Adventurers of the Inquisition: A Dragon Age RP (started)

[Athol]

As the wraiths launched their attacks, Kari gave Nola a shove out of the line of fire, catching one of the green blasts in the process. Staggering a bit from the blow, her body sagged with a greater weakness than she?d felt before, the tip of her blade starting to droop. Enough of that! Tapping into reserves of Qunari sheer bloody-mindedness, she gritted her teeth and pulled herself together. ?Hey frosty tits!? She yelled at the daemon. ?Where the fuck you think you?re going?? Charging after it, she connected with a few good hits before it leapt away again.

"Everyone alright!"

?Fan-fucking-tastic!? She yelled back as the despair daemon floated out of reach. ?YOU! YES, YOU!? She hollered after it. ?STAND STILL!?

 

[Protocol95]

Jarrett and Berund's pursuit of the abomination was an uphill battle. The trail of ice made their goal clear but their was no end in sight. He was impressed by Berund's ability to keep pace. Their chase was interrupted when they came across the scout Arthur and he appeared to have been badly wounded by their prey.

"It's headed t-towards the drake's cave."

The most probable situations came into clear view. The odds of the other group investigating anywhere else, let alone a hypothetical second drake cave was not worth concern. Jarrett however had confidence in his allies even if they had found the worst.

"D-don't worry about me, get that th-thing, "I'll be f-fine, just rest a, a, bit th-then make my way back to the village. Maker I'm so tired."

"Hollow words. Only the last have meaning" Jarrett snapped a glare at Berund. "This man will be escorted to safety." Jarrett's words were uncaring and demanding to Berund, as if their previous camaraderie had disappeared. "We may separate or both aid him. The other will continue the pursuit. You are strong and fast, perhaps more so with less gear. I'm used to light travel. Be aware the trip back may not be uninterrupted." He had taken a forcible hold of the situation, outlining some of the pros and cons of the choices he thought acceptable.

 

[DarkRawen]

Ash smiled when he saw that the drake was taken care of, though his vision was getting a little too blurry for his liking. While he was sort of out of it, his instincts of mostly travelling alone made it clear that he had to deal with his injuries and be prepared for another attack, which meant getting out one of his lyrium potions.

If I have the oppertunity to do so, I should.

There was no creatures close to him where he stood, and he started going through his bag, looking for his bandages and potions. He found a lyrium potion and used it. As he felt mana surging back into his body, he started cleansing and bandaging his wounds, humming as he did. The others could manage without him for a short moment, Ash had decided.

No one seems to be dead just yet, at least.

Unless this was all some elaborate delusion of his, of course. But that was a given at all times.

 

[sage42]

"Everyone alright!"

Nola grunted as she felt the strange bolt of magic slide off her back. It seems even the magic of demons had a problem pushing through her connection to the Stone. "Not great!" She called as she whirled to face one of the shades. "Got too many of these sodding nug-humpers on me. You want to use more of the Templar training though I won't object!" If he could end this fight, the sooner the better. She needed to fix her arm soon. She had talent with her ax, not much difference between swinging the ax and swinging the hammer, but without her shield she felt incredibly bare.

"Von take care of the last shade now! Kari, Ash, help me herd that damn thing! Lead it to me and we can skewer the bastard!" She called to the others as she moved to circle around the shriveled creature. C'mere nug shit. You like the cold? Lemme show ya the molten iron that flows through me. Finally it jumped closer and she struck, bringing her ax down into the creatures back.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

"You are strong and fast, perhaps more so with less gear. I'm used to light travel. Be aware the trip back may not be uninterrupted."

"Yes, yes," Berund responded, waving the elf off. "It's comin' across clear as day. As eager as I am to end that creature's life myself, I would be remiss not to see Arthur here cared for. Go on, off with ya. I've a feeling the others'll need some assistance, certainly if they did encounter the drake. An icy, life-drainin' abomination is hardly supportive."

The dwarf removed a scrap of cloth from his person and a flask of brandy. He coated the cloth in his liquor and handed it to the man. "Press this on the wound," he said. It wasn't much for dressing, though Berund hoped it was good enough for the time being. He took a swig from the flask then stowed it back in its pocket. Berund needed to find a better means of carrying Arthur around than simply carrying him. He doubted the man weighed much, but it wouldn't be good for his wounds to be manhandled the whole way to town. There was a tree nearby with a thick branch of dense pine needles. It would make for a decent sled.

