Near Death

Beep

Beep

Beep

The alarm sounds resonated in my mind as I woke up from my daze and looked in the direction of where the spell was reacting.

In that direction, I could see three men of varying builds stealthily inching closer and closer to my position, without realising that they had been spotted. Narrowing my eyes to take a closer look, I realised that their skin was charred black, and the beast hides that they used as clothing or armour had seen better days with no discernible trait of what the hide used to be or the pristine condition it once was, it was as if they were one with the coats.

Thinking that it would be best to avoid trouble, I created an illusion. I made both Samantha and my presence disappear from our current position and formed a decoy in the opposite direction, far away from here.

With the illusion in place, it seems that the intruders retreated from their destination and moved toward the illusion.

I watched them plan the attack on the illusion and mug them before realising it was an illusion. Realising that it was an illusion, they seemed to have walked away in anger.

These interruptions came and went about ten or so times before the sun's rise; as if there was some sort of an agreement with the people in the sun; these night raiders slowly retreated away as the sky brightened up.

As the chilling night, thraw and the blazing sun slowly crept up the horizon, Samantha got up from bed, packed her things, and got ready to set off once again, moving like clockwork as if she had repeated this action thousands of times.

Once she was ready, she looked at me before setting off without a word, clearly still angry with me.

Unable to tolerate any more of this, I asked, "What are you so mad about?"

"Although it's been ten thousand years since you were human, have you forgotten about the subjects men aren't allowed to talk about in front of women?" Samantha said with rising anger in her voice.

With furrowed brows, I thought long and hard, digging into my memories to think if there were any such things… but my mind drew a blank, unable to figure out what she was talking about. Throughout my life as a human, I did not remember having any women acting angrily at anything I asked about. Of course, I don't ask anything inappropriate. In my situation with Samantha, I don't remember asking anything inappropriate about her or saying any of such things to her?

"Huff!" as if exasperated by my expression, she walked off at a faster pace, kicking rocks out of her way as if venting her anger or frustration at me.

I slowly followed behind her with an embarrassed laugh, knowing that she might need space from my lack of understanding of how humans now operate.

Whoosh!

A tiny unidentifiable object flew past me and towards Samantha at a terrifying speed. Before I could think, I ran towards her, and I hollered at the top of my voice, "Samantha! Duck!"

Hearing my words, she quickly squatted down, but it was still too late as the object pierced through her left shoulder as she fell to the ground with a fountain of blood flowing out of her body; as I arrived closer to her, I cast a dark mist barrier to prevent anyone from seeing through or coming in, before squatting down to take a look at her wounds.

Huff, huff, huff, l-I'm alright," Samantha weakly spoke.

Using the diagnostic spell, I heaved a sigh of relief knowing that although it is a penetrated wound, it was not serious as none of her organs, bones or major blood vessels such as the arteries was affected; only the veins and capillaries were affected. Thankfully, the bullet was small; thus, if it did not hit its intended place, it would not cause much damage, meaning that she could still be saved with a healing spell. After all, even if I was used to be the great healer, I could not save a critically injured person such as without assistance from another healer to first stabilise the patient's condition, I would not have enough time to chant a high-level healing spell.

I placed my hands over her, chanting a heal spell, but the spell did not manifest itself. I panicked a little before realising that I could no longer use light magic. After all, how could light mix with dark?

Tick

Realising my uselessness in such situations, I despaired as a great realisation hit me that I am not who I once was, A great healer. Now, I am someone who inflicts wounds and pain.

Seeing the despair in me, Samantha used her right hand and held my hands, telling me, comforting me, "It's alright, death here in war continent is common, and since the time I had been shot, three people would have already died, if you could, I hope you can honour my last words and please be the healer you once were. You need not be the physical healer, but you can steal be the healer of the heart and minds of the people. But please also do not turn me into an undead. Please let me die in peace".

Tick

As life within her started to wane due to excessive blood loss, I realised just how important she was to me, even though we may have only been together for 3-4 days.

"No, No, NO!" this can't be happening, I said, still in disbelief that the only contact with humans I had was about to die because of me.

Tick

If I could just save her and throw her out of the demon continent, she would have been safer than being with me here.

Tick

If only I had reacted faster, I could have pulled her away from danger.

Tick

If only I had been more protective of her, she would still be here.

Tick

"Shut up!" enraged by their firing, I cast an Area-of-Effect (AoE) spell, corrosive storm, in the direction of where the person has been shooting from.

As I watched the entire terrain melt into oblivion, sudden enlightenment hit me.