Eliona's War 2: Veiled Healer

Chapter 68

Time Elapsed: 01:37:15

As the last of the healing winds faded away, Severance was once again grateful that he'd chosen a healer class. He couldn't even begin to imagine getting through these daily sessions with Batin otherwise.

He turned, fan in hand, and regarded both Dhin and Batin.

"So, how was that?"

In Severance's opinion, he thought he did pretty good. He'd managed to mitigate each of Batin's fireblades, all the while fending of Dhin's constant attacks. Of course, he still got his butt kicked in the end, but it was nowhere as bad as the first few times.

Batin didn't answer at first. He considered the surroundings instead, from the scorched and crimson-splattered sands, to the lifeless gray skies overhead. These Ruins were as silent and empty as the dead, which made them a great place for teaching a man to endure. For wasn't that what they did? Time and sands wore them down into husks of their former selves, yet they still stubbornly stood.

Finally, Batin refocused on him. "That was adequate."

Severance's heart leapt

"Then-?"

"You passed." The edges of Batin's mouth lifted. "You are ready to face the fires."

Severance hoped that was just a phrase, and that Batin didn't mean it literally. Still, he allowed a tired grin to appear. It grew when he heard the familiar System chime.

Quest Completed: Undergo Batin's training
REWARD: ???

"Good work, Twiggy." Dhin tossed him the water bag, revealing his own delighted grin. No doubt he was just as relieved as Severance was that this was over.

Once Severance drained the rest of the water, he found Batin holding a narrow-sheathed blade in his palm. The sheath itself had slender straps that buckled together.

"Take this," the Veiled man said. "It has served me well for many years, and now it will serve you."

Severance's eyes widened. It was one of Batin's hidden blades, one of many that the man seemed to carry. And now Batin was offering it to him?

Awed by the gesture, Severance reverently received the weapon. Even with the sheath, it felt light and delicate, but he knew better than most just how dangerous it could be.

"Thank you. I'll use it well."

Batin's eyes flashed. "I know you will."

***

Sometime later, Olen tapped a map that was laid out on his desk.

"Here," he said. "This is where you'll need to go next."

Severance leaned in to get a better look. It was in the southwest corner, further south than he'd ever been before. The closest place that he recognized would be Ascendance. The town was in a healthy forested area, but the area Olen indicated below was simply colored gray.

"It doesn't look like anything's there," Severance pointed out.

"It's there. I promise."

Severance eyed the map doubtfully. "And how do we even get there? That's quite a distance from Ascendance."

"I can teleport you and your team there. It's best if this place remains hidden for now."

"Right," Severance agreed. Obviously, they didn't want the Chosen and Traders to have access to this place. It wasn't like they needed it, anyway. They already had the Chosen Den.