It only took a few moments for the dwarf to pry the branch from the tree. He hardly used any effort, relying mostly on his own mass to rid the tree of the limb. A few moments more had passed as he lifted Arthur onto the improvised sled. They were finally ready to move on. Berund grabbed the lead of the branch and trudged through the snow. It was actually fairly easy, though the dwarf was no stranger to labor. The passage was quiet, far too quiet for Berund's liking. So he decided to strike up a conversation, hoping the trip would pass by more quickly as well. "As untroublin' as it is to make sure you're safe, I can't help but feel a bit remorseful about goin' after that abomination. Would've made for a good fight I'm sure. The thing's head would make for a nice trophy as well. Maybe...actually, come to think of it, I'm not too sure how to feel about that. I mean it sort of is a person an' it wouldn't sit well with me havin' any man's head on display. But then again, that thing...it's not really a person, is it? It seemed more of some entity in the guise of a man. Would it then be appropriate to keep a part of it as an ornament? Perhaps not any of the mannish pieces--feet, toes--but the head like that of wolf? Those monstrous claws? There have been far stranger things worn for show, but not likely coming from anything that walked an' talked as we do. Now I'm not so sure I'd like to keep its head, as good a headpiece it would make. But I suppose I won't have to worry about makin' that decision here."

 

[Protocol95]

"As eager as I am to end that creature's life myself, I would be remiss not to see Arthur here cared for. Go on, off with ya. I've a feeling the others'll need some assistance, certainly if they did encounter the drake. An icy, life-drainin' abomination is hardly supportive."

"Thanks." He waved Berund off with confidence in his and Arthur's safety and a returned friendliness to his voice. Jarrett turned and followed the trail of ice the abomination had left behind.

Given the brief delay and the abomination's already incredible speed, Jarrett's only hope of catching up to the abomination before it could wreak havoc was if it was stopped by his allies or the drake they were tracking. This did not deter him from his chase as the others could suffer if he slowed for another moment.

 

[IFS]

Group 1

The shade fell apart under Von's assault, leaving behind nothing but grimy rags and a strange unearthly residue. Meanwhile the despair demon leaped frantically away from Kari's swings, which had thoroughly shattered its attempts to protect itself with a barrier, only to find itself meeting with Nola's ax. What defenses it had left were insufficient against the broad steel blade and the demon gave a final cry before it joined the shades in death. All that remained now were the wraiths, which continued flinging their bolts of magic at the party as they pulled back towards the end of the cave trying to gain distance from the group that had slain all their allies.

Just then a wave of cold blew into the cave and at its entrance stood the abomination ringed by jagged ice. Its hateful gaze wandered over the group until its eyes rested on the corpse of the drake.

"Fools!" it screamed "You will regret this transgression! I will gather my minions and your petty town will be devoured, your mages fed to those worthy among my cohorts until something new has eaten them from within and bursts free full formed! This I swear."

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Berund

Arthur nodded weakly and pressed the brandy soaked cloth to his wounds, he didn't speak and seemed increasingly pale though fortunately had strength enough to make it easier on Berund to set him in the makeshift sled. He was unable to give much in the way of direction back towards the village but fortunately Berund was a scout and even in the unfamiliar terrain was able to keep his sense of direction well enough to find the path.

Heads began to poke out of doorways as the dwarf reached the village, breathing heavily from the effort of running through the snow pulling the sled. In a matter of moments Arthur's body was recognized and voices began to mutter, frightened whispers that the demon wolves had claimed another of their own.

"By the maker, bring him in here," Jacques said, moving out of the inn "magic may be his only hope now, come on."

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Jarrett

Jarrett arrived just on the heels of the abomination, its dreadful promise proving plenty loud to lead him to its location. Yet as it finished its rant it raised both clawed hands in the air, power gathering around them, and then slammed them down. Immediately a blinding flurry of wind and snow sprang up around it forcing onlookers to shield their eyes as the whirling cloud of snow not only concealed the abomination but reflected the light of the sun in all directions. The miniature blizzard faded in moments but when it was gone so to was the abomination, this time leaving no trail of jagged ice to follow.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Von take care of the last shade now! Kari, Ash, help me herd that damn thing! Lead it to me and we can skewer the bastard!"

