Eliona's War 2: Veiled Healer

Chapter 16

Startled by the commotion, the three players fighting the cats fumbled, and quickly got overwhelmed by the creatures. The Moon Scribe was experienced however, for she quickly renewed her shields and sent a silvery Radiance out to restore their health.

"What are you doing?" Severance hissed. He stepped towards Mouna, though he wasn't sure what to do. Why was she shooting random strangers?

She ignored him, aiming the third arrow at the last Chosen, tracking his movements, before she let the bowstring go. The arrow flew true, puncturing deep into the poor man's throat, dropping him like a rock.

Mouna still didn't look at him. She pulled more arrows from her quiver—four this time—and notched the first one.

Alarmed, Severance reached out to grab her arm. "Wait!"

She paused, and looked at him. The coldness in her gaze sent chills down his spine, causing him to reflexively let go of her.

"They're just players," he exclaimed. "Killing them won't do anything. They'll just go back to whatever town they're from!"

Mouna made no further move, but she didn't lower her bow either.

That was just as encouraging as it was concerning, but he pressed on. "Look, they're just beginners. Probably new recruits that got taken by the Chosen without knowing better. Killing them now for no reason just makes you no better than the Chosen!"

She didn't move, didn't blink. She might as well have been carved out of ice, but something about her shifted, and Severance felt the tiniest inkling of fear. Suddenly he didn't know if she'd shift that arrow to face him, if she'd take the shot and kill him instead.

Staying here in the dark passageway seemed like a terrible idea. He spun sharply, turning his back to her, which was probably the worst idea ever, but he couldn't stay there a moment longer. Vast, as if sensing his mood, had pulled away, slipping into the shadows of the passage.

He broke into a jog, leaving the safety of the passageway and quickly following the descending trail to the chaos below.

Below, the players were struggling. He winced as a cat closed its jaws around a leg and shook it like a dog, knocking the player to the ground. She let out a startled cry, and struggled vainly to get free. A string of silver light reached out and latched onto the her. The Moon Scribe channeled her main healing skill, keeping her teammate alive, but all she was doing was prolonging the inevitable.

Gritting his teeth, Severance called his war fans out of Inventory. As he moved, he invoked Sky Dance.

It was the sudden crackle of electricity bursting into life around him that drew attention to him. The Moon Scribe stared at him, her eyes widening for just a moment before narrowing in suspicion. Yet she couldn't do anything, too busy with trying to keep the sinking boat afloat.

He ignored her. Even if she was potentially higher-leveled than he, she wasn't a threat to him. Moon Scribes had next to no attacking capability.

Once he was close enough, he stopped and immediately focused on one of the cats. "Flare!"

Thunder rolled and an electrical bolt dropped from the skies like a comet. Brilliant blue light flashed upon impact, and the feline beast in question let out a screeching cry.

+1 Intelligence

"Flare," Severance said again, and watched as the second bolt wiped the cat out. He frowned slightly. The cats must have been weaker than he thought if a mere two Flares managed to kill them.

The remaining cats broke away from the players and immediately charged him, deeming him the greatest threat on the field. Severance didn't back away. Compared to some of the other creatures he'd fought in Eliona, these ones weren't very scary.