Astrid.” Though he tried to demonstrate the barest hint of courtesy, the Healer’s voice dripped with derision. Astrid gritted her teeth. Before she could say what she wanted to, Grom grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back.

“I made that offer in good faith, Astrid.” He whispered into her ear. “But it only existed while Tobias refused to have you on as a party member. Now that he’s willing to try at all, it’s better for you to work with people your own level instead of me. Even if they’re asinine little prigs that think their farts don’t smell like Tobias.”

“Had someone I called a prig back home.” Astrid whispered back. “I need to apologize to him for that now.”

“Tobias is the king of it around here.” Grom agreed. “But I could tell you were going to turn them down. If you do, you’re not getting any more help until more people show up in town and need additions. It could be a while.”

Astrid gritted her teeth as she nodded. It was as necessary as it was painful. She forced a smile on her face as she turned around. She looked past Tobias at the woman who seemed to like him, somehow, and thought better of immediately sticking her hand out to her. Instead, she did to Petr.

“Hello, Petr?”

He grunted and extended his hand to shake as he grumbled, “Shieldsman. Level 2.” His was a firm, honest handshake. That of a man. Astrid approved. He kept his dark hair barely more than stubble all over his face and head, the scar and dark eyes the only things that were even remotely noteworthy.

“Nice to meet you. And your name?” Astrid moved on to the Scout, keeping her hand out. The woman seemed to think about it for a second before extending her hand. She shook only once before pulling her hand back.

“Svana. Scout, level 2.”

“Thanks.” Astrid forced the smile she didn’t like to stay on her face. “I’m looking forward to working with you. Now, before we do anything else, Tobias, could I ask you to cleanse my leg? I took a bite from a warg, and want to be sure it doesn’t get infected.”

“You got bitten when you were working with Grom? Are you sure you can delve? Grom, are you sure—”

“There was a level 5 on floor 1. Neither of us realized it until her attack bounced off it.” Grom clarified without explaining specifically that it wasn’t the level 5 that hurt her. At his explanation, Tobias looked somewhat mollified.

“Very well, then. I’ll cleanse you. How much healing will you need and how long will you need to rest before we can go to the Dungeon?” He asked Astrid.

“Not much, I don’t think. It’s just making sure I don’t get sick or septic.”

“Yes. That would be a tragedy.” Tobias answered dryly. Then, without another word, he stuck his hand out and laid it on Astrid’s leg. She hadn’t been expecting it, but suspecting it was some sort of “test” from the fat Healer, she didn’t react except to raise an eyebrow at him and then Petr.

“I’m looking forward to the day that you need healing on your legs. I’m sure Tobias will need intimate contact with you too.”

“It’s more effective this way!” He replied hotly.

“I know.” Astrid nodded. “I just want to make sure that when our Shieldsman is injured, he receives the same level of care that I do. You know, for efficiency. I’ll make sure that Petr gets the same care I have.”

Svana, despite herself, smirked a little at that, as did Petr. Seeing that his perverse actions weren’t going to be supported by the party, he instead put his hand on hers.

“Going off the amount of health you’ve lost, there shouldn’t be as much of a remainder from the creature as there is, but there’s a fair amount.” As soon as he actually began healing, Tobias became a different person. Astrid fought to keep from shaking her head in disgust. “It must have been a particularly filthy mouth that got you. I’ll give you a tiny heal, but mostly, this is a cleanse. It’s travelled through most of your body at this point. Going off your Fortitude, I’d guess that you would be fine, but feverish for a few days. Tell me when you’re ready. It’s going to feel very hot, then very cold.”

“Ready.”

Tobias immediately began his healing, and just as he said, Astrid felt a fire climb up her arm, to her chest, and then throughout her entire body. Sweat broke out across her whole body, and she forced a controlled breath out of her mouth. After sighing, the heat faded, and her whole body felt icy. After another minute, that feeling faded too, and the only change she felt was the sweat running down her back.

“Thanks.” She nodded to Tobias as she pulled her hand back. He rolled his neck.

“Yes, of course, anything for the party. Anyways. You should rest the rest of the day. We’ll miss our delving today, but we’ll set out tomorrow or the next.”

“No, I’m feeling fine. Don’t hold back on my account.” Astrid said, already having made the decision not to share Quick Recovery with the members of this party.

“Are you quite sure?” Tobias asked, his lip curling.

“You felt it yourself. I’m fine. You go ahead and get ready, I’ll wait down here and have some lunch for now.” Then, without another word, Astrid walked up to the counter to call for Stark’s attention.