"Good timing," Ash replied, as he got up. He tested his standings. Deciding that the tiredness wasn't too bad he shrugged, and started walking. "I just got my bandages all set up." Helping keeping the demon in place, Ash didn't exactly mind watching it get slain. If it had gotten away, that would probably have been bad news for the village.

That's that, though. One drake as well as different kind of demons and shadows taken care of.

He thought to himself, and looked to the two remaining wraiths.

They think they can run, huh. Too bad that---

He raised a hand to cast drain life -most of all to deal with the burns- but stopped mid-spell, as something inhuman spoke.


"Fools! You will regret this transgression! I will gather my minions and your petty town will be devoured, your mages fed to those worthy among my cohorts until something new has eaten them from within and bursts free full formed! This I swear."

Ash just stared at it, not sure how to react. Was this a human? Or a demon? It looked odd to him, twisted, strange certainly, but not--

"Oh." He didn't realize it before it had already left, leaving behind more snow and little else of interest.

"That was an abomination, wasn't it?" He had seen a lot, but never really that. Not from beyond nightmares and fears of his own, what could happen to him. They had never looked like that, though.

Of course, it was a long time that had frightened him, now it was simply a worry, eating him from the inside. Absent-mindedly, he finished his spell, and directed it at one of the wraiths, feeling some of his injuries heal as he stole its life energy.

Well, that really hit the spot, didn't it?

Then, he finished off the final one with a well aimed lightning spell. Now there were no more of them. Even so, he felt that the fade was closer than he liked, the connection was far too strong here, and it made him feel bad, especially now that the surge of adrenaline from battle was ending.

"If that's all..." he muttered, and tried to get some of the dragon blood off his armour and into a vial. Sure, he could go over to the drake, but he wanted to get outside, and besides, he was already dripping with the dark blood. What he would use it for was unknown, but surely dragon blood had some fun use.

"Please, let's not stand around for too long. I don't like it here."

 

[sage42]

Nola's chest heaved as she inhaled the cold air. A drake and demons. Not something she had been fully prepared for. But she came out alive in the end. With a laugh she let her self fall back to the cold ground, her breath making clouds above her. "Ha! Two of some of the most dangerous creatures on Thedas dead. And they didn't take any of us! I call today a win!" She smiled up at the gray sky. And have some fresh drake scales to work with. Nola, things are looking as bright as the day you hauled your ass outta the Deep Roads

She tried to push herself up and winced in pain. Right, her arm was dislocated. She fell back with a heavy thump. "Hey someone wanna come gimme a hand? My arm's dislocated and I need someone else to pop it back in place." She called waving a hand in the air.

 

[Athol]

Kari let out a cry of triumph as the Fade-spawn died. ?************!? She cried. ?That was the most Maker-damned fun I?ve had in months.? Her exuberance was cuts short a bit by her ribs reminding her that they were damaged. ?Fuuuuck??

"Fools! You will regret this transgression! I will gather my minions and your petty town will be devoured, your mages fed to those worthy among my cohorts until something new has eaten them from within and bursts free full formed! This I swear."

?Fuck me running.? She muttered as the abomination vanished. ?We need to get back.? She said louder.

"Please, let's not stand around for too long. I don't like it here."

?Agreed.? Hand on her ribs she started to make her way towards the cave entrance, when something in the shadows caught her eye. Moving to investigate it appeared to be a travelling merchant?s pack, still relatively intact. Poor bastard must?ve shacked up here for a kip?hope it was quick. She thought grimly. Rummaging through the pack her eyes lit up at the score; bottles and bottles of potions. Doing a quick count she came back with six healing, one stamina, and three lyrium. Nice Downing one of the red one, she tucked the empty bottle into her belt and grabbed the pack. Ohhhthassnice? She thought as her aches, pains, cuts, and bruises faded away.

"Hey someone wanna come gimme a hand? My arms dislocated and I need someone else to pop it back in place."

?Hang on shorty, I got just the thing.? Kari replied, clapping her hands. ?Anything else?? After Nola finished her scowl, Kari set to relocating the dwarf?s arm. Once that was done, she handed Nola a bottle of healing potion, before pulling out the green one. Taking a slug from it, she passed it over. ?Only found one of these so everyone only gets a hit.? She said, feeling a bit of her energy returning. Leaving the dwarf?s side, she made her way to the other two giving them each a hit of the stamina potion, and a bottle of healing, as well as leaving the lyrium ones with Ash. All that finished, she went to the drake, filling the empty bottle she?d kept with blood, and prying a few teeth free.

