Accidental Healer-Chapter 86 - Tom’s redemption

The ground shook. The Cyclops thundered closer. My body was so broken, I couldn’t even stand to face them.

What was death going to feel like? Quick–I hoped. Then again, it had already been pretty damn painful up to this point.

It was a strange feeling to accept my own death. On one hand, I was terrified.

Would I still exist? Would my thoughts persist into the afterlife? Or would I fade into the void?

I’d find out soon.

The steps were getting closer.

Strangely enough, a grin forced its way onto my lips.

I’m ready.

I waited.

But the blow never came. Confused, I peeked open an eye.

Each and every one of the Cyclops stood stone still.

What were they waiting for? Did they just expect me to bleed out? They wouldn’t have to wait long.

“Just get it—” I’m cut short as ragged wet coughs spew blood onto my already crimson robe.

Did they get some kind of sick satisfaction from watching me die slowly?

I wanted to flip them off, but my arms wouldn’t move.

Only–they weren’t looking at me.

They were looking past me. I tried to turn, so I could see what had given them pause, but my body wouldn’t cooperate.

Had Mischief come to save the day or was he still running around with those strange cat people?

Maybe the other members of my faction had finally arrived? A spark of hope ignited in my mangled chest.

The soft crunch of gravel reached my ears. I perk up. Who was it? Alex? Durkil? No way it could be Mischief, there wouldn’t be any noise.

Tom?

The guy who’d been bawling under the stage? That flicker of hope snuffed out. Just a failed assassin. A murderer. If it wasn’t for Mischief's manipulation he probably wouldn’t even have exposed Jordan.

Tom had achieved a class evolution, I knew that, but there was little chance he was over level thirty. The cyclops were bigger, stronger and higher level.

Wait.

Was he glowing?

I blinked and tried to focus, it wasn’t easy. Even though I didn’t feel much pain anymore it felt like I was watching everything from somewhere else.

To me it looked as though someone had shoved a lightbulb down Tom’s throat and its light illuminated his skin.

He wasn’t crying anymore. That was good. He still hadn't drawn his weapon though.

What was he thinking?

The Cyclops were losing interest and the surprise at the glowing newcomer was fading.

“Layton.”

Tom didn’t look at me, he stared at the ground.

“There is so much I wish I could take back.” He rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip. He turned his head to my broken body.

The cyclops began to move, but they seemed to be in slow motion. Was this a skill Tom had hidden?

Tom’s brows were furrowed as he scrutinized my body. Then they softened.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

It wasn’t the time for this. The cyclops weren’t completely frozen, soon they’d be on us and all his sorry’s would just die with him. He should just run, he couldn’t stop any of this.

“Thank you Layton. You showed me a better way. A way to move forward, a higher path.”

I stared up at Him. His smile confused me. I’m glad you found a better way.

But just run.

“Tell me it’s not too late for me.”

The cyclops were so close I could see their sluggish movements from the corner of my eye. His hands quivered, he clasped them together, pleading.

“Forgive me.”

My brain felt fuzzy.

Forgive him? Tom?

What difference did it make if I forgave him? Pretty soon I’d be dead. My eyelids felt so heavy.

I was so tired. He wasn’t a good man, he’d hurt so many people. I didn’t want to forgive him—I wanted to punish him. Why should he get away with it all?

Maybe it was the blood loss, maybe it was something more. But the angrier I became the worse I felt. I remembered the darkness spreading through the clear water in the vision from before.

That wasn’t me.

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The anger simmered and died. Tom wasn’t a monster. He was a broken man trying to climb out of the wreckage.

The Giants were here. As the weapons fell I looked into his glowing face. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Tom just wanted hope.

“I forgive you.”

His eyes widened—

And the world exploded in light.

Tom became a second Sun. The next five seconds all I knew was the blinding white.

I couldn’t raise my arms. All I had were my eyelids—and they didn’t help much.

With a gasp I jerked my head away. Blurred images mixed with fading colors and stars danced in my vision. The images were accompanied with the clash of steel and soft grunts.

My eyes worked to blink the stars away, the sounds of battle pressed on. Tom was fighting? Those Giants?

If it was Tom, it’d be over soon—then it’d be my turn.

I squinted and the bodies began to take shape. It was easy to tell who was who. Tom–stood out even though he was half the size of the other blurs. His body still held a subtle glow.

The shapes seemed like cotton balls stacked on top of each other. The light from Tom bobbed in and out of the writhing bodies.

How was he still standing?

The light disappeared.

I thought it was all over, but then it popped out again.

I’d fought these monsters. With my shields and levels, they were manageable—until that damn woman sabotaged me.

Without my shield? I would’ve died right away.

It didn’t make sense. Tom shouldn’t be capable of this.

As the fight wore on my vision returned. And the more I saw the less I believed.

Tom was not just surviving. He was winning.

I stared, mouth agape. He ducked a massive claymore swinging in from behind. There is no way he could've seen it coming.

It didn’t matter.

A crossbow bolt whistled from his right. He stepped back and the shot went wide.

