Dust from inside the tent swirled and entered Orrin’s nose as he stepped out of the dungeon.

“Achoo.”

“Bless you,” Daniel said from in front of him. The rest of the party was turned toward him, backs to the flap of the tent.

“Shouldn’t we have come out down there?” Orrin turned and pointed to the stairs they’d climbed down when entering the Aqua Chambers.

“No. This is the entrance,” Jude said. “Could you imagine how cramped the stairs would be if a few parties left at the same time?”

A voice from outside echoed into the tent. “Are you back already Brandt? That was a quick little jaunt. Could the kids not make it past the big bad monkeys?”

Laughter sounded from the other guard.

Daniel opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid. Jude put a hand up to stall him.

“Don’t respond. They’ll just be wanting to report back to the other Lords.”

Daniel closed his mouth but grumbled as they left the tent.

The same two guards as before were standing on either side of the entrance. Orrin noticed a small one-man lean-to that he had missed off the one side. How long do they stay out here?

“You two are still here? What, is this a punishment detail?” Daniel asked in a chipper voice.

The guard that had spoken, Pete, stepped up toward Daniel. “Are you the reason your party is back already? Pissed yourself when you saw the big rock throwing apes, huh? Had to come crawling home?”

Orrin watched Daniel closely. Back home, Daniel was not used to taking insults from anyone. Thankfully, he only smiled broader as the man strew spittle on him.

“So it is a punishment detail. Good to know.” Daniel smiled and wiped his cheek. “Keep up the good work.”

Jude smirked as they left. Pete was huffing in indignation as they saddled the horses, still picketed a few yards away. Within a few minutes, they were traveling back down the road toward Dey.

Jude leaned over on his horse. “Kid. I’ve got to know. How did you know how to handle Pete. He’s a right asshole and always down to fight, but you just ignoring his bravado confused him something fierce.”

Daniel shrugged as he readjusted in the saddle. “Just didn’t seem like it would be a good idea to knock out the guard of another Lord. Silas would probably want to give me a talking to.”

Jude and Brandt laughed. Even Madi had to hide a smile.

“How long are they out there though?” Orrin asked. “Alone in the middle of nowhere...that has got to suck.”

“Daniel hit it in one. It’s a punishment. Usually for falling asleep at your post, getting into a fight, or pissing off the wrong higher-up. Most of the time it’s only for a week or two. The guard sends a few supplies and they always have two people out there.” Brandt smirked. “But it is the most boring thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“What did you do to get in trouble?” Daniel asked eagerly.

Brandt blushed and Orrin caught the glance toward Madi. “I don’t remember. It was a long time ago.”

Madi chuckled evilly. “Do you want to know? I was there.”

“Lady Madeleine, please,” Brandt begged.

Madi’s eyes flashed. “I thought I told you-“

“We are no longer in the dungeon,” Brandt pointed out quickly. “Decorum dictates that I-“

“He got caught putting firesnaps in my father’s clothing,” Madi rushed to speak over Brandt. “He spent a month on the dungeon watch.”

Jude was laughing but Orrin asked, “What’s a firesnap?”

“A red flower. They release their pollen and it looks like a little fireball,” Madi explained with a satisfied look on her face. Brandt’s head was hung in shame. “If you grind up the petals, it can cause a prickly, burning sensation on the skin. Children use it to prank their parents and friends. It doesn’t really hurt, just aggravates you for about an hour.”

Orrin smiled at the image of Brandt putting itching powder in Silas’ clothes. “Oh, that is funny.”

Brandt mumbled something about lookout and rode his horse forward, away from the group.

“How did he get caught?” Daniel asked as they watched him ride ahead to scout the road.

“A maid reported she’d seen him leaving the Lord’s wing afterward,” Madi said.

“Afterward? Wait. He actually pulled it off?” Daniel turned on his horse.

“Yes. My father was scratching his back and chest during an audience with some elven emissaries. He had to send them away and take a bath to soothe the burning.” Madi was laughing.

“Who knew he had it in him,” Daniel looked back at the small figure in the distance with pride. “Sir Bennett, the prank master.”

They made camp near the end of the day. Brandt kept mostly away for the first half but then sent Jude to scout too. Daniel said he could just make out Dey in the distance and Orrin had to agree. He could just see some lights.

Orrin had a sudden thought a little later after they’d mostly finished setting up camp.