 

[Protocol95]

"Wretched pest." Jarrett had arrived right after his target and in seconds it escaped. Tightening the grip on his daggers in frustration he did his best to try and distract himself. Lifting his head, he turned and saw a that a complex situation had transpired. He turned and saw Nola injured and it seems Kari was aiding her. Speaking up at them he simply requested, "Summary?"

 

[sage42]

Nola grunted as the Qunari yanked her arm back into place with a loud pop. Son of a nug-humping whore that hurts! She thought sitting up, stretching her shoulder. She happily took a swing of the stamina potion. She instantly felt the affects, She felt good enough to fight again. Maybe not another drake, but a few bandits or wolves? Let them come! She downed the health potion too, just to make sure any thing she couldn't feel was taken care of. "Thanks for that Giant, couldn't have gotten that back in place on my own." She said grabbing her shield from where she had let it fall.

She turned to face the drakes corpse as the elf walked out of the frozen forrest.

"Summary?"

Nola grinned wide. "We came, we saw, we kicked it's ass!" She said resting a foot on the dead drakes skull. "And we took care of a few......what were they? Demons?" She asked looking to Von and Ash. "Whatever, point is, creepy shit went down and we're no worse for the wear. Nothing a few potions and some rest won't cure anyway." She examined the drake a moment before rushing over to her pack and pulling out a long knife. Then she set to slowly pealing off the handful of scales she could find that weren't damaged by the multiple of blades or magic that had been thrown at the beast.

After a moment she stuffed the scales in a separate pouch in her pack. "Bah, damn thing did more damage to it's scales than we did. Barely Have enough to make a pair of boots, a bad pair at that." She kicked the corpse in frustration. "Ah well at least the thing dead. Can't bother the village anymore. Which Reminds me." She quickly turned and went to Ash. "We owe you big time for that kill!" She clapped a hand on the mages forearm. "Next time we're in a decent inn I'm buying you a drink! Or at least a decent room! AFTER the other giant buys me mine!" She called to Kari with a laugh. "But seriously Ash, thanks. That blood boiling thing? Awesome! Us dwarves actually have a saying that fits it perfectly, translated it would be Epic Win." She said with a bright smile up at the Qunari.

 

[StormShaun]

The lone figure of Von was still hovering over the remains of the Shades he had slain. There was a mixture of blood and demon essence on him, yet his eyes looked distant, as if his spirit was transported to the Fade. The Templar's figure shook though, the body still remembering all of pain that was inflicted on him. The life in Von had came back to him as Kari approached him, he graciously accepted intakes of both potions, "Thank ... you." He said he huffed out, his tone almost going beyond a wheeze.

Afterwards, he gripped his chest, feeling it up. Suddenly flinching, the pain felt as if he had been hit by Ash's lightning spells, "Part ... partially broken." He muttered to himself, recognizing his tired voice. Knowing that it would be healed thanks to the potion and the hopeful soon coming rest, Von knew that, but the words of the Abomination kept on echoing in his mind. Before knowing it, he was spreading a healing poultice on the scratches on his hands and sides.

The horrid voice still called, but Von's mind pushed the memory of Kirkwall, mostly when the mages were backed into a corner and let themselves turn into Abominations. "No." He simply said, he walked carefully to his sword, picked it up, and went to claim his prize silently. He dug for a couple of bones, not caring about the blood or flesh of the creature, and finally with a stroke of his sword, some scales fell into his bag.

Walking absentmindedly toward the opening of the cave, Von stopped once, to look at a Ash that was being praised by Nola, the look that Von had within his eyes, was pity. In his experience, many people fell to blood magic, and even then he remembered friends that he was forced to strike due to their uncontrolled nature for freedom, some even becoming Abominations themselves. Looking forward, Von angrily closed his eyes, muttered a quiet prayer, and kept walking. He even did not take notice of Jarrett's presence, almost bumping into him. Still, the lone body silently walked, instinctively back to the village.

This was not a battle he shared optimistically with the others. For he knew this would become worse, and that the Abomination kept their promises. To the group, they heard a whisper mixed in with the wind, not knowing if he actually spoke it or not. Yet that tone was cold as it said, "I will see the doors of Hell again."