Seven giants surrounded Tom each taking turns swiping at him. It was as though he was attached to a marionette, some divine being controlling his every move.

His sword shot out, slicing through armor and gut.

The Cyclops stumbled back, clutching its midsection—then fell, joining the others Tom already cut down.

I sucked in air. I’d forgotten to breathe while I watched.

Impossible.

Was he going to do it? The giants reeled. They had no answer. A meager twenty Cyclops remained.

Come on Tom.

It wasn’t meant to be. The golden luster that had permeated from Tom dimmed. And with the fading light his movements returned to normal.

My heart ached for the man. He had accomplished something incredible, but in the end whatever he had done wasn’t enough.

“LAYYTTONNN!”

My heart skipped a beat. Never had I been so excited to hear Alex’s voice in my life.

The cavalry had arrived. He was no doubt looking for me, he would see the fight. At his enhanced speed he would be here in no time.

Hang on Tom. Just a little longer.

I wanted Him to live. I wanted him to be the man he craved, the one he had lost. Tom had risked his life for mine. He had to live.

But life doesn’t work how we want.

Something as simple as a wooden spear can change it all. The light was gone. Alex was only seconds away. It was all so close.

He didn’t see it come. The spear entered through his back, out his chest and into the ground.

The blow spun Tom in a circle. His hands grasped at the spear that pinned him in place but he couldn’t keep himself from sliding down the shaft to his knees.

I watched helplessly.

“LAYYTTOONNN!”

Alex was right on top of me. I couldn’t tear my eyes from Tom. A hand rested on my shoulder—I ignored it.

Tom raised his head. His cheeks were wet with tears. He looked scared. Our eyes met.

He smiled. Through the fear and the pain and loss—he smiled.

The last of the light flicked out.

***

I could sense Alex at my side. He was speaking to me. I couldn’t hear him through the ringing in my ears.

My health had to be near the bottom. But I wasn’t thinking about my health anymore. The only thing that I could manage to think about was how unfair this world was.

Why did things have to be so twisted? I’m a healer. But I couldn’t use my mana. Even if I could somehow manage to fight through the pain, my spells weren’t working. What had that soccer mom done?

Alex’s concerned voice finally broke through the numbness. “Layton—-are you ok? Why aren’t you healing? Can you move?”

Through dry chapped lips I forced out one word.

“Potion.”

Alex didn’t hesitate. A red vial appeared. He rested his hand just behind my head and gently tilted it back. I expected the liquid to cause me to cough or convulse. It didn’t.

Everything that the liquid touched it mended. At first all I felt was relief as the vial did its work. Pieces of bone connected and skin began to heal.

There was just one problem. My health had dipped into the single digits and this potion wasn’t high quality. It shot my health points up by twenty-five, but there was still a long way to go to reach 153.

Now that my body wasn’t as focused on staying alive the blessed numbness faded and with it pain. It blossomed like a flower from the crimson mess that was my chest.

I groaned and wheezed. Pain was good. Pain meant life.

“Another.”

Alex obliged, and the second potion added more fuel to the flames. The strength returned to my limbs and I reached out a hand to Alex. Without a word I felt the cool glass of a third health potion.

I downed it. Clarity returned and I saw that it wasn’t just Alex here. Durkil had come too. While Alex nursed me back to strength Durkil was dealing with the Cyclops.

An avenging angel in Dark blue majestic armor. He still held the giant ax from the slave raid in his left hand. In his right, a menacing warhammer.

He swept through the last dregs of the cyclops with savage efficiency.

Deavon had come also.

BOOM.

A Cyclops exploded—armor and all. The after image of the bolt that struck him hung in the air. With their steel armor Daevon was an especially dangerous adversary.

This fight would be over quickly.

Renewed by three weak health potions Alex held out one more. I gingerly shoved myself up to my feet.

“This is my last one. Maybe Daevon has more?”

I reached out and took it. This would get me over 100 health, I could make due with that.

“Thank you Alex, this is enough.” I drank it down and felt the worst of the pain recede.

Durkil and Daevon had things well in hand. Only a handful of Cyclops remained—and they were running, not fighting.

Daevon didn’t let them get far. One by one he sniped them down with well placed bolts of lightning.

The battle with the cyclops was over. I expected the field to be quiet. It wasn’t. It was pandemonium.

“Layton, everyone who survived is through the portals you built.” He walked next to me, voice tinged with concern. “It’s armageddon. We should leave, and regroup.”

“Yeah alright.” My voice sounded robotic in my ears. A tree crashed in the distance and alien shouts of alarm rang out.

For a moment I stood frozen in front of Tom’s body. He still kneeled, head drooping, held in place by the spear.

“Alex, will you help me? He shouldn’t stay here like this.” The spear was as long as my body, so I drew out Tranquility and sheared off the top just above Tom’s shoulders.

Alex didn’t complain or ask questions, he simply held the spear in place. There's a light tug as I lift Tom's body carefully upward and free. I had to adjust my grip so he rested fully in my arms.

“Okay. Let’s go.”