“Hey Daniel, come over here.” Orrin waved his friend to the fallen logs Jude had rolled out of the underbrush. Not too thick, they offered just a little reprieve from the dewy ground.

“Yeah?” Daniel left the fire alone and sat down. “What’s up?”

Orrin turned his [Camouflage] on. Then he slapped Daniel upside the head. His spell ended.

“Nice. It works.”

“What the hell?” Daniel rubbed his head. “What did I do?”

“Nothing. I’m just going to power level my camo before I go to sleep.” Orrin turned [Camouflage] back on and punched his friend in the arm.

“Damn it, Orrin. Quit it.”

Jude and Madi chuckled.

“I only have to do it like twenty more times.”

“Can you at least hit me easier?”

Orrin did not hit him easier.

[Camouflage] 10,000/10,000 !

“Nice.” Orrin bent over his blue box and opened the prompt.

Unlocked [Camouflage II]- meld into your surroundings. Increase ability to remain undetected. 10 Minutes. 10 MP (0/10,000) -2 AP

“Damn. It just doubles the length of time,” Orrin pouted and showed the box to Daniel. He had held his hand out to see what was worth getting hit for.

“It doesn’t say attack damage breaks the spell though,” Daniel countered.

“Shit. That actually is better. I was hoping for straight invisibility, but I guess staying hard to see after attacking would be better.”

“Invisible murderbot,” Daniel commented.

Orrin scrolled through his Store, searching for anything else that might be worth his remaining two ability points. He scrolled over the tabbed spells he’d saved for later but everything cost too much.

He still needed to get [Increase Dexterity] and [Increase Will] to level three; get [Heal Small Wounds] to level three; figure out how to get [Lightstrikes]; and buy [Merge]. He scrolled back over [Alchemy] in the Skills tab.

[Alchemy]- learn the basics of alchemy. -12 AP

Expensive, he thought. But then maybe it’ll increase my potions effectiveness or something.

Orrin also pulled up something that every member of his party already had...a weapon proficiency.

[Sword Proficiency] Level One- You are adept at using swords. -10 AP.

Orrin sighed and bought [Camouflage II].

“At the least, it will make you guys not have to worry about me getting hit.”

“You got it?” Daniel was still rubbing his arm. Orrin threw a heal on his friend.

“Yep. Probably should have gotten it in the dungeon, but leveling it kind of slipped my mind.”

Brandt returned from gathering firewood. He fed some to the fire and put the rest nearby. “Ok. Daniel and Orrin get some sleep. You get last shift tonight,” he said and shouted down their arguments. “No. You two have babied us long enough. We’ll get back early tomorrow. There will be a lot of work to do I’m sure. Rest up.”

Orrin didn’t protest. He was too tired. He curled up in his blankets and fell asleep.

“Where’s all the traffic?” Daniel asked as they neared the city walls. The road was abandoned.

“The horde should have hit three days ago at the latest,” Brandt responded, standing up on his stirrups to see further ahead. “Some normalcy should have returned by now.”

Jude spurred his horse ahead. “I’ll check it out. Wait here.”

Brandt pulled his horse in front of the others and stared after Jude anxiously.

“They had more than enough time to set up the defenses,” Madi said to herself. “We should be able to see merchants moving again. People should be out and about.”

Orrin pulled up his [Map]. They were only a mile out from the wall. “There’s nothing on my map, but we can move closer to-“

“We wait for Sir DeGuis,” Brandt interrupted. The finality in his voice was a stark difference from the Brandt in the dungeon.

They waited fifteen minutes before Daniel pointed out the dust storm that was Jude.

Jude pulled his horse up short. His normal affable smile was drawn tight. “There was a second Fogbinder. They just pushed it back this morning. There is no final count on injuries and deaths.”

“Just pushed it back? What happened?” Brandt signaled for them to start riding.

Jude turned around and rode close to Brandt. “I only got a small debrief. We’re expected back by Lord Catanzano as soon as possible. Dragoon team is being sent to hunt it down. We’re to relieve the Wall guard until the all-clear is given. The first Fogbinder fell into the traps but when our men were sent to kill it, the second one appeared. It turned into a bloodbath. At least two thousand dead. Sir Dhommel died and Sir Sinduk lost both arms.”

“Shit. Who’s leading Chimera?”