 

[DarkRawen]

While Ash was more eager to leave, the others took the opportunity to gather items. He had to admit that it was good thinking, although he still didn't want to stay. Standing a bit outside the cave, having noticed Jarrett but not really finding much to say to the elf, he sort of stood against the wall, waiting.

"Only found one of these so everyone only gets a hit."

Kari said. She had found some potions, perhaps from the remains of someone who had been unfortunate enough to get taken by the drake?

"Ah, no, I'm fine," Ash replied, although it was a mere mutter to himself, and he drank some when he was offered it either way. He did suppose it was better for him to be able to walk to the village, if nothing else. Besides, one sip wasn't too much, and his head still swam a bit. After that he was given a lot of lyrium potions.

"Thanks," he smiled, and put them in his backpack. "I suppose I'd be the one with the most need for them."

"Summary?"

Well, where do we begin?

Ash let Nola speak, she seemed to have it worked out already.

"We came, we saw, we kicked it's ass! And we took care of a few......what were they? Demons?"

He nodded, though he didn't speak up, as Nola continued, first with the scales of the drake, and then turning her attention to him.

"We owe you big time for that kill!"

Huh?

Nola clapped a hand on his forearm, eagerly and friendly.

Is she talking about the drake?

They all took care of that, but he simply nodded.

"Next time we're in a decent inn I'm buying you a drink! Or at least a decent room! AFTER the other giant buys me mine! But seriously Ash, thanks. That blood boiling thing? Awesome! Us dwarves actually have a saying that fits it perfectly, translated it would be Epic Win."

Epic win, huh.

"I... thanks," he said, not sure how to react apart from that. She was praising him for the blood magic that people tended to loathe. His smile grew wider, and he felt warmth fill his body, even as he noticed Von's pitying look. He suppose he was rather pitiful, Ash couldn't really deny that. However, right now, he didn't care, because... well, because it felt like at the very least Nola accepted the less favourable side of him.

"It's about as fun to use as it looks," he then admitted, chuckling, feeling more comfortable with it. "But yeah, you don't know how... how incredible happy it makes me to not be hated for it for once. People get... judgemental, and..." he trailed off, spending some time gathering himself before speaking again. "I'm glad you think it's awesome, not a lot of people seem to do."

I feel like I'm about to cry.

So silly, yet he couldn't help it. Even with what he saw and heard, all the delusions, this stood out. This was definitely real. Standing upright, he spoke again.

"Anyways, we should probably get some rest. If that abomination was speaking the truth, we really should take the time we have to prepare."

Which I'm going to do by closing my eyes and trying to think of kittens.

 

[Athol]

Though she jumped a bit a Jarrett?s sudden arrival, Kari couldn?t help but chuckle at Nola?excitability. ?Like the short one said. Found the Drake; kicked its ass. Some demons, spirits, whatever showed up; kicked their asses too.? Her face darkened as she went on. ?Then some pissed off wolf-headed mother fucker showed up and ranted about using those mages to attack the village. Anyways speaking of happenings, where are the other two??

"Anyways, we should probably get some rest. If that abomination was speaking the truth, we really should take the time we have to prepare."

?Rest back in the village.? She said, turning to Ash. ?I?d rather be there and maybe head off whatever that fuck-nut attempts, than try and face whatever is the result of him burning through those spell flingers.?

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

"By the maker, bring him in here, magic may be his only hope now, come on."

"Yes, right away," Berund huffed. He was out of breath. The trip back to the town took its toll, and he needed a moment of rest. And there was no better place for him to do so than the inn. Swiftly, he pulled the branch that carried Arthur inside and into the middle of mess area. "All right, Arthur, you're safe now. You're gonna get fixed up good and proper."

Berund patted the man on the shoulder reassuringly. Then he turned to Jacques and led him aside, a look of urgency in his gaze. "Me an' my companion came across an abomination, or rather it came across us. The same abomination that put Arthur in his current state. It appeared as a man, starved an' gnarled. With knobbly fingers that ended in claws an' a head like that of a wolf. It tried to drain the life from us. Damned thing nearly did. Sound like the work of the Avvar shaman?"

 

[Protocol95]

"Anyways, we should probably get some rest. If that abomination was speaking the truth, we really should take the time we have to prepare."