They continued to speak of parties and names foreign to Orrin as they neared the gates. A single guard waved them in.

“How can we help?” Daniel asked. “Can we help hunt the Fogbinder?”

“No!” Brandt said emphatically. “We would be of little use in that fight. Leave it to those with more levels. A retreating Fogbinder is a worst case scenario. If you want to help, go see if the Hospital will let Orrin heal some people. I’m sure there will be a lot of injuries.”

“I want to help-“

Brandt turned his horse in front of Daniel’s. “Listen closely. You are still a secret. This is a tragedy, but Dey has seen its fair share of days like this. Pull it together and be the man I think you can be.” He turned to Madi. “Lady Catanzano, I leave these two in your charge. We ride ahead for your father.”

Jude and Brandt left without another word. Madi ushered them back to her house, leaving the horses with a young stable girl.

“If you want, I can show you to where the injured would be taken?”

Orrin nodded.

“I’ll just be here. I can’t do anything to help,” Daniel said and started to stomp off.

“Just being there would help,” Orrin called after him. “There’s bound to be a lot of small tasks you can help with too. Come.”

Daniel didn’t turn but paused. “No. You go and help them. I need some time to... I... Tell me where it is. I might come later.”

Madi gave instructions. Daniel went inside.

“He gets like that when he feels out of control,” Orrin explained.

Madi stared at the closed door for a moment more, then turned. “Let’s go. You might need to talk with someone from the Hospital but I’m sure they’ll let you help.”

“Even if they say no, I’ll be healing,” Orrin swore. He finally felt a purpose. Something he could actually do to help.

“No.” Madi pulled him along side streets back toward the center of Dey. “If you do unregistered healing, they can bring a petition to the Lords. If they don’t try to take you themselves.”

“I’d like to see them try,” Orrin said. He was getting upset at the idea of a group of healers who wouldn’t let him heal.

“Not take you out. Take you.” Madi turned down another street. “Young healers disappear for a time and come back...different. More accepting of the Hospital’s teachings. I don’t want Daniel crashing down the Hospital doors because you couldn’t wait for an official okay.”

“I’ll be patient and understanding, Madi.” Orrin fingered one of the Regen potions on his hip. “But I’m going to help any injured people I find.”

She sighed and turned back on a main street. “If the roads aren’t too clogged, they should be bringing people her...”

She trailed off at the sight in front of them.

A large building, Orrin guessed the Hospital itself, dominated the square. Orrin would have described it as a church, but he hadn’t seen or heard any mention of gods so far in this world. In front of the ornate building was a large grassy field, with a beautiful fountain, benches, and a few small gazebos. A perfect place for a fair or picnic.

Or to store dead and dying people. The grass was stained with the rust of dried blood. The benches had been turned into makeshift surgery stations. Cries and screams came from every direction.

“Orrin, wait here and I’ll get permission for you to work on some people. Just enough healing for someone else to come along and finish.”

“What does that mean? I can heal a sword through my chest. Why can’t I heal these people?” He waved his arm across the field. There had to be five or six hundred civilians here. These were not guards.

“The poison from the Fetid Canines needs a different type of healing, that’s not my expertise. Lost limbs and deep enough cuts into the organs take too much mana to waste on saving one person. It’s a game of saving the most lives. Just be practical and we can do some good.”

Orrin felt rage bubbling inside. He had listened to his mom’s complaints of hospital administration and budget cuts for years. He’d seen her come home wrecked after not being able to save someone. He felt powerless at the sight of all the hurt in front of him and terrified that somebody was going to get in his way.

“Madi. Do me a favor.” Orrin rolled his sleeves up and started walking toward the people in pain. “If you meant anything of what you’ve said to me. If you really want to be part of Daniel’s party and be my friend. Get every person you can to remove the poison from everyone on this field and just keep people alive long enough for me to get to them.”

“Orrin. No. What are you doing? You can’t heal everybody here.”

“If I can’t, tell Daniel it was fun.”

“Orrin, they’ll stop you. I’ll help you however I can, but they’ll stop you.”

Orrin smiled. A healing angel walking toward a crowd in need of healing. “Not if they can’t see me.”

Orrin cast [Camouflage II].

“Sorry, Tony. Sorry, Daniel,” he whispered.

Orrin turned on [Mind Bastion]. He drank a Regen potion.

And he started blood cycling.