"You may, but I won't follow. Berund and I were distracted by that abomination. It had injured Arthur and Berund escorted him to the village. The shrine remains unchecked. I believe I know the way back to were we first encountered it." The path he took was long but even in the event the ice he used to track the abomination had disappeared, he just had to follow his instinct to the clearing. From there he could find his way back to the path to the shrine.

"If you wish to reinforce the village, go ahead. Stick to me if you wish to go to the shrine. Other ideas?" Jarrett spoke fairly quickly, almost mixing his words into each other and his face looked impatient. Either choice was fine but this threat demanded efficiency.

 

[Athol]

Kari made a face when Jarrett said Arthur?d been injured. Bloody fool was probably still hanging about trying to watch the fight. Well at least Berund was with him, so hopefully the dwarf could get him back to the village?surely some of those mages were healers. Putting those thoughts aside, she focused again on Jarrett.

"If you wish to reinforce the village, go ahead. Stick to me if you wish to go to the shrine. Other ideas?"

?Alright twiggy, I guess I?m with you.? She said as she secured what she wanted. Everything set, she hefted her blade and approached the elf. ?Lead on.?

 

[IFS]

Berund

The mages quickly began to tend to Arthur, Jacques himself did not seem the most skilled healer of the group though he quickly selected from among the other mages a pair who began to tend to the man's wounds. Gradually Arthur's breathing steadied and grew stronger, though his injuries were hardly fading his condition seemed to be stable and improving now.

"Me an' my companion came across an abomination, or rather it came across us. The same abomination that put Arthur in his current state. It appeared as a man, starved an' gnarled. With knobbly fingers that ended in claws an' a head like that of a wolf. It tried to drain the life from us. Damned thing nearly did. Sound like the work of the Avvar shaman?"

It took a few moments for the old mage to answer, a tired look crossed his eyes and he sighed before speaking.

"Any mage can become possessed and become an abomination, it is our curse, one of many reasons why we are feared." he said, then hesitated briefly before continuing "Of my people who survived our crossing over the mountains none of us are abominations, so it must be an Avvar mage."

He frowned "why do you ask me this? Did something about the abomination give you cause to think it might be something other than a possessed barbarian?"

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Returning group

Tired from the battle those of the group who made their way back to the village were welcomed warmly. Word that they had left to fight the drake had spread not long after they did so, and while it was disheartening for them to see Arthur returned in such a state to see the adventurers return triumphant was inspiring. For once in what felt like a long while the people of the village felt hopeful that perhaps they could be saved from the threat that pressed against them from all sides.

The inn was especially a welcome sight, while the most skilled healers were tending to Arthur there were others with some talent for the art who were willing to see to the groups injuries, and impressed by the groups bravery a few locals had offered up their rooms for the group's usage. It would be cramped certainly but a far sight better than sleeping in the barn again.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Shrine group

The trip to the shrine went smoothly this time, it seemed that the abomination truly had retreated to gather its forces for now, and while the occasional howl of a wolf could be heard none attacked them on their way to the shrine. Finally they arrived to see a strange stone monument standing half buried in snow.

Atop the shrine stood a pair of statues, one depicting a fearsome monster with an all too familiar visage. It looked far less human than the abomination had been, but the similarities were unmistakable. Across from it had once stood a statue of a proud warrior facing down the beast, but the warrior statue had been shattered. At the base of the shrine there was an inscription in an unfamiliar tongue.

All around the shrine there was nothing but the freshly fallen snow. If any Avvar had been here it must have been some time ago, for there seemed to be no trace of any camp of theirs.

 

[DarkRawen]

Ash was one of the people who chose to go back to the village. Partly because of that he wanted to take some time to rest, partly because he wanted to make sure Arthur, who had been nice enough to show them the way, was fine, and because he had a feeling that the abomination would not be waiting for at the shrine. Besides, if they knew who and what was the source of the demonic energy, was there truly a reason for any of them to check the shrine out?

I just want to rest.

In the end, dragon and demons taken care off, he still couldn't rid himself of his ailments, his ill mind. Thus, he had gone back to the village. Being told that there were rooms available, offered by locals, made him feel happy, while the relief first came when he noticed that Arthur was fine. He felt fine, and was in a good mood, until some of the mages approached him, offering him to take care of the few remaining injuries.

"No," Ash replied, frowning for once. His tone was hostile at best, he didn't want them to be near him. What if they saw that he had used blood magic? There was something frightened, unsure to his tone.

"Go away, I don't need your help."